105 I do commit this Gaueston to thee, [Exeunt ambo. SCENE VI.-Open Country. 1311. Enter GAUESTON mourning, and the EARL Gau. O treacherous Warwick! thus to wrong thy friend. Gau. Weaponless must I fall, and die in bands? Oh! must this day be period of my life? Centre of all my bliss! An ye be men, Speed to the king. Enter WARWICK and his Company. War. My lord of Pembroke's men, Strive you no longer-I will have that Gaueston. War. No, James, it is my country's cause I follow. We'll make quick work. Commend me to your master, 5 ΙΟ 15 Come, let thy shadow parley with King Edward. [Exeunt. ACT III. SCENE I (a).-Yorkshire. 1311. Enter KING EDWARD and YOUNG SPENCER, and BALDOCK, with drums and fifes. Edw. I long to hear an answer from the barons, F Touching my friend, my dearest Gaueston. My lovely Pierce of Gaueston again! Y. Spen. Were I King Edward, England's sovereign, Great Edward Longshanks' issue, would I bear In mine own realm? My lord, pardon my speech, Strike off their heads, and let them preach on poles! Edw. Yea, gentle Spencer, we have been too mild, We'll steel it on their crest, and pole their tops. As though your highness were a schoolboy still, 5 IO 15 20 25 330 SCENE I (6).-Yorkshire. 1320. Enter HUGH SPENCER, an old man, father to the YOUNG SPENCER, with his truncheon and Soldiers. O. Spen. Long live my sovereign, the noble Edward— In peace triumphant, fortunate in wars! Edw. Welcome, old man, com'st thou in Edward's aid? Then tell thy prince of whence, and what thou art. O. Spen. Lo, with a band of bowmen and of pikes, 35 Spencer, the father of Hugh Spencer there, Y. Spen. True, an 't like your grace, 40 That pours, in lieu of all your goodness shown, His life, my lord, before your princely feet. 45 Edw. Welcome ten thousand times, old man, again. Spencer, this love, this kindness to thy king, Argues thy noble mind and disposition. 50 Because we hear Lord Bruce doth sell his land, Thou shalt have crowns of us t' outbid the barons: 55 And, Spencer, spare them not, [but] lay it on. SCENE I (c).-Yorkshire. 1325. Enter the QUEEN and her Son, and LEVUNE, a Frenchman. Y. Spen. My lord, here comes the queen. Edw. Madam, what news? Queen. News of dishonour, lord, and discontent. Our friend Levune, faithful and full of trust, 60 Informeth us, by letters and by words, That Lord Valois our brother, King of France, Because your highness hath been slack in homage, Hath seized Normandy into his hands. These be the letters, this the messenger. 65 Edw. Welcome, Levune. Tush, Sib, if this be all, Valois and I will soon be friends again. But to my Gauston: shall I never see, Never behold thee more? Madam, in this matter, We will employ you and your little son; 70 You shall go parley with the King of France. Boy, see you bear you bravely to the king, And do your message with a majesty. Prince. Commit not to my youth things of more weight Than fits a prince so young as I to bear, 75 And fear not, lord and father, heaven's great beams On Atlas' shoulder shall not lie more safe, Than shall your charge committed to my trust. Queen. Ah, boy! this towardness makes thy mother fear Thou art not markt to many days on earth. 80 Edw. Madam, we will that you with speed be shipt, And this our son; Levune shall follow you With all the haste we can despatch him hence. 85 And go in peace, leave us in wars at home. Queen. Unnatural wars, where subjects brave their king; God end them once. My lord, I take my leave, To make my preparation for France. [Exit with PRINCE. SCENE I (d).-Yorkshire. 1312-13. Enter ARUNDEL. Edw. What, Lord Arúndel, dost thou come alone? 90 Edw. Ah, traitors! have they put my friend to death? Tell me, Arundel, died he ere thou cam❜st, Or didst thou see my friend to take his death? Arun. Neither, my lord; for as he was surprised, Begirt with weapons and with enemies round, 95 I did your highness' message to them all; Unto your highness, and to bring him back. 100 Edw. And tell me, would the rebels deny me that? Edw. Yea, Spencer, traitors all. Arun. I found them at the first inexorable; The Earl of Warwick would not bide the hearing, Mortimer hardly, Pembroke and Lancaster 105 Spake least and when they flatly had denied, Refusing to receive me pledge for him, The Earl of Pembroke mildly thus bespake; 'My lords, because our sovereign sends for him, And promiseth he shall be safe return'd, I will this undertake to have him hence, And see him re-deliv'red to your hands.' Edw. Well, and how fortunes that he came not [then]? Y. Spen. Some treason, or some villainy was the cause. Arun. The Earl of Warwick seized him on his way; For being deliv'red unto Pembroke's men, Their lord rode home thinking his prisoner safe; 115 120 [Exit ARUNDEL. Edw. O shall I speak, or shall I sigh and die! Y. Spen. My lord, refer your vengeance to the sword Upon these barons; hearten up your men; Let them not unrevenged murther your friends! Advance your standard, Edward, in the field, And march to fire them from their starting holes. 125 [EDWARD kneels. Edw. By earth, the common mother of us all! 130 [Rises. 135 140 145 Y. Spen. My lord, here is a messenger from the barons Desires accéss unto your majesty. Edw. Admit him near. 150 |