ACT THE THIRD.

SCENE I.

Enter GAVESTON mourning, JAMES, and the EARL of PEMBROKE'S men.

Gav. O treacherous Warwick! thus to wrong thy

friend.

James. I see it is your life these arms pursue.

Gav. Weaponless must I fall, and die in bands?

O! 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 Gaveston.
James. Your lordship does dishonour to yourself,
And wrong our lord, your honourable friend.

War. No, James, it is my country's cause I follow.

Go, take the villain; soldiers, come away.
We'll make quick work. Commend me to your master,

ΙΟ

1 Scene: the open country (near Warwick ?).

My friend, and tell him that I watched it well.
Come, let thy shadow 1 parley with King Edward.

Gav. Treacherous earl, shall I not see the king? War. The king of Heaven perhaps, no other king. Away! [Exeunt WARWICK and his Men with GAveston. James. Come, fellows, it booted not for us to strive, We will in haste go certify our lord.

[Exeunt.

SCENE II.

Enter2 KING EDWARD and YOUNG SPENCER, BALDOCK, and Nobles of the king's side, with drums and fifes.

Edw. I long to hear an answer from the barons
Touching my friend, my dearest Gaveston.
Ah! Spencer, not the riches of my realm
Can ransom him! ah, he is marked to die!
I know the malice of the younger Mortimer,
Warwick I know is rough, and Lancaster
Inexorable, and I shall never see

My lovely Pierce of Gaveston again!
The barons overbear me with their pride.

Y. Spen. Were I King Edward, England's sovereign, 10 Son to the lovely Eleanor of Spain,

Great Edward Longshanks' issue, would I bear
These braves,3 this rage, and suffer uncontrolled
These barons thus to beard me in my land,

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1 The meaning is surely "ghost, spirit," not, as Mr. Fleay interprets,

representative, plenipotentiary."

2 Scene: neighbourhood of Borrowbridge.

3 Braggard challenges.

In mine own realm? My lord, pardon my speech,
Did you retain your father's magnanimity,

Did you regard the honour of your name,

You would not suffer thus your majesty

Be counterbuft of your nobility.

Strike off their heads, and let them preach on poles ! 20

No doubt, such lessons they will teach the rest,

As by their preachments they will profit much,

And learn obedience to their lawful king.

Edw. Yea, gentle Spencer, we have been too mild, Too kind to them; but now have drawn our sword, And if they send me not my Gaveston,

We'll steel it on their crest, and poll their tops.

Bald. This haught1 resolve becomes your majesty
Not to be tied to their affection,

As though your highness were a schoolboy still,
And must be awed and governed like a child.

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Enter HUGH SPENCER, father to the YOUNG SPENCER, with his truncheon and Soldiers.

O. Spen. Long live my sovereign, the noble EdwardIn peace triumphant, fortunate in wars!

Edw. Welcome, old man, com'st thou in Edward's aid? Then tell thy 2 prince of whence, and what thou art.

O. Spen. Lo, with a band of bowmen and of pikes, Brown bills and targeteers, four hundred strong, Sworn to defend King Edward's royal right,

I come in person to your majesty,

1 Fr. haut.

2 Old eds. "the."

Spencer, the father of Hugh Spencer there,

Bound to your highness everlastingly,

For favour done, in him, unto us all.

Edw. Thy father, Spencer?

Y. Spen. True, an it like your grace,

That pours, in lieu of all your goodness shown,
His life, my lord, before your princely feet.

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nobility!

Edw. Welcome ten thousand times, old man, again.
Spencer, this love, this kindness to thy king,
Argues thy noble mind and disposition.
Spencer, I here create thee Earl of Wiltshire,
And daily will enrich thee with our favour,
That, as the sunshine, shall reflect o'er thee.
Beside, the more to manifest our love,

Because we hear Lord Bruce doth sell his land,
And that the Mortimers are in hand withal,
Thou shalt have crowns of us t'outbid the barons :
And, Spencer, spare them not, lay it on.

Soldiers, a largess, and thrice welcome all!

Y. Spen. My lord, here comes the queen.

50

Enter the QUEEN and her Son, and LEVUNE, a Frenchman.

Edw. Madam, what news?

Queen. News of dishonour, lord, and discontent.

Our friend Levune, faithful and full of trust,

Informeth us, by letters and by words,

That Lord Valois our brother, King of France,
Because your highness hath been slack in homage,

1 So ed. 1612.-Ed. 1598 "come."

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VOL. II.

M

Hath seized Normandy into his hands.
These be the letters, this the messenger.

Edw. Welcome, Levune.

Tush, Sib, if this be all,

Valois and I will soon be friends again.

But to my Gaveston; shall I never see,

Never behold thee now? 1-Madam, in this matter,

We will employ you and your little son;

You shall go parley with the King of France.

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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,

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 marked to many days on earth.

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Edw. Madam, we will that you with speed be shipped,

And this our son; Levune shall follow you

With all the haste we can despatch him hence.
Chuse of our lords to bear you company;

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.

Enter ARUNdel.

[Exit with Prince.

Edw. What, Lord Arundel, dost thou come alone?

1 Cunningham and Mr. Fleay silently print "more."