War. Lancaster, why talk'st thou to the slave? Upon thy person. Hang him at a bough. War. Soldiers, have him away; But for thou wert the favourite of a king, Thou shalt have so much honour at our hands - Enter ARUNDEL. Lan. How now, my lord of Arundel? Arun. My lords, King Edward greets you all by me. Arun. His majesty, Hearing that you had taken Gaveston, Entreateth you by me, yet but he may See him before he dies; for why, he says, And sends you word, he knows that die he shall; And if you gratify his grace so far, He will be mindful of the courtesy. War. How now! Gav. Renownèd Edward, how thy name Revives poor Gaveston! War. No, it needeth not; Arundel, we will gratify the king In other matters; he must pardon us in this. Gav. Why, my lord of Warwick, I know it, lords, it is this life you aim at, Y. Mor. Shalt thou appoint What we shall grant? Soldiers, away with him : Thus we'll gratify the king, We'll send his head by thee; let him bestow His tears on that, for that is all he gets Of Gaveston, or else his senseless trunk. Lan. Not so, my lords, lest he bestow more cost I Dyce suggests that a line following this, in which Warwick says that Gaveston shall be beheaded, has dropped out. In burying him than he hath ever earned. He will but talk with him, and send him back. Arun. Then if you will not trust his grace in keep, Y. Mor. 'Tis honourable in thee to offer this; A true man for a thief. Gav. How mean'st thou, Mortimer? that is over-base. Y. Mor. Away, base groom, robber of king's renown! Question with thy companions and mates. Pem. My Lord Mortimer, and you, my lords, each one, Touching the sending of this Gaveston, Desires to see the man before his death, To carry him, and bring him back again; War. Pembroke, what wilt thou do? Pem. My lords, I will not over-woo your honours, Arun. My lord of Lancaster, what say you in this? Y. Mor. How say you, my lord of Warwick? War. Nay, do your pleasures, I know how 'twill prove. Gav. Sweet sovereign, yet I come To see thee ere I die. War. Yet not perhaps, If Warwick's wit and policy prevail. I An exclamation implying repentance of a rash deed. — Dyce, [Aside. Y. Mor. My lord of Pembroke, we deliver him you; [Exeunt all except PEMBROKE, ARUNDEL, GAVESTON, Pem. My lord of Arundel, you shall go with me. A little, but our men shall go along. We that have pretty wenches to our wives, Sir, must not come so near to baulk their lips. Arun. 'Tis very kindly spoke, my lord of Pembroke; To draw a prince. Pem. So, my lord. Come hither, James: I do commit this Gaveston to thee, Be thou this night his keeper; in the morning We will discharge thee of thy charge: be gone. Gav. Unhappy Gaveston, whither goest thou now? [Exit with JAMES and the other Attendants. Horse-boy. My lord, we'll quickly be at Cobham. [Exeunt. ACT III SCENE I.-ANOTHER PART OF THE COUNTRY Enter GAVESTON mourning, JAMES, and other Attendants of PEM BROKE. AV. O treacherous Warwick! thus to wrong thy friend. GA 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 Soldiers. War. My lord of Pembroke's men, Strive you no longer I will have that Gaveston. 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, Come, let thy shadow parley with King Edward. 1 Ghost. Gav. Treacherous earl, shall I not see the king? SCENE II.· - NEAR BOROUGHBRIDGE, YORKSHIRE [Exeunt. Enter KING EDWARD and Young SPENCER, BALDOCK, and Nobles of the KING'S side, and Soldiers with drums and fifes. K. Edw. I long to hear an answer from the barons Ah! Spencer, not the riches of my realm My lovely Pierce of Gaveston again! Y. Spen. Were I King Edward, England's sovereign, Son to the lovely Eleanor of Spain, Great Edward Longshanks' issue, would I bear In mine own realm? My lord, pardon my speech: Did you regard the honour of your name, Strike off their heads, and let them preach on poles ! As by their preachments they will profit much, And learn obedience to their lawful king. Y. Edw. Yea, gentle Spencer, we have been too mild, And if they send me not my Gaveston, We'll steel it on their crest, and poll their tops. Bald. This haught resolve becomes your majesty, Not to be tied to their affection, As though your highness were a schoolboy still, Enter the Elder SPENCER, with his truncheon and Soldiers. E. Spen. Long live my sovereign, the noble Edward- K. Edw. Welcome, old man, com'st thou in Edward's aid? Then tell thy prince of whence, and what thou art. E. 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, Spencer, the father of Hugh Spencer there, 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. K. Edw. Welcome ten thousand times, old man, again. Argues thy noble mind and disposition. 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: Y. Spen. My lord, here comes the queen. Enter QUEEN ISABELLA, PRINCE EDWARD, and LEVUNE. K. Edw. Madam, what news? Q. Isab. 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, Hath seized Normandy into his hands. These be the letters, this the messenger. K. 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?- Madam, in this matter, We will employ you and your little son; 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. P. Edw. Commit not to my youth things of more weight |