Enter the BARONS [LANCASTER, WARWICK, MORTIMER JUNIOR and others]. Alarums.
LANCASTER
I wonder how he ’scaped.
MORTIMER Who’s this, the queen?
QUEEN
Ay, Mortimer, the miserable queen,
Whose pining heart her inward sighs have blasted,
And body with continual mourning wasted.
These hands are tired with haling of my lord
From Gaveston, from wicked Gaveston,
And all in vain, for when I speak him fair
He turns away and smiles upon his minion.
MORTIMER
30 Cease to lament, and tell us where’s the king?
QUEEN
What would you with the king? Is’t him you seek?
LANCASTER
No, madam, but that cursèd Gaveston.
Far be it from the thought of Lancaster
To offer violence to his sovereign;
We would but rid the realm of Gaveston.
Tell us where he remains, and he shall die.
QUEEN
He’s gone by water unto Scarborough;
Pursue him quickly, and he cannot ’scape.
The king hath left him, and his train is small.
WARWICK
40 Forslow no time, sweet Lancaster, let’s march.
MORTIMER
How comes it that the king and he is parted?
QUEEN
That this your army, going several ways,
Might be of lesser force, and, with the power
That he intendeth presently to raise,
Be easily suppressed; and therefore begone.
MORTIMER
Here in the river rides a Flemish hoy.
Let’s all aboard and follow him amain.
LANCASTER
The wind that bears him hence will fill our sails.
Come, come, aboard. ’Tis but an hour’s sailing.
MORTIMER
50 Madam, stay you within this castle here.
QUEEN
No, Mortimer, I’ll to my lord the king.
MORTIMER
Nay, rather sail with us to Scarborough.
QUEEN
You know the king is so suspicious
As, if he hear I have but talked with you,
Mine honour will be called in question,
And therefore, gentle Mortimer, begone.
MORTIMER
Madam, I cannot stay to answer you,
But think of Mortimer as he deserves.
[Exeunt all; the QUEEN remains.]
QUEEN
So well hast thou deserved, sweet Mortimer,
60 As Isabel could live with thee for ever.
In vain I look for love at Edward’s hand,
Whose eyes are fixed on none but Gaveston.
Yet once more I’ll importune him with prayers.
If he be strange and not regard my words,
My son and I will over into France,
And to the king my brother there complain
How Gaveston hath robbed me of his love;
But yet I hope my sorrows will have end,
And Gaveston this blessèd day be slain.
Exit.
[Scene 9]
Enter GAVESTON, pursued.
GAVESTON
Yet, lusty lords, I have escaped your hands,
Your threats, your ’larums, and your hot pursuits;
And though divorcèd from King Edward’s eyes,
Yet liveth Piers of Gaveston unsurprised,
Breathing, in hope (malgrado all your beards,
That muster rebels thus against your king)
To see his royal sovereign once again.
Enter the NOBLES [WARWICK, LANCASTER, PEMBROKE, MORTIMER JUNIOR, with SOLDIERS, JAMES, HORSEBOY, and ATTENDANTS].
WARWICK
Upon him, soldiers! Take away his weapons.
MORTIMER
Thou proud disturber of thy country’s peace,
Corrupter of thy king, cause of these broils,
10 Base flatterer, yield! And were it not for shame,
Shame and dishonour to a soldier’s name,
Upon my weapon’s point here shouldst thou fall,
And welter in thy gore.
LANCASTER Monster of men,
That, like the Greekish strumpet, trained to arms
And bloody wars so many valiant knights,
Look for no other fortune, wretch, than death.
Kind Edward is not here to buckler thee.
WARWICK
Lancaster, why talk’st thou to the slave?
Go, soldiers, take him hence, for by my sword,
20 His head shall off. Gaveston, short warning
Shall serve thy turn; it is our country’s cause
That here severely we will execute
Upon thy person. Hang him at a bough.
GAVESTON My lord!
WARWICK
Soldiers, have him away.
But, for thou wert the favourite of a king,
Thou shalt have so much honour at our hands.
GAVESTON
I thank you all, my lords. Then I perceive
30 That heading is one, and hanging is the other,
And death is all.
Enter EARL OF ARUNDEL.
LANCASTER
How now, my lord of Arundel?
ARUNDEL
My lords, King Edward greets you all by me.
WARWICK
Arundel, say your message.
ARUNDEL 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,
40 He will be mindful of the courtesy.
WARWICK
How now?
GAVESTON Renownèd Edward, how thy name
Revives poor Gaveston!
WARWICK No, it needeth not.
Arundel, we will gratify the king
In other matters; he must pardon us in this.
Soldiers, away with him.
GAVESTON Why, my lord of Warwick,
Will not these delays beget my hopes?
I know it, lords, it is this life you aim at;
Yet grant King Edward this.
MORTIMER Shalt thou appoint
What we shall grant? Soldiers, away with him.
50 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.
LANCASTER
Not so, my lord, lest he bestow more cost
In burying him than he hath ever earned.
ARUNDEL
My lords, it is his majesty’s request,
And, in the honour of a king, he swears
He will but talk with him and send him back.
WARWICK
When, can you tell? Arundel, no.
We wot, he that the care of realm remits
60 And drives his nobles to these exigents
For Gaveston will, if he seize him once,
Violate any promise to possess him.
ARUNDEL
Then if you will not trust his grace in keep,
My lords, I will be pledge for his return.
MORTIMER
It is honourable in thee to offer this,
But, for we know thou art a noble gentleman,
We will not wrong thee so
To make away a true man for a thief.
GAVESTON
70 How mean’st thou, Mortimer? That is over-base.
MORTIMER
Away, base groom, robber of king’s renown!
Question with thy companions and thy mates.
PEMBROKE
My lord Mortimer, and you my lords each one,
To grat
ify the king’s request therein
Touching the sending of this Gaveston,
Because his majesty so earnestly
Desires to see the man before his death,
I will upon mine honour undertake
To carry him and bring him back again,
80 Provided this: that you, my lord of Arundel,
Will join with me.
WARWICK Pembroke, what wilt thou do?
Cause yet more bloodshed? Is it not enough
That we have taken him, but must we now
Leave him on ‘had-I-wist’ and let him go?
PEMBROKE
My lords, I will not over-woo your honours,
But, if you dare trust Pembroke with the prisoner,
Upon mine oath, I will return him back.
ARUNDEL
My lord of Lancaster, what say you in this?
LANCASTER
Why, I say let him go on Pembroke’s word.
PEMBROKE
90 And you, lord Mortimer?
MORTIMER
How say you, my lord of Warwick?
WARWICK
Nay, do your pleasures. I know how ’twill prove.
PEMBROKE
Then give him me.
GAVESTON Sweet sovereign, yet I come
To see thee ere I die.
WARWICK [aside] Yet not, perhaps,
If Warwick’s wit and policy prevail.
MORTIMER
My lord of Pembroke, we deliver him you;
Return him on your honour. Sound, away!
Exeunt; PEMBROKE, ARUNDEL, GAVESTON, and PEMBROKE’S MEN, four SOLDIERS remain.
PEMBROKE [to ARUNDEL]
My lord, you shall go with me.
My house is not far hence, out of the way
100 A little, but our men shall go along.
We that have pretty wenches to our wives,
Sir, must not come so near and balk their lips.
ARUNDEL
’Tis very kindly spoke, my lord of Pembroke.
Your honour hath an adamant of power
To draw a prince.
PEMBROKE 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. Begone.
GAVESTON
Unhappy Gaveston, whither goest thou now?
Exit [GAVESTON] with [JAMES and]
PEMBROKE’S [other] servants.
HORSEBOY
110 My lord, we’ll quickly be at Cobham.
Exeunt.
[Scene 10]
Enter GAVESTON mourning, and the EARL OF PEMBROKE’S MEN [with JAMES and four SOLDIERS].
GAVESTON
O treacherous Warwick, thus to wrong thy friend!
JAMES
I see it is your life these arms pursue.
GAVESTON
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.
WARWICK My lord of Pembroke’s men,
Strive you no longer; I will have that Gaveston.
JAMES
Your lordship doth dishonour to yourself
And wrong our lord, your honourable friend.
WARWICK
10 No, James, it is my country’s cause I follow.
Go, take the villain. [GAVESTON is taken.]
Soldiers, come away.
We’ll make quick work.
[To JAMES] Commend me to your master,
My friend, and tell him that I watched it well.
[To GAVESTON]
Come, let thy shadow parley with King Edward.
GAVESTON
Treacherous earl, shall I not see the king?
WARWICK
The king of heaven perhaps, no other king.
Away!
Exeunt WARWICK and his men, with GAVESTON. JAMES remains with the others.
JAMES
Come, fellows, it booted not for us to strive.
We will in haste go certify our lord.
Exeunt.
[Scene 11]
Enter KING EDWARD and SPENCER [JUNIOR and BALDOCK,] with drums and fifes.
EDWARD
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 Piers, my Gaveston again.
The barons overbear me with their pride.
SPENCER
Were I King Edward, England’s sovereign,
10 Son to the lovely Eleanor of Spain,
Great Edward Longshanks’ issue, would I bear
These braves, this rage, and suffer uncontrolled
These barons thus to beard me in my land,
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 counterbuffed 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.
EDWARD
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.
BALDOCK
This haught resolve becomes your majesty,
Not to be tied to their affection,
As though your highness were a schoolboy still,
30 And must be awed and governed like a child.
Enter HUGH SPENCER, an old man, father to the young SPENCER, with his truncheon, and SOLDIERS.
SPENCER SENIOR
Long live my sovereign, the noble Edward,
In peace triumphant, fortunate in wars!
EDWARD
Welcome, old man. Com’st thou in Edward’s aid?
Then tell thy prince of whence and what thou art.
SPENCER SENIOR
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 –
40 Spencer, the father of Hugh Spencer there,
Bound to your highness everlastingly
For favours done in him unto us all.
EDWARD
Thy father, Spencer?
SPENCER True, an it like your grace,
That pours, in lieu of all your goodness shown,
His life, my lord, before your princely feet.
EDWARD
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,
50 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, but lay it on.
Soldiers, a largess, and thrice welcome all!
SPENCER
My lord, here comes the queen.
Enter the QUEEN [with a letter] and her son [PRINCEEDWARD], and LEVUNE, a Fre
nchman.
EDWARD Madam, what news?
QUEEN
News of dishonour, lord, and discontent.
60 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 seizèd Normandy into his hands.
These be the letters, this the messenger.
[She shows the letter to EDWARD.]
EDWARD
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;
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,
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
80 Thou art not marked to many days on earth.
EDWARD
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.
Choose 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.
[Exeunt the QUEEN and PRINCE EDWARD.]
Enter LORD ARUNDEL.
EDWARD
What, Lord Arundel, dost thou come alone?
ARUNDEL
90 Yea, my good lord, for Gaveston is dead.
EDWARD
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?
ARUNDEL
Neither, my lord, for, as he was surprised,
Begirt with weapons and with enemies round,
I did your highness’ message to them all,
Demanding him of them – entreating rather –
And said, upon the honour of my name,
That I would undertake to carry him
100 Unto your highness and to bring him back.
EDWARD
And tell me, would the rebels deny me that?
SPENCER
Proud recreants!
EDWARD Yea, Spencer, traitors all.
ARUNDEL
I found them at the first inexorable.
The earl of Warwick would not bide the hearing,
Mortimer hardly, Pembroke and Lancaster
The Complete Plays Page 43