_Enter_ ARUNDEL.

_Lan._ How now, my Lord of Arundel!

_Arun._ My lords, King Edward greets you all by me.

_War._ Arundel, say your message.

_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._ Renowmed 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.-- Soldiers, away with him!

_Gav._ Why, my Lord of Warwick, Will now these short delays beget my hopes?

I know it, lords, it is life you aim at, Yet grant King Edward this.

_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 lord, lest he bestow more cost In burying him than he hath ever earn"d.

_Arun._ 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.

_War._ When, can you tell? Arundel, no; we wot He that the care of his realm remits, And drives his n.o.bles to these exigents For Gaveston, will, if he seize him once, Violate any promise to possess him.

_Arun._ Then, if you will not trust his grace in keep, My lords, I will be pledge for his return.

_Y. Mor._ "Tis honourable in thee to offer this; But, for we know thou art a n.o.ble gentleman, We will not wrong thee so, To make away 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, To gratify 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; Provided this, that you, my Lord of Arundel, Will join with me.

_War._ 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?

_Pem._ 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.

_Arun._ My Lord of Lancaster, what say you in this?

_Lan._ Why, I say, let him go on Pembroke"s word.

_Pem._ And you, Lord Mortimer?

_Y. Mor._ How say you, my Lord of Warwick?

_War._ Nay, do your pleasures: I know how "twill prove.

_Pem._ Then give him me.

_Gav._ Sweet sovereign, yet I come To see thee ere I die!

_War._ Yet not perhaps, If Warwick"s wit and policy prevail. [_Aside._ _Y. Mor._ My Lord of Pembroke, we deliver him you: Return him on your honour.--Sound, away!

[_Exeunt all except Pembroke, Arundel, Gaveston, James and other attendants of Pembroke._ _Pem._ My lord, you shall go with me: My house is not far hence; out of the way A little; but our men shall go along.

We that have pretty wenches to our wives, Sir, must not come so near to balk their lips.

_Arun._ "Tis very kindly spoke, my Lord of Pembroke: Your honour hath an adamant of power 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 go"st thou now?

[_Exit with James and other Attendants of Pembroke._ _Horse-boy._ My lord, we"ll quickly be at Cobham. [_Exeunt._

_Enter_ GAVESTON _mourning,_ JAMES _and other_ Attendants _of_ PEMBROKE.

_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? And 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.

_James._ Your lordship doth 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, My friend, and tell him that I watch"d it well.-- Come, let thy shadow 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 Soldiers with Gaveston._ _James._ Come, fellows: it booted not for us to strive: We will in haste go certify our lord. [_Exeunt._

_Enter_ KING EDWARD, _the younger_ SPENSER, BALDOCK, n.o.blemen _of the king"s side, and_ Soldiers _with drums and fifes._

_K. Edw._ I long to hear an answer from the barons Touching my friend, my dearest Gaveston.

Ah, Spenser, not the riches of my realm Can ransom him! ah, he is mark"d 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 with me their pride.

_Y. Spen._ Were I King Edward, England"s sovereign, Son to the lovely Eleanor of Spain, Great Edward Longshanks" issue, would I bear These braves, this rage, and suffer uncontroll"d 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 counterbuff"d of your n.o.bility.

Strike off their heads, and let them preach on poles: No doubt, such lessons they will teach the rest, As by their preachments they will profit much, And learn obedience to their lawful king.

_K. Edw._ Yes, gentle Spenser, 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[s], and poll their tops.

_Bald._ This haught resolve becomes your majesty, Not to be tied to their affection, As though your highness were a school-boy still, And must be aw"d and govern"d like a child.

_Enter the elder_ SPENSER _with his truncheon, and_ Soldiers.

_E. Spen._ Long live my sovereign, the n.o.ble Edward, In peace triumphant, fortunate in wars!

_K. Edw._ Welcome, old man: com"st thou in Edward"s aid?

Then tell thy prince of whence and what thou art.

_E. Spen._ Low, with a band of bow-men 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, Spenser, the father of Hugh Spenser there, Bound to your highness everlastingly For favour done, in him, unto us all.

_K. Edw._ Thy father, Spenser?

_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!

Spenser, this love, this kindness to thy king, Argues thy n.o.ble mind and disposition.

Spenser, 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, Spenser, spare them not, lay it on.-- Soldiers, a largess, and thrice-welcome all!

_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 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.

_Q. Isab._ Ah, boy, this towardness makes thy mother fear Thou art not mark"d to many days on earth!

_K. Edw._ Madam, we will that you with speed be shipp"d, 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.

_Q. Isab._ Unnatural wars, where subjects brave their king: G.o.d end them once!--My lord, I take my leave, To make my preparation for France. [_Exit with Prince Edward._

_Enter_ ARUNDEL.

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

_Arun._ Yea, my good lord, for Gaveston is dead.

_K. 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 surpris"d, 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 Unto your highness, and to bring him back.

_K. Edw._ And, tell me, would the rebels deny me that?

_Y. Spen._ Proud recreants!