to them but now haue drawne our sword And if they send me not my Gaueston Wee le steele it on their crest and powle their tops Bald. This haught resolue becomes your maiestie Not to be tied to their affection As though your highnes were a schoole boy still And must be awde and gouernd like a child Enter Hugh Spencer an old man father to the yong Spencer with his trunchion and soldiers Spen. pa. Long liue my soueraigne the noble Edward In peace triumphant fortunate in warres Edw. Welcome old man comst thou in Edwards aide Then tell thy prince of whence and what thou art Spen. pa. Loe with a band of bowmen and of pikes Browne bils and targetiers 400 strong Sworne to defend king Edwards royall right I come in person to your maiestie Spencer the father of Hugh Spencer there Bound to your highnes euerlastinglie For fauors done in him vnto vs all Edw. Thy father Spencer Spen. filius True and it like your grace That powres in lieu of all your goodnes showne His life my lord before your princely feete Edw. Welcome ten thousand times old man againe Spencer this loue this kindnes to thy King Argues thy noble minde and disposition Spencer I heere create thee earle of Wilshire And daily will enrich thee with our fauour That as the sun-shine shall reflect ore thee Beside the more to manifest our loue Because we heare Lord Bruse dooth sell his land And that the Mortimers are in hand withall Thou shalt haue crownes of vs t' out the Barons And Spenser spare them not but lay it on Souldier 's a largis and thrice welcome all Spen. My lord here comes the Queene Enter the Queene and her sonne and Lewne a Frenchman Edw. Madam what newes Qu. Newes of dishonor lord and discontent Our friend Lewne faithfull and full of trust Informeth vs by letters and by words That lord Valoyes our brother king of Fraunce Because your highnesse hath beene slack in homage Hath seazed Normandie into his hands These be the letters this the messenger Edw. Welcome Lewne tush Sib if this be all Valoys and I will soone be friends againe But to my Gaueston shall I neuer see Neuer behold thee now Madam in this matter We will employ you and your little sonne You shall go parley with the king of Fraunce Boye see you beare you brauelie to the king And do your message with a maiestie Prin. Commit not to my youth things of more waigh Then fits a prince so yong as I to beare And feare not lord and father heauens great beames On Atlas shoulder shall not lie more safe Then shall your charge committed to my trust Qu. A boye this towardnes makes thy mother feare Thou art not markt to many daies on earth Edw. Madam we will that you with speed be shipt And this our sonne Lewne shall follow you With all the hast we can dispatch him hence Choose of our lords to beare you companie And go in peace leaue vs in warres at home Qu. Vnnatural wars where subiects braue their king God end them once my lord I take my leaue To make my preparation for Fraunce Enter lord Matre Edw. What lord Matre dost thou come alone Mat. Yea my good lord for Gaueston is dead Edw. Ah traitors haue they put my friend to death Tell me Matre died he ere thou camst Or didst thou see my friend to take his death Matr. Neither my lord for as he was surprizd Begirt with weapons and with enemies round I did your highnes message to them all Demanding him of them entreating rather And said vpon the honour of my name That I would vndertake to carrie him Vnto your highnes and to bring him back Edw. And tell me would the rebels denie me that Spen. Proud recreants Edw. Yea Spencer traitors all Matr. I found them at the first inexorable The earle of Warwick would not bide the hearing Mortimer hardly Penbrooke and Lancaster Spake least and when they flatly had denyed Refusing to receiue me pledge for him The earle of Penbrooke mildlie thus bespake My lords because our soueraigne sends for him And promiseth he shall be safe returnd I will this vndertake to haue him hence And see him redeliuered to your hands Edw. Well and how fortunes that he came not Spen. Some treason or some villanie was cause Mat. The earle of Warwick seazde him on his way For being deliuered vnto Penbrookes men Their lord rode home thinking his prisoner safe But ere he came Warwick in ambush laie And bare him to his death and in a trenche Strake off his head and marcht vnto the campe Spen. A bloudie part flatly against law of armes Edw. O shall I speake or shall I sigh and die Spen. My lord referre your vengeance to the sword Vpon these Barons harten vp your men Let them not vnreuengd murther your friends Aduaunce your standard Edward in the field And marche to sire them from their starting holes Edward kneeles and saith By earth the common mother of vs all By heauen and all the moouing orbes thereof By this right hand and by my fathers sword And all the honors longing to my crowne I will haue heads and liues for him as many As I haue manors castels townes and towers Tretcherous Warwicke traiterous Mortimer If I be Englands king in lakes of gore Your headles trunkes your bodies will I traile That you may drinke your fill and quaffe in bloud And staine my roiall standard with the same That so my bloudie colours may suggest Remembrance of reuenge immortallie On your accursed traiterous progenie You villaines that haue slaine my Gaueston And in this place of honor and of trust Spencer sweet Spencer I adopt thee heere And meerely of our loue we do create thee Earle of Gloster and lord Chamberlaine Despite of times despite of enemies Spen. My lord here 's is a messenger from the Barons Desires accesse vnto your maiestie Edw. Admit him neere Enter the Herald from the Barons with his coate of armes Messen. Long liue king Edward Englands lawful lord Edw. So wish not they I wis that sent thee hither Thou comst from Mortimer and his complices A ranker route of rebels neuer was Well say thy message Messen. The Barons vp in armes by me salute Your highnes with long life and happines And bid me say as plainer to your grace That if without effusion of bloud You will this greefe haue ease and remedie That from your princely person you remooue This Spencer as a putrifying branche That deads the royall vine whose golden leaues Empale your princelie head your diadem Whose brightnes such pernitious vpstarts dim Say they and louinglie aduise your grace To cherish vertue and nobilitie And haue old seruitors in high esteeme And shake off smooth dissembling flatterers This graunted they their honors and their liues Are to your highnesse vowd and consecrate Spen. A traitors will they still display their pride Edw. Away tarrie no answer but be gon Rebels will
away his weapons Mor. Thou proud disturber of thy countries peace Corrupter of thy king cause of these broiles Base flatterer yeeld and were it not for shame Shame and dishonour to a souldiers name Vpon my weapons point here shouldst thou fall And welter in thy goare Lan. Monster of men that like the Greekish strumpet Traind to armes and bloudie warres So many valiant knights Looke for no other fortune wretch then death Kind Edward is not heere to buckler thee War Lancaster why talkst thou to the slaue Go souldiers take him hence For by my sword his head shall off Gaueston short warning shall serue thy turne It is our countries cause That here seuerelie we will execute Vpon thy person hang him at a bough Gau. My Lord War Souldiers haue him away But for thou wert the fauorit of a King Thou shalt haue so much honor at our hands Gau. I thanke you all my lords then I perceiue That heading is one and hanging is the other And death is all Enter earle of Arundell Lan. How now my lord of Arundell Arun. My lords king Edward greetes you all by me War Arundell say your message Aru. His maiesty hearing that you had takē Gaueston Intreateth you by me yet but he may See him before he dies for why he saies And sends you word he knowes that die he shall And if you gratifie his grace so farre He will be mindfull of the curtesie Warw. How now Gau. Renowmed Edward how thy name Reuiues poore Gaueston War No it needeth not Arundell we will gratifie the king In other matters he must pardon vs in this Souldiers away with him Gauest. Why my Lord of VVarwicke Will not these delaies beget my hopes I know it lords it is this life you aime at Yet graunt king Edward this Mor. iu. Shalt thou appoint what we shall graunt Souldiers away with him Thus wee le gratifie the king Wee le send his head by thee let him bestow His teares on that for that is all he gets Of Gaueston or else his sencelesse trunck Lan. Not so my Lord least he bestow more cost In burying him then he hath euer earned Arun. My lords it is his maiesties request And in the honor of a king he sweares He will but talke with him and send him backe War When can you tell Arundell no we wot He that the care of realme remits And driues his nobles to these exigents For Gaueston will if he zease him once Violate any promise to possesse him Arun. Then if you will not trust his grace in keepe My lords I will be pledge for his returne Mor. iu. 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 theefe Gaue. How meanst thou Mortimer that is ouer base Mor. Away base groome robber of kings renowme Question with thy companions and thy mates Pen. My lord Mortimer and you my lords each one To gratifie the kings request therein Touching the sending of this Gaueston Because his maiestie so earnestlie Desires to see the man before his death I will vpon mine honor vndertake To carrie him and bring him back againe Prouided this that you my lord of Arundell Will ioyne with me War Penbrooke what wilt thou do Cause yet more bloudshed is it not enough That we haue taken him but must we now Leaue him on had-I wist and let him go Pen. My lords I will not ouer wooe your honors But if you dare trust Penbrooke with the prisoner Vpon mine oath I will returne him back Arun. My lord of Lancaster what say you in this Lan. Why I say let him go on Penbrookes word Pen. And you lord Mortimer Mor. iu. How say you my lord of Warwick War Nay do your pleasures I know how t will prooue Pen. Then giue him me Gau. Sweete soueraigne yet I come To see thee ere I die Warw. Yet not perhaps If Warwickes wit and policie preuaile Mor. iu. My lord of Penbrooke we deliuer him you Returne him on your honor sound away Exeunt Manent Penbrooke Mat. Gauest Penbrookes men foure souldiers Pen. My Lord you shall go with me My house is not farre hence out of the way A little but our men shall go along We that haue prettie wenches to our wiues Sir must not come so neare and balke their lips Mat. T is verie kindlie spoke my lord of Penbrooke Your honor hath an adamant of power To drawe a prince Pen. So my lord come hether Iames I do commit this Gaueston to thee Be thou this night his keeper in the morning We will discharge thee of thy charge be gon Gau. Vnhappie Gaueston whether goest thou now Exit cum seruis Pen Horse boy My lord wee le quicklie be at Cobham Exeunt ambo Enter Gaueston moorning and the earle of Penbrookes men Gaue. O treacherous Warwicke thus to wrong thy friend Iames. I see it is your life these armes pursue Gau. Weaponles must I fall and die in bands O must this day be period of my life Center of all my blisse and yee be men Speede to the king Enter Warwicke and his companie War My lord of Penbrookes men Striue you no longer I will haue that Gaueston Iam. Your lordship doth dishonor to your selfe And wrong our lord your honorable friend War No Iames it is my countries cause I follow Goe take the villaine soldiers come away Wee l make quick worke cōmend me to your maister My friend and tell him that I watcht it well Come let thy shadow parley with king Edward Gau. Treacherous earle shall I not see the king War The king of heauen perhaps no other king Away Exeunt Warwike and his men with Gauest Manet Iames cum caeteris Come fellowes it booted not for vs to striue We will in hast go certifie our Lord Exeunt Enter king Edward and Spencer with Drummes and Fifes Edw. I long to heare an answer from the Barons Touching my friend my deerest Gaueston Ah Spencer not the riches of my realme Can ransome him ah he is markt to die I know the malice of the yonger Mortimer VVarwick I know is roughe and Lancaster Inexorable and I shall neuer see My louely Pierce my Gaueston againe The Barons ouerbeare me with their pride Spencer Were I king Edward Englands soueraigne Sonne to the louelie Elenor of Spaine Great Edward Longshankes issue would I bear These braues this rage and suffer vncontrowld These Barons thus to beard me in my land In mine owne realme my lord pardon my speeche Did you retaine your fathers magnanimitie Did you regard the honor of your name You would not suffer thus your maiestie Be counterbuft of your nobilitie 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 learne obedience to their lawfull king Edw. Yea gentle Spencer we haue beene too milde Too kinde
they appoint their soueraigne His sports his pleasures and his companie Yet ere thou go see how I do deuorce Embrace Spencer Spencer from me now get thee to thy lords And tell them I will come to chastise them For murthering Gaueston hie thee get thee gone Edward with fire and sword followes at thy heeles My lord perceiue you how these rebels swell Souldiers good harts defend your soueraignes right For now euen now we marche to make them stoope Away Exeunt Alarums excursions a great fight and a retreate Enter the king Spencer the father Spencer the sonne and the noblemen of the kings side Edw. Why do we sound retreat vpon them lords This day I shall powre vengeance with my sword On those proud rebels that are vp in armes And do confront and countermaund their king Spen. son I doubt it not my lord right will preuaile Spen. fa. T is not amisse my liege for eyther part To breathe a while our men with sweat and dust All chockt well neare begin to faint for heate And this retire refresheth horse and man Spen. son Heere come the rebels Enter the Barons Mortimer Lancaster Warwick Penbrooke cum caeteris Mor. Looke Lancaster yonder is Edward among his flatterers Lan. And there let him bee till hee pay deerely for their companie War And shall or Warwicks sword shal smite in vaine Edw. What rebels do you shrinke and sound retreat Mor. iu. No Edward no thy flatterers faint and flie Lan. Th 'ad best betimes forsake thee and their trains For thei le betray thee traitors as they are Spen. so Traitor on thy face rebellious Lancaster Pen. Away base vpstart brau'st thou nobles thus Spen. fa. A noble attempt and honourable deed Is it not trowe ye to assemble aide And leuie armes against your lawfull king Edw. For which ere long their heads shall satisfie T' appeaze the wrath of their offended king Mor. iu. Then Edward thou wilt fight it to the last And rather bathe thy sword in subiects bloud Then banish that pernicious companie Edw. I traitors all rather then thus be braude Make Englands ciuill townes huge heapes of stones And plowes to go about our pallace gates War A desperate and vnnaturall resolution Alarum to the fight saint George for England And the Barons right Edw. S. George for England and king Edwards right Enter Edward with the Barons captiues Edw. Now lustie lords now not by chance of warre But iustice of the quarrell and the cause Vaild is your pride me thinkes you hang the head But wee le aduance them traitors now t is time To be auengd on you for all your braues And for the murther of my deerest friend To whome right well you knew our soule was knit Good Pierce of Gaueston my sweet fauoret A rebels recreants you made him away Edm. Brother in regard of thee and of thy land Did they remooue that flatterer from thy throne Edw. So sir you haue spoke away auoid our presence Accursed wretches wa st in regard of vs When we had sent our messenger to request He might be spared to come to speake with vs And Penbrooke vndertooke for his returne That thou proud Warwicke watcht the prisoner Poore Pierce and headed him against lawe of armes For which thy head shall ouer looke the rest As much as thou in rage out wentst the rest War Tyrant I scorne thy threats and menaces T is but temporall that thou canst inflict Lan. The worst is death and better die to liue Then liue in infamie vnder such a king Edw. Away with them my lord of Winchester These lustie leaders Warwicke and Lancaster I charge you roundly off with both their heads away War Farewell vaine worlde Lan. Sweete Mortimer farewell Mor. iu. England vnkinde to thy nobilitie Grone for this greefe behold how thou art maimed Edw. Go take that haughtie Mortimer to the tower There see him safe bestowed and for the rest Do speedie execution on them all be gon Mor. iu. What Mortimer can ragged stonie walle ensure thy vertue that aspires to heauen No Edward Englands scourge it may not be Mortimers hope surmounts his fortune farre Edw. Sound drums and trumpets marche with me my friends Edward this day hath crownd him king a new Exit Manent Spencer filius Lewne Baldock Spen. Lewne the trust that we repose in thee Begets the quiet of king Edwards land Therefore be gon in hast and with aduice Bestowe that treasure on the lords of Fraunce That therewith all enchaunted like the guarde That suffered Ioue to passe in showers of golde To Danae all aide may be denied To Isabell the Queene that now in France Makes friends to crosse the seas with her yong sonne And step into his fathers regiment Lew. That 's it these Barons and the subtill Queene Long leuied at Bald. Yea but Lewne thou seest These Barons lay their heads on blocks together What they intend the hangman frustrates cleane Lewn Haue you no doubts my lords I le claps close Among the lords of France with Englands golde That Isabell shall make her plaints in vaine And Fraunce shall be obdurat with her teares Spen. Then make for Fraunce amaine Lewne away Proclaime king Edwards warres and victories Exeunt omnes Enter Edmund Edm. Faire blowes the winde for Fraunce blowe gentle gale Till Edmund be arriude for Englands good Nature yeeld to my countries cause in this A brother no a butcher of thy friends Proud Edward doost thou banish me thy presence But I le to Fraunce and cheere the wronged Queene And certifie what Edwards loosenes is Vnnaturall king to slaughter noble men And cherish flatterers Mortimer I stay Thy sweet escape stand gratious gloomie night to his deuice Enter Mortimer disguised Mor. iu. Holla who walketh there i st you my lord Edm. Mortimer t is I but hath thy potion wrought so happilie Mor. iu. It hath my lord the warders all a sleepe I thanke them gaue me leaue to passe in peace But hath your grace got shipping vnto Fraunce Edm. Feare it not Exeunt Enter the Queene and her sonne Qu. A boye our friends do faile vs all in Fraunce The lords are cruell and the king vnkinde What shall we doe Prince Madam returne to England And please my father well and then a Fig For all my vnckles frienship here in Fraunce I warrant you I le winne his highnes quicklie A loues me better than a thousand Spencers Qu. A boye thou art deceiude at least in this To thinke that we can yet be tun'd together No no we warre too farre vnkinde Valoys Vnhappie Isabell when Fraunce reiects Whether O whether doost thou bend thy steps Enter sir Iohn of Henolt S. Ioh. Madam what cheere Qu. A good sir Iohn of Henolt Neuer so cheereles nor so farre distrest S. Ioh. I heare sweete lady of the kings vnkindenes But droope not madam noble mindes contemne Despaire will your grace with me to Henolt And there stay times aduantage with your sonne How say you my Lord will
you go with your friends And shake off all our fortunes equallie Prin. So pleaseth the Queene my mother me it likes The king of England nor the court of Fraunce Shall haue me from my gratious mothers side Till I be strong enough to breake a staffe And then haue at the proudest Spencers head Sir Iohn Well said my lord Qu. Oh my sweet hart how do I mone thy wrongs Yet triumphe in the hope of thee my ioye Ah sweete sir Iohn euen to the vtmost verge Of Europe or the shore of Tanaise Will we with thee to Henolt so we will The Marques is a noble Gentleman His grace I dare presume will welcome me But who are these Enter Edmund and Mortimer Edm. Madam long may you liue Much happier then your friends in England do Qu. Lord Edmund and lord Mortimer aliue Welcome to Fraunce the newes was heere my lord That you were dead or very neare your death Mor. iu. Lady the last was truest of the twaine But Mortimer reserude for better hap Hath shaken off the thraldome of the tower And liues t' aduance your standard good my lord Prin. How meane you and the king my father liues No my lord Mortimer not I I trow Qu. Not sonne why not I would it were no worse But gentle lords friendles we are in Fraunce Mor. iu. Mounsier le Grand a noble friend of yours Tould vs at our arriuall all the newes How hard the nobles how vnkinde the king Hath shewed himself but madam right makes roome Where weapons want and though a many friends Are made away as Warwick Lancaster And others of our partie and faction Yet haue we friends assure your grace in England Would cast vp cappes and clap their hands for ioy To see vs there appointed for our foes Edm. Would all were well and Edward well reclaimd For Englands honor peace and quietnes Mort. But by the sword my lord it must be deseru'd The king will nere forsake his flatterers S. Ioh. My Lords of England sith the vngentle king Of Fraunce refuseth to giue aide of armes To this distressed Queene his sister heere Go you with her to Henolt doubt yee not We will finde comfort money men and friends Ere long to bid the English king a base How say yong Prince what thinke you of the match Prin. I thinke king Edward will out run vs all Qu. Nay soune not so and you must not discourage Your friends that are so forward in your aide Edm. Sir Iohn of Henolt pardon vs I pray These comforts that you giue our wofull queene Binde vs in kindenes all at your commaund Qu. Yea gentle brother and the God of heauen Prosper your happie motion good sir Iohn Mor. iu. This noble gentleman forward in armes Was borne I see to be our anchor hold Sir Iohn of Henolt be it thy renowne That Englands Queene and nobles in distresse Haue beene by thee restored and comforted S. Iohn Madam along and you my lord with me That Englands peeres may Henolts welcome see Enter the king Matr. the two Spencers with others Edw. Thus after many threats of wrathfull warre Triumpheth Englands Edward with his friends And triumph Edward with his friends vncontrould My lord of Gloster do you heare the newes Spen. iu. What newes my lord Edw. Why man they say there is great execution Done through the realme my lord of Arundell You haue the note haue you not Matr. From the lieutenant of the tower my lord Edw. I pray let vs see it what haue we there Read it Spencer Spencer reads their names Why so they barkt a pace a month a goe Now on my life thei le neither barke nor bite Now sirs the newes from Fraunce Gloster I trowe The lords of Fraunce loue Englands gold so well As Isabell gets no aide from thence What now remaines haue you proclaimed my lord Reward for them can bring in Mortimer Spen. iu. My lord we haue and if he be in England A will be had ere long I doubt it not Edw. If doost thou say Spencer as true as death He is in Englands ground our port-maisters Are not so careles of their kings commaund Enter a Poaste How now what newes with thee from whence come these Post Letters my lord and tidings foorth of Fraunce To you my lord of Gloster from Lewne Edward Reade Spencer reades the letter My dutie to your honor promised c. I haue according to instructions in that behalfe dealt with the king of Fraunce his lords and effected that the Queene all discontented and discomforted is gone whither if you aske with sir Iohn of Henolt brother to the Marquesse into Flaunders with them are gone lord Edmund and the lord Mortimer hauing in their company diuers of your nation and others and as constant report goeth they intend to giue king Edward battell in England sooner then he can looke for them this is all the newes of import Your honors in all seruice Lewne Edw. A villaines hath that Mortimer escapt With him is Edmund gone associate And will sir Iohn of Henolt lead the round Welcome a Gods name Madam and your sonne England shall welcome you and all your route Gallop a pace bright Phoebus through the skie And duskie night in rustie iron carre Betweene you both shorten the time I pray That I may see that most desired day When we may meet these traitors in the field Ah nothing greeues me but my little boye Is thus misled to countenance their ils Come friends to Bristow there to make vs strong And windes as equall be to bring them in As you iniurious were to beare them foorth Enter the Queene her sonne Edmund Mortimer and sir Iohn Qu. Now lords our louing friends and countrimen Welcome to England all with prosperous windes Our kindest friends in Belgia haue we left To cope with friends at home a heauie case When force to force is knit and sword and gleaue In ciuill broiles makes kin and country men Slaughter themselues in others and their sides With their owne weapons gorde but what 's the helpe Misgouerned kings are cause of all this wrack And Edward thou art one among them all Whose loosnes hath betrayed thy land to spoyle And made the channels ouerflow with blood Of thine own people patrō shouldst thou be but thou Mor. iu. Nay madam if you be a warriar Ye must not grow so passionate in speeches Lords sith that we are by sufferance of heauen Arriude and armde in this princes right Heere for our countries cause sweare we to him All homage fealtie and forwardnes And for the open wronges and iniuries Edward hath done to vs his Queene and land We come in armes to wrecke it with the swords That Englands queene in peace may reposesse Her dignities and honors and withall We may remooue these flatterers from the king That hauocks Englands wealth and treasurie S. Io. Sound trūpets my lord forward let vs martch Edward will thinke we come to flatter him Edm. I would he