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 overwoo 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. 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. Yet not perhaps,
If Warwick's wit and policy prevail.
MORTIMER. My lord of Pembroke, we deliver him you:
Return him on our honour, sound, away!
Exeunt all except Pembroke, Arundel, Gaveston, and Pembroke's men (James & 3 other soldiers).
PEMBROKE. 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 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. Be gone.
GAVESTON. Unhappy Gaveston, whither goest thou now?
Exit with Pembroke's men.
HORSE-BOY. My lord, we'll quickly be at Cobham.
Exeunt ambo.
ACT THREE, SCENE ONE
Enter Gaveston mourning, James, and the rest of Pembroke's men.
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,
Center of all my bliss! And 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. 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 watched it well.
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. Pembroke's men remain.
JAMES. Come, fellows, it booted not for us to strive;
We will in haste go certify our lord.
Exeunt.
ACT THREE, SCENE TWO
Enter King Edward, Spencer, 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,
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.
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.