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,
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 THE FATHER. 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 THE FATHER. Lo, with a band of bowmen and of pikes,
Brown bills and targeteers, 400 strong,
Sworn to defend King Edward's royal right,
I come in person to your majesty,
Spencer, the father of Hugh Spencer there,
Bound to you highness everlastingly
For favours done, in him, unto us all.
EDWARD. Thy father, Spencer?
SPENCER. True, and 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,
And daily will enrich thee with our favour
That as the sunshine, shall reflect o'er thee.
Besides, 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, her son Prince Edward, and Levune, a Frenchman.
EDWARD. Madam, what news?
ISABELLA. 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.
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:
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 EDWARD. 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.
ISABELLA. Ah, boy, this towardness makes thy mother fear
Thou are 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 dispatch him hence.
Choose of our lords to bear you company,
And go in peace; leave us in wars at home.
ISABELLA. Unnatural wars, where subjects brave their king:
God end them once! My lord, I take my leave
To make my preparation for France.
Exit Queen and Prince Edward.
Enter Arundel.
EDWARD. What, lord Arundel, dost thou come alone?
ARUNDEL. 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
Unto your highness, and to bring him back.
EDWARD.