Page images
PDF
EPUB

Manent SPENCER filius, LEWEN, and BALDOCK.

Spen. Lewen, the trust that we repose in thee, Begets the quiet of king Edward's land. Therefore begone in haste, and with advice Bestow that treasure on the lords of France, That therewith all enchanted, like the guard That suffered Jove to pass in showers of gold To Danaë, all aid may be denied

To Isabel the queen, that now in France
Makes friends, to cross the seas with her young son,
And step unto his father's regiment.

Lewen. That's it these barons and the subtile queen

[blocks in formation]

Edm. Fair blows the wind for France; blow,
gentle gale,

Till Edmund be arrived for England's good!
Nature, yield to my country's cause in this.
A brother! no, a butcher of thy friends.
Proud Edward, do'st thou banish me thy presence?
But I'll to France, and cheer the wronged queen,
And certify what Edward's looseness is.
Unnatural king! to slaughter noble men,
And cherish flatterers! Mortimer, I stay
Thy sweet escape; stand gracious, gloomy night,
To his device.

Enter MORTIMER disguised.

Mor. jun. Holla! who walketh there? is't you, my lord?

Edm. Mortimer, 'tis I; but hath thy potion wrought so happily?

Mor. jun. It hath, my lord; the warders all asleep,

I thank them, give me leave to pass in peace. But hath your grace got shipping unto France? Edm. Fear it not.

[Exeunt.

Enter the QUEEN and her Son.
Queen. Ah, boy, our friends do fail us all in
France;

The lords are cruel, and the king unkind;
What shall we do?

Prince. Madam, return to England,
And please my father well; and then a fig
For all my uncle's friendship here in France.
I warrant you, I'll win his highness quickly;

He loves me better than a thousand Spencers. Queen. Ah, boy, thou art deceived, at least in this,

To think that we can yet be tuned together;
No, no, we jar too far. Unkind Valois !
Unhappy Isabel! when France rejects,
Whither, O whither dost thou bend thy steps?
Enter Sir JOHN of HENAULT.

Sir John. Madam, what cheer?
Queen. Ah, good Sir John of Henault,
Never so cheerless, nor so far distrest.

Sir John. I hear, sweet lady, of the king's unkind

[blocks in formation]

The king of England, not the court of France,
Shall have me from my gracious mother's side,
Till I be strong enough to break a staff;
And then have at the proudest Spencer's head.
Sir John. Well said, my lord.

Queen. Oh, my sweet heart! how do I moan thy wrong,

Yet triumph in the hope of thee, my joy!
Ah, sweet sir John, even to the utmost verge
Of Europe, or the shore of Tanaise,
Will we with thee to Henault, so we will.
The marquis 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 live,
Much happier than your friends in England do!

Queen. Lord Edmund and lord Mortimer alive! Welcome to France! the news was here, my lord, That you were dead, or very near your death.

Mor jun. Lady, the last was truest of the
twain:

But Mortimer, reserved for better hap,
Hath shaken off the thraldom of the Tower,
And lives to advance your standard, good my lord.
Prince. How mean you, and the king my father
lives?

No, my lord Mortimer, not I, I trow.
Queen. Not, son?-why not? I would it were

no worse.

But, gentle lords, friendless we are in France. Mor. jun. Monsieur le Grand, a noble friend of yours,

Told us, at our arrival, all the news;
How hard the nobles, how. unkind the king
Hath shew'd himself: but, madam, right makes

room,

Where weapons won't; and though so many friends
Are made away, as Warwick, Lancaster,
And others of our party and faction;

180

Yet have we friends, assure your grace, in Eng-
land,

Would cast up caps, and clap their hands for joy,
To see us there, appointed for our foes.
Edm. Would all were well, and Edward well
reclaimed,

For England's honour, peace, and quietness!
Mor. But by the sword, my lord, it must be de-
served;

The king will ne'er forsake his flatterers.

Sir John. My lords of England, sith the gentle king

Mat. From the lieutenant of the Tower, my
lord.

Edw. I pray let us see it. What have we there?
Read it, Spencer. [SPENCER reads their names.
Why so; they bark'd apace a month ago.
Now, on my life, they'll neither bark nor bite.
Now, sirs, the news from France? Glo'ster, I trow,
The lords of France love England's gold so well,
As Isabel gets no aid from thence.

What now remains? have you proclaimed, my lord, un-Reward for them can bring in Mortimer?

Of France refuseth to give aid of arms
To this distressed queen his sister here,
Go you with ber to Henault; doubt ye not,
We will find comfort, money, men, and friends,
Ere long, to bid the English king abase.—
How say, young prince? what think you of the
match?

Prince. I think, king Edward will outrun us all.
Queen. Nay son, not so; and you must not dis-

courage

Your friends, that are so forward in aid.
your
Edm. Sir John of Henault, pardon us, I pray;
These comforts that you give our woeful queen
Bind us in kindness all at your command.

Queen. Yea, gentle brother; and the God of
heaven

Prosper your happy motion, good sir John!

Spen. jun. My lord, we have; and, if he be in
England,

He will be had ere long, I doubt it not.

Edw. If! do'st thou say? Spencer, as true as
death,

He is in England's ground; our portmasters
Are not so careless of their king's command.

Enter a Post.

How now, what news with thee? from whence
come these?

Post. Letters, my lord, and tidings forth of
France,

To you, my lord of Glo'ster, from Lewen.
Edw. Read.

SPENCER reads the Letters.

"My duty to your honour premised,&c. I have,

Mor. jun. This noble gentleman, forward in according to instructions in that behalf, dealt with

[blocks in formation]

the king of France, his lords, and effected that
the queen, all discontented and discomforted, is
gone. Whither, if you ask; with Sir John of
Henault, brother to the marquiss, into Flanders:
with them are gone Lord Edmund, and the Lord
Mortimer, having in their company divers of your
nation, and others; and, as constant report goeth,
they intend to give King Edward battle in Eng-
land, sooner than he can look for them: this is
all the news of import. Your honour's in all ser-
vice,
LEWEN."

Edw. Ab, villains! hath that Mortimer escaped?
With him is Edmund gone associate?
And will Sir John of Henault lead the round?-
Welcome a God's name, madam, and your son;
England shall welcome you, and all your rout.-
43 Gallop a-pace bright Phoebus through the sky,
And dusky night, in rusty iron car,
Between you both, shorten the time, I pray,
That I may see that most desired day,
When we inay meet these traitors in the field!
Ah, nothing grieves me, but my little boy

43 Gallop a-pace, &c.—Shakespeare has imitated these lines in Romeo and Juliet, A. 3. S, 2 :

"Gallop apace, you fiery-footed steeds,

Towards Phoebus mansion; such a waggoner

As Phaeton would whip you to the west,
And bring in cloudy night immediately.”

[blocks in formation]

Enter the QUEEN, her Son, EDMUND, MORTIMER, and Sir JOHN.

Queen. Now, lords, our loving friends, and countrymen,

Welcome to England all, with prosperous winds; Our kindest friends in Belgia have we left, To cope with friends at home; a heavy case, When force to force is knit, and sword and ++ gleave

In civil broils make kin and countrymen
Slaughter themselves in others, and their sides
With their own weapons gore! But what's the
help?

Misgoverned kings are cause of all this wreck;
And, Edward, thou art one among them all,
Whose looseness hath betrayed thy land to spoil,
And made the channel overflow with blood
Of thine own people; patron should'st thou be,
But thou-

Mor. jun. Nay, madam, if you be a warrior,
Ye must not grow so passionate in speeches.-
Lords, sith that we are, by sufferance of heaven,
Arrived and armed in this prince's right,
Here for our country's cause swear we to him
All homage, fealty, and forwardness;
And for the open wrongs and injuries
Edward hath done to us, his queen, and land,
We come in arms to wreck it with the sword;
That England's queen in peace may repossess
Her dignities and honours: and withall
We may remove these flatterers from the king,
That havock England's wealth and treasury.
Sir John. Sound trumpets, my lord, and forward
let us march.

Edward will think we come to flatter him. Edm. I would he never had been flattered more! [Exeunt. Enter the KING, BALDOCK, and SPENCER the Son, flying about the Stage.

Spen. Fly, fly, my lord, the queen is overstrong,

[blocks in formation]

EDMUND alone, with a Sword and Target. This way he fled, but I am come too late. Edward, alas! my heart relents for thee. Proud traitor, Mortimer, why dost thou chase Thy lawful king, thy sovereign, with thy sword?— Vile wretch! and why hast thou, of all unkind, Borne arms against thy brother and thy king? Rain showers of vengeance on my cursed head, Thou God, to whom in justice it belongs To punish this unnatural revolt!— Edward, this Mortimer aims at thy life: O fly him then!-but, Edmund, calm this rage, Dissemble, or thou diest; for Mortimer And Isabel do kiss, while they conspire: And yet she bears a face of love, forsooth. Fie on that love that hatcheth death and hate! Edmund, away; Bristol to Longshanks's blood Is false; be not found single for suspect: Proud Mortimer pryes near into thy walks. Enter the Queen, MORTIMER, the young Prince, and Sir JOHN of Henault.

Queen. Successful battle gives the God of kings To them that fight in right, and fear his wrath. Since then successfully we have prevailed, Thanked be heaven's great architect, and you! Ere farther we proceed, my noble lords, We here create our well-beloved son, Of love and care unto his royal person, Lord warden of the realm; and, sith the fates Have made his father so unfortunate, Deal you, my lords, in this, my loving lords, As to your wisdoms fittest seems in all.

Edm. Madam, without offence, if I may ask, How will you deal with Edward in his fall? Prince. Tell me, good uncle, what Edward do you mean?

44 Gleave-Or glave, a weapon like a halberd. It is mentioned in Churchyard's Challenge, p. 44:

"And wanting wealth to pay this heavy sum,

With billes and glayves from prison was I led."

Again, Arden of Feversham:

Edward III. A. 3. S. 5:

"O mistris, the major, and all the watch,

Are coming towards our house with glaves and bills."

with their pond'rous glaives.".

Edm Nephew, your father; I dare not call him king.

Mor. My lord of Kent, what needs these questions?

*Tis not in her controlment, nor in ours, But as the realm and parliament shall please, So shall your brother be disposed of. I like not this relenting mood in Edmund, [Aside, to the Queen. Madam, 'tis good to look to him betimes. Queen. My lord, the mayor of Bristol knows our mind.

Mor. Yea, madam, and they 'scape not easily That fled the field.

Queen. Baldock is with the king;

A goodly chancellor, is he not, my lord?

Sir John. So are the Spencers, the father and the son.

Edm. This Edward is the ruin of the realm.

Enter RICE AP HOWELL, and the Mayor of
tol, with SPENCER the Father.
Rice. God save Queen Isabel, and her
ly son!

|

And we must seek to right it as we may.
Meanwhile, have hence this rebel to the block.
Spen. Rebel is he that fights against the prince;
So fought not they that fought in Edward's right.
Mor. Take him away, he prates.—You, Rice
ap Howell,

Shall do good service to her majesty,
Being of countenance in your country here,
To follow these rebellious runnagates.-
We in mean while, madam, must take advice,
How Baldock, Spencer, and their complices,
May in their fall be followed to their end.

[Exeunt.

Enter the Abbot, Monks, EDWARD, SPENCER, and BALDOCK.

Abbot. Have you no doubt, my lord; have you no fear;

As silent and as careful we will be,

Bris-Free from 45 suspect, and fell invasion
To keep your royal person safe with us,

Of such as have your majesty in chase,
prince-Yourself, and those your chosen company,
As danger of this stormy time requires.

Madam, the mayor and citizens of Bristol,
In sign of love and duty to this presence,
Present by me this traitor to the state,
Spencer, the father to that wanton Spencer,
That, like the lawless Catiline of Rome,
Revelled in England's wealth and treasury.
Queen. We thank you all.

Mor. jun. Your loving care in this
Deserveth princely favours and rewards.
But where's the king and the other Spencer fled?
Rice. Spencer the son, created ear of Glo'ster,
Is with that smooth-tongued scholar Baldock

[blocks in formation]

Edw. Father, thy face should harbour no de

ceit.

O! hadst thou ever been a king, thy heart,
Pierced deeply with a sense of my distress,
Could not but take compassion of my state.
Stately and proud, in riches and in train,
Whilom I was, powerful, and full of pomp:
But what is he, whom rule and empiry
Have not in life or death made miserable?—
Come, Spencer, come, Baldock, come sit down
by me;

Make trial now of that philosophy,
That in our famous nurseries of arts
Thou suck'st from Plato and from Aristotle.-
Father, this life contemplative is heaven.
O that I might this life in quiet lead!
But we, alas! are chased; and you, my friends,
Your lives, and my dishonour, they pursue.

They shall be started thence, I doubt it not.
Prince. Shall I not see the king my father yet?
Edm. Unhappy Edward! chased from Eng-Yet, gentle monks, for treasure, gold, nor fee,

land's bounds!

Sir John. Madam, what resteth? why stand ye

in a muse?

Queen. I rue my lord's ill fortune; but, alas! Care of my country called me to this war. Mor. Madam, have done with care and sad complaint, Your king hath wronged your country and himself;

Do you betray us and our company.

Monks. Your grace may sit secure, if none but we do 46 wot of your abode. Spen. Not one alive, but, shrewdly I suspect, A gloomy fellow, in a mead below; He

gave a long look after us, my lord; And all the land I know is up in arms; Arms that pursue our lives with deadly hate.

45 Suspect,-i. e. suspicion. So, in Middleton's More Dissemblers besides Women, A. 2. S. 1:

[blocks in formation]

Bald. We were embarked for Ireland, wretch-
ed we!

With awkward winds and sore tempests driven
To fall on shore, and here to pine in fear
Of Mortimer and his confederates.

Edw. Mortimer! who talks of Mortimer?
Who wounds me with the name of Mortimer?
That bloody man!-Good father, on thy lap
Lay I this head, laden with nickle care.
O might I never ope these eyes again!
Never again lift up this drooping head!
O never more lift up this dying heart!
Spen. Look up, my lord.-Baldock, this drow-
siness

Betides no good; here even we are betrayed. Enter, with Welch Hooks,47 RICE AP HOWEL, a Mower, and the Earl of LEICESTER.

Mower. Upon my life, these be the men ye seek.

Rice. Fellow, enough.-My lord, I pray be short,

A fair commission warrants what we do.

Lei. The queen's commission, urged by Morti

mer.

What cannot Mortimer with the queeu!
Alas! see where he sits, and hopes unseen,
T'escape their hands that seek to reave his life.
Too true it is, quem dies vidit veniens superbum,
Hunc dies vidit fugiens jacentem.

But, Leicester, leave to grow so passionate.-
Spencer and Baldock, by no other names,
I arrest you of high treason here.

Stand not on titles, but obey the arrest;
'Tis in the name of Isabel the queen.-
My lord, why droop you thus?

Edu. O day! the last of all my bliss on earth! Center of all misfortune! O my stars! Why do you low'r unkindly on a king? Comes Leicester then, in Isabella's name, To take my life, my company from me? Here, man, rip up this panting breast of mine, And take my heart in rescue of my friends. Rice. Away with them!

Spen. It may become thee yet,

To let us take our farewell of his grace. Abbot. My heart with pity yearns to see this sight;

A king to bear these words and proud commands.

Edw. Spencer, ah sweet Spencer, thus then must we part?

Spen. We must, my lord, so will the angry hea

vens.

Edw. Nay, so will hell and cruel Mortimer; The gentle heavens have not to do with this.

Buld. My lord, it is in vain to grieve or storm. Here humbly of your grace we take our leaves; Our lots are cast,-I fear me, so is thine.

Edw. In heaven we may, in earth ne'er shall

we meet :

And, Leicester, say, what shall become of us? Lei. Your majesty must go to Killingworth. Edw. Must! 'tis somewhat hard, when kings must go.

Lei. Here is a litter ready for your grace, That waits your pleasure, and the day grows old. Rice. As good be gone, as stay and be benighted.

Edw. A litter hast thou? lay me in a hearse, And to the gates of hell convey me hence; Let Pluto's bells ring out my fatal knell, And hags howl for my death at Charon's shore. For friends hath Edward none, but these; and these

Must die under a tyrant's sword.

Rice. My lord, be going, care not for these,
For we shall see them shorter by the heads.
Edw. Well, that shall be, shall be part we
must!

Sweet Spencer, gentle Baldock, part we must!
Hence feigned weeds! unfeigned are my woes;
Father, farewell! Leicester, thou stay'st for me,
And go I must. Life, farewell, with my friends.
[Exeunt EDWARD and LEICESTER.
Spen. O is he gone! is noble Edward gone!
Parted from hence! never to see us more!
Rend, sphere of heaven! and, fire, forsake thy
orb!

Earth, melt to air! gone is my sovereign!
Gone, gone, alas! never to make return.

Bald. Spencer, I see our souls are fleeting
hence;

We are deprived the sunshine of our life;
Make for a new life, man; throw up thy eyes,
And heart, and hand, to heaven's immortal throne;
Pay nature's debt with cheerful countenance;
Reduce we all our lessons unto this,

To die, sweet Spencer; therefore live we all;
Spencer, all live to die, and rise to fall.

Rice. Come, come, keep these preachments till
you come

To the place appointed. You, and such as you are;

- 47 Welch hooks,-What kind of weapons these were is not precisely known. Mr Steevens is of opinion, that the Welch hook and the brown bill are no more than varieties of the securis falcata, or probably a weapon of the same kind with the Lochaber axe, which was used in the late rebellion Colonel Gardner was attacked with such a one at the battle of Prestonpans. Mr Tollet imagines a weapon, of which a print is given, from the hooked form of it, to be the Welch hook. See Notes in the First Part of Henry IV. A. 2. S. 4.

« PreviousContinue »