King Edward the Third | Page 5

begirt with siege The Castle of
Rocksborough, where inclosed The Countess Salisbury is like to perish.
KING EDWARD. That is thy daughter, Warwick, is it not? Whose
husband hath in Brittain served so long About the planting of Lord
Mountford there?
WARWICK. It is, my Lord.
KING EDWARD. Ignoble David! hast thou none to grieve But silly
Ladies with thy threatening arms? But I will make you shrink your
snaily horns! First, therefore, Audley, this shall be thy charge, Go levy
footmen for our wars in France; And, Ned, take muster of our men at
arms: In every shire elect a several band. Let them be Soldiers of a
lusty spirit, Such as dread nothing but dishonor's blot; Be wary,
therefore, since we do commence A famous War, and with so mighty a
nation. Derby, be thou Ambassador for us Unto our Father in Law, the
Earl of Henalt: Make him acquainted with our enterprise, And likewise
will him, with our own allies That are in Flanders, to solicit to The
Emperour of Almaigne in our name. My self, whilst you are jointly
thus employed, Will, with these forces that I have at hand, March, and
once more repulse the traitorous Scot. But, Sirs, be resolute: we shall
have wars On every side; and, Ned, thou must begin Now to forget thy
study and thy books, And ure thy shoulders to an Armor's weight.
PRINCE EDWARD. As cheerful sounding to my youthful spleen This

tumult is of war's increasing broils, As, at the Coronation of a king, The
joyful clamours of the people are, When Ave, Caesar! they pronounce
aloud. Within this school of honor I shall learn Either to sacrifice my
foes to death, Or in a rightful quarrel spend my breath. Then cheerfully
forward, each a several way; In great affairs tis nought to use delay.
[Exeunt.]
ACT I. SCENE II. Roxborough. Before the Castle.
[Enter the Countess.]
COUNTESS. Alas, how much in vain my poor eyes gaze For succour
that my sovereign should send! Ah, cousin Mountague, I fear thou
wants The lively spirit, sharply to solicit With vehement suit the king in
my behalf: Thou dost not tell him, what a grief it is To be the scornful
captive of a Scot, Either to be wooed with broad untuned oaths, Or
forced by rough insulting barbarism; Thou doest not tell him, if he here
prevail, How much they will deride us in the North, And, in their wild,
uncivil, skipping gigs, Bray forth their Conquest and our overthrow
Even in the barren, bleak, and fruitless air.
[Enter David and Douglas, Lorrain.]
I must withdraw, the everlasting foe Comes to the wall; I'll closely step
aside, And list their babble, blunt and full of pride.
KING DAVID. My Lord of Lorrain, to our brother of France
Commend us, as the man in Christendom That we most reverence and
entirely love. Touching your embassage, return and say, That we with
England will not enter parley, Nor never make fair weather, or take
truce; But burn their neighbor towns, and so persist With eager Rods
beyond their City York. And never shall our bonny riders rest, Nor
rusting canker have the time to eat Their light borne snaffles nor their
nimble spurs, Nor lay aside their Jacks of Gymould mayle, Nor hang
their staves of grained Scottish ash In peaceful wise upon their City
walls, Nor from their buttoned tawny leathern belts Dismiss their biting
whinyards, till your King Cry out: Enough, spare England now for pity!
Farewell, and tell him that you leave us here Before this Castle; say,
you came from us, Even when we had that yielded to our hands.
LORRAIN. I take my leave, and fairly will return Your acceptable
greeting to my king.
[Exit Lorrain.]
KING DAVID. Now, Douglas, to our former task again, For the

division of this certain spoil.
DOUGLAS. My liege, I crave the Lady, and no more.
KING DAVID. Nay, soft ye, sir; first I must make my choice, And first
I do bespeak her for my self.
DOUGLAS. Why then, my liege, let me enjoy her jewels.
KING DAVID. Those are her own, still liable to her, And who inherits
her, hath those with all.
[Enter a Scot in haste.]
MESSENGER. My liege, as we were pricking on the hills, To fetch in
booty, marching hitherward, We might descry a might host of men;
The Sun, reflecting on the armour, shewed A field of plate, a wood of
picks advanced. Bethink your highness speedily herein: An easy march
within four hours will bring The hindmost rank unto this place, my
liege.
KING DAVID. Dislodge, dislodge! it is the king of England.
DOUGLAS. Jemmy, my man, saddle my bonny black.
KING DAVID. Meanst thou to fight, Douglas? we are too weak.
DOUGLAS.