LEI.  Do not maintain proud Chester, my life’s liege: 
Your words I must put up; his if I bear—­

KING.[318] Yes, you shall bear them, bear, and yet not bite: 
We have you muzzled now.  Remember once
You brav’d us with your bombard boasting words. 
Come (briefly), Leicester, Richmond, both Fitzwaters, Bruce,
Deliver up your swords immediately;
And either yield your bodies to our hands,
Or give such pledges as we shall accept
Unto our steward Winchester with speed.

LEI.  I will not leave my arms, nor break my word,
Except I be provok’d:  your liege-man I am sworn;
That oath is pledge enough.  If you mislike—­

KING.  Thou hear’st me say I do.

LEI.  And I reply: 
That pledge refus’d, I have no more for you.

RICH.  And Richmond says as noble Leicester saith. 
Already have we plighted fame and faith
Which, being scorn’d, returns to us again,
And by the king’s own mouth we are discharged.

KING.  Fitzwater, what say you?

FITZ.  What pledge desires my liege?

KING.  I ask your stubborn daughter.

YOUNG B. That were a gage
To be engaged.

FITZ.  Peace, thou headstrong boy! 
Pardon me, sovereign; all my power is yours;
My goods you may command, my life you may: 
My children too, I know, with both their lives
Will readily adventure death’s worst wrongs,
To do such service as true subjects should;
But honourable fame; true chastity—­

KING.  Make no exceptions:  yield her up to me,
Or look for ever for my enmity.

FITZ.  Nay, then, Fitzwater tells your majesty,
You do him wrong; and well will let you wit,
He will defend his honour to the death.

KING.  And, Bruce, you are no otherwise disposed: 
You will not give your sons to me for pledge.

BRUCE.  I have but one, being my lesser boy,
Who is at Guildford:  for my other son—­

KING.  He braves me with the rest. 
Well, it is night, and there’s no sun to swear by,
But God’s[319] son, and by him I here protest
A miserable storm this night to raise
That shall not cease, while England giveth rest
To such vile traitors.  Bruce, I’ll begin with you;
I will, i’ faith, as true as God is true.

[Exit KING, cum suis.

LEI.  Then shall a storm be rais’d against a storm,
And tempest be with tempest beaten back.

FITZ.  But this firm island, like the sea, will toss. 
And many goodly buildings go to wrack;
Many a widow weep her dying son,
And many a mother to her weeping babes
Cry out uncomfortably, “Children, peace,
Your crying unto me is all in vain,
Dead is my husband, your poor father slain!”

YOUNG B. We cannot help it, uncle.

RICH.  No, you see
Entreats and humble suits have now no power,
But lust and wrath the kingdom do devour.