This was the spring, from whence at first did floe Those streames of strife, which rising like a flood Do ouerwhelme my state in waues of woe, Which threat confusion to the common good, Which first in death do coole my barons blood: And which yet swelling higher, lastly bring A violent downefall to a royall king. 25. My _Gaueston_, in maiestie’s great armes Being safely hug’d, no change of fortune feares: He wantons with the king, soothes his owne harmes, He playes the buffon’s part, he flouts and ieers The courtly actions of the honor’d peeres: The great in counsell and the noble borne, Are made the subiect of his hatefull scorne. 26. Sterne wrath to let loose rage, steps vp from hell, Conducts my peeres from court vnto the campe, She claps her hands and with a countnance fell, Gnashing her teeth doth fiercely raue and rampe, And with her feet vpon the ground doth stampe: Then whets them to reuenge in their rash mood, Whose furious thirst must be allaid with blood. 27. Twice was my minion as an exile sent To forren shores, their furie to restraine, And twice againe reuokte with their assent, Who now no longer able to refraine, Prouokte with daily wrongs of his disdaine, He being betrai’d, for vengeance all do call, On Gauer’s heath, where _Gaueston_ did fall. 28. They wreake their vengeance in his reeking blood, My sighes they laugh to scorne, while I lament, With faire pretence to further common good They vnderpop their cause, and to preuent The mischiefe, that may grow from discontent, To tracke me step by step in euery thing, Whom they do please, they place about their king. 29. Feeding on griefe for _Gaueston_ deceast, And blushing at such wrong done to my state, Reuenge doth burne in my distempred brest, Anger takes hands with griefe, all ioyne with hate, And to the peeres threaten pernicious fate, Who, lest time weaken rage then too too strong, Do giue it strength by adding daily wrong. 30. In this dissension, while on euery hand, We for our owne destruction do prepare, Newes from the north giues vs to vnderstand, How valiant _Brewse_ in his successefull warre Against our powers doth prosperously fare, Recouering that from vs againe, with more, Which our dread sire had kept from him before. 31.