Dick. If we mean to thrive and do good, break open the gaols, and let out the prisoners. Cade. Fear not that, I warrant thee. Come, let's march towards London. [Exeunt. SCENE IV. - London. A Room in the Palace. Enter KING HENRY, reading a Supplication; the DUKE of BUCKINGHAM and LORD SAY with him: at a distance, QUEEN MARGARET, mourning over SUFFOLK'S Head. Q. Mar. Oft have I heard mind, And makes it fearful and degenerate; K. Hen. I'll send some holy bishop to entreat : The rascal people, thirsting after prey, Buck. Then linger not, my lord; away, take horse. succour us. Enter LORD SCALES, and others, on the Walls. Then enter certain Citizens, below. Scales. How now? is Jack Cade slain? 1 Cit. No, my lord, nor likely to be slain; for they have won the bridge, killing all those that withstand them: The lord mayor craves aid of your honour from the Tower, to defend the city from the rebels. Scales. Such aid as I can spare, you shall command; Q. Mar. Ah, barbarous villains! hath this lovely But get you to Smithfield, and gather head, face Rul'd like a wandering planet, over me; That were unworthy to behold the same? K. Hen. Lord Say, Jack Cade hath sworn to have Say. Ay, but I hope, your highness shall have his. Thou wouldest not have mourn'd so much for me. thee. Enter a Messenger. K. Hen. How now! what news? why com'st thou Mess. The rebels are in Southwark; Fly, my lord! Of hinds and peasants, rude and merciless; Buck. My gracious lord, retire to Kenelworth, Q. Mar. Ah! were the duke of Suffolk now alive, Enter another Messenger. 2 Mess. Jack Cade hath gotten London-bridge; the citizens Fly and forsake their houses: And thither I will send you Matthew Gough: Sold. Jack Cade! Jack Cade! Dick. My lord, there's an army gathered together in Smithfield. Cade. Come then, let's go fight with them: But, first, go and set London-bridge on fire; and if you can, burn down the Tower too. Come, let's away. [Exeunt. Cade. I have thought upon it; it shall be so. | Knowledge the wing wherewith we fly to it. Away, burn all the records of the realm; my mouth Unless you be possess'd with devilish spirits, shall be the parliament of England. You cannot but forbear to murder me. This tongue hath parley'd unto foreign kings For your behoof, John. Then we are like to have biting statutes, unless his teeth be pulled out. [Aside. Cade. And henceforward all things shall be in common. Enter a Messenger. Mess. My lord, a prize, a prize! here's the lord Say, which sold the towns in France; he that made us pay one and twenty fifteens 8, and one shilling to the pound, the last subsidy. Enter GEORGE BEVIS, with the LORD SAY. Cade. Well, he shall be beheaded for it ten times. -Ah, thou say 9, thou serge, nay, thou buckram lord! now art thou within point-blank of our jurisdiction regal. What canst thou answer to my majesty, for giving up of Normandy unto the dauphin of France? Be it known unto thee by these presence, even the presence of lord Mortimer, that I am the besom that must sweep the court clean of such filth as thou art. Thou hast most traitorously corrupted the youth of the realm, in erecting a grammar-school: and whereas, before, our forefathers had no other books but the score and the tally, thou hast caused printing to be used; and, contrary to the king, his crown and dignity, thou hast built a paper-mill. It will be proved to thy face, that thou hast men about thee, that usually talk of a noun, and a verb; and such abominable words, as no Christian ear can endure to hear. Thou hast appointed justices of peace, to call poor men before them about matters they were not able to answer. Moreover, thou hast put them in prison, and because they could not read', thou hast hanged them, when, indeed, only for that cause they have been most worthy to live. Thou dost ride on a foot-cloth 2, dost thou not? Say. What of that? Cade. Marry, thou oughtest not to let thy horse wear a cloak, when honester men than thou go in their hose and doublets. Dick. And work in their shirt too; as myself, for example, that am a butcher. Say. You men of Kent. — Dick. What say you of Kent? Say. Nothing but this: 'Tis bona terra, mala gens. Cade. Away with him, away with him! he speaks Latin. Cade. Tut! when struck'st thou one blow in the field? Say. Great men have reaching hands: oft have I struck Those that I never saw, and struck them dead. Geo. O monstrous coward! what, to come behind folks? Say. These cheeks are pale for watching for your good. Cade. Give him a box o' the ear, and that will make 'em red again. Say. Long sitting to determine poor men's causes Hath made me full of sickness and diseases. Cade. Ye shall have a hempen caudle then, and the pap of a hatchet. Dick. Why dost thou quiver, man? Say. The palsy, and not fear, provoketh me. Cade. Nay, he nods at us; as who should say, I'll be even with you. I'll see if his head will stand steadier on a pole, or no: Take him away, and behead him. Say. Tell me, wherein I have offended most? Have I affected wealth, or honour; speak? Are my chests fill'd up with extorted gold? Is my apparel sumptuous to behold? Whom have I injur'd, that ye seek my death? These hands are free from guiltless blood-shedding3, This breast from harbouring foul deceitful thoughts. O, let me live! Cade. I feel remorse in myself with his words: but I'll bridle it; he shall die, an it be but for pleading so well for his life. Away with him! he has a familiar under his tongue; Go, take him away, 1 say, and strike off his head presently; and then break into his son-in-law's house, sir James Cromer, and strike off his head, and bring them both upon two poles hither. All. It shall be done. Say. Ah, countrymen! if when you make your prayers, God should be so obdurate as yourselves, Say. Hear me but speak, and bear me where you The proudest peer in the realm shall not wear a will. Kent, in the commentaries Cæsar writ, Is term'd the civil'st place of all this isle : Kent to maintain, the king, the realm, and you? 8 A fifteen was the fifteenth part of all the movables or personal property of each subject. 9 Say was a kind of serge. 1 i. e. Because they could not claim the benefit of clergy. 2 A kind of housing, which covered the body of the horse. head on his shoulders, unless he pay me tribute; men shall hold of me in capite; and we charge and command, that their wives be as free as heart can wish, or tongue can tell. Dick. My lord, when shall we go to Cheapside, and take up commodities upon our bills? Cade. Marry, presently. All. O brave! Re-enter Rebels, with the Heads of LORD SAY and his Son-in-law. Cade. But is not this braver?- Let them kiss one another, for they loved well, when they were alive. Now part them again, lest they consult about the giving up of some more towns in France. Soldiers, defer the spoil of the city until night: for with these borne before us, instead of maces, will we ride 3 i. e. Shedding guiltless blood. 4 A dæmon who was supposed to attend at call. through the streets; and, at every corner, have them | midst of you! and honour be witness, that no want kiss. - Away! [Exeunt. of resolution in me, but only my followers' base and ignominious treasons, makes me betake me to my heels. SCENE VIII. · Southwark. Alarum. Enter CADE. and all his Rabblement. Cade. Up Fish-street! down Saint Magnus' corner! kill and knock down! throw them into Thames![A Parley sounded, then a Retreat.] What noise is this I hear? Dare any be so bold to sound retreat or parley, when I command them kill? Enter BUCKINGHAM, and old CLIFFORD, with Forces. Buck. Ay, here they be that dare and will disturb thee: Know, Cade, we come ambassadors from the king All. God save the king! God save the king! Cade. What, Buckingham, and Clifford, are ye so brave? And you, base peasants, do ye believe him? will you needs be hanged with your pardons about your necks? Hath my sword therefore broke through London gates, that you should leave me at the White Hart in Southwark ? I thought, ye would never have given out these arms, till you had recovered your ancient freedom; but you are all recreants, and dastards; and delight to live in slavery to the nobility. Let them break your backs with burdens, take your houses over your heads, ravish your wives and daughters before your faces: For me, I will make shift for one; and socurse 'light upon you all! All. We'll follow Cade, we'll follow Cade. Clif. Is Cade the son of Henry the fifth, That thus you do exclaim-you'll go with him? Will he conduct you through the heart of France, And make the meanest of you earls and dukes? Alas, he hath no home, no place to fly to; Nor knows he how to live, but by the spoil, Unless by robbing of your friends, and us. Wer't not a shame, that whilst you live at jar, The fearful French, whom you late vanquished, Should make a start o'er seas and vanquish you? Methinks, already, in this civil broil, - A I see them lording it in London streets, All. A Clifford a Clifford! we'll follow the king, and Clifford. Cade. Was ever feather so lightly blown to and fro, as this multitude? the name of Henry the fifth hales them to an hundred mischiefs, and makes them leave me desolate. I see them lay their heads together, to surprize me: my sword make way for me, for here is no staying. Have through the very [Erit. SCENE IX. - Kenelworth Castle. Enter KING HENRY, QUEEN MARGARET, and SOMERSET, on the Terrace of the Castle. K. Hen. Was ever king that joy'd an earthly throne, And could command no more content than I? Enter BUCKINGHAM and CLIFFORD. Or is he but retir'd to make him strong? Enter, below, a great number of CADE's Followers, with Halters about their Necks. Clif. He's fled, my lord, and all his powers do yield; And humbly thus, with halters on their necks, K. Hen. Then, heaven, set ope thy everlasting gates, Mess. Please it your grace to be advertised, Like to a ship, that, having 'scap'd a tempest, I pray thee, Buckingham, go forth and meet him; I'll yield myself to prison willingly, Two orders of foot-soldiers among the Irish. K. Hen. In any case, be not too rough in terms;| For yet may England curse my wretched reign. SCENE X. -Kent. Iden's Garden. Cade. Fye on ambition! fye on myself; that have a sword, and yet am ready to famish! These five days have I hid me in these woods; and durst not peep out, for all the country is lay'd for me; Lut now am I so hungry, that if I might have a lease of my life for a thousand years, I could stay no longer. Wherefore, on a brick-wall have I climbed into this garden; to see if I can eat grass, or pick a sallet another while, which is not amiss to cool a man's stomach this hot weather. And, I think, this word sallet was born to do me good: for, many a time, but for a sallet 7, my brain-pan had been cleft with a brown bill; and, many a time, when I have been dry, and bravely marching, it hath served me instead of a quart-pot to drink in; and now the word sallet must serve me to feed on. Enter IDEN, with Servants. Cade. Brave thee? ay, by the best blood that ever was broached, and beard thee too. Look on me well: I have eat no meat these five days; yet, come thou and thy five men, and if I do not leave you all as dead as a door-nail, may I never eat grass more. Iden. Nay, it shall ne'er be said while England stands, That Alexander Iden, an esquire of Kent, Took odds to combat a poor famish'd man. Oppose thy steadfast-gazing eyes to mine, Set limb to limb, and thou art far the lesser ; See if thou canst outface me with thy looks. Thy hand is but a finger to my fist; Thy leg a stick compared with this truncheon; My foot shall fight with all the strength thou hast ; And if mine arm be heaved in the air, Thy grave is digg'd already in the earth. As for more words, whose greatness answers words, Let this my sword report what speech forbears. that ever I heard. - Steel, if thou turn the edge, or Cade. By my valour, the most complete champion cut not out the burly-boned clown in chines of beef ere thou sleep in thy sheath, mayest thou be turned famine, and no other, hath slain me; let ten thouto hobnails. [They fight. CADE falls.] O, I am slain! sand devils come against me, and give me but the ten meals I have lost, and I'd defy them all. Wither, garden: and be henceforth a buryingplace to all that do dwell in this house, because the Iden. Lord, who would live turmoiled in the court, unconquered soul of Cade is fled. Iden. Is't Cade that I have slain, that monstrous Cade. Here's the lord of the soil come to seize me for a stray, for entering his fee-simple without leave. Ah, villain, thou wilt betray me, and get a thousand crowns of the king for carrying my head to him; but I'll make thee eat iron like an ostrich, and swallow my sword like a great pin, ere thou and I part. Iden. Why, rude companion, whatsoe'er thou be, Sword, I will hallow thee for this thy deed, Cade. Iden, farewell; and be proud of thy vic- Iden. How much thou wrong'st me, heaven be my Hence will I drag thee headlong by the heels Art thou a messenger, or come of pleasure? O Buckingham, I pr'ythee, pardon me, Buck. That is too much presumption on thy part: York. Upon thine honour, is he prisoner? my Buck York, I commend this kind submission: We twain will go into his highness' tent. Enter KING HENRY, attended. Iden. Alexander Iden, that s my name; A poor esquire of Kent, that loves his king. Buck. So please it you, my lord, 'twere not amiss He were created knight for his good service. K. Hen. Iden, kneel down; [He kneels.] Rise up a knight. We give thee for reward a thousand marks; K. Hen. See, Buckingham! Somerset comes with the queen; Go, bid her hide him quickly from the duke. Enter QUEEN MARGARET and SOMERSET. Q. Mar. For thousand Yorks he shall not hide But boldly stand, and front him to his face. Here is a hand to hold a scepter up, Som. O monstrous traitor! - I arrest thee, York, Of capital treason 'gainst the king and crown: Obey, audacious traitor; kneel for grace. York. Wouldst have me kneel? first let me ask of these, If they can brook I bow a knee to man. Sirrah, call in my scns to be my bail; [Exit an Attendant. I know, ere they will have me go to ward 8, K. Hen. Buckingham, doth York intend no harm They'll pawn their swords for my enfranchisement. to us. That thus he marcheth with thee arm in arm? York. To heave the traitor Somerset from hence; Enter IDEN, with CADE's Head. Iden. If one so rude, and of so mean condition, May pass into the presence of a king, Lo, I present your grace a traitor's head, The head of Cade, whom I in combat slew. K. Hen. The head of Cade?- Great God, how just art thou!— O, let me view his visage being dead, Q. Mar. Call hither Clifford; bid him come amain, To say, if that the bastard boys of York York. O blood-bespotted Neapolitan, Enter EDWARD and RICHARD PLANTAGENET, with Forces, at one side; at the other, with Forces also, old CLIFFORD, and his Son. See, where they come; I'll warrant they'll make it good. Q. Mar. And here comes Clifford, to deny their bail. Clif. Health and all happiness to my lord the king! [Kneels I thank thee, Clifford: Say, what news with thee? York. K. Hen. How art thou call'd? and what is thy Nay, do not fright us with an angry look: degree? & Custody, confinement. |