Large gifts have I bestow'd on learned clerks, This tongue hath parley'd unto foreign kings Cade. Tut! when struck'st thou one blow in the field? Hath made me full of sickness and diseases. Cade. Ye shall have a hempen caudle, then, and the help of hatchet. Dick. Why dost thou quiver, man? Say. The palsy, and not fear, provoketh me. Take 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. him away, and behead him. Say. Tell me, wherein have I offended most? Have I affected wealth, or honour? speak. Whom have I injur'd, that ye seek my death? These hands are free from guiltless blood-shedding, Cade. [Aside.] 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; he speaks not o' God's name. Go, take him away, I 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, How would it fare with your departed souls? Cade. Away with him! and do as I command ye. [Exeunt some, with LORD SAY. The proudest peer in the realm shall not wear a head on his shoulders, unless he pay me tribute; there shall not a maid be married, but she shall pay to me her maidenhead, ere they have it: 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. 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 through the streets; and at every corner have them kiss.-Away! [Exeunt. 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. 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 so, God's curse '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? I see them lording it in London streets, Henry hath money, you are strong and manly; God on our side, doubt not of victory. All. A Clifford! a Clifford ! we'll follow the king, and Clifford. Cade. [Aside.] Was ever feather so lightly blown to and fro, as this multitude? the name of Henry the fifth hales them to a hundred mischiefs, and makes them leave me desolate. I see them lay their heads together, to surprise me: my sword make way for me, for here is no staying. In despite of the devils and hell, have through the very midst of you! and heavens and honour be witness, that no want of resolution in me, but only my followers' base and ignominious treasons, makes me betake me to my heels. [Exit. Buck. What is he fled? go some, and follow him; And he, that brings his head unto the king, [Exeunt some of them. Follow me, soldiers: we'll devise a mean [Exeunt SCENE IX.-Killingworth Castle. Trumpets sounded. 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? No sooner was I crept out of my cradle, But I was made a king, at nine months old: As I do long and wish to be a subject. Enter BUCKINGHAM and Old Clifford. . Buck. Health, and glad tidings, to your majesty! K. Hen. Why, Buckingham, is the traitor, Cade, surpris'd? Or is he but retir'd to make him strong? Enter, below, a number of CADE's followers, with halters about their necks. Clif. He's fled, my lord, and all his powers do yield; K. Hen. Then, heaven, set ope thy everlasting gates, And Henry, though he be infortunate, Enter a Messenger. Mess. Please it your grace to be advértised, The duke of Somerset, whom he terms a traitor. K. Hen. Thus stands my state, 'twixt Cade and York dis tress'd; Like to a ship, that, having scap'd a tempest, Is straightway calm'd, and boarded with a pirate: And now is York in arms to second him.- Som. My lord, I'll yield myself to prison willingly, Or unto death, to do my country good. K. Hen. In any case, be not too rough in terms; As all things shall redound unto your good. SCENE X.-KENT. IDEN'S Garden. Enter CADE. [Exeunt. Cade. Fie on ambition! fie 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 laid for me; but 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, 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 behind. Iden. Lord, who would live turmoilèd in the court, And sends the poor well pleased from my gate. Cade. [Aside.] 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 by 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. |