And could not enforce them to relent, Say. Ay, but I hope, your highness shall K. Hen. How now, madam? Still Enter a MESSENGER. K. Hen. How now! What news? Why Mes. The rebels are in Southwark; Fly, my Jack Cade proclaims himself Lord Mortimer, Of hinds and peasants, rude and merciless: All scholars, lawyers, courtiers, gentlemen, K. Hen. O graceless men!-They know not Buck. My gracious lord, retire to Kenel- Until a power be raised to put them down. These Kentish rebels would be soon appeased. Say. So might your grace's person be in The sight of me is odious in their eyes: Enter another MESSENGER. 2 Mes. Jack Cade hath gotten London- Fly and forsake their houses: K. Hen. Come, Margaret; God, our hope, [ACT IP. Scales. Such aid as I can spare, you shall command; But I am troubled here with them myself, And so farewell, for I must hence again. [Exeunt. SCENE VI.-The same.-Cannon Street. strikes his Stuff on London-stone. Enter a SOLDIER, running. Sold. Jack Cade! Jack Cade! Cade. Knock him down there. [They kill him. Smith. If this fellow be wise, he'll never call you Jack Cade more; I think, he hath a very fair warning. Dick. My lord, there's an army gather'd together in Smithfield. Cade. Come then, let's go fight with them: and, if you can, burn down the Tower too. but first, go and set London-bridge on fire; Come, let's away. [Exeunt. SCENE VII.-The same.-Smithfield. Alarum.-Enter, on one side, CADE and his Company; on the other, Citizens, and the King's Forces, headed by MATTHEW GOUGH. -They fight; the Citizens are routed, and MATTHEW GOUGH is slain. Cade. So, Sirs:-Now go some and pull down the Savoy; others to the inns of court; down with them all. Dick. I have a suit unto your lordship. Code. Be it a lordship, thou shalt have it for that word. Dick. Only, that the laws of England may come out of your mouth. John. Mass, 'twill be sore law then; for he was thrust in the mouth with a spear, and 'tis not whole yet. for his breath stinks with eating toasted Smith. Nay, John, it will be stinking law; [Aside. [Aside cheese. Q. Mar. My hope is gone, now Suffolk is de-mouth shall be the parliament of England. K. Hen. Farewell, my lord; [To Lord SAY.] trust not the Kentish rebels. Buck. Trust noboly, for fear you be be tray'd. Say. The trust I have is in mine innocence, And therefore am I bold and resolute. [Exeunt. SCENE V-The same.-The Tower. 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. tutes, unless his teeth be pull'd out. Enter a MESSENGER. lord Say, which sold the towns in France; he Mes. My lord, a prize, a prize! Here's the that made us pay one and twenty fifteens,* and one shilling to the pound, the last subsidy. Enter GEORGE BEVIS, with the Lord SAY. * A fifteen was the fifteenth part of all the movesàles, Say. Long sitting to determine poor man'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. buckram lord! Now art thou within point 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, male gens. Cude. Away with him, away with him! he speaks Latin. Say. Hear me but speak, and bear me where you will. Kent, in the commentaries Cæsar writ, never. When have I aught exacted at your hands, Say. Tell me, wherein I have offended most? Cude. 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 famiart 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. ye. All. It shall be done. Say. Ah, countrymen! if when you make your prayers, God should be so obdurate as yourselves, Dick. My lord, when shall we go to Cheap- Kent to maintain, the king, the realm, and you? Re-enter Rebels, with the Heads of Lords SAY Large gifts have I bestow'd on learned clerks, Unless you be possess'd with devilish spirits, 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 fort watching for your good. Cade. Give him a box o'the ear, and that will make 'em red again. e. They were hanged because they could not claim the benefit of the clergy. A foot-cloth was a kind of housing, which covered the Dody of the horse. t in consequence of and his Son-in-law. Cude. 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 kissAway! [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 What noise is this I hear? Dare any be so bold [A Parley sounded, then a Retreut. to sound retreat or parley, when I command them kill? into Thames. * I. c. These hands are free from shedding guiltless or innocent blood. A demon who was supposed to attend at call 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 Unto the commons, whom thou hast misled; And yield to mercy whilst 'tis offer'd you; [jesty! Fling up his cap, and say-God save his maWho hateth him, and honours not his father, Henry the fifth, that made all France to quake, Shake he his weapon at us, and pass by. 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 hang'd 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 recover'd 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? Will he conduct you through the heart of France, And make the meanest of you earls and dukes! carry, Spare England, for it is your native coast: 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. 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 surprize me: my sword make way for me, for here is no staying. In despight 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, SCENE IX.-Kenelworth Castle. Enter King HENRY, Queen MARGARET, and SOMERSET, on the Terrace of the Custle. K. Hen. Was ever king, that joy'd an earthly throne, And could command no more content than I? Enter BUCKINGHAM and CLIFFORD. Buck. Health, and glad tidings, to your majesty! K. Hen. Why, Buckingham, is the traitor, Or is he but retired to make him strong? Cade, surprized? Enter, below, a great number of CADE'S Fol lowers, 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, Expect your highness' doom, of life, or death. K. Hen. Then, heaven, set ope thy ever lasting gates, To entertain my vows of thanks and praise!- Continue still in this so good a mind, Enter a MESSENGER. Mess. Please it your grace to be advertised, The duke of York is newly come from Ireland: And with a puissant and a mighty power, Of Gallowglasses, and stout Kernes*, Is marching bitherward in proud array; And still proclaimeth, as he comes along, His arms are only to remove from thee [tor The duke of Somerset, whom he terms a traiK. Hen. Thus stands my state, 'twixt Cade and York distress'd; Like to a ship, that, having escaped a tempest, But now is Cade driven back, his men dis- arms. I'll yield myself to prison willingly, K. Hen. In any case, be not too rough in terms; For he is fierce, and cannot brook hard ia [guage. Two orders of foot soldiers among the Irish. † Only just now Buck. I will, my lord; and doubt not so to deal As all things shall redound unto your good. K. Hen. Come, wife, let's in, and learn to govern better; For yet may England curse my wretched reign. [Exeunt. SCENE X.-Kent.-IDEN's Garden. Enter CADe. 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 layed 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 quartpot to drink in; and now the word sallet must serve me to feed on. Enter IDEN, with Servants. Iden. Lord, who would live turmoiled in the court, And may enjoy such quiet walks as these, gate. | 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, [bears. Let this my sword report what speech forCade. By my valour, the most complete champion that ever I heard.-Steel, if thou turn the edge, or cut not out the burly-boned clown in chines of beef ere thou sleep in thy sheath, I beseech God on my knees, thou may'st be turn'd to hobnails. [They fight, CADE falls.] O, I am slain! Famine, and no other, hath slain me: let ten thousand 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 burying place to all that do dwell in this house, because the unconquer'd soul of Cade is fled. Iden. Is't Cade that I have slain, that monstrous traitor? Sword, I will hallow thee, for this thy deed. And hang thee o'er my tomb, when I am dead: Ne'er shall this blood be wiped from thy point; But thou shalt wear it as a herald's coat, To emblaze the honour that thy master got. Cade. Iden, farewell; and be proud of thy victory: Tell Kent from me, she hath lost her best man, and exhort all the world to be cowards; for I, that never fear'd any, am vanquish'd by famine, not by valour. [Dies. Iden. How much thou wrong'st me* heaven be my judge. Die, damned wretch, the curse of her that bare thee! And as I thrust thy body in with my sword, So wish I, I might thrust thy soul in hell. Unto a dunghill which shall be thy grave, Hence will I drag thee headlong by the heels Which I will bear in triumph to the king, And there cut off thy most ungracious head; Leaving thy trunk for crows to feed upon. [Exit, dragging out the Body. ACT V. 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 SCENE I.-The same.-Fields between Dartmake thee eat iron like an ostridge, and swallow my sword like a great pin, ere thou and I part. Iden. Why, rude companion, whatsoe'er thou be, [thee? I know thee not; why then should I betray Is't not enough, to break into my garden, And, like a thief, to come to rob my grounds, Climbing my walls, in spite of me the owner, But thou wilt brave me with these saucy terms? Cade. Brave thee? Ay, by the best blood that ever was broach'd, 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, I pray God, I may never eat grass more. Iden. Nay, it shall ne'er be said, while Eng land stands, That Alexander Iden, an esquire of Kent, Took odds to combat a poor famish'd man. Oppose thy steadfast-gazing eyes to mine, See if thou canst outface me with thy looks. Set limb to limb, and thou art far the lesser; 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; A kind of helmet ford and Blackheath. The King's Camp on one side.-On the other, enter YORK attended, with Drum and Colours: his Forces at some distance. York. From Ireland thus comes York, to claim his right, And pluck the crown from feeble Henry's head: Ring, bells, aloud; burn, bonfires, clear and bright, dear? To entertain great England's lawful king. On which I'll toss the flower-de-luce of France. Whom have we here? Buckingham to disturb me? [ble. The king hath sent him, sure: I must dissemBuck. York, if thou meanest well, I greet York. Humphrey of Buckingham, I accept thy greeting, Art thou a messenger, or come of pleasure? Buck. A messenger from Henry, our dread liege, To know the reason of these arms in peace; Or why, thou-being a subject as I am,Against thy oath and true allegiance sworn, Shouldst raise so great a power without his leave, Or dare to bring thy force so near the court. York. [Aside.] Scarce can I speak, my choler is so great. O, I could hew up rocks, and fight with flint, On sheep or oxen could I spend my fury! O Buckingham, I pr'ythee, pardon me, [part: Is to remove proud Somerset from the king, powers. Soldiers, I thank you all; disperse yourselves; And let my sovereign, virtuous Henry, Buck. York, I commend this kind submis sion: We twain will go into his highness' tent. Enter King HENRY, attended. K. Hen. How art thou call'd? and what is thy degree? 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; And will, that thou henceforth attend on us. Iden. May Iden live to merit such a bou ty, And never live but true unto his liege! 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 his head, But boldly stand, and front him to his face. And let thy tongue be equal with thy heart. me, Knowing how hardly I can brook abuse? That head of thine doth not become a crown; Whose smile and frown, like to Achilles' spear, more O'er him, whom heaven created for thy ruler. Som. O monstrous traitor!-I arrest thee, York, Of capital treason 'gainst the king and crown: York. Would'st have me kneel? first let me If they can brook I bow a knee to man. Hen. Buckingham, doth York intend to Sirrah, call in my sons to be my bail; harm us, That thus he marcheth with thee arm in arm? York. To heave the traitor Somerset from Enter IDEN, with CADE'S Head. O, let me view his visage being dead, him? Iden. I was, an't like your majesty. [Exit an ATTENDANT. I know, ere they will have me go to ward,* They'll pawn their swords for my enfranchise ment. Q. Mar. Call hither Clifford; bid him come amain, To say, if that the bastard boys of York See, where they come; I'll warrant they'll make it good. Q. Mar. And here comes Clifford, to deny their bail. * Custody, confinement. |