'Mess. The rebels are in Southwark; Fly, my lord! 'Jack Cade proclaims himself lord Mortimer, 'Descended from the duke of Clarence' house; 'And calls your grace usurper, openly, 'And vows to crown himself in Westminster. 'His army is a ragged multitude 'Of hinds and peasants, rude and merciless: Sir Humphrey Stafford and his brother's death Hath given them heart and courage to proceed; 'All scholars, lawyers, courtiers, gentlemen, "They call-false caterpillars, and intend their death. *K. Hen. O graceless men! they know not what they do. 'Buck. My gracious lord, retire to Kenelworth, 'Until a power be rais'd to put them down. *Q. Mar. Ah! were the duke of Suffolk now alive, "These Kentish rebels would be soon appeas'd. 'K. Hen. Lord Say, the traitors hate thee, "Therefore away with us to Kenelworth. Say. So might your grace's person be in danger; "The sight of me is odious in their eyes; 'And therefore in this city will I stay, 'And live alone as secret as I may. Enter another Messenger. 2 Mess. Jack Cade hath gotten London-bridge; the citizens *Fly and forsake their houses: *The rascal people, thirsting after prey, *Join with the traitor; and they jointly swear, To spoil the city, and your royal court. *Buck. Then linger not, my lord; away, take horse. *K. Hen. Come, Margaret; God, our hope, will succour us. "Q. Mar. My hope is gone, now Suffolk is deceas'd. *K. Hen. Farewell, my lord; [to Lord SAY] trust not the Kentish rebels. *Buck. Trust no body, for fear you be betray'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. Scales. Such aid as I can spare, you shall command; But I am troubled here with them myself, The rebels have assay'd to win the Tower. But get you to Smithfield, and gather head, And thither I will send you Matthew Gough: Fight for your king, your country, and your lives; And so farewell, for I must hence again. [Exeunt. SCENE VI. The same. Cannon-street. Enter JACK CADE, and his Followers. He strikes his Staff on London-stone. Cade. Now is Mortimer lord of this city. And here, sitting upon London-stone, I charge and command, that, of the city's cost, the pissing-conduit run nothing but claret wine this first year of our reign. And now, henceforward, it shall be treason for any that calls me other than lord Mortimer. 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 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. 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. Cade. 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. [Aside. Smith. Nay, John, it will be stinking law; for his 'breath stinks with eating toasted cheese. [Aside. 'Cade. I have thought upon it, it shall be so. 'Away, burn all the records of the realm; my mouth 'shall be the parliament of England. *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, 25) 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, thou serge, 26) nay, thou buckram 'lord! now art thou within point-blank of our juris'diction regal. What canst thou answer to my ma'jesty, for giving up of Normandy unto monsieur 'Basimecu, 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. 'hast most traitorously corrupted the youth of the 'realm, in erecting a grammar-school: and whereas, 'before, our fore-fathers had no other books but the "score and the tally, thou hast caused printing to 'be used; 27) and, contrary to the king, his crown be proved to thy face, that thou hast men about and dignity, thou hast built a paper-mill. It will Thou '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 then 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; 28) when, indeed, 'only for that cause they have been most worthy || 'and strike off his head, and bring them both upon 'to live. Thou dost ride on a foot-cloth, 29) dost 'two poles hither. 'thou not? Say. What of that? Cade. Marry, thou oughtest not to let thy horse wear a cloak, 30) 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. *Say. Hear me but speak, and bear me where you will. 'Kent, in the commentaries Cæsar writ, 'Is termed the civil'st place of all this isle: 'Sweet is the country, because full of riches; "The people liberal, valiant, active, wealthy; "Which makes me hope you are not void of pity. 'I sold not Maine, I lost not Normandy: *Yet, to recover them, would lose my life. *Justice with favour have I always done; *Prayers and tears have mov'd me, gifts could never. *When have I aught exacted at your hands, *Kent to maintain, the king, the realm, and you? *Large gifts have I bestow'd on learned clerks, 'Because my book preferr'd me to the king; *And seeing ignorance is the curse of God, *Knowledge the wing wherewith we fly to heaven, *Unless you be possess'd with devilish spirits, *You cannot but forbear to murder me. "This tongue hath parley'd unto foreign kings *For your behoof, "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 31) 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. 32) *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 filled 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-shedding, 33) *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. 34) Away with him! he has a familiar under his tongue; 35) 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, 36) 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? "And therefore yet relent, and save my life. '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? 37) 'Cade. Marry, presently. 'All. O brave! '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 here pronounce free pardon to them all, "That will forsake thee, and go home in peace. "Clif. What say ye, countrymen? will ye relent, 'And yield to mercy, whilst 'tis offer'd you; 'Or let a rabble lead you to your deaths? 'Who loves the king, and will embrace his pardon, 'Fling up his cap, and say - God save his majesty! "Who 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 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? "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. 'Were'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, 'I see them lording it in London streets. "Crying Villageois! unto all they meet. 'Better, ten thousand base-born Cades miscarry, "Than you should stoop unto a Frenchman's mercy. "To France, to France, and get what you have lost; '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 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. 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, 'Shall have a thousand crowns for his reward. [Exeunt some of them. Follow me, soldiers; we'll devise a mean "To reconcile you all unto the king. SCENE IX. Kenelworth Castle. [Exeunt. 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. *Buck. Health, and glad tidings, to your majesty! *K. Hen. Why, Buckingham, is the traitor Cade surpriz❜d? 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, 'Expect your highness' doom, of life, or death. 'K. Hen. Then, heaven, set ope thy everlasting gates, "To entertain my vows of thanks and praise! "Soldiers, this day have you redeem'd your lives, "And show'd how well you love your prince and country; || "Continue still in this so good a mind, 'And Henry, though he be infortunate, 'Assure yourselves, will never be unkind: And so, with thanks, and pardon to you all, I do dismiss you to your several countries. All. God save the king! God save the king! Enter a Messenger. *Mess. Please it your grace to be advértised, *The duke of York is newly come from Ireland: *And with a puissant and a mighty power, Is marching hitherward in proud array; *Of gallowglasses, and stout kernes, 38) *And still proclaimeth, as he comes along, *His arms are only to remove from thee "The duke of Somerset, whom he terms a traitor. *K. Hen. Thus stands my state, 'twixt Cade and York distress'd; Like to a ship, that having 'scap'd a tempest, *Is straightway calm'd 3") and boarded with a pirate: *But now is Cade driven back, his men dispers'd; And now is York in arms to second him. I pray thee, Buckingham, go forth and meet him: I'll yield myself to prison willingly, *K. Hen. In any case, be not too rough in terms; *For yet may England curse my wretched reign. [Exeunt. SCENE X. Kent. Iden's Garden. 4o) Enter CADE. *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 but now I am so hungry, that if I might have a 'not peep out, for all the country is lay'd for me; "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 41) *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. Iden. Lord, who would live turmoiled in the court, And may enjoy such quiet walks as these? "This small inheritance, my father left me, 'Contenteth me, and is worth a monarchy. 'I seek not to wax great hy others' waning; 'Or gather wealth, I care not with what envy; 'Sufficeth, that I have maintains my state, 'And sends the poor well pleased from my gate. 'Cade. Here's the lord of the soil come to seize 'me for a stray, for entering his fee-simple without ACT V. '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, SCENE I. The same. Fields between Dartford 'and swallow my sword like a great pin, ere thou 'and I part. Iden. Why, rude companion, whatsoe'er thou be, 'I know thee not; Why then should I betray thee? '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 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, I pray God, I may never eat grass more. 'Iden. Nay, it shall ne'er be said, while England That Alexander Iden, an esquire of Kent, 'As for more words, 42) whose greatness answers 'Let this my sword report what speech forbears. 'Iden. Is't Cade that I have slain, that monstrous 'Sword, I will hallow thee for this thy deed, *Die, damned wretch, the curse of her that bare *And as I thrust thy body in with my sword, [Exit, dragging out the Body. and Blackheath. enter YORK attended, with Drum and Colours; his The KING's Camp on one side. On the other, Forces at some distance. "York. From Ireland thus comes York, to claim 'And pluck the crown from feeble Henry's head: 'Let them obey, that know not how to rule; Enter BUCKINGHAM. 'Whom have we here? Buckingham, to disturb me? well. "York. Humphrey of Buckingham, I accept thy greeting. 'Art thou a messenger, or come of pleasure? great. 'O, I could hew up rocks, and fight with flint, On sheep or oxen could I spend my fury! Aside. strong. 'O Buckingham, I pr'ythee, pardon me, York. Upon thine honour, is he prisoner? 'Soldiers, I thank you all; disperse yourselves; 'Buck. York, I commend this kind submission: 'We twain will go into his highness' tent. 'O, let me view his visage being dead, "That living wrought me such exceeding trouble. 'Tell me, my friend, art thou the man that slew him? 'Iden. I was, an't like your majesty. '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; '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. 'York. How now! is Somerset at liberty? "Then, York, unloose thy long-imprison'd thoughts, 'And let thy tongue be equal with thy heart. 'Shall I endure the sight of Somerset? False king! why hast thou broken faith with me, Knowing how hardly I can brook abuse? 'King did I call thee? no, thou art not king; 'Not fit to govern and rule multitudes, 'Which dar'st not, no, nor canst not rule a traitor. "That head of thine doth not become a crown; "Thy hand is made to grasp a palmer's staff, 'And not to grace an awful princely scepter. "That gold must round engirt these brows of mine; 'Whose smile and frown, like to Achilles' spear, 'Is able with the change to kill and cure. 'Here is a hand to hold a scepter up, 'And with the same to act controlling laws. 'Give place; by heaven, thou shalt rule no 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: 'Obey, audacious traitor; kneel for grace. *York. Would'st have me kneel? first let me ask of these, *If they can brook I bow a knee to man. — *Sirrah, call in my sons to be my bail; [Exit an Attendant. I know, ere they will have me go to ward, *They'll pawn their swords for my enfranchisement. 'Q. Mar. Call hither Clifford; bid him come amain, [Exit BUCKINGHAM. To say, if that the bastard boys of York Shall be the surety for their traitor father. York. O blood-bespotted Neapolitan, *Outcast of Naples, England's bloody scourge! "The sons of York, thy betters in their birth, 'Shall be their father's bail; and bane to those That for my surety will refuse the boys. 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. 'York. I thank thee, Clifford: Say, what news with thee? Nay, do not fright us with an angry look: 'We are thy sovereign, Clifford, kneel again; 'For thy mistaking so, we pardon thee. 'Clif. This is my king, York, I do not mistake; 'Makes him oppose himself against his king. 'Q. Mar. He is arrested, but will not obey; Edw. Ay, noble father, if our words will serve. 'Rich. And if words will not, then our weapons shall. *Clif. Why, what a brood of traitors have we here! *York. Look in a glass, and call thy image so; I am thy king, and thou a false-heart traitor. 'Call hither to the stake my two brave bears, "That, with the very shaking of their chains, *They may astonish these fell lurking curs; *Bid Salisbury, and Warwick, come 2) to me. Drums. Enter WARWICK and SALISBURY, with Forces. "Clif. Are these thy bears? we'll bait thy bears to death, 'And manacle the bear-ward in their chains, 'If thou dar'st bring them to the baiting-place. *Rich. Oft have I seen a hot o'erweening cur *Run back and bite, because he was withheld; Who, being suffer'd 3) with the bear's fell paw, Hath clapp'd his tail between his legs, and cry'd: And such a piece of service will you do, 'If you oppose yourselves to match lord Warwick. *Clif. Hence, heap of wrath, foul indigested lump, *As crooked in thy manners as thy shape! *York. Nay, we shall heat you thoroughly anon. *Clif. Take heed, lest by your heat you burn yourselves. *K. Hen. Why, Warwick, hath thy knee forgot to bow? - *Old Salisbury, shame to thy silver hair, "Thou mad misleader of thy brain-sick son! "What, wilt thou on thy death-bed play the ruffian, *And seek for sorrow with thy spectacles? 'O, where is faith? O, where is loyalty? "If it be banish'd from the frosty head, "Where shall it find a harbour in the earth? "Wilt thou go dig a grave to find out war, |