Say. Somight your grace's person be in danger; SCENE IV.-London. A room in the palace. The sight of me is odious in their eyes:

And therefore in this city will I stay, Enter King Henry, reading a supplication : the And live alone as secret as I may.

Duke of BUCKINGHAM, and Lord Say with him; at a distance, Queen MARGARET, mourn

Enter another Messenger. ing over SUFFOLK's head.

2 Mess. Jack Cade hath gotten London-bridge; Q. Mar. Oft liave I heard--that grief softens the citizens the mind,

Fly and forsake their houses : And makes it fearful and degenerate ;

The rascal people, thirsting after prey, Think therefore on revenge, and cease to weep.

Join with the traitor ; and they jointly swear, But who can cease to weep, and look on this? To spoil the city, and your royal court. Here may his head lie on my throbbing breast : Buck. Then linger not, my lord ; away, take But where's the body that I should embrace ?

horse. Buck. What answer makes your grace to the K. Hen. Come, Margaret; God, our hope, rebels' supplication ?

will succour us. K. Hen. I'll send some holy bishop to entreat: Q. Mar. My hope is gone, now Suffolk is deFor God forbid, so many simple souls

ceas'd. Should perish by the sword ! And I myself, K. Hen. Farewell, my lord; [To Lord Say.] Rather than bloody war should cut them short, trust not the Kentish rebels. Will parley with Jack Cade, their general.- Buck. Trust nobody, for fear you be betray'd. But stay, i'll read it over once again.

Say. The trust I have is in mine innocence, R. Mar. Ah, barbarous villains ! hath this And therefore am I bold and resolute. [Ereunt.

lovely face
Ruld, like a wandering planet, over me;

SCENE V.-The same. The Tower.
And could it not enforce them to relent,
That were unworthy to behold the same?

Enter Lord SCALES, and Others, on the walls. K. Hen. Lord Say, Jack Cade hath sworn to

Then enter certain Citizens, below. have thy head.

Scales. How now? is Jack Cade slain ? Say. Ay, but I hope, your highness shall have i Cit. No, my lord, nor likely to be slain; his.

for they have won the bridge, killing all those K. Hen. How now, madam ? Still

that withstand them: The lord mayor craves aid Lamenting, and mourning for Suffolk's death? of your honour from the Tower, to defend the I fear, iny love, if that I had been dead, city from the rebels. Thou wouldest not have mourn's so much for me. Scales. Such aid as I can spare, you shall come Q. Mar. No, my love, I should not mourn, mand; but die for thee.

But I am troubled here with them myself,

The rebels have assay'd to win the Tower.
Enter a Messenger.

But get you to Smithfield, and gather head, K. Hen. How now! what news? why com’st And thither I will send you Matthew Gough: thou in such haste ?

Fight for your king, your country, and your lives; Mess. The rebels are in Southwark; Fly, my And so farewell, for I must hence again. lord!

[Ereunt. Jack Cade proclaims himself lord Mortimer, Descended from the duke of Clarence' house;

SCENE VI.-The same. Cannon Street. And calls your grace usurper, openly, And vows to crown himself in Westminster.

Enter Jack Cade, and his followers. He strikes His army is a ragged multitude

his staff on London-stone. Of hinds and peasants, rude and merciless : Sir Humphrey Stafford and his brother's death Cade. Now is Mortimer lord of this city. And Hath given them heart and courage to proceed: here, sitting upon London-stone, I charge and All scholars, lawyers, courtiers, gentlemen, command, that, of the city's cost, the pissing They call-false caterpillars, and intend their conduit run nothing but claret wine this first death.

year of our reign. And now, henceforward, it K. Hen. O graceless men ! they know not what shall be treason for any that calls me other than they do.

-lord Mortimer. Buck. My racious lord, retire to Kenelworth, Until a power be rais’d to put them down.

Enter a Soldier running. Q. Mar. Ah! were the duke of Suffolk now Sold. Jack Cade! Jack Cade! alive,

Cade. Knock him down there. [They kill him. These Kentish rebels would be soon appeas’d. Smith. If this fellow be wise, he'll never call

K. Hen. Lord Say, the traitors hate thee, you Jack Cade more ; I think he hath a very Therefore away with us to Kenelworth. fair warning

:

you will.

Dick. My lord, there's an army gathered to peace, to call poor men before them about matgether in Smithfield.

ters they were not able to answer. Moreover, Cade. Come then, let's go fight with them : thou hast put them in prison ; and because they But, first, go and set London-bridge on fire; could not read, thou hast hanged thein ; when, and, if you can, burn down the Tower too. indeed, only for that cause they have been most Come, let's away.

[Ereunt. worthy to live. Thou dost ride on a foot-cloth,

dost thou not? SCENE VII.-The same. Smithfield. Say. What of that?

Cade. Marry, thou oughtest not to let thy Alarum. Enter, on one side, Cade and his Com. horse wear a cloak, when honester men than thou

pany; on the other, Citizens, and the King's go in their hose and doublets. Forces, headed by Matthew Gough. They

Dick. And work in their shirt too; as myself, fight; the Citizens are routed, and MatTHEW for example, that am a butcher. Gough is slain.

Say. You men of Kent,Cade. So, sirs :-Now, go some and pull down Dick. What say you of Kent? the Savoy ; others to the inns of court; down Say. Nothing but this : 'Tis bonna terra, mala with them all.

gens. Dick. I have a suit unto your lordship. Cade. Away with him, away with him! he

Cade. Be it a lordship, thou shalt have it for speaks Latin. that word.

Say. Hear me but speak, and bear me where Dick. Only, that the laws of England may come out of your mouth.

Kent, in the commentaries Cæsar writ, Joka. Mass, 'twill be sore law then ; for he is term'd the civil'st place of all this isle : was thrust in the mouth with a spear, and 'tis not Sweet is the country, because full of riches; whole yet.

[Aside. The people liberal, valiant, active, wealthy; Smith. Nay, John, it will be stinking law; for which makes me hope you are not void of pity. his breath stinks with eating toasted cheese. I sold not Maine, I lost not Normandy ;

[Aside. Yet, to recover them, would lose my life. Cade. I have thought upon it, it shall be so. Justice with favour have I always done ; Away, burn all the records of the realm; my Prayers and tears have mov'd me, gifts couldnever. mouth shall be the parliament of England. When have I aught exacted at your hands,

John. Then we are like to have biting sta- | Kent to maintain, the king, the realm, and you ? tutes, unless his teeth be pulled out. [-side. | Large gifts have I bestow'd on learned clerks,

Cade. And henceforward all things shall be in Because my book preferr'd me to the king: common.

And-seeing ignorance is the curse of God,

Knowledge the wing wherewith we fly to Enter a Messenger.

heaven, Mess. My lord, a prize, a prize! here's the Unless, you be possess’d with devilish spirits, lord Say, which sold the towns in France ; he You cannot but forbear to murder me. that made us pay one-and-twenty fifteens, and This tongue hath parley'd unto foreign kings ohe shilling to the pound, the last subsidy. For your behoof,

Cade. Tut! when struck'st thou one blow in Ester GEORGE BEvis, with the Lord Say.

the field? Cade. Well, he shall be beheaded for it ten Say. Great men have reaching hands : oft times.--Ah, thou say, thou serge, nay, thou

have I struck buckram lord ! now art thou within point-blank Those that I never saw, and struck them dead. of our jurisdiction regal. What canst thou an- Geo. O monstrous coward! what, to come beswer to my majesty, for giving up of Normandy hind folks? unto monsieur Basimecu, the dauphin of France? Say. These cheeks are pale for watching for Be it known unto thee by these presence, even

your good. the presence of lord Mortimer, that I am the Cade. Give him a box o' the ear, and that will beson that must sweep the court clean of such make 'em red again. filth as thou art. Thou hast most traitorously Say. Long sitting to determine poor men's corrupted the youth of the realm, in erecting a gaminar-school : and whereas, before, our fore- Hath made me full of sickness and diseases. fathers had no other books but the score and the Cade. Ye shall have a hempen caudle then, tally, thou hast caused printing to be used; and, and the pap of a hatchet. contrary to the king, his crown, and dignity, Dick. Why dost thou quiver, man? thou hast built a paper-mill. It will be proved Say. The palsy, and not fear, provoketh me. to thy face, that thou hast men about thee, that Cade. Nay, he nods at us; as who should say, usually talk of a noun, and a verb; and such I'll be even with you. I'll see if his head will abominable words, as no Christian ear can en- stand steadier on a pole, or no: Take him away, dure to hear. Thou hast appointed justices of and behead him.

a

Say. Tell me, wherein I have offended most? | Know, Cade, we come ambassadors from the Have I affected wealth, or honour; speak ?

king Are my chests fill’d up with extorted gold ? Unto the commons, whom thou hast misled; Is my apparel sumptuous to behold?

And here pronounce free pardon to them all, Whom have I injur'd, that ye seek my death? That will forsake thee, and go home in peace. These hands are free from guiltless blood-stiedding, Clif. What say ye, countrymen ? will ye reThis breast from harbouring foul deceitful lent, thoughts.

And yield to mercy, whilst 'tis offer'd you; 0, let me live!

Or let a rabble lead you to your deatlis? Cade. I feel remorse in myself with his words: Who loves the king, and will embrace his parbut I'll bridle it; he shall die, an it be but for don, pleading so well for his life. Away with him! Fling up his cap, and say--God save his mahe has a familiar under his tongue; he speaks

jesty! not o' God's name. Go, take him away, I say, Who hateth him, and honours not his father, and strike off his head presently; and then Henry the fifth, that made all France to quake, break into his son-in-law's house, sir James Shake he his weapon at us, and pass by. Cromer, and strike off his head, and bring them All God save the king! God save the king! both upon two poles hither.

Cade. What, Buckingham, and Clifford, are AU. It shall be done.

ye so brave?-And you, base peasants, do ye beSay. Ah, countrymen ! if when you make lieve him ? will you needs be hanged with your your prayers,

pardons about your necks ? Hath my sword God should be so obdurate as yourselves, therefore broke through London Gates, that ye How would it fare with your departed souls ? should leave me at the White Hart in SouthAnd therefore yet relent, and save my life. wark? I thought, ye would never have given Cade. Away with him, and do as I command ye. out these arms, till you liad recovered your an

[Exeunt some with Lord Say. cient freedom: but you are all recreants, and The proudest peer in the realm shall not wear a dastards; and delight to live in slavery to the head on his shoulders, unless he pay me tribute ; nobility: Let them break your backs with burthere shall not a maid be married, but she shall dens, take your houses over your heads, ravish pay to me her maidenhead ere they have it: your wives and daughters before your faces : Men shall hold of me in capite ; and we charge For me,–I will make shift for one'; and som and command, that their wives be as free as God's curse 'light upon you all! heart can wish, or tongue can tell.

All. We'll follow Cade, we'll follow Cade. Dick. My lord, when shall we go to Cheap- Clif: Is Cade the son of Henry the fifth, side, and take up commodities upon our bills? That thus you do exclaim-you'll go with him? Cade. Marry, presently,

Will he conduct you through the heart of France, AU, O brave !

And make the meanest of you earls and dukes?

Alas, he hath no home, no place to fly to; Re-enter Rebels with the heads of Lord Say and Nor knows he how to live, but by the spoil, his Son-in-law.

Unless by robbing of your friends, and us. Cade. But is not this braver ?-Let them kiss Wer't not a shame, that whilst you live at jar, one another, for they loved well, when they were The fearful French, whom you late vanquished, alive. Now part them again, lest they consult Should make a start o'er seas, and vanquish you? about the giving upof some more townsin France. Methinks, already, in this civil broil, Soldiers, defer the spoil of the city until night: I see them lording it in London streets, for with these borne before us, instead of maces, Crying-Villageois ! unto all they meet. will we ride through the streets; and at every Better, ten thousand base-born Cades miscarry, corner, have them kiss.-Away! [Exeunt. Than you should stoop unto a Frenchman's

mercy. SCENE VIII.-Southwark.

To France, to France, and get what you have Alarum. Enter CADE, and all his Rabblement.

Spare England, for it is your native coast : Cade. Up Fish-street! down Saint Magnus Henry hath money, you are strong and manly; corner ! kill and knock down! throw them into God on our side, doubt not of victory. Thames !--[A parley sounded, then a retreat.] All. A Clifford ! a Clifford! we'll follow the What noise is this I hear? dare any be so bold king, and Clifford. to sound retreat or parley, when I command Cade. Was ever feather so lightly blown to and them kill?

fro, as this multitude? the name of Henry the

fifth hales them to an hundred mischiefs, and Enter BUCKINGHAY, and old CLIFFORD, makes them leave me desolate. I see them lay with Forces.

their heads together, to surprise me : my sword Buck. Ay, here they be, that dare and will make way for me, for here is no staying:-In disturb thee:

despight of the devils and hell, have through the

lost;

him;

very midst of you! and heavens and honour be Is straightway calm’d and boarded with a pirate : witness, that no want of resolution in me, but But now is Cade driven back, his men dispers’d; only my followers' base and ignominious trea- And now is York in arms to second him.sons, makes me betake me to my heels. [Exit. I pray thee, Buckingham, go forth and meet him ; Buck. What, is he fled ? go some, and follow And ask him, what's the reason of these arms.

Tell him, I'll send duke Edmund to the Tower ;And he, that brings his head unto the king, And, Somerset, we will commit thee thither, Shall have a thousand crowns for his reward.- Until his army be dismiss'd from him.

[Ereunt some of them. Som. My lord, Follow me, soldiers; we'ls devise a mean i'll yield myself to prison willingly, To reconcile you all unto the king. [Exeunt. Or unto death, to do my country good.

K. Hen. In any case, be not too rough in terms; SCENE IX.-Kenelworth Castle.

For he is fierce, and cannot brook hard language.

Buck. I will, my lord ; and doubt not so to deal, Enter King Henry, Queen MARGARET, and As all things shall redound unto your good.

SOMERSET, on the terrace of the castle. K. Hen. Come, wife, let's in, and learn to K. Hen. Was ever king, that joy'd an earthly For yet may England curse my wretched reien,

govern better ; throne, And could coinmand no more content than I?

[Exeunt. No sooner was I crept out of my cradle, But I was made a king, at nine months old :

SCENE X.-Kent. Iden's garden. Was never subject long'd to be a king,

Enter Cade. As I do long and wish to be a subject.

Cade. Fye on ambition ! fye on myself ; that Enter BUCKINGHAM and CLIFFORD. have a sword, and yet am ready to famish! These Buck. Health and glad tidings to your ma

five days have i hid me in these woods; and jesty!

durst not peep out, for all the country is lay'd K. Hen. Why, Buckingham, is the traitor, for me, but now am I so hungry, that if I night Cade, surpris'a ?

have a lease of my life for a thousand years, I Or is he but retir'd to make him strong ?

could stay no longer. Wherefore, on a brick

wall have I climbed into this garden ; to see if Enter, below, agreat number of Cade's Followers, I can eat grass, or pick a sallet another while, with halters about their necks.

which is not amiss to cool a man's stomach this Clif. He's fled, my lord, and all his powers do hot weather. And, I think, this word sallet

was born to do me good : for, many a time but yield;

for a sallet, my brain-pan had been cleft with a And humbly thus, with halters on their necks,

brown bill; and, many a time when I have been Expect your highness' doom, of life, or death. K. Hen. Then, heaven, set ope thy everlast- stead of a quart-pot to drink in ; and now the

dry and bravely marching, it hath served me ining gates,

word sallet must serve me to feed on. To entertain my vows of thanks and praise ! Soldiers, this day have you redeem'd your lives,

Enter IDEN, with Serrants. And show'd how well you love your prince and Iden. Lord, who would live turmoiled in the country:

court, Continue still in this so good a mind,

And may enjoy such quiet walks as these ? And Henry, though he be unfortunate, This small inheritance, my father left me, Assure yourselves, will never be unkind : Contenteth me, and is worth a monarchy. And so, with thanks, and pardon to you all, I seek not to wax great by others' waning; I do dismiss you to your several countries. Or gather wealth, I care not with what envy: All. God save the king! God save the king! Sufliceth, that I have maintains my state, Enter a Messenger.

And sends the poor well pleased from my gate.

Cade. Here's the lord of the soil come to scize Mess. Please it your grace to be advertised, me for a stray, for entering his fee-simple withThe duke of York'is newly come from Ireland : out leave.--Ah, villain, thou wilt betray me, And with a puissant and a mighty power, and get a thousand crowns of the king for carryOf Gallowglasses, and stout Kernes,

ing my head to him ; but I'll make thee eat iron Is marching hitherward in proud array ; like an ostrich, and swallow my sword like a And still proclaimeth, as he comes along, great pin, ere thou and I part. His arms are only to remove from thee

Iden. Why, rude companion, whatsoe'er thou The duke of Somerset, whom he terms a traitor. be, K. Hen. Thus stands my state, 'twixt Cade I know thee not; Why then should I betray thee? and York distress'd;

Is't not enough, to break into my garden, Like to a ship, that, having scap'd a tempest, And, like a thief, to come to rob my grounds,

:

Climbing my walls in spite of me the owner, let ten thousand devils come against me, and But thou wilt brave me with these saucy terms? give me but the ten meals I have lost, and I'd

(ade. Brave thee? ay, by the best blood that defy them all. Wither, garden ; and be henceever was broached, and beard thee too. Look forth a burying-place to all that do dwell in this on me well : I have eat no meat these five days; house, because the unconquered soul of Cade is yet, come thou and thy five men, and if I do not filed. leave you all as dead as a door nail, I pray God, Iden. Is't Cade that I have slain, that monI may never eat grass more.

strous traitor ? Iden. Nay, it shall ne'er be said, while Eng- Sword, I will hallow thee for this thy deed, land stands,

And hang thee o'er my tomb, when I am dead : That Alexander Iden, an esquire of Kent, Ne'er shall this blood be wiped from thy point; Took odds to combat a poor famish'd man. But thou shalt wear it as a herald's coat, Oppose thy stedfast gazing eyes to mine, To emblaze the honour that thy master got. See if thou canst outtace me with thy looks. Cade. Iden, farewell; and be proud of thy Set limb to limb, and thou art far the lesser; victory: Tell Kent from me, she hath lost her Thy hand is but a finger to my fist;

best man, and exhort all the world to be cowards; Thy leg a stick, compared with this truncheon ; for I, that never feared any, am vanquished by My foot shall fight with all the strength thou famine, not by valour.

[ Dies. hast;

Iden. How much thou wrong'st me, heaven And if my arm be heaved in the air,

be my judge. Thy grave is digg'd already in the earth. Die, damned wretch, the curse of her that bare As for more words, whose greatness answers

thee! words,

And as I thrust thy body in with my sword, Let this my sword report what speech forbears. So wish I, I might thrust thy soul to hell.

Cade. By my valour, the most complete cham- Hence will I drag thee headlong by the heels pion that ever I heard.—Steel, if thou turn the-f Unto a dunghill, which shall be thy grave, edge, or cut not out the burly-boned clown in And there cut off thy most ungracious head; chines of beef ere thou sleep in thy sheath, I be- Which I will bear in triumph to the king, seech God on my knees, thou mayest be turned Leaving thy trunk for crows to feed upon. to hobnails. [They fight. Cade falls.] 0,

[Exit, dragging out the body., am slain ! famine, and no other, hath slain me:

ACT V.

SCENE I.-The same. Fields between Dart. Buck. York, if thou meanest well, I greet thee ford and Blackheath.

well.

York. Humphrey of Buckingham, I accept The King's camp on one side. On the other, en

thy greeting. ter York, atiended, with drum and colours :

Art thou a messenger, or come of pleasure ? his Forces at some distance.

Buck. A messengerfrom Henry, ourdread liege, York. From Ireland thus comes York, to claim To know the reason of these arms in peace; his right,

Or why, thou-being a subject as I am,And pluck the crown from feeble Henry's head : Against thy oath and true allegiance sworn, Ring, bells, aloud; burn, bonfires, clear and Should'st raise so great a power without his leave, bright,

Or dare to bring thy force so near the court, To entertain great England's lawful king. York. Scarce can I speak, my choler

I Ah, sancta majestas ! who would not buy thee

is so great. dear?

O, I could hew up rocks, and fight with Let them obey, that know not how to rule ;

flint, This hand was made to handle nought but gold: I am so angry at these abject terms ; I cannot give due action to my words,

And now, like Ajax Telamonius, Except a sword, or sceptre, balance it.

On sheepor oxen could I spend mytury! A sceptre shall it have, have I a soul ;

I am far better born than is the king;

[Asulc. On which I'll toss the flower-de-luce of France. More like a king, more kingly in my

thoughts: Enter BUCKINGHAM.

But I must make fair weather yet Whom have we here? Buckingham, to disturb awhile, me?

Till Ilenry be more weak, and I more The king hath sent him, sure: I must dissemble. strong.-