i. e. I pay them no regard, 2 Here Cade must be supposed to take off Stafford's armour.

But ftay, I'll read it over once again.

[face

2. Mar. Ah, barbarous villains! hath this lovely
Ruld, like a wandering planet, over me;
And could it not enforce them to releat,
That were unworthy to behold the fame ?

K. Henry. Lord Say, Jack Cade hath fworn to
have thy head.

Say. Ay, but I hope, your highness shall have his. K. Henry. How now, madam ? Lamenting still, and mourning Suffolk's death ? I fear, my love, if that I had been dead, Thou wouldeft not have mourn'd fo much for me. 2. Mar. No, my love, I fhould not mourn, but die for thee.

Enter a Meffenger.

1 Cit. No, my lord, nor likely to be flain; for
they have won the bridge, killing all thofe that
withstand them: The lord mayor craves aid of
your honour from the Tower, to defend the city
from the rebels.
[mand

Scales. Such aid as I can fpare, you fhall com-
But I am troubled here with them myself,
The rebels have affay'd to win the Tower.
But get you into Smithfield, gather head,
And thither will I fend you Matthew Gough :
Fight for your king, your country, and your lives;
And fo farewel, for 1 muft hence again. [Excunt.
SCENE VI.
Cannon-Street.

K. Henry. How now! what news? why com'ft Enter Jack Cade, and the reft. He ftrikes, his fiaff

thou in fnch hafte ?

Mf. The rebels are in Southwark: Fly, my lord!
Jack Cade proclaims himfelf lord Mortimer,
Defcended from the duke of Clarence' house ;
And calls your grace ufurper, 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-faife caterpillars, and intend their death.
K. Henry. 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.

2. Mar. Ah! were the duke of Suffolk now alive, Thete Kentish rebels fhould be foon appeas'd.

K. Henry. Lord Say, the traitor hateth thee,
Therefore away with us to Kenelworth.

Say. So might your grace's perfon be in danger;
The fight of me is odious in their eyes:
And therefore in this city will I stay,
And live alone as fecret as I may.

Enter another Meffenger.

2 Mef. Jack Cade hath gotten London-bridge;
The citizens fly him, and forfake their houses :
The rafcal people, thirsting after prey,
Join with the traitor; and they jointly fwear,
To fpoil the city, and your royal court.

Buck. Then linger not, my lord; away, take horfe.
K. Henry. Come, Margaret; God, our hope,
will fuccour us.

9. Mar. My hope is gone, now Suffolk is de-
ceas'd.
[rebels.

K. Henry. Farewel, my lord: truft not to Kentish
Buck. Truft no body, for fear you be betray'd.
Say. The truft I have is in mine innocence,
And therefore am I bold and refolute.

[Exeunt.

Enter Lord Scales, and others, on the walls of the
Tower. Then enter two or three Citizens below.
Scales. How now? is Jack Cade flain?

on London-flone.

Cade. Now is Mortimer lord of this city. And here, fitting upon London-ftone, I charge and command, that, of the city's coft, the pilling-conduit run nothing but claret wine the first year of our reign. And now, henceforward, it shall be treafon for any that calls me other than-Lord Mortimer.

Enter a Soldier running.

Sol. Jack Cade! Jack Cade!
Cade. Knock him down there.

[They kill him. Smith. If this fellow be wife, 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: But, firft, go and fet London-bridge on fire; and, if you can, burn down the Tower too. let's away.

Come, [Exeunt.

Alarum. Enter Jack Cade with his company. They fight with the King's forces, and Matthew Gough is flain

Cade. So, firs-Now go fome and pull down the Savoy; others to the inns of court; down with

them all.

1 According to Holinfhed, Matthew Gough was

t

Dick. I have a fuit 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.

fubn. Mafs, 'twill be fore law then; for he was thruft in the mouth with a fpear, and 'tis not whole yet. [Afide. Smith. Nay, John, it will be tinking law; for his breath stinks with eating toasted cheese. [4fide. Cade. I have thought upon it, it fhall be fo. Away, burn all the records of the realm; my mouth fhall be the parliament of England.

John. Then we are like to have biting ftatutes, unless his teeth be pull'd out.

Ajide.

"a man of great wit and much experience in feats of chivalrie, the which continuall warres had spent his time in fervice of the king and Lis

facher."

Cade.

Cade. And henceforward all things fhall be in Kent 5 to maintain, the king, the realm, and you,

common.

Enter a Meflenger.

Meff. My lord, a prize, a prize! here's the lord Say, which fold the town in France; he that made us pay one-and-twenty fifteens, and one fhilling to the pound, the last fubfidy.

Enter George Bevis, with the Lord Say. Cade. Well, he thall be beheaded for it ten times. -Ah, thou fay', thou ferge, nay, thou buckram Jord! now art thou within point-blank of our jurifdiction regal. What cantt thou answer to my majefty, for giving up of Normandy unto monsieur Bafimecu, the Dauphin of France? Be it known! unto thee by these presence, even the presence of lord Mortimer, that I am the befom that must fweep the court clean of fuch filth as thou art. Thou haft most traitorously corrupted the youth of the realm, in erecting a grammar-school: and whereas, before, our forc-fathers had no other books but the fcore and the tally, thou haft caused printing 2 to be us'd; and, contrary to the king, his crown, and dignity, thou haft built a paper-mill. It will be proved to thy face, that thou haft men about thee, that usually talk of a noun, and a verb; and fuch abominable words, as no chriftian ear can endure to hear. Thou hast appointed juftices of peace, to call poor men before them about matters they were not able to anfwer. Moreover, thou haft put them in prifon; and, because they could not read 3, thou haft hang'd them; when, indeed, only for that cause they have been moft worthy to live. Thou doft ride on a foot-cloth4, doft thou not?.

Say. What of that?

Gade. Marry, thou ought'ft not to let thy horfe wear a cloak, when honefter men than thou go in their hofe and doublets.

Large gifts have I bestow'd on learned clerks,
Becaufe my book preferr'd me to the king:
And-feeing ignorance is the curfe of God,
Knowledge the wing wherewith we fly to heaven,→→
Unless you be poffefs'd with devilish fpirits,
You cannot but forbear to murder me.
This tongue hath parly'd unto foreign kings
For your behoof,-

[field?

Cade. Tut! when struck'st thou one blow in the
Say. Great men have reaching hands: oft have
I ftruck

Say. Long fitting to determine poor men's caufes
Hath made me full of fickness and diseases.
Cade. Ye fhall have a hempen caudle then, and
the help of a hatchet.

Dick. Why doft thou quiver, man?

Say. The palfy, and not fear, provokes me. Cade. Nay, he nods at us; as who should say, I'll be even with you. I'll fee if his head will stand steadier on a pole, or no: Take him away, and bebead him.

Say. Tell me, wherein have I offended most ?
Have I affected wealth, or honour ? ípeak.
Are my chefts fill'd up with extorted gold?
Is my apparel fumptuous to behold?
Whom have I injurʼd, that ye seek my death?
Thefe hands are free from guiltlefs blood-shedding,
This breast from La bouring foul deceitful thoughts.
O, let me live!

Dick. And work in their shirt too; as myfelf, ing fo well for his life.

for example, that am a butcher. Say. You men of Kent,Dick. What fay you of Kent?

Code. I feel remorfe in myself with his words: but I'll bridle it; he fhall die, an it be but for pleadAway with him! he has a familiar under his tongue; he fpeaks not o' God's name. Go, take him away, 1 fay, and ftrike off his head presently; and then break into

Say. Nothing but this: 'Tis bena terra, mala gens. his fon-in-law's houfe, Sir James Cromer, and
Cade. Away with him, away with him! he speaks ftrike off his head, and bring them both upontwo
Latin.
[will. poles hither.

Say. Hear me but speak, and bear me where you
Kent, in the Commentaries Cæfar writ,
Is term'd the civil'ft place of all this ifle:
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 fold not Maine, I loft not Normandy ;
Yet, to recover them, would lote my life.
Juftice with favour have I always done;
Prayers and tears have mov'd me, gifts could never.
When have I aught exacted at your hands ?

[prayers,

All. It fhall be done.
Say. Ah, countrymen! if when you make your
God fhould be fo obdurate as yourselves,
How would it fare with your departed fouls?
And therefore yet relent, and fave my life.

Gade. Away with him, and do as I command ye. [Exeunt fome, with Lord Say. The proudeft peer of the realm shall not wear a head on his thoulders, unless he pay me tribute; there shall not a maid be married, but she shall pay to me her maidenhead 7 ere they have it: Men

Say was the old word for filk; on this depends the ferics of degradation, from fay to forge, from ferge to buckram. 2 Shakipeare is a little too early with this accufation. 3 That is, they were

banged because they could not claim the benefit of clergy. 4 A featcloth was a horfe with houfings which reached as low as his feet. 5 Dr. Johnfon is inclined to think that Kent flipped into this paffage by chance, and would read: "When have I aught exacted at your hand, Put to maintain the king, the realm, and you ?" Mr. Steevens propofes to read, "Bent to maintain," &c. i. e. frenuonfy refolved to the utmost, to, &c. 6 A familiar is a damon who was fuppofed to attend at call. luding to an ancient ulage during the exiflence of the feudal tenures.

fhal

Southwark.

VIII.

Alarum, and retreat. Enter again Cade, and all his

Thames!

rabblement.

Cade. Up Fish-street! down Saint Magus' corner! kill and knock down! throw them into [ parley founded. What noife is this I hear? Dire any be fo bold to found retreat or parley, when I command them kill?

Will he conduct you through the heart of France,
And make the meaneft 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,
Unlefs by robbing of your friends, and us.
Wer't not a fhame, that, whilft you live at jar,
The fearful French, whom you late vanquished,
Should make a start o'er feas, and vanquish you?
Methinks, already, in this civil broil,
I fee 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 loft;"
Spare England, for it is your native coaft:
Henry hath money, you are ftrong and manly;
God on our fide, doubt not of victory.

All. A Clifford ! a Clifford we'll follow the king, and Clifford.

Cade. Was ever feather fo lightly blown to and fro, as this multitude? the name of Henry the

fifth hales them to an hundred mifchiefs, and
makes them leave me defolate. I fee them lay their
heads together, to furprize me: my fword make
way for me, for here is no ftaying.-In defpight
of the devils and hell, have through the very midit
of you! and heavens and honour be witnefs, that
no want of resolution in me, but only my fol-
lowers' bafe and ignominious treafons, makes

Enter Buckingham, and old Clifford, attended.
Buck. Ay, here they be that dare, and will di-me betake me to my heels.

fturb thee:

Know, Cade, we come ambassadors from the king
Unto the commons, whom thou haft mis-led;
And here pronounce free pardon to them all,
That will forfake thee, and go home in peace.

Clif. What fay ye, countrymen? will ye relent,
And yield to mercy, whilft '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 fay-God fave his majefty !
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 fave the king! God fave the king! Cade. What, Buckingham, and Clifford, are ye fo brave-And you, bafe peasants, do ye believe him? will you needs be hang`d with your pardons about your necks? Hath my fword therefore broke through London gates, that you should leave me at the White-hart in Southwark? I thought, ye would never have given out thefe arms, 'till you had recover'd your ancient freedom: but you are all recreants, and daftards; and delight to live in flavery to the nobility. Let them break your hacks with burdens, take your houfes over your heads, ravish your wives and daughters before your faces: For me,-I will make shift for one; and fo-God's curfe light upon you all!

All. We'll follow Cade, we'll follow Cade.
Clif. Is Cade the fon of Henry the fifth
That thus you do exclaim-you'll go with him?

[Exit.

Buck. What,is he fled? go fome, and follow him;
And he, that brings his head unto the king,----
Shall have a thousand crowns for his reward.-
[Exeunt fome of them.

Follow me, foldiers; we'll devise a mean
To reconcile you all unto the king. [Exeunt.
SCENE IX.
Kenelworth Caffle.

Sound trumpets. Enter King Henry, Queen Margaret,
and Somerfet, on вре Terras.

K. Henry. Was ever king, that joy'd an earthly

throne,

And could command no more content than I?
No fooner was I crept out of my cradle,
But I was made a king, at nine months old;
Was never subject long’d to be a king,
As I do long and wish to be a fubjećt.

Enter Buckingham, and Clifford.
Back. Health and glad tidings, to your majesty!
K. Henry. Why, Buckingham, is the traitor Cade
furpriz❜d?

Or is he but retir'd to make him strong ?
Enter below, multitudes, 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 highnefs' doom, of life or death,

K. Henry. Then, heaven, set ope thy everlaft-
ing gates,

To entertain my yows of thanks and praise !

A pun, perhaps alluding to the brown bills, or halberds, with which the commons were on ciently armed. 2 This fact is recorded by Holinfhed, p. 634: "and as it were in a fpite caufed them in every street to kiffe together."

Soldiers, this day have you redeem'd your lives,
And fhew'd how well you love your prince and

Country:

Continue ftill in this fo good a mind,
And Henry, though he be infortunate,
Affure yourselves, will never be unkind:
And fo, with thanks, and pardon to you all,
I do difmifs you to your feveral countries.

All. God fave the king! God fave the king!
Enter a Meffenger.

Mef. Please it your grace to be advertised,
The duke of York is newly come from Ireland:
And with a puiffant and a mighty power,
Of Gallow-glaffes, and ftout Kernes 1
Is marching hitherward in proud array;
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. Henry. Thus ftands my ftate, 'twixt Cade and
York diftrefs'd;

Like to a ship, that, having 'scap'd a tempeft,
Is ftraightway calm'd, and boarded with a pirate:
But now is Cade driven back, his men difpers'd;
And now is York in arms, to fecond him.-
I pray thee, Buckingham, go and meet him;
And ask him, what's the reafon of these arms.

drink in; and now the word fallet muft ferve me to feed on.

Enter Iden, with Servants.

Iden. Lord, who would live turmoiled in the
And may enjoy fuch quiet walks as these? [court,
This fmall inheritance, my father left me,
Contenteth me, and's worth a monarchy.
I feek not to wax great by others' waining;
Or gather wealth, I care not with what envy;
Sufficeth, that I have maintains my state,
And fends the poor well pleafed from my gate.

Cade. Here's the lord of the foil come to feize me for a ftray, for entering his fee-fimple without leave. Ah, villain, thou wilt betray me, and get a thoufand crowns of the king for carrying my head to him; but I'll make thee eat iron like an of tridge, and fwallow my fword like a great pin, ere thou and I part.

Iden. Why, rude companion, whatsoe'er thou be,
I know thee not; Why then fhould 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 fpight of me the owner,
But thou wilt brave me with these faucy terms?

Cade. Brave theeay, by the best blood that ever was broach'd, and beard thee too. Look on

Tell him, I'll fend duke Edmund to the Tower-me well: I have eat no meat these five days; yet,
And, Somerfet, we will commit thee thither,
Until his army be dismiss'd from him.

come thou and thy five men, and if I do not leave you all as dead as a door-nail, I pray God, 1 may never eat grafs more.

Iden. Nay, it shall ne'er be faid, while England

ftands,

That Alexander Iden, an esquire of Kent,
Took odds to combat a poor famish'd man.
Oppofe thy ftedfaft-gazing eyes to mine,
See if thou canst out-face me with thy looks.
Set limb to limb, and thou art far the leffer:
Thy hand is but a finger to my fift;
Thy leg a ftick, 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, whofe greatnefs anfwers words,
Let this my fword report what speech forbears 3.

Gade. By my valour, the most complete champion that ever I heard.Steel, if thou turn the edge, or cut not out the burly-bon'd clown in chines of beef ere thou fleep in thy fheath, I beteech Jove on my knees, thou may'st be turn'd to hobrails. Here they fight.

Cade. Fie on ambition! fie on myfelf; that have a fword, and yet am ready to famish! Thefe five days have I hid me in these woods; and durft not peep out, for all the country is lay'd for me; but now am I so hungry," that if I might have a leafe of my life for a thousand years, I could stay no longer. Wherefore, on a brick-wall have 10, 1 am flain! famine, and no other, hath flain climb'd into this garden; to fee if I can eat grafs, me: let ten thousand devils come against me, and or pick a fallet another while, which is not amifs to give me but the ten meals I have loft, and I'd defy cool a man's ftomach this hot weather. And, I them all. Wither, garden; and be henceforth a think, this word fallet was born to do me good: burying-place to all that do dwell in this house, befor, many a time, but for a fallet, my brain-pan cause the unconquer'd foul of Cade is fled. had been cleft with a brown bill; and, many a time, when I have been dry, and bravely march"ing, it hath ferv'd me inftead of a quart-pot to Sword, I will hallow thee for this thy deed,

Iden. Is't Cade that I have flain, that monstrous traitor ?

Gallowglaffes and Kernes were two orders of foot foldiers among the Irish. by corruption from cælata, a helmet (fays Skinner), quia galece plate fuerunt. more words, whofe pomp may anfwer words, and only words, I fhall forbear them, to my fwerd,