And show'd how well you love your prince and' And sends the poor well-pleased from my gate. country: "Continue still in this so good a mind, Enter Messenger. Mess. Please it your grace to be advertised, Is marching hitherward in proud array; Like to a ship, that, having scap'd a tempest, * I pray thee, Buckingham, go forth and meet him; '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 make thee eat iron like an 'ostrich, 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, Tell him I'll send duke Edmund to the Tower;-Thy hand is but a finger to my fist; * And, Somerset, we will commit thee thither, Until his army be dismiss'd from him. *Som. My lord, I'll yield myself to prison willingly, *Or unto death, to do my country good. · Thy leg a stick, compar'd with this truncheon; hast; And if mine arm be heaved in the air, *K. Hen. In any case, be not too rough in terms; As for more words, whose greatness answers words, Thy grave is digg'd already in the earth. * For he fierce, and cannot brook hard language.Let this my sword report what speech forbears. 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. SCENE X.-Kent. Iden's garden. Enter Cade. Cade. By my valour, the most complete cham *pion 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 be 'seech God on my knees, thou may'st be turned to hob-nails. [They fight. Cade falls.] 0, I am slain! famine, and no other, hath slain me: let ten thousand devils come against me, and give them all. Wither, garden; and be henceforth a me but the ten meals I have lost, and I'd defy burying-place to all that do dwell in this house, because the unconquered soul of Cade is fled. 'Iden. Is't Cade that I have slain, that monstrous traitor? 6 * 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 Sword, I will hallow thee for this thy deed, * longer. Wherefore, on a brick-wall have I climbed And hang thee o'er my tomb, when I am dead: into this garden; to see if I can eat grass, or pick Ne'er shall this blood be wiped from thy point; *a sallet another while, which is not amiss to cool But thou shalt wear it as a herald's coat, * a man's stomach this hot weather. And, I think, To emblaze the honour that thy master got. this word sallet was born to do me good: for, *many a time, but for a sallet, my brain-pan had tory; Tell Kent from me, she hath lost her best Cade. Iden, farewell; and be proud of thy vic* been cleft with a brown bill; and, many a time,man, and exhort all the world to be cowards; for * when I have been dry, and bravely marching, it * hath served me instead of a quart pot to drink, that never feared any, am vanquished by fam * in; and now the word sallet must serve me to * feed on. Enter Iden, with Servants. 'ine, 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! 'Iden. Lord, who would live turmoiled in the And as I thrust thy body in with my sword, So wish I, I might thrust thy soul to hell. 'Hence will I drag thee headlong by the heels Unto a dunghill, which shall be thy grave, ' And there cut off thy most ungracious head; 'Which I will bear in triumph to the king, 'Leaving thy trunk for crows to feed upon. [Exit, dragging out the body. (4) i. e. In supposing that I am proud of my vie Itory. U ACT V. SCENE I-The same. Fields between Dartford 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, 'To entertain great England's lawful king. Ah, sancta majestas! who would not buy thee dear? 'Let them obey, that know not how to rule; 'This hand was made to handle nought but gold: I cannot give due action to my words, Except a sword or sceptre balance it, 'A sceptre shall it have, have I a soul; 'On which I'll toss the flower-de-luce of France. Enter Buckingham. Enter King Henry, attended. 'K. Hen. Buckingham, doth York intend no harm to us, 'That thus he marcheth with thee arm in arm? York. In all submission and humility, *York doth present himself unto your highness. *K. Hen. Then what intend these forces thou dost bring? 'York. To heave the traitor Somerset from hence; Who since I heard to be discomfited. Enter Iden, with Cade's head. Iden. If one so rude, and of so mean condition, May pass into the presence of a king, Lo, I present your grace a traitor's head, The head of Cade, whom I in combat slew. 'K. Hen. The head of Cade ?-Great God, how just art thou! Whom have we here? Buckingham to disturb me ?0, let me view his visage, being dead, 'The king hath sent him, sure: I must dissemble.That living wrought me such exceeding trouble. 'Buck. York, if thou meanest well, I greet thee Tell me, my friend, art thou the man that slew him? 'Iden. I was, an't like your majesty. well. '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, 'Should'st raise so great a power without his leave, 'Or dare to bring thy force so near the court. 'York. Scarce can I speak, my choler is so great. 'O, I could hew up rocks, and fight with flint, strong. Aside. 'O Buckingham, I pr'ythee, pardon me, 'That I have given no answer all this while; 'My mind was troubled with deep melancholy. 'The cause why I have brought this army hither, 'Is-to remove proud Somerset from the king, 'Seditious to his grace, and to the state. 'Buck. That is too much presumption on thy part: 'But if thy arms be to no other end, York. Upon thine honour, is he prisoner? powers 'Soldiers, I thank you all disperse yourselves; 'Meet me to-morrow in Saint George's field, "You shall have pay, and every thing you wish. And let my sovereign, virtuous Henry, * Command my eldest son,-nay, all my sons, As pledges of my fealty and love, I'll send them all as willing as I live. Lands, goods, horse, armour, any thing I have Is his to use, so Somerset may die. '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. 'We give thee for reward a thousand marks; Iden. May Iden live to merit such a bounty, 'Go, bid her hide him quickly from the duke. '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 sceptre. Buck. York, I commend this kind submission: 'We twain will go into his highness' tent. (1) i. e. Balance my hand. 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, *If they can brook I bow a knee to man.- [Exit an attendant. *I know, ere they will have me go to ward," (2) Custody, confinement. 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 *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 Nay, do not fright us with an angry look: Clif. This is my king, York, I do not mistake; But thou mistak'st me much, to think I do :To Bedlam with him! is the man grown mad? 'K. Hen. Ay, Clifford; a bedlam and ambitious humour 'Makes him oppose himself against his king. 'Clif. He is a traitor; let him to the Tower, And chop away that factious pate of his. Q. Mar. He is arrested, but will not obey; 'His sons, he says, shall give their words for him. "York. Will you not, sons? Edi. 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 to me. Drums. Enter Warwick and Salisbury, forces. 'Clif. Are these thy bears? we'll bait thy bears to death, 'And manacle the bear-ward2 in their chains, If thou dar'st bring them to the baiting-place. with Rich. Oft have I seen a hot o'erweening cur Run back and bite, because he was withheld; Who, being suffer'd 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, (1) The Nevils, earls of Warwick, had a bear and ragged staff for their crest. (2) Bear-keeper. 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? *0, 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, *And shame thine honourable age with blood? Why art thou old, and want st experience *Or wherefore dost abuse it, if thou hast it? * For shame! in duty bend thy knee to me, * That bows unto the grave with mickle age. Sal. My lord, I have considered with myself The title of this most renowned duke; *And in my conscience do repute his grace The rightful heir to England's royal seat. *K. Hen. Hast thou not sworn allegiance unte me? Sal. I have. *K. Hen. Canst thou dispense with heaven for such an oath? Sal. It is great sin, to swear unto a sin; * But greater sin, to keep a sinful oath. *Who can be bound by any solemn vow *To do a murderous deed, to rob a man, *To force a spotless virgin's chastity, To reave the orphan of his patrimony, To wring the widow from her custom'd right; *And have no other reason for this wrong, But that he was bound by a solemn oath? Q. Mar. A subtle traitor needs no sophister. 'K. Hen. Call Buckingham, and bid him arm himself. 'York. Call Buckingham, and all the friends thou hast, I am resolv'd for death, or dignity. Clif. The first, I warrant thee, if dreams prove true. 'War. You were best to go to bed, and dream again, To keep thee from the tempest of the field. The rampant bear chain'd to the ragged staff, Clif. And from thy burgonet I'll rend thy bear, And tread it under foot with all contempt, Despite the bear-ward that protects the bear. 'Y. Clif. And so to arms, victorious father, To quell the rebels, and their 'complices. Rich. Fie! charity, for shame! speak not in spite, For you shall sup with Jesu Christ to-night. 'Y. Clif. Foul stigmatic, that's more than thou canst tell. 4 'Rich. If not in heaven, you'll surely sup in hell. [Exeunt severally. SCENE II.-Saint Albans. Alarums: Excur sions. Enter Warwick. War. Clifford of Cumberland, 'tis Warwick calls! And if thou dost not hide thee from the bear, Now, when the angry trumpet sounds alarm, And dead men's cries do fill the empty air, Clifford, I say, come forth and fight with me! 'How now, my noble lord? what, all a-foot? 'But match to match I have encountered him, And made a prey for carrion kites and crows Even of the bonny beast he lov'd so well. Enter Clifford. 'War. Of one or both of us the time is come. York. Hold, Warwick, seek thee out some other chace, For I myself must hunt this deer to death. * Meet I an infant of the house of York, 'As did Æneas old Anchises bear, * 6 Nothing so heavy as these woes of mine. [Exit. Enter Richard Plantagenet and Somerset, fighting, and Somerset is killed. Rich. So, lie thou there ; For, underneath an ale-house' paltry sign, The Castle in Saint Albans, Somerset Hath made the wizard famous in his death. War. Then, nobly, York; 'tis for a crown thou Sword, hold thy temper; heart, be wrathful still: fight'st. As I intend, Clifford, to thrive to-day, It grieves my soul to leave thee unassail'd. [Exit Warwick. • Clif. What seest thou in me, York? Why dost thou pause? York. With thy brave bearing should I be in love, But that thou art so fast mine enemy. Clif. Nor should thy prowess want praise and esteem, But that 'tis shown ignobly, and in treason. Priest pray for enemies, but princes kill. [Exit. Alarums: Excursions. Enter King Henry, Queen Margaret, and others, retreating. York. So let it help me now against thy sword,* As I in justice and true right express it! · Clif. My soul and body on the action both!York. A dreadful lay-address thee instantly. [They fight, and Clifford falls. Clif. La fin couronne les œuvres. [Dies. York. Thus war hath given thee peace, for thou art still. 'Peace with his soul, heaven, if it be thy will!* [Exit. Enter Young Clifford. *Y. Clif. Shame and confusion! all is on the rout; *Fear frames disorder, and disorder wounds *Where it should guard. O war, thou son of hell, *Whom angry heavens do make their minister, *Throw in the frozen bosoms of our part * Hot coals of vengeance !-Let no soldier fly: *He that is truly dedicate to war, Hath no self-love; nor he, that loves himself, *Hath not essentially, but by circumstance, * The name of valour.-O, let the vile world end, [Seeing his dead father. * And the premised flames of the last day * Knit earth and heaven together! Now let the general trumpet blow his blast, *Particularities and petty sounds To cease!-Wast thou ordain'd, dear father, And, in thy reverence, and thy chair-days, thus It shall be stony, York not our old men spares ; (1) A dreadful wager; a tremendous stake. 'Q. Mar. Away, my lord! you are slow; for shame, away! *K. Hen. Can we outrun the heavens? good Margaret, stay. *Q. Mar. What are you made of! you'll not fight, nor fly: Now is it manhood, wisdom, and defence, [Alarum afar off. If you be ta'en, we then should see the bottom Of all our fortunes: but if we haply 'scape (As well we may, if not through your neglect,) We shall to London get; where you are lov'd; And where this breach, now in our fortunes made, May readily be stopp'd, Enter Young Clifford. *Y. Clif. But that my heart's on future mis chief set, I would speak blasphemy ere bid you fly; But fly you must; uncurable discomfit Reigns in the hearts of all our present parts," * Away, for your relief! and we will live *To see their day, and them our fortune give: Away, my lord, away! Exami SCENE III.-Fields near Saint Albans. Alar um: Retreat. Flourish; then enter York, Rich ard Plantagenet, Warwick, and Soldiers, with drum and colours. Enter Salisbury. 'Sal. Now, by my sword, well hast thou fought to-day; "By the mass, so did we all.-I thank you, Richard: God knows, how long it is I have to live; And it hath pleased him, that three times to-day "You have defended me from imminent death. *Well, lords, we have not got that which we have:' * 'Tis not enough our foes are this time fled, * Being opposites of such repairing nature. York. I know, our safety is to follow them: (1)e. We have not secured that which we have acquired. For, as I hear, the king is fled to London, Let us pursue him, ere the writs go forth:To call a present court of parliament. 'What says lord Warwick? shall we after them? War. After them! nay, before them, if we can. Now, by my faith, lords, 'twas a glorious day: Saint Albans' battle, won by famous York, Shall be eterniz'd in all age to come.Sound, drums and trumpets;-and to London all: And more such days as these to us befall! (2) i. e. Being enemies that are likely so soon to rally and recover themselves from this defeat. |