K. Hen. How now, madam 1 Still Lamenting and mourning for Suffolk's death? Thou would'st not have mourn'd so much for me. SCENE VI.-The same.-Cannon Street. Q. Mar. No, my love, I should not mourn And here, sitting upon London-stone, I charge but die for thee. Enter a MESSENGER. news? Why K. Hen. How now! What Jack Cade proclaims himself Lord Mortimer, my Of hinds and peasants, rude and merciless : ceed : and command, that of the city's cost, the pis- Enter a SOLDIER, running. [They kill him. Smith. If this fellow be wise, he'll never call you Jack Cade more; I think he bath a very fair warning. Dick. My lord, there's an army gather'd topro-gether in Smithfield. All scholars, lawyers, courtiers, gentlemen, death. K. Hen, O graceless men !-They know not what they do. Cade. Come then, let's go fight with them : but first, go and set London-bridge on fire; and, Come, if you can, burn down the Tower too. let's away. [Exeunt. SCENE VII.-The same.-Smithfield. Buck. My gracious lord, retire to Kenel-Alarum.-Enter, on one side, CADE and his Enter another MESSENGER. 2 Mes. Jack Cade hath gotten London-bridge; Fly and forsake their houses: K. Hen. Come, Margaret; God, our hope, Q. Mar. My hope is gone, now Suffolk is de- K. Hen. Farewell, my lord; trust not the [To LORD SAY.] Buck. Trust nobody, 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 it. 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 Bat I am troubled here with them myself; And so farewell, for I must hence again. [Exeunt. Company; on the other, Citizens and the Cade. So, Sirs :-Now go some and pull down the Savoy; others to the inns of court; down with them all. Dick. I bave 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. Smith. Nay, John, it will be stinking law; for his breath stinks with eating toasted [A side. cheese. 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 sta[Aside. tutes, unless his teeth be pull'd out. Cade. And hencefoward all things shall be in common. Enter a MESSENGER. Mes. My lord, a prize, a prize! Here's the lord Say, which sold the towns in France; be that made us pay one and twenty fifteens, 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, nay, thou buckram lord! Now art thou within point blank of our jurisdiction regal. What canst thou answer to my majesty, for giving up of Normandy unto monsieur Basimecu, the dauphin of France? Be it known unto thee by these presence of lord Mortimer, that I am the besom that must sweep the court clean of such filth as thou art. Thou hast most traitorously corrupted the youth of the realm, in erecting a grammarschool: and whereas, before, our forefathers had no other books but the score and the tally, thou hast caused printing to be used; and, contrary to the king, his crown and dignity, thou hast built a paper-mill. It will be proved to thy face, that thou hast men about thee, that usually talk of a noun and a verb; and such abomina. A fifteen was the fifteenth part of all the moveables or personal property, of each subject. Say was a kind of serge. ble words, as no Christian ear can endure to hear. Thou hast appointed justices of peace, to call poor men before them 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; when, in deed, only for that cause they have been most worthy to live. Thou dost ride on a foot-cloth, dost 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,- Say. Nothing but this: 'Tis bona terra, mala Cade. Away with him, away with him! he speaks Latin. Say. Hear me but speak, and bear me where Kent, in the commentaries Cæsar writ, I sold not Maine, I lost not Normandy; 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. Say. Tell me, wherein I have offended most? This breast from harbouring foul deceitful O let me live! 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 familiar⚫ 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. 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- Re-enter Rebels with the Heads of Lords SAY Cade. But is not this braver ?-Let them kiss one another, for they loved well, when they were alike. 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 inaces, will we ride through the streets; and at every corner have them kiss-Away! [Excunt. SCENE VIII.-Southwark. Alarum. Enter CADE, and all his Rabblement. Cade. Up Fish street! Down Saint Marnos' corner! Kill and knock down! Throw Luci into Thames. [A Parley sounded, then a Retreat. What noise is this I hear? Dare any be so bold to sound retreat or parley, when I command them kill? Enter BUCKINGHAM, and old CLIFFORD, with Buck. Ay, here they be that dare and will Know, Cade, we come ambassadors from the Unto the commons, whom thou hast misled ; Clif. What say ye, countrymen? will ye relent, And yield to mercy whilst 'tis offer'd you; Fling up his cap, and say-God save his m- Who hateth him, and honours not his father, 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 Cade. I feel remorse in myself with his words: 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 ost freedom: but you are all recreants and datthese arms, till you had recover'd your ancient A demon who was supposed to attend at call. + This piece of barbarity is recorded by Holinsbed. Scene IX. SECOND PART OF KING HENRY VI. tards; and delight to live in slavery to the All. We'll follow Cade, we'll follow Cade. And make the meanest of you earls and dukes! Methinks, already, in this civil broil, mercy. To France, to France, and get what you have Spare England, for it is your native coast: 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 bales them to a hundred mischiefs, and makes them leave me desolate. I see them lay their heads together, to surprise me my sword make way for me, for here is no staying. -In despight of the devils and hell have through the very tuidst 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, [Exeunt. SCENE IX.-Kenelworth Castle. And could command no more content than I? Enter BUCKINGHAM and CLIFFORD. Or is he but retired to make him strong! And humbly thus with balters on their necks, To entertain my vows of thanks and praise !- Continue still in this so good a mind, 513 Assure yourselves, will never be unkind : Enter a MESSENGER. Mess. Please it your grace to be advértised, Like to a ship, that, having escaped a tempest, persed; And now is York in arms to second him.- I'll yield myself to prison willingly. K. Hen. In any case, be not too rough in terins; [guage. For he is fierce, and cannot brook hard lanBuck. I will, my lord; and doubt not so to deal As all things shall redound unto your good. [Exeunt. For yet may England curse my wretched reign. 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 Wherefore, on I night have a lease of my life for a thousand years, I could stay no longer. a brick-wall have I climbed into this garden; Enter IDEN, with Servants. Iden. Lord, who would live turmoiled in the court, And may enjoy such quiet walks as these! Cade. Here's the lord of the soil come to Why, rude companion, whatsoe'er thou be, dear. I know thee not; why then should I betray | To entertain great England's lawful king. 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 cat grass more. Iden. Nay, it shall ne'er be said, while England stands, That Alexander Iden, an esquire of Kent, Let this my sword report what speech forbears. Cade. 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.] Oh! 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 filed. Iden. Is't Cade that I have slain, that monstrous traitor? Sword, I will hallow thee for this thy deed. Ne'er shall this blood be wiped from thy point; 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 met heaven be my judge. Die, damned wretch, the curse of her that bare thee ! And as I thrust thy body in with my sword, Let them obey, that know not how to rule; Whom have we here? Buckingham to disturb 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 leave, Or dare to bring thy force so near the court. York. [Aside.] Scarce can I speak, my choler is so great. Oh! I could hew up rocks, and fight with flint, Aside. 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! Soldiers, I thank you all; disperse yourselves; Buck. York, I commend this kind submission: K. Hen. Buckingham, doth York intend to harm us, That thus he marcheth with thee arm in arm! York. To heave the traitor Somerset from hence; And fight against that monstrous rebel, Cade, Enter IDEN, with CADE's Head. May pass into the presence of a king, • Balance my hand. HENRY VI K. Hen. The head of Cade ?-Great God, how just art thou!— 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 Iden. Alexander Iden, that's my name; He were created knight for his good service. Rise up a knight. We give thee for reward a thousand marks; K. Hen. See, Buckingham! Somerset comes Go, bid her hide him quickly from the duke. But boldly stand, and front him to his face. mine; Whose smile and frown, like to Achilles' spear, of capital treason 'gainst the king and crown: If they can brook 1 bow a knee to man.- ment. Q. Mar. Call hither Clifford; bid him come York. O blood-bespotted Neapolitan, 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: • Custody, confinement. is my king, York, I do not mis- But thou mistak'st me much, to think I do :- Makes him oppose himself against his king. Q. Mar. He is arrested, but will not obey; His sons, he says, shall give their words for him. York. Will you not, sons? 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 wre York. Look in a glass, and call thy image so; Clif. Are these thy bears? we'll bait thy bears to death, And manacle the bear ward in their chains, Rich. Oft have I seen a hot o'erweening cur If you oppose yourselves to match lord Warwick. Clif. Hence, heap of wrath, foul indigested As crooked in thy manners as thy shape! anon. Clif. Take heed, lest by your heat you burn yourselves. K. Hen. Why, Warwick, hath thy knee forgot Old Salisbury,-shame to thy silver hair, And seek for sorrow with thy spectacles? Sal. My lord, I have consider'd with myself Sal. I have. K. Hen. Caust thou dispense with heaven for Sul. It is great sin, to swear unto a sin; The Nevils, earls of Warwick, had a bea, and ragged staff for their crest. ↑ Bear-keeper. |