The Works of William Shakespeare

SCENE V.]

SECOND PART OF KING HENRY VI.

Cade. Where's Dick, the butcher of Ashford?
Dick. Here, Sir,

Cade. They fell before thee like sheep and oxen, and thou behavedst thyself as if thou hadst been in thine own slaughter-house: therefore, thus will I reward thee,-The Lent shall be as long again as it is; and thou shalt have a licence to kill for a hundred lacking one.

Dick. I desire no more.

Cade. And, to speak truth, thou deservest no less. This monument of the victory will I bear; [Puts on SIR H. STAFFORD's armour,] and the bodies shall be dragged at my horse' heels, till I do come to London, where we will have the mayor's sword borne before us.

Dick. If we mean to thrive and do good, break open the jails, and let out the prisoners.

Cade. Fear not that, I warrant thee.-Come, let's march towards London.

[Exeunt.

SCENE IV.-LONDON. A Room in the Palace.

Enter KING HENRY, reading a Supplication; the DUKE OF
BUCKINGHAM and LORD SAY with him: at a distance,
QUEEN MARGARET, mourning over SUFFOLK's head.
Q. Mar. Oft have I heard that grief softens the
mind,

And makes it fearful and degenerate;

Think therefore on revenge, and cease to weep.
But who can cease to weep, and look on this?
Here may his head lie on my throbbing breast:
But where's the body that I should embrace?

Buck. What answer makes your grace to the rebels' supplication?

K. Hen. I'll send some holy bishop to entreat;
For God forbid so many simple souls
And I myself,
Should perish by the sword!
Rather than bloody war shall cut them short,
Will parley with Jack Cade their general:-
But stay, I'll read it over once again.

Q. Mar. Ah, barbarous villains! hath this lovely
face

Rul'd, like a wandering planet, over me,
And could it not enforce them to relent,
That were unworthy to behold the same?

K. Hen. Lord Say, Jack Cade hath sworn to have
thy head.

Say. Ay, but I hope your highness shall have his.
K. Hen. How now, Madam!

Still lamenting and mourning for Suffolk's death?
I fear me, love, if that I had been dead,
Thou wouldest not have mourn'd so much for me.
Q. Mar. No, my love; I should not mourn, but
die for thee.

Enter a Messenger.

K. Hen. How now! what news? why com'st thou
in such haste?

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

Enter a second Messenger.

2 Mess. Jack Cade hath gotten London-bridge;
the citizens

The rascal people, thirsting after prey,
Fly and forsake their houses:
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. [To LORD SAY.] Farewell, my lord: trust not the Kentish rebels.

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.

SCENE V.-LONDON.

The Tower.

[Exeunt.

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 com-
mand;

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.

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 warn-
ing.

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.-LONDON.

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.

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 abominable 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, indeed, only for that cause they have been most worthy to live. Thou dost ride on a footcloth, dost thou not?

Say. What of that?

Clide. 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,

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 term'd 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.

Dick. I have a suit unto your lordship.
Cade. Be it a lordship, thou shalt have it for that Justice with favour have I always done;
word.

Dick. Only, that the laws of England may come out of your mouth.

John. [Aside.] Mass, 'twill be sore law, then; for he was thrust in the mouth with a spear, and 'tis not whole yet.

Smith. [Aside.] Nay, John, it will be stinking law; for his breath stinks with eating toasted 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. [Aside.] Then we are like to have biting statutes, unless his teeth be pulled out.

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, 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, even the 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 grammar-school: and whereas, before, our fore-fathers had no other books but the score and the tally, thou hast caused printing to be

Prayers and tears have mov'd me, gifts could never.
When have I aught exacted at your hands,
But 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 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

SCENE IX.]

SECOND PART OF KING HENRY VI.

Is my apparel sumptuous to behold?
Whom have I injur'd, that ye seek my death?
These hands are free from guiltless blood-shedding,
This breast from harbouring foul deceitful thoughts.
O, let me live.

Cade. [Aside.] 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.-Away with him!
he has a familiar under his tongue; he speaks not
Go, take him away, I say, and
o' God's name.
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,
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? Cade. Marry, presently.

All. O, brave!

Re-enter Rebels, with the heads of LORD SAY and his Son

in-law.

Cade. But is not this braver?-Let them kiss one another, for they loved well when they were alive. 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 maces, will we ride through the streets; and at every corner have them [Exeunt. kiss.-Away!

SCENE VIII-Southwark.

Alarum. Enter CADE and all his Rabblement. Cade. Up Fish Street! down Saint Magnus' corner! kill and knock down! throw them 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 forces. Buck. Ay, here they be that dare, and will disturb thee.

relent,

Know, Cade, we come embassadors 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
And yield to mercy, whilst 'tis offer'd you;
Or let a rebel 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.

A. 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
Hath sword therefore broke
my
about your necks?
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 re-
covered your ancient freedom: but you are all recre-
ants and dastards, and delight to live in slavery to
the nobility. Let them break your backs with bur-
wives and daughters before your faces: for me, I
dens, take your houses over your heads, ravish your
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,
'il go with him?
That thus you do exclaim, you
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-"Villiago!" 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. [Aside.] Was ever feather so lightly blown to and fro, as this multitude? the name of Henry the fifth hales them to a hundred mischiefs, and I see them lay makes them leave me desolate. their heads together, to surprise me: my sword make way for me, for here is no staying.-In despite 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 [Exit. betake me to my heels.

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
[Exeunt.
To reconcile you all unto the king.

SCENE IX.-Killingworth Castle.

Trumpets sounded. Enter KING HENRY, QUEEN MARGA-
RET, 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?
No sooner 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 subject.

Enter BUCKINGHAM and Old CLIFFORD.
Buck. Health, and glad tidings, to your majesty!

K. Hen. Why, Buckingham, is the traitor, Cade, dry, and bravely marching, it hath served me insurpris'd?

Or is he but retir'd to make him strong?

Enter, below, a 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
Of Gallowglasses, and stout Kernes,
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. 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, 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 and meet him;
And ask him what's the reason of these arms?
Tell him, I'll send duke Edmund to the Tower;—
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.

K. Hen. In any case, be not too rough in terms; For he is fierce, and cannot brook hard language. 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.

[Exeunt.

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 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 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 had been cleft with a brown bill; and many a time, when I have been

stead of a quart-pot to drink in; and now the word "sallet" must serve me to feed on.

Enter IDEN with Servants behind.

Iden. Lord, who would live turmoilèd in the court,

And may enjoy such quiet walks as these?
This small inheritance, my father left me,
Contenteth me, and worth a monarchy.

I seek not to wax great by 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. [Aside.] 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 by 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 stands,

That Alexander Iden, an esquire of Kent,
Took odds to combat a poor famish'd man.
Oppose thy steadfast-gazing eyes to mine,
See if thou canst outface me with thy looks:
Set limb to limb, and thou art far the lesser;
Thy hand is but a finger to my fist;

Thy leg a stick, compared with this truncheon;
My foot shall fight with all the strength thou hast ;
And if mine arm be heavèd in the air,
Thy grave is digg'd already in the earth.
As for words, whose greatness answers words,
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 Jove on my knees, thou mayst be turned to hobnails. [They fight; CADE falls.] O, I 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 unconquered soul of Cade is fled.

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

Sword, I will hallow thee for this thy deed,
And hang thee o'er my tomb when I am dead:
Ne'er shall this blood be wipèd from thy point;
But thou shalt wear it as a herald's coat,
To emblaze the honour that thy master got.

Cade. Iden, farewell; and be proud of thy vic

and exhort all the world to be cowards: for I, that never feared any, am vanquished by famine, not by valour.

[Dies. Iden. How much thou wrong'st me, heaven be my judge.

Die, damnèd wretch, the curse of her that bare thee!

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, with Servants, dragging out the body.

ACT V.

SCENE L.-KENT. 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 majesias! who would not buy thee dear?
Let them obey, that know not how to rule;
This hand was made to handle naught 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.

[Aside.] Whom have we here? Buckingham, to

disturb me?

The king hath sent him, sure: I must dissemble. Buck. York, if thou meanest well, I greet thee 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, Shouldst raise so great a power without his leave, Or dare to bring thy force so near the court.

York. [Aside.] Scarce can I speak, my choler is so great:

O, I could hew up rocks, and fight with flint,
I am so angry at these abject terms;

And now, like Ajax Telamonius,

On sheep or oxen could I spend my fury!
I am far better born than is the king;
More like a king, more kingly in my thoughts;
But I must make fair weather yet a while,
Till Henry be more weak, and I more strong.-
[Aloud.] 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,

The king hath yielded unto thy demand;
The duke of Somerset is in the Tower.
York. Upon thine honour, is he prisoner?
Buck. Upon mine honour, he is prisoner.
York. Then, Buckingham, I do dismiss my
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 sov❜reign, 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.

Buck. York, I commend this kind submission: We twain will go into his highness' tent.

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; And fight against that monstrous rebel, Cade, 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!—

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 was 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:
And will, that thou henceforth attend on us.

Iden. May Iden live to merit such a bounty,
And never live but true unto his liege!

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;

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The Works of William Shakespeare, Volume 2