seven half-penny loaves sold for a penny: the
three-hooped pot shall have ten hoops; and I will
make it felony to drink small beer: all the realm*
shall be in common, and in Cheapside shall my
palfry go to grass. And, when I am king, (as king
I will be)-

All. God save your majesty!

Cade. I thank you, good people :-there shall 'be no money; all shall eat and drink on my score; and I will apparel them all in one livery, that they may agree like brothers, and worship me 'their lord.

'Dick. The first thing we do, let's kill all the 'lawyers.

Cade. Nay, that I mean to do. Is not this a lamentable thing, that of the skin of an innocent lamb should be made parchment? that parchment, being scribbled o'er, should undo a man? Some say, the bee stings: but I say, 'tis the bee's wax, for I did but seal once to a thing, and I was never mine own man since. How now? who's there?

Enter some, bringing in the Clerk of Chatham. Smith. The clerk of Chatham: he can write and read, and cast accompt.

Cade. O monstrous!

Smith. We took him setting of boys' copies.
Cade. Here's a villain!

It

*W. Staff. But angry, wrathful, and incln'd to
blood,

If you go forward: therefore yield, or die.
Cade. As for these silken-coated slaves, I pass not;'
is to you, good people, that I speak,

* O'er whom, in time to come, I hope to reign;
For I am rightful he'r unto the crown.

Staff. Villain, thy father was a plasterer; And thou thyself, a shearman, Art thou not? Cade. And Adam was a gardener.

W. Staff. And what of that?

Cade. Marry, this:-Edmund Mortimer, earl of
March,

Married the duke of Clarence' daughter; Did he not?
'Staff. Ay, sir.

Cade. By her, he had two children at one birth.
W. Staff. That's false.

'Cade. Ay, there's the question; but, I say, 'tis

true:

The elder of them, being put to nurse,
Was by a beggar-woman stol'n away;
And, ignorant of his birth and parentage,
Became a bricklayer, when he came to age:
His son am I; deny it, if you can.

Dick. Nay, 'tis too true; therefore he shall be
king.

Smith. Sir, he made a chimney in my father's house, and the bricks are alive at this day to testify therefore, deny it not.

Smith. H'as a book in his pocket, with red let-it;

ters in't.

Cade. Nay, then he is a conjurer.

Dick. Nay, he can make obligations, and write✶

court-hand.

Cade. I am sorry for't: the man is a proper man, ' on mine honour; unless I find him guilty, he shall not die,-Come hither, sirrah, I must examine thee: What is thy name?

Clerk. Emmanuel.

Dick. They use to write it on the top of letters;
-Twill hard with you.
go

'Cale. Let me alone:-Dost thou use to write thy name? or hast thou a mark to thyself, like an honest plain-dealing man?

Staff. And will you credit this base drudge's words,

That speaks he knows not what?

*All. Av, marry, will we; therefore get ve gone. W. Staff. Jack Cade, the duke of York hath

taught you this.

*Cade. He lies, for I invented it myself. [Aside.] -Go to, sirrah, Tell the king from me, that-for his father's sake, Henry the Fifth, in whose time boys went to span-counter for French crowns,-I am content he shall reign; but I'll be protector over him.

Dick. And, furthermore, we'll have the lord Say's head, for selling the dukedom of Maine. 'Cade. And good reason; for thereby is England

Clerk. Sir, I thank God, I have been so wellmaimed, and fain to go with a staff, but that my brought up, that I can write my name.

All. He hath confessed: away with him; he's

'villain and a traitor.

a

Cade. Away with him, I say; hang him with 'his pen and inkhorn about his neck. [Exeunt some with the Clerk.

puissance holds it up. Fellow kings, I tell you, that my lord Say hath gelded the commonwealth, 'and made it an eunuch: and more than that, he 'can speak French, and therefore he is a traitor.

Staff. O gross and miserable ignorance!

Cade. Nay, answer, if you can: The French men are enemies: go to then, I ask but this; Can 'he, that speaks with the tongue of an enemy, be 'a good counsellor, or no?

*All. No, no; and therefore we'll have his head,
*W. Staff. Well, seeing gentle words will not
prevail,

*Assail them with the army of the king,
'Staff. Herald, away; and, throughout every
town,

Proclaim them traitors that are up with Cade;
"That those, which fly before the battle ends,
May, even in their wives' and children's sight,
Be hang'd up for example at their doors :-
And you, that be the king's friends, follow me.

[Exeunt the two Staffords, and forces, Cade. And you, that love the commons, follow

49

* Cade. But then are we in order, when we are * most out of order. Come, march forward.

[Exeunt.

SCENE III-Another part of Blackheath,
Alarums. The two parties enter and fight, and
both the Staffords are slain.

'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 license to kill for a
"hundred Jacking one.

'Dick. I desire no more.

*Cade. And, to speak truth, thou deservedst no less. This monument of the victory will I bear; * 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 gaols, and let out the prisoners.
*Cade. Fear not that, I warrant thee. Come,
* let's march towards London.
[Exeunt.
SCENE IV.-London.

Enter King Henry, reading a supplication; the
A room in the palace.
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 'rebel's supplication?

*K. Hen. I'll send some holy bishop to entreat: 'For God forbid, so many simple souls 'Should perish by the sword; And I myself, '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, my 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 erown himself in Westminster. 'His army is a ragged multitude

(1) Predominated irresistibly over my passions;

Act IV.

Of hinds and peasants, rude and merciless;
Sir Humphrey Stafford and his brother's death
They call-false caterpillars, and intend their
Hath given them heart and courage to proceed:
All scholars, lawyers, courtiers, gentlemen,

death.

*K. Hen. O graceless men! they know not
what they do.

'Until a power be rais'd to put them down.
Buck. My gracious lord, retire to Kenelworth,
*Q. Mar. Ah! were the duke of Suffolk now
alive,

These Kentish rebels would he soon appeas'd.
'K. Hen. Lord Say, the traitors hate thee,
'Therefore away with us to Kenelworth.

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

Enter another Messenger.

* 2 Mess. Jack Cade hath gotten London-bridge;
Fly and forsake their houses:
the citizens

The rascal people, thirsting after prey,
To spoil the city and your royal court.
*Join with the traitor; and they jointly swear,
*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. Farewell, my lord; [To Lord Say.] 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.

[Exeunt.

The Tower.

SCENE V.-The same.
Lord Scales, and others, on the Walls. Then
Enter
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 mavor 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;

The rebels have assay'd to win the Tower.
But I am troubled here with them myself,
And thither I will send you Matthew Gough:
But get you to Smithfield, and gather head,
Fight for your king, your country, and your lives;
And so farewell, for I must hence again. [Exeunt.
SCENE VI.-The same. Cannon Street. En-
ter Jack Cade, and his followers. He strikes
his staff on London-stone.

here, sitting upon London-stone, I charge and com-
Cade. Now is Mortimer lord of this city. And
run nothing but claret wine this first year of our
mand, that, of the city's cost, the pissing-conduit
reign. And now, henceforward, it shall be treason
for any that calls me other than-lord Mortimer.
Enter a Soldier, running.

[They kill him.

Sold. Jack Cade! Jack Cade!
Cade. Knock him down there.
you Jack Cade more; I think, he hath a very fair
*Smith. If this fellow be wise, he'll never call

as the planets over those born under their influence. * warning.

Dick. My lord, there's an army gathered to-wear a cloak, when honester men than thou go in gether in Smithfield. their hose and doublets.

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.-The same. 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.

Dick. I have 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. [Aside. Smith. Nay, John, it will be stinking law; for 'his breath stinks with eating toasted cheese.

[Aside. 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 statutes, * unless his teeth be pulled out. [Aside. Cade. And henceforward all things shall be

in common.

Enter a Messenger.

*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 Latm."

*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.
*Justice with favour have I always done;
Prayers and tears have mov'd me, gifts could

never.

When have I aught exacted at your hands,
Kent 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 spirit,
You cannot but forbear to murder me.
This tongue hath parley'd unto foreign kings
For your behoof,-

*Cade. Tut! when struck'st thou cne blow in *the field?

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,1 and one ⋆ shilling to the pound, the last subsidy.

Enter George Bevis, with the Lord Say.

* Say. Great men have reaching hands: oft have
Those that I never saw, and struck them dead.
I struck
* Geo. O monstrous coward! what, to come be-
hind folks?

*Say. These cheeks are pale for watching for
your good.

*Cade. Give him a box on the ear, and that will make 'em red again.

Say. Long sitting to determine poor men's

causes

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?

Cade. Well, he shall be beheaded for it ten times.-Ah, thou say, thou serge, nay, thou buck'ram lord! now art thou within point-blank of our jurisdiction regal. What canst thou answer to my majesty, for giving up of Normandy unto mon'sieur Basimecu, the dauphin of France? Be it 'known unto thee by these presence, even the pre· sence 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: Say. The palsy, and not fear, provoketh me. ' and whereas, before, our fore-fathers had no other 'Cade. Nay, he nods at us; as who should say, 'books but the score and the tally, thou hast caused I'll be even with you. I'll see if his head will printing to be used; and, contrary to the king,stand steadier on a pole, or no: Take him away, his crown, and dignity, thou hast built a paper-and behead him. 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 Chris'tian ear can endure to hear. Thou hast appointed *justices of peace, to call poor men before them "about matters that 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 foot-* cloth, dost thou not?

Say. What of that?

Cade. Marry, thou oughtest not to let thy horse

(1) A fifteen was the fifteenth part of all the moveables, or personal property, of each subject. (2) Say was a kind of serge.

(3) i. e. They were hanged because they could not claim the benefit of clergy.

Say. Tell me, wherein I have offended most?
Have I affected wealth or honour; speak?
Are my chests fill'd up with extorted gold?
Is my apparel sumptuous to behold?
Whom have I injur'd, that you seek my death?
These hands are free from guiltless blood-shed-
ding,

This

breast from harbouring foul deceitful thoughts.

O, let me live!

*Cade. 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

(4) A foot-cloth was a kind of housing, which covered the body of the horse.

(5) In consequence of.

(6) i. e. These hands are free from shedding guiltless or innocent blood.

Clif. Is Cade the son of Henry the Fifth, That thus you do exclaim-you'll go with him?

* Say. Ah, countrymen! if, when you make your Will he conduct you through the heart of France,

prayers,

ye.

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
[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.

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.
Wer'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-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 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. Was ever feather so lightly blown to and 'fro, as this multitude? the name of Henry the 'Cade. But is not this braver?-Let them kiss Fifth hales them to a hundred mischiefs, and makes one another, for they loved well, when they were: 'them leave me desolate. I see them lay their alive. Now part them again, lest they consult heads together, to surprise me my sword make about the giving up of some more towns in France.way for me, for here is no staying.-In despite of Soldiers, defer the spoil of the city until night: the devils and hell, have through the very midst for with these borne before us, instead of maces, of you! and heavens and honour be witness, that 'will we ride through the streets; and, at every no want of resolution in me, but only my followers' 'corner, have them kiss.-Away! [Exeuni. base and ignominious treasons, makes me betake me to my heels. (Exit 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. Av, here they be that dare and will disturb thee:

Know, Cade, we come ambassadors 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 ve relent, 'And vield to mercy, whilst '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 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.

All. God save the king! God save the king! Cale. What, Buckingham, and Clifford, are ye 'so brave?-And you, base peasants, do you believe him? will you needs be hanged with your pardons about your necks? Hath my sword there'fore broke through London Gates, that you should 'leave me at the White Hart in Southwark? I thought, ve would never have given out these arms, 'till you had recovered your ancient freedom: but you are all recreants, and dastards; and delight 'to live in slavery to the nobility. Let them break

(1) A dæmon who was supposed to attend at call.

'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
To reconcile you all unto the king. [Exeunt.
SCENE IX.-Kenelworth Castle. Enter King
Henry, Queen Margaret, 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 Clifford.

* Buck. Health, and glad tidings, to your ma jesty!

*K. Hen. Why, Buckingham, is the traitor, Cade, surpris'd?

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

Enter, below, a great 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