Page images
PDF
EPUB

[will.

Say. Hear me but speak, and bear me where you
Kent, in the Commentaries Cæfar writ,
Is term'd the civilst place of all this ifle;
Sweet is the country, because full of riches,
The people liberal, valiant, active, wealthy;
Which makes me hope thou art not void of pity.
I fold not Maine; I loft not Normandy;
Yet, to recover them, would lofe 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?
Kent to maintain, the King, the realm and you,'
Large gifts have I bestow'd on learned clerks,
Because my book prefer'd me to the King:
And feeing ignorance is the curfe of God,
Knowledge the wing wherewith we fly to heav'n,
Unless you be poffefs'd with dev'lifh spirits,
Ye cannot but forbear to murder me.

This tongue hath parlied 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 ftruck

Those that I never faw, and ftruck them dead. George. O monftrous coward! what, to come behind folks?

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

Cade. Give him a box o' th' ear, and that will make 'em red again.

Say. Long fitting to determine poor mens' causes, Hath made me full of fickness and diseases.

Cade. Ye thall have a hempen caudle then, and the help of a hatchet.

Dick. Why doft thou quiver, man?

Say. The palty, and not fear, provokes me.

Cade Nay, he nods at us, as who fhould fay, I'll be even with you. I'll see if his head will stand feadier on a pole or no. Take him away, and belead him.

Say. Tell me, wherein have I offended moft?

Have I affected wealth or honour? speak.
Are my cheits fill'd up with extorted gold?
Is my apparel fumptuous to behold?

Whom have I injur'd, that ye seek my death? Thefe hands are free from guiltlefs blood-fhedding, This breaft from harb'ring foul deceitful thoughts O, let me live!

Cade. I feel remorfe in myfelf with his words; but I'll bridle it; he fhall die, an it be but for pleading fo 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 fay, and strike off his head presently; and then break into his fon-inlaw's houfe, Sir James Cromer, and ftrike off his head, and bring them both upon two poles hither. All. It fhall be done.

Say. Ah, countrymen, if when you make your God fhould be fo obdurate as yourfelves, [pray'rs, How would it fare with your departed fouls? And therefore yet relent, and fave my life.

Cade. Away with him, and do as I command ye. The proudest peer of the realm fhail not wear a head on his fhoulders, unless he pay me tribute; there fhall not a maid be married, but the thall pay me her maiden-head ere they have it; men thall hold of me in capite. And we charge and command, that their wives be as free as heart can with, or tongue can tell.

Dick. My Lord, when fhall we go to Cheapfide, and take up commodities upon our bills? Cade. Marry, prelently.

All. O brave!

Enter one with the Heads.

Cade. But is not this braver? Let them kifs onc another; for they lov'd well when they were alive.. Now part them again, left they confult about the giving up of fome more towns in France. Soldiers, defer the fpoil of the city until night; or with thefe borne before us, inftead of maces, will we ride through the ftreets, and at every corner have them kifs. Away. [Exeunt.

[blocks in formation]

Changes to Southwark.

Alarm and retreat. Enter again Cade, and all his Rabblement.

Cade. Up Fifh-ftreet, down St Magnus' corner, kill and knock down; throw them into Thames. [A parley founded.

What noife is this I hear?
Dare any be fo bold to found retreat or parley,
When I command them kill?

Enter Buckingham and old Clifford, attended.

Buck. Ay, here they be that dare and will difturb thee.

Know, Cade, we come ambaffadors from the King
Unto the Commons, whom thou haft mifled;
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 Yet 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 peafants, do ye believe 'em? will you needs be hang'd with your pardons about your necks? hath my fword therefore broke through London' gates, that you fhould leave me at the White-hart in Southwark? I thought you would never have given out these 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 backs with burdens, take your houses over your heads, ravish your wives and daughters before your faces: for me,

[ocr errors]

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?
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 fpoil,
Unlefs by robbing of your friends and us.
Were'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 Čades miscarry,
Than you thould stoop unto a Frenchman's mercy,
To France, to France, and get what you have lost;

Spare England, for it is your native coaft.

Henry hath money, you are strong 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 midst of you; and heavens and honour be witnefs, that no want of refolution in me, but only my followers bafe and ignominious treafons, make me betake me to my heels.

[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 devife a mean To reconcile you all unto the King.

[Exeunt.

[blocks in formation]

Sound trumpets. Enter King Henry, Queen Margaret, and Somerfet, on the 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 fubject long'd to be a king,

As I do long and wifh to be a subject.

Enter Buckingham and Clifford.

Buck. Health and glad tidings to his Majefty! K. Henry. Why, Buckingham, is the traitor Cade furpriz'd?

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

Enter multitudes with halters about their necks.: Clif. He's fled, my Lord, and all his pow'rs do yield, And humbly thus with halters on their necks Expect your Highnefs' doom of life or death.

K. Henry. Then heav'n fe: ope thy everlasting gates, To entertain my vows of thanks, and praife. Soldiers, this day have you redeem'd your lives, And fhew'd how well you love your Prince and counContinue ftill in this fo good a mind, [try; And Henry, though he be unfortunate, Affure yourfelves, 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 Meffenger.

[ocr errors]

Me. Pleafe it your Grace to be advertised,
The Duke of York is newly come from Ireland; :
And with a puiffant and mighty pow'r

Of Gallow-glaffes and ftout Kernes,
Is marching hitherward in proud array;

« PreviousContinue »