Cade. He lies, for I invented it myself.

[Aside.] Go to

me, that

sir, Tell the King from 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 dukedome of Maine.

Cade. And good reason; for thereby is England, maim'd, and fain to go with a staff, but that my puissance holds it up. Fellow Kings, I tell you, that that 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.

Staf. O gross and miserable ignorance!

Cade. Nay, answer, if you can': The Frenchmen are our 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.

1

* W. Staf. Well,

seeing gentle words will not prevail;

Assail them with the army of the King.

Staf. 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 me.

*Now show yourselves men, 'tis for liberty.

*

*We will not leave one lord, one gentleman: Spare none, but such as go in clouted shoon For they are thrifty honest men, and such

* As would (but that they dare not,) take our. parts.

*Dick. They are all in order, and march to *ward us.

*

*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 behav'dst 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 deserv'st ⭑ no less. This monument of the victory will I bear; and the bodies shall be dragg'd at my *horse' heels, till I do come to London, where we will have the mayor's sword borne be* fore 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. 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 sof

tens 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

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 Šay, Jack Cade hath sworn to have thy head.

Say. Ay, but I hope, your Highness shall have his.

K. Hen. How now, Madam Stift

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?"

Mes. The rebels are in Southwark; Fly, 2 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 Kenelworth;

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,

There

Therefore away with us to Kenelworth.

Say. So might your Grace's person be in

The sight

danger;

of me is odions in their eyes; And therefore in this city will I stay, And live alone as secret as I may.

Enter another Messenger.

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

The Tascal people, thirsting after prey,
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. Farewel, my Lord; [to lard Say.] I trust not the Kentish rebels. * Buck. Trust no body, for fear you be be

tray'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?
7. Cit. No, my Lord, nor likely to be slain;

VOL. XI

7