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Vaux. To signify unto his majesty, That Cardinal Beaufort is at point of death: For suddenly a grievous sickness took him, That makes him gasp and stare, and catch the air,

Blaspheming God, and cursing men on earth. Sometime, he talks as if duke Humphrey's ghost

Were by his side: sometime, he calls the king,
And whispers to his pillow, as to him,
The secrets of his overcharged soul:
And I am sent to tell his majesty,
That even now he cries aloud for him.

Q. Mar. Go, tell this heavy message to the king. [Exit VAUX. Ah me! what is this world? What news are these?

sorrows?

But wherefore grieve I at an hour's poor loss,
Omitting Suffolk's exile, my soul's treasure?
Why only, Suffolk, mourn I not for thee,
And with the southern clouds contend in tears;
Theirs for the earth's increase, mine for my
[coming;
Now, get thee hence: the king thou know'st is
If thou be found by me, thou art but dead.
Suf. If I depart from thee, I cannot live:
And in thy sight to die, what were it else,
But like a pleasant slumber in thy lap?
Here could I breathe my soul into the air,
As mild and gentle as the cradle-babe,
Dying with mother's dug between its lips:
Where, from thy sight, I should be raging
mad,

And cry out for thee to close up mine eyes.
To have thee with thy lips to stop my mouth;
So shouldst thou either turn my flying soul,
Or I should breathe it so into thy body,
And then it lived in sweet Elysium.
To die by thee, were but to die in jest;
From thee to die, were torture more than
death:

(), let me stay, befall what may befall.
Q. Mar. Away! Though parting be a fretful
corrosive,

It is applied to a deathful wound. [thee; To France, sweet Suffolk: Let me hear from For wheresoe'er thou art in this world's globe, I'll have an Irist that shall find you out.

Suf. I go.

Q. Mur. And take my heart with thee. Suf. A jewel lock'd into the woeful'st cask That ever did contain a thing of worth. Even as a splitted bark, so sunder we: This way fall 1 to death.

Q. Mar. This way for me. [Exeuni, severally.

SCENE III.-London.-Cardinal BEAUFORT'S Bed-chamber.

Enter King HENRY, SALISBURY, WARWICK, and others.-The CARDINAL in Bed; Attendants with him.

K. Hen. How fares my lord? Speak, Beaufort, to thy sovereign.

Car. If thou be'st death, I'll give thee England's treasure,

Enough to purchase such another island,
So thou wilt let me live, and feel no pain.

K. Hen. Ah, what a sign it is of evil life, When death's approach is seen so terrible! War. Beaufort, it is thy sovereign speaks to thee.

Car. Bring me unto my trial when you will. Died he not in his bed? Where should he die? Can I make men live, whe'r they will or no?

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O! torture me no more, I will confess.-
Alive again? Then show me where he is;
I'll give a thousand pounds to look upon

him.

He hath no eyes, the dust hath blinded them.Comb down his hair; look! look! it stands upright,

Like lime-twigs set to catch my winged soul!-
Give me some drink; and bid the apothecary
Bring the strong poison that I bought of him.
K. Hen. O thou eternal Mover of the bes
vens,

Look with a gentle eye upon this wretch!
O, beat away the busy meddling fiend,
That lays strong siege upon this wretch's soal,
And from his bosom purge this black despair!
War. See, how the pangs of death doth
make him grin.

Sal. Disturb him not, let him pass peaceably.
K. Hen. Peace to his soul, if God's plea-

sure be!

[bliss Lord cardinal, if thou think'st on heaven's Hold up thy hand, make signal of thy hope.He dies, and makes no sign; O God, forgive him!

War. So bad a death argues a monstrous

life.

K. Hen. Forbear to judge, for we are sinners all.

Close up his eyes, and draw the curtain close; And let us all to meditation. [Exeunt.

ACT IV.

[day

SCENE 1.-Kent.-The sea-shore near Docer.
Firing heard at Sea.--Then enter from a Boat,
a CAPTAIN, a MASTER, a MASTER'S-MATE,
WALTER WHITMORE, and others; with them
SUFFOLK, and other Gentlemen, Prisoners.
Cap. The gaudy, blabbing, and remorseful
Is crept into the bosom of the sea;
And now loud-howling wolves arouse the jades
That drag the tragic melancholy night;
Who with their drowsy, slow, and flagging
wings
[jans
Clip dead men's graves, and from their misty
Breathe foul contagious darkness in the air.
Therefore, bring forth the soldiers of our prize;
For, whilst our pinnace anchors in the Downs,
Here shall they make their ransom on the sand,
Or with their blood stain this discolour'd
shore.-

Master, this prisoner freely give I thee:And thou that art his mate, make boot of this:

The other, [Pointing to Suffolk.] Walter Whitmore, is thy share.

1 Gent. What is my ransom, master? Let me know.

Must. A thousand crowns, or else lay down your head.

Mate. And so much shall you give, or off goes yours.

Cap. What, think you much to pay two thousand crowns,

And bear the name and port of gentlemen?Cut both the villains' throats;-for die you

shall;

The lives of those which we have lost in fight, Cannot be counterpoised with such a petty

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aboard,

And therefore, to revenge it, shalt thou die;
[To Suffolk.
And so should these, if I might have my will.
Cap. Be not so rash; take ransom, let him

live.

Whit. I lost mine eye in laying the prize | Against the senseless winds shall grin in vain,
Who, in contempt, shall hiss at thee again:
And wedded be thou to the hags of hell,
For daring to affy* a mighty lord
Unto the daughter of a worthless king,
Having neither subject, wealth, nor diadem.
By devilish policy art thou grown great,
And, like ambitious Sylla, overgorged
With gobbets of thy mother's bleeding heart.
By thee, Anjou and Maine were sold to France:
The false revolting Normans, thorough thee,
Disdain to call us lord; and Picardy
Hath slain our governors, surprised our forts,
And sent the ragged soldiers wounded home.
The princely Warwick, and the Nevils all,-
Whose dreadful swords were never drawn in
As hating thee, are rising up in arms: [vain;
And now the house of York-thrust from the

Suf. Look on my George, I am a gentleman;
Rate me at what thou wilt, thou shalt be paid.
Whit. And so am I; my name is-Walter
Whitmore.
[affright?
How now? Why start'st thou? What, doth death
Suf. Thy name affrights me, in whose sound
is death.

A cunning man did calculate my birth,
And told me that by Water I should die :
Yet let not this make thee be bloody-minded;
Thy name is-Gualtier, being rightly sounded.
Whit. Gualtier, or Walter, which it is, I care
not;

Ne'er yet did base dishonour blur our name,
But with our sword we wiped away the blot;
Therefore, when merchant-like I sell revenge,
Broke be my sword, my arms torn and defac'd,
And I proclaim'd a coward through the world!
[Lays hold on SUFFOLK.
Suf. Stay, Whitmore; for thy prisoner is a

prince,

The duke of Suffolk, William de la Poole. Whit. The duke of Suffolk, muffled up in rags!

Suf. Ay, but these rags are no part of the duke:

Jove sometime went disguised, and why not I? Cap. But Jove was never slain, as thou shalt be.

Suf. Obscure and lowly swain, king Henry's
The honourable blood of Lancaster, [blood,
Must not be shed by such a jaded groom,*
Hast thou not kiss'd thy hand, and held my
stirrup?

Bare-headed plodded by my foot-cloth mule,
And thought thee happy when I shook my head?
How often hast thou waited at my cup,
Fed from my trencher, kneel'd down at the
board,

When I have feasted with queen Margaret?
Remember it, and let it make thee crest-fallen;
Ay, and allay this thy abortive pride :†
How in our voiding lobby hast thou stood,
And duly waited for my coming forth?
This hand of mine hath writ in thy behalf,
And therefore shall it charm thy riotous tongue.
Whit. Speak, captain, shall I stab the for-
lorn swain?

Cup. First let my words stab him, as he hath

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crown,

By shameful murder of a guiltless king,
And lofty proud encroaching tyranny,-
Burns with revenging fire; whose hopeful co-
lours

Advance our half-faced sun, striving to shine,
Under the which is writ-Invitis nubibus.
The commons here in Kent are up in arms:
And, to conclude, reproach, and beggary,
Is crept into the palace of our king,
And all by thee:-Away! Convey him hence.
Suf. O that I were a god, to shoot forth
thunder

Upon these paltry, servile, abject drudges?
Small things make base men proud: this villain
here,

Being captain of a pinnacet threatens more
Than Burgulus the strong Illyrian pirate.
Drones suck not eagle's blood, but rob bee-
It is impossible, that I should die [hives.
By such a lowly vassal as thyself.
Thy words move rage, and not remorse, in me:
I go of message from the queen to France;
I charge thee, waft me safely cross the channel.
Cap. Walter,-

Whit. Come, Suffolk, I must waft thee to thy
death.

Suf. Gelidus timor occuput artus:-'Tis thee I fear.

Whit. Thou shalt have cause to fear, before

I leave thee.

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Geo. I tell thee, Jack Cade the clothier means to dress the commonwealth, and turn it, and set a new nap upon it.

John. So he had need, for 'tis threadbare. Well, I say, it was never merry world in England, since gentlemen came up.

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[Aside.

Cude. I fear neither sword nor fire. Smith. He need not fear the sword, his coat is of proof.

[Aside. Dick. But, methinks, he should stand in fear of fire, being burnt i'the hand for stealing of sheep. [Aside. Cade. Be brave then; for your captain is in England, seven halfpenny loaves sold for a brave, and vows reformation. There shall be, penny: the three-hoop'd pot shall have ten beer: all the realm shall be in common, and in hoops; and I will make it felony, to drink small when I am king, (as king I will be)Cheapside shall my palfry go to grass. And,

All. God save your majesty!

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

Geo. O miserable age! Virtue is not regard-worship me their lord. ed in handycrafts-men.

John. The nobility think scorn to go in leather aprons.

Geo. Nay more, the king's council are no good

workmen.

John. True: and yet it is said,-Labour in thy vocation: which is as much to say, as,— let the magistrates be labouring men: and therefore should we be magistrates.

Geo. Thou hast hit it: for there's no better sign of a brave mind, than a hard hand. John. I see them! I see them! There's Best's the tanner of Wingham;

son,

Geo. He shall have the skins of our enemies, to make dog's leather of.

John. And Dick the butcher,

Geo. Then is sin struck down like an ox, and iniquity's throat cut like a calf.

John. And Smith the weaver:Geo. Argo, their thread of life is spun. John. Come, come, let's fall in with them. Drum.-Enter CADE, DICK the Butcher, SMITH the Weaver; and others in great number. Cade. We John Cade, so term'd of our supposed father,

Dick. Or rather, of stealing a cade of herrings.* [Aside. Cade. for our enemies shall fall before us, inspired with the spirit of putting down kings and princes,-Command silence.

Dick. Silence!

Cade. My father was a Mortimer,Dick. He was an honest man, and a good bricklayer. [Aside.

Cade. My mother a Plantagenet,Dick. I knew her well, she was a midwife. [Aside.

Cade. My wife descended of the Lacies,Dick. She was, indeed, a pedlar's daughter, and sold many laces. [Aside.

Smith. But, now of late, not able to travel with her furred pack, she washes bucks here at home. [Aside.

Cade. Therefore am I of an honourable house. Dick. Ay, by my faith, the field is honoura

* A barrel of herrings,

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

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

Enter some, bringing in the CLERK of Chatham.

and read, and cast accompt. Smith. The clerk of Chatham: he can write

Cade. O monstrous!

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

Smith. H'as a book in his pocket, with red letters 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 he shall not die.-Come hither, sirrah, I must man, on mine honour; unless I find him guilty, examine thee: What is thy name?

Clerk. Emmanuel.

Dick. They use to write it on the top of letters :-'Twili hard with you. go Cade. Let me alone:-Dost thou use to write thy name? or hast thou a mark to thyself, like a honest plain-dealing man?

well

brought up, that I can write my name. Clerk. Sir, I thank God, I have been so All. He hath confess'd: away with him; he's a villain, and a traitor.

Cade. Away with him, I say: hang him with his pen and inkhorn about his neck: [Exeunt some with the CLERK, Enter MICHAEL. Mich. Where's our general?

Cade. Here I am, thou particular fellow. Mich. Fly, fly, fly! Sir Humphrey Stafford and his brother are hard by, with the king's forces.

Cude. Stand, villain, stand, or I'll fell thee

down: he shall be encounter'd with a man as good as himself: he is but a knight, is 'a? Mich. No.

Cade. To equal him, I will make myself a knight presently; rise up Sir John Mortimer. Now have at him.

Enter Sir HUMPHREY STAFFORD, and WILLIAM
his Brother, with Drum and Forces.
Staf. Rebellious hinds, the filth and scum of
Kent,
[down,
Mark'd for the gallows,-lay your weapons
Home to your cottages, forsake this groom:
The king is merciful if you revolt.

W. Staf. But angry, wrathful, and inclined
to blood,

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;
May, even in their wives' and children's sight,
That those, which fly before the battle ends,
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 coinmons, fol-
low 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
Cade. As for these silken-coated slaves, I As would, (but that they dare not) take our
pass not ;*

If you go forward: therefore yield, or die.

It is to you, good people, that I speak,
O'er whom, in time to come, I hope to reign;
For I am rightful heir unto the crown.

Staf. Villain, thy father was a plasterer;
And thou, thyself, a shearman, art thou not?
Cade. And Adam was a gardener.
W. Staf. And what of that?
Cade. Marry, this:-Edmund Mortimer, earl
of March,

Married the duke of Clarence's daughter; did
he not?

Staf. Ay, Sir.

Cade. By her he had two children at one birth.

W. Staf. That's false.

parts.

Dick. They are all in order, and march towards us.

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

Alarums.-The two Parties enter, and fight, and
SCENE III.-Another part of Blackheath.

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:

Cade. Ay, there's the question; but, I say, therefore thus will I reward thee,-The Lent

'tis true:

The elder of them, being put to nurse,
Was by a beggar-woman stolen 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 it; therefore, deny it not.

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

That speaks he knows not what?

All. Ay, marry, will we; therefore get ye gone.

W. Staf. 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 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 a 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.

I pay them no regard.

shall be as long again as it is; and thou shalt have a licence to kill for a hundred, lacking

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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, mourn-
ing over SUFFOLK's head.

Q. Mar. Oft have I heard-that grief sof
And makes it fearful and degenerate;
tens the mind,
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 enFor God forbid, so many simple souls" [treat; 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:t

* Shoes.

+ Predominated irresistibly over my passions; as the planets over those born under their influence.

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K. Hen. How now, madam? Still Lamenting and mourning for Suffolk's death? I fear, my love, if that I had been dead, [me. Thou would'st not have mourn'd so much for Q. Mar. No, my love, I should not mourn, but die for thee.

Enter a MESSENGER.

K. Hen. How now! What news? Why comest thou in such haste?

Mes. 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 pro-
ceed:

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 Kenel-
worth,

Until a power be raised to put them down.
Q. Mar. Ah! were the duke of Suffolk now
alive,

These Kentish rebels would be soon appeased.
K. Hen. Lord Say, the traitors hate thee,
Therefore away with us to Kenelworth.

Say. So might your grace's person be in
danger:

The sight of me is odious 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 rascal 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!

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SCENE VI.-The same.-Cannon Street. Enter JACK CADE, and his Followers.-He strikes his Stuff on London-stone.

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

Enter a SOLDIER, running.

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 warning.

Dick. My lord, there's an army gather'd 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.-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 Q. Mar. My hope is gone, now Suffolk is de-mouth shall be the parliament of England. ceased.

K. Hen. Come, Margaret; God, our hope, will succour us.

K. Hen. Farewell, my lord; [To Lord SAY.] trust not the Kentish rebels.

Buck. Trust nobody, for fear you be be

tray'd.

Say. The trust I have is in mine innocence, And therefore am I bold and resolute.

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John. Then we are like to have biting statutes, unless his teeth be pull'd out. [Aside. Cade. And henceforward 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; 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

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

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