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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 forefathers had no other books but the score and the tally, thou hast caused printing to be used; and, contrary to the king, his crown and dignity, thou hast built a papermill. 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 foot-cloth,t dost

thou not?

Say. What of that?

Cade. 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, male

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.
Justice with favour have I always done;
Prayers and tears have moved 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 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 fort watching for

your good.

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

I. e. They were hanged because they could not claim the benefit of the clergy.

A foot cloth was a kind of housing, which covered the

body of the horse.

In consequence of.

|

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?

Say. The palsy, and not fear, provoketh me. I'll be even with you. I'll see if his head will Cade. Nay, he nods at us; as who should say, stand steadier on a pole, or no: Take him away, and behead him.

Have I affected wealth, or honour; speak?
Say. Tell me, wherein I have offended most?
Are my chests fill'd up with extorted gold?
Is my apparel sumptuous to behold?
Whom have I injured, that ye seek my death?
These hands are free from guiltless blood-
This breast from harbouring foul deceitful
shedding.*
[thoughts.
O, let me live!

but I'll bridle it; he shall die, an it be but for
Cade. I feel remorse in myself with his words:
pleading so well for his life. Away with him!
he has a familiart under his tongue; he speaks
not o' God's name. Go, take him away, I say,
and strike off his head presently: and then
Cromer, and strike off his head, and bring them
break into his son-in-law's house, Sir James
both upon two poles hither.

ye.

All. It shall be done.

Say. Ah, countrymen! if when you make
your prayers,

God should be so obdurate as yourselves,
And therefore yet relent, and save my life.
How would it fare with your departed souls?
Cade. Away with him, and do as I command
[Exeunt some with Lord SAY.
a head on his shoulders, unless he pay me
The proudest peer in the realm shall not wear
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
tell.
be as free as heart can wish, or tongue can

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 Lords 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
in France. Soldiers, defer the spoil of the
consult about the giving up of some more towns
city until night: for with these borne before us,
instead of maces, will we ride through the
streets; and, at every corner have them kiss-
Away!
[Exeunt.

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.

What noise is this I hear? Dare any he so bold [A Parley sounded, then a Retreat. to sound retreat or parley, when I command them kill?

* I. c. These hands are free from shedding guiltless of innocent blood.

+ A demon who was supposed to attend at call.

Enter BUCKINGHAM, and old CLIFFORD, with Forces.

Buck. Ay, 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 ye
relent,

And yield 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,

[jesty! Fling up his cap, and say-God save his maWho 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! Cade. What, Buckingham, and Clifford, are ye so brave?-And you, base peasants, do ye believe him? Will you needs be hang'd with your pardons about your necks? Hath my sword therefore broke 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 recover'd your ancient freedom: but you are all recreants, and dastards; and delight to live in slavery 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,-I will make shift for one; and so-God's curse light upon yon

all!

All. We'll follow Cade, we'll follow Cade. Clif. Is Cade the son 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 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 van-
quished,
[you?
Should make a start o'er seas, and vanquish
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 mis-
[mercy.
Than you should stoop unto a Frenchman's
To France, to France, and get what you have
lost;

carry,

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 Fifth hales them to a hundred mischiefs, and makes them leave me desolate. I see them lay their heads together, to surprize me: my sword make way for me, for here is no staying. In despight 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 betake me to my heels. [Exit.

Buck. What, is he fled! Go some, and follow him;

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SCENE IX.-Kenelworth Castle. Enter King HENRY, Queen MARGARET, and SOMERSET, on the Terrace of the Custle.

K. Hen. Was ever king, that joy'd an earthly throne,

And could command no more content than I?
But I was made a king, at nine months old:
No sooner was I crept out of my cradle,
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 majesty!

K. Hen. Why, Buckingham, is the traitor, Cade, surprized? Or is he but retired to make him strong? Enter, below, a great number of CADE'S Fol

lowers, 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 ever

lasting 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 advertised, 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 [tor. The duke of Somerset, whom he terms a trai K. Hen. Thus stands my state, 'twixt Cade and York distress'd;

Like to a ship, that, having escaped a tempest, Is straightway calm'd, and boarded with a [persed;

pirate:

But now is Cade driven back, his men dis-
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
[Tower;-
Tell him, I'll send duke Edmund to the
And, Somerset, we will commit thee thither,
Until his army be dismiss'd from him.
Som. My lord,

arms.

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; [guage. For he is fierce, and cannot brook hard lan

Two orders of foot soldiers among the Irish.
+ Only just now.

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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 layed 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 dry, and bravely marching, it hath served me instead of a quartpot to drink in; and now the word sallet must serve me to feed on.

Enter IDEN, with Servants.

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

And may enjoy such quiet walks as these,
This small inheritance, my father left me,
Contenteth me, and is worth a monarchy.
I seek not to wax great by other's waining;
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.

| And if mine arm be heaved in the air,
Thy grave is digg'd already in the earth.
As for more words, whose greatness answers
words,
[bears.
Let this my sword report what speech for-
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 God on my knees, thou
falls.] O, I am slain! Famine, and no other,
may'st be turn'd to hobnails. [They fight, CADE
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, gar-
den; and be henceforth a burying place to all
that do dwell in this house, because the un-
conquer'd soul of Cade is fled.

Iden. Is't Cade that I have slain, that mon-
strous 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 wiped 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 victory: Tell Kent from me, she hath lost her best man, and exhort all the world to be cowards; for I, that never fear'd any, am vanquish'd by famine, not by valour. [Dies.

Iden. How much thou wrong'st me* heaven be my judge.

Die, damned 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 in hell.
Unto a dunghill which shall be thy grave,
Hence will I drag thee headlong by the heels
Which I will bear in triumph to the king,
And there cut off thy most ungracious head;
Leaving thy trunk for crows to feed upon.

[Exit, dragging out the Body.

ACT V.

Cade. 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 for carrying my head to him; but I'll SCENE I-The same.-Fields between Dartmake thee eat iron like an ostridge, and swallow my sword like a great pin, ere thou and I part.

Iden. Why, rude companion, whatsoe'er
thou be,
[thee?
I know thee not; why then should I betray
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 broach'd, 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.

ford 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,
Ah, sancta majestas! who would not buy thee
To entertain great England's lawful king.
Let them obey, that know not how to rule;
This hand was made to handle naught but
gold:

I

dear?

cannot give due action to my words, Iden. Nay, it shall ne'er be said, while Eng-A sceptre shall it have, have I a soul; Except a sword, or sceptre balance it.t

land 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;

A kind of helmet.

On which I'll toss the flower-de-luce of France.
Enter BUCKINGHAM.

Whom have we here? Buckingham to disturb
me?

[ble. The king hath sent him, sure: I must dissemBuck. York, if thou meanest well, I greet thee well.

In supposing that I am proud of my victory.

+ Balance my hand.

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 awhile,
Till Henry be more weak, and I more strong.
[Aside.

O 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,

[part

Is to remove proud Somerset from the king,
Seditious to his grace, and to the state.
Buck. That is too much presumption on thy
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.一

And let my sovereign, 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 submis

sion:

We twain will go into his highness' tent.

Enter King HENRY, attended.

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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 were created knight for his good service.
K. Hen. Iden, kneel down; [He kneeis.]
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,

King did I call thee? no, thou art not king;
Knowing how hardly I can brook abuse?
Not fit to govern and rule multitudes,
Which dar'st not, no, nor canst not rule a
traitor.

That head of thine doth not become a crown;
Thy hand is made to grasp a palmer's staff,
And not to grace an awful princely sceptre.
That gold must round engirt these brows of
mine;

Whose smile and frown, like to Achilles' spear,
Is able with the change to kill and cure.
Here is a hand to hold a sceptre up,
And with the same to act controlling laws.
Give place; by heaven, thou shalt rule no

more

O'er him, whom heaven created for thy ruler.
Som. O monstrous traitor!-I arrest thee,

York,

Of capital treason 'gainst the king and crown:
Obey, audacious traitor; kneel for grace.

York. Would'st have me kneel? first let me
ask of these,

If they can brook I bow a knee to man.

K. Hen. Buckingham, doth York intend to Sirrah, call in my sons to be my bail;

harm 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 condi-
May pass into the presence of a king, [tion,
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.

[Exit an ATTENDANT. I know, ere they will have me go to ward," They'll pawn their swords for my enfranchise

ment.

Q. Mar. Call hither Clifford; bid him come
amain,

To say, if that the bastard boys of York
Shall be the surety for their traitor father.
Outcast of Naples, England's bloody scourge!
York. O blood-bespotted Neapolitan,
The sons of York, thy betters in their birth,
Shall be their father's bail; and bane to those
That for my surety will refuse the boys.
Enter EDWARD and RICHARD PLANTAGENET,
with Forces, at one side; at the other, with
Forces also, old CLIFFORD and his Son.

See, where they come; I'll warrant they'll
make it good.

Q. Mar. And here comes Clifford, to deny their bail.

* Custody, confinement.

Clif. Health and all happiness to my lord the king! [Kneels. York. I thank thee, Clifford : Say, what news with thee?

Nay, do not fright us with an angry look: We are thy sovereign, Clifford, kneel again; For thy mistaking so, we pardon thee.

Clif. This is my king, York, I do not mistake;

But thou mistak'st me much, to think I do:To Bedlam with him! is the man grown mad? K. Hen. Ay, Clifford; a bedlam and ambitious humour

Makes him oppose himself against his king. Clif. He is a traitor; let him to the Tower, And chop away that factious pate of his.

Q. Mar. He is arrested, but will not obey; His sons, he says, shall give their words for him.

York. Will you not, sons?

Edw. Ay, noble father, if our words will

serve.

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York. Look in a glass, and call thy image

80;

[tor.1 am thy king, and thou a false-heart traiCall hither to the stake my two brave bears,* That, with the very shaking of their chains, They may astonish these fell lurking curs; Bid Salisbury, and Warwick, come to me.

Drums. Enter WARWICK and SALISBURY, with Forces.

Clif. Are these thy bears? we'll bait thy bears to death,

And manacle the bear-ward in their chains, If thou dar'st bring them to the baitingplace.

Rich. Oft have I seen a hot o'erweening

cur

Run back and bite, because he was withheld:
Who, being suffer'd with the bear's fell paw,
Hath clapp'd his tail between his legs, and
cry'd:

And such a piece of service will you do,
If you oppose yourselves to match lord War-

wick.

Clif. Hence, heap of wrath, foul indigested lump,

As crooked in thy manners as thy shape! York. Nay, we shall heat you thoroughly

anon.

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got to bow?

Old Salisbury,-shame to thy silver hair,
Thou mad misleader of thy brain-sick son!-
What, wilt thou on thy death-bed play the
ruffian,

And seek for sorrow with thy spectacles?
O, where is faith? O, where is loyalty?
If it be banish'd from the frosty head,
Where shall it find a harbour in the earth?-
Wilt thou go dig a grave to find out war,
And shame thine honourable age with blood?
Why art thou old, and want'st experience?
Or wherefore dost abuse it, if thou hast it?
For shame! in duty bend thy knee to me,
That bows unto the grave with mickle age.

The Nevils, earls of Warwick, had a bear and ragged staff for their crest. + Bear-keeper.

Sal. My lord, I have consider'd with my self The title of this most renowned duke; And in my conscience do repnte his grace The rightful heir to England's royal seat. K. Hen. Hast thou not sworn allegiance

unto me?

Sal. I have.

K. Hen. Canst thou dispense with heaven for such an oath?

Sal. It is great sin, to swear unto a sin; But greater sin, to keep a sinful oath. Who can be bound by any solemn vow To do a murderous deed, to rob a man, To force a spotless virgin's chastity, To reave the orphan of his patrimony, To wring the widow from her custom'd right; And have no other reason for this wrong, But that he was bound by a solemn oath?

Q. Mar. A subtle traitor needs no sophister. K. Hen. Call Buckingham, and bid him arm himself.

York. Call Buckingham, and all the friends thou hast,

I am resolv'd for death, or dignity.

Clif. The first I warrant thee, if dreams prove true.

War. You were best to go to bed, and dream To keep thee from the tempest of the field. again, Clif. I am resolv'd to bear a greater storm, Than any thou canst conjure up to-day; And that I'll write upon thy burgonet, Might I but know thee by thy household badge.

War. Now, by my father's badge, old Ne-
vil's crest,

This day I'll wear aloft my burgonet,*
The rampant bear chain'd to the ragged staff,
(As on a mountain-top the cedar shows,
Even to affright thee with the view thereof.
That keeps his leaves in spite of any storm,)

bear,

Clif. And from thy burgonet I'll rend thy Despight the bear-ward that protects the And tread it under foot with all contempt,

bear.

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And if thou dost not hide thee from the bear, Now, when the angry trumpet sounds alarm, And dead men's cries do fill the empty air,Clifford, I say, come forth and fight with me! Proud northern lord, Clifford of Cumberland, Warwick is hoarse with calling thee to arms.

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