Justice with favour have I always done; Prayers and tears have mov'd me, gifts could never. Kent, to maintain the king, the realm, and you? This tongue hath parley'd unto foreign kings 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 for watching for your good. Cade. Give him a box o' 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 help' of hatchet. Dick. Why dost thou quiver, man? Say. The palsy, and not fear, provoketh me. Cade. Nay, he nods at us; as who should say, I'll be even with you. I'll see if his head will stand steadier on a pole, or no. Take him away, and behead him. Say. Tell me, wherein have I 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 ye seek my death? 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 has a familiar 1 Farmer reads: "pap of hatchet," a colloquial phrase of the time. under his tongue: he speaks not o' God's name. Go, take him away, I say, and strike off his head presently; and then break into his son-in-law's house, sir James Cromer, and strike off his head, and bring them both upon two poles hither. All. It shall be done. Say. Ah, countrymen! if when you make your prayers, God shall be so obdurate as yourselves, How would it fare with your departed souls? Cade. Away with him, and do as I command ye. [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 bills1? Cade. Marry, presently. All. O brave! Re-enter Rebels, with the Heads of Lord 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. [Jowl them together.] Now part them again, lest they consult about the giving up of some more towns in France. Soldiers, defer the spoil of the 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 !-[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? 1 Weapons, resembling pikes. Not in f. e. 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 Who loves the king, and will embrace his pardon, 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 hanged 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 recovered 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 you all! All. We'll follow Cade: we'll follow Cade. I see them lording it in London streets, 1 relent: in f. e. 2 rabble in f. e. Better ten thousand base-born Cades miscarry, Henry hath money, you are strong and manly: 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 an hundred mischiefs, and makes them leave me desolate. I see them lay their heads together, to surprise me my sword, make way for me, for here is no staying. In despite 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; 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 SCENE IX.-Kenilworth Castle. [Exeunt. Sound trumpets. 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: 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, surpris'd ? Or is he but retir'd to make him strong? Enter, below, a 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, And Henry, though he be infortunate, Mess. Please it your grace to be advertis'd, The duke of Somerset, whom he terms a traitor. Like to a ship, that, having scap'd a tempest, I pray thee, Buckingham, then go and meet him, Som. My lord, I'll yield myself to prison willingly, K. Hen. In any case, be not too rough in terms, K. Hen. Come, wife, let 's in, and learn to govern better; For yet may England curse my wretched reign. [Exeunt. 1 a mighty in f. e. 2 Tall, able-bodied men, armed (says Banaby Rich's Ireland, 1610), with "a scull, a shirt of mail, and a Gallowglas axe"-the kerne was a common foot soldier. 3 This word is not in f. e. 4 Dyce reads: aims. VOL. V.-14 |