i

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 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;

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

To reconcile you all unto the king.

SCENE IX.

[Exeunt.

KENELWORTH CASTLE.

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:

* 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 surpriz❜d?

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

Enter, below, a great 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. 1 'K. Hen. Then, heaven, set ope thy everlasting 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.

*Mes. Please it your grace to be advértised, * 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 * The duke of Somerset, whom he terms a traitor. *K. Hen. Thus stands my state, 'twixt Cade and York distress'd;

* Like to a ship, that, having 'scap'd a tempest, * Is straightway calm'd, and boarded with a pirate: But now is Cade driven back, his men dispers'd; * 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 arms. * Tell him, I'll send duke Edmund to the Tower; And, Somerset, we will commit thee thither, * Until his army be dismiss'd from him.

* Som. My lord,

* 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; * For he is fierce, and cannot brook hard language. *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.

*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 lay'd 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 climb'd 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 quart-pot, 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 others' waining; 'Or gather wealth, I care not with what envy;'.

-6

.6

'Sufficeth, that I have maintains my state, And sends the poor well pleased from my gate.

'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 make 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, I know thee not; Why then should I betray thee? '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.

Iden. Nay, it shall ne'er be said, while Eng-
land stands,

That Alexander Iden, an esquire of Kent,
Took odds to combat a poor famish'd man.
'Oppose thy stedfast-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; 'And if mine arm be heaved in the air,