Sir Humphrey Stafford and his brother's death They call-false caterpillars, and intend their death. Q. Mar. Ah! were the duke of Suffolk now alive, 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 Mess. 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. Buck. Trust nobody, for fear you be betrayed. SCENE V. The same. The Tower. Enter LORD SCALES, and others, on the walls. certain Citizens, below. Scales. How now? is Jack Cade slain? [Exeunt. Then enter 1 Cit. No, my lord, nor likely to be slain; for they have won the bridge, killing all those that withstand them. The lord mayor craves aid of your honor from the Tower, to defend the city from the rebels. Scales. Such aid as I can spare, you shall command; But I am troubled here with them myself; The rebels have assayed to win the Tower. But get you to Smithfield, and gather head, VOL. III. - 5 * F And thither will I send you Matthew Gough. [Exeunt. SCENE VI. The same. Cannon Street. Enter JACK CADE and his Followers. He strikes his staff 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 gathered 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, SCENE VII. The same. Smithfield. [Exeunt. Alarum. Enter, on one sile, 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 mouth shall be the parliament of England. John. Then we are like to have biting statutes, unless his teeth be pulled out. [Asiae. Cade. And henceforward all things shall be in common. Enter a Messenger. Mess. My lord, a prize, a prize! Here's the lord Say, which sold the towns in France; he that made us pay oneand-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.-Ay, thou say, thou serge, nay, thou 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 grammarschool; 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 paper-mill. 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 Chrisrian 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, 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, mala 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 termed the civil'st place of all this isle. Sweet is the country, because full of riches; Prayers and tears have moved me; gifts could never. This tongue hath parleyed 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 pap of a 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 pole, or no. Take him away, and behead him. Say. Tell me wherein I have offended most? Have I affected wealth, or honor? Speak. Whom have I injured, 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 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 should 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 bills? 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. 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. 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? 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. |