God's name. Go, take him away, I say, and strike off his head presently: and then break into his sonin-law's house, Sir James Cromer, and strike off his head, and bring them both upon two poles hither. All. It shall be done. Than you should stoop unto a Frenchman's mercy. All. A Clifford! A Clifford! We'll follow the king, Say. Ah, countrymen! if when you make your and Clifford. prayers, Cade. Was ever feather so lightly blown to and God should be so obdurate as yourselves, fro, as this multitude? The name of Henry the fifth How would it fare with your departed souls? hales them to an hundred mischiefs, and makes And therefore yet relent, and save my life. them leave me desolate. see them lay their heads Cade. Away with him, and do as I command ye. together, to surprize me: my sword make way for [Exeunt some with Lord Say.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 follower's base and ignominious treasons, makes me betake me to my heels. [Exit. 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. 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? Enter BUCKINGHAM, and old CLIFFORD, with Forces. Buck. Ay, here they be that dare and will dis turb thee: Know, Cade, we come ambassadors from the king 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 you 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 vanquished, Should make a start o'er seas, and vanquish you? 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 Čades miscarry. 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? Enter BUCKINGHAM and CLIFFORD. 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 And humbly thus with halters on their necks, yield; Expect your highness' doom, of life, or death. K. Hen. Then, heaven, set ope thy everlasting gates, To entertam iny vows of thanks and praise!—– Continue still in this so good a mind, 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 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 escaped a tempest, I pray thee, Buckingham, go and meet him; I'll yield myself to prison willingly, K. Hen. In any case, be not too rough in terms; For he is fierce, and cannot brook hard language. • Two orders of foot-soldiers among the Irish. + Only just now. tory: Tell Kent from me, she hath lost her best man, and exhort all the world to be cowards; for go-1, that never fear'd any, am vanquish'd by famine, not by valour. Buck. I will, my lord; and doubt not so to deal, For yet may England curse my wretched reign. 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 laied 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 quart-pot to drink in; and now the word sallet must serve me to feed on. Enter IDEN, with Servants. [Dies. Iden. How much thou wrong'st me heaven be my judge. Die, damned wretch, the curse of her that bare And as I thrust thy body in with my sword, [Exit, dragging out the Body. ACT V. SCENE 1.-The same.-Fields between Dartford 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 And pluck the crown from feeble Henry's head: Iden. Lord, who would live turmoiled in the To entertain great England's lawful king. court, And may enjoy such quiet walks as these, 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? Cude. 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 England That Alexander Iden, an esquire of Kent, Ah, sancta majestas! who would not buy thee dear! On which Pil toss the flower-de-luce of France. The king hath sent him, sure: I must dissemble. well. York. Humphrey of Buckingham, I accept thy Art thou a messenger, or come of pleasure? great. 0, I could hew up rocks, and fight with flint, Buck. That is too much presumption on thy part: 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, Thy grave is digg'd already in the earth. As for more words, whose greatness answers words, Let this my sword report what speech forbears. Cade. By my valour, the most complete champion that ever I heard.-Steel, if thou turn the York. Upon thine honour, is he prisoner? edge, or cut not out the burly-boned clown in Buck. Upon mine honour, he is prisoner. chines of beef cre thou sleep in thy sheath, I beYork. Then, Buckingham, I do dismiss my seech God on my knees, thou may'st be turn'd to Soldiers, I thank you all; disperse yourselves; powers.hobnails. [They fight, Cade jalls.] O, I am slain! Famine, and no other hath slain me: let ten thou-You shall have pay, and every thing you wish.Meet me to-morrow, in Saint George's field, sand devils come against me, and give me but the ten meals I have lost, and I'd defy them all. Wither, garden; and be henceforth a burying-place to all that do dwell in this house, because the unconquer'd soul of Cade is fled. Iden. Is't Cade that I have slain, that monstrous Sword, I will hallow thee, for this thy deed. A kind of helmet. And let my sovereign, virtuous Henry, Enter King HENRY, attended. In supposing that I am proud of my victory + Balance my hand. York. In all submission and humility, York doth present himself unto your highness. K. Hen. Then what intend these forces thou dost bring t 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 condition, May pass into the prensence of a king, 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 hun? Iden. I was, an't like your mejesty. 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 kneels.] Rise up a knight. We give thee for reward a thousand marks; 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, Knowing how hardly I can brook abuse? King did I call thee? No, thou art not king; 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, If they can brook I bow a knee to man.- amain, To say, if that the bastard boys of York York. O blood-bespotted Neapolitan, See, where they come; I'll warrant, they'll make it good. Q. Mar. And here comes Clifford, to deny their bail. Clif. Health and all happiness to my lord the Nay, do not fright us with an angry look: Clif. This is my king, York, I do not mistake; Makes him oppose himself against his king. Q. Mar. He is arrested, but will not obey; Edw. Ay, noble father, if our words will serve. Rich. And if words will not, then our weapons shall. Clif. Why, what a brood of traitors have we here! York. Look in a glass, and call thy image so; I am thy king, and thou a false-heart traitor.That, with the very shaking of their chains, Call hither to the stake my two brave bears*, 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 mannacle the bear-ward in their chains, Run back and bite, because he was withheld; York. Nay, we shall heat you thoroughly anon. selves. Old Salisbury,-shame to thy silver hair, Sul. My lord, I have consider'd with myself K. Hen. Hast thou not sworn allegiance unto me? 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 ? 8. Men. Call Buckinglor needs no sophister. K. Hen. Call Buckingham, and bid him arm him. self. York. Call Buckingham, and all the friends thou hast; I am resolved for death, or dignity. The Nevils, earls of Warwick, had a bear and Bear keeper. Shakspeare makes Iden rail at those enjoy-ragged staff for their crest. ments which he supposes to be out of his reach ; but no sooner are they offered to him but he readily ac cepts them. + Custody, confinement Bear-baiting was anciently a royal sport. See Stowe's account of Queen Elizabeth's Amusement of this kind. Clif. The fist I warrant thee, if dreams prove | Knit earth and heaven together! true. War. You were best to go to bed, and dream again, To keep thee from the tempest of the field. Clif. And from thy burgonet I'll rend thy bear, Rich. Fie! Charity, for shame! Speak not in spite, For you shall sup with Jesu Christ to-night. Y. Clif. Foul stigmatic †, that's more than thou canst tell Rich. If not in heaven, you'll surely sup in hell. [Exeunt severally. SCENE II.-St. Albans. Alarums.: Excursions.—Enter WARWICK. War. Clifford of Cumberland, 'tis Warwick calls! 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,Chitford, I say, come forth and fight with me! Proud northern lord, Clifford of Cumberland, Warwick is hoarse with calling thee to arms. Enter YORK. How now, my noble lord? What, all a-foot? War. Of one or both of us the time is come. York. Hold, Warwick, seek thee out some other chace, For I myself must hunt this deer to death. As I intend, Clifford, to thrive to-day, [Erit Warwick. Clif. What seest thou in me, York? Why dost thou pause? York. With thy brave bearing should I be in love, But that thou art so fast mine enemy. Clif. Nor should thy prowess want praise and es teem, But that 'tis shewn ignobly, and in treason. York. So let it help me now against thy sword, As I in justice and true right express it! Clif. My soul and body on the action both!York. A dreadful lay f!-Address thee instantly. [They fight, and Clifford falls. Clif. La fin couronne les oeuvres ? [Dies. York. Thus war hath given thee peace, for thou art still. Peace with his soul, heaven, if it be thy will. [Exit. Enter Young CLIFFORD. Y. Clif. Shame and confusion! All is on the rout; Hath no self-love; nor he, that loves himself, Now let the general trumpet blow his blast, To cease-Wast thou ordain'd, dear father, And, in thy reverence §, and thy chair days, thus [Exit. Q. Mar. What are you made of? You'll not fight, nor fly: Now is it manhood, wisdom, and defence, [Alarum afar off. If you be taken, we then should see the bottom Of all our fortunes: but if we haply scape (As well we may, if not through your neglect,) We shall to London get; where you are loved; And where this breach, now in our fortunes made, May readily be stopp'd. Enter Young Clifford. Y. Clif. But that my heart's on future misc biet set, I would speak blasphemy ere bid you fly; SCENE III.-Fields near Saint Albans. Alarum: Retreat.- Flourish; then enter YORK, RICHARD PLANTAGENET, WARWICK, and Sol· diers, with Drum and Colours. York. Of Salisbury, who can report of him; Rich. My noble father, Considerate. In that period of life, which is entitled to the reverence of others. The death of Somerset here accomplishes that equivocal prediction given by Jourdain, the witch, concerning this duke. For Parties. * Gradual detrition of time, #i. e. The height of youth: the brow of a hill is its summit. Three times to-day I holp him to his horse, But still, where danger was, still there I met him; Sal. Now, by my sword, well hast thou fought to-day ; By the mass, so did we all.-I thank you, Richard: • i. e. Three times I saw him fallen, and, striding over him, defended him till he recovered. + We have not secured what we have acquired. j |