Re-enter Rebels, with the heads of Lord Say and king, and Clifford.

*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 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 forth 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;

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 ar
ostrich, 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 broached, 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
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, compar'd 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 edge, or cut not out the burly-boned clown in 'chines of beef ere thou sleep in thy sheath, I beFor yet may England curse my wretched reign.seech God on my knees, thou mayest be turned to

[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 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 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,3 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 how the word sallet must serve me to * feed on

Enter Iden, with Servants.

hob-nails. [They fight. Cade falls.] O, I am
slain! famine, and no other, 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, garden; and be henceforth a
burying-place to all that do dwell in this house,
because the unconquered soul of Cade is fled.
'Iden. Is't Cade that I have slain, that monstrous
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 feared any, am vanquished by fam[Dies. 'ine, not by valour.

* Iden. How much thou wrong'st me, heaver

be my judge. *Die, damned wretch, the curse of her that bare thee!

• Iden. Lord, who would live turmoiled in the And as I thrust thy body in with my sword,

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' waning; • Or gather wealth, I care not with what envy; Sufficeth, that I have maintains my state,

*So wish I, I might thrust thy soul to hell.
Hence will I drag thee headlong by the heels
Unto a dunghill, which shall be thy grave,
And there cut off thy most ungracious head;
Which I will bear in triumph to the king,
Leaving thy trunk for crows to feed upon.
[Exit, dragging out the body

(4) i. e. In supposing that I am proud of my vic

tory.

ACT V.

SCENE I-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
his right,

And pluck the crown from feeble Henry's head:
Ring, bells, aloud; burn, bonfires, clear and bright,
To entertain great England's lawful king.
Ah, sancta majestas! who would not buy thee dear?
'Let them obey, that know not how to rule;

This hand was made to handle nought but gold:
'I cannot give due action to my words,
Except a sword or sceptre balance it,í
A sceptre shall it have, have I a soul;
'On which I'll toss the flower-de-luce of France.
Enter Buckingham.

'Whom have we here? Buckingham, to disturb me? The king hath sent him, sure: I must dissemble. 'Buck. York, if thou meanest well, I greet thee well.

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, 'Should'st raise so great a power without his leave, 'Or dare to bring thy force so near the court. 'York. Scarce can I speak, my choler

is so great.

'O, I could hew up rocks, and fight with

flint,

But I must make fair weather yet a while,

Till Henry be more weak, and I more

strong.

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,
Is-to remove proud Somerset from the king,
'Seditious to his grace, and to the state.

Buck. That is too much presumption on thy
part:

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. * 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 submission: We twain will go into his highness' tent.

(1) i. e. Balance my hand.

Enter King Henry, attended.

'K. Hen. Buckingham, deth York intend no harm to 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 condition,
May pass into the presence of a king,

Lo, I present your grace a traitor's head,
The head of Čade, 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.

'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 knignt for his good service.
'K. Hen. Iden, kneel down. [He kneels.] 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 hi-le
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,
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.—
Sirrah, call in my sons to be my bail;
[Exit an attendant.
*I know, ere they will have me go to ward,2

(2) Custody, confinement.

* They'll pawn their swords for my enfranchise-||* Thou mad misleader of thy brain-sick son!—

ment.

amain,

To say, if that the bastard boys of York * Shall be the surety for their traitor father.

* York. O blood-bespotted Neapolitan, *Outcast of Naples, England's bloody scourge! 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.

* What, wilt thou on thy death-bed play the ruffian, 'Q. Mar. Call hither Clifford; bid him come 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 title of this most renowned duke; *Sal. My lord, I have considered with myself *And in my conscience do repute his grace * The rightful heir to England's royal seat. * K. Hen. Hast thou not sworn allegiance unto me?

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.

'Clif. Health and all happiness to my lord the
king!
[Kneels.

York. I thank thee, Clifford: Say, what news

'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?

Edo. 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.'Call hither to the stake my two brave bears,1 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-ward2 in their chains,
If thou dar'st bring them to the baiting-place.
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 Warwick.
Clif. Hence, heap of wrath, foul indigested
lump,

As crooked in thy manners as thy shape!

York. Nay, we shall heat you thoroughly anon. Clif. Take heed, lest by your heat you burn yourselves.

* K. Hen. Why, Warwick, hath thy knee forgot to bow?

• Old Salisbury,-shame to thy silver hair,

(1) The Nevils, earls of Warwick, had a bear and ragged staff for their crest.

(2) Bear-keeper.

* 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

again,

To keep thee from the tempest of the field.

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 Nevil's

crest,

The rampant bear chain'd to the ragged staff,
(As on a mountain-top the cedar shows,
This day I'll wear aloft my burgonet,3
That keeps his leaves in spite of any storm,)
Even to affright thee with the view thereof.

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

Y. Clif. And so to arms, victorious father,
To quell the rebels, and their 'complices.
Rich. Fie! charity, for shame! speak not in spite,
For you shall sup with Jesu Christ to-night.

Y. Clif. Foul stigmatic,4 that's more than thou

canst tell.