Re-enter one with the heads [of Say and Cromer].

Cade. But is not this braver? Let them kiss one another, for they lov'd 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. 145

[SCENE VIII. Southwark.] Alarum and retreat. Enter again CADE and all his rabblement.

Cade. Up Fish Street! down Saint Magnus' Corner! Kill and knock down! Throw them into Thames! (Sound a parley.) What noise is this I hear? Dare any be so bold to sound retreat or parley, when I command them kill? 5 Enter BUCKINGHAM and old CLIFFORD [attended].

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. Clif. What say ye, countrymen? Will ye relent

11

Who hateth him and honours not his father, Henry the Fifth, that made all France to quake, Shake he his weapon at us and pass by.

All. God save the King! God save the King!

19

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 [2 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!

34

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

Cade. [Aside.] 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 [00 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 middest 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. 67

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. [Exeunt.

71

[SCENE IX. Kenilworth Castle.] Trumpets. Enter KING, QUEEN, and SOMERSET, on the terrace.

King. 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 old CLIFFORD. Buck. Health and glad tidings to your Majesty!

King. Why, Buckingham, is the traitor Cade surpris'd?

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

5

And humbly thus, with halters on their necks, Expect your Highness' doom, of life or death. King. Then, heaven, set ope thy everlasting

gates,

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 laid for me; but now am I so hungry that if I might have a lease of my life for a thousand [s 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 [10

word " sallet was born to do me good; for many a time, but for a sallet, my brain-pan had

gate.

25

Cade. [Aside.] 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 by carrying my head to him; but I'll make thee eat iron like an 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?

35

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?

29

And if mine arm be heaved in the air,
Thy grave is digg'd already in the earth.
As for words, whose greatness answers words,
Let this my sword report what speech for-
bears.

Cade. By my valour, the most complete champion that ever I heard! Steel, if thou turn the edge, or cut not out the burly-bon'd clown in chines of beef ere thou sleep in thy sheath, I beseech Jove on my knees thou mayst be turn'd to hobnails.

[Here 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,

75

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 famine, not by valour. [Dies. 81 Iden. How much thou wrong'st me, heaven be my judge.

Die, damned wretch, the curse of her that bare

thee;

And as I thrust thy body in with my sword, 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.

[ACT V]

85

90

[Exit.

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

O, I could hew up rocks and fight with flint,
I am so angry at these abject terms;
And now, like Ajax Telamonius,

25

On sheep or oxen could I spend my fury.
I am far better born than is the King,
More like a king, more kingly in my thoughts;
But I must make fair weather yet a while,
Till Henry be more weak and I more strong.-
Buckingham, I prithee, pardon me,

30

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

Soldiers, I thank you all; disperse yourselves. 45
Meet me to-morrow in Saint George's field,
You shall have pay and everything 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, anything I have,
Is his to use, so Somerset may die.

Бо

Buck. York, I commend this kind submission.

We twain will go into his Highness' tent. 55 Enter KING and Attendants.

King. Buckingham, doth 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.
King. Then what intends these forces thou

dost bring?

60

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,
I
The head of Cade, whom I in combat slew.
King. 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?

71

Iden. I was, an 't like your Majesty. King. 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. 75 Buck. So please it you, my lord, 't were not amiss

He were created knight for his good service. King. 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. 80 Iden. May Iden live to merit such a bounty, And never live but true unto his liege!

Enter QUEEN and SOMERSET.

[Rises.]

Enter EDWARD and RICHARD, with forces.

See where they come; I'll warrant they'll make it good.

Enter CLIFFORD [and his Son, YOUNG CLIFFORD, with forces].

Queen. 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 with thee?

Nay, do not fright us with an angry look. We are thy sovereign, Clifford, kneel again; For thy mistaking so, we pardon thee.

Clif. This is my king, York, I do not mistake;

But thou mistakes me much to think I do. To Bedlam with him! Is the man grown mad?

King. Ay, Clifford; a bedlam and ambitions humour

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, That with the very shaking of their chains 145 They may astonish these fell-lurking curs. Bid Salisbury and Warwick come to me. Enter the EARLS OF WARWICK and SALISBURY [with forces].

Clif. Are these thy bears? We'll bait thy bears to death,

And manacle the bear-ward in their chains, 140 If thou dar'st bring them to the baiting place. Rich. Oft have I seen a hot o'erweening

Thou mad misleader of thy brain-sick son! What, wilt thou on thy death-bed play the

ruffian,

165

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.
Sal. My lord, I have considered with my-
self

171

175

185

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 murd'rous 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 ? Queen. A subtle traitor needs no sophister. King. Call Buckingham, and bid him arm himself.

190

[SCENE II. Saint Alban's, near the Castle inn.] [Alarums to the battle.] Enter WARWICK. War. Clifford of Cumberland, 't is Warwick calls!

An if thou dost not hide thee from the bear, Now, when the angry trumpet sounds alarum And dead men's cries do fill the empty air, Clifford, 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 afoot? York. The deadly-handed Clifford slew my steed,

But match to match I have encount'red him 10 And made a prey for carrion kites and crows Even of the bonny beast he lov'd so well.

Enter old CLIFFORD.

War. Of one or both of us the time is come. York. Hold, Warwick, seek thee out some other chase,

15

For I myself must hunt this deer to death.
War. Then, nobly, York; 't is for a crown
thou fight'st.

As I intend, Clifford, to thrive to-day,
It grieves my soul to leave thee unassail'd.

[Exit. Clif. What seest thou in me, York? Why dost thou pause?

York. With thy brave bearing should I be in love,

20

But that thou art so fast mine enemy.
Clif. Nor should thy prowess want praise

and esteem,

But that 't is shown ignobly and in treason. York. So let it help me now against thy

sword

25

As I in justice and true right express it.
Clif. My soul and body on the action both!
York. A dreadful lay! Address thee in-

stantly. [They fight, and Clifford falls.] Clif. La fin couronne les œuvres. [Dies.] York. Thus war hath given thee peace, for thou art still.

Peace with his soul, Heaven, if it be thy will! 30 [Exit.]

Enter YOUNG CLIFFORD.

Y. Clif. Shame and confusion! all is on the rout; Fear frames disorder, and disorder wounds Where it should guard. O war, thou son of hell,

Whom angry heavens do make their minister,
Throw in the frozen bosoms of our part
Hot coals of vengeance! Let no soldier fly.
He that is truly dedicate to war

35

Hath no self-love, nor he that loves himself
Hath not essentially but by circumstance
The name of valour. [Seeing his dead father.]
O, let the vile world end,
And the premised flames of the last day
Knit earth and heaven together!
Now let the general trumpet blow his blast,