Assure yourselves, will never be unkind: Mes. Please it your grace to be advertised, 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 scaped a tempest, I pray thee, Buckingham, go forth and meet 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. better; K. Hen. Come, wife, let's in, and learn to govern for yet may England curse my wretched reign. SORNE X. -KENT. IDEN'S Garden. Enter CADE [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 layed 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. 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' waning; Or gather wealth, I care not with what envy: Sufficeth that I have maintains my state, And sends the poor well pleasèd 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 ostrich, and swallow my sword like a great pin, ere thou and I part. Iden. Why, rude companion, whatsoe'er thou be, 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, compared with this truncheon; My foot shall fight with all the strength thou hast; And if mine arm be heavèd in the air, Thy grave is digg'd already in the earth. 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 beseech God on my knees, thou mayst be turned to hobnails. [They fight. CADE falls.] 0, 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 Sword, I will hallow thee for this thy deed, [traitor? 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 vanquish'd by famine, not by valour. [Dies. Iden. How much thou wrong'st me, heaven be my judga 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. SCENE I.-The same. [Exit, dragging out the body. ACT V. 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 This hand was made to handle naught but gold: On which I'll toss the flower-de-luce of France. Enter BUCKINGHAM. [Aside.] Whom have we here? Buckingham to disturb The king hath sent him, sure: I must dissemble. [met Buck. York, if thou meanest well, I greet thee well. York. Humphrey of Buckingham, I accept thy greet Art thou a messenger, or come of pleasure? Buck. A messenger from Henry, our dread liege, [ing. York. [Aside.] Scarce can I speak, my choler is sc On sheep or oxen could I spend my fury! More like a king, more kingly in my thoughts: 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; York. Upon thine honour, is he prisoner? York. Then, Buckingham, I do dismiss my powers.Boldiers, I thank you all; disperse yourselves; Meet me to-morrow in St 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. Buck. York, I commend this kind submission: We twain will go into his highness' tent. Enter KING HENRY, attended. K. Hen. 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. [bring? K. Hen. Then what intend these forces thou dost 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 Cade, whom I in combat slew. K. Hen. The head of Cade? - Great God, how just art 0, let me view his visage, being dead, [thou! That living wrought me such exceeding trouble Tell me, my friend, art thou the man that slew him? A poor esquire of Kent, that loves his king. Rise up a 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.] 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! [knight. K. Hen. See, Buckingham! Somerset comes with the Go, bid her hide him quickly from the duke. [queen; [head, Enter QUEEN MARGARET and SOMERSET. False king! why hast thou broken faith with me, Which dar'st not, no, nor canst not rule a traitor. And with the same to act controlling laws. [these, York. Wouldst have me kneel? first let me ask of 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, Q. Mar. Call hither Clifford; bid him come amain, To say if that the bastard boys of York Shall be the surety for their traitor father. [Exit BUCK. Enter EDWARD and RICHARD PLANTAGENET, with forces, at one side; at the other, with forces also, old CLIFFORD and his Son. Bee where they come: I'll warrant they'll make it good. Q. Mar. And here comes Clifford, to deny their bail. lif. [Kneels.] Health and all happiness to my lord the king! K. Hen. Ay, Clifford; a bedlam and ambitious humour 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. Drums. Enter WARWICK and SALISBURY, with forces Clif. Are these thy bears? we'll bait thy bears to death Rich. Oft have I seen a hot o'erweening cur Clif. Hence, heap of wrath, foul indigested lump, York. Nay, we shall heat you thoroughly anon. Clif. Takeheed, lest by your heat you burn yourselves. K. Hen. Why, Warwick, hath thy knee forgot to bowi Old Salisbury, -shame to thy silver hair, Thou mad misleader of thy brain-sick son!What, wilt thou on thy death-bed play the ruffian, And seek for sorrow with thy spectacles? 0, 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 consider'd with myself The title of this most renowned duke; And in my conscience do repute his grace K. Hen. Hast thou not sworn allegiance unto me? K. Hen. Canst thou dispense with heaven for such an But greater sin to keep a sinful oath. To reave the orphan of his patrimony, [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 resolved 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 resolved 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, Clif. And from thy burgonet I'll rend thy bear, Rich. Fiel charity, for shame! speak not in spite, For you shall sup with Jesu Christ to-night. [tell. SCENE 11. SAINT ALBANS. Alarums: Excursions. Enter WARWICK. Enter YORK. How now, my noble lord? what, all a-foot? Enter CLIFFORD. War. Of one or both of us the time is come. War. Then, nobly, York; 'tis for a crown thou fight'st. [Exit WARWICK. Clif. What seest thou in me, York? why dost thou Clif. Nor should thy prowess want praise and esteem, Fork. 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 !-address thee instantly. [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! Enter young CLIFFORD. Y. Clif. Shame and confusion! all is on the rout; Hot coals of vengeance!-Let no soldier fly: Hath no self-love; nor he, that loves himself, The name of valour.-0, let the vile world end, Enter RICHARD PLANTAGENET and SOMERSET, fighting; SOMERSET is killed. Rich. So, lie thou there; For underneath an alehouse' paltry sign, Hath made the wizard famous in his death.- Q. Mar. Away, my lord! you are slow; for shame, away! stay. Q. Mar. What are you made of? you'll not fight nor If you be ta'en, we then should see the bottom SCENE III.-Fields near SAINT ALBANS. Alarum: Retreat. Flourish; then enter YORK, RICHARD PLANTAGENET, WARWICK, and Soldiers, with drum and colours. York. Of Salisbury, who can report of him; That winter lion, who in rage forgets Rich. My noble father, Three times to-day I holp him to his horse, But still, where danger was, still there I met him; [Seeing his dead father. So was his will in his old feeble body. And the premised flames of the last day Knit earth and heaven together! 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 [Taking up the body. But, noble as he is, look where he comes. Sal. Now, by my sword, well hast thou fought to-day, And it hath pleased him that three times to-day York. I know our safety is to follow them; War. After them! nay, before them, if we can. [Exeunt DUKE OF NORFOLK, MARQUIS OF MONTAGUE, EARL OF WARWICK, EARL OF PEMBROKE, LORD HASTINGS, LORD STAFFORD, his Sons. of the DUKE OF YORK'S party. SIR JOHN SOMERVILLE. Tutor to RUTLAND. Mayor of York. Lieutenant of the Tower. A Nobleman. Two Keepers. A Huntsman. A Son that has killed his Father. A Father that has killed his Son, QUEEN MARGARET. LADY GREY, afterwards Queen to EDWARD IV Soldiers, and other Attendants on KING HENRY and SCENE,-During part of the Third Act, in FRANCE; during all the rest of the Play, in ENGLAND. ACT I. SCRNE I.-LONDON. The Parliament-House Drums. Some Soldiers of YORK's party break in. Then enter the DUKE OF YORK, EDWARD, RICHARD, NORFOLK, MONTAGUE, WARWICK, and others, with white roses in their hats. War. I wonder how the king escaped our hands. York. While we pursued the horsemen of the north, He slily stole away, and left his men: Whereat the great lord of Northumberland, Whose warlike ears could never brook retreat, Cheer'd up the drooping army; and himself, Lord Clifford, and lord Stafford, all abreast, Charged our mai battle's front, and, breaking in, Were by the swords of common soldiers slain. Edw. Lord Stafford's father, duke of Buckingham, Is either slain or wounded dangerous: I cleft his beaver with a downright blow; That this is true, father, behold his blood. [Shewing his bloody sword. Mont. And, brother, here's the earl of Wiltshire's blood, [To YORK, shewing his. Whom I encounter'd as the battles join'd. Rich. Speak thou for me, and tell them what I did. [Throwing down the DUKE OF SOMERSET'S head. York. Richard hath best deserved of all my sons.What, is your grace dead, my lord of Somerset? Norf. Such hope have all the line of John of Gaunt! Rich. Thus do I hope to shake king Henry's head. War. And so do I.-Victorious prince of York, Before I see thee seated in that throne Which now the house of Lancaster usurps, I vow by heaven these eyes shall never close. This is the palace of the fearful king, And this the regal seat: possess it, York; For this is thine, and not king Henry's heirs'. York. Assist me then, sweet Warwick, and I will; For hither we have broken in by force. Norf. We'll all assist you; he that flies shall die. York. Thanks, gentle Norfolk:-stay by me, my And, soldiers, stay, and lodge by me this night. [lords;War. And when the king comes, offer him no violence, Unless he seek to thrust you out by force. [They retire. York. The queen this day here holds her parliament, But little thinks we shall be of her council: By words or blows here let us win our right. Rich. Arm'd as we are, let's stay within this house. War. The bloody parliament shall this be call'd, Unless Plantagenet, duke of York, be king, And bashful Henry deposed, whose cowardice Hath made us by-words to our enemies. York. Then leave me not, my lords; be resolute; [ mean to take possession of my right. War. Neither the king nor he that loves him best, The proudest he that holds up Lancaster, [WAR. leads YORK to the throne, who seats himself Flourish. Enter KING HENRY, CLIFFORD, NORTHUM BERLAND, WESTMORELAND, EXETER, and others, with red roses in their hats. K. Hen. My lords, look where the sturdy rebel sits, My heart for anger burns, I cannot brook it. North. Well hast thou spoken, cousin; be it so. [They advance to the DUKE. Thou factious duke of York, descend my throne, York. Thou art deceived, I am thine. [York. Exe. For shame, come down; he made thee duke of York. 'Twas my inheritance, as the earldom was. Eze. Thy father was a traitor to the crown. War. Exeter, thou art a traitor to the crown In following this usurping Henry. Clif. Whom should he follow but his natural king? War. True, Clifford; and that's Richard, duke of York. K. Hen. And shall I stand, and thou sit in my throne? York. It must and shall be so. Content thyself. War. Be duke of Lancaster, let him be king. West. He is both king and duke of Lancaster; And that the lord of Westmoreland shall maintain. War. And Warwick shall disprove it. You forget That we are those which chased you from the field, And slew your fathers, and with colours spread March'd through the city to the palace gates. North. Yes, Warwick, I remember it to my grief; And, by his soul, thou and thy house shall rue it. Clif. Urge it no more; lest that, instead of words, War. Poor Clifford! how I scorn his worthless threats! If not, our swords shall plead it in the field. K. Hen. What title hast thou, traitor, to the crown? Who made the Dauphin and the French to stoop War. Talk not of France, sith thou hast lost it all. Father, tear the crown from the usurper's head. Let's fight it out, and not stand cavilling thus. [fly. Rich. Sound drums and trumpets, and the king will York. Sons, peace! [speak. K. Hen. Peace thou! and give king Henry leave to War. Plantagenet shall speak first:-hear him, lords; And be you silent and attentive too, For he that interrupts him shall not live. [throne, K. Hen. Think'st thou that I will leave my kingly Wherein my grandsire and my father sat? No; first shall war unpeople this my realm; Ay, and their colours often borne in France, And now in England, to our heart's great sorrowShall be my winding-sheet.-Why faint you, lords? My title's good, and better far than his. War. But prove it, Henry, and thou shalt be king. K. Hen. Henry the fourth by conquest got the crown. York. 'Twas by rebellion against his king. K. Hen. [Aside.] I know not what to say; my title's [Aloud.] Tell me, may not a king adopt an heir? [weak. York. What then? K. Hen. An if he may, then am I lawful king; York. He rose against him, being his sovereign, War. Suppose, my lords, he did it unconstrain'd, Think you 'twere prejudicial to his crown? Exe. No; for he could not so resign his crown, But that the next heir should succeed and reign. K. Hen. Art thou against us, duke of Exeter? Exe. His is the right, and therefore pardon me. York. Why whisper you, my lords, and answer not? Exe. My conscience tells me he is lawful king. [him. K. Hen. [Aside.] All will revolt from me, and turn to North. Plantagenet, for all the claim thou lay'st, Think not that Henry shall be so deposed. War. Deposed he shall be in despite of all. Clif. King Henry, be thy title right or wrong, K. Hen. O Clifford, how thy words revive my heart! [He stamps, and the Soldiers shew themselves. K. Hen. My lord of Warwick, hear me but one word; Let me for this my lifetime reign as king. York. Confirm the crown to me and to mine heirs, And thou shalt reign in quiet while thou liv'st. K. Hen. I am content: Richard Plantagenet, Enjoy the kingdom after my decease. Clif. What wrong is this unto the prince your son? Clif. Come, cousin, let us tell the queen these news. West. Farewell, faint-hearted and degenerate king, In whose cold blood no spark of honour bides. North. Be thou a prey unto the house of York, And die in bands for this unmanly deed! Clif. In dreadful war mayst thou be overcome! Or live in peace, abandon'd and despised! [Exeunt NORTHUMBERLAND, CLIFFORD, and WESTMORELAND. War. Turn this way, Henry, and regard them not. Exe. They seek revenge, and therefore will not yield K. Hen. Ah, Exeter! War. Why should you sigh, my lord? K. Hen. Not for myself, lord Warwick, but my son. Whom I unnaturally shall disinherit. But, be it as it may:-I here entail The crown to thee and to thine heirs for ever; To seek to put me down, and reign thyself. War. Long live king Henry!-Plantagenet, embrace him. K. Hen. And long live thou, and these thy forward [Exeunt YORK and his Sons, WARWICK, NORFOLK, K. Hen. And I, with grief and sorrow, to the court. Enter QUEEN MARGARET and the PRINCE OF WALES. Exe. Here comes the queen, whose looks bewray her anger: I'll steal away. K. Hen. Exeter, so will I. [Going Going. Q. Mar. Nay, go not from me, I will follow thee. K. Hen. Be patient, gentle queen, and I will stay. Q. Mar. Who can be patient in such extremes? Ah, wretched man! would I had died a maid, And never seen thee, never borne thee son, Seeing thou hast proved so unnatural a fatherl Hath he deserved to lose his birthright thus? Hadst thou but loved him half so well as I, Or felt that pain which I did for him once, Or nourish'd him, as I did with my blood, Thou wouldst have left thy dearest heart-blood there, Rather than made that savage duke thine heir, And disinherited thine only son. [son: Prince. Father, you cannot disinherit me: If you be king, why should not I succeed? K. Hen. Pardon me. Margaret;-pardon me, sweet The earl of Warwick and the duke enforced me. Q. Mar. Enforced thee! art thou king, and wilt be forced? I shame to hear thee speak. Ah, timorous wretch! The northern lords that have forsworn thy colours, Thus do I leave thee. - Come, son, let's away; K. Hen. Stay, gentle Margaret, and hear me speak. gone. |