Cade. Give him a box o' the ear and that will make 'em red again. Say. Long sitting to determine poor men's causes Dick. Why dost thou quiver, man? Say. The palsy, and not fear, provokes me. Cade. Nay, he nods at us, as who should say, I'll be even with you; I'll see if his head 100 will stand steadier on a pole, or no. him away, and behead him. Take Say. Tell me wherein have I offended most? Whom have I injured, that ye seek my death? This breast from harboring foul deceitful thoughts. O, let me live! Cade. [Aside] 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 110 96. "The help of hatchet"; so F. 1; Ff. 2, 3, 4, "the help of a hatchet"; Farmer, "pap with a hatchet," a singularly happy emendation, &c.-I. G. in-law's house, Sir James Cromer, and strike All. It shall be done. Say. Ah, countrymen! if when prayers, you make your God should be so obdurate as yourselves, 120 How would it fare with your departed souls? And therefore yet relent, and save my life. Cade. Away with him! and do as I command ye. [Exeunt some with Lord Say. The proudest peer in the realm shall not 118. “Sir James Cromer"; it was Sir William Cromer whom Cade beheaded.-I. G. 120. The following is Holinshed's account of these doings: “After that, he entered into London, cut the ropes of the draw-bridge, and strooke his sword on London stone, saieng, 'Now is Mortimer lord of this citie.' And, after a glosing declaration made to the maior touching the cause of his thither comming, he departed againe into Southwarke, and upon the third daie of Julie he caused sir James Fines, lord Saie, and treasurer of England, to be brought to the Guildhall, and there to be arreigned; who, being before the kings justices put to answer, desired to be tried by his peeres, for the longer delaie of his life. The capteine, perceiving his dilatorie plee, by force tooke him from the officers, and brought him to the standard in Cheape, and there caused his head to be striken off, and pitched it upon an high pole, which was openlie borne before him through the streets. And, not content herewith, he went to Mile-end, and there apprehended sir James Cromer, then sheriffe of Kent, and sonne-in-law to the said lord Saie, causing him likewise to be beheaded, and his head to be fixed on a pole. And with these two heads this bloudie wretch entered into the citie againe, and as it were in spite caused them in everie street to kisse together, to the great detestation of all the beholders."-H. N. H. in capite; and we charge and command that Dick. My lord, when shall we go to Cheapside All. O, brave! Re-enter one with the heads. Cade. But is not this braver? Let them kiss 140 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. 133. “hold of me in capite," hold their possessions immediately from me, as king (with a quibble on "head" in the last line).-C. H. H. 137. "take up commodities upon our bills," a play upon the commercial sense of the phrase: "accept goods as security for, or in part payment of, a loan." Cade is now, it is implied, the owner of London's wealth, which the citizens hold from him on credit.-C. H. H. SCENE VIII Southwark. Alarum and retreat. Enter 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? Enter Buckingham and Clifford, attended. Buck. Aye, 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, 10 That will forsake thee and go home in peace. Clif. What say ye, countrymen? will ye relent, And yield to mercy whilst 'tis offer'd you; Sc. 8. Southwark. This is certainly the locality of the latter part of the scene, where Cade is "left" at the White Hart. The opening words, however, suggest that Shakespeare is dramatising the battle on the bridge, of July 5 (1450), when, according to Holinshed, at one time “the Londoners were beaten back to St. Magnus' corner; and suddenly again the rebels were repelled to the stoops in Southwark." The charge and retreat are thus compressed into six lines, and as Mr. Daniel says, Cade's men "seem to be on both sides of the river at the same time."-C. H. H. Or let a rebel lead you to your deaths? Fling up his cap, and say 'God save his ma- 20 Who hateth him and honors 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! Cade. What, Buckingham and Clifford, are ye so brave? And you, base peasants, do ye believe him? will you needs be hanged 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 recovered your ancient freedom; but you are all recreants and dastards, and delight to 30 live in slavery to the nobility. Let them break your backs with burthens, 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! That thus you do exclaim you'll go with him? 40 14. "rebel"; Singer's emendation (Collier MS. and Anon. MS.) of Ff., "rabble"; Vaughan, "ribald.”—I. G. |