Henry VI Part 2

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Original text
Act IV, Scene I
Alarum. Fight at Sea. Ordnance goes off. Enter
Lieutenant, Suffolke, and others.

Lieu.
The gaudy blabbing and remorsefull day,
Is crept into the bosome of the Sea:
And now loud houling Wolues arouse the Iades
That dragge the Tragicke melancholy night:
Who with their drowsie, slow, and flagging wings
Cleape dead-mens graues, and from their misty Iawes,
Breath foule contagious darknesse in the ayre:
Therefore bring forth the Souldiers of our prize,
For whilst our Pinnace Anchors in the Downes,
Heere shall they make their ransome on the sand,
Or with their blood staine this discoloured shore.
Maister, this Prisoner freely giue I thee,
And thou that art his Mate, make boote of this:
The other Walter Whitmore is thy share.

1. Gent.
What is my ransome Master, let me know.

Ma.
A thousand Crownes, or else lay down your head

Mate.
And so much shall you giue, or off goes yours.

Lieu.
What thinke you much to pay 2000. Crownes,
And beare the name and port of Gentlemen?
Cut both the Villaines throats, for dy you shall:
The liues of those which we haue lost in fight,
Be counter-poys'd with such a pettie summe.

1. Gent.
Ile giue it sir, and therefore spare my life.

2. Gent.
And so will I, and write home for it straight.

Whitm.
I lost mine eye in laying the prize aboord,
And therefore to reuenge it, shalt thou dye,
And so should these, if I might haue my will.

Lieu.
Be not so rash, take ransome, let him liue.

Suf.
Looke on my George, I am a Gentleman,
Rate me at what thou wilt, thou shalt be payed.

Whit.
And so am I: my name is Walter Whitmore.
How now? why starts thou? What doth death affright?

Suf.
Thy name affrights me, in whose sound is death:
A cunning man did calculate my birth,
And told me that by Water I should dye:
Yet let not this make thee be bloody-minded,
Thy name is Gualtier, being rightly sounded.

Whit.
Gualtier or Walter, which it is I care not,
Neuer yet did base dishonour blurre our name,
But with our sword we wip'd away the blot.
Therefore, when Merchant-like I sell reuenge,
Broke be my sword, my Armes torne and defac'd,
And I proclaim'd a Coward through the world.

Suf.
Stay Whitmore, for thy Prisoner is a Prince,
The Duke of Suffolke, William de la Pole.

Whit.
The Duke of Suffolke, muffled vp in ragges?

Suf.
I, but these ragges are no part of the Duke.

Lieu.
But Ioue was neuer slaine as thou shalt be,

Suf.
Obscure and lowsie Swaine, King Henries blood.
The honourable blood of Lancaster
Must not be shed by such a iaded Groome:
Hast thou not kist thy hand, and held my stirrop?
Bare-headed plodded by my foot-cloth Mule,
And thought thee happy when I shooke my head.
How often hast thou waited at my cup,
Fed from my Trencher, kneel'd downe at the boord,
When I haue feasted with Queene Margaret?
Remember it, and let it make thee Crest-falne,
I, and alay this thy abortiue Pride:
How in our voyding Lobby hast thou stood,
And duly wayted for my comming forth?
This hand of mine hath writ in thy behalfe,
And therefore shall it charme thy riotous tongue.

Whit.
Speak Captaine, shall I stab the forlorn Swain.

Lieu.
First let my words stab him, as he hath me.

Suf.
Base slaue, thy words are blunt, and so art thou.

Lieu.
Conuey him hence, and on our long boats side,
Strike off his head.

Suf.
Thou dar'st not for thy owne.

Lieu.
Poole, Sir Poole? Lord,
I kennell, puddle, sinke, whose filth and dirt
Troubles the siluer Spring, where England drinkes:
Now will I dam vp this thy yawning mouth,
For swallowing the Treasure of the Realme.
Thy lips that kist the Queene, shall sweepe the ground:
And thou that smil'dst at good Duke Humfries death,
Against the senselesse windes shall grin in vaine,
Who in contempt shall hisse at thee againe.
And wedded be thou to the Hagges of hell,
For daring to affye a mighty Lord
Vnto the daughter of a worthlesse King,
Hauing neyther Subiect, Wealth, nor Diadem:
By diuellish policy art thou growne great,
And like ambitious Sylla ouer-gorg'd,
With gobbets of thy Mother-bleeding heart.
By thee Aniou and Maine were soldto France.
The false reuolting Normans thorough thee,
Disdaine to call vs Lord, and Piccardie
Hath slaine their Gouernors, surpriz'd our Forts,
And sent the ragged Souldiers wounded home.
The Princely Warwicke, and the Neuils all,
Whose dreadfull swords were neuer drawne in vaine,
As hating thee, and rising vp in armes.
And now the House of Yorke thrust from the Crowne,
By shamefull murther of a guiltlesse King,
And lofty proud incroaching tyranny,
Burnes with reuenging fire, whose hopefull colours
Aduance our halfe-fac'd Sunne, striuing to shine;
Vnder the which is writ, Inuitis nubibus.
The Commons heere in Kent are vp in armes,
And to conclude, Reproach and Beggerie,
Is crept into the Pallace of our King,
And all by thee: away, conuey him hence.

Suf.
O that I were a God, to shoot forth Thunder
Vpon these paltry, seruile, abiect Drudges:
Small things make base men proud. This Villaine heere,
Being Captaine of a Pinnace, threatens more
Then Bargulus the strong Illyrian Pyrate.
Drones sucke not Eagles blood, but rob Bee-hiues:
It is impossible that I should dye
By such a lowly Vassall as thy selfe.
Thy words moue Rage, and not remorse in me:
I go of Message from the Queene to France:
I charge thee waft me safely crosse the Channell.

Lieu.
Water:

W.
Come Suffolke, I must waft thee to thy death.

Suf.
Pine gelidus timor occupat artus,
it is thee I feare.

Wal.
Thou shalt haue cause to feare before I leaue thee.
What, are ye danted now? Now will ye stoope.

1. Gent.
My gracious Lord intreat him, speak him fair.

Suf.
Suffolkes Imperiall tongue is sterne and rough:
Vs'd to command, vntaught to pleade for fauour.
Farre be it, we should honor such as these
With humble suite: no, rather let my head
Stoope to the blocke, then these knees bow to any,
Saue to the God of heauen, and to my King:
And sooner dance vpon a bloody pole,
Then stand vncouer'd to the Vulgar Groome.
True Nobility, is exempt from feare:
More can I beare, then you dare execute.

Lieu.
Hale him away, and let him talke no more:

Suf.
Come Souldiers, shew what cruelty ye can.
That this my death may neuer be forgot.
Great men oft dye by vilde Bezonions.
A Romane Sworder, and Bandetto slaue
Murder'd sweet Tully. Brutus Bastard hand
Stab'd Iulius Casar. Sauage Islanders
Pompey the Great, and Suffolke dyes by Pyrats.
Exit Water
with Suffolke.

Lieu.
And as for these whose ransome we haue set,
It is our pleasure one of them depart:
Therefore come you with vs, and let him go.
Exit Lieutenant, and the rest. Manet the first Gent.
Enter Walter with the body.

Wal.
There let his head, and liuelesse bodie lye,
Vntill the Queene his Mistris bury it.
Exit Walter.

1. Gent.
O barbarous and bloudy spectacle,
His body will I beare vnto the King:
If he reuenge it not, yet will his Friends,
So will the Queene, that liuing, held him deere.
Original text
Act IV, Scene II
Enter Beuis, and Iohn Holland.

Beuis.
Come and get thee a sword, though made of a Lath,
they haue bene vp these two dayes.

Hol.
They haue the more neede to sleepe now then.

Beuis.
I tell thee, Iacke Cade the Cloathier, meanes to dresse
the Common-wealth and turne it, and set a new nap
vpon it.

Hol.
So he had need, for 'tis thred-bare. Well, I
say, it was neuer merrie world in England, since Gentlemen
came vp.

Beuis.
O miserable Age: Vertue is not regarded in
Handy-crafts men.

Hol.
The Nobilitie thinke scorne to goe in Leather Aprons.

Beuis.
Nay more, the Kings Councell are no good
Workemen.

Hol.
True: and yet it is said, Labour in thy
Vocation: which is as much to say, as let the Magistrates
be labouring men, and therefore should we
be Magistrates.

Beuis.
Thou hast hit it: for there's no better signe of a
braue minde, then a hard hand.

Hol.
I see them, I see them: There's Bests Sonne,
the Tanner of Wingham.

Beuis.
Hee shall haue the skinnes of our enemies, to make
Dogges Leather of.

Hol.
And Dicke the Butcher.

Beuis.
Then is sin strucke downe like an Oxe, and iniquities
throate cut like a Calfe.

Hol.
And Smith the Weauer.

Beu.
Argo, their thred of life is spun.

Hol.
Come, come, let's fall in with them.
Drumme. Enter Cade, Dicke Butcher, Smith
the Weauer, and a Sawyer, with infinite numbers.

Cade.
Wee Iohn Cade, so tearm'd of our supposed Father.

But.

Or rather of stealing a Cade of Herrings.

Cade.
For our enemies shall faile before vs, inspired with
the spirit of putting down Kings and Princes. Command
silence.

But.
Silence.

Cade.
My Father was a Mortimer.

But.
He was an honest man, and a good Bricklayer.

Cade.
My mother a Plantagenet.

Butch.
I knew her well, she was a Midwife.

Cade.
My wife descended of the Lacies.

But.
She was indeed a Pedlers daughter, &
sold many Laces.

Weauer.
But now of late, not able to trauell with her
furr'd Packe, she washes buckes here at home.

Cade.
Therefore am I of an honorable house.

But.
I by my faith, the field is honourable,
and there was he borne, vnder a hedge: for his Father had
neuer a house but the Cage.

Cade.
Valiant I am.

Weauer.
A must needs, for beggery is valiant.

Cade.
I am able to endure much.

But.
No question of that: for I haue seene him
whipt three Market dayes together.

Cade.
I feare neither sword, nor fire.

Wea.
He neede not feare the sword, for his Coate is of
proofe.

But.

But me thinks he should stand in feare of fire,
being burnt i'th hand for stealing of Sheepe.

Cade.
Be braue then, for your Captaine is Braue, and Vowes
Reformation. There shall be in England, seuen halfe peny
Loaues sold for a peny: the three hoop'd pot, shall haue
ten hoopes, and I wil make it Fellony to drink small Beere.
All the Realme shall be in Common, and in Cheapside shall
my Palfrey go to grasse: and when I am King, as King I
will be.

All.
God saue your Maiesty.

Cade.
I thanke you good people. There shall bee no mony,
all shall eate and drinke on my score, and I will apparrell
them all in one Liuery, that they may agree like Brothers,
and worship me their Lord.

But.
The first thing we do, let's kill all the Lawyers.

Cade.
Nay, that I meane to do. Is not this a lamentable
thing, that of the skin of an innocent Lambe should be
made Parchment; that Parchment being scribeld
ore, should vndoe a man. Some say the Bee stings, but I
say, 'tis the Bees waxe: for I did but seale once to a thing,
and I was neuer mine owne man since. How now? Who's
there?
Enter a Clearke.

Weauer.
The Clearke of Chartam: hee can write and
reade, and cast accompt.

Cade.
O monstrous.

Wea.
We tooke him setting of boyes Copies.

Cade.
Here's a Villaine.

Wea.
Ha's a Booke in his pocket with red Letters in't

Cade.
Nay then he is a Coniurer.

But.
Nay, he can make Obligations, and write Court hand.

Cade.
I am sorry for't: The man is a proper man of mine
Honour: vnlesse I finde him guilty, he shall not die. Come
hither sirrah, I must examine thee: What is thy name?

Clearke.
Emanuell.

But.
They vse to writ it on the top of Letters: 'Twill go
hard with you.

Cade.
Let me alone: Dost thou vse to write thy name?
Or hast thou a marke to thy selfe, like a honest plaindealing
man?

Clearke.
Sir I thanke God, I haue bin so well brought vp,
that I can write my name.

All.
He hath confest: away with him: he's a Villaine
and a Traitor.

Cade.
Away with him I say: Hang him with his Pen and
Inke-horne about his necke.
Exit one with the Clearke
Enter Michael.

Mich.
Where's our Generall?

Cade.
Heere I am thou particular fellow.

Mich.
Fly, fly, fly, Sir Humfrey Stafford and his
brother are hard by, with the Kings Forces.

Cade.
Stand villaine, stand, or Ile fell thee downe: he shall
be encountred with a man as good as himselfe. He is
but a Knight, is a?

Mich.
No.

Cade.
To equall him I will make my selfe a knight presently;
Rise vp Sir Iohn Mortimer. Now
haue at him.
Enter Sir Humfrey Stafford, and his Brother, with
Drum and Soldiers.

Staf.
Rebellious Hinds, the filth and scum of Kent,
Mark'd for the Gallowes: Lay your Weapons downe,
Home to your Cottages: forsake this Groome.
The King is mercifull, if you reuolt.

Bro.
But angry, wrathfull, and inclin'd to blood,
If you go forward: therefore yeeld, or dye.

Cade.
As for these silken-coated slaues I passe not,
It is to you good people, that I speake,
Ouer whom (in time to come) I hope to raigne:
For I am rightfull heyre vnto the Crowne.

Staff.
Villaine, thy Father was a Playsterer,
And thou thy selfe a Sheareman, art thou not?

Cade.
And Adam was a Gardiner.

Bro.
And what of that?

Cade.
Marry, this Edmund Mortimer Earle of March,
married the Duke of Clarence daughter, did he not?

Staf.
I sir.

Cade.
By her he had two children at one birth.

Bro.
That's false.

Cade.
I, there's the question; But I say, 'tis true:
The elder of them being put to nurse,
Was by a begger-woman stolne away,
And ignorant of his birth and parentage,
Became a Bricklayer, when he came to age.
His sonne am I, deny it if you can.

But.
Nay, 'tis too true, therefore he shall be King.

Wea.
Sir, he made a Chimney in my Fathers house, &
the brickes are aliue at this day to testifie it: therefore deny
it not.

Staf.
And will you credit this base Drudges Wordes,
that speakes he knowes not what.

All.
I marry will we: therefore get ye gone.

Bro.
Iacke Cade, the D. of York hath taught you this

Cade.
He lyes, for I inuented it my selfe.
Go too Sirrah, tell the King from me, that for his Fathers
sake Henry the fift, (in whose time, boyes went to Span-counter
for French Crownes) I am content he shall
raigne, but Ile be Protector ouer him.

Butcher.
And furthermore, wee'l haue the Lord Sayes head,
for selling the Dukedome of Maine.

Cade
And good reason: for thereby is England main'd / And
faine to go with a staffe, but that my puissance holds it vp.
Fellow-Kings, I tell you, that that Lord Say hath gelded
the Commonwealth, and made it an Eunuch: & more
then that, he can speake French, and therefore hee is a
Traitor.

Staf.
O grosse and miserable ignorance.

Cade.
Nay answer if you can: The Frenchmen are our
enemies: go too then, I ask but this: Can he that speaks
with the tongue of an enemy, be a good Councellour, or no?

All.
No, no, and therefore wee'l haue his head.

Bro.
Well, seeing gentle words will not preuayle,
Assaile them with the Army of the King.

Staf.
Herald away, and throughout euery Towne,
Proclaime them Traitors that are vp with Cade,
That those which flye before the battell ends,
May euen in their Wiues and Childrens sight,
Be hang'd vp for example at their doores:
And you that be the Kings Friends follow me.
Exit.

Cade.
And you that loue the Commons, follow me:
Now shew your selues men, 'tis for Liberty.
We will not leaue one Lord, one Gentleman:
Spare none, but such as go in clouted shooen,
For they are thrifty honest men, and such
As would (but that they dare not) take our parts.

But.
They are all in order, and march toward vs.

Cade.
But then are we in order, when we are most out
of order. Come, march forward.
Original text
Act IV, Scene III
Alarums to the fight, wherein both the Staffords
are slaine. Enter Cade and the rest.

Cade.
Where's Dicke, the Butcher of Ashford?

But.
Heere sir.

Cade.
They fell before thee like Sheepe and Oxen, & thou
behaued'st thy selfe, as if thou hadst beene in thine owne
Slaughter-house: Therfore thus will I reward thee,
the Lent shall bee as long againe as it is, and thou shalt haue
a License to kill for a hundred lacking one.

But.
I desire no more.

Cade.
And to speake truth, thou deseru'st no lesse.

This Monument of the victory will I beare, and the
bodies shall be dragg'd at my horse heeles, till I do
come to London, where we will haue the Maiors sword
born before vs.

But.
If we meane to thriue, and do good, breake open the
Gaoles, and let out the Prisoners.

Cade.
Feare not that I warrant thee. Come, let's march
towards London.
Exeunt.
Original text
Act IV, Scene IV
Enter the King with a Supplication, and the Queene
with Suffolkes head, the Duke of Buckingham, and the
Lord Say.

Queene.

Oft haue I heard that greefe softens the mind,
And makes it fearefull and degenerate,
Thinke therefore on reuenge, and cease to weepe.
But who can cease to weepe, and looke on this.
Heere may his head lye on my throbbing brest:
But where's the body that I should imbrace?

Buc.
What answer makes your Grace to the
Rebells Supplication?

King.
Ile send some holy Bishop to intreat:
For God forbid, so many simple soules
Should perish by the Sword. And I my selfe,
Rather then bloody Warre shall cut them short,
Will parley with Iacke Cade their Generall.
But stay, Ile read it ouer once againe.

Qu.
Ah barbarous villaines: Hath this louely face,
Rul'd like a wandering Plannet ouer me,
And could it not inforce them to relent,
That were vnworthy to behold the same.

King.
Lord Say, Iacke Cade hath sworne to huae thy head.

Say.
I, but I hope your Highnesse shall haue his.

King.
How now Madam?
Still lamenting and mourning for Suffolkes death?
I feare me (Loue) if that I had beene dead,
Thou would'st not haue mourn'd so much for me.

Qu.
No my Loue, I should not mourne, but dye for thee.
Enter a Messenger.

King.
How now? What newes? Why com'st thou in such haste?

Mes.
The Rebels are in Southwarke: Fly my Lord:
Iacke Cade proclaimes himselfe Lord Mortimer,
Descended from the Duke of Clarence house,
And calles your Grace Vsurper, openly,
And vowes to Crowne himselfe in Westminster.
His Army is a ragged multitude
Of Hindes and Pezants, rude and mercilesse:
Sir Humfrey Stafford, and his Brothers death,
Hath giuen them heart and courage to proceede:
All Schollers, Lawyers, Courtiers, Gentlemen,
They call false Catterpillers, and intend their death.

Kin.
Oh gracelesse men: they know not what they do.

Buck.
My gracious Lord, retire to Killingworth,
Vntill a power be rais'd to put them downe.

Qu.
Ah were the Duke of Suffolke now aliue,
These Kentish Rebels would be soone appeas'd.

King.
Lord Say, the Traitors hateth thee,
Therefore away with vs to Killingworth.

Say.
So might your Graces person be in danger.
The sight of me is odious in their eyes:
And therefore in this Citty will I stay,
And liue alone as secret as I may.
Enter another Messenger.

Mess.
Iacke Cade hath gotten London-bridge.
The Citizens flye and forsake their houses:
The Rascall people, thirsting after prey,
Ioyne with the Traitor, and they ioyntly sweare
To spoyle the City, and your Royall Court.

Buc.
Then linger not my Lord, away, take horse.

King.
Come Margaret, God our hope will succor vs.

Qu.
My hope is gone, now Suffolke is deceast.

King.
Farewell my Lord, trust not the Kentish Rebels

Buc.
Trust no body for feare you betraid.

Say.
The trust I haue, is in mine innocence,
And therefore am I bold and resolute.
Exeunt.
Original text
Act IV, Scene V
Enter Lord Scales vpon the Tower walking. Then
enters two or three Citizens below.

Scales.
How now? Is Iacke Cade slaine?

1. Cit.
No my Lord, nor likely to be slaine:
For they haue wonne the Bridge, / Killing all those that withstand
them: / The L. Maior craues ayd of your Honor
from the Tower / To defend the City from the Rebels.

Scales.
Such ayd as I can spare you shall command,
But I am troubled heere with them my selfe,
The Rebels haue assay'd to win the Tower.
But get you to Smithfield, and gather head,
And thither I will send you Mathew Goffe.
Fight for your King, your Countrey, and your Liues,
And so farwell, for I must hence againe.
Exeunt
Original text
Act IV, Scene VI
Enter Iacke Cade and the rest, and strikes his
staffe on London stone.

Cade.
Now is Mortimer Lord of this City, / And heere sitting
vpon London Stone, / I charge and command, that
of the Cities cost / The pissing Conduit run nothing
but Clarret Wine / This first yeare of our raigne. / And now
henceforward it shall be Treason for any, / That calles me
other then Lord Mortimer.
Enter a Soldier running.

Soul.
Iacke Cade, Iacke Cade.

Cade.
Knocke him downe there.
They kill him.

But.
If this Fellow be wise, hee'l neuer call yee Iacke Cade
more, I thinke he hath a very faire warning.

Dicke.
My Lord, there's an Army gathered together in
Smithfield.

Cade.
Come, then let's go fight with them: / But first,
go and set London Bridge on fire, / And if you can, burne
downe the Tower too. Come, let's away.
Exeunt omnes.
Original text
Act IV, Scene VII
Alarums. Mathew Goffe is slain, and all the rest.
Then enter Iacke Cade, with his Company.

Cade.
So sirs: now go some and pull down the Sauoy:
Others to'th Innes of Court, downe with them all.

But.
I haue a suite vnto your Lordship.

Cade.
Bee it a Lordshippe, thou shalt haue it for that word.

But.
Onely that the Lawes of England may come out of your
mouth.

Iohn.
Masse 'twill be sore Law then, for he was
thrust in the mouth with a Speare, and 'tis not whole yet.

Smith.
Nay Iohn, it wil be stinking
Law, for his breath stinkes with eating toasted cheese.

Cade.
I haue thought vpon it, it shall bee so. Away, burne
all the Records of the Realme, my mouth shall be the Parliament
of England.

Iohn.
Then we are like to haue biting Statutes
Vnlesse his teeth be pull'd out.

Cade.
And hence-forward all things shall be in Common.
Enter a Messenger.

Mes.
My Lord, a prize, a prize, heeres the Lord
Say, which sold the Townes in France. He that made vs
pay one and twenty Fifteenes, and one shilling to the
pound, the last Subsidie.
Enter George, with the Lord Say.

Cade.
Well, hee shall be beheaded for it ten times: Ah
thou Say, thou Surge, nay thou Buckram Lord, now art
thou within point-blanke of our Iurisdiction Regall. What
canst thou answer to my Maiesty, for giuing vp of
Normandie vnto Mounsieur Basimecu, the Dolphine
of France? Be it knowne vnto thee by these presence,
euen the presence of Lord Mortimer, that I am the
Beesome that must sweepe the Court cleane of such filth
as thou art: Thou hast most traiterously corrupted the
youth of the Realme, in erecting a Grammar Schoole: and
whereas before, our Fore-fathers had no other Bookes
but the Score and the Tally, thou hast caused printing
to be vs'd, and contrary to the King, his Crowne, and
Dignity, thou hast built a Paper-Mill. It will be prooued
to thy Face, that thou hast men about thee, that vsually
talke of a Nowne and a Verbe, and such abhominable wordes, as
no Christian eare can endure to heare. Thou hast appointed
Iustices of Peace, to call poore men before them,
about matters they were not able to answer. Moreouer,
thou hast put them in prison, and because they could not
reade, thou hast hang'd them, when (indeede) onely
for that cause they haue beene most worthy to liue.
Thou dost ride in a foot-cloth, dost thou not?

Say.
What of that?

Cade.
Marry, thou ought'st not to let thy horse weare a
Cloake, when honester men then thou go in their Hose and
Doublets.

Dicke.
And worke in their shirt to, as my selfe for example,
that am a butcher.

Say.
You men of Kent.

Dic.
What say you of Kent.

Say.
Nothing but this: 'Tis bona terra, mala gens.

Cade.
Away with him, away with him, he speaks Latine.

Say.
Heare me but speake, and beare mee wher'e you will:
Kent, in the Commentaries Casar writ,
Is term'd the ciuel'st place of all this Isle:
Sweet is the Covntry, because full of Riches,
The People Liberall, Valiant, Actiue, Wealthy,
Which makes me hope you are not void of pitty.
I sold not Maine, I lost not Normandie,
Yet to recouer them would loose my life:
Iustice with fauour haue I alwayes done,
Prayres and Teares haue mou'd me, Gifts could neuer.
When haue I ought exacted at your hands?
Kent to maintaine, the King, the Realme and you,
Large gifts haue I bestow'd on learned Clearkes,
Because my Booke preferr'd me to the King.
And seeing Ignorance is the curse of God,
Knowledge the Wing wherewith we flye to heauen.
Vnlesse you be possest with diuellish spirits,
You cannot but forbeare to murther me:
This Tongue hath parlied vnto Forraigne Kings
For your behoofe.

Cade.
Tut, when struck'st thou one blow in the field?

Say.
Great men haue reaching hands: oft haue I struck
Those that I neuer saw, and strucke them dead.

Geo.
O monstrous Coward! What, to come behinde Folkes?

Say.
These cheekes are pale for watching for your good

Cade.
Giue him a box o'th' eare, and that wil make 'em red
againe.

Say.
Long sitting to determine poore mens causes,
Hath made me full of sicknesse and diseases.

Cade.
Ye shall haue a hempen Candle then, & the help of
hatchet.

Dicke.
Why dost thou quiuer man?

Say.
The Palsie, and not feare prouokes me.

Cade.
Nay, he noddes at vs, as who should say, Ile be euen
with you. Ile see if his head will stand steddier on a
pole, or no: Take him away, and behead him.

Say.
Tell me: wherein haue I offended most?
Haue I affected wealth, or honor? Speake.
Are my Chests fill'd vp with extorted Gold?
Is my Apparrell sumptuous to behold?
Whom haue I iniur'd, that ye seeke my death?
These hands are free from guiltlesse bloodshedding,
This breast from harbouring foule deceitfull thoughts.
O let me liue.

Cade.
I feele remorse in my selfe with his words: but
Ile bridle it: he shall dye, and it bee but for pleading so
well for his life. Away with him, he ha's a Familiar
vnder his Tongue, he speakes not a Gods name. Goe,
take him away I say, and strike off his head presently,
and then breake into his Sonne in Lawes house, Sir Iames
Cromer, and strike off his head, and bring them both
vppon two poles hither.

All.
It shall be done.

Say.
Ah Countrimen: If when you make your prair's,
God should be so obdurate as your selues:
How would it fare with your departed soules,
And therefore yet relent, and saue my life.

Cade.
Away with him, and do as I command ye:
the proudest Peere in the Realme, shall not weare a head
on his shoulders, vnlesse he pay me tribute: there shall
not a maid be married, but she shall pay to me her
Maydenhead ere they haue it: Men shall hold of mee
in Capite. And we charge and command, that their
wiues be as free as heart can wish, or tongue can tell.

Dicke.
My Lord, / When shall we go to Cheapside, and take vp
commodities vpon our billes?

Cade.
Marry presently.

All.
O braue.
Enter one with the heads.

Cade.
But is not this brauer: / Let them kisse one another:
For they lou'd well / When they were aliue. Now part
them againe, / Least they consult about the giuing vp / Of
some more Townes in France. Soldiers, / Deferre the spoile
of the Citie vntill night: / For with these borne before vs,
in steed of Maces, / Will we ride through the streets, &
at euery Corner / Haue them kisse. Away.
Exit
Original text
Act IV, Scene VIII
Alarum, and Retreat. Enter againe Cade, and all his
rabblement.

Cade.
Vp Fish-streete, downe Saint Magnes corner,
kill and knocke downe, throw them into Thames:
Sound a parley.
What noise is this I heare? / Dare any be so bold to
sound Retreat or Parley / When I command them kill?
Enter Buckingham, and old Clifford.

Buc.
I heere they be, that dare and will disturb thee:
Know Cade, we come Ambassadors from the King
Vnto the Commons, whom thou hast misled,
And heere pronounce free pardon to them all,
That will forsake thee, and go home in peace.

Clif.
What say ye Countrimen, will ye relent
And yeeld to mercy, whil'st 'tis offered you,
Or let a rabble leade you to your deaths.
Who loues the King, and will imbrace his pardon,
Fling vp his cap, and say, God saue his Maiesty.
Who hateth him, and honors not his Father,
Henry the fift, that made all France to quake,
Shake he his weapon at vs, and passe by.

All.
God saue the King, God saue the King.

Cade.
What Buckingham and Clifford are ye so braue?
And you base Pezants, do ye beleeue him, will
you needs be hang'd with your Pardons about your
neckes? Hath my sword therefore broke through London
gates, that you should leaue me at the White-heart
in Southwarke. I thought ye would neuer haue giuen out
these Armes til you had recouered your ancient Freedome.
But you are all Recreants and Dastards, and delight to liue
in slauerie to the Nobility. Let them breake your backes with
burthens, take your houses ouer your heads, rauish your
Wiues and Daughters before your faces. For me, I will
make shift for one, and so Gods Cursse light vppon you
all.

All.
Wee'l follow Cade, Wee'l follow Cade.

Clif.
Is Cade the sonneof Henry the fift,
That thus you do exclaime you'l go with him.
Will he conduct you through the heart of France,
And make the meanest of you Earles and Dukes?
Alas, he hath no home, no place to flye too:
Nor knowes he how to liue, but by the spoile,
Vnlesse by robbing of your Friends, and vs.
Wer't not a shame, that whilst you liue at iarre,
The fearfull French, whom you late vanquished
Should make a start ore-seas, and vanquish you?
Me thinkes alreadie in this ciuill broyle,
I see them Lording it in London streets,
Crying Villiago vnto all they meete.
Better ten thousand base-borne Cades miscarry,
Then you should stoope vnto a Frenchmans mercy.
To France, to France, and get what you haue lost:
Spare England, for it is your Natiue Coast:
Henry hath mony, you are strong and manly:
God on our side, doubt not of Victorie.

All.
A Clifford, a Clifford, / Wee'l follow the King, and
Clifford.

Cade.
Was euer Feather so lightly blowne too & fro,
as this multitude? The name of Henry the fift, hales
them to an hundred mischiefes, and makes them leaue mee
desolate. I see them lay their heades together to surprize
me. My sword make way for me, for heere is
no staying: in despight of the diuels and hell, haue
through the verie middest of you, and heauens and
honor be witnesse, that no want of resolution in mee, but
onely my Followers base and ignominious treasons, makes
me betake mee to my heeles.
Exit

Buck.
What, is he fled? Go some and follow him,
And he that brings his head vnto the King,
Shall haue a thousand Crownes for his reward.
Exeunt some of them.
Follow me souldiers, wee'l deuise a meane,
To reconcile you all vnto the King.
Exeunt omnes.
Original text
Act IV, Scene IX
Sound Trumpets. Enter King, Queene, and Somerset
on the Tarras.

King.
Was euer King that ioy'd an earthly Throne,
And could command no more content then I?
No sooner was I crept out of my Cradle,
But I was made a King, at nine months olde.
Was neuer Subiect long'd to be a King,
As I do long and wish to be a Subiect.
Enter Buckingham and Clifford.

Buc.
Health and glad tydings to your Maiesty.

Kin.
Why Buckingham, is the Traitor Cade surpris'd?
Or is he but retir'd to make him strong?
Enter Multitudes with Halters about their Neckes.

Clif.
He is fled my Lord, and all his powers do yeeld,
And humbly thus with halters on their neckes,
Expect your Highnesse doome of life, or death.

King.
Then heauen set ope thy euerlasting gates,
To entertaine my vowes of thankes and praise.
Souldiers, this day haue you redeem'd your liues,
And shew'd how well you loue your Prince & Countrey:
Continue still in this so good a minde,
And Henry though he be infortunate,
Assure your selues will neuer be vnkinde:
And so with thankes, and pardon to you all,
I do dismisse you to your seuerall Countries.

All.
God saue the King, God saue the King.
Enter a Messenger.

Mes.
Please it your Grace to be aduertised,
The Duke of Yorke is newly come from Ireland,
And with a puissant and a mighty power
Of Gallow-glasses and stout Kernes,
Is marching hitherward in proud array,
And still proclaimeth as he comes along,
His Armes are onely to remoue from thee
The Duke of Somerset, whom he tearmes a Traitor.

King.
Thus stands my state, 'twixt Cade and Yorke distrest,
Like to a Ship, that hauing scap'd a Tempest,
Is straight way calme, and boorded with a Pyrate.
But now is Cade driuen backe, his men dispierc'd,
And now is Yorke in Armes, to second him.
I pray thee Buckingham go and meete him,
And aske him what's the reason of these Armes:
Tell him, Ile send Duke Edmund to the Tower,
And Somerset we will commit thee thither,
Vntill his Army be dismist from him.

Somerset.
My Lord,
Ile yeelde my selfe to prison willingly,
Or vnto death, to do my Countrey good.

King.
In any case, be not to rough in termes,
For he is fierce, and cannot brooke hard Language.

Buc.
I will my Lord, and doubt not so to deale,
As all things shall redound vnto your good.

King.
Come wife, let's in, and learne to gouern better,
For yet may England curse my wretched raigne.
Flourish. Exeunt.
Original text
Act IV, Scene X
Enter Cade.

Cade.
Fye on Ambitions: fie on my selfe, that haue a sword,
and yet am ready to famish. These fiue daies haue I
hid me in these Woods, and durst not peepe out, for all
the Country is laid for me: but now am I so hungry, that
if I might haue a Lease of my life for a thousand yeares,
I could stay no longer. Wherefore on a Bricke wall haue
I climb'd into this Garden, to see if I can eate Grasse, or picke
a Sallet another while, which is not amisse to coole a mans
stomacke this hot weather: and I think this word Sallet
was borne to do me good: for many a time but for a Sallet,
my braine-pan had bene cleft with a brown Bill; and
many a time when I haue beene dry, & brauely marching,
it hath seru'd me insteede of a quart pot to drinke in:
and now the word Sallet must serue me to feed on.
Enter Iden.

Iden.
Lord, who would liue turmoyled in the Court,
And may enioy such quiet walkes as these?
This small inheritance my Father left me,
Contenteth me, and worth a Monarchy.
I seeke not to waxe great by others warning,
Or gather wealth I care not with what enuy:
Sufficeth, that I haue maintaines my state,
And sends the poore well pleased from my gate.

Cade.
Heere's the Lord of the soile come to seize me
for a stray, for entering his Fee-simple without leaue.
A Villaine, thou wilt betray me, and get a
1000. Crownes of the King by carrying my head to
him, but Ile make thee eate Iron like an Ostridge, and
swallow my Sword like a great pin ere thou and I part.

Iden.
Why rude Companion, whatsoere thou be,
I know thee not, why then should I betray thee?
Is't not enough to breake into my Garden,
And like a Theefe to come to rob my grounds:
Climbing my walles inspight of me the Owner,
But thou wilt braue me with these sawcie termes?

Cade.
Braue thee? I by the best blood that euer was
broach'd, and beard thee to. Looke on mee well, I haue
eate no meate these fiue dayes, yet come thou and thy fiue
men, and if I doe not leaue you all as dead as a doore naile, I
pray God I may neuer eate grasse more.

Iden.
Nay, it shall nere be said, while England stands,
That Alexander Iden an Esquire of Kent,
Tooke oddes to combate a poore famisht man.
Oppose thy stedfast gazing eyes to mine,
See if thou canst out-face me with thy lookes:
Set limbe to limbe, and thou art farre the lesser:
Thy hand is but a finger to my fist,
Thy legge a sticke compared with this Truncheon,
My foote shall fight with all the strength thou hast,
And if mine arme be heaued in the Ayre,
Thy graue is digg'd already in the earth:
As for words, whose greatnesse answer's words,
Let this my sword report what speech forbeares.

Cade.
By my Valour: the most compleate Champion that
euer I heard. Steele, if thou turne the edge, or cut not
out the burly bon'd Clowne in chines of Beefe, ere thou
sleepe in thy Sheath, I beseech Ioue on my knees thou
mayst be turn'd to Hobnailes.
Heere they Fight.
O I am slaine, Famine and no other hath slaine me, let
ten thousand diuelles come against me, and giue me but
the ten meales I haue lost, and I'de defie them all. Wither
Garden, and be henceforth a burying place to all that do
dwell in this house, because the vnconquered soule of
Cade is fled.

Iden.
Is't Cade that I haue slain, that monstrous traitor?
Sword, I will hallow thee for this thy deede,
And hang thee o're my Tombe, when I am dead.
Ne're shall this blood be wiped from thy point,
But thou shalt weare it as a Heralds coate,
To emblaze the Honor 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 neuer feared any,
am vanquished by Famine, not by Valour.
Dyes.

Id.
How much thou wrong'st me, heauen be my iudge;
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 soule to hell.
Hence will I dragge thee headlong by the heeles
Vnto a dunghill, which shall be thy graue,
And there cut off thy most vngracious head,
Which I will beare in triumph to the King,
Leauing thy trunke for Crowes to feed vpon.
Exit.
Modern text
Act IV, Scene I
Alarum. Fight at sea. Ordnance goes off. Enter a
Lieutenant, a Master, a Master's Mate, Walter
Whitmore, Suffolk, disguised, two Gentlemen
prisoners, and soldiers

LIEUTENANT
The gaudy, blabbing, and remorseful day
Is crept into the bosom of the sea;
And now loud howling wolves arouse the jades
That drag the tragic melancholy night;
Who with their drowsy, slow, and flagging wings
Clip dead men's graves, and from their misty jaws
Breathe foul contagious darkness in the air.
Therefore bring forth the soldiers of our prize,
For whilst our pinnace anchors in the Downs
Here shall they make their ransom on the sand,
Or with their blood stain this discoloured shore.
Master, this prisoner freely give I thee;
And thou that art his mate make boot of this;
The other, Walter Whitmore, is thy share.

FIRST GENTLEMAN
What is my ransom, master? Let me know.

MASTER
A thousand crowns, or else lay down your head.

MATE
And so much shall you give, or off goes yours.

LIEUTENANT
What, think you much to pay two thousand crowns,
And bear the name and port of gentleman?
Cut both the villains' throats; for die you shall.
The lives of those which we have lost in fight
Be counterpoised with such a petty sum!

FIRST GENTLEMAN
I'll give it, sir; and therefore spare my life.

SECOND GENTLEMAN
And so will I, and write home for it straight.

WHITMORE
I lost mine eye in laying the prize aboard,
(to Suffolk) And therefore to revenge it shalt thou die;
And so should these, if I might have my will.

LIEUTENANT
Be not so rash. Take ransom; let him live.

SUFFOLK
Look on my George; I am a gentleman.
Rate me at what thou wilt, thou shalt be paid.

WHITMORE
And so am I; my name is Walter Whitmore.
How now! Why starts thou? What, doth death affright?

SUFFOLK
Thy name affrights me, in whose sound is death.
A cunning man did calculate my birth,
And told me that by water I should die.
Yet let not this make thee be bloody-minded;
Thy name is Gaultier, being rightly sounded.

WHITMORE
Gaultier or Walter, which it is I care not.
Never yet did base dishonour blur our name
But with our sword we wiped away the blot.
Therefore, when merchant-like I sell revenge,
Broke be my sword, my arms torn and defaced,
And I proclaimed a coward through the world.

SUFFOLK
Stay, Whitmore, for thy prisoner is a prince,
The Duke of Suffolk, William de la Pole.

WHITMORE
The Duke of Suffolk, muffled up in rags!

SUFFOLK
Ay, but these rags are no part of the Duke;
Jove sometime went disguised, and why not I?

LIEUTENANT
But Jove was never slain, as thou shalt be.

SUFFOLK
Obscure and lousy swain, King Henry's blood,
The honourable blood of Lancaster,
Must not be shed by such a jaded groom.
Hast thou not kissed thy hand and held my stirrup?
Bare-headed plodded by my foot-cloth mule,
And thought thee happy when I shook my head?
How often hast thou waited at my cup,
Fed from my trencher, kneeled down at the board,
When I have feasted with Queen Margaret?
Remember it and let it make thee crest-fallen,
Ay, and allay this thy abortive pride,
How in our voiding lobby hast thou stood
And duly waited for my coming forth.
This hand of mine hath writ in thy behalf,
And therefore shall it charm thy riotous tongue.

WHITMORE
Speak, captain, shall I stab the forlorn swain?

LIEUTENANT
First let my words stab him, as he hath me.

SUFFOLK
Base slave, thy words are blunt and so art thou.

LIEUTENANT
Convey him hence, and on our longboat's side
Strike off his head.

SUFFOLK
Thou darest not, for thy own.

LIEUTENANT
Yes, Poole.

SUFFOLK
Poole?

LIEUTENANT
Poole! Sir Poole! Lord!
Ay, kennel, puddle, sink, whose filth and dirt
Troubles the silver spring where England drinks;
Now will I dam up this thy yawning mouth
For swallowing the treasure of the realm.
Thy lips that kissed the Queen shall sweep the ground;
And thou that smiled'st at good Duke Humphrey's death
Against the senseless winds shalt grin in vain,
Who in contempt shall hiss at thee again;
And wedded be thou to the hags of hell,
For daring to affy a mighty lord
Unto the daughter of a worthless king,
Having neither subject, wealth, nor diadem.
By devilish policy art thou grown great,
And, like ambitious Sylla, overgorged
With gobbets of thy mother's bleeding heart.
By thee Anjou and Maine were sold to France,
The false revolting Normans thorough thee
Disdain to call us lord, and Picardy
Hath slain their governors, surprised our forts,
And sent the ragged soldiers wounded home.
The princely Warwick, and the Nevils all,
Whose dreadful swords were never drawn in vain,
As hating thee, are rising up in arms;
And now the house of York, thrust from the crown
By shameful murder of a guiltless king
And lofty, proud, encroaching tyranny,
Burns with revenging fire, whose hopeful colours
Advance our half-faced sun, striving to shine,
Under the which is writ ‘ Invitis nubibus.’
The commons here in Kent are up in arms;
And to conclude, reproach and beggary
Is crept into the palace of our King,
And all by thee. Away! Convey him hence.

SUFFOLK
O that I were a god, to shoot forth thunder
Upon these paltry, servile, abject drudges.
Small things make base men proud. This villain here,
Being captain of a pinnace, threatens more
Than Bargulus, the strong Illyrian pirate.
Drones suck not eagles' blood, but rob beehives.
It is impossible that I should die
By such a lowly vassal as thyself.
Thy words move rage and not remorse in me.

LIEUTENANT
Ay, but my deeds shall stay thy fury soon.

SUFFOLK
I go of message from the Queen to France;
I charge thee, waft me safely 'cross the Channel.

LIEUTENANT
Walter!

WHITMORE
Come, Suffolk, I must waft thee to thy death.

SUFFOLK
Pene gelidus timor occupat artus;
It is thee I fear.

WHITMORE
Thou shalt have cause to fear before I leave thee.
What, are ye daunted now? Now will ye stoop?

FIRST GENTLEMAN
My gracious lord, entreat him, speak him fair.

SUFFOLK
Suffolk's imperial tongue is stern and rough,
Used to command, untaught to plead for favour.
Far be it we should honour such as these
With humble suit. No, rather let my head
Stoop to the block than these knees bow to any
Save to the God of heaven, and to my king;
And sooner dance upon a bloody pole
Than stand uncovered to the vulgar groom.
True nobility is exempt from fear;
More can I bear than you dare execute.

LIEUTENANT
Hale him away, and let him talk no more.

SUFFOLK
Come, soldiers, show what cruelty ye can,
That this my death may never be forgot.
Great men oft die by vile Besonians:
A Roman sworder and banditto slave
Murdered sweet Tully; Brutus' bastard hand
Stabbed Julius Caesar; savage islanders
Pompey the Great; and Suffolk dies by pirates.
Exeunt Whitmore and soldiers
with Suffolk

LIEUTENANT
And as for these whose ransom we have set,
It is our pleasure one of them depart;
Therefore come you with us, and let him go.
Exeunt all but the First Gentleman
Enter Walter Whitmore with the body of Suffolk

WHITMORE
There let his head and lifeless body lie,
Until the Queen his mistress bury it.
Exit

FIRST GENTLEMAN
O, barbarous and bloody spectacle!
His body will I bear unto the King;
If he revenge it not, yet will his friends;
So will the Queen, that living held him dear.
Exit with the body
Modern text
Act IV, Scene II
Enter George Bevis and John Holland

BEVIS
Come, and get thee a sword, though made of a lath;
they have been up these two days.

HOLLAND
They have the more need to sleep now then.

BEVIS
I tell thee, Jack Cade the clothier means to dress
the commonwealth, and turn it, and set a new nap
upon it.

HOLLAND
So he had need, for 'tis threadbare. Well, I
say it was never merry world in England since gentlemen
came up.

BEVIS
O miserable age! Virtue is not regarded in
handicraftsmen.

HOLLAND
The nobility think scorn to go in leather aprons.

BEVIS
Nay, more; the King's Council are no good
workmen.

HOLLAND
True; and yet it is said ‘ Labour in thy
vocation;’ which is as much to say as ‘ Let the magistrates
be labouring men;’ and therefore should we
be magistrates.

BEVIS
Thou hast hit it; for there's no better sign of a
brave mind than a hard hand.

HOLLAND
I see them, I see them! There's Best's son,
the tanner of Wingham.

BEVIS
He shall have the skin of our enemies to make
dog's leather of.

HOLLAND
And Dick the butcher.

BEVIS
Then is sin struck down like an ox, and iniquity's
throat cut like a calf.

HOLLAND
And Smith the weaver.

BEVIS
Argo, their thread of life is spun.

HOLLAND
Come, come, let's fall in with them.
Drums. Enter Jack Cade, Dick the butcher, Smith
the weaver, and a sawyer, with infinite numbers

CADE
We John Cade, so termed of our supposed father –

DICK
(aside)
Or rather of stealing a cade of herrings.

CADE
For our enemies shall fall before us, inspired with
the spirit of putting down kings and princes. Command
silence.

DICK
Silence!

CADE
My father was a Mortimer –

DICK
(aside)
He was an honest man and a good bricklayer.

CADE
My mother a Plantagenet –

DICK
(aside)
I knew her well; she was a midwife.

CADE
My wife descended of the Lacys –

DICK
(aside)
She was indeed a pedlar's daughter, and
sold many laces.

SMITH
(aside)
But now of late, not able to travel with her
furred pack, she washes bucks here at home.

CADE
Therefore am I of an honourable house.

DICK
(aside)
Ay, by my faith, the field is honourable,
and there was he born, under a hedge; for his father had
never a house but the cage.

CADE
Valiant I am.

SMITH
(aside)
'A must needs, for beggary is valiant.

CADE
I am able to endure much.

DICK
(aside)
No question of that; for I have seen him
whipped three market days together.

CADE
I fear neither sword nor fire.

SMITH
(aside)
He need not fear the sword, for his coat is of
proof.

DICK
(aside)
But methinks he should stand in fear of fire,
being burnt i'th' hand for stealing of sheep.

CADE
Be brave then; for your captain is brave, and vows
reformation. There shall be in England seven halfpenny
loaves sold for a penny; the three-hooped pot shall have
ten hoops; and I will make it felony to drink small beer.
All the realm shall be in common, and in Cheapside shall
my palfrey go to grass. And when I am king, as king I
will be –

ALL
God save your majesty!

CADE
I thank you, good people. There shall be no money;
all shall eat and drink on my score; and I will apparel
them all in one livery, that they may agree like brothers,
and worship me their lord.

DICK
The first thing we do, let's kill all the lawyers.

CADE
Nay, that I mean to do. Is not this a lamentable
thing, that of the skin of an innocent lamb should be
made parchment? That parchment, being scribbled
o'er, should undo a man? Some say the bee stings, but I
say 'tis the bee's wax, for I did but seal once to a thing,
and I was never mine own man since. How now? Who's
there?
Enter some rebels with the Clerk of Chartham

SMITH
The clerk of Chartham; he can write and read and
cast accompt.

CADE
O, monstrous!

SMITH
We took him setting of boys' copies.

CADE
Here's a villain!

SMITH
H'as a book in his pocket with red letters in't.

CADE
Nay, then he is a conjurer.

DICK
Nay, he can make obligations, and write court-hand.

CADE
I am sorry for't. The man is a proper man, of mine
honour; unless I find him guilty, he shall not die. Come
hither, sirrah, I must examine thee. What is thy name?

CLERK
Emmanuel.

DICK
They use to write it on the top of letters. 'Twill go
hard with you.

CADE
Let me alone. Dost thou use to write thy name?
Or hast thou a mark to thyself, like a honest plain-dealing
man?

CLERK
Sir, I thank God I have been so well brought up
that I can write my name.

ALL
He hath confessed: away with him! He's a villain
and a traitor.

CADE
Away with him, I say; hang him with his pen and
inkhorn about his neck.
Exit one with the Clerk
Enter Michael

MICHAEL
Where's our general?

CADE
Here I am, thou particular fellow.

MICHAEL
Fly, fly, fly! Sir Humphrey Stafford and his
brother are hard by, with the King's forces.

CADE
Stand, villain, stand, or I'll fell thee down. He shall
be encountered with a man as good as himself. He is
but a knight, is 'a?

MICHAEL
No.

CADE
To equal him, I will make myself a knight presently.
(He kneels) Rise up, Sir John Mortimer. (He rises) Now
have at him!
Enter Sir Humphrey Stafford and his brother, with
drum and soldiers

STAFFORD
Rebellious hinds, the filth and scum of Kent,
Marked for the gallows, lay your weapons down;
Home to your cottages, forsake this groom.
The King is merciful, if you revolt.

BROTHER
But angry, wrathful, and inclined to blood,
If you go forward; therefore yield, or die.

CADE
As for these silken-coated slaves, I pass not;
It is to you, good people, that I speak,
Over whom, in time to come, I hope to reign;
For I am rightful heir unto the crown.

STAFFORD
Villain, thy father was a plasterer;
And thou thyself a shearman, art thou not?

CADE
And Adam was a gardener.

BROTHER
And what of that?

CADE
Marry, this: Edmund Mortimer, Earl of March,
Married the Duke of Clarence' daughter, did he not?

STAFFORD
Ay, sir.

CADE
By her he had two children at one birth.

BROTHER
That's false.

CADE
Ay, there's the question; but I say 'tis true:
The elder of them, being put to nurse,
Was by a beggar-woman stolen away;
And, ignorant of his birth and parentage,
Became a bricklayer when he came to age.
His son am I; deny it if you can.

DICK
Nay, 'tis too true; therefore he shall be king.

SMITH
Sir, he made a chimney in my father's house, and
the bricks are alive at this day to testify it; therefore deny
it not.

STAFFORD
And will you credit this base drudge's words,
That speaks he knows not what?

ALL
Ay, marry, will we; therefore get ye gone.

BROTHER
Jack Cade, the Duke of York hath taught you this.

CADE
(aside)
He lies, for I invented it myself. (To Stafford)
Go to, sirrah, tell the King from me that for his father's
sake, Henry the Fifth, in whose time boys went to span-counter
for French crowns, I am content he shall
reign; but I'll be Protector over him.

DICK
And furthermore, we'll have the Lord Say's head
for selling the dukedom of Maine.

CADE
And good reason; for thereby is England mained and
fain to go with a staff, but that my puissance holds it up.
Fellow kings, I tell you that that Lord Say hath gelded
the commonwealth and made it an eunuch; and more
than that, he can speak French; and therefore he is a
traitor.

STAFFORD
O gross and miserable ignorance!

CADE
Nay, answer if you can; the Frenchmen are our
enemies; go to, then, I ask but this: can he that speaks
with the tongue of an enemy be a good counsellor, or no?

ALL
No, no; and therefore we'll have his head.

BROTHER
Well, seeing gentle words will not prevail,
Assail them with the army of the King.

STAFFORD
Herald, away! And throughout every town
Proclaim them traitors that are up with Cade;
That those which fly before the battle ends
May, even in their wives' and children's sight,
Be hanged up for example at their doors.
And you that be the King's friends, follow me.
Exit with his brother and soldiers

CADE
And you that love the commons, follow me.
Now show yourselves men; 'tis for liberty.
We will not leave one lord, one gentleman;
Spare none but such as go in clouted shoon,
For they are thrifty honest men, and such
As would, but that they dare not, take our parts.

DICK
They are all in order, and march toward us.

CADE
But then are we in order when we are most out
of order. Come, march forward.
Exeunt
Modern text
Act IV, Scene III
Alarums to the fight, wherein both the Staffords
are slain. Enter Cade and the rest

CADE
Where's Dick, the butcher of Ashford?

DICK
Here, sir.

CADE
They fell before thee like sheep and oxen, and thou
behaved'st thyself as if thou hadst been in thine own
slaughter-house. Therefore thus will I reward thee:
the Lent shall be as long again as it is; and thou shalt have
a licence to kill for a hundred lacking one.

DICK
I desire no more.

CADE
And to speak truth, thou deservest no less.
He puts on Sir Humphrey Stafford's coat of mail
This monument of the victory will I bear; and the
bodies shall be dragged at my horse heels till I do
come to London, where we will have the Mayor's sword
borne before us.

DICK
If we mean to thrive and do good, break open the
gaols and let out the prisoners.

CADE
Fear not that, I warrant thee. Come, let's march
towards London.
Exeunt
Modern text
Act IV, Scene IV
Enter the King with a supplication, and the Queen
with Suffolk's head, the Duke of Buckingham, and
the Lord Say

QUEEN
(aside)
Oft have I heard that grief softens the mind,
And makes it fearful and degenerate;
Think therefore on revenge and cease to weep.
But who can cease to weep and look on this?
Here may his head lie on my throbbing breast;
But where's the body that I should embrace?

BUCKINGHAM
What answer makes your grace to the
rebels' supplication?

KING
I'll send some holy bishop to entreat;
For God forbid so many simple souls
Should perish by the sword! And I myself,
Rather than bloody war shall cut them short,
Will parley with Jack Cade their general.
But stay, I'll read it over once again.

QUEEN
(aside)
Ah, barbarous villains! Hath this lovely face
Ruled like a wandering planet over me,
And could it not enforce them to relent,
That were unworthy to behold the same?

KING
Lord Say, Jack Cade hath sworn to have thy head.

SAY
Ay, but I hope your highness shall have his.

KING
How now, madam?
Still lamenting and mourning for Suffolk's death?
I fear me, love, if that I had been dead,
Thou wouldst not have mourned so much for me.

QUEEN
No, my love; I should not mourn, but die for thee.
Enter First Messenger

KING
How now? What news? Why comest thou in such haste?

FIRST MESSENGER
The rebels are in Southwark; fly, my lord!
Jack Cade proclaims himself Lord Mortimer,
Descended from the Duke of Clarence' house,
And calls your grace usurper, openly,
And vows to crown himself in Westminster.
His army is a ragged multitude
Of hinds and peasants, rude and merciless:
Sir Humphrey Stafford and his brother's death
Hath given them heart and courage to proceed.
All scholars, lawyers, courtiers, gentlemen,
They call false caterpillars and intend their death.

KING
O, graceless men, they know not what they do.

BUCKINGHAM
My gracious lord, retire to Killingworth,
Until a power be raised to put them down.

QUEEN
Ah, were the Duke of Suffolk now alive,
These Kentish rebels would be soon appeased!

KING
Lord Say, the traitors hateth thee;
Therefore away with us to Killingworth.

SAY
So might your grace's person be in danger.
The sight of me is odious in their eyes;
And therefore in this city will I stay,
And live alone as secret as I may.
Enter Second Messenger

SECOND MESSENGER
Jack Cade hath gotten London Bridge;
The citizens fly and forsake their houses;
The rascal people, thirsting after prey,
Join with the traitor; and they jointly swear
To spoil the city and your royal court.

BUCKINGHAM
Then linger not, my lord. Away! Take horse!

KING
Come, Margaret. God, our hope, will succour us.

QUEEN
My hope is gone, now Suffolk is deceased.

KING
(to Lord Say)
Farewell, my lord. Trust not the Kentish rebels.

BUCKINGHAM
Trust nobody, for fear you be betrayed.

SAY
The trust I have is in mine innocence,
And therefore am I bold and resolute.
Exeunt
Modern text
Act IV, Scene V
Enter Lord Scales upon the Tower, walking. Then
enter three Citizens below

SCALES
How now? Is Jack Cade slain?

FIRST CITIZEN
No, my lord, nor likely to be slain; for
they have won the bridge, killing all those that withstand
them. The Lord Mayor craves aid of your honour
from the Tower to defend the city from the rebels.

SCALES
Such aid as I can spare you shall command,
But I am troubled here with them myself;
The rebels have assayed to win the Tower.
But get you to Smithfield and gather head,
And thither I will send you Matthew Gough.
Fight for your king, your country, and your lives;
And so farewell, for I must hence again.
Exeunt
Modern text
Act IV, Scene VI
Enter Jack Cade and the rest, and strikes his staff
on London Stone

CADE
Now is Mortimer lord of this city. And here, sitting
upon London Stone, I charge and command that,
of the city's cost, the Pissing Conduit run nothing
but claret wine this first year of our reign. And now
henceforward it shall be treason for any that calls me
other than Lord Mortimer.
Enter a Soldier, running

SOLDIER
Jack Cade! Jack Cade!

CADE
Knock him down there.
They kill him

SMITH
If this fellow be wise, he'll never call ye Jack Cade
more; I think he hath a very fair warning.

DICK
My lord, there's an army gathered together in
Smithfield.

CADE
Come then, let's go fight with them. But first,
go and set London Bridge on fire, and, if you can, burn
down the Tower too. Come, let's away.
Exeunt
Modern text
Act IV, Scene VII
Alarums. Matthew Gough is slain, and all the rest.
Then enter Jack Cade with his company

CADE
So, sirs. Now go some and pull down the Savoy;
others to th' Inns of Court; down with them all.

DICK
I have a suit unto your lordship.

CADE
Be it a lordship, thou shalt have it for that word.

DICK
Only that the laws of England may come out of your
mouth.

HOLLAND
(aside)
Mass, 'twill be sore law then, for he was
thrust in the mouth with a spear, and 'tis not whole yet.

SMITH
(aside to Holland)
Nay, John, it will be stinking
law, for his breath stinks with eating toasted cheese.

CADE
I have thought upon it; it shall be so. Away! Burn
all the records of the realm; my mouth shall be the parliament
of England.

HOLLAND
(aside)
Then we are like to have biting statutes,
unless his teeth be pulled out.

CADE
And henceforward all things shall be in common.
Enter a Messenger

MESSENGER
My lord, a prize, a prize! Here's the Lord
Say, which sold the towns in France; he that made us
pay one-and-twenty fifteens, and one shilling to the
pound, the last subsidy.
Enter George Bevis with the Lord Say

CADE
Well, he shall be beheaded for it ten times. Ah,
thou say, thou serge, nay, thou buckram lord! Now art
thou within point-blank of our jurisdiction regal. What
canst thou answer to my majesty for giving up of
Normandy unto Mounsieur Basimecu, the Dolphin
of France? Be it known unto thee by these presence,
even the presence of Lord Mortimer, that I am the
besom that must sweep the court clean of such filth
as thou art. Thou hast most traitorously corrupted the
youth of the realm in erecting a grammar school; and
whereas, before, our forefathers had no other books
but the score and the tally, thou hast caused printing
to be used; and, contrary to the King his crown and
dignity, thou hast built a paper-mill. It will be proved
to thy face that thou hast men about thee that usually
talk of a noun and a verb, and such abominable words as
no Christian ear can endure to hear. Thou hast appointed
justices of the peace, to call poor men before them
about matters they were not able to answer. Moreover,
thou hast put them in prison; and because they could not
read, thou hast hanged them; when, indeed, only
for that cause they have been most worthy to live.
Thou dost ride in a foot-cloth, dost thou not?

SAY
What of that?

CADE
Marry, thou oughtest not to let thy horse wear a
cloak, when honester men than thou go in their hose and
doublets.

DICK
And work in their shirt too; as myself, for example,
that am a butcher.

SAY
You men of Kent –

DICK
What say you of Kent?

SAY
Nothing but this: 'tis bona terra, mala gens.

CADE
Away with him! Away with him! He speaks Latin.

SAY
Hear me but speak, and bear me where you will.
Kent, in the Commentaries Caesar writ,
Is termed the civilest place of this isle;
Sweet is the country, because full of riches,
To people liberal, valiant, active, wealthy;
Which makes me hope you are not void of pity.
I sold not Maine, I lost not Normandy;
Yet to recover them would lose my life.
Justice with favour have I always done;
Prayers and tears have moved me, gifts could never.
When have I aught exacted at your hands,
But to maintain the King, the realm, and you?
Large gifts have I bestowed on learned clerks,
Because my book preferred me to the King,
And seeing ignorance is the curse of God,
Knowledge the wing wherewith we fly to heaven,
Unless you be possessed with devilish spirits,
You cannot but forbear to murder me.
This tongue hath parleyed unto foreign kings
For your behoof

CADE
Tut, when struckest thou one blow in the field?

SAY
Great men have reaching hands: oft have I struck
Those that I never saw, and struck them dead.

BEVIS
O monstrous coward! What, to come behind folks?

SAY
These cheeks are pale for watching for your good.

CADE
Give him a box o'th' ear, and that will make 'em red
again.

SAY
Long sitting to determine poor men's causes
Hath made me full of sickness and diseases.

CADE
Ye shall have a hempen caudle then, and the help of
hatchet.

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 will stand steadier on a
pole or no. Take him away and behead him.

SAY
Tell me: wherein have I offended most?
Have I affected wealth or honour? Speak.
Are my chests filled up with extorted gold?
Is my apparel sumptuous to behold?
Whom have I injured, that ye seek my death?
These hands are free from guiltless bloodshedding,
This breast from harbouring 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 a God's name. Go,
take him away, I say; and strike off his head presently,
and then break into his son-in-law's house, Sir James
Cromer, and strike off his head, and bring them both
upon two poles hither.

ALL
It shall be done.

SAY
Ah, countrymen, if, when you make your prayers,
God should be so obdurate as yourselves,
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 rebels with Lord Say
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!
Enter one with the heads of Say and Cromer upon
two poles

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
Modern text
Act IV, Scene VIII
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?
Enter Buckingham and old Clifford, attended

BUCKINGHAM
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.

CLIFFORD
What say ye, countrymen, will ye relent
And yield to mercy, whilst 'tis offered you,
Or let a rebel lead you to your deaths?
Who loves the King and will embrace his pardon,
Fling up his cap and say ‘ God save his majesty!’
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!

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 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!

CLIFFORD
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.
Were'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 ‘ Villiago!’ unto all they meet.
Better ten thousand base-born Cades miscarry
Than you should stoop unto a Frenchman's mercy.
To France! To France! And get what you have lost;
Spare England, for it is your native coast.
Henry hath money; you are strong and manly;
God on our side, doubt not of victory.

ALL
À Clifford! À Clifford! We'll follow the King and
Clifford.

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 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 midst 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

BUCKINGHAM
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
Modern text
Act IV, Scene IX
Sound trumpets. Enter the King, Queen, and Somerset,
on the terrace

KING
Was ever king that joyed 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 longed to be a king
As I do long and wish to be a subject.
Enter Buckingham and Clifford

BUCKINGHAM
Health and glad tidings to your majesty!

KING
Why, Buckingham, is the traitor Cade surprised?
Or is he but retired to make him strong?
Enter multitudes, with halters about their necks

CLIFFORD
He is fled, my lord, and all his powers do yield,
And humbly thus with halters on their necks,
Expect your highness' doom of life or death.

KING
Then, heaven, set ope thy everlasting gates
To entertain my vows of thanks and praise!
Soldiers, this day have you redeemed your lives,
And showed how well you love your prince and country;
Continue still in this so good a mind,
And, Henry, though he be infortunate,
Assure yourselves, will never be unkind.
And so, with thanks and pardon to you all,
I do dismiss you to your several countries.

ALL
God save the King! God save the King!
Enter a Messenger

MESSENGER
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 kerns
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.

KING
Thus stands my state, 'twixt Cade and York distressed;
Like to a ship that, having 'scaped a tempest,
Is straightway calmed and boarded with a pirate.
But now is Cade driven back, his men dispersed,
And now is York in arms to second him.
I pray thee, Buckingham, go 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 dismissed from him.

SOMERSET
My lord,
I'll yield myself to prison willingly,
Or unto death, to do my country good.

KING
In any case, be not too rough in terms,
For he is fierce and cannot brook hard language.

BUCKINGHAM
I will, my lord, and doubt not so to deal
As all things shall redound unto your good.

KING
Come, wife, let's in, and learn to govern better;
For yet may England curse my wretched reign.
Flourish. Exeunt
Modern text
Act IV, Scene X
Enter Cade

CADE
Fie on ambitions! 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 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 Alexander Iden

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 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 pleased from my gate.

CADE
(aside)
Here's the lord of the soil come to seize me
for a stray, for entering his fee-simple without leave.
(to Iden) 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?
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 famished 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 heaved in the air,
Thy grave is digged already in the earth.
As for 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 beseech God on my knees thou
mayst be turned to hobnails.
Here they fight and Cade falls down
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'll 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 famine, not by valour.
He dies

IDEN
How much thou wrongest 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.
Exit
x

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