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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, overgorg'd
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, surpris'd our forts,
And sent the ragged soldiers wounded home.
The princely Warwick, and the Nevils all,—
Whose dreadful swords were never drawn in
As hating thee, are rising up in arms: [vain,
And now the house of York-thrust from the
By shameful murder of a guiltless king, [crown,
And lofty proud encroaching tyranny,―
Burns with revenging fire; whose hopeful colours
Advance our half-fac'd 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.
Suff. O that I were a god, to shoot forth thun-
Upon these paltry, servile, abject drudges! [der
Small things make base men proud: this villain
Being captain of a pinnace, threatens more [here,
Than Bargulus, the strong Illyrian pirate.
Drones suck not eagles' blood, but rob bee-hives.
It is impossible, that I should die
By such a lowly vassal as thyself.

fear.

Thy words move rage, and not remorse, in me:
I go of message from the queen of France;
I charge thee, waft me safely cross the channel.
Cap. Walter,-
[death.
Whit. Come, Suffolk, I must waft thee to thy
Suff. Gelidus timor occupat artus:-'tis thee I
[leave thee.
Whit. Thou shalt have cause to fear, before I
What, are ye daunted now? now will ye stoop?
1 Gent. My gracious lord, entreat him, speak
him fair.
[rough,
Suff. Suffolk's imperial tongue is stern and
Us'd 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 uncover'd to the vulgar groom.
True nobility is exempt from vulgar fear:-
More can I bear, than you dare execute.

Cap. Hale him away, and let him talk no more.
Suff. Come, soldiers, show what cruelty ye can,
That this my death may never be forgot!—
Great men oft die by vile bezonians:
A Roman sworder and banditto slave
Murder'd sweet Tully; Brutus' bastard hand
Stabb'd Julius Cæsar; savage islanders,
Pompey the Great; and Suffolk dies by pirates.
[exit Suff. with Whit. and others.
Cap. And as for these whose ransom we have
It is our pleasure, one of them depart :- [set,
Therefore come you with us, and let him go.
[exeunt all but the first Gentleman.

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Enter George Bevis and John Holland. Geo. Come, and get thee a sword, though made of a lath; they have been up these two days. John. They have the more need to sleep now then.

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

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

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

John. The nobility think scorn to go in leather aprons.

Geo. Nay more, the king's council are no good workmen.

John. 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.

Geo. Thou hast hit it: for there's no better sign of a brave mind, than a hard hand.

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

Gco. He shall have the skins of our enemies, to make dog's leather of.

John. And Dick the butcher,

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

John. And Smith the weaver:

Geo. Argo, their thread of life is spun. John. Come, come, let's fall in with them. Drum. Enter Cade, Dick the butcher, Smith the weaver, and others, in great number. Cade. We, John Cade, so termed of our supposed father,

Dick. Or rather, of stealing a cade of herrings. [aside

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

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and there was he born, under a hedge; for his | father had never a house but the cage.

Cade. Valiant I am.

[aside. Smith. 'A must needs; for beggary is valiant. [aside.

Cade. I am able to endure much. Dick. No question of that; for I have seen him whipped three market days together. [aside. Cade. I fear neither sword nor fire. Smith. He need not fear the sword, for his coat is of proof. [aside. Dick. But, methinks he should stand in fear of fire, being burnt i'the hand for stealing of sheep. [aside. Cade. Be brave then; for your captain is brave, and vows reformation. There shall be, in England, seven half-penny 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. [lawyers. Dick. The first thing we do, let's kill all the 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, bringing in the Clerk of Chatham. Smith. The clerk of Chatham: he can write and read, and cast accompt.

Cade. O monstrous !

Smith. We took him setting of boys' copies. Cade. Here's a villain! [letters in't. Smith. H'as a book in his pocket, with red Cade. Nay, then, he's a conjurer. Dick. Nay, he can make obligations, and write court-band.

Cade. I am sorry for't: the man is a proper man, on mine honour; unless I find him guilty, he shall not die.-Come hither, sirrab, 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 for thyself, like an honest plain-dealing man?

Mich. 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 thes down: He shall be encountered with a man as good as himself: He is but a knight, is ’a? Mich. No.

Cade. To equal him, I will make myself a knight presently; Rise up, sir John Mortimer

Now have at him.

Enter Sir Humphrey Stafford, and William his brother, with drum and Forces.

Staff. Rebellious hinds, the filth and scum of Kent,

Mark'd for the gallows,-Lay your weapons down, Home to your cottages, forsake this groom :— The king is merciful, if you revolt. [blood,

W. Staff. But angry, wrathful, and inclin'd to If you go forward: therefore yield, or die. Cade. As for these silken-coated slaves, I pass It is to you, good people, that I speak, [not; O'er whom, in time to come, I hope to reign; For I am rightful heir unto the crown.

Staff. Villain, thy father was a plasterer; And thou thyself, a shearman, art thou not? Cade. And Adam was a gardener.

W. Staff. And what of that? [of March, Cade. Marry, this:-Edmund Mortimer, earl Married the duke of Clarence' daughter: did he Staff. Ay, sir. [not?

Cade. By her he had two children at one birth. W. Staff. That's false.

[true:

Cade. Ay, there's the question; but, I say, 'tis 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.

[king.

Dich. Nay, 'tis too true; therefore he shall be Smith. Sir, he made a chimney in my father's house, aud the bricks are alive at this day to testify it; therefore, deny it not.

[words,

Staff. And will you credit this base drudge's That speaks he knows not what? [gone.

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Cade. He lies, for I invented it myself. [aside.] -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,— 1 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 maimed, and fain to go with a staff, but that my Clerk. Sir, I thank God, I have been so well puissance holds it up. Fellow kings, I tell you, 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 some with the Clerk. Enter Michael.

Mich. Where's our general?
Cade. Here I am, thou particular fellow.

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. Staff O gross and miserable ignorance! Cade. Nay, answer if you can: the Frenchmea 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

W. Staff. Well, seeing gentle words will not Assail them with an army of the king. [prevail, Staff. 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 hang'd up for example at their doors:
And you, that be the king's friends, follow me.

[exeunt the two Staffords and Forces.
Cade. And you, that love the commons, follow
Now show yourselves men, 'tis for liberty. [me.-
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

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Cade. But then are we in order, when we are most out of order. Come, march forward. [er.

SCENE III. ANOTHER PART OF BLACKHEATH.

Alarums; the two Parties enter and fight, and both the Staffords are slain.

Cade. Where's Dick, the butcher of Ashford?
Dick. Here, sir.

Cade. They fell before thee like sheep and oxen, and thou behavedst 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 license to kill for a hundred lacking one.

Dick. I desire no more.

Cade. And, to speak truth, thou deservedst no less. This monument of thy 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.

Say. Ay, but I hope, your highness shall have K. Hen. How now, madam? Still [his. Lamenting, and mourning for Suffolk's death? I fear, my love, if that I had been dead, Thou wouldest not have mourn'd so much for me. Q. Mar. No, my love, I should not mourn, but die for thee.

Enter a Messenger.

K. Hen. How now! what news? why com'st in such haste? [lord! Mess. The rebels are in Southwark; fly, my 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. [what they do.

K. Hen. O graceless men! they know not Buck. My gracious lord, retire to Kenel worth, Until a power be rais'd to put them down. [alive, Q. Mar. Ah! were the duke of Suffolk now These Kentish rebels would be soon appeas'd. K. Hen. Lord Say, the traitors hate thee, Therefore away with us to Kenelworth. 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 private as I may. Enter another Messenger.

2 Mess. Jack Cade hath gotten London-bridge; the citizens

Fly and forsake their houses:

Dick. If we mean to thrive and do good, break The rascal people, thirsting after prey, open the gaols, and let out the prisoners. Cade. Fear not that, I warrant thee. let's march towards London.

Come, [exeunt.

SCENE IV. LONDON. A ROOM IN THE PALACE.

Enter King Henry, reading a supplication; the Duke of Buckingham, and Lord Say with him; at a distance, Queen Margaret, mourning over Suffolk's head. [the mind,

Q. Mar. Oft have I heard-that grief softens 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? Buck. What answer makes your grace to the rebels' supplication?

K. Hen. 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.

[face

Q. Mar. Ah, barbarous villains! hath this lovely Rul'd, like a wandering planet, over me; And could it not enforce them to relent,

That were unworthy to behold the same?

Join with the traitor; and they jointly swear, To spoil the city and your royal court.

Buck. Then linger not, my lord; away, takə horse.

K. Hen. Come, Margaret; God, our hope, will [ceas'd.

succour us.

Q. Mar. My hope is gone, now Suffolk is deK. Hen. Farewell, my lord; [to Lord Say.} trust not the Kentish rebels.

Buck. Trust nobody, for fear you be betray'd. Say. The trust I have is in mine innocence, And therefore am I bold and resolute. [exeunt.

SCENE V. THE SAME. THE TOWER.

Enter Lord Scales, and others, on the walls; then enter certain Citizens, below. Scales. How now? is Jack Cade slain ?

1 Cit. 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 or your honour from the Tower, to defend the city from the rebels.. [mand;

Scales. Such aid as I can spare, you shall comBut I am troubled here with them myself: The rebels have assay'd to win the Tower; But get you to Smithfield, and gather bead, And thither I will send you Matthew Gough:

K. Hen. Lord Say, Jack Cade hath sworn to Fight for your king, your country, and your lives,

have thy head.

And so farewell for I must hence again. [zzcunL

SCENE VI. THE SAME. CANNON STREET.

Enter Jack Cade and his Followers. He 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 pissingconduit, 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. Sold. Jack Cade! Jack Cade!

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hast caused printing to be used; and, contrary to the king, his crown, and dignity, thou cast 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 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 on a foot-cloth, dost thou not?

Say. What of that?

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

Cade. Knock him down there. [they kill him. Smith. If this fellow be wise, he'll never call you Jack Cade more; I think, he hath a very fair warning. [gether in Smithfield. Dick. My lord, there's an army gather'd to-go 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. [e.reunt.

SCENE VII. THE SAME. SMITHFIELD.

Alarum. Enter, on one side, Cade and his Company; on the other, Citizens and King's Forces, headed by Matthew Gough. They fight; the Citizens are routed, and Matthew Gough is slain.

Cade. So, sirs :-Now, go some and pull down the Savoy; others to the 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.

John. Mass, 'twill be sore law then; for he was thrust in the mouth with a spear, and 'tis not whole yet. [aside. Smith. Nay, John, it will be stinking law; for his breath stinks with eating toasted cheese. [aside. 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. John. Then we are like to have biting statutes, unless his teeth be pulled out. [aside. Cade. And henceforward all things shall be in common.

Enter a Messenger.

Mess. 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 unto my majesty, for giving up of Normandy unto monsieur Basemicu, the dauphin 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 grammarschool and whereas, before, our forefathers had no other books but the score and the tally, thou

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, malagens. Cade. Away with him, away with him! he speaks Latin.

Say. Hear me but speak, and bear me where
Kent, in the commentaries Cæsar writ, [you will.
Is term'd the civil'st place of all this isle :
Sweet is the country, because full of riches;
The people liberal, valiant, active, wealthy;
Which makes ine 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 mov'd me, gifts could never.
When have I aught exacted at your hands,
Kent to maintain, the king, the realm, and you?
Large gifts have I bestow'd on learned clerks,
Because my book preferr'd me to the king:
And-seeing ignorance is the curse of God,
Knowledge the wing wherewith we fly to
heaven,-

Unless you be possess'd with devilish spirits,
You cannot but forbear to murder me.
This tongue hath parley'd unto foreign kings
For your behoof,-

Cade. Tut! when struck'st thou one blow in

the field? [I struck Say. Great men have reaching hands: oft have Those that I never saw, and struck them dead. Geo. O monstrous coward! what, to come behind folks? [your good.

Say. These cheeks are pale for watching for
Cade. Give him a box o'the ear, and that will
make 'em red again.
[causes

Say. Long sitting to determine poor men's
Hath made me full of sickness and diseases.
Cade. Ye shall have a hempen caudle then,
and the pap of a hatchet.

Dick. Why dost thou quiver, man?

Say. The palsy, and not fear, provoketh 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 I have offended most? Have I affected wealth, or honour; speak?

Are my chests fill'd up with extorted gold?
Is my apparel sumptuous to behold?

Whom have I injur'd, that ye seek my death?
These hands are free from guiltless blood-shed-
ding,

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

This breast from harbouring foul deceitful thoughts. believe him? will you needs be hanged with your O, let me live!

Cade. 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, 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, 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

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 de-
light 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.
Cliff. 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.
Wer'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 vanguish you?
Methinks, already, in this civil broil,
I see them lording it in London streets,
Crying-Villageois 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;

Re-enter Rebels, with the heads of Lord Say and Spare England, for it is your native coast:

his Son-in-law.

Cade. But is not this braver?-Let them kiss one another, for they loved v 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.

SCENE VIII. SOUTHWARK. Alarum. Enter Cade, and all his Rubblement. Cade. Up Fish-street! down St. Magnus' corner! kill and knock down! throw them into Thames!-[a parley sounded, then a retreat.] What noise is this I hear? Dare any be so bold to sound a retreat or parley, when I command them kill?

Enter Buckingham and Old Clifford, with Forces.
Buck. Ay, here they be, that dare and will
disturb thee:

Know, Cade, we come ambassadors from the king
Unto the commons, whom thou hast misled;
And here pronounce free pardon to them all,
That will forsake thee, and go home in peace.

Cliff. What say ye, countrymen? will ye re-
And yield to mercy, whilst 'tis offer'd you; [lent,
Or let a rabble 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 hath money, you are strong and manly;
God on our side, doubt not of victory.

All. A Clifford a Clifford! we'll follow the king, and Clifford.

Cade. Was ever feather so lightly blown to and fro, as this multitude? the name of Henry the fifth hales them to a 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 ignominous treasons, makes me betake me to my heels. [exit.

Buck. What, is he fled? go some, and follow

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