Even so suspicious is this tragedy. Q. Mar. Are you a butcher, Suffolk? where's Is Beaufort term'd a kite? where are his talons? [Exeunt Cardinal, Som. and others. War. What dares not Warwick, if false Suffolk dare him? Q. Mar. He dares not calm his contumelious Nor cease to be an arrogant controller, Is slander to your royal dignity. Suff. Blunt-witted lord, ignoble in demeanour! War. But that the guilt of murder bucklers thee, Suff. Thou shalt be waking, while I shed thy If from this presence thou dar'st go with me. K. Hen. What stronger breast-plate than a *Thrice is he arm'd, that hath his quarrel just; They say, in him they fear your highness' death; And mere instinct of love, and loyalty,'Free from a stubborn opposite intent, As being thought to contradict your liking,-Makes them thus forward in his banishment. *They say, in care of your most royal person, That, if your highness should intend to sleep, * It were but necessary, you were wak'd; * The mortal worm' night make the sleep eternal: Suff. 'Tis like the commons, rude unpolish'd Could send such message to their sovereign: 3 K. Hen. Go, Salisbury, and tell them all from me, 'I thank them for their tender loving care: 'And had I not been 'cited so by them, 'Yet did I purpose as they do entreat; For sure, my thoughts do hourly prophesy 'Mischance unto my state by Suffolk's means. And therefore,-by His majesty I swear, Whose far unworthy deputy I am,'He shall not breathe infection in this air4 But three days longer, on the pain of death. [Exit Salisbury. 'Q. Mar. O Henry, let me plead for gentle Suffolk! 'K. Hen. Ungentle queen, to call him gentle 'No more, I say; if thou dost plead for him, If, after three days' space, thou here be'st found *On any ground that I am ruler of, 'K. Hen. Why, how now, lords? your wrath-The world shall not be ransom for thy life.- ful weapons drawn 'Here in our presence? dare you be so bold?- Set all upon me, mighty sovereign. Noise of a crowd within. Re-enter Salisbury. * Sal. Sirs, stand apart; the king shall know your mind. [Speaking to those within. Dread lord, the commons send you word by me, Unless false Suffolk straight be done to death, Or banish'd fair England's territories, They will by violence tear him from your palace, And torture him with grievious ling'ring death. They say, by him the good duke Humphrey died; Come, Warwick, come, good Warwick, go with me; 'I have great matters to impart to thee. [Exeunt K. Henry, Warwick, Lords, &c. 'Q. Mar. Mischance, and sorrow, go along with you! 'Heart's discontent, and sour affliction, 'Hast thou not spirit to curse thine enemies? (4) i. e. He shall not contaminate this air with This infected breath. T Would curses kill, as doth the mandrake's groan, 'I would invent as bitter-searching terms, As curst, as harsh, and horrible to hear, Deliver'd strongly through my fixed teeth, 'With full as many signs of deadly hate, As lean-faced envy in her loathsome cave: My tongue should stumble in mine earnest words: Mine eyes should sparkle like the beaten flint; My hair be fix'd on end, as one distract; Ay, every joint should seem to curse and ban: And even now my burden'd heart would break, Should I not curse them. Poison be their drink! Gall, worse than gall, the daintiest that they taste! Their sweetest shade, a grove of cypress trees! Their chiefest prospect, murdering basilisks! Their softest touch, as smart as lizards' stings! Their music, frightful as the serpent's hiss; And boding screech-owls make the concert full! All the foul terrors in dark-seated hell Were by his side; sometime, he calls the king, And whispers to his pillow, as to him, *The secrets of his overcharged soul: 'And I am sent to tell his majesty, 'That even now he cries aloud for him. 'Q. Mar. Go, tell this heavy message to the king. [Exit Vaux. Ah me! what is this world? what news are these? But wherefore grieve I at an hour's poor loss, Omitting Suffolk's exile, my soul's treasure?" Why only, Suffolk, mourn I not for thee, And with the southern clouds contend in tears; Theirs for the earth's increase, mine for my sorrows? Now, get thee hence: The king, thou know'st, is coming: 'If thou be found by me, thou art but dead. Suff. If I depart from thee, I cannot live: Q. Mar. Enough, sweet Suffolk; thou torment'st thyself; *And these dead curses-like the sun 'gainst Or like an overcharged gun,-recoil, * And turn the force of them upon thyself. Now, by the ground that I am banish'd from, * Q. Mar. O, let me entreat thee, cease! Give me thy hand, That I may dew it with my mournful tears; *Nor let the rain of heaven wet this place, To wash away my woful monuments. 'O, could this kiss be printed in thy hand; [Kisses his hand. *That thou might'st think upon these by the seal, "Through whom a thousand sighs are breath'd for thee! So, get thee gone, that I may know my grief; "Tis but surmis'd whilst thou art standing by, *As one that surfeits thinking on a want. "I will repeal thee, or, be well assur'd, 'Adventure to be banished myself: *And banished I am, if but from thee. Go, speak not to me; even now begone.O, go not yet!-Even thus two friends condemn'd * Embrace, and kiss, and take ten thousand leaves, *Loather a hundred times to part than die. *Yet now farewell; and farewell life with thee! Suff. Thus is poor Suffolk ten times banished, Once by the king, and three times thrice by thee. "Tis not the land I care for, wert thou hence; A wilderness is populous enough, So Suffolk had thy heavenly company: *For where thou art, there is the world itself, With every several pleasure in the world; *And where thou art not, desolation. * I can no more:-Live thou to joy thy life; *Myself no joy in nought, but that thou liv'st. Enter Vaux. 'Q. Mar. Whither goes Vaux so fast? news, I pr'ythee? Dying with mother's dug between its lips: 'Q. Mar. Away! though parting be a fretful corrosive, 'It is applied to a deathful wound. To France, sweet Suffolk: Let me hear from thee; Q. Mar. And take my heart with thee. SCENE III.-London. bed-chamber. This way for me. [Exeunt, severally. Cardinal Beaufort's Enter King Henry, Salisbury, Warwick, and others. The Cardinal in bed; attendants with him. * K. Hen. How fares my lord? speak, Beaufort, to thy sovereign. 'Car. If thou be'st death, I'll give thee England's treasure, Enough to purchase such another island, 'So thou wilt let me live, and feel no pain, *K. Hen. Ah, what a sign it is of evil life, When death's approach is seen so terrible! *War. Beaufort, it is thy sovereign speaks to thee. *Car. Bring me unto my trial when you will. 'Died he not in his bed? where should he die? Can I make men live, whe'r they will or no?what* O! torture me no more, I will confess. Vaux. To signify unto his majesty, That cardinal Beaufort is at point of death: For suddenly a grievous sickness took him, That makes him gasp, and stare, and catch the air, Blaspheming God, and cursing men on earth. Sometime, he talks as if duke Humprey's ghost (2) For whereas. (1) Curse. 'Bring the strong poison that I bought of him. That lays strong siege unto this wretch's soul, *Sal. Disturb him not, let him pass peaceably. 'Lord cardinal, if thou think'st on heaven's bliss, ACT IV. [Exeunt. not; Ne'er yet did base dishonour blur our name, The duke of Suffolk, William de la Poole. SCENE I-Kent. The sea-shore near Dover. The honourable blood of Lancaster, Firing heard at sea. Then enter from a boat,Must not be shed by such a jaded groom. a Captain, a Master, a Master's Mate, Walter Hast thou not kiss'd thy hand, and held my stirrup ? Whitmore, and others; with them Suffolk, and Bare-headed plodded by my foot-cloth mule, other gentlemen, prisoners. And thought thee happy when I shook my head? How often hast thou waited at my cup, * Cap. 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 discolour'd shore.'Master, this prisoner freely give I thee ;"And thou that art his mate, make boot of this;"The other, [Pointing to Suff.] Walter Whitmore, is thy share. 1 Gent. What is my ransom, master? let me know. "Mast. A thousand crowns, or else lay down your head. "Mate. And so much shall you give, or off goes yours. Fed from my trencher, kneel'd down at the board, When I have feasted with queen Margaret? * Remember it, and let it make thee crest-fall'n; Ay, and allay this thy abortive pride :3 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. *Whit. Speak, captain, shall I stab the forlorn swain? * Cap. First let my words stab him, as he hath me. *Suff. Base slave! thy words are blunt, and so art thou. Cap. Convey him hence, and on our long-boat's side 'Strike off his head. Suff Thou dar'st not for thy own. Cap. Yes, Poole. Suff Poole ? Poole? sir Poole ? lord? * Cap. What, think you much to pay two thou-Ay, kennel, puddle, sink; whose filth and dirt sand crowns, And bear the name and port of gentlemen?Cut both the villains' throats;-for die you shall; * The lives of those which we have lost in fight, *Cannot be counterpois'd with such a petty sum. 'Troubles the silver spring where England drinks. 1 Gent. I'll give it, sir; and therefore spare' And thou, that smil'dst at good duke Humphrey's my life. 2 Gent. And so will I, and write home for it'Against the senseless winds shalt grin in vain, straight. Whit. I lost mine eye in laying the prize aboard, And therefore, to revenge it, shalt thou die ; [To Suffolk. "And so should these, if I might have my will. * Cap. Be not so rash; take ransom, let him live. Suff. Look on my George, I am a gentleman; Rate me at what thou wilt, thou shalt be paid. 'Whit. And so am I; my name is-Walter Whitmore. "How now? why start'st thou? what, doth death affright? *Who, in contempt, shall hiss at thee again: Having neither subject, wealth, nor diadem. Hath slain their governors, surpris'd our forts, * And sent the ragged soldiers wounded home. *The princely Warwick, and the Nevils all, (4) To betroth in marriage. *Whose dreadful swords were never drawn in vain, ['of a lath; they have been up these two days. 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-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 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 bee-hives. 'It is impossible, that I should die By such a lowly vassal as thyself. 'I "Thy words move rage, and not remorse, in me: go of message from the queen to France; "I charge thee, waft me safely cross the channel. Cap. Walter, 'Whit. Come, Suffolk, I must waft thee to thy death. *Suff. Gelidus timor occupat artus:-'tis thee I fear. 'Whit. Thou shalt have cause to fear, before I leave thee. What, are ye daunted now? now will ye stoop? '1 Gent. My gracious lord, entreat him, speak him fair. Suff. Suffolk's imperial tongue is stern and rough, '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 fear : 'More can I bear, than you dare execute. Capt. Hale him away, and let him talk no more. Suff. Come, soldiers, show what cruelty you 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. [Exeunt Suff. with Whit. and others. Capt. And as for these whose ransoms 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. Re-enter Whitmore, with Suffolk's body. 'Whit. There let his head and lifeless body lie, 'Until the queen his mistress bury it. [Exit. 1 Gent. 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. SCENE II.-Blackheath. Enter George Bevis and John Holland. 'Geo. Come, and get thee a sword, though made (1) A pinnace then signified a ship of small burden. 'John. They have the more need to sleep now then. 'Geo. 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, say, it was never merry world in England, since gentlemen came up. * Geo. O miserable age! Virtue is not regarded * in handverafis-men. 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 ; *Geo. 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 sup'posed father, Dick. Or rather, of stealing a cade of herrings. [Aside. 'Cade. for our enemies shall fall before us, in'spired with the spirit of putting down kings and 'princes,-Command silence. Dick. Silence! [Aside. Cade. My wife descended of the Lacies,Dick. She was, indeed, a pedlar's daughter, and sold many laces. [Aside. 'Smith. But, now of late, not able to travel with 'her furred pack, she washes bucks here at home. [Aside. 'Cade. Therefore am I of an honourable house. and there was he born, under a hedge; for his father Dick. Ay, by my faith, the field is honourable; [Aside. had never a house, but the cage. *Cade. Valiant I am. * Smith. 'A must needs; for beggary is valiant. [Aside. [Aside. Cade. I am able to endure much. Dick. No question of that, for I have seen him whipped three market days together. 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, (2) Low men. (3) A barrel of herrings. 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 palfry go to grass. And, when I am king, (as king 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, 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. *W. Staff. But angry, wrathful, and inclin❜d to If you go forward: therefore yield, or die. Staff. Villain, thy father was a plasterer; Cade. Marry, this :-Edmund Mortimer, earl of Married the duke of Clarence' daughter; Did he not? Cade. By her, he had two children at one birth. "Cade. Ay, there's the question; but, I say, 'tis true: The elder of them, being put to nurse, Dick. Nay, 'tis too true; therefore he shall be Smith. Sir, he made a chimney in my father's house, and the bricks are alive at this day to testify therefore, deny it not. Smith. H'as a book in his pocket, with red let-it; ters in't. Cade. Nay, then he is a conjurer. Dick. Nay, he can make obligations, and write court-hand. Staff. And will you credit this base drudge's words, That speaks he knows not what? *All. Ay, marry, will we; therefore get ye gone. W. Staff. Jack Cade, the duke of York hath taught you this. 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, sirrah, I must examine-Go thee: What is thy name? to, sirrah, Tell the king from me, that-for his *Cade. He lies, for I invented it myself. [Aside.] father's sake, Henry the Fifth, in whose time boys Dick. They use to write it on the top of letters; content he shall reign; but I'll be protector over him. went to span-counter for French crowns,-I am -Twill go hard with you. Clerk. Emmanuel. "Cade. Let me alone:-Dost thou use to write Dick. And, furthermore, we'll have the lord thy name? or hast thou a mark to thyself, like an 'Say's head, for selling the dukedom of Maine. 'honest plain-dealing man? Cade. And good reason; for thereby is England Clerk. Sir, I thank God, I have been so wellmaimed, and fain to go with a staff, but that my 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. [Exeunt some with the Clerk. 'puissance holds it up. Fellow kings, I tell you, that my 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 Frenchmen are enemies: go to then, I ask but this; Can 'he, that speaks with the tongue of an enemy, be 'a good counsellor, or no? ་ *Mark'd for the gallows,-lay your weapons down,* *All. No, no; and therefore we'll have his head. *Assail them with the army of the king. 'Proclaim them traitors that are up with Cade; 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;2 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. |