'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; Spare England, for it is your native coast: Henry hath money, you are strong and manly; 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 an hundred mischiefs, and makes them leave me desolate. I see them lay their heads together, to surprize me: my sword make way for me, for here is 6 no staying. — In despight 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. 6 [Exit. • Buck. 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 [Exeunt. SCENE IX. Kenelworth Castle. Enter King HENRY, Queen MARGARET, and SOMERSET, on the Terrace of the Castle. *K. Hen. Was ever king, that joy'd 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 long'd to be a king, As I do long and wish to be a subject. Enter BUCKINGHAM and CLIFFORD. * Buck. Health, and glad tidings, to your majesty! * K. Hen. Why, Buckingham, is the traitor Cade surpriz❜d? Or is he but retir'd to make him strong? Enter, below, a great number of CADE's Followers, with Halters about their Necks. 6 6 Clif. He's 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. K. Hen. Then, heaven, set ope thy everlasting gates, • To entertain my vows of thanks and praise !— Soldiers, this day have you redeem'd your lives, And show'd 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. * Mess. Please it your grace to be advértised, The duke of York is newly come from Ireland: * And with a puissant and a mighty power, Of gallowglasses, and stout kernes,9 * Is marching hitherward in proud array; 9 Of gallowglasses, and stout kernes,] These were two orders of foot-soldiers among the Irish. * And still proclaimeth, as he comes along, * His arms are only to remove from thee The duke of Somerset, whom he terms a traitor. * Like to a ship, that, having 'scap'd a tempest, I pray thee, Buckingham, go forth and meet him : * And ask him, what's the reason of these arms. * Tell him, I'll send duke Edmond to the Tower;— *And Somerset, we will commit thee thither, * Until his army be dismiss'd from him. * Som. My lord, * I'll yield myself to prison willingly, * Or unto death, to do my country good. * K. Hen. In any case, be not too rough in terms; For he is fierce, and cannot brook hard language. * Buck. I will, my lord; and doubt not so to deal, * As all things shall redound unto your good. K. Hen. Come, wife, let's in, and learn to govern better; * For yet may England curse my wretched reign. [Exeunt. SCENE X. Kent. Iden's Garden.1 Enter CADE. *Cade. Fye on ambition! fye 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 t-" calm"- MALONE. 1 Kent. Iden's Garden.] This Iden was the new sheriff of Kent, who had followed Cade from Rochester. out, for all the country is lay'd for me; but now I am * 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-pan2 had been cleft with a brown bill; and many * a time, when I have been dry, and bravely marching, it hath served me instead of a quart pot to drink in; And now the word sallet must serve me to feed on. . Enter IDEN, with Servants. Iden. Lord, who would live turmoiled in the court, And may enjoy such quiet walks as these? This small inheritance, my father left me, • Contenteth me, and is worth a monarchy. I seek not to wax great by others' waning; 'Or gather wealth, I care not with what envy; Sufficeth, that I have maintains my state, And sends the poor well pleased from my gate. • Cade. Here's the lord of the soil come to seize me for a stray, for entering his fee-simple without leave. Ah, villain, thou wilt betray me, and get a thousand crowns of the king for carrying my head to him; but I'll make thee eat iron like an ostrich, and swallow my sword like a great pin, ere thou and I part. 'Iden. Why, rude companion, whatsoe'er thou be, I know thee not; Why then should I betray thee? Ist 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 but for a sallet, my brain-pan, &c.] A quibble from salut, Fr.; as an helmet keeps the head safe. Look on me well: was broached, and beard thee too. 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 That Alexander Iden, an esquire of Kent, Oppose thy stedfast 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; And if mine arm be heaved in the air, Thy grave is digg'd already in the earth. As for more words†, whose greatness answers words, Let this my sword report what speech forbears. 6 * 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 mayest be turned to hobnails. [They fight. CADE 'falls.] O, I am slain! famine, and no other, hath slain 6 6 me: let ten thousand devils come against me, and give ' me but the ten meals I have lost, and I'd defy them 'all. Wither, garden; and be henceforth a burying place to all that do dwell in this house, because the ' unconquered soul of Cade is fled. Iden. Is't Cade that I have slain, that monstrous traitor? Sword, I will hallow thee for this thy deed, • And hang thee o'er my tomb, when I am dead: "As for words," - MALONE. |