ye.

And therefore yet relent, and save my life. Cade. Away with him! and do as I command 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. 131

Dick. My lord, when shall we go to Cheapside and take up commodities upon our bills? Cade. Marry, presently.

All. O brave.

Re-enter Rebels, with the heads of Lord SAY and his Son-in-law.

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. 144

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 10 That will forsake thee and go home in peace.

Clif. What say ye, countrymen? will ye relent And yield to mercy, whilst 'tis offer'd you, 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 the Fifth, that made all France to quake, Shake he his weapon at us, and pass by.

19

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!

41

Clif. 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

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. 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 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, bat only my followers' base and ignominious treasons, makes me betake me to my heels.

Erit.

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

And he that brings his head unto the king 7
Shall have a thousand crowns for his reward.
Excunt some of them.
Follow me, soldiers: we'll devise a mean
To reconcile you all unto the king.

SCENE IX.-Kenilworth Castle.

Excunt.

Sound trumpets. Enter King HENRY, Queen
MARGARET, and SOMERSET, on the terrace.
K. Ilen. 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
Was never subject long'd to be a king
But I was made a king at nine months old:
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 surpris'd?
Or is he but retir'd to make him strong?

Enter a number of CADE's Followers, with
halters about their necks.

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,

Mess. 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. K. Ilen. Thus stands my state, 'twixt Cade and York distress'd;

31

Like to a ship that, having 'scap'd a tempest,
Is straightway calm'd, and boarded with a pirate.
But now is Cade driven back, his men dispers'd,
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 dismiss'd from him.
Som. My lord,

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

40

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. Flourish. Exeunt.

SCENE X.-Kent. IDEN'S Garden,

Enter CADE.

Cade. Fie on ambition! 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.

32

Look

Iden. Nay, it shall ne'er be said, while England stands,

That Alexander Iden, an esquire of Kent,
Took odds to combat a poor famish'd 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; 50
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 digg'd 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 mayest be turned to hobnails. They fight. CADE falls. 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'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.

70

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.

Dies. 81

Iden. How much thou wrong'st 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.

ACT V.

SCENE I.-Fields between Dartford and Blackheath. The King's camp on one side. On the other, enter YORK and his army of Irish, with drum and colours.

York. From Ireland thus comes York to claim his right,

And pluck the crown from feeble Henry's head: Ring, bells, aloud; burn, bonfires, clear and bright,

To entertain great England's lawful king.

York. To heave the traitor Somerset from hence,

dear?

Let them obey that know not how to rule;

This hand was made to handle nought but gold:
I cannot give due action to my words,
Except a sword or sceptre balance it.
A sceptre shall it have, have I a soul,

10

Who since I heard to be discomfited.

Enter IDEN, with CADE's head.

Iden. If one so rude and of so mean condition May pass into the presence of a king, Lo! I present your grace a traitor's head,

Enter BUCKINGHAM,

Whom have we here? Buckingham, to disturb me? The king hath sent him, sure: I must dissemble. Buck. York, if thou meanest well, I greet thee well.

York. Humphrey of Buckingham, I accept thy greeting.

Art thou a messenger, or come of pleasure?

20

Buck. A messenger from Henry,our dread liege,
To know the reason of these arms in peace;
Or why thou, being a subject as I am,
Against thy oath and true allegiance sworn,
Should'st raise so great a power without his leave,
Or dare to bring thy force so near the court.
York. Aside. Scarce can I speak, my choler is
so great :

O! I could hew up rocks and fight with flint,
I am so angry at these abject terms;
And now, like Ajax Telamonius,

30

On sheep or oxen could I spend my fury.
I am far better born than is the king,
More like a king, more kingly in my thoughts;
But I must make fair weather yet awhile,
Till Henry be more weak, and I more strong.
O Buckingham, I prithee, pardon me,
That I have given no answer all this while;
My mind was troubled with deep melancholy.
The cause why I have brought this army hither
Is to remove proud Somerset from the king,
Seditious to his grace and to the state.
Buck. That is too much presumption on thy
part:

4)

But if thy arms be to no other end,
The king hath yielded unto thy demand:
The Duke of Somerset is in the Tower.
York. Upon thine honour, is he prisoner?
Buck. Upon mine honour, he is prisoner.
York. Then, Buckingham, I do dismiss my
powers.

Soldiers, I thank you all; disperse yourselves:
Meet me to-morrow in Saint George's field,
You shall have pay, and every thing you wish.
And let my sovereign, virtuous Henry,
Command my eldest son, nay, all my sons,
As pledges of my fealty and love;
I'll send them all as willing as I live:
Lands, goods, horse, armour, any thing I have,
Is his to use, so Somerset may die.

50

K. Hen. The head of Cade! Great God, how just art thou!

O! let me view his visage, being dead,
That living wrought me such exceeding trouble.
Tell me, my friend, art thou the man that slew
him?

Iden. I was, an 't like your majesty.

71

K. Hen. How art thou call'd, and what is thy degree?

Iden. Alexander Iden, that's my name; A poor esquire of Kent, that loves his king. Buck. So please it you, my lord, 'twere not amiss He were created knight for his good service. K. Hen. Iden, kneel down. He knee's. Rise up a knight. We give thee for reward a thousand marks; And will that thou henceforth attend on us. Iden. May Iden live to merit such a bounty, And never live but true unto his liege.

K. Hen. See! Buckingham, Somerset comes with the queen :

Go, bid her hide him quickly from the duke.
Enter Queen MARGARET and SOMERSET.
Q. Mar. For thousand Yorks he shall not hide
his head,

But boldly stand and front him to his face.

York. How now! is Somerset at liberty? Then, York, unloose thy long-imprison'd thoughts And let thy tongue be equal with thy heart. Shall I endure the sight of Somerset ? False king! why hast thou broken faith with me, Knowing how hardly I can brook abuse? King did I call thee? no, thou art not king; Not fit to govern and rule multitudes, Which dar'st not, no, nor canst not rule a traitor. That head of thine doth not become a crown; Thy hand is made to grasp a palmer's staff, And not to grace an awful princely sceptre. That gold must round engirt these brows of mine, Whose smile and frown, like to Achilles' spear, Is able with the change to kill and cure. Here is a hand to hold a sceptre up, And with the same to act controlling laws. Give place: by heaven, thou shalt rule no more O'er him whom heaven created for thy ruler. Som. O monstrous traitor! I arrest thee, York. Of capital treason 'gainst the king and crown. Obey, audacious traitor; kneel for grace.

Rich. If not in heaven, you'll surely sup in hell. Excunt severally.

SCENE II.- Saint Alban's.

Alarums. Excursions. Enter WARWICK. War. Clifford of Cumberland, 'tis Warwick

calls:

And if thou dost not hide thee from the bear, Now, when the angry trumpet sounds alarm, And dead men's cries do fill the empty air, Clifford, I say, come forth and fight with me! Proud northern lord, Clifford of Cumberland, Warwick is hoarse with calling thee to arms. Enter YORK.

How now, my noble lord! what! all afoot? York. The deadly-handed Clifford slew my steed;

But match to match I have encounter'd him, 10
And made a prey for carrion kites and crows
Even of the bonny beast he lov'd so well.
Enter CLIFFORD.

War. Of one or both of us the time is come. York. Hold, Warwick! seek thee out some other chase,

For I myself must hunt this deer to death. War. Then, nobly, York; 'tis for a crown thou fight'st.

As I intend, Clifford, to thrive to-day,

It grieves my soul to leave thee unassail'd. Exit. Clif. What seest thou in me, York? why dost thou pause?

York. With thy brave bearing should I be in love,

But that thou art so fast mine enemy.

20

Peace with his soul, heaven, if it be thy will! 30 Exit.

Enter Young Clifford.

Y. Clif. Shame and confusion! all is on the rout:

Fear frames disorder, and disorder wounds Where it should guard. O war! thou son of hell,

To lose thy youth in peace, and to achieve The silver livery of advised age,

And, in thy reverence and thy chair-days thus
To die in ruffian battle? Even at this sight
My heart is turn'd to stone; and while 'tis mine
It shall be stony. York not our old men spares;
No more will I their babes: tears virginal
Shall be to me even as the dew to fire;
And beauty, that the tyrant oft reclaims,
Shall to my flaming wrath be oil and flax.
Henceforth I will not have to do with pity:
Meet I an infant of the house of York,
Into as many gobbets will I cut it
As wild Medea young Absyrtus did:
In cruelty will I seek out my fame.
Come, thou new ruin of old Clifford's house:
Taking up the body,

As did Eneas old Anchises bear,
So bear I thee upon my manly shoulders;
But then Æneas bare a living load,
Nothing so heavy as these woes of mine. Erit.
Enter RICHARD and SOMERSET, fighting.
SOMERSET is killed,

Rich. So, lie thou there;

For underneath an alehouse' paltry sign,
The Castle in Saint Alban's, Somerset

G

Hath made the wizard famous in his death. Sword, hold thy temper; heart, be wrathful still: Priests pray for enemies, but princes kill. Erit, Alarums. Excursions. Enter King HENRY, Queen MARGARET, and Others, retreating.

Q. Mar. Away, my lord! you are slow: for shame, away!

K. Hen. Can we outrun the heavens good Margaret, stay.

Q. Mar. What are you made of? you'll not fight nor fly;

Now is it manhood, wisdom, and defence,
To give the enemy way, and to secure us
By what we can, which can no more but fly.
Alarum afar of

If you be ta'en, we then should see the bottom
Of all our fortunes: but if we haply 'scape,
As well we may, if not through your neglect,
We shall to London get, where you are lov'd,

And where this breach now in our fortunes made May readily be stopp'd.

Re-enter Young CLIFFORD.

Y. Clif. But that my heart's on future mis-
chief set,

I would speak blasphemy ere bid you fly;
But fly you must: uncurable discomfit
Reigns in the hearts of all our present parts.
Away, for your relief! and we will live
To see their day and them our fortune give.
Away, my lord, away!
Exeunt, so

41

SCENE III.-Fields near Saint Alban's. Alarum. Retreat. Flourish; then enter YORK, RICHARD, WARWICK, and Soldiers, with drum

York. Of Salisbury, who can report of him That winter lion, who in rage forgets Aged contusions and all brush of time, And, like a gallant in the brow of youth, Repairs him with occasion? This happy day