Part 15

_Dick._ [_Aside_] But methinks he should stand in fear of fire, being burnt i’ the hand for stealing of sheep.

_Cade._ Be brave, then; for your captain is brave, and   ·bdb060· 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 palfry go to grass: and when I am king, as king I   ·bdb065· will be,--   [bdb066]

_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   [bdb069] apparel them all in one livery, that they may agree like   ·bdb070· 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,   [bdb075] 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  [bdb077] was never mine own man since. How now! who’s there?   [bdb078]

_Enter some, bringing forward the_ Clerk of Chatham.

_Smith._ The clerk of Chatham: he can write and read   [bdb079] and cast accompt.   ·bdb080·

_Cade._ O monstrous!

_Smith._ We took him setting of boys’ copies.

_Cade._ Here’s a villain!

_Smith._ Has a book in his pocket with red letters in’t.   [bdb084]

_Cade._ Nay, then, he is a conjuror.   [bdb085]

_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   ·bdb090· 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 ·bdb095· name? or hast thou a mark to thyself, like an honest plain-dealing [bdb096] 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   [bdb100] and a traitor.

_Cade._ Away with him, I say! hang him with his pen and ink-horn about his neck. [_Exit one with the Clerk._   [bdb103]

_Enter_ MICHAEL.

_Mich._ Where’s our general?   [bdb104]

_Cade._ Here I am, thou particular fellow.   ·bdb105·

_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 thee down. He shall be encountered with a man as good as himself: he is but a knight, is a’?   ·bdb110·

_Mich._ No.

_Cade._ To equal him, I will make myself a knight presently.   [bdb112] [_Kneels_] Rise up Sir John Mortimer. [_Rises_] Now   [bdb113] have at him!   [bdb114]

_Enter_ SIR HUMPHREY STAFFORD _and his Brother, with drum and soldiers_.

_Staf._ Rebellious hinds, the filth and scum of Kent,   [bdb115] Mark’d for the gallows, lay your weapons down; Home to your cottages, forsake this groom: The king is merciful, if you revolt.   [bdb118]

_Bro._ But angry, wrathful, and inclined to blood,   [bdb119] If you go forward; therefore yield, or die.   ·bdb120·

_Cade._ As for these silken-coated slaves, I pass not:   [bdb121] 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.

_Staf._ Villain, thy father was a plasterer;   ·bdb125· And thou thyself a shearman, art thou not?

_Cade._ And Adam was a gardener.

_Bro._ And what of that?

_Cade._ Marry, this: Edmund Mortimer, Earl of March,   [bdb129] Married the Duke of Clarence’ daughter, did he not?   [bdb130]

_Staf._ Ay, sir.

_Cade._ By her he had two children at one birth.

_Bro._ That’s false.

_Cade._ Ay, there’s the question; but I say, ’tis true: The elder of them, being put to nurse,   ·bdb135· 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.   ·bdb140·

_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.

_Staf._ And will you credit this base drudge’s words, That speaks he knows not what?   ·bdb145·

_All._ Ay, marry, will we; therefore get ye gone.   [bdb146]

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

_Cade._ [_Aside_] He lies, for I invented it myself.   [bdb148]

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 ·bdb150· 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   ·bdb155· mained, and fain to go with a staff, but that my puissance   [bdb156] holds it up. Fellow kings, I tell you that that Lord Say   [bdb157] hath gelded the commonwealth, and made it an eunuch: and more than that, he can speak French; and therefore he is a traitor.   ·bdb160·

_Staf._ 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,   [bdb164] or no?   ·bdb165·

_All._ No, no; and therefore we’ll have his head.

_Bro._ Well, seeing gentle words will not prevail, Assail them with the army of the king.

_Staf._ Herald, away; and throughout every town Proclaim them traitors that are up with Cade;   ·bdb170· 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.   [bdb174] [_Exeunt the two Staffords, and soldiers._

_Cade._ And you that love the commons, follow me.   ·bdb175· Now show yourselves men; ’tis for liberty. We will not leave one lord, one gentleman:   [bdb177] Spare none but such as go in clouted shoon;   [bdb178] For they are thrifty honest men and such As would, but that they dare not, take our parts.   ·bdb180·

_Dick._ They are all in order and march toward us.   [bdb181]

_Cade._ But then are we in order when we are most out of order. Come, march forward. [_Exeunt._   [bdb183]

## SCENE III. _Another part of Blackheath_.

_Alarums to the fight, wherein both the_ STAFFORDS _are slain. Enter_ CADE _and the rest_.

_Cade._ Where’s Dick, the butcher of Ashford?   [bdc001]

_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   [bdc005] shall be as long again as it is; and thou shalt have a license [bdc006] to kill for a hundred lacking one.   [bdc007]

_Dick._ I desire no more.

_Cade._ And, to speak truth, thou deservest no less. This monument of the victory will I bear [_putting on Sir Humphrey’s [bdc010] brigandine_]; and the bodies shall be dragged at my horse heels till I do come to London, where we will have   [bdc012] the mayor’s sword borne before us.

_Dick._ If we mean to thrive and do good, break open   [bdc014] the gaols and let out the prisoners.   [bdc015]

_Cade._ Fear not that, I warrant thee. Come, let’s march towards London. [_Exeunt._

## SCENE IV. _London. The palace_.

_Enter the_ KING _with a supplication, and the_ QUEEN _with Suffolk’s head, the_ DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM _and the_ LORD SAY.

_Queen._ Oft have I heard that grief softens the mind   [bdd001] 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:   ·bdd005· But where’s the body that I should embrace?

_Buck._ 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   ·bdd010· Should perish by the sword! And I myself, Rather than bloody war shall cut them short,   [bdd012] Will parley with Jack Cade their general: But stay, I’ll read it over once again.

_Queen._ Ah, barbarous villains! hath this lovely face   ·bdd015· 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.   ·bdd020·

_King._ How now, madam! Still lamenting and mourning for Suffolk’s death?   [bdd022] I fear me, love, if that I had been dead,   [bdd023] Thou wouldest not have mourn’d so much for me.   [bdd024]

_Queen._ No, my love, I should not mourn, but die for thee.   [bdd025]

_Enter a_ Messenger.

_King._ How now! what news? why comest thou in such haste?

_Mess._ The rebels are in Southwark; fly, my lord! Jack Cade proclaims himself Lord Mortimer, Descended from the Duke of Clarence’ house,   [bdd029] And calls your grace usurper openly   ·bdd030· 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:   ·bdd035· All scholars, lawyers, courtiers, gentlemen, They call false caterpillars and intend their death.

_King._ O graceless men! they know not what they do.

_Buck._ My gracious lord, retire to Killingworth,   [bdd039] Until a power be raised to put them down.   ·bdd040·

_Queen._ Ah, were the Duke of Suffolk now alive, These Kentish rebels would be soon appeased!   [bdd042]

_King._ Lord Say, the traitors hate thee;   [bdd043] Therefore away with us to Killingworth.

_Say._ So might your grace’s person be in danger.   ·bdd045· 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.   [bdd048]

_Enter another_ Messenger.

_Mess._ Jack Cade hath gotten London bridge:   [bdd049] The citizens fly and forsake their houses:   [bdd050] The rascal people, thirsting after prey, Join with the traitor, and they jointly swear To spoil the city and your royal court.

_Buck._ Then linger not, my lord; away, take horse.

_King._ Come, Margaret; God, our hope, will succour us.   ·bdd055·

_Queen._ My hope is gone, now Suffolk is deceased.

_King._ Farewell, my lord: trust not the Kentish rebels.   [bdd057]

_Buck._ Trust nobody, for fear you be betray’d.   [bdd058]

_Say._ The trust I have is in mine innocence, And therefore am I bold and resolute. [_Exeunt._   ·bdd060·

## SCENE V. _London. The Tower_.

_Enter_ LORD SCALES _upon the Tower, walking. Then enter two or three_ Citizens _below_.

_Scales._ How now! is Jack Cade slain?   [bde001]

_First Cit._ No, my lord, nor likely to be slain; for they   [bde002] 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.   ·bde005·

_Scales._ Such aid as I can spare you shall command; But I am troubled here with them myself; The rebels have assay’d to win the Tower. But get you to Smithfield and gather head,   [bde009] And thither I will send you Matthew Goffe;   [bde010] Fight for your king, your country and your lives; And so, farewell, for I must hence again. [_Exeunt._   [bde012]

## SCENE VI. _London. Cannon Street_.

_Enter_ JACK CADE _and the rest, and strikes his staff on London-stone_.

_Cade._ Now is Mortimer lord of this city. And here,   [bdf001] 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   [bdf004] it shall be treason for any that calls me other than Lord   ·bdf005· Mortimer.

_Enter a_ Soldier, _running_.

_Sold._ Jack Cade! Jack Cade!

_Cade._ Knock him down there. [_They kill him._

_Smith._ If this fellow be wise, he’ll never call ye Jack   [bdf009] Cade more: I think he hath a very fair warning.   ·bdf010·

_Dick._ My lord, there’s an army gathered together in Smithfield.

_Cade._ Come, then, let’s go fight with them: but first,   [bdf013] go and set London bridge on fire; and, if you can, burn down the Tower too. Come, let’s away. [_Exeunt._   [bdf015]

## SCENE VII. _London. Smithfield_.

_Alarums._ MATTHEW GOFFE _is slain, and all the rest. Then enter_ JACK CADE, _with his company_.

_Cade._ So, sirs: now go some and pull down the Savoy;   [bdg001] others to the inns of court; down with them all.   [bdg002]

_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   ·bdg005· of your mouth.

_Holl._ [_Aside_] Mass, ’twill be sore law, then; for he was   [bdg007] thrust in the mouth with a spear, and ’tis not whole yet.

_Smith._ [_Aside_] Nay, John, it will be stinking law; for his breath stinks with eating toasted cheese.   [bdg010]

_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.

_Holl._ [_Aside_] Then we are like to have biting statutes,   [bdg014] unless his teeth be pulled out.   ·bdg015·

_Cade._ And henceforward all things shall be in common.

_Enter a_ Messenger.

_Mess._ My lord, a prize, a prize! here’s the Lord Say, [bdg017] which sold the towns in France; he that made us pay one and [bdg018] twenty fifteens, and one shilling to the pound, the last subsidy. [bdg019]

_Enter_ GEORGE BEVIS, _with the_ LORD SAY.

_Cade._ Well, he shall be beheaded for it ten times. Ah,   ·bdg020· thou say, thou serge, nay, thou buckram lord! now art thou within point-blank of our jurisdiction regal. What canst   [bdg022] thou answer to my majesty for giving up of Normandy unto   [bdg023] Mounsieur Basimecu, the dauphin of France? Be it known [bdg024] unto thee by these presence, even the presence of Lord Mortimer, [bdg025] 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, ·bdg030· 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 peace, to call poor   [bdg035] men before them about matters they were not able to answer. Moreover, thou hast put them in prison; and because they   [bdg037] 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?   [bdg040]

_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,   ·bdg045· that am a butcher.

_Say._ You men of Kent,--

_Dick._ What say you of Kent?   [bdg048]

_Say._ Nothing but this; ’tis ‘bona terra, mala gens.’   [bdg049]

_Cade._ Away with him, away with him! he speaks Latin.   ·bdg050·

_Say._ Hear me but speak, and bear me where you will.   [bdg051] Kent, in the Commentaries Cæsar writ, Is term’d the civil’st place of all this isle: Sweet is the country, because full of riches;   [bdg054] The people liberal, valiant, active, wealthy;   [bdg055] Which makes me hope you are not void of pity.   [bdg056] I sold not Maine, I lost not Normandy, Yet, to recover them, would lose my life.   [bdg058] Justice with favour have I always done; Prayers and tears have moved me, gifts could never.   ·bdg060· When have I aught exacted at your hands,   [bdg061] But 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,   [bdg064] And seeing ignorance is the curse of God,   ·bdg065· Knowledge the wing wherewith we fly to heaven, Unless you be possess’d with devilish spirits, You cannot but forbear to murder me:   [bdg068] This tongue hath parley’d unto foreign kings For your behoof,--   [bdg070]

_Cade._ Tut, when struck’st thou one blow in the field?   [bdg071]

_Say._ Great men have reaching hands: oft have I struck Those that I never saw and struck them dead.   [bdg073]

_Geo._ O monstrous coward! what, to come behind folks?

_Say._ These cheeks are pale for watching for your good.   [bdg075]

_Cade._ Give him a box o’ the 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   [bdg080] help of hatchet.

_Dick._ Why dost thou quiver, man?

_Say._ The palsy, and not fear, provokes me.   [bdg083]

_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   ·bdg085· 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 fill’d up with extorted gold? Is my apparel sumptuous to behold?   ·bdg090· Whom have I injured, that ye seek my death? These hands are free from guiltless blood-shedding, This breast from harbouring foul deceitful thoughts. O, let me live!

_Cade._ [_Aside_] I feel remorse in myself with his words;   [bdg095] but I’ll bridle it: he shall die, an it be but for pleading so [bdg096] 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,   [bdg098] I say, and strike off his head presently; and then break into his son-in-law’s house, Sir James Cromer, and strike   [bdg100] 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?   ·bdg105· And therefore yet relent, and save my life.

_Cade._ Away with him! and do as I command ye.   [bdg107] [_Exeunt some with Lord Say._

The proudest peer in the realm shall not wear a head on [bdg108] his shoulders, unless he pay me tribute; there shall not a maid be married, but she shall pay to me her maidenhead [bdg110] 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?   ·bdg115·

_Cade._ Marry, presently.

_All._ O, brave!   [bdg117]

_Re-enter one with the heads._

_Cade._ But is not this braver? Let them kiss one another,   [bdg118] for they loved well when they were alive. Now part   [bdg119] them again, lest they consult about the giving up of some   ·bdg120· 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._   [bdg124]

## SCENE VIII. _Southwark_.

_Alarum and retreat. Enter_ CADE _and all his rabblement_.

_Cade._ Up Fish Street! down Saint Magnus’ Corner! [bdh001] kill and knock down! throw them into Thames! [_Sound [bdh002] a parley._] What noise is this I hear? Dare any be so bold [bdh003] to sound retreat or parley, when I command them kill?   [bdh004]

_Enter_ BUCKINGHAM _and old_ CLIFFORD, _attended_.

_Buck._ Ay, here they be that dare and will disturb thee:   [bdh005] 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.

_Clif._ What say ye, countrymen? will ye relent,   [bdh010] And yield to mercy whilst ’tis offer’d you; Or let a rebel lead you to your deaths?   [bdh012] 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,   ·bdh015· 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   [bdh020] 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   [bdh023] thought ye would never have given out these arms till you   [bdh024] had recovered your ancient freedom: but you are all recreants ·bdh025· and dastards, and delight to live in slavery to the nobility. Let them break your backs with burthens, 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!   ·bdh030·

_All._ We’ll follow Cade, we’ll follow Cade!   [bdh031]

_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?   ·bdh035· 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,   ·bdh040· 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.   [bdh044] Better ten thousand base-born Cades miscarry   ·bdh045· 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;   [bdh049] God on our side, doubt not of victory.   ·bdh050·

_All._ A Clifford! a Clifford! we’ll follow the king and Clifford.

_Cade._ Was ever feather so lightly blown to and fro as   [bdh053] this multitude? The name of Henry the Fifth hales them to an hundred mischiefs and makes them leave me desolate.   ·bdh055· 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 middest of   [bdh058] you! and heavens and honour be witness that no want of resolution in me, but only my followers’ base and ignominious ·bdh060· treasons, makes me betake me to my heels. [_Exit._   [bdh061]

_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   ·bdh065· To reconcile you all unto the king. [_Exeunt._   [bdh066]

## SCENE IX. _Kenilworth Castle_.

_Sound trumpets. Enter_ KING, QUEEN, _and_ SOMERSET, _on the terrace_.