John. They have the more need to sleep now then. || mon, and in Cheapside shall my palfry go to grass. 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, I say, it was never merry world in England, since gentlemen came up. Geo. O miserable age! Virtue is not regarded in handycrafts-men. John. The nobility think scorn to go in leather aprons. Geo. Nay more, the king's council are no good work men. 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 ini quity's throat cut like a calf. Jokn. And Smith the weaver: Gea. 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. Dick. Silence! Cade. My father was a Mortimer, Dick. He was an honest man, and a good bricklayer. [Aside. Cade. My mother a Plantagenet, Dick. I knew her well, she was a midwife, [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. Dick. Ay, by my faith, the field is honourable; and there was he born, under a hedge; for his father had never a house, but the cage. Cade. Valiant I am. [Aside. And, when I am king, (as king I will be) 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 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? 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 to thyself, like an honest plain-dealing 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, and a traitor. Cade. Away with him, I say: hang him with his pon and inkhorn about his neck. [Exeunt some with the Clerk. Enter Michael. Mich. Where's our general? Cade. Here I am, thou particular fellow. 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 ? 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 Broth er, with Drum and Forces. Staff. Rebellious hinds, the filth and seum 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. W. Staff. But angry, wrathful, and inclin'd to blood, If you go forward: therefore yield, or die. Cade. As for these silken-coated slaves, I pass not; It is to you, good people, that I speak, 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? W. Staff. And what of that? March, 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 king. 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. 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. 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,-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 maimed, and fain to go with a staff, but that my puissance holds it up. Fellow kings, I tell you, 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 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, or no? All. No, no; and, therefore we'll have his head. W. Staff. Well, seeing gentle words will not prevail, Assail them with the army of the king. 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 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; 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. Cade. But then are we in order, when we are most out of order. Come, march forward. [Exeunt. SCENE 111-Another Part of Blackheath. Alarums. The two Parties enter and fight, and both the Staf fords are slain. Cade. Where's Dick, the butcher of Ashford? 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 deservest no less. This monument of the 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. Dick. If we mean to thrive and do good, break open the gaols, and let out the prisoners. Cade. Fear not that, I warrant thee. Come, let's march towards London. [Exeunt. SCENE IV.-London. A Room in the Palace. En ter King Henry, reading a Supplication; the Duke of Buckingham, and Lord Say, with him: at a dis tance, Queen Margaret, mourning over Suffolk's head. Q. Mar. Oft have I heard that grief softens the mind, And makes it fearful and degenerate; K. Hen. I'll send some holy bishop to entreat: Q. Mar. Ah, barbarous villains! hath this lovely face K. Hen. Lord Say, Jack Cade hath sworn to have thy head. Say. Ay, but I hope, your highness shall have his K. Hen. How now, madam? Still 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 thou in such haste? Mess. The rebels are in Southwark; Fly, my lord! Of hinds and peasants, rude and merciless: they do. And therefore in this city will I stay, thrust in the mouth with a spear, and 'tis not whole yet. Enter another Messenger. And live alone as secret as I may. [Aside. Smith. Nay, John, it will be stinking law; for his [Aside. 2 Mess. Jack Cade hath gotten London-bridge; the breath stinks with eating toasted cheese. 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 of your honour from the Tower, to defend the city from the rebels. Scales. Such aid as I can spare, you shall command; But I am troubled here with them myself; 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 pissing-conduit 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! [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. Dick. My lord, there's an army gathered together in Smithfield. 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. 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 com mon. Enter a Messenger. Mes. 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 to my majesty, for giving up of Normandy unto monsieur Basimecu, 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 grammar-school; and whereas, before, our fore-fathers had no other books but the score and the tally, thou hast caused printing to be. used; 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 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 honester men than thou go in their hose and doublets. 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, mala gens. Cade. Away with him, away with him! he speaks Latin. Say. Hear me but speak, and bear me where you will. Kent to maintain, the king, the realm, and you? This tongue hath parley'd unto foreign kings kill and knock down! throw them into Thames!For your behoof,[A Parley sounded, then a Retreat. Cade. Tut! when struck'st thou one blow in the What noise is this I hear? Dare any be so bold to field? Say. Great men have reaching hands: oft have I struck Those that I never saw, and struck them dead.. Geo. O monstrous coward! what, to come behind folks? Say. These cheeks are pale for watching for your good. 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 pap of a hatchet. Dick. Why dost thou quiver, man? Say. The palsy, and not fear, provoketh me. Say. Tell me, wherein I have offended most? Catde. 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 'God's name. Go, take him away, I say, and strike oft 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. sound 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 Know, Cade, we come ambassadors from the king Clif. What say ye, countrymen? will ye relent, 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 be fore 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! Clif. Is Cade the son of Henry the fifth, Say. Ah, countrymen! if when you make your Alas, he hath no home, no place to fly to; prayers, God should be so obdurate as yourselves, Cade. Away with him, and do as I command ye. The proudest peer in the realm shall not wear a head Nor knows he how to live, but by the spoil, 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 hot our be witness, that no want of resolution in me, but only my followers' base and ignominions treasons, makes me betake me to my heels. [Exit. Buck. What, is he fled? go some, and follow him; 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, But I was made a king, at nine months old: Enter Buckingham and Clifford. Or is he but retir'd to make him strong? Enter below, a great number of Cade's Followers, with halters about their necks. for all the country is lay'd for me; but now am I so hungry, that if I might have a lease of my life for à 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 eleft 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; And sends the poor well pleased from my gate. Clif. He's fled, my lord, and all his powers do yield; Sufficeth, that I have maintains my state, country: Continue still in this so good a mind, Mes. Please it your grace to be advertised, Is marching hitherward in proud array; The duke of Somerset, whom he terms a traitor. 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 erowns 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? Is't 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 was broached, and beard thee too. Look on me well 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 stands, That Alexander Iden, an esquire of Kent, K. Hen. Thus stands my state, 'twixt Cade and Oppose thy stedfast-gazing eyes to mine, See if thou canst outface me with thy looks. Thy leg a stick, compared with this trumcheon; As for more words, whose greatness answers words, 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 Aed. Iden. Is't Cade that I have slain, that monstrous traitor? Sword, I will hallow thee for this thy deed, |