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 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.

6

*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;1
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?
Cade. And Adam was a gardener.
'W. Staff. And what of that?

Cade. Marry, this:-Edmund Mortimer, earl of
March,

Married the duke of Clarence' daughter; Did he not?
Staff. Ay, sir.

Cade. By her, he had two children at one birth.
W. Staff. That's false.

Cade. Nay, that I mean to do. Is not this at 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 neverThe elder of them, being put to nurse, mine own man since. How now? who's there?

Enter some, bringing in the Clerk of Chatham.

Cade. Ay, there's the question; but, I say, 'tls

truc:

Was by a beggar-woman stol'n away; And, ignorant of his birth and parentage, 'Became a bricklayer, when he came to age:

Smith. The clerk of Chatham: he can writeHis son am I; deny it, if you can.

and read, and east accompt.

Cade. O monstrous!

Smith. We took him setting of boys' copies.
Cade. Here's a villain!

Smith. H'as a book in his pocket, with red let

ters in't.

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?

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 basc drudge's words,

*That speaks he knows not what?

*All. Ay, marry, will we; therefore get ve 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

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

'villain and a traitor.

a

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 French-
men 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?

*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 to-
ward us,

Cade. But then are we in order, when we are Of hinds and peasants, rude and merciless; * most out of order. Come, march forward.

'Sir Humphrey Stafford and his brother's death [Exeunt.Hath given them heart and courage to proceed: 'All scholars, lawyers, courtiers, gentlemen, They call-false caterpillars, and intend their

SCENE III-Another part of Blackheath,
Alarums. The two parties enter and fight, and

both the Staffords are slain.

'Cade. Where's Dick, the butcher of Ashford? '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 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 deservedst 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. Enter King Henry, reading a supplication; the duke of Buckingham, and lord Say with him: at a distance, Queen Margaret, mourning over Suffolk's head,

* Q. Mar. Oft have I heard-that grief softens
the mind,

* 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:
*But where's the body that I should embrace?

Buck. What answer makes your grace to the 'rebel's supplication?

*K. Hen. I'll send some holy bishop to entreat: 'For God forbid, so many simple souls 'Should perish by the sword; And I myself, Rather than bloody war shall cut them short, "Will parley with Jack Cade their general.'But stay, I'll read it over once again. *Q. Mar. Ah, barbarous villains! hath this lovely face

l'd, like a wandering planet,' over me; *And could it not enforce them to relent, *That were unworthy to behold the same?

་

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!

'Jack Cade proclaims himself lord Mortimer,
'Descended from the duke of Clarence' house:
'And calls your grace usurper, openly,
And vows to crown himself in Westminster.
'His army is a ragged multitude

death.

K. Hen. O graceless men! they know not what they do.

Buck. My gracious lord, retire to Kenelworth, Until a power be rais'd to put them down. *Q. Mar. Ah! were the duke of Suffolk now alive,

These Kentish rebels would be soon appeas'd. 'K. Hen. Lord Say, the traitors hate thee, 'Therefore away with us to Kenelworth.

Say. So might your grace's person be in danger;
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.

Enter another Messenger.

* 2 Mess. Jack Cade hath gotten London-bridge; the citizens

Fly and forsake their houses:

The rascal people, thirsting after prey, To spoil the city and your royal court. *Join with the traitor; and they jointly swear,

*Buck. Then linger not, my lord; away, take horse.

*K. Hen. Come, Margaret; God, our hope, will succour us.

* Q. Mar. My hope is gone, now Suffolk is deceas'd.

*K. Hen. Farewell, my lord; [To Lord Say.] trust not the Kentish rebels.

* Buck. Trust nobody, for fear you be betray'd. Say. The trust I have is in mine innocence, 'And therefore am I bold and resolute. [Exeunt.

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 com-
mand;

The rebels have assay'd to win the Tower.
But I am troubled here with them myself,
And thither I will send you Matthew Gough:
But get you to Smithfield, and gather head,
Fight for your king, your country, and your lives;
And so farewell, for I must hence again. [Exeunt.
SCENE VI.-The same. Cannon Street. En-
ter 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.

(1) Predominated irresistibly over my passions; as the planets over those born under their influence.*

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 you Jack Cade more; I think, he hath a very fair warning.

Dick. My lord, there's an army gathered to-wear a cloak, when honester men than thou go in gether in Smithfield. their hose and doublets.

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. [Exeunt.

word.

Dick. Only, that the laws of England may come 'out of your mouth.

John. Mass, 'twill be sore law then; for he 'was thrust in the mouth with a spear, and 'tis not 'whole vet [Aside. Smith. Nay, John, it will be stinking law; for 'his breath stinks with eating toasted cheese.

[Aside. 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 common.

Enter a Messenger.

'Mess. 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.

*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, in the commentaries Cæsar writ,
Is term'd the civil'st place of all this isle:
Sweet is the country, because full of riches;
Which makes me hope you are not void of pity.
The people liberal, valiant, active, wealthy;
'I sold not Maine, I lost not Normandy;
Yet, to recover them, would lose my life.
*Justice with favour have I always done;
Prayers and tears have mov'd me, gifts could

never.

When have I aught exacted at your hands,
Kent 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
And, seeing ignorance is the curse of God,
Knowledge the wing wherewith we fly to
heaven,

Unless you be possess'd with devilish spirit,
You cannot but forbear to murder me.
This tongue hath parley'd unto foreign kings
For your behoof,-

*Cade. Tut! when struck'st thou cne blow in * the 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 be-
hind folks?

*Say. These cheeks are pale for watching for
your good.

*Cade. Give him a box on 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.

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 pole, or no: Take him away,

Enter George Bevis, with the Lord Say. 'Cade. Well, he shall be beheaded for it ten 'times.-Ah, thou say,2 thou serge, nay, thou buck'ram 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 ream, 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-'and behead him. 'mill. It will be proved to thy face, that thou hast Say. Tell me, wherein I have offended 'most? 'men about thee, that usually talk of a noun, and Have I affected wealth or honour; speak? 'a verb; and such abominable words, as no Chris-* Are my chests fill'd up with extorted gold? 'tian ear can endure to hear. Thou hast appointed Is my apparel sumptuous to behold? 'justices of peace, to call poor men before them* Whom have I injur'd, that you seek my death? about matters that they were not able to answer. These hands are free from guiltless blood-shedMoreover, thou hast put them in prison; and be'cause they could not read, thou hast hanged them ;*This breast from harbouring foul deceitful 'when, indeed, only for that cause they have been 'most worthy to live. Thou dost ride on a foot-*O, let me live! 'cloth, dost thou not? Say. What of that? Cade. Marry, thou oughtest not to let thy horse*

(1) A fifteen was the fifteenth part of all the moveables, or personal property, of each subject. (2) Say was a kind of serge.

(3) i. e. They were hanged because they could not claim the benefit of clergy.

*

6

ding,
thoughts.

*Cade. 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

(4) A foot-cloth was a kind of housing, which covered the body of the horse.

(5) In consequence of.

(6) i. e. These hands are free from shedding guiltless or innocent blood,

*has a familiar under his tongue; he speaks not *o'God's name. Go, take him away, I say, and 'strike off 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.

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,
That thus you do exclaim-you'll go with him?

* Say. Ah, countrymen! if, when you make your Will he conduct you through the heart of France,

And make the meanest of you earls and dukes? *God should be so obdurate as yourselves, Alas, he hath no home, no place to fly to; How would it fare with your departed souls? 'Nor knows he how to live, but by the spoil, And therefore yet relent, and save my life. Unless, by robbing of your friends, and us. *Cade. Away with him, and do as I command Wer't not a shame, that whilst you live at jar, [Exeunt some, with Lord Say. The fearful French, whom you late vanquished, "The proudest peer in the realm shall not wear a Should make a start o'er seas, and vanquish you? 'head on his shoulders, unless he pay me tribute;Methinks, already, in this civil broil, 'there shall not a maid be married, but she shall I see them lording it in London streets, 'pay to me her maidenhead ere they have it: Men Crying-Villageois! unto all they meet. 'shall hold of me in capite; and we charge and Better, ten thousand base-born Cades miscarry, 'command, that their wives be as free as heart can Than you should stoop unto a Frenchman's mercy. 'wish, or tongue can tell. 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.

Cade. Was ever feather so lightly blown to and 'fro, as this multitude? the name of Henry the 'Cade. But is not this braver ?-Let them kiss Fifth hales them to a hundred mischiefs, and makes one another, for they loved well, when they were them leave me desolate. I see them lay their alive. Now part them again, lest they consult heads together, to surprise me: my sword make about the giving up of some more towns in France. way for me, for here no staying.-In despite of 'Soldiers, defer the spoil of the city until night: the devils and hell, have through the very midst 'for with these borne before us, instead of maces,of you! and heavens and honour be witness, that 'will we ride through the streets; and, at every no want of resolution in me, but only my followers' 'corner, have them kiss.-Away! [Exeunt. base and ignominious treasons, makes me betake me to my heels. [Exit,

And show'd how well you love your prince and' And sends the poor well-pleased from my gate.

*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 advertised, The duke of York is newly come from Ireland: And with a puissant and a mighty power, *Of Gallowglasses, and stout kernes,' * 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. Hen. Thus stands my state, 'twixt Cade and York distress'd;

'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? '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,

* 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 forth and meet him;
And ask him what's the reason of these arms.
* Tell him I'll send duke Edmund to the Tower;-Thy hand is but a finger to my fist
And, Somerset, we will commit thee thither,
* Until his army be dismiss'd from him.

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 ;

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.

st;

Thy leg a stick, compar'd with this truncheon;
My foot shall fight with all the strength thou

hast;

And if mine arm be heaved in the air, As for more words, whose greatness answers words, Thy grave is digg'd already in the earth. Let this my sword report what speech forbears. *Cade. By my valour, the most complete cham*pion 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 be'seech God on my knees, thou may'st be turned to [Exeunt.hob-nails. [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. 'Iden. Is't Cade that I have slain, that monstrous traitor?

SCENE X.-Kent. Iden's garden. Enter Cade.

6

* 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 noSword, I will hallow thee for this thy deed, * longer. Wherefore, on a brick-wall have I climbed And hang thee o'er my tomb, when I am dead: * into this garden; to see if I can eat grass, or pick Ne'er shall this blood be wiped from thy point; *a sallet another while, which is not amiss to cool But thou shalt wear it as a herald's coat," * a man's stomach this hot weather. And, I think, To emblaze the honour that thy master got. *this word sallet was born to do me good: for, "Cade. Iden, farewell; and be proud of thy vic* many a time, but for a sallet, my brain-pan had story; Tell Kent from me, she hath lost her best * been cleft with a brown bill; and, many a time,man, and exhort all the world to be cowards; for *when I have been dry, and bravely marching, it I, that never feared any, am vanquished by fam*hath served me instead of a quart pot to drink ine, not by valour. in; and now the word sallet must serve me to * feed on.

Enter Iden, with Servants.

[Dies.

*Iden. How much thou wrong'st me, heaven be my judge.

*Die, damned wretch, the curse of her that bare thee!

'Iden. Lord, who would live turmoiled in the And as I thrust thy body in with my sword,

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,

Two orders of foot soldiers among the Irish.

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, dragging out the body.

(4) i. e. In supposing that I am proud of my vic

Only just now. (3) A kind of helmet, Itory.

VOL. II,

U