Cade. I fear neither sword nor fire. Smith. He need not fear the sword, his coat is of proof.* [Aside. Dick. But, methinks, he should stand in fear of fire, being burnt i' the hand for stealing of sheep. [Aside. Cade. Be brave then; for your captain is brave, and vows reformation. There shall be, in England, seven halfpenny loaves sold for a penny: the three-hoop'd 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. 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, 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? Enter some, bringing in the CLERK of Chatham. Smith. The clerk of Chatham: he can write and read, and cast 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 letters in't. Cade. Nay, then he is a conjurer. Dick. Nay, he can make obligations, and write court-hand. Cade. I am sorry for't: the man is a proper man, on mine honour; unless I find him guilty, he shall not die. Come hither, sirrah, I must examine thee: What is thy 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 name? or hast thou a mark to thyself, like a 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 confess'd: away with him; he's a villain, and a traitor. Cade. Away with him, I say: hang him with his pen and inkhorn about his neck. [Exeunt some with the CLERK, Enter MICHAEL, Mich. Where's our general? • Proved by long wear. † Bonds. I. e. letters missive.' 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 encounter'd 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 Brother, with drum and forces. Staf. Rebellious hinds, the filth and scum of Kent, W. Staf. But angry, wrathful, and inclined to blood. Cade. As for these silken-coated slaves, I pass not;* Staf. Villain, thy father was a plasterer; W. Staf. And what of that? Cade. Marry, this:-Edmund Mortimer, earl of March, Married the duke of Clarence's daughter; did he not? Staf. Ay, Sir. Cade. By her he had two children at one birth. W. Staf. That's false. Cade. Ay, there's the question; but, I say, 'tis true: The elder of them, being put to nurse, Was by a beggar-woman stolen away; Dick. Nay, 'tis too true; therefore, he shall be king. That speaks he knows not what? All. Ay, marry, will we; therefore get ye gone. W. Staf. 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. * I pay them no regard. Cade. And good reason; for thereby is England maim'd, 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 a eunuch; and more than that, he can speak French, and therefore he is a traitor. 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, or no? All. No, no: and therefore, we'll have his head. W. Staf. Well, seeing gentle words will not prevail, Assail them with the army of the king. Staf. Herald, away: and, throughout every town, 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. Dick. They are all in order, and march towards us. order. Come, march forward. SCENE III.-Another part of Blackheath. [Exeunt. 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 slaughterhouse: therefore thus will I reward thee, -The Lent shall be as long again as it is; and thou shalt have a licence 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 dragg'd 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 gaois, 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. * Shoes. 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, Think therefore on revenge, and cease to weep. Buck. What answer makes your grace to the rebel's supplication? K. Hen. I'll send some holy bishop to entreat: Q. Mar. Ah, barbarous villains! Hath this lovely face Ruled like a wandering planet over me:* 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? Q. Mar. No, my love, I should not mourn, but die for thee. Enter a MESSENGER. K. Hen. How now! What news? Why comest thou in such haste? Mes. The rebels are in Southwark; Fly, my lord! Jack Cade proclaims himself lord Mortimer, Of hinds and peasants, rude and merciless: K. Hen. O graceless men!-They know not what they do. Until a power be raised to put them down. • Predominated irresistibly over my passions; as the planets over those born under their influence. Q. Mar. Ah! were the duke of Suffolk now alive, Therefore away with us to Killingworth. Say. So might your grace's person be in danger: The sight of me is odious in their eyes: And live alone as secret as I may. Enter another MESSENGER. 2 Mes. Jack Cade hath gotten London-bridge; the citizens Fly and forsake their houses: 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! K. Hen. Come, Margaret; God, our hope, will succour us. Q. Mar. My hope is gone, now Suffolk is deceased. 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. SCENE V. - The same. The Tower. [Exeunt. 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; SCENE VI. The same. Cannon Street. [Exeunt. 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. |