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• Rather than bloody war shall cut them short,
Will parley with Jack Cade their general.—
'But stay, I'll read it over once again.

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"Q. Mar. Ah, barbarous villains! hath this lovely face

Ruled, like a wandering planet, over me; "And could it not enforce them to relent,

"That were unworthy to behold the same?

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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 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, 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

'Of hinds and peasants, rude and merciless :

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

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

Buck. My gracious lord, retire to Kenelworth,

• Until a power be raised to put them down.

"

Q. Mar. Ah! were the duke of Suffolk now alive,

"These Kentish rebels would be soon appeased.

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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;

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And therefore in this city will I stay,

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,

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Join with the traitor; and they jointly swear,

"To spoil the city and your royal court.

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

horse.

K. Hen. Come, Margaret; God, our hope, will

succour us.

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"Q. Mar. My hope is gone, now Suffolk is de

ceased.

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

"Buck. Trust nobody, for fear you be betray'd.

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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 honor 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.
The rebels have assay'd to win the Tower:
But get you to Smithfield, and gather head,
And thither I will send you Matthew Gough.
Fight for your king, your country, and your lives;
And so farewell, for I must hence again. [Exeunt.

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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.

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Enter SOLDIER, running.

Sol. Jack Cade! Jack Cade!

Cade. Knock him down there.

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[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.

[Exeunt.

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Alarum. Enter, on one side, CADE and his Company on the other, Citizens, and the King's Forces, headed by Matthew Gough. They fight; the Citizens are routed, and Matthew Gough is slain.

Cade. So, sirs. Now go some and pull down the Savoy; others to the inns of court: down with them all.

Dick. I have a suit unto your lordship.

Cade. Be it a lordship, thou shalt have it for that word.

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"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 yet. [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.

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