'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 ?8 Cade. Marry, presently. All. O brave! Re-enter Rebels, with the heads of Lord SAY and his Son-in-law. Cade. But is not this braver? Let them kiss one another, for they loved well, when they were alive. Now part them again, lest they consult about the giving up of some 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. Alarum. Enter CADE, and all his Rabblement. Cade. Up Fish-street! down Saint Magnus' corner! * kill and knock down! throw them into Thames ! [A Parley sounded, then a Retreat. * What noise is this I hear? Dare any be so bold to 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 thee: 3 take up commodities upon our bills?] Perhaps this is an equivoque alluding to the brown bills, or halberds, with which the commons were anciently armed. 'Know, Cade, we come ambassadors from the king '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, 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 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 6 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 daugh'ters before faces: For me, I will make shift God's curse light upon you all! your ' for one; and so 6 '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? 'Will he conduct you through the heart of France, 'And make the meanest of you earls and dukes? 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, 'Should make a start o'er seas, and vanquish you? 'Methinks, already, in this civil broil, 6 I see them lording it in London streets. Crying - Villageois! unto all they meet. Better, ten thousand base-born Cades miscarry, • 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; • God on our side, doubt not of victory. 6 All. A Clifford a Clifford! we'll follow the king, and Clifford. me, 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 sur' prize me: my sword make for way for here is no staying. In despight of the devils and hell, have through the very midst of you! and heavens and 'honour be witness, that no want of resolution in me, ' but only my followers' base and ignominious treasons, • makes me betake me to my heels. [Exit. 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 • To reconcile you all unto the king. [Exeunt. 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, * And could command no more content than I? * No sooner was I crept out of my cradle, * But I was made a king, at nine months old: • Was never subject long'd to be a king, As I do long and wish to be a subject. Enter BUCKINGHAM and CLIFFORD. * Buck. Health, and glad tidings, to your majesty! * K. Hen. Why, Buckingham, is the traitor Cade surpriz❜d? * Or is he but retir'd to make him strong? Enter, below, a great number of CADE's Followers, with Halters about their Necks. Clif. He's fled, my lord, and all his powers do yield; And humbly thus, with halters on their necks, Expect your highness' doom, of life, or death. • K. Hen. Then, heaven, set ope thy everlasting gates, To entertain my vows of thanks and praise! Soldiers, this day have you redeem'd your lives, And show'd how well you love your prince and country; • Continue still in this so good a mind, ' And Henry, though he be infortunate, Enter a Messenger. * Mess. Please it your grace to be advértised, * The duke of York is newly come from Ireland: * And with a puissant and a mighty power, * Of gallowglasses, and stout kernes, 9 * Is marching hitherward in proud array; 9 Of gallowglasses, and stout kernes,] These were two orders of foot-soldiers among the Irish. 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; 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;And, Somerset, we will commit thee thither, * Until his army be dismiss'd from him. 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 * Cade. Fye on ambition! fye 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 +" calm" - MALONE. 1 Kent. Iden's Garden.] This Iden was the new sheriff of Kent, who had followed Cade from Rochester. |