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.

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.

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 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 pen and inkhorn about his neck.

[Exeunt some with the Clerk.

*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.

"

(2) Shoes.

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

true :

$

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-Go thee: What is thy name?

The elder of them, being put to nurse,
Was by a beggar-woman stol'n away;

And, ignorant of his birth and parentage,
Became a bricklayer, when he came to age:
His son am I; deny it, if you can.

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.] to, sirrah, Tell the king from me, that--for his father's sake, Henry the Fifth, in whose time boys content he shall reign; but I'll be protector over him. went to span-counter for French crowns,-I am '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 puissance holds it up. Fellow kings, I tell you, 'maimed, and fain to go with a staff, but that my and made it an eunuch: and more than that, he that my lord Say hath gelded the commonwealth, can speak French, and therefore he is a traitor. Staff 0 gross and miserable ignorance! 'Cade. Nay, answer, if you can: The Frenchmen 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.

•

C

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.

*Staff Rebellious hinds, the filth and scum of* Now show yourselves men, 'tis for liberty.
Kent,
*We will not leave one lord, one gentleman:

* Mark'd for the gallows,-lay your weapons down,* Spare none, but such as go in clouted shoon;2
Home to your cottages, forsake this groom;-
The king is merciful, if you revolt.

*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-

(1) I pay them no regard,

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
Hath given them heart and courage to proceed
All scholars, lawyers, courtiers, gentlemen,

[Exeunt 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.

*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 ' rebels' 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

*Rul'd, like a wandering planet,1 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.

*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,* Fly and forsake their houses: 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.

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

They call-false caterpillars, and intend their

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 Mes. Jack Cade hath gotten London-bridge; the citizens

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 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 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!

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

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

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

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.

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:

[Aside.

Cade. I have thought upon it, it shall be so.* And, seeing ignorance is the curse of God, Away, burn all the records of the realm; my* Knowledge the wing wherewith we fly to '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.

Enter George Bevis, with the Lord Say.

*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; The people liberal, valiant, active, wealthy; Which makes me hope you are not void of pity. 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

'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 pre-Hath 'sence 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 papermill. 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-shed'Moreover, thou hast put them in prison; and be

ding,6

cause they could not read, thou hast hanged them;3* 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!

thoughts.

་ cloth,4 dost thou not?

*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

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 one 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 for5 watching for
your good.
*Cade. Give him a box on the and that will
ear,
make 'em red again.

*Say. Long sitting to determine poor men's

(1) A fifteen was the fifteenth part of all the moveables, or personal property, of each subject. Say was a kind of serge. (3) i. e. They were hanged because they could not claim the benefit of clergy.

Say. What of that?

Cade. Marry, thou oughtest not to let thy horse*

causes

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, and behead him.

(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.

All. It shall be done.

*Say. Ah, countrymen! if, when you make your prayers,

ye.

*God should be so obdurate as yourselves,
* How would it fare with your departed souls?
*And therefore yet relent, and save my life.
*Cade. Away with him, and do as I command
[Exeunt some, with Lord Say.
The proudest peer in the realm shall not wear a
head on his shoulders, unless he pay me tribute;
there shall not a maid be married, but she shall
pay to me her maidenhead ere they have it: Men
shall hold of me in capite; and we charge and
'command, that their wives be as free as heart can
wish, or tongue can tell.

6

Methinks, already, in this civil broil,

6

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.

All. A Clifford a Clifford! we'll follow the

'Dick. My lord, when shall we go to Cheapside, and take up commodities upon our bills?

Cade. Marry, presently.

'All. O brave!

SCENE VIII.-Southwark. Alarım. 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 dis-
turb thee:

'Know, Cade, we come ambassadors from the king
Unto the commons whom thou hast misled;
And here pronounce free pardon to them all,
That will forsake thee, and
home in peace.
go
Cliff What say ye, countrymen? will ye relent,
And yield to mercy, whilst 'tis offer'd you;
'Or let a rabble lead you to your deaths?

•

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,

weapon

at us,

Henry the Fifth, that made all France to quake, Shake he his 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 there'fore 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

(1) A dæmon who was supposed to attend at call.

Re-enter Rebels, with the heads of Lord Say and king, and Clifford.

his son-in-law.

6

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 6 corner, have them kiss.--Away! [Exeunt.base and ignominious treasons, makes me betake

•

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?

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.

Wer'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?

Cade. Was ever feather so lightly blown to and fro, as this multitude? the name of Henry the Fifth hales them to a 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 honour be witness, that no want of resolution in me, but only my followers'

6

6

'me to my heels.

6

[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.

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,
'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;

* Like to a ship, that, having scap'd a tempest,
*Is straightway calm'd and boarded with a pirate:That
*But now2 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,

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,

"

(1) Two orders of foot-soldiers among the Irish. (2) Only just now. (3) A kind of helmet.

VOL. 4.

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,

་

And sends the poor well-pleased from my gate.
'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.

Alexander Iden, an esquire of Kent,
Took odds to combat a poor famish'd man.
Oppose thy steadfast-gazing eyes to mine,

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?

See if thou canst outface me with thy looks.

Set limb to limb, and thou art far the lesser;

Thy hand is but a finger to my fist;

"

Thy leg a stick, compar'd with this truncheon;

'My foot shall fight with all the strength thou

*I'll yield myself to prison willingly,
* Or unto death, to do my country good.

Thy grave is digg'd already in the earth.

*K. Hen. In any case, be not too rough in terms; *For he is fierce, and cannot brook hard language.

As for more words, whose greatness answers words, Let this my sword report what speech forbears. *Buck. I will, my lord; and doubt not so to deal, *Cade. By my valour, the most complete cham* As all things shall redound unto your good. *pion that ever I heard. Steel, if thou turn the **K. Hen. Come, wife, let's in, and learn to edge, or cut not out the burly-boned clown in govern better; 'chines of beef ere thou sleep in thy sheath, I be*For yet may England curse my wretched reign.seech God on my knees, thou mayest be turned to [Exeunt. hob-nails. [They fight. Cade falls.] 0, I am 'slain! famine, and no other, hath slain me : let SCENE X.-Kent. Iden's garden. Enter Cade. 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?

*

*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 lay'd 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 no * longer. Wherefore, on a brick-wall have I climbed * into this garden; to see if I can eat grass, or pick

Sword, I will hallow thee for this thy deed,
And hang thee o'er my tomb, when I am dead :

a sallet another while, which is not amiss to cool* Ne'er shall this blood be wiped from thy point;
* a man's stomach this hot weather. And, I think,* But thou shalt wear it as a herald's coat,
*this word sallet was born to do me good: for,* To emblaze the honour that thy master got.

many a time, but for a sallet,3 my brain-pan had *been cleft 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.

Cade. Iden, farewell; and be proud of thy victory; Tell Kent from me, she hath lost her best man, and exhort all the world to be cowards; for I, that never feared any, am vanquished by famine, not by valour. [Dies.

* Iden. How much thou wrong'st me,4 heaven be my judge. *Die, damned wretch, the curse of her that bare thee!

hast;

And if mine arm be heaved in the air,

Enter Iden, with Servants.

• Iden. Lord, who would live turmoiled in the * And as I thrust thy body in with my sword, *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 vicItory. U