The Complete Works of William Shakespeare Part 204

WILLIAM STAFFORD. Well, seeing gentle words will not prevail, a.s.sail them with the army of the King.

STAFFORD. 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 soldiers 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.

d.i.c.k. They are all in order, and march toward us.

CADE. But then are we in order when we are most out of order. Come, march forward. Exeunt

SCENE III.

Another part of Blackheath

Alarums to the fight, wherein both the STAFFORDS are slain.

Enter CADE and the rest

CADE. Where's d.i.c.k, the butcher of Ashford?

d.i.c.k. 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 licence to kill for a hundred lacking one.

d.i.c.k. I desire no more.

CADE. And, to speak truth, thou deserv'st no less. [Putting on SIR HUMPHREY'S brigandine] 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.

d.i.c.k. 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. The palace

Enter the KING with a supplication, and the QUEEN with SUFFOLK'S head; the DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM, and the LORD SAY

QUEEN. 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?

BUCKINGHAM. What answer makes your Grace to the rebels'

supplication?

KING HENRY. I'll send some holy bishop to entreat; For G.o.d forbid so many simple souls Should perish by the sword! And I myself, Rather than b.l.o.o.d.y war shall cut them short, Will parley with Jack Cade their general.

But stay, I'll read it over once again.

QUEEN. Ah, barbarous villains! Hath this lovely face Rul'd like a wandering planet over me, And could it not enforce them to relent That were unworthy to behold the same?

KING HENRY. Lord Say, Jack Cade hath sworn to have thy head.

SAY. Ay, but I hope your Highness shall have his.

KING HENRY. How now, madam!

Still lamenting and mourning for Suffolk's death?

I fear me, love, if that I had been dead, Thou wouldst not have mourn'd so much for me.

QUEEN. No, my love, I should not mourn, but die for thee.

Enter A MESSENGER

KING HENRY. How now! What news? Why com'st thou in such haste?

MESSENGER. 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 mult.i.tude Of hinds and peasants, rude and merciless; 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.

KING HENRY. O graceless men! they know not what they do.

BUCKINGHAM. My gracious lord, retire to Killingworth Until a power be rais'd to put them down.

QUEEN. Ah, were the Duke of Suffolk now alive, These Kentish rebels would be soon appeas'd!

KING HENRY. Lord Say, the traitors hate thee; 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 therefore in this city will I stay And live alone as secret as I may.

Enter another MESSENGER

SECOND MESSENGER. 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.

BUCKINGHAM. Then linger not, my lord; away, take horse.

KING HENRY. Come Margaret; G.o.d, our hope, will succour us.

QUEEN. My hope is gone, now Suffolk is deceas'd.

KING HENRY. [To LORD SAY] Farewell, my lord, trust not the Kentish rebels.

BUCKINGHAM. Trust n.o.body, 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.

London. The Tower

Enter LORD SCALES Upon the Tower, walking. Then enter two or three CITIZENS, below

SCALES. How now! Is Jack Cade slain?

FIRST CITIZEN. 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, But I am troubled here with them myself; The rebels have a.s.say'd to win the Tower.

But get you to Smithfield, and gather head, And thither I will send you Matthew Goffe; Fight for your King, your country, and your lives; And so, farewell, for I must hence again. Exeunt

SCENE VI.

London. Cannon street

Enter JACK CADE and the rest, and 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 p.i.s.sing 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