me. My Sword make way for me, for here is no staying; in defpight of the Devils and Hell, have through the very midst of you; and Heavens and Honour be witness, that no want of Refolution in me, but only my Followers bafe and ignominious Treasons make me betake me to my Heels. Buck. What, is he fled? Go fome and follow him. [Exit. [Exeunt fome of them. Follow me, Soldiers; we'll devise a mean [Exeunt omnes. Sound Trumpets. Enter King Henry, Queen Margaret, and Somerset on the Terras. K. Henry. Was ever King that joy'd an Earthly Throne, And could command no more Content than I? No fooner was I crept out of my Cradle, Enter Buckingham and Clifford. Buck. Health and glad Tidings to your Majefty: K.Henry. Why Buckingham, is the Traitor Cade furpriz'd? Or is he but retir'd to make him strong? Enter Multitudes with Halters about their Necks. Clif. He is 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. Henry. Then, Heaven, fet ope thy everlafting Gates, To entertain my Vows of Thanks and Praife. Soldiers, this day have you redeem'd your Lives, All. God fave the King, God fave the King. Enter Meffenger. Mef Please it your Grace to be advertised, [diftreft, K. Henry. Thus tands my State, 'twixt Cade and York I'll yield my felt to Prifon willingly, K. Henry. In any cafe be not too rough in Terms, K. Henry, Come, Wife, let's in, and learn to govern better, For yet may England curse my wretched Reign. [Exeunt. Enter Jack Cade. Cade. Fy on Ambition; fy on my felf, that have a Sword, and yet am ready to famih. These five Days have I hid me in thefe Woods, and durft not peep out, for all the Country is laid for me: But now am I fo hungry, that if I might have a leafe of my Life for a thousand Years, I could ftay no longer. Wherefore on a Brick Wall have I climb'd into this Garden, to see if I can eat Grass, or pick a Sallet another while, which is not amifs to cool a Man's Stomach this hot Weather; and I think this word Sallet was born to do me good, for many a time but for a Sallet, my Brain-pain had been cleft with a brown Bill; and and many a time when I have been dry, and bravely marching, it hath ferv'd me inftead of a Quart-pot to drink in; and now the word Sallet muft ferve me to feed on, Enter Iden. Iden. Lord, who would live turmoiled in the Court, And may enjoy fuch quiet Walks as these? This fmall Inheritance my Father left me, Contenteth me, and's worth a Monarchy. I feek not to wax great by others waining, Or gather Wealth I care not with what Envy; Sufficeth, that I have, maintains my State, And fends the Poor well pleafed from my Gate. Cade. Here's the Lord of the Soil come to feize me for a Stray, for entring his Fee-fimple without leave. Ah Villain, thou wilt betray me, and get 1000 Crowns of the King, by carrying my Head to him, but I'll make thee eat Iron like an Oftridge, and fwallow my Sword like a great Pin, ere thou and I part. Iden. Why, rude Companion, whatfoe'er thou be, And like a Thief, to come to rob my Grounds, Cade. Brave thee? Ay, by the beft Blood that ever was broach'd, and beard thee too. Look on me well, I have cat no Meat these five Days, yet come thou and thy five Men, and if I do not leave you as dead as a door Nail, I pray God I may never eat Grass more. Iden. Nay, it fhall ne'er be faid, while England stands, That Alexander Iden, an Efquire of Kent, Took odds to combat a poor famish'd Man. Thy Leg a Stick compared with this Truncheon, Thy Grave is digg'd already in the Earth: As As for more Words, whofe greatness answers Words, Cade. By my Valour; the moft compleat Champion that ever I heard. Steel, if thou turn thine edge, or cut not out the burly bon'd Clown in Chines of Beef, e'er thou fleep in thy Sheath, I befeech Jove on my Knees thou may'st be turned into Hobnails. Here they Fight. I am flain! Famine and no other hath flain me, let ten thoufand Devils come against me, and give me but the ten Meals I have loft, and I'd defie them all, Wither Garden, and be henceforth a burying place to all that do dwell in this House, becaufe the unconquer'd Soul of Cade is fled. Iden. Is't Cade that I have flain, that monftrous Traitor? Sword, I will hallow thee for this thy Deed, And hang thee o'er my Tomb when I am dead. Ne'er fhall this Blood be wiped from thy Point, But thou fhalt wear it as a Herald's Coat, To emblaze the Honour which thy Mafter got. Cade. Iden farewel, and be proud of thy Victory: Tell Kent from me, fhe hath loft her beft Man, and exhort all the World to be Cowards; for I that never fear'd any, am vanquished by Famine, not by Valour. [Dies. Iden. How much thou wrong'ft me, Heav'n be my Judge; Die, damned Wretch, the curfe of her that bare thee: And as I thruft thy Body in with my Sword, So with I, I might thruft thy Soul to Hell. Hence will I drag thee headlong by the Heels Unto a Dunghill, which fhall be thy Grave, And there cut off thy moft ungracious Head, Which I will bear in Triumph to the King, Leaving thy Trunk for Crows to feed upon. [Exit. Enter York, and his Army of Irish, with Drum and Colours. York. From Ireland thus comes York to claim his Right, And pluck the Crown from feeble Henry's Head. Ring Bells aloud, burn Bonfires clear and bright, To entertain great England's lawful King. Ah Sancta Majeftas! who would not buy thee dear? Let Let them obey that know not how to Rule, A Scepter fhall it have, have I a Soul, On which I'll tofs the Flower-de-Luce of France. Whom have we here? Buckingham to disturb me? Buck. A Meffenger from Henry, our dread Liege, York. Scarce can I fpeak, my Choler is fo great. On Sheep or Oxen could I fpend my Fury. More like a King, more Kingly in my Thoughts. [Afide. Buck. That is too much Prefumption on thy Part; York. Upon thine Honour, is he Prisoner? York. |