To entertain great England's lawful king. Ah, sanita majestas! who would not buy thee dear? This hand was made to handle nought but gold: On which I'll toss the fleur-de-luce of France. Enter BUCKINGHAM. 10 Whom have we here? Buckingham, to disturb me? The king hath sent him, sure: I must dissemble. Buck. York, if thou meanest well, I greet thee well. York. Humphrey of Buckingham, I accept thy greeting. Art thou a messenger, or come of pleasure? Buck. A messenger from Henry, our dread liege, To know the reason of these arms in peace; Or why, thou-being a subject as I am- York. Scarce can I speak, my choler is so great. And now, like Ajax Telamonius, On sheep and oxen could I spend my fury! 20 But But I must make fair weather yet a while, That I have given no answer all this while; 30 Buck. That is too much presumption on thy part: But if thy arms be to no other end, 40 The king hath yielded unto thy demand, ers. Soldiers, I thank you all; disperse yourselves; I'll send them all as willing as I live; Lands, goods, horse, armour, any thing I have Buck. York, I commend this kind submission : 50 [Exeunt. Enter Enter King HENRY, and Attendants. K. Henry. Buckingham, doth York intend no harm to us, That thus he marcheth with thee arm in arm ? York. In all submission and humility, York doth present himself unto your highness. K. Henry. Then what intend these forces thou dost bring? York. To heave the traitor Somerset from hence; And fight against that monstrous rebel, Cade, Whom since I hear to be discomfited. Enter IDEN, with CADE's Head. Iden. If one so rude, and of so mean condition, May pass into the presence of a king, Lo, I present your grace a traitor's head, The head of Cade, whom I in combat slew. 60 K. Henry. The head of Cade?-Great God, how just art thou!— O, let me view his visage being dead, 70 That living wrought me such exceeding trouble. K. Henry. How art thou call'd? and what is thy degree? Iden. Alexander Iden, that's my name; A poor esquire of Kent, that loves the king. K. Henry. K. Henry. Iden, kneel down; [he kneels.] Rise up a knight. We give thee for reward a thousand marks; Iden. May Iden live to merit such a bounty, 80 K. Henry. See, Buckingham! Somerset comes with the queen; Go, bid her hide him quickly from the duke. Enter Queen MARGARET, and SOMERSET. Q. Mar. For thousand Yorks he shall not hide his head, But boldly stand, and front him to his face. York. How now! is Somerset at liberty? Then, York, unloose thy long-imprison'd thoughts, And let thy tongue be equal with thy heart. Shall I endure the sight of Somerset ?— 90 False king! why hast thou broken faith with me, King did I call thee? no, thou art not king; Which dar'st not, no, nor canst not rule a traitor. Thy hand is made to grasp a palmer's staff, Is able with the change to kill and cure. Here is a hand to hold a sceptre up, 100 And And with the same to act controlling laws. Som. O monstrous traitor !-I arrest thee, York, Of capital treason 'gainst the king and crown: Obey, audacious traitor; kneel for grace. 111 York. Sirrah, call in my sons to be my bail... [Exit an Attendant. Wouldst have me kneel? first let me ask of these, If they can brook I bow a knee to man.I know, ere they will let me go to ward, They'll pawn their swords for my enfranchisement, Q. Mar. Call hither Clifford; bid him come amain, To say, if that the bastard boys of York Shall be the surety for their traitor father. York. Oblood-bespotted Neapolitan, Enter EDWARD and RICHARD. 120 See, where they come; I'll warrant, they'll make it good. Enter CLIFFORD. Q. Mar. And here comes Clifford, to deny their bail. Clif. |