that speaks with the tongue of an enemy, be a good counsellor, or no?

All. No, no; and therefore we'll have his head.

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Y. Staf. Well, seeing gentle words will not prevail, Assail them with the army of the king.

Staf. 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 childrens' sight, Be hang'd up for example at their doors :And you, that be the king's friends, follow me.

830

[Exeunt the two STAFFORDS, with their Train. Cade. And you, that love the commons, follow

me.

Now shew 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.
Dick. 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.

SCENE III.

[Exeunt.

Another Part of the Field. The Parties fight, and both the STAFFORDS are slain. Re-enter CADE, and the Rest.

Cade. Where's Dick, the Butcher of Ashford ?

Dick.

Dick. Here, sir.

342

Cade. They fell before thee like sheep and oxen, and thou behav'dst thyself as if thou hadst been in thine own slaughter-house: therefore thus I will 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.

Dick. I desire no more.

Cade. And, to speak truth, thou deserv'st no less. This monument of the victory will I bear; and the bodies shall be dragg'd at my horse' heels, 'till I do come to London, where we will have the mayor's sword borne before us.

354 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, let's march towards London.

[Exeunt.

SCENE IV.

Black-Heath. Enter King HENRY with a Supplication, and Queen MARGARET with SUFFOLK's Head; the Duke of BUCKINGHAM, and the Lord SAY.

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?

360

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. Henry. 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 should cut them short, 370
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, over me;
And could it not enforce them to relent,

That were unworthy to behold the same?

K. Henry, Lord Say, Jack Cade hath sworn to have thy head.

Say. Ay, but I hope, your highness shall have his. K. Henry. How now, madam

Lamenting still, and mourning Suffolk's death? 380 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.

Enter a Messenger.

K. Henry. How now! what news? why com'st thou

in such haste?

Mes. The rebels are in Southwark; Fly, my lord t Jack Cade proclaims himself lord Mortimer,

Descended

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

990

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.
K. Henry. 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 should be soon appeas'd.

K. Henry. Lord Say, the traitor hateth thee, Therefore away with us to Kenelworth.

400

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 fly him, and forsake their houses : The rascal people, thirsting after prey,

Join with the traitor; and they jointly swear, 410 To spoil the city, and your royal court.

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

K. Henry. Come, Margaret; God, our hope, will

succour us.

Q. Mar. My hope is gone, now Suffolk is deceas'd. K. Henry. Farewel, my lord; trust not to Kentish rebels.

Buck. Trust no 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. Enter Lord SCALES, and others, on the Walls of the Tower. Then enter two or three Citizens below. Scales. How now? is Jack Cade slain ?

419

1 Cit. 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 assay'd to win the Tower. But get you into Smithfield, gather head, And thither will I send you Matthew Gough:

Fight for your king, your country, and your lives; And so farewel, for I must hence again.

[Exeunt.

SCENE