Shakespeare's First Folio Part 382

Dic. What say you of Kent

Say. Nothing but this: 'Tis bona terra, mala gens

Cade. Away with him, away with him, he speaks Latine

Say. Heare me but speake, and beare mee wher'e you will: Kent, in the Commentaries Caesar writ, Is term'd the ciuel'st place of all this Isle: Sweet is the Country, because full of Riches, The People Liberall, Valiant, Actiue, Wealthy, Which makes me hope you are not void of pitty.

I sold not Maine, I lost not Normandie, Yet to recouer them would loose my life: Iustice with fauour haue I alwayes done, Prayres and Teares haue mou'd me, Gifts could neuer.

When haue I ought exacted at your hands?

Kent to maintaine, the King, the Realme and you, Large gifts haue I bestow'd on learned Clearkes, Because my Booke preferr'd me to the King.

And seeing Ignorance is the curse of G.o.d, Knowledge the Wing wherewith we flye to heauen.

Vnlesse you be possest with diuellish spirits, You cannot but forbeare to murther me: This Tongue hath parlied vnto Forraigne Kings For your behoofe

Cade. Tut, when struck'st thou one blow in the field?

Say. Great men haue reaching hands: oft haue I struck Those that I neuer saw, and strucke them dead

Geo. O monstrous Coward! What, to come behinde Folkes?

Say. These cheekes are pale for watching for your good Cade. Giue him a box o'th' eare, and that wil make 'em red againe

Say. Long sitting to determine poore mens causes, Hath made me full of sicknesse and diseases

Cade. Ye shall haue a hempen Candle then, & the help of hatchet

d.i.c.ke. Why dost thou quiuer man?

Say. The Palsie, and not feare prouokes me

Cade. Nay, he noddes at vs, as who should say, Ile be euen with you. Ile see if his head will stand steddier on a pole, or no: Take him away, and behead him

Say. Tell me: wherein haue I offended most?

Haue I affected wealth, or honor? Speake.

Are my Chests fill'd vp with extorted Gold?

Is my Apparrell sumptuous to behold?

Whom haue I iniur'd, that ye seeke my death?

These hands are free from guiltlesse bloodshedding, This breast from harbouring foule deceitfull thoughts.

O let me liue

Cade. I feele remorse in my selfe with his words: but Ile bridle it: he shall dye, and it bee but for pleading so well for his life. Away with him, he ha's a Familiar vnder his Tongue, he speakes not a G.o.ds name. Goe, take him away I say, and strike off his head presently, and then breake into his Sonne in Lawes house, Sir Iames Cromer, and strike off his head, and bring them both vppon two poles. .h.i.ther

All. It shall be done

Say. Ah Countrimen: If when you make your prair's, G.o.d should be so obdurate as your selues: How would it fare with your departed soules, And therefore yet relent, and saue my life

Cade. Away with him, and do as I command ye: the proudest Peere in the Realme, shall not weare a head on his shoulders, vnlesse he pay me tribute: there shall not a maid be married, but she shall pay to me her Maydenhead ere they haue it: Men shall hold of mee in Capite.

And we charge and command, that their wiues be as free as heart can wish, or tongue can tell

d.i.c.ke. My Lord, When shall we go to Cheapside, and take vp commodities vpon our billes?

Cade. Marry presently

All. O braue.

Enter one with the heads.

Cade. But is not this brauer: Let them kisse one another: For they lou'd well When they were aliue. Now part them againe, Least they consult about the giuing vp Of some more Townes in France. Soldiers, Deferre the spoile of the Citie vntill night: For with these borne before vs, in steed of Maces, Will we ride through the streets, & at euery Corner Haue them kisse. Away.

Exit

Alarum, and Retreat. Enter againe Cade, and all his rabblement.

Cade. Vp Fish-streete, downe Saint Magnes corner, kill and knocke downe, throw them into Thames:

Sound a parley.

What noise is this I heare?

Dare any be so bold to sound Retreat or Parley When I command them kill?

Enter Buckingham, and old Clifford.

Buc. I heere they be, that dare and will disturb thee: Know Cade, we come Amba.s.sadors from the King Vnto the Commons, whom thou hast misled, And heere p.r.o.nounce free pardon to them all, That will forsake thee, and go home in peace

Clif. What say ye Countrimen, will ye relent And yeeld to mercy, whil'st 'tis offered you, Or let a rabble leade you to your deaths.

Who loues the King, and will imbrace his pardon, Fling vp his cap, and say, G.o.d saue his Maiesty.

Who hateth him, and honors not his Father, Henry the fift, that made all France to quake, Shake he his weapon at vs, and pa.s.se by

All. G.o.d saue the King, G.o.d saue the King

Cade. What Buckingham and Clifford are ye so braue?

And you base Pezants, do ye beleeue him, will you needs be hang'd with your Pardons about your neckes? Hath my sword therefore broke through London gates, that you should leaue me at the White-heart in Southwarke.

I thought ye would neuer haue giuen out these Armes til you had recouered your ancient Freedome. But you are all Recreants and Dastards, and delight to liue in slauerie to the n.o.bility. Let them breake your backes with burthens, take your houses ouer your heads, rauish your Wiues and Daughters before your faces. For me, I will make s.h.i.+ft for one, and so G.o.ds Cursse light vppon you all

All. Wee'l follow Cade, Wee'l follow Cade

Clif. Is Cade the sonne of Henry the fift, That thus you do exclaime you'l go with him.

Will he conduct you through the heart of France, And make the meanest of you Earles and Dukes?

Alas, he hath no home, no place to flye too: Nor knowes he how to liue, but by the spoile, Vnlesse by robbing of your Friends, and vs.

Wer't not a shame, that whilst you liue at iarre, The fearfull French, whom you late vanquished Should make a start ore-seas, and vanquish you?

Me thinkes alreadie in this ciuill broyle, I see them Lording it in London streets, Crying Villiago vnto all they meete.

Better ten thousand base-borne Cades miscarry, Then you should stoope vnto a Frenchmans mercy.

To France, to France, and get what you haue lost: Spare England, for it is your Natiue Coast: Henry hath mony, you are strong and manly: G.o.d on our side, doubt not of Victorie

All. A Clifford, a Clifford, Wee'l follow the King, and Clifford

Cade. Was euer Feather so lightly blowne too & fro, as this mult.i.tude? The name of Henry the fift, hales them to an hundred mischiefes, and makes them leaue mee desolate.

I see them lay their heades together to surprize me. My sword make way for me, for heere is no staying: in despight of the diuels and h.e.l.l, haue through the verie middest of you, and heauens and honor be witnesse, that no want of resolution in mee, but onely my Followers base and ignominious treasons, makes me betake mee to my heeles.

Exit

Buck. What, is he fled? Go some and follow him, And he that brings his head vnto the King, Shall haue a thousand Crownes for his reward.

Exeunt. some of them.

Follow me souldiers, wee'l deuise a meane, To reconcile you all vnto the King.