Large gifts have I bestow'd on learned clerks, • Because my book preferr❜d me to the king; * And seeing ignorance is the curse of God, Knowledge the wing wherewith we fly to heaven, — * Unless you be possess'd with devilish spirits, * You cannot but forbear to murder me. * This tongue hath parley'd unto foreign kings * Cade. Tut! when struck'st thou one blow in the * field? * Say. Great men have reaching hands: oft have I struck * Those that I never saw, and struck them dead. * Geo. O monstrous coward! what, to come behind folks? Say. These cheeks are pale for watching 3 for your good. * Cade. Give him a box o'the ear, and that will make • 'em red again. * Say. Long sitting to determine poor men's causes Hath made me full of sickness and diseases. * Cade. Ye shall have a hempen caudle then, and the pap of a hatchet.+ 6 Dick. Why dost thou quiver, man? Say. The palsy, and not fear, provoketh me. Cade. Nay, he nods at us; as who should say, • I'll be even with you. I'll see if his head will stand • steadier on a pole, or no: Take him away, and be• head him. Say. Tell me wherein I have offended most? • Have I affected wealth, or honour; speak? Are my chests fill'd up with extorted gold? * Is my apparel sumptuous to behold? * Whom have I injur'd, that ye seek my death? 3 for watching-] That is, in consequence of watching. +- "the help of a hatchet." MALONE. These hands are free from guiltless blood-shedding,* * This breast from harbouring foul deceitful thoughts. 'O, let me live! * Cade. I feel remorse in myself with his words: but * I'll bridle it; he shall die, an it be but for pleading so well for his life 5. Away with him! he has a fa* miliar under his tongue; he speaks not o'God's name. 'Go, take him away, I say, and strike off his 'head presently: and then break into his son-in-law's 'house, sir James Cromer 7, and strike off his head, ' and bring them both upon two poles hither. * All. It shall be done. * Say. Ah, countrymen! if when you make your prayers, God should be so obdurate as yourselves, * How would it fare with your departed souls? • And therefore yet relent, and save my life. * Cade. Away with him, and do as I command ye. [Exeunt some, with Lord SAY. The proudest peer in the realm shall not wear a head on his shoulders, unless he pay me tribute; there • shall not a maid be married, but she shall pay to me ' her maidenhead ere they have it: Men shall hold of 4 These hands are free from guiltless blood-shedding,] Guiltless is not an epithet to blood-shedding, but to blood. These hands are free from shedding guiltless or innocent blood. 5 — he shall die, an it be but for pleading so well for his life.] This sentiment is not merely designed as an expression of ferocious triumph, but to mark the eternal enmity which the vulgar bear to those of more liberal education and superior rank. The vulgar are always ready to depreciate the talents which they behold with envy, and insult the eminence which they despair to reach. STEEVENS. 6 — a familiar under his tongue ;] A familiar is a dæmon who was supposed to attend at call. 7 sir James Cromer,] It was William Crowmer, sheriff of Kent, whom Cade put to death. Lord Say and he had been previously sent to the Tower, and both, or at least the former, convicted of treason, at Cade's mock commission of oyer and terminer at Guildhall. me in capite; and we charge and command, that their wives be as free as heart can wish, or tongue can tell. Dick. My lord, when shall we go to Cheapside, and • take up commodities upon our bills?8 Cade. Marry, presently. All. O brave! Re-enter Rebels, with the heads of Lord SAY and his Son-in-law. Cade. But is not this braver? Let them kiss one another, for they loved well, when they were alive. Now part them again, lest they consult about the giving up of some more towns in France. Soldiers, ' defer the spoil of the city until night: for with these ⚫ borne before us, instead of maces, will we ride through 'the streets; and, at every corner, have them kiss. Away! [Exeunt. SCENE VIII. Southwark. Alarum. Enter CADE, and all his Rabblement. * Cade. Up Fish-street! down Saint Magnus' corner! * kill and knock down! throw them into Thames ! [A Parley sounded, then a Retreat. • What noise is this I hear? Dare any be so bold to ⚫ sound retreat or parley, when I command them kill? Enter BUCKINGHAM, and Old CLIFFORD, with Forces. Buck. Ay, here they be that dare and will distur thee: 3 take up commodities upon our bills?] Perhaps this is an equivoque alluding to the brown bills, or halberds, with which the commons were anciently armed. 'Know, Cade, we come ambassadors from the king Clif. What say ye, countrymen? will ye relent, And yield to mercy, whilst 'tis offer'd you; 'Or let a rabble lead you to your deaths? Who loves the king, and will embrace his pardon, Fling up his cap, and say - God save his majesty ! 'Who hateth him, and honours not his father, 'Henry the fifth, that made all France to quake, 'All. God save the king! God save the king! Cade. What, Buckingham, and Clifford, are ye so brave? And you, base peasants, do ye believe him? 'will you needs be hanged with your pardons about your necks? Hath my sword therefore broke through 'London Gates, that you should leave me at the • White Hart in Southwark? I thought, ye would never ⚫ have given out these arms, till you had recovered your ancient freedom: but you are all recreants, and ⚫ dastards; and delight to live in slavery to the nobility. Let them break your backs with burdens, take your 'houses over your heads, ravish your wives and daugh'ters before your faces: For me, I will make shift for one; and so God's curse light upon you all! All. We'll follow Cade, we'll follow Cade. Clif. Is Cade the Son of Henry the fifth, • Were't not a shame, that whilst you live at jar, "I see them lording it in London streets. Crying-Villageois! unto all they meet. Better, ten thousand base-born Cades miscarry, • Than you should stoop unto a Frenchman's mercy. To France, to France, and get what you have lost; Spare England, for it is your native coast: • Henry hath money, you are strong and manly; God on our side, doubt not of victory. All. A Clifford a Clifford ! we'll follow the king, and Clifford. • Cade. Was ever feather so lightly blown to and fro, ⚫ as this multitude? the name of Henry the fifth hales ⚫ them to an hundred mischiefs, and makes them leave me desolate. I see them lay their heads together, to sur6 prize me: my sword make way for me, for here is no staying. In despight of the devils and hell, have through the very midst of you! and heavens and honour be witness, that no want of resolution in me, • but only my followers' base and ignominious treasons, • makes me betake me to my heels. [Exit. • Buck. What, is he fled? go some, and follow him; And he that brings his head unto the king, • Shall have a thousand crowns for his reward. [Exeunt some of them. Follow me, soldiers; we'll devise a mean To reconcile you all unto the king. [Exeunt. SCENE IX. Kenelworth Castle. Enter King HENRY, Queen MARGARET, and SOMERSET, on the Terrace of the Castle. * K. Hen. Was ever king, that joy'd an earthly throne, * And could command no more content than I? * No sooner was I crept out of my cradle, |