As lean-fac'd Envy in her loathsome cave :

My tongue should stumble in mine earneft words;
Mine eyes should sparkle like the beaten flint;
My hair be fix'd on end, as one distract;
Ay, every joint should seem to curfe and ban :
And even now my burden'd heart would break,
Should I not curfe then. Poison be their drink!
Gall, worse than gall, the daintiest that they taste!
Their sweetest shade, a grove of cypress trees 1!
Their chiefeft profpect, murdering bafilifks?!
Their fofteft touch, as fmart as lizards' stings!
Their mufic, frightful as the serpent's hifs;
And boding fcritch-owls make the concert full !
All the foul terrors in dark-feated hell-

2

Enter Vaux.

2. Mar. Whither goes Vaux fo faft! what hews, I pr'ythee?

Vaux. To fignify unto his majesty,

5 That cardinal Beaufort is at point of death:
For fuddenly a grievous fickness took him,
That makes him gasp, and stare, and catch the air,
Blafpheming God, and curfing men on earth.
Sometime, he talks as if duke Humphrey's ghoft
10 Were by his fide; fometime, he calls the king,
And whispers to his pillow, as to him,
The fecrets of his over-charged foul:
And I am fent to tell his majefty,
That even now he cries aloud for him.

2. Mar. Enough, fweet Suffolk, thou tor-15
ment'st thyself:

And thefe dread curfes-like the fun 'gainst glass,
Or like an over-charged gun,-recoil,
And turn the force of them upon thyself.

P. Mar. Go, tell this heavy message to the king.
[Exit Vaux.

Ay me! what is this world? what news are these?
But wherefore grieve I at an hour's poor lofs 4,
Omitting Suffolk's exile, my foul's treasure?

Suf. You bade me ban3, and will you bid me 20 Why only, Suffolk, mourn I not for thee,

leave?

Now, by the ground that I am banish'd from,
Well could I curse away a winter's night,
Though standing naked on a mountain top,
Where biting cold would never let grafs grow,
And think it but a minute spent in sport.

2. Mar. Oh, let me entreat thee cease! Give
me thy hand,

And with the fouthern clouds contend in tears;
Theirs for the earth's increase, mine for my for-

rows?
[coming;
Now, get thee hence. The king, thou know'st, is
25 If thou be found by me, thou art but dead.

Suf. If I depart from thee, I cannot live:
And in thy fight to die, what were it elfe,
But like a pleafant flumber in thy lap?
Here could I breathe my foul into the air,
30 As mild and gentle as the cradle babe,
Dying with mother's dug between its lips:
Where, from thy fight, I should be raging mad,
And cry out for thee to close up mine eyes,
To have thee with thy lips to ftop my mouth;
So shouldst thou either turn my flying foul,
Or I fhould breathe it fo into thy body,
And then it liv'd in fweet Elyfium.

That I may dew it with my mournful tears;
Nor let the rain of heaven wet this place,
To wash away my woeful monuments.
Oh, could this kiss be printed in thy hand;
[Kifles bis band.
That thou might'ft think upon these by the feal,
Through whom a thousand sighs are breath'd for 35
thee!

So, get thee gone, that I may know my grief;
"Tis but furmis'd whilft thou art standing by,
As one that furfeits thinking on a want.
I will repeal thee, or, be well affur'd,
Adventure to be banished myself:
And banished I am, if but from thee.

Go, fpeak not to me; even now be gone.-
Oh, go not yet!-Even thus two friends con-
demn'd

Embrace, and kifs, and take ten thoufand leaves,
Lother a hundred times to part than die.
Yet now farewel; and farewel life with thee!

Suf. Thus is poor Suffolk ten times banished,
Once by the king, and three times thrice by thee.
'Tis not the land I care for, wert thou hence;
A wilderness is populous enough,
So Suffolk had thy heavenly company;
For where thou art, there is the world itself,
With every several pleasure in the world;
And where thou art not, defolation.
I can no more:-Live thou to joy thy life;
Myself no joy in nought, but that thou liv'st.

To die by thee, were but to die in jeft; From thee to die, were torture more than death; 400, let me stay, befall what may befall. [corrofive,

2. Mar. Away! though parting be a fretful It is applied to a deathful wound.

To France, fweet Suffolk: Let me hear from thee; For wherefoe'er thou art in this world's globe, 45 I'll have an Iris 5 that fhall find thee out.

Suf. I go.

2. Mar. And take my heart with thee.
Suf. A jewel lock'd into the woful'st cask
That ever did contain a thing of worth.
50 Even as a splitted bark, so funder we:
This way fall I to death.

2. Mar. This way for me.
SCENE

[Exeunt feverally. III.

The Cardinal's Bed-chamber.

55 Enter King Henry, Salisbury, Warwick, and others, to the Cardinal in bed.

K. Henry. How fares my lord? fpeak, Beaufort, to thy fovereign.

Cypress was employed in the funeral rites of the Romans, and hence is always mentioned as an illboding plant. 2 It has been faid of the bafilifk, that it had the power of destroying by a fingle glance of its eye. A lizard has no fting, but is quite inoffenfive. 3 i. e. curfe. 4 Meaning, Wherefore do I grieve that Beaufort has died an hour before his time, who, being an old man, could not have had a long time to live? 5 Iris was the mèflenger of Juno.

Car

Car. If thou be'ft death, I'll give thee England's Enough to purchase such another island, [treafure, So thou wilt let me live, and feel no pain.

K. Henry. Ah, what a fign it is of evil life,
When death's approach is seen so terrible!

War. Beaufort, it is thy fovereign speaks to thee.
Car. Bring me unto my trial when you will.
Dy'd he not in his bed? where should he die?
Can I make men live, whe'r they will or no?-
Oh! torture me no more, I will confefs.-
Alive again? then shew me where he is:
I'll give a thousand pound to look upon him.—
He hath no eyes, the duft hath blinded them.-
Comb down his hair; look! look! it stands upright,|
Like lime-twigs fet to catch my winged foul!
Give me some drink; and bid the apothecary
Bring the strong poison that I bought of him.
K. Henry. O thou eternal Mover of the heavens,

5

Look with a gentle eye upon this wretch!
Oh, beat away the bufy meddling fiend,
That lays ftrong fiege unto this wretch's foul,
And from his bofom purge this black despair!
War. See, how the pangs of death do make him
grin.

Sal. Disturb him not, let him pass peaceably.
K. Henry. Peace to his foul, if God's good plea-
fure be!-

10 Lord cardinal, if thou think'ft on heaven's bliss,
Hold up thy hand, make fignal of thy hope.-
He dies, and makes no fign:-O God, forgive him!
War. So bad a death argues a monftrous life.
K. Henry. Forbear to judge, for we are finners
all.

15

And fo fhould thefe, if I might have my will.
Cap. Be not fo rash; take ransom, let him live.
Suf. Look on my George, I am a gentleman;
Rate me at what thou wilt, thou shalt be paid.--
Whit. And fo am I; my name is-Walter
Whitmore.

And now loud-howling wolves aroufe the jades 35 How now? why ftart'ft thou? what, doth death

That drag the tragic melancholy night;

Who with their drowsy, flow, and flagging wings
Clip dead men's graves, and from their misty jaws
Breathe foul contagious darkness in the air.
Therefore bring forth the foldiers of our prize;
For, whilft our pinnace anchors in the Downs,
Here shall they make their ransom on the fand,
Or with their blood stain this difcolour'd fhore.-
Mafter, this prisoner freely give I thee;—
And thou that art his mate, make boot of this ;-
The other, Walter Whitmore, is thy share.

[Pointing to Suffolk.

1 Gent. What is my ranfom, matter? let me

affright?

[death. Suf. Thy name affrights me, in whofe found is A cunning man did calculate my birth, And told me that by Water 3 I fhould die: 40 Yet let not this make thee be bloody-minded; Thy name is-Gualtier, being rightly founded.

Whit. Gualtier, or Walter, which it is, I care not a
Ne'er yet did base dishonour blur our name,
But with our fword we wip'd away the blot;
45 Therefore, when merchant-1.ke I fell revenge,
Broke be my fword, my arms torn and defac'd,
And I proclaim'd a coward through the world!
Suf. Stay, Whitmore; for thy prifoner is a prince,
The duke of Suffolk, William de la Pole.
Whit. The duke of Suffolk, muffled up in rags !
Suf. Ay, but these rags are no part of the duke;
Jove fometime went difguis'd, and why not I?
Cap. But Jove was never flain, as thou shalt be.
Suf. Obfcure and lowly swain, king Henry's
[blood,

Maft. A thousand crowns, or else lay down your 50
Mate. And so much shall you give, or off goes
[fand crowns,

yours.

Whit. What, think you much to pay two thou-
And bear the name and port of gentlemen ?—
Cut both the villains' throats;-for die you fhall; 55 The honourable blood of Lancaster,
Nor can thofe lives which we have loft in fight,
Be counterpois'd with fuch a petty fum.

[life.

1 Gent. I'll give it, fir; and therefore fpare my 2 Gent. And fo will I, and write home for it ftraight.

Must not be shed by such a jaded groom.
Haft thou not kifs'd thy hand, and held my stirrup?
And bare-head plodded by my foot-cloth mule,
And thought thee happy when I shook my head?
16olHow often haft thou waited at my cup,

1 The epithet Llabbing, applied to the day by a man about to commit murder, is exquifitely beautiful. Guilt is afraid of light, confiders darkness as a natural shelter, and makes night the confidante of those actions which cannot be trusted to the tell-tale day, 2 Remorseful is pitiful. 3 See the fourth fcene of the first act of this play.

Fed

Fed from my trencher, kneel'd down at the board,
When I have feafted with queen Margaret?
Remember it, and let it make thee creft-fall'n;
Ay, and allay this thy abortive pride;
How in our voiding lobby hast thou stood,
And duly waited for my coming forth?
This hand of mine hath writ in thy behalf,
And therefore fhall it charm thy riotous tongue.
Whit. Speak, captain, fhall I ftab the forlorn
fwain ?

Cap. First let my words ftab him, as he hath me.
Suf. Bafe flave thy words are blunt, and fo
art thou.
[fide
Cap. Convey him hence, and on our long-boat's
Strike off his head.

Suf. Thou dar'ft not for thine own.
Cap. Poole? Sir Poole? lord?

Ay, kennel, puddle, fink; whofe filth and dirt
Troubles the filver fpring where England drinks.
Now will I dam up this thy yawning mouth,
For fwallowing the treasure of the realm:
Thy lips, that kifs'd the queen, fhall fweep the
ground;

[death,

And thou, that fmil'dft at good duke Humphrey's
Against the fenfelefs winds fhall grin in vain,
Who, in contempt, fhall hifs at thee again:
And wedded be thou to the hags of hell,
For daring to affy a mighty lord

IC

It is impoffible, that I should die

By fuch a lowly vaffal as thyfelf.

Thy words move rage, and not remorse, in me:
I go of meffage from the queen to France;

I charge thee, waft me safely cross the channel.
Cap. Walter,-

[death.

Whit. Come, Suffolk, I muft waft thee to thy
Suf. Gelidus timor occupat artus:—'tis thee I fear.
Whit. Thou shalt have cause to fear, before I
leave thee.

What, are ye daunted now? now will ye ftoop?
1 Gent. My gracious lord, entreat him, speak
him fair.

Suf. Suffolk's imperial tongue is ftern and rough,
15Us'd to command, untaught to plead for favour.
Far be it, we fhould honour fuch as thefe
With humble fuit: no, rather let my head
Stoop to the block, than these knees bow to any,
Save to the God of heaven, and to my king;
2c And fooner dance upon a bloody pole,
Than ftand uncover'd to the vulgar groom.
True nobility is exempt from fear :-
More can I bear, than you dare execute.

25

Cap. Hale him away, and let him talk no more: Come, foldiers, fhew what cruelty ye can.

Suf. That this my death may never be forgot!Great men oft die by vile bezonians 5:

A Roman fworder and banditto flave Murder'd fweet Tully; Brutus' bastard hand 30 Stabb'd Julius Cæfar; favage islanders, Pompey the great ; and Suffolk dies by pirates. [Exit Walter Whitmore, with Suffolk. Cap. And as for these whose ransom we have fet, It is our pleasure one of them depart :35 Therefore come you with us, and let him go.

Unto the daughter of a worthless king,
Having neither subject, wealth, nor diadem.
By devilish policy art thou grown great,
And, like ambitious Sylla, over-gorg'd
With gobbets of thy mother's bleeding heart.
By thee, Anjou and Maine were fold to France:
The falfe revolting Normans, thorough thee,
Difdain to call us lord; and Picardy
Hath flain their governors, furpriz'd our forts,
And fent the ragged foldiers wounded home.
The princely Warwick, and the Nevils all,—
Whofe dreadfulfwords were never drawn in vain,--40
As hating thee, are rifing up in arms:
And now the houfe of York-thruft from the
By fhameful murder of a guiltless king,
And lofty proud encroaching tyranny,-
Burns with revenging fire; whofe hopeful colours 45
Advance our half-fac'd fun, ftriving to shine,
Under the which is writ-Invitis nubibus.
The commons here in Kent are up in arms:
And, to conclude, reproach, and beggary,
Is crept into the palace of our king,
And all by thee:-Away! convey him hence.

[crown,

Suf. O that I were a god, to fhoot forth thunder
Upon thefe paltry, fervile, abject drudges! [here,
Small things make bafe men proud: this villain
Being captain of a pinnace 3, threatens more
Than Bargulus the strong Illyrian pirate.
Drones fuck not eagles' blood, but rob bee-hives.

Enter George Bevis and John Holland. Bevis. Come, and get thee a fword, though made 50 of a lath; they have been up these two days.

55

Hol. They have the more need to fleep now then. Bevis. I tell thee, Jack Cade the clothier means to drefs the commonwealth, and turn it, and fet a new nap upon it.

Hol. So he had need, for 'tis thread-bare. Well, fay, it was never merry world in England, fince gentlemen came up.

2 To affy is to betroth in marriage.

3 A pinnace

4 This

5 See

1 Meaning, pride affumed before its time. did not anciently fignify, as at prefent, a man of war's boat, but a ship of small burthen. Bargulus is to be met with in Tully's Offices; and the legend is the famous Theopompus's Hiftory. "Bargulus Illyrius latro, de quo eft apud Theepompum, magras opes habuit," lib. ii. cap. 11. note 2, p. 505. i. e. Herennius a centurion, and Popilius Laenas, tribune of the foldiers. Brutus was the fon of Servilia, a Roman lady, who had been concubine to Julius Cæfar. poet feems to have confounded the story of Pompey with fome other.

8 The

Bevit

Bevis. O miferable age! Virtue is not regarded in handycrafts-men.

Hal. The nobility think scorn to go in leather aprons.

Bevis. Nay more, the king's council are no good workmen.

Hal. True; And yet it is said,-Labour in thy vocation: which is as much to say as,-let the magiftrates be labouring men ; and therefore should we be magiftrates.

Bevis. Thou haft hit it: for there's no better fign of a brave mind, than a hard hand.

5

even half-penny loaves fold for a penny: the threehoop'd pot fhall have ten hoops; and I will make it felony to drink small beer: all the realm fhall be in common, and in Cheapfide fhall my palfry go to grass. And, when I am king (as king I will be)

All. God fave your majesty!

Cade. I thank you, good people :-There shall be no money; all shall eat and drink on my score; 10 and I will apparel them all in one livery, that they may agree like brothers, and worship me their lord. Dick. The first thing we do, let's kill all the

Hel. I fee them! I fee them! There's Beft's lawyers.

fon, the tanner of Wingham.

Cade. Nay, that I mean to do. Is not this a

Bevis. He shall have the skins of our enemies, 15 lamentable thing, that of the skin of an innocent to make dog's leather of.

Hal. And Dick the butcher,

Bevis. Then is fin ftruck down like an ox, and iniquity's throat cut like a calf.

Hol. And Smith the weaver :

Bevis. Arge, their thread of life is spun.
Hel. Come, come, let's fall in with them.
Drum. Enter Cade, Dick the butcher, Smith the weaver,
and a faryer, with infinite numbers.

lamb fhould be made parchment? that parchment, being fcribbled o'er, fhould undo a man? Some fay, the bee stings: but I fay, 'tis the bee's wax; for I did but seal once to a thing, and I was 20never my own man fince. How now? who's there?

Cade. We John Cade, so term'd of our supposed 25 father,

Dick. Or rather, of stealing a cade of herrings 1.

[Afide

Cade. For our enemies fhall fall before us, infpired with the spirit of putting down kings and 30 princes.Command filence.

Dick. Silence!

Cade. My father was a Mortimer,➡

Enter fome, bringing in the Clerk of Chatham. Smith. The clerk of Chatham: he can write and read, and cast accompt.

Cade. O monstrous!

Smith. We took him fetting of boys copies.
Cade. Here's a villain!

Smith. H'as a book in his pocket, with red let ters in't.

Cade. Nay, then he is a conjurer.

Dick. Nay, he can make obligations, and write court-hand.

Cade. I am forry for't: the man is a proper man, on mine honour; unless I find him guilty, he [Afide. 35 fhall not die.-Come hither, firrah, I must examine thee: What is thy name?

Dick. He was an honeft man, and a good bricklayer.

Cade. My mother a Plantagenet,

Dick. I knew her well, she was a midwife. [Afide.
Cade. My wife descended of the Lacies,➡
Dick. She was, indeed, a pedlar's daughter, and
fold many laces.

[Afide. 40

Smith. But, now of late, not able to travel with her furr'd pack 3, the washes bucks here at home.

[Afide

Cade. Therefore am I of an honourable house. Dick. Ay, by my faith: the field is honourable ; 45 and there was he born, under a hedge; for his father had never a houfe, but the cage.

Cade. Valiant I am.

Smith. 'A must needs; for beggary is valiant.

Cade. I am able to endure much.

Clerk. Emanuel.

Dick. They use to write it on the top of letters4;-Twill go hard with you.

Cade. Let me alone:-Deft thou use to write thy name? or hast thou a mark to thyfelf, like an honeft plain-dealing man?

Clerk. Sir, I thank God, I have been fo well brought up, that I can write my name.

All. He hath confefs'd: away with him; he's a villain, and a traitor.

Cade. Away with him, I say: hang him with This pen and inkhorn about his neck.

[Exit one with the Clerk.

Afide

[Afide 50

Enter Michael.

Mich. Where's our general?

Cade. Here I am, thou particular fellow. Mich. Fly, fly, fly! Sir Humphrey Stafford and his brother are hard by, with the king's forces.

Cade. Stand, villain, stand, or I'll fell thee down: He fhall be encounter'd with a man as good as himfelf: He is but a knight, is a'?

Mich. No.

Cade. To equal him, I will make myself a knight presently; Rife up Sir John Mortimer.

1 That is, a barrel of herrings. Perhaps the word keg, which is now used, is cade corrupted. 2 He alludes to his name Cade, from cado, Lat. to fall. 3 A wallet or knapsack of skin with the hair outward.

4 i. e. of letters miffive, and fuch like public acts.

૨૧

Now

594

Now have at him. Is there any more of them that be knights?

Mich. Ay, his brother.

Cade. Then kneel down, Dick Butcher;
Rife up Sir Dick Butcher. Now found up the drum. 5
Enter Sir Humphrey Stafford, and bis Brother, with
drum and foldiers.

Staf. Rebellious hinds, the filth and scum of Kent,
Mark'd for the gallows,-lay your weapons down,
Home to your cottages, forfake this groom :-
The king is merciful, if you revolt.

Y.Staf. But angry, wrathful, and inclin'd to blood,
If you go forward: therefore yield, or die. [not';
Cade. As for these filken-coated flaves, I pafs
It is to you, good people, that I speak,
O'er whom, in time to come, I hope to reign;
For I am rightful heir unto the crown.

Staf. Villain, thy father was a plaifterer;
And thou thyfelf, a fhearman, Art thou not?
Cade. And Adam was a gardener.
Y. Staf. And what of that?

Cade. Marry, this :-Edmund Mortimer, earl
[not?
of March,
Married the duke of Clarence' daughter; Did he
Staf. Ay, fir.

Cade. By her he had two children at one birth.
Y. Staff. That's falfe.

[true;

Cade. Ay, there's the queftion; but, I fay, 'tis
The elder of them, being put to nurse,

Was by a beggar-woman stol'n away;
And, ignorant of his birth and parentage,
Became a bricklayer, when he came to age:
His fon am I; deny it, if you can.

10

Y. Staf. Well, feeing gentle words will not pre[vail, Affail them with the army of the king.

Staf. Herald away: and, throughout every town,
Proclaim them traitors that are up with Cade;
That thofe, which fly before the battle ends,
May, even in their wives' and children's fight,
Be hang'd up for example at their doors :-
And you, that be the king's friends, follow me.
[Exeunt the two Staffords, with their train.
Cade. And you, that love the commons, fol-
low me.-

Now fhew yourselves men, 'tis for liberty.
We will not leave one lord, one gentleman:
Spare none, but fuch as go in clouted shoon;
15 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. [Exeunt.

20

25

SCENE III.

Another part of the Field. The parties fight, and both the Staffords are flain.

Re-enter Cade and the reft.

Cade. Where's Dick, the butcher of Ashford ?
Dick. Here, fir.

Cade. They fell before thee like sheep and oxen, and thou behav'dft thyfelf as if thou hadst been in thine own flaughter-houfe: therefore thus I will 3 reward thee,-The Lent fhall be as long again as it is; and thou fhalt have a licence to kill for a hundred lacking one.

Dick. Nay, 'tis too true; therefore he fhall be king. Smith. Sir, he made a chimney in my father's 35 house, and the bricks are alive at this day to teftify it; therefore, deny it not.

Staf. And will you credit this bafe drudge's words, That fpeaks he knows not what?

All. Ay, marry, will we; therefore get you gone. 4° Y. Staf. Jack Cade, the duke of York hath taught you this.

Cade. He lies, for I invented it myself. [Afide. Go to, firrah, Tell the king from me, that-for his father's fake, Henry the fifth, in whose time boys 45 went to fpan-counter for French crowns,-I am content he shall reign; but I'll be protector over him.

Dick. And, furthermore, we'll have the lord Say's head, for felling the dukedom of Maine.

150

Dick. I defire no more.

Cade. And, to speak truth, thou deferv'ft no less. This monument of the victory 2 will I bear; and the bodies fhall be dragged at my horfe' heels, 'till I do come to London, where we will have the mayor's fword borne before us.

Dick. If we mean to thrive and do good, break open the goals, 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 fupplication, and Queen Margaret with Suffolk's head; the Duke of Buckingham and the Lord Say.

2. 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 ceafe to weep, and look on this?
Here may his head lie on my throbbing breaft :

Cade. And good reafon; for thereby is England maim'd, and fain to go with a staff, but that my puiffance holds it up. Fellow kings, I tell you, that that lord Say hath gelded the common-wealth, and made it an eunuch: and more than that, he can 55 But where's the body that I should embrace?

fpeak French, and therefore he is a traitor.

Staf. O grofs and miserable ignorance! Cade. Nay, answer, if you can': The Frenchmen are our enemies: go to then, I afk but this: Can he, that speaks with the tongue of an enemy, be a 60 good counsellor, or no?

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

Buck. What anfwer makes your grace to the rebels' fupplication?

K. Henry. I'll fend fome holy bishop to entreat ;
For God forbid, so many fimple fouls
Should perifh by the sword! And I myself,
Rather than bloody war fhould cut them fhort,
Will parly with Jack Cade their general.—

■ i. e. I pay them no regard. 2 Here Cade must be supposed to take off Stafford's armour.

But