SCENE IV. London. The palace. Enter the KING with a supplication, and the QUEEN with SUFFOLK's head, the DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM and the LORD SAY. QUEEN. 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? 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? KING. I'll send some holy bishop to entreat; Should perish by the sword! And I myself, QUEEN. Ah, barbarous villains! hath this lovely face Ruled, like a wandering planet, over me, KING. Lord Say, Jack Cade hath sworn to have thy head. SAY. Ay, but I hope your highness shall have his. G KING. How now, madam ! Still lamenting and mourning for Suffolk's death? I fear me, love, if that I had been dead, Thou wouldest not have mourn'd so much for me. QUEEN. No, my love, I should not mourn, but die for thee. Enter a Messenger. KING. How now! what news? why comest thou in such haste? MESS. The rebels are in Southwark; fly, my lord! Jack Cade proclaims himself Lord Mortimer, And vows to crown himself in Westminster. Of hinds and peasants, rude and merciless: BUCK. My gracious lord, retire to Killingworth, Until a power be raised to put them down. QUEEN. Ah, were the Duke of Suffolk now alive, These Kentish rebels would be soon appeased! KING. Lord Say, the traitors hate thee; Therefore away with us to Killingworth. 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. MESS. Jack Cade hath gotten London bridge: The citizens fly and forsake their houses: The rascal people, thirsting after prey, Join with the traitor, and they jointly swear To spoil the city and your royal court. BUCK. Then linger not, my lord; away, take horse. KING. Come, Margaret; God, our hope, will succour us. QUEEN. My hope is gone, now Suffolk is deceased. KING. Farewell, my lord: trust not the Kentish rebels. Buck. Trust nobody, 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. The Tower. Enter LORD SCALES upon the Tower, walking. SCALES. HOW now! is Jack Cade slain? FIRST 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; SCENE VI. London. Cannon Street. Enter JACK CADE and the rest, and strikes CADE. Now is Mortimer lord of this city. And here, sitting upon London-stone, I charge and command that, of the city's cost, the pissing-conduit run nothing but claret wine this first year of our reign. And now henceforward it shall be treason for any that calls me other than Lord Mortimer. Enter a Soldier, running. SOLD. Jack Cade! Jack Cade! CADE. Knock him down there. [They kill him. SMITH. If this fellow be wise, he'll never call ye Jack Cade more: I think he hath a very fair warning. DICK. My lord, there's an army gathered together in Smithfield. CADE. Come, then, let's go fight with them: but first, go and set London bridge on fire; and, if you can, burn down the Tower too. Come, [Exeunt. let's away. SCENE VII. London. Smithfield. Alarums. MATTHEW GOFFE is slain, and all the rest. Then enter JACK CADE, with his company. CADE. So, sirs: now go some and pull down the Savoy; others to the inns of court; down with them all. DICK. I have a suit unto your lordship. CADE. Be it a lordship, thou shalt have it for that word. DICK. Only that the laws of England may come out of your mouth. HOLL. [Aside] Mass, 'twill be sore law, then; for he was thrust in the mouth with a spear, and 'tis not whole yet. SMITH. [Aside] Nay, John, it will be stinking law; for his breath stinks with eating toasted cheese. CADE. I have thought upon it, it shall be so. Away, burn all the records of the realm: my mouth shall be the parliament of England. HOLL. [Aside] Then we are like to have biting statutes, unless his teeth be pulled out. CADE. And henceforward all things shall be in common. |