furprize me. My fword make way for me, for here is no ftaying; in defpight of the devils and hell, have through the very midst of you; and heavens and honour be witnefs, that no want of refolution in me, but only my followers bafe and ignominious treafons make me betake me to my heels. [Exit. Buck. What, is he fled? go fome, and follow him. And he, that brings his head unto the King, Shall have a thoufand crowns for his reward.

[Exeunt fome of them.

Follow me, foldiers; we'll devife a mean
To reconcile you all unto the King.

[Exeunt omnes.

SCENE, the Palace at Killingworth.

Sound trumpets. Enter King Henry, Queen Margaret, and Somerset on the Terras.

K. Henry. WAS ever King that joy'd an earthly throne,

And could command no more content

No fooner was I crept out of my cradle,
But I was made a King at nine months old:
Was never fubject long'd to be a King,
As I do long and wifh to be a fubject.

Enter Buckingham and Clifford.

[than I

Buck. Health, and glad tidings to your Majefty! K. Henry Why, Buckingham, is the traitor Cade furpriz❜d? Or is he but retir'd to make him ftrong?

Enter multitudes with halters about their necks.

Clif. He's fled, my Lord, and all his pow'rs do yield; And humbly thus with halters on their necks Expect your highness' doom of life or death.

K. Henry. Then, heav'n, fet ope thy everlafting gates, To entertain my vows of thanks and praife.

Soldiers, this day have you redeem'd your lives,
And fhew'd how well you love your Prince and country:
Continue ftill in this fo good a mind,

And Henry, though he be unfortunate,
Affure yourfelves will never be unkind:

And

And fo with thanks, and pardon to you all,
I do dismiss you to your several countries.
All. God fave the King! God fave the King!
Enter Meffenger.

Mef. Please it your Grace to be advertised,
The Duke of York is newly come from Ireland
And with a puiffant and mighty pow'r
Of Gallow-glaffes and ftout Kernes,
Is marching hitherward in proud array:
And still proclaimeth as he comes along,
His arms are only to remove from thee

The Duke of Somerset, whom he terms a traitor.

K. Henry. Thus ftands my ftate 'twixt Cade and York diftreft,

Like to a fhip, that, having 'fcap'd a tempeft,

Is ftraightway calm'd and boarded with a pirate. (19)
But now is Cade driv'n back, his men difpers'd;
And now is York in arms to fecond him.

I pray thee, Buckingham, go and meet with him,
And ask him what's the reafon of these arms:
Tell him, I'll send Duke Edmund to the Tower ;
And, Somerfet, we will commit thee thither,
Until his army be difmift from him.

Som. My Lord,

I'll yield myfelf to prifon willingly,

Or unto death, to do my country good.

K. Henry. In any cafe be not too rough in terms, For he is fierce and cannot brook hard language.

(19) Is ftraightway claim'd, and boarded with a pirate.] I doubt not but my readers will agree, that I have reftored to the text its true reading. After the violent working of a tempeft, the fea is, for the most part, totally becalmed. Befides, with allufion to the King's affairs, the tempeft of Cade's rebellion was juft blown over; the state was in a calm, by that infurrection being quieted and immediately York, like an ufurping pirate, comes to feize the veffel of government. And again, which heightens the juftnefs of the metaphor, a calm is the moft ufual occafion of that misfortune of being taken by pirates; which, by the use of the fails, they might otherwise escape. The oldest folio edition led me to this emendation, where we find it-Is ftrait way calme and the 3d fel, impreffion, as I have obferved fince, anticipates my correction,

Buck

Buck. I will, my Lord; and doubt not fo to deal,

As all things fhall redound unto your good.

[better,

K. Henry. Come, wife, let's in, and learn to govern For yet may England curfe my wretched reign.

Cade.

SCENE, a Garden in Kent.

Enter Jack Cade.

Exeunt.

FYword, and yet am ready to famih. Thefe

AY on ambitions; fy on myfelf, that have a

five days have I hid me in thefe woods, and durft not peep out, for all the country is laid for me: but now am I fo hungry, that if I might have a leafe of my life for a thousand years, I could ftay no longer. Wherefore on a brick-wall have I climb'd into this garden to fee if I can eat grafs, or pick a fallet another while, which is not amifs to cool a man's ftomach this hot weather; and, I think, this word fallet was born to do me good; for many a time but for a fallet my brainpan had been cleft with a brown bill; and many a time when I have been dry, and bravely marching, it hath ferv'd me instead of a quart-pot to drink in; and now the word fallet muft ferve me to feed on.

Enter Iden.

Iden. Lord, who would live turmoiled in the court,
And may enjoy fuch quiet walks as these ?
This small inheritance, my father left me,
Contenteth me, and's worth a monarchy.
I seek not to wax great by other's waining;
Or gather wealth, I care not with what envy;
Sufficeth, that I have maintains my state;
And fends the poor well pleafed from my gate.

Cade. Here's the Lord of the foil come to feize me for a tray, for entering his fee-fimple without leave. Ah villain, thou wilt betray me and get a thousand crowns of the king by carrying my head to him; but I'll make thee eat iron like an oflridge, and swallow my fword like a great pin ere thou and I part.

Iden. Why, rude companion, whatfoe'er thou be,

I

I know thee not, why then fhould I betray thee?
Is't not enough to break into my garden,
And, like a thief, to come to rob my grounds,
Climbing my walls in fpight of me the owner,
Bat thou wilt brave me with thefe faucy terms?

Cade. Brave thee? by the best blood that ever was broach'd, and beard thee ton. Look on me well, I have eat no meat these five days, yet come thou and thy five men, and if I do not leave you as dead as a door nail, I pray God, I may never eat grafs more.

Iden. Nay, it fhall ne'er be faid while England stands,
That Alexander Iden an Efquire of Kent,
Took odds to combat a poor famish'd man.
Oppose thy ftedfaft gazing eyes to mine,
See, if thou canft out-face me with thy looks:
Set limb to limb, and thou art far the lesser:
Thy hand is but a finger to my fift,

Thy leg a ftick compared with this truncheon.
My foot fhall fight with all the ftrength thou haft ;
And if mine arm be heaved in the air,

Thy grave is digg'd already in the earth:

As for more words, whofe greatnefs anfwers words,
Let this my fword report what fpecch forbears.

Cade. By my valour, the most complete champion that ever I heard. Steel, if thou turn thine edge, or cut not out the burly-bon'd clown in chines of beef ere thou fleep in thy fheath, I befeech Jove on my knees thou may't be turned into hobnails. [Here they fight. OI am flain! famine, and no other, hath flain me; let ten thoufand devils come againft me, and give but the ten meals I have loft, and I'd defy them all. Wither garden, and be henceforth a burying-place to all that do dwell in this houfe; becaufe the unconquered foul of Cade is filed.

Iden. Is't Cade that I have flain, that monftrous traitor ? Sword, I will hallow thee for this thy deed,

And hang thee o'er my tomb when I am dead.
Ne'er fhall this blood be wiped from thy point,
But thou fhalt wear it as a herald's coat,
T'emblaze the honour which thy maller got.

Cade.

Cade. Iden, farewell, and be proud of thy victory: tell Rent from me, fhe hath loft her beft man; and exhort all the world to be cowards; for I, that never fear'd any, ani vanquished by famine, not by valour.

[Diess Iden. How much thou wrong'ft me, heaven be my judge! Die damned wretch, the curfe of her that bear thee: And as I thrust thy body in with my sword, So with I, I might thruft thy foul to hell. Hence will I drag thee headlong by the heels Unto a dunghill, which fhall be thy grave; And there cut off thy moft ungracious head, Which I will bear in triumph to the king, Leaving thy trunk for crows to feed upon.

[Exits

ACT

V.

SCENE, in the fields near London.

Enter York, and kis army of Irish, with drum and coloursi

F

YORK.

ROM Ireland thus comes York to claim his right, And pluck the crown from feeble Henry's head. Ring, bells, aloud; burn, bonfires, clear and bright, To entertain great England's lawful King!

Ah Majefty! who would not buy thee dear?
Let them obey that know not how to rule.
This hand was made to handle nought but gold.
I cannot give due action to my words,
Except a fword, or fcepter, ballance it.
A fcepter fhall it have, have I a soul,

On which I'll tofs the Flower-de-luce of France.

Enter Buckingham.

Whom have we here? Buckingham to difturb me?
The King hath fent him, fure: I muft diffemble.
Buck. York, if thou meaneft well, I greet thee well.
York. Humphry of Buckingham, I accept thy greeting.

Art