Henry VI, Pt. 2
Act IV, Scene 8
Southwark.
Coat of Arms of Sir Humphrey Stafford, 1st Duke of Buckingham
Rs-nourse
Arms of Thomas Clifford, 8th Baron de Clifford
- Alarum and retreat. Enter again Cade and all his rabblement.
Jack Cade
1 - 4- Up Fish Street! Down Saint Magnus’ Corner! Kill and knock
- down! Throw them into Thames!
- Sound a parley.
- 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 attended.
Duke of Buckingham
5 - 9- Ay, here they be that dare and will disturb thee.
- Know, Cade, we come ambassadors from the King
- Unto the commons, whom thou hast misled,
- And here pronounce free pardon to them all
- That will forsake thee and go home in peace.
Lord Clifford
10 - 17- What say ye, countrymen? Will ye relent
- And yield to mercy whilst ’tis offered you,
- Or let a rebel 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 honors not his father,
- Henry the Fifth, that made all France to quake,
- Shake he his weapon at us and pass by.
Cade’s Followers
18- God save the King! God save the King!
Jack Cade
19 - 29- What, Buckingham and Clifford, are ye so brave? And you,
- base peasants, do ye believe him? Will you needs be hang’d
- 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 recover’d 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 daughters before your faces. For me, I will make shift
- for one; and so God’s curse light upon you all!
Cade’s Followers
30- We’ll follow Cade, we’ll follow Cade!
Lord Clifford
31 - 49- Is Cade the son of Henry the Fifth,
- That thus you do exclaim you’ll go with him?
- Will he conduct you through the heart of France,
- And make the meanest of you earls and dukes?
- Alas, he hath no home, no place to fly to;
- Nor knows he how to live but by the spoil,
- Unless by robbing of your friends and us.
- Were’t not a shame that, whilst you live at jar,
- The fearful French, whom you late vanquished,
- Should make a start o’er seas and vanquish you?
- Methinks already in this civil broil
- I see them lording it in London streets,
- Crying “Villiago!” 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.
Cade’s Followers
50- A Clifford! A Clifford! We’ll follow the King and Clifford.
Jack Cade
51 - 59- Aside.
- 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 surprise me. My sword make
- way for me, for here is no staying.—In despite of the devils
- and hell, have through the very middest of you! And heavens
- and honor be witness that no want of resolution in me, but
- only my followers’ base and ignominious treasons, makes me
- betake me to my heels.
- He runs through them with his sword and flies away.
- Exit.
Duke of Buckingham
60 - 64- 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 omnes.