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.

ALL CADE’S FOLLOWERS A Clifford! A Clifford! We’ll follow the King and Clifford!

They forsake Cade

CADE (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. (Aloud) In despite of the devils and hell, have through the very middest 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.

He runs through them with his staff, and flies away

BUCKINGHAM

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 after Cade

(To the remaining rebels)

Follow me, soldiers, we’ll devise a mean

To reconcile you all unto the King. Exeunt

4.8 Sound trumpets. Enter King Henry, Queen Margaret, and the Duke of Somerset on the terrace

KING HENRY

Was ever King that joyed an earthly throne

And could command no more content than I?

No sooner was I crept out of my cradle

But I was made a king at nine months old.

Was never subject longed to be a king

As I do long and wish to be a subject.

Enter the Duke of Buckingham and Lord Clifford ⌈on the terrace⌉

BUCKINGHAM (to King Henry)

Health and glad tidings to your majesty.

KING HENRY

Why, Buckingham, is the traitor Cade surprised?

Or is he but retired to make him strong?

Enter, below, multitudes with halters about their necks

CLIFFORD

He is fled, my lord, and all his powers do yield,

And humbly thus with halters on their necks

Expect your highness’ doom of life or death.

KING HENRY

Then, heaven, set ope thy everlasting gates

To entertain my vows of thanks and praise.

(To the multitudes below)

Soldiers, this day have you redeemed your lives,

And showed how well you love your prince and

country.

Continue still in this so good a mind,

And Henry, though he be infortunate,

Assure yourselves will never be unkind.

And so, with thanks and pardon to you all,

I do dismiss you to your several countries.

ALL CADE’S FORMER FOLLOWERS God save the King! Gold save the King! ⌈Exeunt multitudes below⌉

Enter a Messenger ⌈on the terrace⌉

MESSENGER (to King Henry)

Please it your grace to be advertised

The Duke of York is newly come from Ireland,

And with a puissant and a mighty power

Of galloglasses and stout Irish kerns

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.

KING HENRY

Thus stands my state, ’twixt Cade and York distressed,

Like to a ship that, having scaped a tempest,

Is straightway calmed and boarded with a pirate.

But now is Cade driven back, his men dispersed,

And now is York in arms to second him.

I pray thee, Buckingham, go and meet him,

And ask him what’s the reason of these arms.

Tell him I’ll send Duke Edmund to the Tower;

And, Somerset, we will commit thee thither,

Until his army be dismissed from him.

SOMERSET

My lord, I’ll yield myself to prison willingly,

Or unto death, to do my country good.

KING HENRY (to Buckingham)

In any case, be not too rough in terms,

For he is fierce and cannot brook hard language.

BUCKINGHAM

I will, my lord, and doubt not so to deal

As all things shall redound unto your good.

KING HENRY

Come, wife, let’s in and learn to govern better;

For yet may England curse my wretched reign.

Flourish. Exeunt

4.9 Enter Jack Cade

CADE Fie on ambitions; fie on myself that have a sword and yet am ready to famish. These five days have I hid me in these woods and durst not peep out, for all the country is laid for me. But now am I so hungry that if I might have a lease of my life for a thousand years, I could stay no longer. Wherefore o‘er a brick wall have I climbed into this garden to see if I can eat grass or pick a sallet another while, which is not amiss to cool a man’s stomach this hot weather. And I think this word ‘sallet’ was born to do me good; for many a time, but for a sallet, my brain-pan had been cleft with a brown bill; and many a time, when I have been dry, and bravely marching, it hath served me instead of a quart pot to drink in; and now the word ‘sallet’ must serve me to feed on.

⌈He lies down picking of herbs and eating them.⌉ Enter Sir Alexander Iden ⌈and five of his men⌉

IDEN

Lord, who would live turmoilèd in the court

And may enjoy such quiet walks as these?