The Second Part Of King Henry The Sixth

1 Alarum and retreat. Enter Cade and all his rabblement.
2 CADE.
3 Up Fish Street! Down Saint Magnus’ Corner! Kill and knock down! Throw
4 them into Thames! [_Sound a parley_.] What noise is this I hear? Dare
5 any be so bold to sound retreat or parley when I command them kill?
6 Enter Buckingham and old Clifford attended.
7 BUCKINGHAM.
8 Ay, here they be that dare and will disturb thee.
9 Know, Cade, we come ambassadors from the King
10 Unto the commons, whom thou hast misled,
11 And here pronounce free pardon to them all
12 That will forsake thee and go home in peace.
13 CLIFFORD.
14 What say ye, countrymen? Will ye relent
15 And yield to mercy whilst ’tis offered you,
16 Or let a rebel lead you to your deaths?
17 Who loves the King and will embrace his pardon,
18 Fling up his cap, and say “God save his Majesty!”
19 Who hateth him and honours not his father,
20 Henry the Fifth, that made all France to quake,
21 Shake he his weapon at us and pass by.
22 ALL.
23 God save the King! God save the King!
24 CADE.
25 What, Buckingham and Clifford, are ye so brave? And you, base peasants,
26 do ye believe him? Will you needs be hanged with your pardons about
27 your necks? Hath my sword therefore broke through London gates, that
28 you should leave me at the White Hart in Southwark? I thought ye would
29 never have given out these arms till you had recovered your ancient
30 freedom; but you are all recreants and dastards, and delight to live in
31 slavery to the nobility. Let them break your backs with burdens, take
32 your houses over your heads, ravish your wives and daughters before
33 your faces. For me, I will make shift for one, and so God’s curse light
34 upon you all!
35 ALL.
36 We’ll follow Cade! We’ll follow Cade!
37 CLIFFORD.
38 Is Cade the son of Henry the Fifth,
39 That thus you do exclaim you’ll go with him?
40 Will he conduct you through the heart of France
41 And make the meanest of you earls and dukes?
42 Alas, he hath no home, no place to fly to,
43 Nor knows he how to live but by the spoil,
44 Unless by robbing of your friends and us.
45 Were ’t not a shame that whilst you live at jar
46 The fearful French, whom you late vanquished,
47 Should make a start o’er seas and vanquish you?
48 Methinks already in this civil broil
49 I see them lording it in London streets,
50 Crying “_Villiago!_” unto all they meet.
51 Better ten thousand base-born Cades miscarry
52 Than you should stoop unto a Frenchman’s mercy.
53 To France, to France, and get what you have lost!
54 Spare England, for it is your native coast.
55 Henry hath money, you are strong and manly;
56 God on our side, doubt not of victory.
57 ALL.
58 A Clifford! A Clifford! We’ll follow the King and Clifford.
59 CADE.
60 Was ever feather so lightly blown to and fro as this multitude? The
61 name of Henry the Fifth hales them to an hundred mischiefs and makes
62 them leave me desolate. I see them lay their heads together to surprise
63 me. My sword make way for me, for here is no staying.—In despite of the
64 devils and hell, have through the very middest of you! And heavens and
65 honour be witness that no want of resolution in me, but only my
66 followers’ base and ignominious treasons, makes me betake me to my
67 heels.
68 [_Exit._]
69 BUCKINGHAM.
70 What, is he fled? Go some, and follow him;
71 And he that brings his head unto the King
72 Shall have a thousand crowns for his reward.
73 [_Exeunt some of them._]
74 Follow me, soldiers; we’ll devise a mean
75 To reconcile you all unto the King.
76 [_Exeunt._]