| ACT IV SCENE IV | London. The palace. | |
| [
Enter KING HENRY VI with a supplication, and the
QUEEN with SUFFOLK'S head, BUCKINGHAM and Lord SAY
] |
| QUEEN MARGARET | 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: | 5 |
| But where's the body that I should embrace? |
| BUCKINGHAM | What answer makes your grace to the rebels' |
| supplication? |
| KING HENRY VI | I'll send some holy bishop to entreat; |
| For God forbid so many simple souls | 10 |
| Should perish by the sword! And I myself, |
| Rather than bloody war shall cut them short, |
| Will parley with Jack Cade their general: |
| But stay, I'll read it over once again. |
| QUEEN MARGARET | Ah, barbarous villains! hath this lovely face | 15 |
| Ruled, like a wandering planet, over me, |
| And could it not enforce them to relent, |
| That were unworthy to behold the same? |
| KING HENRY VI | Lord Say, Jack Cade hath sworn to have thy head. |
| SAY | Ay, but I hope your highness shall have his. | 20 |
| KING HENRY VI | How now, madam! |
| Still lamenting and mourning for Suffolk's death? |
| I fear me, love, if that I had been dead, |
| Thou wouldst not have mourn'd so much for me. |
| QUEEN MARGARET | No, my love, I should not mourn, but die for thee. | 25 |
| [Enter a Messenger] |
| KING HENRY VI | How now! what news? why comest thou in such haste? |
| Messenger | The rebels are in Southwark; fly, my lord! |
| Jack Cade proclaims himself Lord Mortimer, |
| Descended from the Duke of Clarence' house, |
| And calls your grace usurper openly | 30 |
| And vows to crown himself in Westminster. |
| His army is a ragged multitude |
| Of hinds and peasants, rude and merciless: |
| Sir Humphrey Stafford and his brother's death |
| Hath given them heart and courage to proceed: | 35 |
| All scholars, lawyers, courtiers, gentlemen, |
| They call false caterpillars, and intend their death. |
| KING HENRY VI | O graceless men! they know not what they do. |
| BUCKINGHAM | My gracious lord, return to Killingworth, |
| Until a power be raised to put them down. | 40 |
| QUEEN MARGARET | Ah, were the Duke of Suffolk now alive, |
| These Kentish rebels would be soon appeased! |
| KING HENRY VI | Lord Say, the traitors hate thee; |
| Therefore away with us to Killingworth. |
| SAY | So might your grace's person be in danger. | 45 |
| 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] |
| Messenger | Jack Cade hath gotten London bridge: |
| The citizens fly and forsake their houses: | 50 |
| The rascal people, thirsting after prey, |
| Join with the traitor, and they jointly swear |
| To spoil the city and your royal court. |
| BUCKINGHAM | Then linger not, my lord, away, take horse. |
| KING HENRY VI | Come, Margaret; God, our hope, will succor us. | 55 |
| QUEEN MARGARET | My hope is gone, now Suffolk is deceased. |
| KING HENRY VI | Farewell, my lord: trust not the Kentish rebels. |
| BUCKINGHAM | Trust nobody, for fear you be betray'd. |
| SAY | The trust I have is in mine innocence, |
| And therefore am I bold and resolute. | 60 |
| [Exeunt] |
The Rebellion of Jack Cade