| ACT IV SCENE IX | Kenilworth Castle. | |
| [
Sound Trumpets. Enter KING HENRY VI, QUEEN
MARGARET, and SOMERSET, on the terrace
] |
| KING HENRY VI | Was ever king that joy'd 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 long'd to be a king | 5 |
| As I do long and wish to be a subject. |
| [Enter BUCKINGHAM and CLIFFORD] |
| BUCKINGHAM | Health and glad tidings to your majesty! |
| KING HENRY VI | 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; | 10 |
| And humbly thus, with halters on their necks, |
| Expect your highness' doom of life or death. |
| KING HENRY VI | Then, heaven, set ope thy everlasting gates, |
| To entertain my vows of thanks and praise! |
| Soldiers, this day have you redeemed your lives, | 15 |
| And show'd 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, | 20 |
| I do dismiss you to your several countries. |
| ALL | God save the king! God save the king! |
| [Enter a Messenger] |
| Messenger | Please it your grace to be advertised |
| The Duke of York is newly come from Ireland, |
| And with a puissant and a mighty power | 25 |
| Of gallowglasses and stout 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 traitor. | 30 |
| KING HENRY VI | Thus stands my state, 'twixt Cade and York distress'd. |
| Like to a ship that, having 'scaped a tempest, |
| Is straightway calm'd and boarded with a pirate: |
| But now is Cade driven back, his men dispersed; |
| And now is York in arms to second him. | 35 |
| 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'll commit thee thither, |
| Until his army be dismiss'd from him. | 40 |
| SOMERSET | My lord, |
| I'll yield myself to prison willingly, |
| Or unto death, to do my country good. |
| KING HENRY VI | In any case, be not too rough in terms; |
| For he is fierce and cannot brook hard language. | 45 |
| BUCKINGHAM | I will, my lord; and doubt not so to deal |
| As all things shall redound unto your good. |
| KING HENRY VI | Come, wife, let's in, and learn to govern better; |
| For yet may England curse my wretched reign. |
| [Flourish. Exeunt] |
The Rebellion of Jack Cade