TPTT The Second Part of Henry the Sixth: ACT IV
Introduction
ACT I
ACT II
ACT III
ACT IV
SCENE I. The coast of Kent.
SCENE II. Blackheath.
SCENE III. Another part of Blackheath.
SCENE IV. London. The palace.
SCENE V. London. The Tower.
SCENE VI. London. Cannon Street.
SCENE VII. London. Smithfield.
SCENE VIII. Southwark.
SCENE IX. Kenilworth Castle.
SCENE X. Kent. IDEN's garden.
ACT V
About the Play
Feedback
  Search:   
for:

Amazon Honor System Click Here to Pay Learn More
SCENE VII. London. Smithfield.
Alarums. MATTHEW GOFFE is slain, and all the rest. Then enter CADE, with his company.
CADE
      So, sirs: now go some and pull down the Savoy;
      others to the inns of court; down with them all.
DICK
      I have a suit unto your lordship.
CADE
      Be it a lordship, thou shalt have it for that word.
DICK
5     Only that the laws of England may come out of your mouth.
HOLLAND
      (Aside) Mass, 'twill be sore law, then; for he was
      thrust in the mouth with a spear, and 'tis not whole
      yet.
SMITH
      (Aside) Nay, John, it will be stinking law for his
10    breath stinks with eating toasted cheese.
CADE
      I have thought upon it, it shall be so. Away, burn
      all the records of the realm: my mouth shall be
      the parliament of England.
HOLLAND
      (Aside) Then we are like to have biting statutes,
15    unless his teeth be pulled out.
CADE
      And henceforward all things shall be in common.
Enter a Messenger
Messenger
      My lord, a prize, a prize! here's the Lord Say,
      which sold the towns in France; he that made us pay
      one and twenty fifteens, and one shilling to the
20    pound, the last subsidy.
Enter BEVIS, with Lord SAY
CADE
      Well, he shall be beheaded for it ten times. Ah,
      thou say, thou serge, nay, thou buckram lord! now
      art thou within point-blank of our jurisdiction
      regal. What canst thou answer to my majesty for
25    giving up of Normandy unto Mounsieur Basimecu, the
      dauphin of France? Be it known unto thee by these
      presence, even the presence of Lord Mortimer, that I
      am the besom that must sweep the court clean of such
      filth as thou art. Thou hast most traitorously
30    corrupted the youth of the realm in erecting a
      grammar school; and whereas, before, our forefathers
      had no other books but the score and the tally, thou
      hast caused printing to be used, and, contrary to
      the king, his crown and dignity, thou hast built a
35    paper-mill. It will be proved to thy face that thou
      hast men about thee that usually talk of a noun and
      a verb, and such abominable words as no Christian
      ear can endure to hear. Thou hast appointed
      justices of peace, to call poor men before them
40    about matters they were not able to answer.
      Moreover, thou hast put them in prison; and because
      they could not read, thou hast hanged them; when,
      indeed, only for that cause they have been most
      worthy to live. Thou dost ride in a foot-cloth, dost thou not?
SAY
45    What of that?
CADE
      Marry, thou oughtest not to let thy horse wear a
      cloak, when honester men than thou go in their hose
      and doublets.
DICK
      And work in their shirt too; as myself, for example,
50    that am a butcher.
SAY
      You men of Kent,--
DICK
      What say you of Kent?
SAY
      Nothing but this; 'tis 'bona terra, mala gens.'
CADE
      Away with him, away with him! he speaks Latin.
SAY
55    Hear me but speak, and bear me where you will.
      Kent, in the Commentaries Caesar writ,
      Is term'd the civil'st place of this isle:
      Sweet is the country, because full of riches;
      The people liberal, valiant, active, wealthy;
60    Which makes me hope you are not void of pity.
      I sold not Maine, I lost not Normandy,
      Yet, to recover them, would lose my life.
      Justice with favour have I always done;
      Prayers and tears have moved me, gifts could never.
65    When have I aught exacted at your hands,
      But to maintain the king, the realm and you?
      Large gifts have I bestow'd on learned clerks,
      Because my book preferr'd me to the king,
      And seeing ignorance is the curse of God,
70    Knowledge the wing wherewith we fly to heaven,
      Unless you be possess'd with devilish spirits,
      You cannot but forbear to murder me:
      This tongue hath parley'd unto foreign kings
      For your behoof,--
CADE
75    Tut, when struck'st thou one blow in the field?
SAY
      Great men have reaching hands: oft have I struck
      Those that I never saw and struck them dead.
BEVIS
      O monstrous coward! what, to come behind folks?
SAY
      These cheeks are pale for watching for your good.
CADE
80    Give him a box o' the ear and that will make 'em red again.
SAY
      Long sitting to determine poor men's causes
      Hath made me full of sickness and diseases.
CADE
      Ye shall have a hempen caudle, then, and the help of hatchet.
DICK
      Why dost thou quiver, man?
SAY
85    The palsy, and not fear, provokes me.
CADE
      Nay, he nods at us, as who should say, I'll be even
      with you: I'll see if his head will stand steadier
      on a pole, or no. Take him away, and behead him.
SAY
      Tell me wherein have I offended most?
90    Have I affected wealth or honour? speak.
      Are my chests fill'd up with extorted gold?
      Is my apparel sumptuous to behold?
      Whom have I injured, that ye seek my death?
      These hands are free from guiltless bloodshedding,
95    This breast from harbouring foul deceitful thoughts.
      O, let me live!
CADE
      (Aside) I feel remorse in myself with his words;
      but I'll bridle it: he shall die, an it be but for
      pleading so well for his life. Away with him! he
100   has a familiar under his tongue; he speaks not o'
      God's name. Go, take him away, I say, and strike
      off his head presently; and then break into his
      son-in-law's house, Sir James Cromer, and strike off
      his head, and bring them both upon two poles hither.
ALL
105   It shall be done.
SAY
      Ah, countrymen! if when you make your prayers,
      God should be so obdurate as yourselves,
      How would it fare with your departed souls?
      And therefore yet relent, and save my life.
CADE
110   Away with him! and do as I command ye.

Exeunt some with Lord SAY

      The proudest peer in the realm shall not wear a head
      on his shoulders, unless he pay me tribute; there
      shall not a maid be married, but she shall pay to me
      her maidenhead ere they have it: men shall hold of
115   me in capite; and we charge and command that their
      wives be as free as heart can wish or tongue can tell.
DICK
      My lord, when shall we go to Cheapside and take up
      commodities upon our bills?
CADE
      Marry, presently.
ALL
120   O, brave!
Re-enter one with the heads
CADE
      But is not this braver? Let them kiss one another,
      for they loved well when they were alive. Now part
      them again, lest they consult about the giving up of
      some more towns in France. Soldiers, defer the
125   spoil of the city until night: for with these borne
      before us, instead of maces, will we ride through
      the streets, and at every corner have them kiss. Away!
Exeunt
Return to top of page ... or ... Go to next scene