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STAFFORD。 Ay； sir。 CADE。 By her he had two children at one birth。
WILLIAM STAFFORD。 That's false。 CADE。 Ay； there's the question； but
I say 'tis true。 The elder of them being put to nurse； Was by a beggar…
woman stol'n away； And； ignorant of his birth and parentage； Became a
bricklayer when he came to age。 His son am I； deny it if you can。 DICK。
Nay； 'tis too true； therefore he shall be king。 SMITH。 Sir； he made a
chimney in my father's house； and the bricks are alive at this day to testify
it； therefore deny it not。 STAFFORD。 And will you credit this base
drudge's words That speaks he knows not what？ ALL。 Ay； marry； will we；
therefore get ye gone。 WILLIAM STAFFORD。 Jack Cade； the Duke of
York hath taught you this。 CADE。 ＇Aside＇ He lies； for I invented it myself…
Go to； sirrah； tell the King from me that for his father's sake； Henry the
Fifth； in whose time boys went to span…counter for French crowns； I am
content he shall reign； but I'll be Protector over him。 DICK。 And
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furthermore； we'll have the Lord Say's head for selling the dukedom of
Maine。 CADE。 And good reason； for thereby is England main'd and fain to
go with a staff； but that my puissance holds it up。 Fellow kings； I tell you
that that Lord Say hath gelded the commonwealth and made it an eunuch；
and more than that； he can speak French； and therefore he is a traitor。
STAFFORD。 O gross and miserable ignorance！ CADE。 Nay； answer if you
can； the Frenchmen are our enemies。 Go to； then； I ask but this： can he that
speaks with the tongue of an enemy be a good counsellor； or no？ ALL。 No；
no； and therefore we'll have his head。 WILLIAM STAFFORD。 Well；
seeing gentle words will not prevail； Assail them with the army of the
King。 STAFFORD。 Herald； away； and throughout every town Proclaim
them traitors that are up with Cade； That those which fly before the battle
ends May； even in their wives'and children's sight； Be hang'd up for
example at their doors。 And you that be the King's friends； follow me。
Exeunt the TWO STAFFORDS and soldiers CADE。 And you that love the
commons follow me。 Now show yourselves men； 'tis for liberty。 We will
not leave one lord； one gentleman； Spare none but such as go in clouted
shoon； For they are thrifty honest men and such As would… but that they
dare not… take our parts。 DICK。 They are all in order； and march toward us。
CADE。 But then are we in order when we are most out of order。 Come；
march forward。 Exeunt
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SCENE III。 Another part of Blackheath
Alarums to the fight； wherein both the STAFFORDS are
slain。Enter CADE and the rest
CADE。 Where's Dick； the butcher of Ashford？ DICK。 Here； sir。
CADE。 They fell before thee like sheep and oxen； and thou behavedst
thyself as if thou hadst been in thine own slaughter…house； therefore thus
will I reward thee… the Lent shall be as long again as it is； and thou shalt
have a licence to kill for a hundred lacking one。 DICK。 I desire no more。
CADE。 And； to speak truth； thou deserv'st no less。 ＇Putting on SIR
HUMPHREY'S brigandine＇ This monument of the victory will I bear； and
the bodies shall be dragged at my horse heels till I do come to London；
where we will have the mayor's sword borne before us。 DICK。 If we mean
to thrive and do good； break open the gaols and let out the prisoners。
CADE。 Fear not that； I warrant thee。 Come； let's march towards London。
Exeunt
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SCENE IV。 London。 The palace
Enter the KING with a supplication； and the QUEEN with
SUFFOLK'S head； the DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM； and the LORD
SAY
QUEEN。 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； But where's the body that I should embrace？
BUCKINGHAM。 What answer makes your Grace to the rebels'
supplication？ KING HENRY。 I'll send some holy bishop to entreat； For
God forbid so many simple souls 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。 Ah；
barbarous villains！ Hath this lovely face Rul'd like a wandering planet
over me； And could it not enforce them to relent That were unworthy to
behold the same？ KING HENRY。 Lord Say； Jack Cade hath sworn to have
thy head。 SAY。 Ay； but I hope your Highness shall have his。 KING
HENRY。 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。 No； my love； I should not mourn； but
die for thee。
Enter A MESSENGER
KING HENRY。 How now！ What news？ Why com'st 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； 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。 All scholars； lawyers；
courtiers； gentlemen； They call false caterpillars and intend their death。
KING HENRY。 O graceless men！ they know not what they do。
BUCKINGHAM。 My gracious lord； retire to Killingworth Until a power
be rais'd to put them down。 QUEEN。 Ah； were the Duke of Suffolk now
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alive； These Kentish rebels would be soon appeas'd！ KING HENRY。 Lord
Say； the traitors hate t