ACT IV. 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?
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| BUCKINGHAM. | What answer makes your Grace to the rebels'
supplication?
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| 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.
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| 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?
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| KING HENRY. | Lord Say, Jack Cade hath sworn to have thy head.
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| SAY. | write_ads(1,1)> Ay, but I hope your Highness shall have his.
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| 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.
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| QUEEN. | No, my love, I should not mourn, but die for thee.
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Enter A MESSENGER
| KING HENRY. | How now! What news? Why com'st thou in such haste?
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| 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.
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| KING HENRY. | O graceless men! they know not what they do.
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| BUCKINGHAM. | My gracious lord, retire to Killingworth
Until a power be rais'd to put them down.
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| QUEEN. | Ah, were the Duke of Suffolk now alive,
These Kentish rebels would be soon appeas'd!
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| KING HENRY. | Lord Say, the traitors hate thee;
Therefore away with us to Killingworth.
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| SAY. | So might your Grace's person be in danger.
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.
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Enter another MESSENGER
| SECOND MESSENGER. | Jack Cade hath gotten London Bridge.
The citizens fly and forsake their houses;
The rascal people, thirsting after prey,
Join with the traitor; and they jointly swear
To spoil the city and your royal court.
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| BUCKINGHAM. | Then linger not, my lord; away, take horse.
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| KING HENRY. | Come Margaret; God, our hope, will succour us.
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| QUEEN. | My hope is gone, now Suffolk is deceas'd.
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| KING HENRY. | [To LORD SAY] Farewell, my lord, trust not the Kentish
rebels.
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| BUCKINGHAM. | Trust nobody, for fear you be betray'd.
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| SAY. | The trust I have is in mine innocence,
And therefore am I bold and resolute
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Exeunt
Next
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