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King Henry VI, Part 2: Act 4 Scene 8

Scene VIII Southwark.

[Alarum and retreat. Enter CADE and all his

rabblement]

CADE

Up Fish Street! down Saint Magnus' Corner! Kill

and knock down! throw them into Thames!

[Sound a parley]

What noise is this I hear? Dare any be so bold to

sound retreat or parley, when I command them kill?

[Enter BUCKINGHAM and CLIFFORD, attended]

BUCKINGHAM

Ay, here they be that dare and will disturb thee:

Know, Cade, we come ambassadors from the king

Unto the commons whom thou hast misled;

And here pronounce free pardon to them all

That will forsake thee and go home in peace.

CLIFFORD

What say ye, countrymen? will ye relent,

And yield to mercy whilst 'tis offer'd you;

Or let a rebel lead you to your deaths?

Who loves the king and will embrace his pardon,

Fling up his cap, and say 'God save his majesty!'

Who hateth him and honours not his father,

Henry the Fifth, that made all France to quake,

Shake he his weapon at us and pass by.

ALL

God save the king! God save the king!

CADE

What, Buckingham and Clifford, are ye so brave? And

you, base peasants, do ye believe him? will you

needs be hanged with your pardons about your necks?

Hath my sword therefore broke through London gates,

that you should leave me at the White Hart in

Southwark? I thought ye would never have given out

these arms till you had recovered your ancient

freedom: but you are all recreants and dastards,

and delight to live in slavery to the nobility. Let

them break your backs with burthens, take your

houses over your heads, ravish your wives and

daughters before your faces: for me, I will make

shift for one; and so, God's curse light upon you

all!

ALL

We'll follow Cade, we'll follow Cade!

CLIFFORD

Is Cade the son of Henry the Fifth,

That thus you do exclaim you'll go with him?

Will he conduct you through the heart of France,

And make the meanest of you earls and dukes?

Alas, he hath no home, no place to fly to;

Nor knows he how to live but by the spoil,

Unless by robbing of your friends and us.

Were't not a shame, that whilst you live at jar,

The fearful French, whom you late vanquished,

Should make a start o'er seas and vanquish you?

Methinks already in this civil broil

I see them lording it in London streets,

Crying 'Villiago!' unto all they meet.

Better ten thousand base-born Cades miscarry

Than you should stoop unto a Frenchman's mercy.

To France, to France, and get what you have lost;

Spare England, for it is your native coast;

Henry hath money, you are strong and manly;

God on our side, doubt not of victory.

ALL

A Clifford! a Clifford! we'll follow the king and Clifford.

CADE

Was ever feather so lightly blown to and fro as this

multitude? The name of Henry the Fifth hales them

to an hundred mischiefs, and makes them leave me

desolate. I see them lay their heads together to

surprise me. My sword make way for me, for here is

no staying. In despite of the devils and hell, have

through the very middest of you? and heavens and

honour be witness, that no want of resolution in me.

but only my followers' base and ignominious

treasons, makes me betake me to my heels.

[Exit]

BUCKINGHAM

What, is he fled? Go some, and follow him;

And he that brings his head unto the king

Shall have a thousand crowns for his reward.

[Exeunt some of them]

Follow me, soldiers: we'll devise a mean

To reconcile you all unto the king.

[Exeunt]