Act 4, Scene 4

Modern spelling. Stage directions omitted.

Listen to Act 4. LibriVox volunteers recorded “Act 4” as one track, so it runs past this scene and includes stage directions this page leaves out. LibriVox catalog.

QUEEN MARGARET

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 MARGARET

Ah, barbarous villains! this lovely face
Ruled, like a wandering planet, over me,
And could it not enforce them to relent
That were unworthy to behold the same?

KING HENRY

Lord Saye, Jack Cade sworn to have head.

SAYE

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,
not have mourned so much for me.

QUEEN MARGARET

No, my love, I should not mourn, but die for .

KING HENRY

How now, what news? Why com’st 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
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 raised to put them down.

QUEEN MARGARET

Ah, were the Duke of Suffolk now alive,
These Kentish rebels would be soon appeased!

KING HENRY

Lord Saye, the traitors hate ;
Therefore away with us to Killingworth.

SAYE

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.

MESSENGER

Jack Cade 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.

BUCKINGHAM

Then linger not, my lord; away, take horse!

KING HENRY

Come, Margaret. God, our hope, will succour us.

QUEEN MARGARET

My hope is gone, now Suffolk is deceased.

KING HENRY

Farewell, my lord. Trust not the Kentish rebels.

BUCKINGHAM

Trust nobody, for fear you be betrayed.

SAYE

The trust I have is in mine innocence,
And therefore am I bold and resolute.