| [Enter KING HENRY VI with a supplication, and the QUEEN with SUFFOLK'S head, BUCKINGHAM and Lord SAY] |
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| QUEEN MARGARET | 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 VI | 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! hath 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 VI | Lord Say, Jack Cade hath sworn to have thy head. |
| SAY | Ay, but I hope your highness shall have his. |
| KING HENRY VI | 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 MARGARET | No, my love, I should not mourn, but die for thee. |
| [Enter a Messenger] | |
| KING HENRY VI | How now! what news? why comest 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 VI | O graceless men! they know not what they do. |
| BUCKINGHAM | My gracious lord, return 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 VI | Lord Say, the traitors hate thee; Therefore away with us to Killingworth. |
| 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. |
| [Enter another Messenger] | |
| 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. |
| BUCKINGHAM | Then linger not, my lord, away, take horse. |
| KING HENRY VI | Come, Margaret; God, our hope, will succor us. |
| QUEEN MARGARET | My hope is gone, now Suffolk is deceased. |
| KING HENRY VI | Farewell, my lord: trust not the Kentish rebels. |
| BUCKINGHAM | Trust nobody, for fear you be betray'd. |
| SAY | The trust I have is in mine innocence, And therefore am I bold and resolute. |
| [Exeunt] |