Act IV, Scene 4

London. The palace.

[Enter KING HENRY VI with a supplication, and the] [p]QUEEN with SUFFOLK'S head, BUCKINGHAM and Lord SAY]

• 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. 2525
  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?

• Duke of Buckingham. What answer makes your grace to the rebels'
  supplication? 2530

• 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: 2535
  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? 2540

• Henry VI. Lord Say, Jack Cade hath sworn to have thy head.

• Lord Say. Ay, but I hope your highness shall have his.

• Henry VI. How now, madam!
  Still lamenting and mourning for Suffolk's death?
  I fear me, love, if that I had been dead, 2545
  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]

• Henry VI. How now! what news? why comest thou in such haste?

• Messenger. The rebels are in Southwark; fly, my lord! 2550
  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 2555
  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. 2560

• Henry VI. O graceless men! they know not what they do.

• Duke of 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! 2565

• Henry VI. Lord Say, the traitors hate thee;
  Therefore away with us to Killingworth.

• Lord 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 2570
  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, 2575
  Join with the traitor, and they jointly swear
  To spoil the city and your royal court.

• Duke of Buckingham. Then linger not, my lord, away, take horse.

• Henry VI. Come, Margaret; God, our hope, will succor us.

• Queen Margaret. My hope is gone, now Suffolk is deceased. 2580

• Henry VI. Farewell, my lord: trust not the Kentish rebels.

• Duke of Buckingham. Trust nobody, for fear you be betray'd.

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

[Exeunt]