London. A Room in the Palace.
 Enter the KING with a supplication, and QUEEN MARGARET
 with Suffolk's head; the Duke of BUCKINGHAM, and the LORD SAY.

Margaret	[Aside.] 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	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.

Margaret	[Aside.] 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	Lord Say, Jack Cade hath sworn to have thy head.

Lord Say	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,
	Thou wouldst not have mourned so much for me.

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

                            Enter a MESSENGER.

King Henry	How now, what news? Why com'st thou in such haste?

1st 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	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.

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

King Henry	Lord Say, the traitors hateth 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,
	And live alone as secret as I may.

                         Enter another MESSENGER.

2nd 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	Come, Margaret; God, our hope, will succour us.

Margaret	[Aside.] 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.

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