| ACT IV SCENE IV | London. The palace. | |
| | Enter KING HENRY VI with a supplication, and theQUEEN 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. | |
| | But who can cease to weep and look on this? | 5 |
| | 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; | 10 |
| | 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. | 15 |
| 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. | 20 |
| 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. | 25 |
| 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, | 30 |
| | 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 | 35 |
| | 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, | 40 |
| | 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. | 45 |
| 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: | 50 |
| | 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. | 55 |
| 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, | 60 |
| | And therefore am I bold and resolute. | |
| | Exeunt | |
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