William Shakespeare: King Henry VI, Second Part

ACT V. 1. SCENE I. Fields between Dartford and Blackheath. (continued)

YORK.
Upon thine honour, is he prisoner?

BUCKINGHAM.
Upon mine honour, he is prisoner.

YORK.
Then, Buckingham, I do dismiss my powers.--
Soldiers, I thank you all; disperse yourselves;
Meet me to-morrow in Saint George's field,
You shall have pay and everything you wish.--
And let my sovereign, virtuous Henry,
Command my eldest son, nay, all my sons,
As pledges of my fealty and love,
I'll send them all as willing as I live;
Lands, goods, horse, armour, anything I have,
Is his to use, so Somerset may die.

BUCKINGHAM.
York, I commend this kind submission;
We twain will go into his highness' tent.

[Enter KING and Attendants.]

KING.
Buckingham, doth York intend no harm to us,
That thus he marcheth with thee arm in arm?

YORK.
In all submission and humility
York doth present himself unto your highness.

KING.
Then what intends these forces thou dost bring?

YORK.
To heave the traitor Somerset from hence,
And fight against that monstrous rebel Cade,
Who since I heard to be discomfited.

[Enter IDEN, with CADE's head.]

IDEN.
If one so rude and of so mean condition
May pass into the presence of a king,
Lo, I present your grace a traitor's head,
The head of Cade, whom I in combat slew.

KING.
The head of Cade!--Great God, how just art Thou!--
O, let me view his visage, being dead,
That living wrought me such exceeding trouble.
Tell me, my friend, art thou the man that slew him?

IDEN.
I was, an 't like your majesty.

KING.
How art thou call'd? and what is thy degree?

IDEN.
Alexander Iden, that's my name;
A poor esquire of Kent, that loves his king.