Smith the weaver,
and a sawyer, with infinite numbers.
Cade.
We John Cade, so term'd of our supposed
father—
Dick.
Or rather of stealing a cade of herrings.
Cade.
For our enemies shall fall before us, inspired
with the spirit of putting down Kings and Princes; command
silence.
Dick.
Silence.
Cade.
My father was a Mortimer—
Dick.
He was an honest man and a good bricklayer.
Cade.
My mother a Plantagenet—
Dick.
I knew her well, she was a midwife.
Cade.
My wife descended of the Lacies—
Dick.
She was indeed a pedlar's daughter, and sold
many laces.
Weav.
But, now of late, not able to travel with her
furr'd pack, she washes bucks here at home.
Cade.
Therefore am I of an honourable House.
Dick.
Ay, by my faith, the field is honourable; and
there was he born, under a hedge; for his father had
never a house but the cage.
Cade.
Valiant I am.
Weav.
A' must needs, for beggary is valiant.
-- 269 --
Cade.
I am able to endure much.
Dick.
No question of that; for I have seen him whipt
three market days together.
Cade.
I fear neither sword nor fire.
Weav.
He need not fear the sword, for his coat is of
proof.
Dick.
But, methinks, he should stand in fear of fire,
being burnt i'th' hand for stealing of sheep.
Cade.
Be brave then, for your Captain is brave, and
vows reformation. There shall be in England seven
half-penny loaves sold for a penny; the three-hoop'd
pot shall have ten hoops, and I will make it felony to
drink small beer. All the Realm shall be in common,
and in Cheapside shall my palfry go to grass; and when
I am King, as King I will be—
All.
God save your Majesty!
Cade.
I thank you, good people. There shall be no
mony; all shall eat and drink upon my score; and I will
apparel them all in one livery, that they may agree like
brothers, and worship me their lord.
Dick.
The first thing we do, let's kill all the lawyers.
Cade.
Nay, that I mean to do. Is not this a lamentable
thing, that the skin of an innocent lamb should be
made parchment; that parchment being scribbled o'er,
should undo a man? Some say, the bee stings; but I
say, 'tis bee's wax; for I did but seal once to a thing, and
I was never my own man since. How now? who is
there?
Enter a Clerk.
Weav.
The clerk of Chatham; he can write and read,
and cast accompt.
Cade.
O monstrous!
Weav.
We took him setting boys copies.
Cade.
Here's a villain!
Weav.
He'as a book in his pocket with red letters
in't.
Cade.
Nay, then he's a conjurer.
Dick.
Nay, he can make obligations, and write Courthand.
-- 270 --
Cade.
I am sorry for't: the man is a proper man, of
mine honour; unless I find him guilty, he shall not die.
Come hither, sirrah, I must examine thee; what is thy
name?
Clerk.
Emanuel.
Dick.
They use to write it on the top of letters:(16) note
'twill go hard with you.
Cade.
Let me alone. Dost thou use to write thy
name? or hast thou a Mark to thy self like an honest
plain dealing man?
Clerk.
Sir, I thank God, I have been so well brought
up, that I can write my name.
All.
He hath confest; away with him; he's a villain
and a traitor.
Cade.
Away with him, I say: hang him with his pen
and inkhorn about his neck.
[Exit one with the Clerk.
Enter Michael.
Mich.
Where is our General?
Cade.
Here I am, thou particular fellow.
Mich.
Fly, fly, fly; Sir Humphry Stafford and his
brother are hard by with the King's forces.
Cade.
Stand, villain, stand, or I'll fell thee down; he
shall be encounter'd with a man as good as himself.
He is but a Knight, is a'?
Mich.
No.
Cade.
To equal him, I will make my self a Knight
presently; rise up, Sir John Mortimer. Now have at
him. Is there any more of them that be Knights?(17) note
-- 271 --
Mich.
Ay, his Brother.
Cade.
Then kneel down, Dick Butcher. Rise up, Sir
Dick Butcher. Now sound up the Drum.
Enter Sir Humphry Stafford, and young Stafford, with drum and soldiers.
Staf.
Rebellious hinds, the filth and skum of Kent,
Mark'd for the gallows, lay your weapons down,
Home to your cottages, forsake this groom;
The King is merciful, if you revolt.
Y. Staf.
But angry, wrathful, and inclin'd to blood,
If you go forward; therefore yield, or die.
Cade.
As for these silken-coated slaves, I pass not;
It is to you, good People, that I speak,
O'er whom (in time to come) I hope to reign;
For I am rightful Heir unto the Crown.
Staf.
Villain, thy father was a plaisterer,
And thou thy self a shearman, art thou not?
Cade.
And Adam was a gardener.
Y. Staf.
And what of that?
Cade.
Marry, this.—Edmund Mortimer Earl of March
married the Duke of Clarence's daughter, did he not?
Staf.
Ay, Sir.
Cade.
By her he had two children at one birth.
Y. Staf.
That's false.
Cade.
Ay, there's the question; but I say, 'tis true:
The elder of them being put to nurse,
Was by a beggar-woman stol'n away;
And ignorant of his birth and parentage,
Became a bricklayer when he came to age:
His son am I; deny it, if you can.
Dick.
Nay, 'tis too true, therefore he shall be King.
Weav.
Sir, he made a chimney in my father's house,
and the bricks are alive at this day to testify it; therefore
deny it not.
Staf.
And will you credit this base drudge's words,
That speaks he knows not what?
All.
Ay, marry, will we; therefore get you gone.
Y. Staf.
Jack Cade, the Duke of York hath taught you
this.
-- 272 --
Cade.
He lies, for I invented it my self. Go to,
Sirrah, tell the King from me, that for his father's sake
Henry the Fifth (in whose time boys went to spancounter
for French crowns) I am content he shall reign; but
I'll be Protector over him.
Dick.
And furthermore we'll have the lord Say's head,
for selling the Dukedom of Maine.
Cade.
And good reason; for thereby is England maim'd,
and fain to go with a staff, but that my puissance holds it
up. Fellow-Kings, I tell you, that that lord Say hath
gelded the common-wealth, and made it an eunuch; and
more than that, he can speak French, and therefore he is
a traytor.
Staf.
O gross and miserable ignorance!
Cade.
Nay, answer if you can: the Frenchmen are our
enemies: go to then; I ask but this; can he, that speaks
with the tongue of the enemy, be a good counsellor or
no?
All.
No, no, and therefore we'll have his head.
Y. Staf.
Well, seeing gentle words will not prevail,
Assail them with the army of the King.
Staf.
Herald, away, and throughout every town
Proclaim them traitors that are up with Cade;
That those which fly before the battel ends,
May (even in their wives and childrens sight)
Be hang'd up for example at their doors;
And you, that be the King's friends, follow me.
[Exeunt the Two Staffords with their Train.
Cade.
And you, that love the Commons, follow me.
Now shew your selves men, 'tis for liberty.
We will not leave one lord, one gentleman;
Spare none, but such as go in clouted shoone,
For they are thrifty honest men, and such
As would (but that they dare not) take our parts.
Dick.
They are all in order, and march toward us.
Cade.
But then are we in order, when we are most out
of order. Come, march forward.
[Exeunt Cade and his party.
[Alarum to fight, wherein both the Staffords are slain.
-- 273 --
Re-enter Cade and the rest.
Cade.
Where's Dick, the butcher of Ashford?
Dick.
Here, Sir.
Cade.
They fell before thee like sheep and oxen, and
thou behaved'st thy self as if thou hadst been in thine
own slaughter-house; therefore thus I will reward thee:
the Lent shall be as long again as it is, and thou shalt
have a license to kill for a hundred lacking one.
Dick.
I desire no more.
Cade.
And to speak truth, thou deserv'st no less. This
monument of the victory will I bear, and the bodies shall
be dragg'd at my horse's heels, till I do come to London,
where we will have the Mayor's Sword borne before us.
Dick.
If we mean to thrive and do good, break open
the goals, and let out the prisoners.
Cade.
Fear not that, I warrant thee. Come, let's
march towards London.
[Exeunt.
Lewis Theobald [1733], The works of Shakespeare: in seven volumes. Collated with the Oldest Copies, and Corrected; With notes, Explanatory and Critical; By Mr. Theobald (Printed for A. Bettesworth and C. Hitch [and] J. Tonson [etc.], London) [word count] [S11201].
