Cade.

Well, he shall be beheaded for it ten times. Ah, thou say, thou serge, nay, thou buckram lord! now art thou

within point-blank ^note of our jurisdiction regal. What canst thou answer to my majesty for giving ^note up of Normandy unto Mounsieur ^note Basimecu, the dauphin of France? Be it known unto thee by these presence ^note, even the presence of Lord Mortimer, that I am the besom that must sweep the court clean of such filth as thou art. Thou hast most traitorously corrupted the youth of the realm in erecting a grammar school: and whereas, before, our forefathers had no other books but the score and the tally, thou hast caused printing to be used, and, contrary to the king, his crown and dignity, thou hast built a paper-mill. It will be proved to thy face that thou hast men about thee that usually talk of a noun and a verb, and such abominable words as no Christian ear can endure to hear. Thou hast appointed justices of peace ^note, to call poor men before them about matters they were not able to answer. Moreover, thou hast put them in prison; and because they ^note could not read, thou hast hanged them; when, indeed, only for that cause they have been most worthy to live. Thou dost ride in ^note a foot-cloth, dost thou not?

Say.

What of that?

Cade.

Marry, thou oughtest not to let thy horse wear a cloak, when honester men than thou go in their hose and doublets.

Dick.

And work in their shirt too; as myself, for example, that am a butcher.

Say.

You men of Kent,—

Dick.

What ^note say you of Kent? ^note

Say.
Nothing but this; 'tis ^note ‘bona terra, mala gens.’

Cade.
Away with him, away with him! he speaks Latin.

Say.
Hear me but speak, and bear me where ^note you will.
Kent, in the Commentaries Cæsar writ,
Is term'd the civil'st place of all this isle:
Sweet is the country, because full ^note of riches;

The people liberal, valiant, active, wealthy ^note;
Which makes me hope you are ^note not void of pity.
I sold not Maine, I lost not Normandy,
Yet ^note, to recover them, would lose my life.
Justice with favour have I always done;
Prayers and tears have moved me, gifts could never.
When have I aught exacted at your hands,
But to maintain the king, the realm and you? ^note
Large gifts have I bestow'd on learned clerks,
Because my book ^note preferr'd me to the king,
And seeing ignorance is the curse of God,
Knowledge the wing wherewith we fly to heaven,
Unless you be possess'd with devilish spirits,
You ^note cannot but forbear to murder me:
This tongue hath parley'd unto foreign kings
For your behoof,— ^note

Cade.
Tut ^note, when struck'st ^note thou one blow in the field?

Say.
Great men have reaching hands: oft have I struck
Those that I never ^note saw and struck them dead.

Geo.
O monstrous coward! what, to come behind folks?

Say.
These cheeks are pale for ^note watching for your good.

Cade.

Give him a box o' the ear and that will make 'em red again.

Say.
Long sitting to determine poor men's causes
Hath made me full of sickness and diseases.

Cade.

Ye shall have a hempen caudle ^note then and the help of hatchet ^note.

Dick.

Why dost thou quiver, man?

Say.

The palsy ^note, and not fear, provokes ^note me.

Cade.

Nay, he nods at us, as who should say, I'll be even with you: I'll see if his head will stand steadier on a pole, or no. Take him away, and behead him.

Say.
Tell me wherein have I offended most?
Have I affected wealth or honour? speak.
Are my chests fill'd up with extorted gold?
Is my apparel sumptuous to behold?
Whom have I injured, that ye seek my death?
These hands are free from guiltless blood-shedding,
This breast from harbouring foul deceitful thoughts.
O, let me live!

Cade. [Aside]

I feel remorse in myself with his words; but I'll bridle it: he shall die, an ^note it be but for pleading so well for his life ^note. Away with him! he has a familiar under his tongue; he speaks ^note not ^note o' ^note God's name. Go, take him away, I say, and strike off his head presently; and then break into his son-in-law's house, Sir James ^note Cromer, and strike off his head, and bring them both upon two poles hither.

All.

It shall be done.

Say.
Ah, countrymen! if when you make your prayers,
God should be so obdurate as yourselves,
How would it fare with your departed souls?
And therefore yet relent, and save my life.

Cade.
Away with him! and do as I command ye. [Exeunt ^note some with Lord Say.

The proudest peer in the ^note realm shall not wear a head on his shoulders, unless he pay me tribute; there shall not a maid be married, but she shall pay to me ^note her maidenhead ere they have it: men shall hold of me in capite; and we charge and command that their wives be as free as heart can wish or tongue can tell.

Dick.

My lord, when shall we go to Cheapside and take up commodities upon our bills?

Cade.

Marry, presently.

All.

O, brave!

Cade.

But is not this braver ^note? Let them kiss one another, for they loved well when they were alive ^note. Now part them again, lest they consult about the giving up of some more towns in France. Soldiers, defer the spoil of the city until night: for with these borne before us, instead of maces, will we ride through the streets; and at every corner have them kiss. Away! ^note