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 of our jurisdiction regal. What canst thou answer to my Majesty for giving up of Normandy unto Monsieur Basimecu, the Dauphin of France? be it known unto thee by these presents, 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 traiterously corrupted the youth of the Realm in erecting a grammar-school; and whereas before, our fore-fathers had no other books but the score and the tally, thou hast caused

printing to be us'd; and contrary to the King, his crown and dignity, thou hast built a paper-mill. It will be prov'd 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 the peace to call poor men before them, about matters they were not able to answer. Moreover, thou hast put them in prison; and because they could not read, thou hast hang'd them; when, indeed, only for that cause they have been most worthy to live. Thou dost ride on a foot-cloth, dost thou not?

Say.

What of that?

Cade.

Marry, thou ought'st 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 say you of Kent?

Say.

Nothing but this: 'Tis bona terra, mala gens.

Cade.

Away with him, away with him, he speaks latin.

Say.
Hear me but speak, and bear me where 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 of riches.
The people liberal, valiant, active, wealthy,
Which makes me hope thou art not void of pity.
I sold not Maine; I lost not Normandy;
Yet, to recover them, would lose my life:
Justice with favour have I always done;
Prayers and tears have mov'd me, gifts could never:
When have I aught exacted at your hands?
Kent to maintain, the King, the realm and you,
Large gifts have I bestow'd on learned clerks;
Because my book preferr'd me to the King:

And seeing, ignorance is the curse of God,
Knowledge the wing wherewith we fly to heav'n,
Unless you be possest with dev'lish spirits,
Ye cannot but forbear to murther me:
This tongue hath parlied unto foreign Kings
For your behoof.

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

Say.
Great men have reaching hands; oft have I struck
Those that I never saw, and struck them dead.

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

Say.
These cheeks are pale with watching for your good.

Cade.
Give him a box o'th' ear, and that will make 'em red again.

Say.
Long sitting to determine poor mens' Causes
Hath made me full of sickness and diseases.

Cade.

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

Dick.

Why dost thou quiver, man?

Say.

The palsie, and not fear, provokes 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 injur'd, that ye seek my death?
These hands are free from guiltless blood-shedding;
This breast from harb'ring foul deceitful thoughts.
O, let me live!—

Cade.

I feel remorse in myself with his words; but I'll bridle it; he shall die, an it be but for pleading so well for his life. Away with him, he has a Familiar

under his tongue, he speaks not o' 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 Cromer, and strike off his head, and bring them Both upon two poles hither.

All.

It shall be done.

Say.
Ah, Country-men, if when you make your pray'rs,
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: the proudest Peer of the 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 me 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? Let them kiss one another; for they lov'd well when they were alive: 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.

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