Tower walking. Then enter two
or three Citizens below.
Scales.
How now? is Jack Cade slain?
1 Cit.
No my lord, nor like to be slain: for they
have won the bridge, killing all those that withstand them: the
Lord-Mayor craves aid of your honour from the Tower to defend
the city from the rebels.
Scales.
Such aid as I can spare you shall command,
But I am troubled here with them my self.
The rebels have assay'd to win the Tower.
But get you into Smithfield, gather head,
And thither will I send you Matthew Goff.
Fight for your King, your country and your lives,
And so farewel, for I must hence again.
[Exeunt.
-- 183 --
Enter Jack Cade and the rest, and strikes his staff on London Stone.
Cade.
Now is Mortimer lord of this city, and here sitting upon
London Stone, I charge and command that of the city's cost the
pissing conduit run nothing but claret wine the first year of our
reign. And now henceforward it shall be treason for any that
calls me other than lord Mortimer.
Enter a soldier running.
Sol.
Jack Cade, Jack Cade!
Cade.
Knock him down there.
[They kill him.
Weav.
If this fellow be wise, he'll never call you Jack Cade
more, I think he hath a very fair warning.
Dick.
My lord, there's an army gathered together in Smithfield.
Cade.
Come then let's go fight with them: but first go and
set London-Bridge on fire, and if you can, burn down the Tower
too. Come, let's away.
[Exeunt omnes.
Alarum. Matthew Goff is slain, and all the rest. Then enter Jack Cade with his company.
Cade.
So Sirs: Now go some and pull down the Savoy: others
to the Inns of courts, down with them all.
Dick.
I have a suit unto your lordship.
Cade.
Be it a lordship, thou shalt have it for that word.
Dick.
Only that the laws of England may come out of your
mouth.
John.
Mass, 'twill be sore law then, for he was thrust in the
mouth with a spear, and 'tis not whole yet.
Smith.
Nay, John, it will be stinking law, for his breath
stinks with toasted cheese.
-- 184 --
Cade.
I have thought upon it, it shall be so. Away, burn all
the records of the realm, my mouth shall be the parliament of
England.
John.
Then we are like to have biting statutes, unless his
teeth be pull'd out.
Cade.
And henceforward all things shall be in common.
George Sewell [1723–5], The works of Shakespear in six [seven] volumes. Collated and Corrected by the former Editions, By Mr. Pope ([Vol. 7] Printed by J. Darby, for A. Bettesworth [and] F. Fayram [etc.], London) [word count] [S11101].
