George Bevis

Come, and get thee a sword, though made of a lath: they have been up these two days.

John Holland

They have the more need to sleep now, then.

George Bevis

I tell thee, Jack Cade the clothier means to dress the commonwealth, and turn it, and set a new nap upon it.

John Holland

So he had need, for 'tis threadbare. Well, I say it was never merry world in England since gentlemen came up.

George Bevis

O miserable age! virtue is not regarded in handicrafts-men.

John Holland

The nobility think scorn to go in leather aprons.

George Bevis

Nay, more, the king's council are no good workmen.

John Holland

True; and yet it is said, labour in thy vocation; which is as much to say as, let the magistrates be labouring men; and therefore should we be magistrates.

George Bevis

Thou hast hit it; for there's no better sign of a brave mind than a hard hand.

John Holland

I see them! I see them! There's Best's son, the tanner of Wingham, —

George Bevis

He shall have the skins of our enemies, to make dog's-leather of.

John Holland

And Dick the Butcher, —

George Bevis

Then is sin struck down like an ox, and iniquity's throat cut like a calf.

John Holland

And Smith the weaver, —

George Bevis

Argo, their thread of life is spun.

John Holland

Come, come, let's fall in with them.

Jack Cade

We, John Cade, so termed of our supposed father, —

Dick the butcher

Or rather, of stealing a cade of herrings.

Jack Cade

For our enemies shall fall before us, inspired with the spirit of putting down kings and princes, — Command silence.

Dick the butcher

Silence!

Jack Cade

My father was a Mortimer, —

Dick the butcher

He was an honest man, and a good bricklayer.

Jack Cade

My mother a Plantagenet, —

Dick the butcher

I knew her well; she was a midwife.

Jack Cade

My wife descended of the Lacies, —

Dick the butcher

She was, indeed, a pedlar's daughter, and sold many laces.

Smith the weaver

But now of late, not able to travel with her furred pack, she washes bucks here at home.

Jack Cade

Therefore am I of an honourable house.

Dick the butcher

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.

Jack Cade

Valiant I am.

Smith the weaver

'A must needs; for beggary is valiant.

Jack Cade

I am able to endure much.

Dick the butcher

No question of that; for I have seen him whipped three market-days together.

Jack Cade

I fear neither sword nor fire.

Smith the weaver

He need not fear the sword; for his coat is of proof.

Dick the butcher

But methinks he should stand in fear of fire, being burnt i' the hand for stealing of sheep.

Jack Cade

Be brave, then; for your captain is brave, and vows reformation. There shall be in England seven halfpenny loaves sold for a penny: the three-hooped 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 palfrey go to grass: and when I am king, as king I will be, —

All

God save your majesty!

Jack Cade

I thank you, good people: there shall be no money; all shall eat and drink on my score; and I will apparel them all in one livery, that they may agree like brothers and worship me their lord.

Dick the butcher

The first thing we do, let's kill all the lawyers.

Jack Cade

Nay, that I mean to do. Is not this a lamentable thing, that of 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 the bee's wax; for I did but seal once to a thing, and I was never mine own man since. How now! who's there?

Smith the weaver

The clerk of Chatham: he can write and read and cast accompt.

Jack Cade

O monstrous!

Smith the weaver

We took him setting of boys' copies.

Jack Cade

Here's a villain!

Smith the weaver

He's a book in his pocket with red letters in't.

Jack Cade

Nay, then, he is a conjurer.

Dick the butcher

Nay, he can make obligations, and write court-hand.

Jack 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 of Chatham.

Emmanuel.

Dick the butcher

They use to write it on the top of letters: 'twill go hard with you.

Jack Cade

Let me alone. Dost thou use to write thy name? or hast thou a mark to thyself, like a honest plain-dealing man?

Clerk of Chatham.

Sir, I thank God, I have been so well brought up that I can write my name.

All

He hath confessed: away with him! he's a villain and a traitor.

Jack Cade

Away with him, I say! hang him with his pen and inkhorn about his neck.

Michael

Where's our general?

Jack Cade

Here I am, thou particular fellow.

Michael

Fly, fly, fly! Sir Humphrey Stafford and his brother are hard by, with the king's forces.

Jack Cade

Stand, villain, stand, or I'll fell thee down. He shall be encountered with a man as good as himself: he is but a knight, is 'a?

Michael

No.

Jack Cade

To equal him, I will make myself a knight presently. Rise up Sir John Mortimer. Now have at him!

Humphrey Staffor

Rebellious hinds, the filth and scum of Kent,

Marked for the gallows, lay your weapons down;

Home to your cottages, forsake this groom:

The king is merciful, if you revolt.

William Staffor

But angry, wrathful, and inclined to blood,

If you go forward; therefore yield, or die.

Jack Cade

As for these silken-coated slaves, I pass not:

It is to you, good people, that I speak,

Over whom, in time to come, I hope to reign;

For I am rightful heir unto the crown.

Humphrey Staffor

Villain, thy father was a plasterer;

And thou thyself a shearman, art thou not?

Jack Cade

And Adam was a gardener.

William Staffor

And what of that?

Jack Cade

Marry, this: Edmund Mortimer, Earl of March,

Married the Duke of Clarence' daughter, did he not?

Humphrey Staffor

Ay, sir.

Jack Cade

By her he had two children at one birth.

William Staffor

That's false.

Jack Cade

Ay, there's the question; but I say, 'tis true:

The elder of them, being put to nurse,

Was by a beggar-woman stolen 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 the butcher

Nay, 'tis too true; therefore he shall be king.

Smith the weaver

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.

Humphrey Staffor

And will you credit this base drudge's words,

That speaks he knows not what?

All

Ay, marry, will we; therefore get ye gone.

William Staffor

Jack Cade, the Duke of York hath taught you this.

Jack Cade

He lies, for I invented it myself. Go to, sirrah, tell the king from me, that, for his father's sake, Henry the Fifth, in whose time boys went to span-counter for French crowns, I am content he shall reign; but I'll be protector over him.

Dick the butcher

And furthermore, we'll have the Lord Say's head for selling the dukedom of Maine.

Jack Cade

And good reason; for thereby is England mained, 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 commonwealth, and made it an eunuch: and more than that, he can speak French; and therefore he is a traitor.

Humphrey Staffor

O gross and miserable ignorance!

Jack 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 an enemy be a good counsellor, or no?

All

No, no; and therefore we'll have his head.

William Staffor

Well, seeing gentle words will not prevail.

Assail them with the army of the king.

Humphrey Staffor

Herald, away; and throughout every town

Proclaim them traitors that are up with Cade;

That those which fly before the battle ends

May, even in their wives' and children's sight,

Be hanged up for example at their doors:

And you that be the king's friends, follow me. Exeunt the two Staffords, and soldiers.

Jack Cade

And you that love the commons, follow me.

Now show yourselves men; 'tis for liberty.

We will not leave one lord, one gentleman:

Spare none but such as go in clouted shoon;

For they are thrifty honest men and such

As would, but that they dare not, take our parts.

Dick the butcher

They are all in order and march toward us.

Jack Cade

But then are we in order when we are most out of order. Come, march forward.