Act IV, Scene 2

Blackheath.

[Enter GEORGE BEVIS and JOHN HOLLAND]

• George Bevis. Come, and get thee a sword, though made of a lath; 2310
  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 2315
  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; 2320
  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. 2325

• John Holland. I see them! I see them! there's Best's son, the
  tanner of Wingham,—

• George Bevis. He shall have the skin of our enemies, to make
  dog's-leather of.

• John Holland. And Dick the Butcher,— 2330

• 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. 2335
  [Drum. Enter CADE, DICK the Butcher, SMITH the]
  Weaver, and a Sawyer, with infinite numbers]

• Jack Cade. We John Cade, so termed of our supposed father,—

• Dick the Butcher. [Aside] Or rather, of stealing a cade of herrings.

• Jack Cade. For our enemies shall fall before us, inspired with 2340
  the spirit of putting down kings and princes,
  —Command silence.

• Dick the Butcher. Silence!

• Jack Cade. My father was a Mortimer,—

• Dick the Butcher. [Aside] He was an honest man, and a good 2345
  bricklayer.

• Jack Cade. My mother a Plantagenet,—

• Dick the Butcher. [Aside] I knew her well; she was a midwife.

• Jack Cade. My wife descended of the Lacies,—

• Dick the Butcher. [Aside] She was, indeed, a pedler's daughter, and 2350
  sold many laces.

• Smith the Weaver. [Aside] But now of late, notable to travel with her
  furred pack, she washes bucks here at home.

• Jack Cade. Therefore am I of an honourable house.

• Dick the Butcher. [Aside] Ay, by my faith, the field is honourable; 2355
  and there was he borne, under a hedge, for his
  father had never a house but the cage.

• Jack Cade. Valiant I am.

• Smith the Weaver. [Aside] A' must needs; for beggary is valiant.

• Jack Cade. I am able to endure much. 2360

• Dick the Butcher. [Aside] 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. [Aside] He need not fear the sword; for his coat is of proof.

• Dick the Butcher. [Aside] But methinks he should stand in fear of 2365
  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 2370
  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; 2375
  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 2380
  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 2385
  since. How now! who's there?

[Enter some, bringing forward the Clerk of Chatham]

• Smith the Weaver. The clerk of Chatham: he can write and read and
  cast accompt.

• Jack Cade. O monstrous! 2390

• Smith the Weaver. We took him setting of boys' copies.

• Jack Cade. Here's a villain!

• Smith the Weaver. Has 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. 2395

• 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 2400
  go hard with you.

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

• Clerk of Chatham. Sir, I thank God, I have been so well brought up 2405
  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
  ink-horn about his neck. 2410

[Exit one with the Clerk]

[Enter MICHAEL]

• Michael. Where's our general?

• Jack Cade. Here I am, thou particular fellow.

• Michael. Fly, fly, fly! Sir Humphrey Stafford and his 2415
  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. 2420

• Jack Cade. To equal him, I will make myself a knight presently.
  [Kneels]
  Rise up Sir John Mortimer.
  [Rises]
  Now have at him! 2425
  [Enter SIR HUMPHREY and WILLIAM STAFFORD, with]
  drum and soldiers]

• Sir Humphrey Stafford. Rebellious hinds, the filth and scum of Kent,
  Mark'd for the gallows, lay your weapons down;
  Home to your cottages, forsake this groom: 2430
  The king is merciful, if you revolt.

• William Stafford. 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, 2435
  Over whom, in time to come, I hope to reign;
  For I am rightful heir unto the crown.

• Sir Humphrey Stafford. Villain, thy father was a plasterer;
  And thou thyself a shearman, art thou not?

• Jack Cade. And Adam was a gardener. 2440

• William Stafford. And what of that?

• Jack Cade. Marry, this: Edmund Mortimer, Earl of March.
  Married the Duke of Clarence' daughter, did he not?

• Sir Humphrey Stafford. Ay, sir.

• Jack Cade. By her he had two children at one birth. 2445

• William Stafford. 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, 2450
  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; 2455
  therefore deny it not.

• Sir Humphrey Stafford. 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 Stafford. Jack Cade, the Duke of York hath taught you this. 2460

• Jack Cade. [Aside] 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. 2465

• Dick the Butcher. And furthermore, well 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 2470
  hath gelded the commonwealth, and made it an eunuch:
  and more than that, he can speak French; and
  therefore he is a traitor.

• Sir Humphrey Stafford. O gross and miserable ignorance!

• Jack Cade. Nay, answer, if you can: the Frenchmen are our 2475
  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 Stafford. Well, seeing gentle words will not prevail, 2480
  Assail them with the army of the king.

• Sir Humphrey Stafford. 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, 2485
  Be hang'd up for example at their doors:
  And you that be the king's friends, follow me.

[Exeunt WILLIAM STAFFORD and SIR HUMPHREY, and soldiers]

• Jack Cade. And you that love the commons, follow me.
  Now show yourselves men; 'tis for liberty. 2490
  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. 2495

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

[Exeunt]