Act IV, Scene 7

London. Smithfield.

[Alarums. MATTHEW GOFFE is slain, and all the rest.] [p]Then enter CADE, with his company.

• Jack Cade. So, sirs: now go some and pull down the Savoy;
  others to the inns of court; down with them all.

• Dick the Butcher. I have a suit unto your lordship. 2625

• Jack Cade. Be it a lordship, thou shalt have it for that word.

• Dick the Butcher. Only that the laws of England may come out of your mouth.

• John Holland. [Aside] Mass, 'twill be sore law, then; for he was
  thrust in the mouth with a spear, and 'tis not whole
  yet. 2630

• Smith the Weaver. [Aside] Nay, John, it will be stinking law for his
  breath stinks with eating toasted cheese.

• Jack 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. 2635

• John Holland. [Aside] Then we are like to have biting statutes,
  unless his teeth be pulled out.

• Jack Cade. And henceforward all things shall be in common.

[Enter a Messenger]

• Messenger. My lord, a prize, a prize! here's the Lord Say, 2640
  which sold the towns in France; he that made us pay
  one and twenty fifteens, and one shilling to the
  pound, the last subsidy.

[Enter BEVIS, with Lord SAY]

• Jack Cade. Well, he shall be beheaded for it ten times. Ah, 2645
  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 Mounsieur Basimecu, the
  dauphin of France? Be it known unto thee by these 2650
  presence, 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 2655
  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 2660
  a verb, and such abominable words as no Christian
  ear can endure to hear. Thou hast appointed
  justices of peace, to call poor men before them
  about matters they were not able to answer.
  Moreover, thou hast put them in prison; and because 2665
  they could not read, thou hast hanged them; when,
  indeed, only for that cause they have been most
  worthy to live. Thou dost ride in a foot-cloth, dost thou not?

• Lord Say. What of that?

• Jack Cade. Marry, thou oughtest not to let thy horse wear a 2670
  cloak, when honester men than thou go in their hose
  and doublets.

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

• Lord Say. You men of Kent,— 2675

• Dick the Butcher. What say you of Kent?

• Lord Say. Nothing but this; 'tis 'bona terra, mala gens.'

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

• Lord Say. Hear me but speak, and bear me where you will.
  Kent, in the Commentaries Caesar writ, 2680
  Is term'd the civil'st place of this isle:
  Sweet is the country, because full of riches;
  The people liberal, valiant, active, wealthy;
  Which makes me hope you are not void of pity.
  I sold not Maine, I lost not Normandy, 2685
  Yet, 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? 2690
  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 heaven,
  Unless you be possess'd with devilish spirits, 2695
  You cannot but forbear to murder me:
  This tongue hath parley'd unto foreign kings
  For your behoof,—

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

• Lord Say. Great men have reaching hands: oft have I struck 2700
  Those that I never saw and struck them dead.

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

• Lord Say. These cheeks are pale for watching for your good.

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

• Lord Say. Long sitting to determine poor men's causes 2705
  Hath made me full of sickness and diseases.

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

• Dick the Butcher. Why dost thou quiver, man?

• Lord Say. The palsy, and not fear, provokes me.

• Jack Cade. Nay, he nods at us, as who should say, I'll be even 2710
  with you: I'll see if his head will stand steadier
  on a pole, or no. Take him away, and behead him.

• Lord Say. Tell me wherein have I offended most?
  Have I affected wealth or honour? speak.
  Are my chests fill'd up with extorted gold? 2715
  Is my apparel sumptuous to behold?
  Whom have I injured, that ye seek my death?
  These hands are free from guiltless bloodshedding,
  This breast from harbouring foul deceitful thoughts.
  O, let me live! 2720

• Jack Cade. [Aside] 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 2725
  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.

• Lord Say. Ah, countrymen! if when you make your prayers, 2730
  God should be so obdurate as yourselves,
  How would it fare with your departed souls?
  And therefore yet relent, and save my life.

• Jack Cade. Away with him! and do as I command ye.
  [Exeunt some with Lord SAY] 2735
  The proudest peer in 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 to me
  her maidenhead ere they have it: men shall hold of
  me in capite; and we charge and command that their 2740
  wives be as free as heart can wish or tongue can tell.

• Dick the Butcher. My lord, when shall we go to Cheapside and take up
  commodities upon our bills?

• Jack Cade. Marry, presently.

• All. O, brave! 2745

[Re-enter one with the heads]

• Jack Cade. But is not this braver? Let them kiss one another,
  for they loved 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 2750
  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!

[Exeunt]