with the spirit of putting down kings and princes.

-Command silence.

Dick. Silence!

Cade. My father was a Mortimer→→

Dick. He was an honest man, and a good bricklayer.

Cade, My mother a Plantagenet

[Aside. 190

Dick. I knew her well, she was a midwife. [Aside. Cade. My wife descended of the Lacies→→ . Dick. She was, indeed, a pedlar's daughter, and sold many laces. [Aside. Smith But, now of late, not able to travel with her furr'd pack, she washes bucks here at home.

[Aside. Cade. Therefore am I of an honourable house. Dick. 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.

Cade. Valiant I am.

[Aside.

Smith. 'A must needs; for beggary is valiant.

Cade. I am able to endure much.

201

[Aside.

Dick. No question of that; for I have seen him

whipp'd three market days together.

Cade. I fear neither sword nor fire.

[Aside.

Smith. He need not fear the sword, for his coat is of proof. [Aside. Dick. But, methinks, he should stand in fear of fire, being so often burnt i'the hand for stealing of sheep.

[Aside. Cade.

Cade. Be brave then; for your captain is brave, and vows reformation. There shall be, in England, seven half-penny loaves sold for a penny: the three-hoop'd 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 palfry go to grass. And, when I am king (as king I will be)

All. God save your majesty !

217

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

224

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 my own man since. How now? who's there?

Enter some, bringing in the Clerk of Chatham.

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

Cade. O monstrous !

Smith. We took him setting of boys copies.

Cade. Here's a villain!

233

Smith. H'as a book in his pocket with red letters

in't.

Cade.

Cade. Nay, then he is a conjurer.

Dick. Nay, he can make obligations, and write

court-hand.

240

Cade. I am sorry for't: the man is a proper man, on mine honour; unless I find him guilty, he shall not die. Come hither, sirrah, I must examine thee : What is thy name?

Clerk. Emanuel.

Dick. They use to write it on the top of letters; -Twill go hard with you.

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

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

All. He hath confess'd: away with him; he's a villain, and a traitor.

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

[Exit one with the Clerk.

Enter MICHAEL.

Mich. Where's our general?

Cade. Here I am, thou particular fellow.

Mich. Fly, fly, fly! Sir Humphrey Stafford and his

brother are hard by, with the king's forces.

260

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

Mich. No.

Cade.

Cade. To equal him, I will make myself a knight presently; Rise up Sir John Mortimer, Now have at him. Is there any more of them that be knights? Mich. Ay, his brother.

Cade. Then kneel down, Dick Butcher;

Rise up Sir Dick Butcher.

Now sound up the drum.

Enter Sir HUMPHREY STAFFORD, and his Brother, with Drum and Soldiers.

Staff. Rebellious hinds, the filth and scum of Kent, Mark'd for the gallows-lay your weapons down, Home to your cottages, forsake this groom ;- 273 The king is merciful, if you revolt.

Y. Staf. But angry, wrathful, and inclin❜d to blood, If you go forward: therefore yield, or die.

Cade. As for these silken-coated slaves, I pass not; It is to you, good people, that I speak,

O'er whom, in time to come, I hope to reign;
For I am rightful heir unto the crown.

Staf. Villain, thy father was a Plasterer;

And thou thyself, a Shearman, Art thou not?
Cade. And Adam was a Gardener.

Y. Staf. And what of that?

280

Cade. Marry, this :-Edmund Mortimer, earl of March,

Married the duke of Clarence' daughter; Did he not?
Staf. Ay, sir.

Cade. By her he had two children at one birth.
Y. Staf. That's false.

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

The

The elder of them, being put to nurse,
Was by a beggar-woman stol'n 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 ?

291

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

Staf. And will you credit this base drudge's words, That speaks he knows not what?

301 All. Ay, marry, will we; therefore get you gone. Y. Staf. Jack Cade, the duke of York hath taught you this.

Cade. He lies, for I invented it myself. [Aside.]-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. And, furthermore, we'll have the lord Say's head, for selling the dukedom of Maine.

311

Cade. And good reason; for thereby is England maim'd, 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 common-wealth, and made it an eunuch: and more than that, he can speak French, and therefore he is a traitor.

Staf. O gross and miserable ignorance!

Cade. Nay, answer, if you can: The Frenchmen are our enemies: go to then, I ask but this; Can he