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Original Shakespeare Company, Comedie of Errors. To Jun. 22, 2013.
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Henry VI, Part 2 (Quarto 1, 1594)

Author: William Shakespeare
Not Peer Reviewed
Enter two of the Rebels with long staues.
2320George. Come away Nick, and put a long staffe in thy pike, and
prouide thy selfe, for I Can tell thee, they haue bene vp this two
2321.1daies.
Nicke. Then they had more need to go to bed now,
2322.1But sirrha George whats the matter?
George. Why sirrha, Iack Cade the Diar of Ashford here,
He meanes to turne this land, and set a new nap on it.
Nick. I marry he had need so, for tis growne threedbare,
Twas neuer merry world with vs, since these gentle men came vp.
George. I warrant thee, thou shalt neuer see a Lord weare a lea-
ther aperne now a-daies.
2332.1Nick. But sirrha, who comes more beside Iacke Cade?
2340George. Why theres Dicke the Butcher, and Robin the Sadler,
and Will that came a wooing to our Nan last Sunday, and Harry
and Tom, and Gregory that should haue your Parnill, and a great
sort more is come from Rochester, and from Maydstone, and Can-
2347.1terbury, and all the Townes here abouts, and we must all be Lords
or squires, assoone as Iacke Cade is King.
Nicke. Harke, harke, I here the Drum, they be comming.
2350
Enter Iacke Cade, Dicke Butcher, Robin, VVill, Tom,
Harry and the rest, with long staues.
2351.1Cade. Proclaime silence.
All. Silence.
Cade. I Iohn Cade so named for my valiancie.
Dicke. Or rather for stealing of a Cade of Sprats.
Cade. My father was a Mortemer.
2360Nicke. He was an honest man and a good Brick-laier.
Cade. My mother came of the Brases.
VVill. She was a Pedlers daughter indeed, and sold many lases.
Robin. And now being not able to occupie her furd packe,
She washeth buckes vp and downe the country.
Cade. Therefore I am honourably borne.
Harry. I for the field is honourable, for he was borne
2370Vnder a hedge, for his father had no house but the Cage.
Cade. I am able to endure much.
2375George. Thats true, I know he can endure any thing,
For I haue seene him whipt two market daies togither.
Cade. I feare neither sword nor fire
VVill. He need not feare the sword, for his coate is of proofe.
2380Dicke. But mee thinkes he should feare the fire, being so often
burnt in the hand, for stealing of sheepe.
Cade. Therefore be braue, for your Captain is braue, and vowes
reformation: you shall haue seuen half-penny loaues for a penny,
and the three hoopt pot, shall haue ten hoopes, and it shall be felo-
2385ny to drinke small beere, and if I be king, as king I will be.
All. God saue your maiestie.
2390Cade. I thanke you good people, you shall all eate and drinke of
my score, and go all in my liuerie, and weele haue no writing, but
2391.1the score & the Tally, and there shalbe no lawes but such as comes
from my mouth.
Dicke. We shall haue sore lawes then, for he was thrust into the
mouth the other day.
.5George. I and stinking law too, for his breath stinks so, that one
cannot abide it.
Enter VVill with the Clarke of Chattam.
2402.1Will. Oh Captaine a pryze.
Cade. Whose that Will?
VVill. The Clarke of Chattam, he can write and reade and cast
account, I tooke him setting of boyes coppies, and hee has a booke
in his pocket with red letters.
Cade. Sonnes, hees a coniurer bring him hither.
Now sir, whats your name?
Clarke. Emanuell sir, and it shall please you.
Dicke. It will go hard with you, I can tell you,
For they vse to write that oth top of letters.
Cade. And what do you vse to write your name?
2420Or do you as auncient forefathers haue done,
Vse the score and the Tally?
Clarke. Nay, true sir, I praise God I haue bene so well brought
vp, that I can write mine owne name.
Cade. Oh hes confest, go hang him with his penny-inckhorne
about his necke.
Exet one with the Clarke.
Enter Tom.
Tom. Captaine. Newes, newes, sir Humphrey Stafford and his
brother are comming with the kings power, and mean to kil vs all.
Cade. Let them come, hees but a knight is he?
Tom. No, no, hees but a knight.
Cade. Why then to equall him, ile make my selfe knight.
Kneele downe Iohn Mortemer,
2439.1Rise vp sir Iohn Mortemer.
Is there any more of them that be Knights?
Tom. I his brother.
He Knights Dicke Butcher.
.5Cade. Then kneele downe Dicke Butcher,
Rise vp sir Dicke Butcher.
Now sound vp the Drumme.
2440
Enter sir Humphrey Stafford and his brother, with
Drumme and souldiers.
Cade. As for these silken coated slaues I passe not a pinne,
Tis to you good people that I speake.
2449.1Stafford. Why country-men, what meane you thus in troopes,
To follow this rebellious Traitor Cade?
Why his father was but a Brick-laier.
Cade. Well, and Adam was a Gardner, what then?
2454.1But I come of the Mortemers.
Stafford. I, the Duke of Yorke hath taught you that.
2475Cade. The Duke of York, nay, I learnt it my selfe,
For looke you, Roger Mortemer the Earle of March,
Married the Duke of Clarence daughter.
Stafford. Well, thats true: But what then?
Cade. And by her he had two children at a birth.
2460Stafford. Thats false.
Cade. I, but I say, tis true.
2461.1All. Why then tis true.
Cade. And one of them was stolne away by a begger-woman,
And that was my father, and I am his sonne,
Deny it and you can.
Nicke. Nay looke you, I know twas true,
For his father built a chimney in my fathers house,
And the brickes are aliue at this day to testifie.
Cade. But doest thou heare Stafford, tell the King, that for his
fathers sake, in whose time boyes plaide at spanne-counter with
Frenche Crownes, I am content that hee shall be King as long
as he liues Marry alwaies prouided, ile be Protector ouer him.
Stafford. O monstrous simplicitie.
2480Cade. And tell him, weele haue the Lorde Sayes head, and the
Duke of Somersets, for deliuering vp the Dukedomes of Anioy
and Mayne, and selling the Townes in France, by which meanes
England hath bene maimde euer since, and gone as it were with a
2483.1crouch, but that my puissance held it vp. And besides, they can
speake French, and therefore they are traitors.
2486.1Stafford. As how I prethie?
Cade. Why the French men are our enemies be they not?
2490And then can hee that speakes with the tongue of an enemy be a
good subiect?
Answere me to that.
2492.1Stafford. Well sirrha, wilt thou yeeld thy selfe vnto the Kings
mercy, and he will pardon thee and these, their outrages and rebel-
lious deeds?
Cade. Nay, bid the King come to me and he will, and then ile
.5pardon him, or otherwaies ile haue his Crowne tell him, ere it be
long.
Stafford. Go Herald, proclaime in all the Kings Townes,
That those that will forsake the Rebell Cade,
Shall haue free pardon from his Maiestie.
Exet Stafford and his men.
Cade. Come sirs, saint George for vs and Kent.
2502.1
Exet omnes.