2320Beuis. Come and get thee a sword, though made of a

2321Lath, they haue bene vp these two dayes.

2322Hol. They haue the more neede to sleepe now then.

2323Beuis. I tell thee, Iacke Cade the Cloathier, meanes to

2324dresse the Common-wealth and turne it, and set a new

2325nap vpon it.

2326Hol. So he had need, for 'tis thred-bare. Well, I say,

2327it was neuer merrie world in England, since Gentlemen

2328came vp.

2329Beuis. O miserable Age: Vertue is not regarded in

2330Handy-crafts men.

2331Hol. The Nobilitie thinke scorne to goe in Leather

2332Aprons.

2333Beuis. Nay more, the Kings Councell are no good

2334Workemen.

2335Hol. True: and yet it is said, Labour in thy Vocati-

2336on: which is as much to say, as let the Magistrates be la-

2337bouring men, and therefore should we be Magistrates.

2338Beuis. Thou hast hit it: for there's no better signe of a

2339braue minde, then a hard hand.

2340Hol. I see them, I see them: There's Bests Sonne, the

2341Tanner of Wingham.

2342Beuis. Hee shall haue the skinnes of our enemies, to

2343make Dogges Leather of.

2344Hol. And Dicke the Butcher.

2345Beuis. Then is sin strucke downe like an Oxe, and ini-

2346quities throate cut like a Calfe.

2347Hol. And Smith the Weauer.

2348Beu. Argo, their thred of life is spun.

2349Hol. Come, come, let's fall in with them.

2352Cade. Wee Iohn Cade, so tearm'd of our supposed Fa-

2353ther.

2354But. Or rather of stealing a Cade of Herrings.

2355Cade. For our enemies shall faile before vs, inspired

2356with the spirit of putting down Kings and Princes. Com-

2357mand silence.

2358But. Silence.

2359Cade. My Father was a Mortimer.

2360But. He was an honest man, and a good Bricklayer.

2361Cade. My mother a Plantagenet.

2362Butch. I knew her well, she was a Midwife.

2363Cade. My wife descended of the Lacies.

2364But. She was indeed a Pedlers daughter, & sold many

2365Laces.

2366Weauer. But now of late, not able to trauell with her

2367furr'd Packe, she washes buckes here at home.

2368Cade. Therefore am I of an honorable house.

2369But. I by my faith, the field is honourable, and there

2370was he borne, vnder a hedge: for his Father had neuer a

2371house but the Cage.

2372Cade. Valiant I am.

2373Weauer. A must needs, for beggery is valiant.

2374Cade. I am able to endure much.

2375But. No question of that: for I haue seene him whipt

2376three Market dayes together.

2377Cade. I feare neither sword, nor fire.

2378Wea. He neede not feare the sword, for his Coate is of

2379proofe.

2380But. But me thinks he should stand in feare of fire, be-

2381ing burnt i'th hand for stealing of Sheepe.

2382Cade. Be braue then, for your Captaine is Braue, and

2383Vowes Reformation. There shall be in England, seuen

2384halfe peny Loaues sold for a peny: the three hoop'd pot,

2385shall haue ten hoopes, and I wil make it Fellony to drink

2386small Beere. All the Realme shall be in Common, and in

2387Cheapside shall my Palfrey go to grasse: and when I am

2388King, as King I will be.

2389All. God saue your Maiesty.

2390Cade. I thanke you good people. There shall bee no

2391mony, all shall eate and drinke on my score, and I will

2392apparrell them all in one Liuery, that they may agree like

2393Brothers, and worship me their Lord.

2394But. The first thing we do, let's kill all the Lawyers.

2395Cade. Nay, that I meane to do. Is not this a lamenta-

2396ble thing, that of the skin of an innocent Lambe should

2397be made Parchment; that Parchment being scribeld ore,

2398should vndoe a man. Some say the Bee stings, but I say,

2399'tis the Bees waxe: for I did but seale once to a thing, and

2400I was neuer mine owne man since. How now? Who's

2401there?

2403Weauer. The Clearke of Chartam: hee can write and

2404reade, and cast accompt.

2405Cade. O monstrous.

2406Wea. We tooke him setting of boyes Copies.

2407Cade. Here's a Villaine.

2408Wea. Ha's a Booke in his pocket with red Letters in't

2409Cade. Nay then he is a Coniurer.

2410But. Nay, he can make Obligations, and write Court

2411hand.

2412Cade. I am sorry for't: The man is a proper man of

2413mine Honour: vnlesse I finde him guilty, he shall not die.

2414Come hither sirrah, I must examine thee: What is thy

2415name?

2416Clearke. Emanuell.

2417But. They vse to writ it on the top of Letters: 'Twill

2418go hard with you.

2419Cade. Let me alone: Dost thou vse to write thy name?

2420Or hast thou a marke to thy selfe, like a honest plain dea-

2421ling man?

2422Clearke. Sir I thanke God, I haue bin so well brought

2423vp, that I can write my name.

2424All. He hath confest: away with him: he's a Villaine

2425and a Traitor.

2426Cade. Away with him I say: Hang him with his Pen

2427and Inke-horne about his necke.

2430Mich. Where's our Generall?

2431Cade. Heere I am thou particular fellow.

2432Mich. Fly, fly, fly, Sir Humfrey Stafford and his brother

2433are hard by, with the Kings Forces.

2434Cade. Stand villaine, stand, or Ile fell thee downe: he

2435shall be encountred with a man as good as himselfe. He

2436is but a Knight, is a?

2437Mich. No.

2438Cade. To equall him I will make my selfe a knight pre-

2439sently; Rise vp Sir Iohn Mortimer. Now haue at him.

2442Staf. Rebellious Hinds, the filth and scum of Kent,

2443Mark'd for the Gallowes: Lay your Weapons downe,

2444Home to your Cottages: forsake this Groome.

2445The King is mercifull, if you reuolt.

2446Bro. But angry, wrathfull, and inclin'd to blood,

2447If you go forward: therefore yeeld, or dye.

2448Cade. As for these silken-coated slaues I passe not,

2449It is to you good people, that I speake,

2450Ouer whom (in time to come) I hope to raigne:

2451For I am rightfull heyre vnto the Crowne.

2452Staff. Villaine, thy Father was a Playsterer,

2453And thou thy selfe a Sheareman, art thou not?

2454Cade. And Adam was a Gardiner.

2455Bro. And what of that?

2456Cade. Marry, this Edmund Mortimer Earle of March,

2457married the Duke of Clarence daughter, did he not?

2458Staf. I sir.

2459Cade. By her he had two children at one birth.

2460Bro. That's false.

2461Cade. I, there's the question; But I say, 'tis true:

2462The elder of them being put to nurse,

2463Was by a begger-woman stolne away,

2464And ignorant of his birth and parentage,

2465Became a Bricklayer, when he came to age.

2466His sonne am I, deny it if you can.

2467But. Nay, 'tis too true, therefore he shall be King.

2468Wea. Sir, he made a Chimney in my Fathers house, &

2469the brickes are aliue at this day to testifie it: therefore

2470deny it not.

2471Staf. And will you credit this base Drudges Wordes,

2472that speakes he knowes not what.

2473All. I marry will we: therefore get ye gone.

2474Bro. Iacke Cade, the D. of York hath taught you this

2475Cade. He lyes, for I inuented it my selfe. Go too Sir-

2476rah, tell the King from me, that for his Fathers sake Hen-

2477ry the fift, (in whose time, boyes went to Span-counter

2478for French Crownes) I am content he shall raigne, but Ile

2479be Protector ouer him.

2480Butcher. And furthermore, wee'l haue the Lord Sayes

2481head, for selling the Dukedome of Maine.

2482Cade And good reason: for thereby is England main'd

2483And faine to go with a staffe, but that my puissance holds

2484it vp. Fellow-Kings, I tell you, that that Lord Say hath

2485gelded the Commonwealth, and made it an Eunuch: &

2486more then that, he can speake French, and therefore hee is

2487a Traitor.

2488Staf. O grosse and miserable ignorance.

2489Cade. Nay answer if you can: The Frenchmen are our

2490enemies: go too then, I ask but this: Can he that speaks

2491with the tongue of an enemy, be a good Councellour, or

2492no?

2493All. No, no, and therefore wee'l haue his head.

2494Bro. Well, seeing gentle words will not preuayle,

2495Assaile them with the Army of the King.

2496Staf. Herald away, and throughout euery Towne,

2497Proclaime them Traitors that are vp with Cade,

2498That those which flye before the battell ends,

2499May euen in their Wiues and Childrens sight,

2500Be hang'd vp for example at their doores:

2501And you that be the Kings Friends follow me. Exit.

2502Cade. And you that loue the Commons, follow me:

2503Now shew your selues men, 'tis for Liberty.

2504We will not leaue one Lord, one Gentleman:

2505Spare none, but such as go in clouted shooen,

2506For they are thrifty honest men, and such

2507As would (but that they dare not) take our parts.

2508But. They are all in order, and march toward vs.

2509Cade. But then are we in order, when we are most out

2510of order. Come, march forward.