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now； then。 GEORGE。 I tell thee Jack Cade the clothier means to dress the
commonwealth； and turn it； and set a new nap upon it。 JOHN。 So he had
need； for 'tis threadbare。 Well； I say it was never merry world in England
since gentlemen came up。 GEORGE。 O miserable age！ Virtue is not
regarded in handicraftsmen。 JOHN。 The nobility think scorn to go in
leather aprons。 GEORGE。 Nay； more； the King's Council are no good
workmen。 JOHN。 True； and yet it is said 'Labour in thy vocation'； which is
as much to say as 'Let the magistrates be labouring men'； and therefore
should we be magistrates。 GEORGE。 Thou hast hit it； for there's no better
sign of a brave mind than a hard hand。 JOHN。 I see them！ I see them！
There's Best's son； the tanner of Wingham… GEORGE。 He shall have the
skins of our enemies to make dog's leather of。 JOHN。 And Dick the
butcher… GEORGE。 Then is sin struck down； like an ox； and iniquity's
throat cut like a calf。 JOHN。 And Smith the weaver… GEORGE。 Argo； their
thread of life is spun。 JOHN。 Come； come； let's fall in with them。
Drum。Enter CADE； DICK THE BUTCHER； SMITH THE WEAVER；
and a SAWYER； with infinite numbers
CADE。 We John Cade； so term'd of our supposed father… DICK。
＇Aside＇ Or rather； of stealing a cade of herrings。 CADE。 For our enemies
shall fall before us； inspired with the spirit of putting down kings and
princes… command silence。 DICK。 Silence！ CADE。 My father was a
Mortimer… DICK。 ＇Aside＇ He was an honest man and a good bricklayer。
CADE。 My mother a Plantagenet… DICK。 ＇Aside＇ I knew her well； she was
a midwife。 CADE。 My wife descended of the Lacies… DICK。 ＇Aside＇ She
was； indeed； a pedlar's daughter； and sold many laces。 SMITH。 ＇Aside＇
But now of late； not able to travel with her furr'd pack； she washes bucks
here at home。 CADE。 Therefore am I of an honourable house。 DICK。
＇Aside＇ 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。
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Valiant I am。 SMITH。 ＇Aside＇ 'A must needs； for beggary is valiant。
CADE。 I am able to endure much。 DICK。 ＇Aside＇ No question of that； for
I have seen him whipt three market days together。 CADE。 I fear neither
sword nor fire。 SMITH。 ＇Aside＇ He need not fear the sword； for his coat is
of proof。 DICK。 ＇Aside＇ But methinks he should stand in fear of fire；
being burnt i' th' hand for stealing of sheep。 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…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 palfrey go to grass。 And when I
am king… as king I will be ALL。 God save your Majesty！ 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。 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 scribbl'd 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 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！ SMITH。 Has a book in his pocket with red
letters in't。 CADE。 Nay； then he is a conjurer。 DICK。 Nay； he can make
obligations and write court…hand。 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。
Emmanuel。 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 a honest plain…dealing man？ 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
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Enter MICHAEL
MICHAEL。 Where's our General？ CADE。 Here I am； thou particular
fellow。 MICHAEL。 Fly； fly； fly！ Sir Humphrey Stafford and his brother are
hard by； with the King's forces。 CADE。 Stand； villain； stand； or I'll fell
thee down。 He shall be encount'red with a man as good as himself。 He is
but a knight； is 'a？ MICHAEL。 No。 CADE。 To equal him； I will make
myself a knight presently。 ＇Kneels＇ Rise up； Sir John Mortimer。 ＇Rises＇
Now have at him！
Enter SIR HUMPHREY STAFFORD and WILLIAM his brother； with
drum and soldiers 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； The King is merciful if you revolt。
WILLIAM STAFFORD。 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。
STAFFORD。 Villain； thy father was a plasterer； And thou thyself a
shearman； art thou not？ CADE。 And Adam was a gardener。 WILLIAM
STAFFORD。 And what of that？ CADE。 Marry； this： Edmund Mortimer；
Earl of March； Married the Duke of Clarence' daughter； did he not？
STAFFORD。 Ay； sir。 CADE。 By her he had two children at one birth。
WILLIAM STAFFORD。 That's false。 CADE。 Ay； there's the question； but
I say 'tis true。 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。 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。 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。 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。 DICK。 And
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furthermore； we'll have the Lord Say's head for selling the dukedom of
Maine。 CADE。 And good reason； for thereby is England main'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 commonwealth and made it an eunuch；
and more than that； he can speak French； and therefore he is a traitor。
STAFFORD。 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 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 wi