ARKCODEX
Act IV, Scene 7
1London. Smithfield.
2Alarums. Matthew Goffe is slain, and all the rest. Then enter Jack Cade, with his company.
3CadeSo, sirs: now go some and pull down the Savoy; others to the inns of court; down with them all.
4DickI have a suit unto your lordship.
5CadeBe it a lordship, thou shalt have it for that word.
6DickOnly that the laws of England may come out of your mouth.
7HollandAside. Mass, ’twill be sore law, then; for he was thrust in the mouth with a spear, and ’tis not whole yet.
8SmithAside. Nay, John, it will be stinking law; for his breath stinks with eating toasted cheese.
9CadeI have thought upon it, it shall be so. Away, burn all the records of the realm: my mouth shall be the parliament of England.
10HollandAside. Then we are like to have biting statutes, unless his teeth be pulled out.
11CadeAnd henceforward all things shall be in common.
12Enter a Messenger.
13MessengerMy lord, a prize, a prize! here’s the Lord Say, which sold the towns in France; he that made us pay one and twenty fifteens, and one shilling to the pound, the last subsidy.
14Enter George Bevis, with the Lord Say.
15CadeWell, he shall be beheaded for it ten times. Ah, 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 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 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 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 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?
16SayWhat of that?
17CadeMarry, thou oughtest not to let thy horse wear a cloak, when honester men than thou go in their hose and doublets.
18DickAnd work in their shirt too; as myself, for example, that am a butcher.
19SayYou men of Kent—
20DickWhat say you of Kent?
21SayNothing but this; ’tis “bona terra, mala gens.”
22CadeAway with him, away with him! he speaks Latin.
23SayHear me but speak, and bear me where you will.
Kent, in the Commentaries Caesar writ,
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,
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?
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,
You cannot but forbear to murder me:
This tongue hath parley’d unto foreign kings
For your behoof—
24CadeTut, when struck’st thou one blow in the field?
25SayGreat men have reaching hands: oft have I struck
Those that I never saw and struck them dead.
26BevisO monstrous coward! what, to come behind folks?
27SayThese cheeks are pale for watching for your good.
28CadeGive him a box o’ the ear and that will make ’em red again.
29SayLong sitting to determine poor men’s causes
Hath made me full of sickness and diseases.
30CadeYe shall have a hempen caudle then and the help of hatchet.
31DickWhy dost thou quiver, man?
32SayThe palsy, and not fear, provokes me.
33CadeNay, he nods at us, as who should say, I’ll be even with you: I’ll see if his head will stand steadier on a pole, or no. Take him away, and behead him.
34SayTell me wherein have I offended most?
Have I affected wealth or honour? speak.
Are my chests fill’d up with extorted gold?
Is my apparel sumptuous to behold?
Whom have I injured, that ye seek my death?
These hands are free from guiltless blood-shedding,
This breast from harbouring foul deceitful thoughts.
O, let me live!
35CadeAside. 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 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.
36AllIt shall be done.
37SayAh, countrymen! if when you make your prayers,
God should be so obdurate as yourselves,
How would it fare with your departed souls?
And therefore yet relent, and save my life.
38CadeAway with him! and do as I command ye. Exeunt some with Lord Say. 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 wives be as free as heart can wish or tongue can tell.
39DickMy lord, when shall we go to Cheapside and take up commodities upon our bills?
40CadeMarry, presently.
41AllO, brave!
42Reenter one with the heads.
43CadeBut 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 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.