SC. XIII. dam
George. Come away Nick, and put a long staffe in thy pike, and prouide thy selfe, for I Can tell thee, they haue been vp this two daies.
Nicke. Then they had more need to go to bed now,
[5] But 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.
10 George. I warrant thee, thou shalt neuer see a Lord weare a leather aperne now a-daies.
[♦] Nick. But sirrha, who comes more beside Iacke Cade?
[♦] George. Why theres Dicke the Butcher, and Robin the Sadler, and Will that came a wooing to our Nan last Sunday, and Harry and 15 Tom, and Gregory that should haue your Parnill, and a great sort more is come from Rochester, and from Maydstone, and Canterbury, [♦] and all the Townes here abouts, and we must all be Lords or squires, assoone as Iack Cade is King.
[♦] Nicke. Harke, harke, I here the Drum, they be comming.
Enter Iacke Cade, Dicke Butcher, Robin, Will, Tom, Harry and the rest, with long staues.
20 Cade. 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.
[25] Nicke. He was an honest man and a good Brick-laier.
[♦] Cade. My mother came of the Brases.
Will. 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 down the country.
[30] Cade. Therefore I am honourably borne.
[♦] Harry. I for the field is honourable, for he was borne
[♦] Vnder a hedge, for his father had no house but the Cage.
Cade. I am able to endure much.
[♦] George. Thats true, I know he can endure any thing,
35 For I haue seen him whipt two market daies togither.
Cade. I feare neither sword nor fire.
Will. He need not feare the sword, for his coate is of proofe.
Dicke. But mee thinkes he should feare the fire, being so often
burnt in the hand, for stealing of sheepe.
40 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 felony [♦] to drinke small beere, and if I be king, as king I will be.
All. God saue your maiestie.
45 Cade. 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 [♦] the 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 50 mouth the other day.
[♦] George. I and stinking law too, for his breath stinks so, that one cannot abide it.
Enter Will with the Clarke of Chattam.
Will. Oh Captaine a pryze.
[♦] Cade. Whose that Will?
55 Will. 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?
[60] 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?
Or do you as auncient forefathers haue done,
65 Vse the score and the Tally?
[♦] Clarke. Nay, true sir, I praise God I haue been 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.
70 Tom. Captaine. Newes, newes, sir Humphrey Stafford and his [♦] brother are comming with the kings power, and mean to kill 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.
75 Kneele downe Iohn Mortemer,
Rise vp sir Iohn Mortemer.
Is there any more of them that be Knights?
[♦] Tom. I his brother. He Knights Dicke Butcher.
Cade. Then kneele downe Dicke Butcher,
[80] Rise vp sir Dicke Butcher. Now sound vp the Drumme.
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.
Stafford. Why country-men, what meane you thus in troopes,
To follow this rebellious Traitor Cade?
[85] Why his father was but a Brick-laier.
[♦] Cade. Well, and Adam was a Gardner, what then?
But I come of the Mortemers.
Stafford. I, the Duke of Yorke hath taught you that.
Cade. The Duke of York, nay, I learnt it my selfe,
90 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.
[♦] Stafford. Thats false.
95 Cade. I, but I say, tis true.
All. 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.
[100] 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 105 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.
[♦] Cade. And tell him, weele haue the Lorde Sayes head, and the Duke of Somersets, for deliuering vp the Dukedomes of Anioy 110 and Mayne, and selling the Townes in France, by which meanes [♦] England hath bene maimde euer since, and gone as it were with a [♦] crouch, but that my puissance held it vp. And besides, they can speake French, and therefore they are traitors.
Stafford. As how I prethie?
115 Cade. Why the French men are our enemies be they not? And then can hee that speakes with the tongue of an enemy be a good subject?
Answere me to that.
Stafford. Well sirrha, wilt thou yeeld thy selfe vnto the Kings [120] mercy, and he will pardon thee and these, their outrages and rebellious deeds?
Cade. Nay, bid the King come to me and he will, and then ile pardon him, or otherwaies ile haue his Crowne tell him, ere it be long.
125 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. Exet omnes.