John. Then we are like to have biting ftatutes, unlefs his teeth be pull'd out. Cade. And henceforward all things fhall be in com mon. SCENE VI. Enter a Messenger. Mef. My Lord, a prize, a prize! Here's the Lord Say which fold the town in France; he that made us pay one and twenty fifteens and one fhilling to the pound, the last subsidy. Enter George with the Lord Say. Cade. Well, he fhall be beheaded for it ten times.Ah, thou Say, thou ferge, 7 nay, thou buckram Lord, now art thou within point-blank of our jurifdiction regal. What canft thou answer to my Majefty for giving up of Normandy unto Monfieur Bafimecu, the Dauphin of France? Be it known unto thee by these presents, even the prefence of Lord Mortimer, that I am the befom that muft fweep the court clean of such filth as thou art. Thou haft most traiterously corrupted the youth of the Realm in erecting a grammar-school; and whereas before, our fore-fathers had no other books but the score and the tally, thou haft caufed printing to be us'd; and contrary to the King, his crown and dignity, thou haft built a paper-mill. It will be prov'd to thy face that thou haft men about thee, that usually talk of a Noun and a Verb, and fuch abominable words, as no chriftian ear can endure to hear. Thou haft appointed juftices of the peace to call poor men before them, about matters they were not able to answer. 7 thou Say, thou ferge,] Say was the old word for filk, on this depends the series of degradation, from fay to ferge, from Serge to buckram. * Printing to be us'd] Shakefpeare is a little too early with this accufation. More Moreover, thou haft put them in prifon; and because they could not read, thou haft hang'd them; ' when, indeed, only for that cause they have been moft worthy to live. Thou doft ride on a foot-cloth, doft thou not? Say. What of that? Cade. Marry, thou ought'ft not to let thy horse wear a cloak when honefter men than thou go in their hofe and doublets. Dick. And work in their fhirt too; as myfelf, for example, that am a butcher. Say. You men of Kent, Dick. What fay you of Kent? Say. Nothing but this: 'Tis bona terra, mala gens. Cade. Away with him, away with him, he speaks Latin. Say. Hear me but fpeak, and bear me where you will. Kent, in the Commentaries Cæfar writ, Is term'd the civil'ft place of all this ifle ; Prayers and tears have mov'd me, gifts could never. 8 because they could not read, thou haft hang'd them ;] That is, they were hanged because they I could not claim the benefit of clergy. To let thy horse wear a cloak.] This is a reproach truly characteriftical. Nothing gives fo much offence to the lower ranks of mankind as the fight of fuperfuities merely oftentatious. Kent. 9 When bave I aught exacted at your hands? Kent 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 ;] This paffage Iknow not well how to explain. It is pointed fo as to make Say declare that he preferr'd clerks to Kent to maintain, the King, the realm and you, This tongue hath parlied unto foreign Kings Cade. Tut, when ftruck'ft thou one blow in the field? Say. Great men have reaching hands; oft have I ftruck Thofe that I never faw, and ftruck them dead. George. O monftrous coward' what, to come behind folks? Say. These cheeks are pale with watching for your good. Cade. Give him a box o'th' ear, and that will make 'em red again. Say. Long fitting to determine poor mens' Causes Hath made me full of fickness and diseases. Cade. Ye fhall have a hempen caudle then, and the help of a hatchet. Dick. Why doft thou quiver, man? Say. The palfy, and not fear, provokes me. Cade. Nay, he nods at us, as who fhould fay, I'll be even with you. I'll fee, if his head will stand steadier on a pole or no. him. Take him away, and behead Say. Tell me, wherein have I offended moft? Have I affected wealth or honour, fpeak. to maintain Kent and the King. This is not very clear; and befides, he gives in the following line another reafon of his bounty, that learning raifed him, and therefore he fupported learning. I am inclined to think Kent flip ped into this paffage by chance, and would read, When have I aught exalted at your band, But to maintain the King, the realm, and you? Are Are my chefts fill'd up with extorted gold? Whom have I injur'd, that ye seek my death? Cade. I feel remorfe in myself with his words; but I'll bridle it; he fhall die, an it be for pleading fo well for his life. Away with him, he has a Familiar under his tongue, he fpeaks not o'God's name. Go, take him away, I fay, and strike off his head prefently; and then break into his fon-in-law's house, Sir James Cromer, and strike off his head, and bring them both upon two poles hither. All. It fhall be done. Say. Ah, Country-men, if when you make your pray❜rs, God fhould be fo obdurate as yourselves, How would it fare with your departed fouls; Cade. Away with him, and do as I command ye. The proudest peer of the Realm fhall not wear a head on his fhoulders, unlefs he pay me tribute; there shall not a maid be married, but the fhall pay me her maiden-head ere they have it; men fhall hold of me in Capite, and we charge and command, that their wives be as free as heart can wifh, or tongue can tell. Dick. My Lord, when fhall we go to Cheapfide, and take up commodities upon our bills? Cade. Marry, prefently. All. O brave! Enter one with the heads. Cade. But is not this braver? Let them kifs one another; for they lov'd well when they were alive. Now part them again, left they confult about the giving up of fome more towns in France. Soldiers, de fer the fpoil 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. Ăway. [Exeunt. SCENE VII. Changes to SOUTHWARK. Alarm, and Retreat. Enter again Cade, and all bis Cade. Р Rabblement. U Magnus Corner, kill and knock down; throw them into Thames. [A Parley founded. What noife is this I hear? Dare any be fo bold to found retreat or parley, Enter Buckingham and old Clifford, attended. Buck. Ay, here they be that dare and will difturb thee. Know, Cade, we come Ambaffadors from the King All. God fave the King! God fave the King! Cade. What Buckingham and Clifford, are ye fo brave? and you, base peasants, do ye believe 'em? will you 2 needs |