The Works of William Shakespeare [Cambridge Edition] [Vol. 5 of 9] · William Shakespeare
SCENE II. _Blackheath_.
_Bevis._ Argo, their thread of life is spun. _Holl._ Come, come, let’s fall in with them. [bdb028] _Drum. Enter_ CADE, DICK Butcher, SMITH _the Weaver, and a Sawyer, with infinite numbers_. _Cade._ We John Cade, so termed of our supposed father,-- [bdb030] _Dick._ [_Aside_] Or rather, of stealing a cade of herrings. [bdb031] _Cade._ For our enemies shall fall before us, inspired [bdb032] with the spirit of putting down kings and princes,--Command [bdb033] silence. _Dick._ Silence! ·bdb035· _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. ·bdb040· _Cade._ My wife descended of the Lacies,-- _Dick._ [_Aside_] She was, indeed, a pedler’s daughter, and sold many laces. _Smith._ [_Aside_] But now of late, not able to travel with [bdb044] her furred pack, she washes bucks here at home. ·bdb045· _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._ Valiant I am. ·bdb050· _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 whipped three market-days together.
_Enter some, bringing forward the_ Clerk of Chatham. _Smith._ The clerk of Chatham: he can write and read [bdb079] and cast accompt. ·bdb080· _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. [bdb084] _Cade._ Nay, then, he is a conjuror. [bdb085] _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 ·bdb090· 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 ·bdb095· name? or hast thou a mark to thyself, like an honest plain-dealing [bdb096] man? _Clerk._ Sir, I thank God, I have been so well brought up that I can write my name. _All._ He hath confessed: away with him! he’s a villain [bdb100] and a traitor. _Cade._ Away with him, I say! hang him with his pen and ink-horn about his neck. [_Exit one with the Clerk._ [bdb103] _Enter_ MICHAEL. _Mich._ Where’s our general? [bdb104] _Cade._ Here I am, thou particular fellow. ·bdb105· _Mich._ 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 encountered with a man as good as himself: he is but a knight, is a’? ·bdb110· _Mich._ No. _Cade._ To equal him, I will make myself a knight presently. [bdb112] [_Kneels_] Rise up Sir John Mortimer. [_Rises_] Now [bdb113] have at him! [bdb114] _Enter_ SIR HUMPHREY STAFFORD _and his Brother, with drum and soldiers_. _Staf._ Rebellious hinds, the filth and scum of Kent, [bdb115] Mark’d for the gallows, lay your weapons down; Home to your cottages, forsake this groom: The king is merciful, if you revolt. [bdb118] _Bro._ But angry, wrathful, and inclined to blood, [bdb119] If you go forward; therefore yield, or die. ·bdb120· _Cade._ As for these silken-coated slaves, I pass not: [bdb121] It is to you, good people, that I speak, Over whom, in time to come, I hope to reign; For I am rightful heir unto the crown. _Staf._ Villain, thy father was a plasterer; ·bdb125· And thou thyself a shearman, art thou not? _Cade._ And Adam was a gardener. _Bro._ And what of that? _Cade._ Marry, this: Edmund Mortimer, Earl of March, [bdb129] Married the Duke of Clarence’ daughter, did he not? [bdb130] _Staf._ Ay, sir. _Cade._ By her he had two children at one birth. _Bro._ That’s false. _Cade._ Ay, there’s the question; but I say, ’tis true: The elder of them, being put to nurse, ·bdb135· Was by a beggar-woman stolen 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.
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