Shakespeare's First Folio Part 379

Beuis. Thou hast hit it: for there's no better signe of a braue minde, then a hard hand

Hol. I see them, I see them: There's Bests Sonne, the Tanner of Wingham

Beuis. Hee shall haue the skinnes of our enemies, to make Dogges Leather of

Hol. And d.i.c.ke the Butcher

Beuis. Then is sin strucke downe like an Oxe, and iniquities throate cut like a Calfe

Hol. And Smith the Weauer

Beu. Argo, their thred of life is spun

Hol. Come, come, let's fall in with them.

Drumme. Enter Cade, d.i.c.ke Butcher, Smith the Weauer, and a Sawyer, with infinite numbers.

Cade. Wee Iohn Cade, so tearm'd of our supposed Father

But. Or rather of stealing a Cade of Herrings

Cade. For our enemies shall faile before vs, inspired with the spirit of putting down Kings and Princes. Command silence

But. Silence

Cade. My Father was a Mortimer

But. He was an honest man, and a good Bricklayer

Cade. My mother a Plantagenet

Butch. I knew her well, she was a Midwife

Cade. My wife descended of the Lacies

But. She was indeed a Pedlers daughter, & sold many Laces

Weauer. But now of late, not able to trauell with her furr'd Packe, she washes buckes here at home

Cade. Therefore am I of an honorable house

But. I by my faith, the field is honourable, and there was he borne, vnder a hedge: for his Father had neuer a house but the Cage

Cade. Valiant I am

Weauer. A must needs, for beggery is valiant

Cade. I am able to endure much

But. No question of that: for I haue seene him whipt three Market dayes together

Cade. I feare neither sword, nor fire

Wea. He neede not feare the sword, for his Coate is of proofe

But. But me thinks he should stand in feare of fire, being burnt i'th hand for stealing of Sheepe

Cade. Be braue then, for your Captaine is Braue, and Vowes Reformation. There shall be in England, seuen halfe peny Loaues sold for a peny: the three hoop'd pot, shall haue ten hoopes, and I wil make it Fellony to drink small Beere. All the Realme shall be in Common, and in Cheapside shall my Palfrey go to gra.s.se: and when I am King, as King I will be

All. G.o.d saue your Maiesty

Cade. I thanke you good people. There shall bee no mony, all shall eate and drinke on my score, and I will apparrell them all in one Liuery, that they may agree like Brothers, and wors.h.i.+p me their Lord

But. The first thing we do, let's kill all the Lawyers

Cade. Nay, that I meane to do. Is not this a lamentable thing, that of the skin of an innocent Lambe should be made Parchment; that Parchment being scribeld ore, should vndoe a man. Some say the Bee stings, but I say, 'tis the Bees waxe: for I did but seale once to a thing, and I was neuer mine owne man since. How now? Who's there?

Enter a Clearke.

Weauer. The Clearke of Chartam: hee can write and reade, and cast accompt

Cade. O monstrous

Wea. We tooke him setting of boyes Copies

Cade. Here's a Villaine

Wea. Ha's a Booke in his pocket with red Letters in't Cade. Nay then he is a Coniurer

But. Nay, he can make Obligations, and write Court hand

Cade. I am sorry for't: The man is a proper man of mine Honour: vnlesse I finde him guilty he shall not die.

Come hither sirrah, I must examine thee: What is thy name?

Clearke. Emanuell

But. They vse to writ it on the top of Letters: 'Twill go hard with you

Cade. Let me alone: Dost thou vse to write thy name?

Or hast thou a marke to thy selfe, like a honest plain dealing man?

Clearke. Sir I thanke G.o.d, I haue bin so well brought vp, that I can write my name

All. He hath confest: away with him: he's a Villaine and a Traitor

Cade. Away with him I say: Hang him with his Pen and Inke-horne about his necke.

Exit one with the Clearke

Enter Michael.