88

  CADE  Nay, then, he is a conjurer.

  89

  DICK  Nay, he can make obligations and write court

  90

  hand.

  91

  CADE  I am sorry for ’t. The man is a proper man, of

  92

  mine honor. Unless I find him guilty, he shall not

  93

  die.—Come hither, sirrah; I must examine thee.

  94

  What is thy name?

  95

  CLERK  Emmanuel.

  96

  DICK  They use to write it on the top of letters.—’Twill

  97

  go hard with you.

  98

  CADE  Let me alone.—Dost thou use to write thy

  99

  name? Or hast thou a mark to thyself, like

  100

  honest, plain-dealing man?

  101

  CLERK  Sir, I thank God, I have been so well brought

  102

  up that I can write my name.

  103

  ALL  He hath confessed. Away with him! He’s a villain

  104

  and a traitor.

  105

  CADE  Away with him, I say! Hang him with his pen

  106

  and inkhorn about his neck.

  107

  One exits with the Clerk.

  Enter Michael.

  MICHAEL  Where’s our general?

  108

  CADE  Here I am, thou particular fellow.

  109

  MICHAEL  Fly, fly, fly! Sir Humphrey Stafford and his

  110

  brother are hard by, with the King’s forces.

  111

  CADE  Stand, villain, stand, or I’ll fell thee down. He

  112

  shall be encountered with a man as good as him-

  113

  self. He is but a knight, is he?

  114

  MICHAEL  No.

  115

  CADE  To equal him I will make myself a knight

  116

  presently. Rise up Sir John Mortimer.

  117

  Now have at him!

  118

  Enter Sir Humphrey Stafford and his Brother, with

  Drum, and Soldiers.

  STAFFORD

  Rebellious hinds, the filth and scum of Kent,

  119

  Marked for the gallows, lay your weapons down!

  120

  Home to your cottages; forsake this groom.

  121

  The King is merciful, if you revolt.

  122

  BROTHER

  But angry, wrathful, and inclined to blood,

  123

  If you go forward. Therefore yield, or die.

  124

  CADE

  As for these silken-coated slaves, I pass not.

  125

  It is to you, good people, that I speak,

  126

  Over whom, in time to come, I hope to reign,

  127

  For I am rightful heir unto the crown.

  128

  STAFFORD

  Villain, thy father was a plasterer,

  129

  And thou thyself a shearman, art thou not?

  130

  CADE

  And Adam was a gardener.

  131

  BROTHER And what of that?

  132

  CADE

  Marry, this: Edmund Mortimer, Earl of March,

  133

  Married the Duke of Clarence’ daughter, did he not?

  134

  STAFFORD Ay, sir.

  135

  CADE

  By her he had two children at one birth.

  136

  BROTHER  That’s false.

  137

  CADE

  Ay, there’s the question. But I say ’tis true.

  138

  The elder of them, being put to nurse,

  139

  Was by a beggar-woman stol’n away,

  140

  And, ignorant of his birth and parentage,

  141

  Became a bricklayer when he came to age.

  142

  His son am I. Deny it if you can.

  143

  DICK

  Nay, ’tis too true. Therefore he shall be king.

  144

  SMITH  Sir, he made a chimney in my father’s house,

  145

  and the bricks are alive at this day to testify it.

  146

  Therefore deny it not.

  147

  STAFFORD

  And will you credit this base drudge’s words,

  148

  That speaks he knows not what?

  149

  ALL

  Ay, marry, will we. Therefore get you gone.

  150

  BROTHER

  Jack Cade, the Duke of York hath taught you this.

  151

  CADE  He lies,