William Shakespeare: Henry VI (Pt 2), Act IV, Scene II

Come, and get thee a sword, though made of a lath; they have been up these two days.

I tell thee, Jack Cade the clothier means to dress the commonwealth, and turn it, and set a new nap upon it.

So he had need, for 'tis threadbare. Well, I say it was never merry world in England since gentlemen came up.

True; and yet it is said, labour in thy vocation; which is as much to say as, let the magistrates be labouring men; and therefore should we be magistrates.

Thou hast hit it; for there's no better sign of a brave mind than a hard hand.

I see them! I see them! there's Best's son, the tanner of Wingham,—

He shall have the skin of our enemies, to make dog's-leather of.

Then is sin struck down like an ox, and iniquity's throat cut like a calf.

Aside

For our enemies shall fall before us, inspired with the spirit of putting down kings and princes, —Command silence.

Aside

He was an honest man, and a good bricklayer.

Aside

Aside

She was, indeed, a pedler's daughter, and sold many laces.

Aside

But now of late, notable to travel with her furred pack, she washes bucks here at home.

Aside

Ay, by my faith, the field is honourable; and there was he borne, under a hedge, for his father had never a house but the cage.

Aside

Aside

No question of that; for I have seen him whipped three market-days together.

Aside

Aside

But methinks he should stand in fear of fire, being burnt i' the hand for stealing of sheep.

Be brave, then; for your captain is brave, and vows reformation. There shall be in England seven halfpenny loaves sold for a penny: the three-hooped pot; shall have ten hoops and I will make it felony to drink small beer: all the realm shall be in common; and in Cheapside shall my palfrey go to grass: and when I am king, as king I will be,—

I thank you, good people: there shall be no money; all shall eat and drink on my score; and I will apparel them all in one livery, that they may agree like brothers and worship me their lord.

Nay, that I mean to do. Is not this a lamentable thing, that of the skin of an innocent lamb should be made parchment? that parchment, being scribbled o'er, should undo a man? Some say the bee stings: but I say, 'tis the bee's wax; for I did but seal once to a thing, and I was never mine own man since. How now! who's there?

The clerk of Chatham: he can write and read and cast accompt.

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 name?

They use to write it on the top of letters: 'twill go hard with you.

Let me alone. Dost thou use to write thy name? or hast thou a mark to thyself, like an honest plain-dealing man?

Sir, I thank God, I have been so well brought up that I can write my name.

He hath confessed: away with him! he's a villain and a traitor.

Away with him, I say! hang him with his pen and ink-horn about his neck.

Exit one with the Clerk

Fly, fly, fly! Sir Humphrey Stafford and his brother are hard by, with the king's forces.

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'?

Kneels

Rises

Sir, he made a chimney in my father's house, and the bricks are alive at this day to testify it; therefore deny it not.

[Aside] He lies, for I invented it myself. Go to, sirrah, tell the king from me, that, for his father's sake, Henry the Fifth, in whose time boys went to span-counter for French crowns, I am content he shall reign; but I'll be protector over him.

And furthermore, well have the Lord Say's head for selling the dukedom of Maine.

And good reason; for thereby is England mained, and fain to go with a staff, but that my puissance holds it up. Fellow kings, I tell you that that Lord Say hath gelded the commonwealth, and made it an eunuch: and more than that, he can speak French; and therefore he is a traitor.

Nay, answer, if you can: the Frenchmen are our enemies; go to, then, I ask but this: can he that speaks with the tongue of an enemy be a good counsellor, or no?

But then are we in order when we are most out of order. Come, march forward.