William Shakespeare: King Henry VI, Second Part

ACT IV. 2. SCENE II. Blackheath. (continued)

CADE.
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 palfry go to grass; and
when I am king, as king I will be,--

ALL.
God save your majesty!

CADE.
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.

DICK.
The first thing we do, let's kill all the lawyers.

CADE.
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 scribbl'd o'er, should undo a man? Some say the
bee stings; but I say 't is 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?

[Enter some, bringing in the Clerk of Chatham.]

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

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.

CADE.
Nay, then, he is a conjurer.

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 name?