Original
Modern English
Come, and get thee a sword, though made of a lath; they have been up these two days.
Come on, and grab a sword, even if it’s just a stick; they’ve been up for two days now.
They have the more need to sleep now, then.
They probably need to sleep now, more than ever.
I tell thee, Jack Cade the clothier means to dress the commonwealth, and turn it, and set a new nap upon it.
I’m telling you, Jack Cade the cloth merchant plans to fix the country, shake things up, and put a new spin on it.
So he had need, for ’tis threadbare. Well, I say it was never merry world in England since gentlemen came up.
He’s right to, because it’s in tatters. Honestly, I say there hasn’t been a happy world in England since the gentry rose to power.
O miserable age! virtue is not regarded in handicrafts-men.
Oh, what a terrible time to live in! No one respects virtue in craftsmen anymore.
The nobility think scorn to go in leather aprons.
The nobility look down on wearing leather aprons.
Nay, more, the king’s council are no good workmen.
And worse, the king’s advisors aren’t skilled workers.
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.
True, but it’s also said, work hard at your job; which basically means, let the leaders be the ones working with their hands; so that’s why we should be leaders.
Thou hast hit it; for there’s no better sign of a brave mind than a hard hand.
You’ve got it; there’s no better sign of a strong mind than hard work.
I see them! I see them! there’s Best’s son, the tanner of Wingham,--
I see them! I see them! There’s Best’s son, the tanner from Wingham,--
He shall have the skin of our enemies, to make dog’s-leather of.
He’ll take the skin of our enemies and turn it into leather for dogs.
And Dick the Butcher,--
And Dick the Butcher,--
Then is sin struck down like an ox, and iniquity’s throat cut like a calf.
Then sin will be cut down like an ox, and wickedness will be slain like a calf.
And Smith the weaver,--
And Smith the weaver,--
Argo, their thread of life is spun.
Well, their life’s thread is all spun out.
Come, come, let’s fall in with them.
Come on, let’s join them.
We John Cade, so termed of our supposed father,--
We are John Cade, named after our supposed father,--
[Aside] Or rather, of stealing a cade of herrings.
[Aside] Or rather, after stealing a barrel of herrings.
For our enemies shall fall before us, inspired with the spirit of putting down kings and princes, --Command silence.
For our enemies will fall before us, filled with the desire to overthrow kings and princes, --Order silence.
Silence!
Silence!
My father was a Mortimer,--
My father was a Mortimer,--
[Aside] He was an honest man, and a good bricklayer.
[Aside] He was a good man, and a decent bricklayer.
My mother a Plantagenet,--
My mother was a Plantagenet,--
[Aside] I knew her well; she was a midwife.
[Aside] I knew her well; she was a midwife.
My wife descended of the Lacies,--
My wife came from the Lacies,--
[Aside] She was, indeed, a pedler’s daughter, and sold many laces.
[Aside] She was, in fact, a peddler’s daughter, and sold many ribbons.
[Aside] But now of late, notable to travel with her furred pack, she washes bucks here at home.
[Aside] But lately, she’s been known to travel with her fur-lined bag, washing deer hides here at home.
Therefore am I of an honourable house.
That’s why I come from an honorable family.
[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] Yes, indeed, the field is honorable; and that’s where he was born, under a hedge, since his father didn’t own a house but just a cage.
Valiant I am.
I am brave.
[Aside] A’ must needs; for beggary is valiant.
[Aside] He has to; because being poor makes him bold.
I am able to endure much.
I can handle a lot.
[Aside] No question of that; for I have seen him whipped three market-days together.
[Aside] No doubt about that; I’ve seen him get whipped for three market days in a row.
I fear neither sword nor fire.
I’m not afraid of swords or fire.
[Aside] He need not fear the sword; for his coat is of proof.
[Aside] He doesn’t need to fear the sword; his jacket is tough enough.
[Aside] But methinks he should stand in fear of fire, being burnt i’ the hand for stealing of sheep.
[Aside] But I think he should be afraid of fire, since he got his hand burnt for stealing 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,--
Be strong, then; because your leader is strong, and promises change. In England, seven halfpenny loaves will be sold for a penny: the three-hooped pot will get ten hoops, and I’ll make it a crime to drink weak beer: the whole country will be equal; and in Cheapside my horse will graze freely: and when I’m king, as I will be as king,--
God save your majesty!
God save your majesty!
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.
Thank you, good people: there won’t be any money; everyone will eat and drink at my expense; and I’ll dress them all in the same clothes, so they’ll be united like brothers and worship me as their lord.
The first thing we do, let’s kill all the lawyers.
The first thing we should do is kill all the lawyers.
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?
No, that’s exactly what I plan to do. Isn’t it a sad thing that the skin of an innocent lamb is turned into parchment? That parchment, once written on, can ruin a man? Some say the bee stings: but I say it’s the bee’s wax; because I only sealed something once, and I haven’t been myself since. Who’s there?
The clerk of Chatham: he can write and read and cast accompt.
The clerk from Chatham: he can write, read, and do accounting.
O monstrous!
Oh, how awful!
We took him setting of boys’ copies.
We caught him making copies for schoolboys.
Here’s a villain!
Here’s a criminal!
Has a book in his pocket with red letters in’t.
He has a book in his pocket with red letters in it.
Nay, then, he is a conjurer.
Well, then, he’s a magician.
Nay, he can make obligations, and write court-hand.
No, he can make legal documents and write formal script.
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?
I feel sorry for him: the man is a good man, of my honor; unless I find him guilty, he won’t die. Come here, boy, I must question you: what’s your name?
Emmanuel.
Emmanuel.
They use to write it on the top of letters: ’twill go hard with you.
They usually write it at the top of letters: it’ll go badly for you.
Let me alone. Dost thou use to write thy name? or hast thou a mark to thyself, like an honest plain-dealing man?
Leave me alone. Do you usually write your name? Or do you just have a mark, like an honest straightforward man?
Sir, I thank God, I have been so well brought up that I can write my name.
Sir, I thank God, I’ve been brought up well so I can write my name.
He hath confessed: away with him! he’s a villain and a traitor.
He has confessed: take him away! he’s a villain and a traitor.
Away with him, I say! hang him with his pen and ink-horn about his neck.
Take him away, I say! hang him with his pen and ink-horn around his neck.
Where’s our general?
Where’s our leader?
Here I am, thou particular fellow.
Here I am, you particular man.
Fly, fly, fly! Sir Humphrey Stafford and his brother are hard by, with the king’s forces.
Run, run, run! Sir Humphrey Stafford and his brother are nearby, with the king’s army.
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’?
Stop, villain, stop, or I’ll knock you down. He will face a man just as good as him: he’s only a knight, right?
No.
No.
To equal him, I will make myself a knight presently.
To match him, I’ll make myself a knight right now.
Rise up Sir John Mortimer.
Stand up, Sir John Mortimer.
Now have at him!
Now, let’s go for it!
Rebellious hinds, the filth and scum of Kent, Mark’d for the gallows, lay your weapons down; Home to your cottages, forsake this groom: The king is merciful, if you revolt.
Rebels, the scum and trash of Kent, Marked for the gallows, drop your weapons; Go back to your homes, leave this man alone: The king will show mercy if you surrender.
But angry, wrathful, and inclined to blood, If you go forward; therefore yield, or die.
But he’s angry, furious, and ready to fight, If you don’t stop; so surrender, or die.
As for these silken-coated slaves, I pass not: 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.
I don’t care about these rich, pampered men: It’s to you, good people, I speak, Over you, in the future, I hope to rule; For I am the rightful heir to the throne.
Villain, thy father was a plasterer; And thou thyself a shearman, art thou not?
You’re a fool, your father was a plasterer; And you yourself were a butcher, weren’t you?
And Adam was a gardener.
And Adam was a gardener.
And what of that?
And what does that matter?
Marry, this: Edmund Mortimer, Earl of March. Married the Duke of Clarence’ daughter, did he not?
Well, this: Edmund Mortimer, Earl of March, Married the daughter of the Duke of Clarence, didn’t he?
Ay, sir.
Yes, he did.
By her he had two children at one birth.
And by her, he had two children at once.
That’s false.
That’s a lie.
Ay, there’s the question; but I say, ’tis true: The elder of them, being put to nurse, 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.
Yes, that’s the issue; but I say it’s true: The older one, when he was given to a nurse, Was stolen by a beggar-woman; And, not knowing who he was or who his parents were, He became a bricklayer when he grew up: I’m his son; deny it, if you can.
Nay, ’tis too true; therefore he shall be king.
No, it’s true; that’s why he’ll be king.
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.
Sir, he made a chimney in my father’s house, and the bricks are still there today to prove it; so don’t deny it.
And will you credit this base drudge’s words, That speaks he knows not what?
And will you believe the words of this lowly servant, Who speaks without knowing what he’s talking about?
Ay, marry, will we; therefore get ye gone.
Yes, we will; now, get out of here.
Jack Cade, the Duke of York hath taught you this.
Jack Cade, the Duke of York taught you this.
[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.
[Aside] He’s lying, I made it up myself. Go ahead, tell the king from me, that for his father’s sake, Henry the Fifth, when boys were punished for stealing French crowns, I’m willing for him to reign; but I’ll be the protector over him.
And furthermore, well have the Lord Say’s head for selling the dukedom of Maine.
And also, we’ll take 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.
And rightfully so; because by that, England’s been weakened, and has to go around with a crutch, unless my strength keeps it up. Fellow kings, I tell you that Lord Say has castrated the commonwealth, making it powerless: and more than that, he speaks French; and so he’s a traitor.
O gross and miserable ignorance!
Oh, what terrible and wretched ignorance!
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?
Well, answer me, if you can: the French are our enemies; so tell me this: can someone who speaks the language of an enemy be a good advisor, or not?
No, no; and therefore we’ll have his head.
No, no; so we’ll take his head.
Well, seeing gentle words will not prevail, Assail them with the army of the king.
Well, since kind words won’t work, Attack them with the king’s army.
Herald, away; and throughout every town Proclaim them traitors that are up with Cade; That those which fly before the battle ends May, even in their wives’ and children’s sight, Be hang’d up for example at their doors: And you that be the king’s friends, follow me.
Herald, go; and in every town Proclaim those who are with Cade as traitors; So that those who run before the battle’s over May be hanged in front of their own homes, In sight of their wives and children, as an example: And you who are the king’s supporters, follow me.
And you that love the commons, follow me. Now show yourselves men; ’tis for liberty. We will not leave one lord, one gentleman: Spare none but such as go in clouted shoon; For they are thrifty honest men, and such As would, but that they dare not, take our parts.
And you who care about the common people, follow me. Now show yourselves as men; this is for freedom. We won’t leave a single lord or gentleman: Spare only those who wear patched shoes; Because they’re hardworking, honest people, and those Who would, if they weren’t afraid, join our cause.
They are all in order and march toward us.
They’re all in position and marching toward us.
But then are we in order when we are most out of order. Come, march forward.
But we’re really in position when we’re most out of control. Come on, march forward.