Page 585 - Shakespeare - Vol. 1

CADE

I have thought upon it, it shall be so. Away, burn all the records of the
realm; my mouth shall be the parliament of England.

HOLLAND [15]

[aside]
Then we are like to have biting statutes, unless his teeth be pulled out.

CADE

And henceforward all things shall be in common.

Enter a Messenger.

MESSENGER

My lord, a prize, a prize! Here’s the Lord Say which sold the towns in
France; he that made us pay [20] one and twenty fifteens, and one shilling
to the pound, the last subsidy.

Enter George [Bevis], with the Lord Say.

CADE

Well, he shall be beheaded for it ten times. Ah, thou say, thou serge, nay,
thou buckram lord! Now art thou within point-blank of our jurisdiction
regal. What [25] canst thou answer to my majesty for giving up of
Normandy unto Mounsieur Basimecu, the dauphin of France? Be it known
into thee by these presence, even the presence of Lord Mortimer, that I am
the besom that must sweep the court clean of such filth as thou art. Thou
[30] hast most traitorously corrupted the youth of the realm in erecting a
grammar school: and whereas, before, our forefathers had no other books
but the score and the
tally, thou hast caused printing to be used, and, contrary to the king, his
crown, and dignity, thou hast built a [35] paper-mill. It will be proved to
thy face that thou hast men
about thee that usually talk of a noun and a verb, and such abominable
words as no Christian ear can endure to hear. Thou hast appointed justices
of peace, to call poor men before them about matters they were not able
[40] to answer. Moreover, thou hast put them in prison; and, because they
could not read, thou hast hanged them; when indeed, only for that cause,
they have been most worthy to live. Thou dost ride on a foot-cloth, dost
thou not? [45]