Page:Henry VI Part 2 (1923) Yale.djvu/98

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Bro. That's false.

Cade. Ay, there's the question; but I say, 'tis true:

The elder of them, being put to nurse,

Was by a beggar-woman stol'n 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.

Butch. Nay, 'tis too true; therefore he shall be king.

Weav. 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.

Staf. And will you credit this base drudge's words,

That speaks he knows not what?

All. Ay, marry, will we; therefore get ye gone.

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

Cade. [Aside.] He lies, for I invented it my-

self. 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.

Butch. And furthermore, we'll have the Lord

Say's head for selling the dukedom of Maine.

Cade. And good reason; for thereby is Eng-

land 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.

Staf. O gross and miserable ignorance!

Cade. Nay, answer, if you can: the French-

 170 span-counter: children's game played with coins or counters

176 mained: maimed 