So, sirs. Now go some and pull down the Savoy; others to th’ Inns of
Court; down with them all.
So, my men. Now some of you go and tear down the Savoy; others go to the Inns of Court; tear them all down.
Alright, listen up. I want some of you to go tear down the Savoy, and others hit the Inns of Court. Destroy everything.
tear down the savoy and the inns of court tear it all down
I have a suit unto your lordship.
I have a request to make of your lordship.
I've got a favor to ask you, my lord.
i have a request for u
Be it a lordship, thou shalt have it for that word.
Be it a lordship, you shall have it just for saying that.
If it's a lordship you want, you've got it—just for asking.
u can have it whatever u want
Only that the laws of England may come out of your mouth.
All I ask is that your orders become England's laws.
All I want is for your word to be the law in England.
make ur word the law
[_Aside_.] Mass, ’twill be sore law, then; for he was thrust in the
mouth with a spear, and ’tis not whole yet.
Good Lord, that will be harsh law then; for he was stabbed in the mouth with a spear, and it hasn't fully healed.
Oh man, that'll be some tough law then. He got stabbed in the mouth with a spear and it's still not all the way healed.
that'll be harsh law he got stabbed in the mouth still healing
[_Aside_.] Nay, John, it will be stinking law, for his breath stinks
with eating toasted cheese.
No, John, it will be disgusting law, for his breath reeks from eating toasted cheese.
Nah man, it'll be revolting law. His breath stinks from eating toasted cheese all the time.
it'll be gross law his breath stinks from cheese
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.
I have considered it, and it shall be done. Go, burn all the records of the realm. My word will be the parliament of England.
I've thought about it, and that's exactly what we'll do. Now go burn all the official records of this kingdom. My command will be the only law in England.
burn all the records my word is the law now
[_Aside_.] Then we are like to have biting statutes, unless his teeth
be pulled out.
Then we're likely to have laws that cut harshly, unless his teeth are pulled out.
So we're gonna get some really biting laws unless we pull his teeth out.
we'll get harsh biting laws unless we pull his teeth
Lord Saye's speech in this scene is one of the most sustained arguments for humanist values in the whole Shakespeare canon — and it comes from a character about to be murdered by a mob. 'Ignorance is the curse of God, knowledge the wing wherewith we fly to heaven' is as good a statement of Renaissance educational philosophy as exists. Saye argues that he built grammar schools because learning led him to success, and he wanted to share that path. He cites Julius Caesar's praise of Kent. He appeals to mercy, to gratitude, to God. None of it works. The dramatic power comes from the complete asymmetry: the best argument in the play is addressed to the least arguable audience, and Shakespeare gives both sides their due. Cade's remorse (his aside) confirms that the argument landed. The execution that follows is not the triumph of ignorance but of will — which is worse.
And henceforward all things shall be in common.
And from now on all things shall be shared by everyone.
And from now on, everything will belong to everybody.
everything belongs to everyone now
My lord, a prize, a prize! Here’s the Lord Saye, which sold the towns
in France; he that made us pay one-and-twenty fifteens, and one
shilling to the pound, the last subsidy.
My lord, we have captured him, we have captured him! Here's Lord Saye, who sold the towns In France; he who made us pay enormous taxes, Twenty-one times the fifteenth tax, and one shilling per pound in the last tax.
My lord, we got him! Here's Lord Saye, the one who sold off our towns In France. He's the one who squeezed us for outrageous taxes— Twenty-one times over, plus an extra shilling per pound.
we got saye he sold french towns he taxed us like crazy
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 canst thou answer to my majesty for giving up
of Normandy unto Mounsieur Basimecu, the Dauphin of France? Be it known
unto 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 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 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 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?
Well, he deserves to be beheaded ten times over. You worthless merchant, you fake nobleman! Now you're within my reach. What can you say to answer for giving away Normandy to the Dauphin of France? Let it be known to you in my presence, in the presence of Lord Mortimer, that I Am the broom that will sweep this court clean of garbage like you. You have most treacherously corrupted the youth of the kingdom by building a grammar school; And whereas before our ancestors had only tally marks for records, You have introduced printing, and against the King's interests, you have built a paper mill. It will be shown that you have people around you who talk about nouns and verbs—words So foul no Christian can bear to hear them. You have appointed judges of the peace who haul poor men before them to answer questions They cannot understand. What's worse, you've thrown them in prison, and because they couldn't read, You've hanged them—when really only for being illiterate they should have been most fit to live. You ride on a fancy saddle cloth, don't you?
Well, he deserves to lose his head ten times. You worthless merchant, you fake nobleman! Now you're face to face with me. What do you have to say about giving away Normandy To the French Dauphin? Let me be clear about this—in my presence, before Lord Mortimer, I am the one who's going to clean out this corrupt court, and you're the garbage. You've corrupted our young people by building schools; Our grandfathers didn't have any books except account records, but you brought in printing, And against the King's honor, you built a paper factory. I've got proof you've got people around you who use fancy grammar terms—nouns and verbs— Words so disgusting no Christian should hear them. You've appointed judges who drag poor people to court to answer questions they don't understand. And when they throw them in prison and can't read the charges, you hang them— When actually being unable to read is the only reason they should have lived. You even ride on a horse with an expensive fancy cloth. Don't you?
u deserve to die u sold normandy u corrupted our youth with schools u brought printing and paper mills u use fancy grammar u appointed corrupt judges u hang illiterate people u ride fancy horses
What of that?
What difference does that make?
So what?
so what
Marry, thou ought’st not to let thy horse wear a cloak when honester
men than thou go in their hose and doublets.
Well, you shouldn't let your horse wear a cloak when more honest men than you wear only pants and shirts.
You shouldn't dress your horse better than decent people dress themselves— while better men than you are running around in just pants and shirts.
ur horse wears better clothes than honest people
And work in their shirt too; as myself, for example, that am a butcher.
And work in just their shirts too; like me, for example—I'm a butcher.
And we work in just our shirts, like me here—I'm a butcher.
we work in just shirts like me i'm a butcher
You men of Kent—
You people from Kent—
You people from Kent—listen up—
u kentish men
What say you of Kent?
What are you saying about Kent?
What's wrong with Kent?
what u say about kent
Cade's command to 'burn all the records of the realm' is the political act that most clearly reveals what his revolution is actually about. Legal records — court rolls, deeds, tax assessments, parliamentary acts — are the material memory of the state. They record who owns what, what has been decided, what obligations exist. Burning them doesn't just damage the state; it returns power relations to the state of nature, where whoever is strongest in the moment prevails. Cade knows this: 'My mouth shall be the parliament of England' is a precise description of what happens when records disappear — personal authority replaces institutional authority. This was not unprecedented: in the 1381 Peasants' Revolt, rebels destroyed legal documents specifically to erase records of serfdom and debt. The difference is that Cade proposes to replace the destroyed system with himself, not with freedom.
Nothing but this; ’tis _bona terra, mala gens_.
Nothing but this: it's good land, but bad people.
Just this: it's good land, but the people there are terrible.
good land bad people
Away with him, away with him! He speaks Latin.
Get rid of him, get rid of him! He speaks Latin.
Take him away, take him away! He's speaking Latin!
get him away he speaks latin
Hear me but speak, and bear me where you will.
Kent, in the Commentaries Caesar writ,
Is termed the civil’st place of all this isle.
Sweet is the country, because full of riches;
The people liberal, valiant, active, wealthy;
Which makes me hope you are not void of pity.
I sold not Maine, I lost not Normandy,
Yet to recover them would lose my life.
Justice with favour have I always done;
Prayers and tears have moved me, gifts could never.
When have I aught exacted at your hands
Kent to maintain the King, the realm, and you?
Large gifts have I bestowed on learned clerks,
Because my book preferred me to the King.
And seeing ignorance is the curse of God,
Knowledge the wing wherewith we fly to heaven,
Unless you be possessed with devilish spirits,
You cannot but forbear to murder me.
This tongue hath parleyed unto foreign kings
For your behoof—
Listen to me, and do with me as you will. Kent is written of as the most civilized place in all of this island in Caesar's Commentaries. The country is beautiful because it's full of wealth; the people are generous, brave, active, and rich; which makes me hope you have some pity. I didn't sell Maine, and I didn't lose Normandy, yet I would lose my life to recover them. I have always shown justice with mercy; prayers and tears have moved me, but never gifts. When have I ever demanded anything from you to maintain the King, the realm, and yourselves? I have given large gifts to learned scholars, because my education advanced me to the King's favor. Since ignorance is God's curse and knowledge is the wing with which we fly to heaven, unless you are possessed by devilish spirits, you cannot help but spare my life. This tongue has negotiated with foreign kings for your benefit—
Please, just listen to me, and then do what you want. Caesar wrote about Kent as the most civilized place in the entire island. It's a beautiful country, full of wealth, and the people are generous, brave, and strong—which makes me hope you have some compassion. I didn't sell Maine, and I didn't lose Normandy. I'd be willing to die to get those places back. I've always tried to be fair and merciful; I've been moved by people's prayers and tears, but never by bribes. Have I ever squeezed money out of you to pay for the King or the kingdom? No. I've given huge donations to educated people because my education got me ahead. And think about it: ignorance is a curse from God, but knowledge is what lets us reach heaven. So unless you're pure evil, you have to let me live. I've used my voice to negotiate with foreign kings for your own good—
kent is the best place in the world i didnt lose normandy i tried to be fair i helped foreign kings for u unless ur devils u cant kill me knowledge is divine
Tut, when struck’st thou one blow in the field?
Nonsense! When did you ever strike one blow in battle?
Please! When have you ever fought in battle?
when did u ever fight
Great men have reaching hands; oft have I struck
Those that I never saw, and struck them dead.
Powerful men have far-reaching power; often I have ordered strikes against enemies I never saw, and destroyed them.
Powerful men don't fight in person—I've ordered attacks on enemies I've never even seen, and destroyed them.
great leaders give orders not fight i've destroyed enemies i never saw
O monstrous coward! What, to come behind folks?
Oh, you're a terrible coward! You attack people from behind?
What a coward! You stab people in the back?
ur a coward u attack from behind
These cheeks are pale for watching for your good.
These cheeks are pale from losing sleep worrying for your welfare.
I look pale because I've been up all night working for your benefit.
i'm pale from staying up for u
Give him a box o’ th’ ear, and that will make ’em red again.
Slap him on the ear, and that will make his cheeks red again.
Hit him in the face, and that'll put some color back in those cheeks.
punch him that'll make him red
Long sitting to determine poor men’s causes
Hath made me full of sickness and diseases.
Sitting for long hours to judge poor men's cases has made me sick and diseased.
I've spent so much time sitting in court judging poor people's cases that I've gotten sick from it.
judging cases all day made me sick
Ye shall have a hempen caudle then, and the help of hatchet.
Then you'll get a rope and the help of an ax to end your suffering.
Well, then we'll give you a rope to cure your sickness, and an ax to help.
we'll give u a rope and an ax
Cade's order to pull down the Savoy Palace would have landed with particular force on Shakespeare's audience, because the Savoy had been destroyed in exactly this way — by Wat Tyler's rebels in the Peasants' Revolt of 1381. The historical echo is deliberate: Shakespeare is placing Cade in a tradition of popular revolt that Elizabethan audiences knew well and feared. The 1381 revolt is the play's unspoken companion text — similar grievances (lost French lands, corrupt ministers, heavy taxation), similar geography (Kent, London), similar pattern (early success, then collapse). By having Cade target the Savoy, Shakespeare is invoking that memory and asking his audience to think about what popular rebellion ultimately produces. The Savoy, rebuilt after 1381, would presumably be rebuilt again. The cycle doesn't end.
Why dost thou quiver, man?
Why are you shaking, man?
Why are you trembling?
y u shaking
The palsy, and not fear, provokes me.
A nervous condition, not fear, is making me shake.
It's a medical condition, not fear, that's making me tremble.
it's a medical thing not fear
Nay, he nods at us, as who should say, “I’ll be even with you.” I’ll
see if his head will stand steadier on a pole or no. Take him away, and
behead him.
No, he's nodding at us like he's saying 'I'll get revenge.' Let's see if his head will stand more steadily on a pole than it does now. Take him away and behead him.
Look, he's nodding at us like he's threatening revenge. Let's see how well his head balances on a pike. Take him away and cut off his head.
he's threatening us let's see how his head looks on a pole kill him
Tell me, wherein have I offended most?
Have I affected wealth or honour? Speak.
Are my chests filled up with extorted gold?
Is my apparel sumptuous to behold?
Whom have I injured, that ye seek my death?
These hands are free from guiltless bloodshedding,
This breast from harbouring foul deceitful thoughts.
O, let me live!
Tell me, what is my greatest crime? Have I sought wealth or glory? Tell me. Are my chests overflowing with stolen gold? Is my clothing extravagant and ornate? Who have I harmed that you want me dead? These hands have never shed innocent blood, And this heart has harbored no foul, deceitful thoughts. Oh, please let me live!
Tell me what I've done wrong. Have I been greedy or power-hungry? Say it. Are my treasuries full of stolen money? Do I dress in fancy clothes? Who did I hurt that deserves death? I've never killed an innocent person, And I've never harbored evil intentions. Please, let me live!
what did i do wrong i didn't steal i didn't hurt anyone let me live
[_Aside_.] I feel remorse in myself with his words, but I’ll bridle it.
He shall die, an it be but for pleading so well for his life. Away with
him! He has a familiar under his tongue; he speaks not i’ God’s name.
Go, take him away, I say, and strike off his head presently; and then
break into his son-in-law’s house, Sir James Cromer, and strike off his
head, and bring them both upon two poles hither.
I feel compassion for myself hearing his words, but I'll hold it back. He shall die, even if only for pleading so well for his life. Away with him! He has a demon spirit under his tongue; he doesn't speak in God's name. Go, take him away, I say, and strike off his head immediately; and then break into his son-in-law's house, Sir James Cromer, and strike off his head, and bring both of them on two poles here.
I feel some pity hearing what he's saying, but I'm gonna suppress it. He's gonna die, if only because he spoke so well for himself. Get him out of here! He's got a demon under his tongue doing the talking, not God. Take him away and cut off his head right now. Then break into his son-in-law's house, Sir James Cromer, cut off his head too, and bring both heads here on poles.
i feel bad for him but i'll suppress it he's gotta die for being so persuasive he's got a demon under his tongue behead him now get his son-in-law too put both heads on poles
It shall be done.
It will be done.
We'll do it.
it's done
Ah, countrymen, if when you make your prayers,
God should be so obdurate as yourselves,
How would it fare with your departed souls?
And therefore yet relent, and save my life.
Ah, my countrymen, if when you pray, God were as stubborn and unyielding as you are, How would it go for your souls after death? So please, change your minds and save my life.
Listen, people of my country, if God refused to listen to your prayers the way you're refusing to listen to me, How would your souls fare after death? So please, have mercy and let me live.
if god ignored your prayers like u ignore me how would ur souls fare have mercy
Away with him! And do as I command ye.
Get him out of here! And carry out my orders!
Get him out of here! And do what I told you!
get him out do what i said
The Cade scenes have been consistently funny — the asides, the absurd genealogy, the self-knighting. In this scene, Shakespeare pushes the comedy-horror dial further than anywhere else. Cade's indictment of Saye is genuinely comic in its logic (grammar schools are treasonous, Latin is diabolism) but the man he indicts is genuinely innocent and genuinely eloquent. The asides about Cade's stabbed mouth and cheese breath continue even as Saye makes his plea. Then Cade admits remorse and proceeds anyway. And the scene ends with the kissing heads. Shakespeare refuses to separate the funny from the horrifying — they occupy the same register, which is the more disturbing choice. Pure horror would be easier to process. The comedy that doesn't stop is what lingers.
My lord, when shall we go to Cheapside and take up commodities upon our
bills?
My lord, when will we go to Cheapside and seize goods by force?
My lord, when do we get to go to Cheapside and start looting?
when do we loot cheapside
Marry, presently.
Well, immediately.
Right now.
right now
O, brave!
Oh, excellent!
Yes, excellent!
yes
But is not this braver? Let them kiss one another, for they loved well
when they were alive. Now part them again, lest they consult about the
giving up of some more towns in France. Soldiers, defer the spoil of
the city until night; for with these borne before us instead of maces
will we ride through the streets, and at every corner have them kiss.
Away!
But isn't this even better? Let them kiss each other, since they got along well when they were alive. Now separate them again, so they can't plot to give away more French towns. Soldiers, save your looting for the night; because with these bodies carried before us instead of ceremonial staffs, we will ride through the streets, And at every corner make them kiss each other. Let's go!
But isn't this even better? Let the heads kiss each other—they got along fine when they were alive. Now pull them apart so they can't conspire to lose more French towns. Soldiers, don't start looting yet—wait until tonight. First, we'll ride through the streets Carrying these heads on poles instead of fancy staffs, and at every corner, we'll make them kiss each other. Let's move!
even better let them kiss they got along ride through streets with their heads make them kiss at every corner
The Reckoning
This is the Cade sequence's darkest scene — and the one where the comedy stops protecting the audience. Lord Saye's defense of education and governance is genuinely eloquent, and Cade feels remorse (he says so, in an aside) before ordering the execution anyway. The scene ends with Cade making the severed heads kiss each other on poles. The grotesque theater of his rule is in full display, and the laughter has curdled into something else.
If this happened today…
The strongman who seized the capital is on live TV ordering the national archives burned, declaring his mouth the new parliament. A respected minister is dragged in — he's been building schools and running courts for thirty years. He speaks well. The strongman briefly feels it, then has him killed for speaking too well. The execution clip goes viral with the faces blurred, but the bodies are real.