Read the full text of Henry VI Part 2 Act 4 Scene 2 with a side-by-side translation HERE.
- Meanwhile, back on land, Bevis and Butthead—er, Holland are talking about how Jack Cade has a new plan for England and its government: he wants workers to have the honor from now on.
- Just then, Cade and some of his followers enter. Cade tries to make a speech, but our focus is split between what he's saying and the constant jokes and jabs from his buddies Dick and Smith. It's clear to us that Cade is actually a commoner from the jokes about his lineage.
- Cade tells the people that his dad was Mortimer and his mom was a Plantagenet, so that makes him a noble. Of course, all of this is totally made up, but he wants to get the support of the commoners by being above them.
- Cade tells his peeps that when he's king, there will be no money... but there will be all the beer you can drink, and lots of food, too. What, is this dude a member of the Polish Beer-Lovers' Party?
- Also on Cade's to-do list for his new government: (1) kill the lawyers, and (2) get rid of anyone who can read or write…
- Cade's laying out his plan when a clerk comes in. Cade accuses him of being a monstrous villain and orders that he be hanged (with his pen and ink bottle, no less). He's not messing around about this reading-and-writing thing.
- Michael, a messenger, comes in to tell Cade that Stafford is coming this way. Cade says it's no big thing.
- Stafford enters with his soldiers and brother. He tells Cade and the rebels to get rid of their weapons, and no one will get hurt.
- Cade tells Stafford he's actually a noble, and he's in line to the throne. Stafford and his bro don't believe it, and there's bickering for a while.
- Then Stafford's brother accuses Cade of learning his little family history from York. Cade laughs and says he did no such thing.
- There's no time to deal with that, because Cade's buddy Dick chimes in to say that they're planning to take Lord Saye's head. Stafford and his brother argue with them about that.
- Stafford finally gets tired of the whole thing, declares Cade a traitor, and asks anyone who follows the king to leave with him. The brother says that, by the way, they're sending the king's army against these traitors.
- After they leave, Cade tells the men that anyone who loves common people should come with him. He's not some fancy-pants noble; he's an honest man.