SSA

Early modern literature
Drama, gender & the body

Henry VI, Part 2

Act 4, Scene 6

Modern spelling. Stage directions omitted.

Listen to Act 4. LibriVox volunteers recorded “Act 4” as one track, so it runs past this scene and includes stage directions this page leaves out. LibriVox catalog.

CADE

Now is Mortimer lord of this city. And here, sitting upon London Stone, I charge and command that, of the city’s cost, the Pissing Conduit run nothing but claret wine this first year of our reign. And now henceforward it shall be treason for any that calls me other than Lord Mortimer.

SOLDIER

Jack Cade! Jack Cade!

CADE

Knock him down there.

DICK

If this fellow be wise, he’ll never call Jack Cade more. I think he a very fair warning. My lord, there’s an army gathered together in Smithfield.

CADE

Come then, let’s go fight with them. But first, go and set London Bridge on fire; and, if you can, burn down the Tower too. Come, let’s away.

All of Henry VI, Part 2

Act 1

Act 1, Scene 1Act 1, Scene 2Act 1, Scene 3Act 1, Scene 4,

Act 2

Act 2, Scene 1Act 2, Scene 2Act 2, Scene 3Act 2, Scene 4,

Act 3

Act 3, Scene 1Act 3, Scene 2Act 3, Scene 3,

Act 4

Act 4, Scene 1Act 4, Scene 2Act 4, Scene 3Act 4, Scene 4Act 4, Scene 5Act 4, Scene 6Act 4, Scene 7Act 4, Scene 8Act 4, Scene 9Act 4, Scene 10,

Act 5

Act 5, Scene 1Act 5, Scene 2Act 5, Scene 3

Open Henry VI, Part 2 in the 1623 First Folio. See its words in the cloud.

Modern spelling for reading. The edition is public domain in the United States. Edition source.