How we cite our quotes: (Act.Scene.Line)
Quote #7
CADE
And you that love the Commons, follow me.
Now show yourselves men. 'Tis for liberty!
We will not leave one lord, one gentleman;
Spare none but such as go in clouted shoon,
For they are thrifty, honest men and such
As would, but that they dare not, take our parts. (4.2.179-184)
Cade encourages his men to follow him and get rid of class hierarchy. He wants to replace all this with a commonwealth, where the commoners would get just as much say as the nobles. Now, Cade is lying about his heritage, and everyone knows it. Plus, his use of "parts" here would have reminded Shakespeare's audience of the fact that these were all actors, performing roles different from who they actually were. When Cade proclaims that all these folks are honest, we kind of understand that they aren't—and that suggests that this rebellion may not be as noble as it seems.
Quote #8
CADE
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. (4.7.31-40)
Lord Saye is arrested and killed because he has—gasp—helped educate people. Who knew reading and writing were such hot-button issues? But the point here is more about the class divide. The upper class peeps get to go to grammar school, while the commoners are never educated, which just gives them more power over the commoners. Cade doesn't think that's fair. Does Saye deserve to die for it?
Quote #9
CLIFFORD
What say you, countrymen? Will ye relent
And yield to mercy whilst 'tis offered you,
Or let a rebel lead you to your deaths?
Who loves the King and will embrace his pardon,
Fling up his cap and say 'God save his Majesty!'
Who hateth him and honors not his father,
Henry the Fifth, that made all France to quake,
Shake he his weapon at us and pass by. (4.8.11-18)
When Clifford convinces the rebels to stop fighting against Henry, he invokes their patriotism and their pride regarding Henry V, the current king's dad. It's interesting that he gets the commoners back with a story about a king, since they have been fighting the whole time against the idea of a king. What is Shakespeare trying to tell us by including this king business in Clifford's speech? Does the crowd really just fall for whoever tells the best stories?