A formidable rebellion broke out in Kent (1450), then, as now, one of
the most independent and democratic counties in England. The leader
was Jack Cade, who called himself by the popular name of Mortimer
(S257, note 1, and S279). He claimed to be cousin to Richard, Duke of
York, a nephew of that Edmund Mortimer, now dead, whom Henry IV had
unjustly deprived of his succession to the crown.
Cade, who was a mere adventurer, was quite likely used as a tool by
plotters much higher than himself. By putting him forward they could
judge whether the country was ready for a revolution and change of
sovereigns.
Wat Tyler's rebellion, seventy years before (S250), was almost purely
social in its character, having for its object the emancipation of the
enslaved laboring classes. Cade's insurrection was, on the contrary,
almost wholly political. His chief complaint was that the people were
not allowed their free choice in the election of representatives, but
were forced by the nobility to choose candidates they did not want.
Other grievances for which reform was demanded were excessive
taxastion and the rapacity of the evil counselors who controlled the
King.
Cade entered London with a body of twenty thousand men under strict
discipline. Many of the citizens sympathized with Cade's projects of
reform, and were ready to give him a welcome. He took formal
possession of the place by striking his sword on London Stone,--a
Roman monument still standing, which then marked the center of the
ancient capital,--saying, as Shakespeare reports him, "Now is Mortimer
lord of this city."[1]
After three days of riot and the murder of the King's treasurer, the
rebellion came to an end through a general pardon. Cade, however,
endeavored to raise a new insurrection in the south, but was shortly
after captured, and died of his wounds.
[1] "Now is Mortimer lord of this city, and here, sitting upon London
Stone, I charge and command that, at the city's cost, this conduit
runs nothing but claret wine this first year of our reign; and now it
shall be treason for any man to call me other than Lord Mortimer."
--Shakerspeare's "Henry VI," Part II, Act IV, scene vi.
It is noticeable that the great dramatist expresses no sympathy in
this play with the cause of the people. In fact he ridicules Cade and
his movement. In the same spirit he does not mention the Great
Charter in his "King John," while in his "Richard II" he passes over
Wat Tyler without a word. Perhaps the explanation may be found in the
fact that Shakespeare lived in an age when England was threatened by
both open and secret enemies. The need of his time was a strong,
steady hand at the helm; it was no season for reform or change of any
sort; on this account he may have thought it his duty to be silent in
regard to democratic risings and demands in the past (S313, note 2).