Read the full text of Henry VI Part 2 Act 4 Scene 7 with a side-by-side translation HERE.
- At the Tower, Cade and his men take over, killing leaders and burning anything in their path.
- Dick and Smith want to know about the new laws for their new government. Cade declares that everything will be held in common. Translation: there will be no more class distinctions. Everyone will pitch in for the whole community.
- Cade also decides that all the laws will come out of his mouth; they won't be written down anywhere. Sure, that makes sense.
- A messenger enters to inform us that Saye has ben captured. Cade orders him brought him.
- When Saye enters, Cade delivers a speech about how Saye 1) lost lands to France; 2) corrupted the English tongue with "abominable words" and grammar schools; and 3) put illiterate men in prison. What does he have to say for himself?
- Saye is kind of confused. He tells Cade that he 1) had nothing to do with France; 2) put people in prison according to the law; and 3) thinks knowledge and learning are pretty cool.
- There's some back and forth between Cade and Saye before Cade orders Saye beheaded.
- Now Saye is really confused. He asks Cade whom he's offended and why he has to die; then he begs to live.
- We can't help but feel sorry for the guy; even Cade feels remorse.
- Cade stands his ground and repeats his order to have Saye killed, after which his head will be stuck on a pole for all to see. Cade also orders his men to kill Saye's son-in-law, Cromer, while he's at it.
- Saye asks Cade and company how they live with themselves, and then he is taken away.
- Cade declares that all women in the land will be under the men's command. They should be available (for sex) to all men anytime he commands.
- Later, a soldier enters with the heads of Say and Cromer on pikes. Everyone cheers.
- Cade says the heads should kiss one another. Ride through the streets and let everyone see them kiss.
- Yeah, okay: that's not creepy at all.