description Jack Cade Overview
Jack Cade was an English rebel leader who headed Cade's Rebellion against the government of Henry VI in 1450. The uprising drew support from people who opposed corruption, poor administration, and abuses by local officials. Cade's forces entered London and briefly took control of the city, but the rebellion soon collapsed; Cade was later killed while attempting to evade capture.
help Jack Cade FAQ
Who was Jack Cade and what did he lead?
Jack Cade was an English rebel leader who headed Cade's Rebellion in 1450 against the government of the increasingly incapacitated King Henry VI. His supporters in Kent and beyond protested corruption, heavy taxation, and abuses by royal officials.
What did Jack Cade's rebels do once they entered London?
Cade's forces entered London and briefly took control of the city in June 1450, forcing the king's court to flee. While holding the capital, the rebels seized and executed unpopular officials, including the Lord Treasurer, Lord Saye and Sele.
How did Jack Cade die?
After a pardon was offered and the rebellion collapsed, Cade fled and was hunted down near Lewes in Sussex, where the local sheriff Alexander Iden captured him in July 1450. Cade died of his wounds, and his body was subsequently beheaded and displayed as a warning.
Is Jack Cade a character in Shakespeare?
Yes, he appears as a major figure in Shakespeare's 'Henry VI, Part 2,' which dramatizes the 1450 rising. The famous line 'The first thing we do, let's kill all the lawyers' is spoken in that play by Cade's follower Dick the Butcher.
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