Well, the king certainly felt that they were murderers and cutthroats, but
Cade was a rebel (and is titled as such in the Dramatis Personae) with
followers among the working class -- Dick was a butcher, and Smith was a
weaver.  My point was that the scene is not meant to be taken literally,
and it is written with wit and humor.

Hey -- I have to do *something* with an English Lit degree :>)

Wirt Atmar <[log in to unmask]> wrote in article
<[log in to unmask]>...
> A third interpretation is that of Phil's above. I believe that Phil has
it
> about right, except perhaps for the "humorous" part of "humorous rebuke."
Dick
> and Jack Cade are not workingmen, they are criminals, murders -- although
they
> do seem to have a good time doing what they do.