The Second part of King Henry the Sixth — Act 4, Scene 3: Another part of Blackheath.

Jack Cade’s rebel force defeats Sir Humphrey Stafford and William Stafford in the fight. Cade calls for Dick the butcher and praises him for killing the enemy as if he were working in a slaughterhouse. He rewards Dick by promising him a butcher’s licence and a longer Lent, turning the victory into a joke about killing. Cade then puts on Sir Humphrey Stafford’s brigandine as a trophy and orders the dead bodies dragged behind his horse on the way to London. Dick suggests that they should break open the prisons and free the captives, and Cade agrees. He then leads the rebels onward toward London.

Where's Dick, the butcher of Ashford?

Here, sir.

They fell before thee like sheep and oxen, and thou

behavedst thyself as if thou hadst been in thine own

slaughter-house: therefore thus will I reward thee,

the Lent shall be as long again as it is; and thou

shalt have a licence to kill for a hundred lacking

one.

I desire no more.

And, to speak truth, thou deservest no less. This

monument of the victory will I bear;

and the bodies shall be dragged at my horse' heels

till I do come to London, where we will have the

mayor's sword borne before us.

If we mean to thrive and do good, break open the

gaols and let out the prisoners.

Fear not that, I warrant thee. Come, let's march

towards London.