Jack Cade

 

Jack Cade

 

Medieval Crusaders

Medieval Crusaders

Step back into history get Medieval facts and information about the famous people and events of Medieval Life and Times

Jack Cade

  • Famous leader of the Kent Peasants Revolt
  • Read books from a history book club or watch the History Channel DVDs on Medieval Times
  • Famous people from Medieval history - Jack Cade
  • History, interesting facts and information about Jack Cade during the Medieval times
  • Middle Ages era, period, life, age and times
  • Famous People of the Middle Ages
  • Important People of the Middle Ages
  • Life Story and Biography of famous Medieval people
  • Famous People in Medieval Europe and England
  • Life and History of Jack Cade

 

 

Jack Cade

Short Biography, facts and interesting information about Jack Cade - the life of one of the famous people who lived during the Medieval times
Famous leader of the Kent Peasants Revolt

Short Biography about the life of Jack Cade
The following biography, short history and interesting facts provide helpful information for history courses and history coursework about the life and history of Jack Cade a famous Medieval character of historical importance who lived during the Middle Ages:

  • Country of Origin / Nationality: Irish or English
  • Also Known As: John Mortimer and John Aylmere. His supporters claimed he was a cousin of Richard, duke of York
  • Lifetime: Date of birth unknown
  • Died: Jack Cade died in 1450
  • Accomplishments and Achievements or why Jack Cade was famous: Jack Cade led the peasants in the Kent rebellion of 1450. Jack Cade appears as a character William Shakespeare's play Henry VI, Part 2. In the William Shakespeare play his most famous quote is "The first thing we do, let's kill all the lawyers."

Jack Cade
The story and biography of Jack Cade which contains interesting information, facts & the history about the life of this Medieval person of historical importance who led the peasants in the Kent rebellion.

England during the reign of King Henry VI
King Henry VI was one of the most unpopular English monarchs. During his reign the nobles were awed by his austerity towards some members of their own high estate, and divided between the claims of Lancaster and York; and the peasantry, who cared little for the claims of the rival Roses, were maddened by the extortions and indignities to which they were subjected. The feebleness and corruption of the Government, and the disasters in France, combined with the murder of the Duke of Suffolk, added to the general discontent; and the result was, that in the year 1450 the country was ripe for revolution.

Jack Cade leads the Kent Rebellion
In June of that year, and immediately after the death of Suffolk, a body of 20,000 of the men of Kent; assembled on Blackheath, under the leadership of a reputed Irishman, calling himself John Cade, but who is said in reality to have been an English physician named Aylmere. This person, whatever his real name, assumed the name of Mortimer and forwarded two papers to the king, entitled "The Complaint of the Commons of Kent," and "The Requests of the Captain of the Great Assembly in Kent."

Jack Cade and the Kentish Men fight the Royal Troops
Henry replied by despatching a small force against the rioters. Cade unhesitatingly gave battle to the royal troops, and having defeated them and killed their leader, Sir Humphrey Stafford, at Seven Oaks, advanced towards London. Still preserving an appearance of moderation, he forwarded to the court a plausible list of grievances, asserting that when these were redressed, and Lord Say, the treasurer, and Cromer, the sheriff of Kent, had been punished , he and his men would lay down their arms. These demands were so reasonable that the king's troops, who were far from loyal, refused to fight against the insurgents; and Henry, finding his cause desperate, retired for safety to Kenilworth, Lord Scales with a thousand men remaining to defend the Tower.

Jack Cade enters London on 1st July
Hearing of the flight of his majesty, Cade advanced to Southwark, which he reached on the 1st of July, and, the citizens offering no resistance, he entered London two days afterwards. Strict orders had been given to his men to refrain from pillage, and on the same evening they were led back to Southwark. On the following day he returned, and having compelled the Lord Mayor and the people to sit at Guildhall, brought Say and Cromer before them, and these victims of the popular spite were condemned, after a sham trial, and were beheaded in Cheapside. This exhibition of personal ill-will on the part of their chief seemed the signal for the commencement of outrages by his followers. On the next day the unruly mob began to plunder, and the citizens, repenting of their disloyalty, joined with Lord Scales in resisting their re-entry. After a sturdy fight, the Londoners held the position, and the Kentishmen, discouraged by their reverse, began to scatter.

The Death of Jack Cade
Jack Cade, not slow to perceive the danger which threatened him, fled towards Lewis, but was overtaken by Iden, the sheriff of Kent, who killed him in a garden in which he had taken shelter. A reward of 1000 marks followed this deed of bravery. Some of the insurgents were afterwards executed as traitors; but the majority even of the ringleaders escaped unpunished, for Henry's seat upon the throne was so unstable, that it was deemed better to win the people by a manifestation of clemency, rather than to provoke them by an exhibition of severity.

Famous Medieval People - Jack Cade
Interesting facts and information with a short biography about the Medieval Life, Times and history of Jack Cade. Additional useful details, facts, history, biography, timeline and information about the lives of other famous people of the Dark Ages and Middle Ages, and the important events which occurred during their times, can be accessed via the Medieval Life and Times Sitemap. The content of this article on Medieval life and times provides free educational details, facts and information for reference and research for schools, colleges and homework for history courses and history coursework.

 


Medieval Times - Jack Cade

  • Read books from a history book club or watch the History Channel DVDs on Medieval Times
  • Famous people from Medieval history - Jack Cade
  • History, interesting facts and information about Jack Cade during the Medieval times
  • Middle Ages era, period, life, age and times
  • Famous People of the Middle Ages
  • Important People of the Middle Ages
  • Life Story and Biography of famous Medieval people
  • Famous People in Medieval Europe and England
  • Life and History of Jack Cade

Helpful information for history courses and history coursework - Read History Books - Medieval Society - Realms - Medival - Lives - Medival Era and Period - Jack Cade - History - Information - Facts - Info - Medieval Period - Medieval - Middle Ages History - Dark Ages - Information about Jack Cade - Jack Cade Facts - Jack Cade Info - Medieval Times - Jack Cade - Medival Era and Period - History Channel DVDs - Written By Linda Alchin