Great Expectations No.11 Big days out in London:
For Jack Cade’s Rebellion (1450)
Wool, Thread, Knitting Needles, Sequins & Glass Beads
2024
By Gillian Ely
Jack Cade's Rebellion was a popular revolt in 1450 against the government of England. It stemmed from local grievances regarding the corruption and abuse of power of the king's closest advisors and local officials, as well as recent military losses in France during the Hundred Years' War. Leading an army of men from south-eastern England, the rebellion's leader Jack Cade marched on London in order to force the government to reform the administration and remove from power the "traitors" deemed responsible for bad governance. Apart from the Cornish rebellion of 1497, it was the largest popular uprising to take place in England during the 15th century.
Very little is known about the identity and origins of Jack Cade. Given that the rebel leader did not leave behind any personal documents, and the use of aliases was common among rebels, historians are forced to base their claims on rumour and speculation. Historians agree for certain that he was a member of the lower ranks of society. During the rebellion of 1450, Cade took on the title of "Captain of Kent"
Amongst the most hated figures in Government for Jack Cade and the Rebels was Baron Saye and Sele whose other titles included: High Sheriff of Kent, Constable of Dover Castle and Warden of the Cinque Ports. He was made Lord High Treasurer of England in 1449 during the period of “The Great Slump” an economic slowdown that had began in the 1430s and which persisted until the 1480s. Some accounts refer to the event as a "credit crunch”
In the spring of 1450, Cade organised the creation and distribution of a manifesto entitled The Complaint of the Poor Commons of Kent. The manifesto represented not only the grievances of the people but of several MPs, lords and magnates as well. After a skirmish at Sevenoaks the rebels entered and overtook London via Southwark. Henry VI had fled to Warwickshire by this point and handed over Saye and Sele to the rebels as a placatory gesture.
Saye and Sele was brought to Guildhall for a sham trial. Upon being found guilty of treason, he was paraded through part of London and beheaded. His son-in-law, deputy-sheriff of Kent, was also executed by the rebels outside the city walls on the same day. The heads of the two men were put on pikes and unceremoniously paraded through the streets of London while their bearers pushed them together so that they appeared to kiss. Their heads were then affixed to London Bridge.
Gradually Cade's inability to control his followers alienated the initially sympathetic citizens of London, who eventually turned against the rebels. When, on 7 July, Cade's army returned over the bridge to Southwark for the night, the London officials closed the bridge to prevent Cade from re-entering the city.
Cade fled towards Lewes but on 12 July, in a garden in which he had taken shelter, was caught. In the skirmish, Cade was fatally wounded and died before reaching London for trial. As a warning to others, Cade's body underwent a mock trial and was beheaded at Newgate. Cade's body was dragged through the streets of London before being quartered. His limbs were sent throughout Kent to various cities and locations that were believed to have been strong supporters of the rebel uprising.