CADE, JOHN (d. 145o), commonly called JACK CADE, cap tain of Kent and leader of the rising of 1450, may have been an Irishman by birth, but details of his early life are scanty. After his death the Government asserted that he had lived in Sussex, had had to flee after murdering a woman, that he had served in the French wars and settled in Kent under the false name of Aylmer or Aylesmere. How much, if any of this can be believed, is unknown. Cade himself claimed the name Mortimer ; he was a man of some landed property and importance, and may quite possibly have been a distant or illegitimate relation of the duke of York. The men of Kent, when they rose in rebellion in May 1450, selected him as their leader, and under his skilled direction marched from Ashford to Blackheath, retreated, defeated the king's supporters at Sevenoaks (June 18) and returned victor iously to London, which they entered on July 3. At this time Cade was at the height of his fortunes : his army was estimated at 40,000 men, and was certainly superior to the royal forces, and the city was favourable to his complaint of maladministration, waste, corruption, and oppression, and his opposition to the Statute of Labourers. Cade executed Lord Say-and-Sele and Wil liam Crowmer, sheriff of Kent; but his attempt to exact forced contributions led to the city gates being closed against him on the withdrawal of his army to Southwark (July 5) . The Government now offered concessions and pardons, through the intermediary of Chancellor Kemp, which the Kentishmen accepted, and dispersed.
Cade's pardon was in the name of Mortimer; it was consequently declared invalid, and Cade himself was hunted down with his re maining followers by Alexander Iden, the new sheriff of Kent, and killed near Heathfield (July 12). Acts were afterwards is sued attainting him and annulling all measures taken during his short predominance.