ided for a time in
Sussex, to have fled from the country after committing a murder, and to
have served in the French wars. Returning to England, he settled in Kent
under the name of Aylmer and married a lady of good position. When the men
of Kent rose in rebellion in May 1450, they were led by a man who took the
name of Mortimer, and who has generally been regarded as identical with
Cade. Mr James Gairdner, however, considers it probable that Cade did not
take command of the rebels until after the skirmish at Sevenoaks on the
18th of June. At all events, it was Cade who led the insurgents from
Blackheath to Southwark, and under him they made their way into London on
the 3rd of July. A part of the populace was doubtless favourable to the
rebels, but the opposing party gained strength when Cade and his men began
to plunder. Having secured the execution of James Fiennes, Baron Say and
Sele, and of William Crowmer, sheriff of Kent, Cade and his followers
retired to Southwark, and on the 5th of July, after a fierce struggle on
London Bridge, the citizens prevented them from re-entering the city. Cade
then met the chancellor, John [v.04 p.0928] Kemp, archbishop of York, and
William of Wayneflete, bishop of Winchester, and terms of peace were
arranged. Pardons were drawn up, that for the leaders being in the name of
Mortimer. Cade, however, retained some of his men, and at this time, or a
day or two earlier, broke open the prisons in Southwark and released the
prisoners, many of whom joined his band. Having collected some booty, he
went to Rochester, made a futile attempt to capture Queenborough castle,
and then quarrelled with his followers over some plunder. On the 10th of
July a proclamation was issued against him in the name of Cade, and a
reward was offered for his apprehension. Escaping into Sussex he was
captured at Heathfield on the 12th. During the scuffle he had been severely
wounded, and on the day of his capture he died in the cart which was
conveying him to London. The body was afterwards beheaded and quartered,
and in 1451 Cade was attainted.

See Robert Fabyan, _The New Chronicles of England and France_, edited by H.
Ellis (London, 1811); William of Worcester, _Annales rerum Anglicarum_,
edited by J. Stevenson, (London, 1864); _An English Chronicle of the Reigns
of Richard II., Henry IV., Henry V. and Henry VI._, edited by J.S. Davies
(London, 1856); _Historical Collections of a Citizen of London_, edited by
J. G