If the nobles, the higher gentry, and even the lawyers and ecclesiastics, were indifferently provided with books, we cannot expect that the yeomen had any books what- ever. The merchants and citizens were probably some- what better provided. The labourers, who were scarcely yet fully established in their freedom from bondage to one lord, were probably, as a class, wholly unable to use books at all. Shakspere, in all likelihood, did not much exaggerate the feelings of ignorant men, who at the same time were oppressed men, when he puts these words in the mouth of Jack Cade when addressing Lord Say: » Thou hast most traitorously corrupted the youth of the realm, in erecting a grammar-school : and whereas, before, our forefathers had no other books but the score and the tally, thou hast caused printing to be used ; and, contrary to the king, his crown and dignity, thou hast built a paper-mill.» The poet has a little deranged the exact order of events, as poets are justified in doing, who look at history not with chronological accuracy.

Si los nobles, la alta burguesía, e incluso los abogados y eclesiásticos, estaban provistos de libros de forma indiferente, no podemos esperar que los terratenientes tuvieran libros en absoluto. Los comerciantes y ciudadanos probablemente estaban mejor provistos. Los trabajadores, que apenas se habían establecido plenamente en su libertad de la servidumbre de un solo señor, eran probablemente, como clase, totalmente incapaces de usar libros. Shakespeare, con toda probabilidad, no exageró mucho los sentimientos de los hombres ignorantes, que al mismo tiempo eran hombres oprimidos, cuando pone estas palabras en boca de Jack Cade al dirigirse a Lord Say: «Has corrompido de la manera más traidora a la juventud del reino al erigir una escuela de gramática; y mientras que, antes, nuestros antepasados ​​no tenían más libros que la partitura y la lista, has hecho que se usara la imprenta; y, en contra del rey, su corona y su dignidad, has construido una fábrica de papel». El poeta ha alterado un poco el orden exacto de los acontecimientos, como es justo que hagan los poetas que miran la historia sin precisión cronológica.