thinke it so and if they love you you have enough you cannot Capitulate not treat with your rebells without hazarding your honour and perhaps your royall faith if you yeild to the force of one sedition your whole life and reigne will be nothing but a continuation of broyles and tumults if you assert your soveraigne authority betimes not onely these doults these sots but all men else will reverence you remember Sir God by whom lawfull Princes reigne whose vicegerent you are would not forgive rebellion in Angels you must not trust the face Petitions delivered you upon Swords points are fatall if you allow this custome you are ruined as yet Sir you may be obeyed as much as you please Of this opinion was Sir Robert Hales Lord Prior of Saint Iohn of Ierusalem newly Lord Treasurer of England a magnanimous and stout Knight but not liked by the Commons When this resolution was known to the Clownes they grow starke mad they bluster they sweat to seek out the Kings Traitours for such now they must go for No man was either good or honest but he who pleased them the Archbishop and Lord Prior to chop off their Heads here they might be trusted they were likely to keep their words Here upon without more consideration they advance toward London not forgetting to burne and rase the Lawyers and Courtiers houses in the way to the Kings honour no doubt which they will be thought to Arme for Sir Iohn Froissart and others report this part thus which probably might follow after this refusall The Rebells say they sent their Knight so they called him yet was he the Kings Knight for Tyler came not up to dubbing we finde no Sir Iohn nor Sir Thomas of his making Sir Iohn Moton to the King who was then in the Tower with his Mother his halfe brothers Thomas Holland Earle of Kent after Duke of Surry and the Lord Holland the Earles of Salisbury Warwick and Oxford the Archbishop Lord Prior and others The Knight casts himselfe downe at the Kings feet beseeches him not to looke upon him the worse as in this quality and imployment to consider he is forced to doe what he does He goes on Sir the Commons of this Realme those few in Armes comparatively to the rest would be taken for the whole desire you by me to speake with them Your Person will be safe they repute you still their King this deserved thanks but how long the kindnesse will hold we shall soone finde they professe that all they had done or would doe was for your honour For your glory your honour and security are their great care they will make you a glorious King fearfull to your enemies and beloved of your Subjects they promise you a plentifull and unparallell'd revenue They will maintâ—…ine your power and authority in relation to the Lawes with your royal person according to the duty of their allegeance their protestation their vow their solemne League and Covenant without diminishing your just power and greatnesse and that they will all the dayes of their lives continue in this Covenant against all opposition They assure you Sir That they intend faithfully the good of your Majesty and of the Kingdome and that they will not be diverted from this end by any private or selfe-respects whatsoever But the Kingdome has been a long time ill governed by your Uncles and the Clergy especially by the Archbishop of Canterbury of whom they would have an account They have found out necessary Counsels for you they would warne you of many things which hitherto you have wanted good advise in The conclusion was sad on the Knights part His Children were pledges for his returne and if he faile in that their lives were to answer it Which moved with the the King He allowes the excuse sends him back with this answer that he will speake with the Commons the next Morning which it should seeme the report of the outrages done by the Clownes upon his refusall this Message made him consent to At the time he takes his Barge is rowed downe to Redriffe the place nearest the Rebells ten thousand of them descend from the Hill to see and treat with him with a resolution to yeild to nothing to overcome by the Treaty as they must have done had not the Kings feare preserved him When the Barge drew nigh the new Câ—…uncell of state sayes out Knight howled and shouted as though all the Devills of Hell had been amongst them Sir Iohn Moton was brought toward the River guarded they being determined to have cut him in pieces if the King had broke his promise All the desires of these good and faithfull Counsellours contracted suddenly into a narrow roome they had now but one demand The King askes them what is the matter which made them so earnestly sollicit his Presence They have no more to say but to intreat him to land Which was to betray himselfe to them to give his Life and Soveraignty up to those fickle Beasts to be held of them during their good pleasures which the Lords will not agree to The Earle of Salisbury of the antient Nobility and illustrious house of Montacute tells them their equipage and order were not comely and that the King ought not to adventure amongst their troopes They are now more unsatisfied and London how true soever to the Cause and faithlesse to the Prince shall feele the effects of their fury Southwark a friendly borough is taken up for their first quarters Here againe they throw downe the Malignants Houses and as a grace of their entrance breake up the Kings prisons and let out all those they finde under restraint in them not forgetting to ransack the Archbishops house at Lambeth and spoyle all things there plucking downe the Stews standing upon the Thames banke and allowed in the former ages It cannot be thought but that the Idol loved Adultery well enough but perhaps these publick bawdy-houses were too uncleane and might stinke in his nostrils we cannot finde him anywhere quarelling with the Beares those were no Malignants They knocked not long at the City-gates which some say were never shut against them or as others quickly opened The Citizens fancyed themselves privy Counsellours borne inspired from their shoppes for affaires of State and would not suppose the Reformation could be effected without them they were rich by lyes and all the most sordid wayes of falshood and must be sage and knowing pride the first sinne the Devill taught man tickles them The Major Sir William Waleworth whose memory while truth and loyalty shall be thought virtues must be honourable and nine of the Aldermen held for King Richard in vaine a prosperous wicked chief shall never want wicked instruments Three Aldermen and the greatest part of the people for the King of the Commons the Idol and his Priests Those the considers and well affected to Tyler forbid their Major to keep him out owne his actions as done
Lord the King The Major answers in full upon the accursed Sacrilegious Head of the Idol with his Sword He struck heartily and like a faithfull zealous subject Dagon of the Clownes sinkes at his feete The Kings followers inviron him round Iohn Standish an Esquire of the Court alights and runs him into the belly which thrust sent him into another World to accompany him who taught Rebellion and murder first Event was then no signe of a good cause All History now brands him for a Traitour which by some will be attributed to his miscarriage withoâ—… doubt had he prospered in the Works he had had all the honours which goe along with prosperity The King had beene the wrong doer and his afflictions if nothing in so much youth could have beene found out had beene crimes we must overpower those whom we would make guilty Henry the great of France under the Popes interdict is told by a Gentleman Sir if we be overcome we shall dye condemned hereticks if your Majesty conquer the censures shall bâ—… revoked they will fall of themselves He who reads the mischiefes of his usurpation will thinke he perished too late Now I come to an Act of Richards the most glorious of his History which the Annals past can no where parallel here his infancy excells his after man-hood Here and in the gallantry of his death he appeares a full Prince and perhaps vies with all the bayes of his usurpers triumphs Alexander the Monarch of the world Not more wondered at for his victories then for that suppressing the Sedition of his Macedons in Asia tired and unable to march whither his ambition carried him on wings leaps from his Throne of State into the Battels of his Phalangesâ—…raged Seâ—…ses thirteene of the chiefe malecontents and delivers them to the custody of his Guards Curtius knowes not what he should impute this amazement of the Seditious to every man returning upon it to his old duty and obedience and ready to yeild himselfe up into the same hands it might be sayes he The veneration of the Majesty of Kings which the Nations submitted under worship equally with the Gods or of himselfe which laid the tempest That confidence too of the Duke Alessandro of Parma in a mutiny of the German Reiters at Namuresâ—…s memorable who made his way with his Sword alone through the points of all their Lances into the middest of their Troops and brought thence by the coller one of the Mutineers whom he commanded to be hangâ—…d to the terrour of the rest The youth of Richard begat rather contempt than reverence of which too these Clownes breasts were never very full When the fall of the Idol was known to the rout they put themselves into a posture of defence thunder out nothing but vengeance to the King and his whom they now arraign of Murder and Tyranny He is guilty of Innocent bloud a Tyrant a Traitour an Homicide the publique Enemy of the Common wealth Richard Plantaginâ—…t is indicted in the name of the people of England of treason and other heynous crimes He is now become lesse than Tylers Ghost a Traitour to the Free-borne people His treason was he would not destroy himselfe he would not open his body to Tylars full blow They roare out our Captaine Generall is slaine treacherously let us stand to it and revenge his precious bloud or die with him I cannot passe this place without some little wonder had these Ruffians with whom Kings hedged about by holy Scripture and Lawes humane are neither divine nor sacred beene asked whether Tyler the Idol of their own clay and hands might have been tryed touched or struck according to their resenting this blow here let his tyrannies his exorbitances have beene what they would they would have answer'd no doubt in the negative Though Richard might have been struck thorough and thorough Tyler who had usurped his power must have been sacred it must have been treason to touch him Phocas must not be hurt in Tylers case Straw would allow the old texts againe The powers were to be obeyed Their bowes were drawne when the King gallops up to them alone and riding round the throng asks them What madnesse it was that armed them thus against their own peace and his life whether they would have no end of things or demands He tells them if Liberty be their onely aim as hitherto they have pretended they may assure themselves of it and that it is an extreme folly to seek to make that our owne with the breach of Faith of Lawes with impieties violating God and Man which we may come by fairely But they trod not the path to Liberty That where every man commands no man can be free the Liberty too they fancy cannot be had the world cannot subsist without Order and Subjection men cannot be freed from Lawes If they were there could be no society no civility anywhere Men must be shunned as much as Wolves or Beares rapine and bloud-shed would over-run the world the spoyler must feare the next comer like savage beasts who hurt others and know not it is ill to hurt them men would devout men the stronger Thiefe would swallow up the rest no Relations would be sacred where every man has the power of the Sword the aged sire could there be any such must defend his silver haires from the unnaturall violence of his own Sons He addes if there can be any just cause of Sedition yet is the Sedition unjust which outlasts it which continues when the cause is yeilded to and taken away that if his Prerogative has beene sometimes grievous his tax 's heavy and any of those they call evill Counsellours faulty they ought to remember in their first risings and all along in all their Oathes and Covenants they swore continually not to invade the Monarchy nor touch the Rights of his free Crowne You ought to remember your own Remonstrances you once declared that you acknowledged the Maxime of the Law The King can doe no wrong If any ill be committed in matters of State the Councellors if in matters of Law the Iudges must answer for it My person was not to be violated He expects they should deale with him as the honest Husbandman does in overflowes of Waters who cleares and draines his ground repaires the bankes but does not usurp upon the streame does not inhance within the Channell And farther that quarrels to his Government and Lawes are unreasonable from those who out of ambition arme to overthrow both that reformation is not the worke of Sedition which ever disorders what is well setled He conjures them to forsake these suries who sayes he abuse their lightness meerely for their owne ends whose companions or masters they were lately now are they but their Gâ—…urds and that if they refuse a subjection according to all Lawes Divine and humane to his Scepter they must become slaves and tributaries to their Iron to the Flailes and Pitchforkes of some Mushrome of
the red Cross before him according to the fashion of the Clownes of London The Commons heating of his coming poure themselves out in heaps to meet him He alights strikes the Penon into the Earth and bids them keep close and incircle it like a Standard He intreats them to continue about it and expect his return and the Lieutenants who were resolved with all speed to treat with the Abbot and would suddenly bring them an answer to their propositions Which said he and they enter the Church and send for the Abbot to appeare before them â—…nd answer the Commons onely sacred then and to whom all knees were to bow The Abbot was at first resolute to die for the liberty of his Church a pious gallantry which will be admirable but overcome with the prayers of his Monkes who told him as things stood his death could advantage nothing that these stinking Knaves these Hell-hounds were determined to murder the Monkes and burne the Monastery if they had the repulse and that there was no way of safety but to fall downe before these Baals he yeilds After he was come to the Church and a short salutation past Wallingford reaches out to him the Kings Letter or Writ as Walsingham calls it in these words as I have rendred them out of the barbarous French of that age BEloved in God At the Petition of our loved Lieges of the Towne of St. Albane we will and command you That certaine Charters being in your custody made by our Progenitour King Henry to the Burgesses and good People of the said Towne of commune of pasture and fishing and of certain other commodities expressed in the said Charters in what they say you doe as Law and Reason requires So that they may not have any matter to complaine to us for that Cause Given under our Signet at London the 15. day of June the fourth yeare of our Reigne Here certainly againe is a mistake of the day for till Friday the 16. of Iune the Clownes of Saint Albanes as is observed stirred not Thus is the King forced to be the Author of other mens injustice to consent to those insolencies and wrongs which must undoe all those those who are faithfull to him to please a base rable ingaged to turn in the end their destroying hands upon himselfe and his royall Family The Abbot receives the Letter with due reverence and reads it then thinking to worke upon the consciences of these Hel-hounds he begins a discourse of Law Reason Equity and Justice Law and Reason were the princely bounds betwixt which the Kings commands ran He tells them whatsoever was demanded by them had beene long agoe determined in the Courts of Justice by the publick Judges persons knowing and honourable sworn to doâ—… equill right That the Records were kept amongst the Kings Rolls at Westminster whence he inferred That according to the Lawes antiently in use they had neither right nor claime left he addes the usurpation upon anothers propriety is tyranny in the abstract it is the greatest injustice the very heathens will have it unnaturall to inrich our selves to make our advantage from Spoyle and robbery but force is odious to God and man that aggravates the sinne violence is a more heynous crime than theft This was ridiculous wisdome considering who they were the good Abbot spake to he had forgot perhaps how Antigonâ—…s armed to invade and seize the Cities and Countries of other Princes laughed at the serious grave folly of one who presented him with a tractate of Justice Wallingford with his hand upon his Sword takes him off pertinently as reflecting upon the manners of men whose treasons prosper and practise of the times In which new men did not advance themselves by Vertue by Learning by Justice or Valour but by Murder and Robbery My Lord sayes he every story is not true because it is eloquently told you indeavour here to inveigle and deceive us in a long discourse of equity of Law and Justice we come not hither for words but things we pretend not to refute your reasons which are but injust defences of your oppression but cunning subtilities but colours to paint ore the wrongs you doe us nor can we the rudenesse of our education must disable us for this part we have beene borne and bred under your Dominion slaves and Villens to you under a Dominion so unmanly cruell you have alwayes kept us deprived not onely of all meanes of learning or knowledge but would willingly have taken away ouâ—… very reason and common understanding that we might grone under our miseries with the feeling of beasts but be Masters neither of sence nor language for 〈◊〉 complaint It is time now that we of the Commonalty as you call and range us should take our turne of command however of Liberty Nor is this to be wondered at if you consider our strength and the happinesse of the new Modell the eminency of the Commons is visible to every eye theirs is the present theirs is the Supreame Power we are armed and we will not thinke of the Lawes not regard them they onely submit to Lawes who want power to helpe themselves Besides these Lawes you tell us of are but the will of our enemies in forme and rule they were made by them they favour them And our Captaine Generall Tyler who has conquered a sad unhappy word where it is used of one part of a Nation against another and of Benjamin against Israel by the worst and least against the better and greater the makers of them the Law-givers was so become above the Lawes themselves your reasons when these Lawes were backed with force when your King could protect you before our successe might have served well enough Now we expected them not nor will we accept them He concludes in perswasion not to exasperate the godly party the righteous Commons who sayes he will not be appeased will not give over not lay downe Armes till they be Masters of their desires The Abbot entring into a new speech is againe stopped and told the thousand before the doores of his Monastery sent for him not to parly but consent which they looke he should be sudden in if not we sayes Wallingford the Lieutenants chosen by the Captaine representatives of the people will deliver up and resigne the powers to him which we received of him We have voted if you comply not to send for the Captaine Generall Tyler and twenty thousand of his Militia to the danger of this place and of the Monkes heads The Abbot here recites his good deeds how often in their necessities he had relieved them he had beene he sayes their spirituall Father thirty two yeares in all which time no man had beene grieved or oppressed by him this giving implyedly the lie to Wallingford they grant but will not be denied The Obligations and Charters which they râ—…quire are delivered them which they burne in the Market-place neare the Crosse This did not
London yet he promises if need be to send twenty thousand of the Saints who shall not â—…all to shave the beards of the Abbot and the rest which signified in plain English cutting off their heads The gracious Captaine Generall was yet more kind he vowes if it be convenient to assist them in his owne person He gives them directions and orders to governe themselves by and makes their obedience here a condition of his love These Orders were generally injoyned by our English Mahomet through all the Provinces of his Conquest and were framed according to the Law of his bloody Alchoran He sweares them to omit nothing either in his Commands or Doctrine A servant of the Abbot one of the spies upon the Townsmen rides in full career to S. Albanes and gives intelligence to the Abbie of the exploits of the New Masters at London He tells them in what manner that dist of a Captaine Tyler fullyed and polluted with the bloud of the Noblesse had butchered the English Patriarch and the Lord Treasurer That London the den of these ravenous beasts falsly called The Chamber of her Kings was likely now to become the Charnelhouse of Richard and his Loyall vassals That these Fiends who would goe for Saints and the onely good Patriots commit the acts of Theeves and Murtherers neither reverencing Religion nor Lawes And that the Conquering French who makes faire war nay the barbarous Scot broke out of the fastnesse of his owne Desart mortall enemies of the Nation could not spoile not ruine with more cruelty and villanie No Mercy sayes he yeild who will upon mercy no favour no goodnesse can be expected from this rout of Wolves He bids those pointed at and named by Greyndcob to Tyler shift for themselves which they are not long in resolving of The Prior four Monks and some of their servants one part horsed another on foot fly for their lives not assuring themselves till they got to Tynmouth a Priory of this Monastery of Saint Albane in Northumberland William Greyndcob and William Cadindon a Baker on Friday had hastened to S. Albanes that they might make the honour of the atchievement theirs by first appearing in the action these brag aloud of the prosperity of affaires that they were no more drudges and slaves but Lords for the time to come that they had brought about great and wonderfull feats against the Abbie they propose first to defie the Abbot to renounce all amity and peace with him then to breake downe his folds and gates in Fauconwood Eywood and his other words and to pull down the Underbowsers house standing over against the Fish-market and hindering the prospect of the Burgesses and Nobility of the Town this is their owne style a Nobility scarce to be parallel'd in the world discovered unlesse we fetch in the Man-eaters of Brasil who have neither Letters nor Lawes acknowledge neither God nor Prince This night the first Seene of the Tragedie is acted the next day being Saturday fatall to the Hangman Tyler the upstart Nobility of Churls assemble and make Proclamation That no man able to serve his Country presume to sleight the Lieutenants of the Idol but that every man furnish himself with such Arms as he can provide to attend them the Lieutenants in his own defence The Crew summoned are commanded to presse the Gentry for the survice and to cut off the heads of those who would not joyn with them and sweare to be faithfull to them beheading burning houses forfeiture of goods were menaced to all that would not assist the Forces raised by Tyler and fight the Lords Battels that is for the Cause This sayes our Monke was the charge of their Lord and Master Waâ—… this was his Rubrie of blood Next with great pomp they march to Fauconwood to levell the slips of their haste and night-worke something they feared might be left whole upon review when Root and Branoh were pared and torne up they retire The other Growtnolls of the Neighbourhood subject to the distresse or Siegniory of Saint Albane wait for them these were cited upon the same threats to meet and promised belly-fulls care loads of Liberties Now or never for the Liberty of the Subject and the power of godlinesse This supply swells them into huge hopes it puffs them up Greyndcob and Cadindon more haughty now than ever Lead their Battaliaes blustering with surly pride and disdaine to the Gates of the Monastery which with the same loftinesse they command the Porter to set open Some of the company friends of the house had given private intelligence to the Abbots of the contrivances against him who had instructed his servants how to carry themselves towards this tag and rag of Swaines they observe them punctually That they may seeme pious in their entrance they free the publique Malefactors out of the Abbots prison but so that they shouâ—…d owe faith hereafter and grace of the benefit to the Commons a name the most honourable and which must swallow up all things else and insâ—…parably stick to them One of the offenders whom they suppose unworthy of Liberty or life growne Judges and Executioners by the same inspiration and spirit they behead on the ground before the Gates then fiâ—… his head upon the Pillory roaring with that divelish cry they had learnt at London This was plaine murther by the Law whatsoever this mans crime was those Rogueâ—… were guilty in a most high nature so thâ—… besides the basenesse of their condition they were incapable of any jurisdiction by the antient foundamentall Lawes of England as being Traitours and out of the Kings faith but to wave all thiâ—… by these ancient Lawes every prisoner might demand Oyer hearing of the Judges Commission these villains had neither authority nor Commission but from Tylers Sword which was but a derivative of his usurpation No act of which can be just the foundation of his tyranny this way in being just and illegall at the first From the Idols first entrance no act of confirmation or grant was done could any such act be done and valid to establish or make a right by the power which had that right to bestow he asked for a Commission of life and death but was refused and his arbitrary acts were onely a continuance of his intrusion and of the violence upon which he began To fill up their tattered Regiments their fellow Leaguers or Covendâ—…ters of Barnet Luton Watford and the Townes round enter St. Albanes of the same Sacrilegious affâ—…ction to the Abby in all these Conspiracies the Church was the maine marke aimed at about the carcasses of the Cathedralls and Abbies they were now nothing else did these vultures gather in the same conjuncture of time enters Richard Wallingford head borough or Constable of the place who tarried at London for the Kings Letters of Manumission and Pardon which Greyndcob had been so earnest for bearing the Kings Banner or Pennon of the Arms of S. George being
him a faire Canton of the new Common-wealth if he will command their Forces The faithfull Cavalier abhorred the proposition and could not dissemble his dislike He tells them he will not to his eternall dishonour renounce his Soveraigne whom all good men obeyed to ingage with the veryest perfidious Traitors living in their villanies He attempts to Horse himselfe againe but failes It was Treason to speak against the Government The Commons grow furious they cry out Treason against Treason and Rebellion Thousands of hands are lifted up against him as if they all moved by the same Nerves and Sinews They hew him down but he crushes some of them with his ruine Whosoever stood within his reach lost either Head Legs or Armes He kils twelve of them at length avillein of his owne beats out his brains Then doe the infernal Curs rush in with full mouthes and mangla him to bâ—… who sayes Walsingham would have driven a thousand of them before him had he had faire play This amazes the rest of the Gentry they strive for Vassalage with the same emulation others doe for Liberty they observe Litster they receive his Commands upon their knees who in all things imitates the state and pomp of Kings Sir Stephen of Hales a Knight of honour caâ—…ves before him and tastes his Meates and Drinkes the rest of the miserable Courtiers are imployed in their severall offices But when the same of the Kings good fortune began to grow strong and of his preparations to assert his Right and Authority Litster sends on Embassie from NorthWalsham the thorne of his tyranny to London the Lord Morley and Sir Iohn Brewes with three of the confiding Commons to obtaine Charters of manumission and pardon with great summes of monies squeezed out of the Citizens or Norwich under pretence of preserving the City from slaughter fire and spoile or as others raised by an ordinary tribute to Litster Which monies were sent for presents to the King to win him to grant them Charters more ample and beneficial than had been given to any others THese Messengers are met at Ichlingham neere New-market by Henry le Spenser Lord Bishop of Norwich of a noble Family stout and well armed He had been at his Mannor of Burleigh neere Okeham and there heard of the tumults in Norfolke and was now hasting thither to see how thingâ—… were carryed with eight Lances onely iâ—… his company and a few Archers He charges the Lord Morley and Sir Iohn upon their Allegeance to tell him whether any of the Commons the Kings Traitors weâ—… with them They look upon the Bishop aâ—… a young rash man and the awe of theiâ—… Masters was so prevalent he could hardly wrest the secret from them After many words they discover it and the Bishop causes the heads of the Clowns to be strucâ—… off and fixed on a publick place at Newmarket Then taking with him that Lord and Knight he posts for Northwalsham The Gentry hearing of the Bishops arrivall in his Coat of Male with his Helmet upon his head his Sword by his side and his Lance upon his thigh croud in to him the Bishop quickly found himselfe in 〈◊〉 gallant equipage and as quickly reachâ—… Northwalsham the sinke of the Rebellion Litster was intrenched he had fortified his ditch with Pales Stakes and Dores and shut himselfe in behinde with his Carts and Carriages The heroick Bishop like another Maccabeus charges bravely through the ditch into the midst of the Rebells when all the Barons of England hid themselves so suddenly that the Archers could not let an arrow flie at him and came to handy blowes As the French Historian de Serres observes in affaires of the World oftentimes he that is most strong carries it a good fortune and a good minde seldome goe together Otho tells his Souldiers oftentimes where the causes of things are good yet if judgement be wanting I may put in where the Counsels are unsound the Agents faithlesse where Money Armes and Men are wanting the issue must be perâ—…icious The goods and honours of this world which follow the Triumphers Chariots are common to the good and bad Grace Charity and Love are the marks of a pious man not Successe to brag of which becomes rather a Spartacus or Mahomet who carry Faith and Law upon the Swords point than a Christian The God of the Christians is not the God of robbery and bloud but things here fell out as could be wished the innocency of the side prevailed and the righteout weake side overcame the strong injust Litster touched with the conscience of his mischiefes strugles to the utmost to avert his danger at length gives ground and attempts to shift for himselfe by leaping over his Carriages in the Rere The Bishop pressed forward so fiercely this course proved in vaine most of the unhappy Clownes are laid along upon the place Litster and the Captains of the Conspiracy are taken and condemned to be drawn hanged and beheaded which was done Others of the chiefe Conspirators dispersed over the Country are searched out and executed The Monke here tells us It was apparent by the workes of these Demoniacks by their fruits that they had conspired he speakes of the whole not onely the destruction of the Church and Monarchy but of the Christian faith too Schoole-masters were sworne by them never to teach Grammer more and whosoever was taken with an Inkhorne about him never saved his head Our Monke attributes these calamities to the remisnesse of the Bishops to the conceits and fangles of Presbyter Wycliffe which if they be truly registred by the Monkes his mortall enemies were pestilentiall and damnable Indeed Presbyter Wycliffe was then living but is not named in these commotions as one busie in them by the Monkâ—… though busie he might be we shall finde Sir Iohn Old-castle Lord Cobham and others of Wycliffes disciples rebells and traitours too too bufie in Henry the fists beginning Baal and Straw and Wraw were Priests of the Idol and his Lieutenants and might serve the turne to iâ—…broyle without fetching more aide in He attributes too these mischiefes to the licentious invectives of the Clownes against their Lords generally to the sins of the Nation inclusively taking in the Orders of Mendicants or Begging Fryars like factious Lecturers who had nothing of their owns and were obliged to flatter the people and make themselves popular who sayes he forgetfull of their profession and vowes greedy and covetous of mony foster the people in their errors call good evill and evill good seducing the great men with fawning and the rabble with lyer So that in those dayes thus he proceeds the Argument held in every mans mouth This is a Fryar therefore a Lyar as strong as this This is white therfore coloured Here againe is Walsingham at a stand he complaines That it is impossible to relate the villanieâ—… of the Rustick Devils done in all parts We will now return to see what the King does