their Mind Which you convey'd them through their Mother who Even thus did travel with your Vertues too Which to descend to our dull Sense and Earth Comes to us in their shapes and suffer Birth And be your Off-spring who when Chronicle Is all we have and Annals only tell Your Deeds and Actions and when Men shall look And see the Prince and Duke do all the Book And live your Royal Story and that all Which you did well was but prophetical Will not be thought as your Posterity But you in them will your Successor be To the Queen upon the Birth of her first Daughter AFter the Prince's Birth admired Queen Had you prov'd barren you had fruitful been And in one Heir born to his Fathers Place And Royal Mind had brought us forth a Race But we who thought we wisht enough to see A Prince of Wales have now a Progeny And you being perfect now have learnt the Way To be with Child as oft as we can pray So that henceforth we need no Altars vex With empty Vows being heard in either Sex Nor have we all our Kingdoms Incense try'd So many Years only to be deny'd We no Desires but thankful Off'rings bring That bearing many you prefer the King And to us yet have but one Daughter shown Who else had been the Original alone Without a Copy For the Shapes we see In Tables of you but bright Errors be Nor could we hope Art could beget an Heir To that sweet Form unless your self did bear Your Pourtraiture and in a Daughter shew That of your self which yet no Painter drew Who with his subtle Hand and wisest Skill Hath hitherto but striv'd to draw you ill And when he takes his Pencil from your Look Finds Colours make you but a Piece mistook And so paints Treason nor would have Pretence To scape but that he limns a fair Pretence But in the Princess you are writ so plain And true that in her you were born again And when we see you both together plac't You are your Daughter only grown in haste In both we may the self-same Graces see But that they yet in her but Infant be Not Woman Beauties nor will we despair The Prince and Duke of York have equal Share In your Perfection which though they divide Make them both Prince enough by th'Mothers side Whose Composition is so clear and good That we can see Discourses in your Blood And understand your Body so refin'd That of you might be born a Soul or Mind O may you still be fruitful and begin Henceforth to make our Year by lying in May we have store of Princes and they live Till Heraulds doubt what Titles they should give To this may you be young still and no other Signs of more Age found in you but a Mother Upon one that preacht in a Cloak SAw you the Cloak at Church to day The long-worn short Cloak lin'd with Say What had the Man no Gown to wear Or was this sent him from the Mayor Or is 't the Cloak which Nixon brought To trim the Tub where Golledge taught Or can this best conceal his Lips And shew Communion sitting Hips Or was the Cloak St. Pauls If so With it he found the Parchments too Yes verily for he hath been With mine Host Gaius at the new Inn. A Gown God bless us trails o'th'Floor Like th'Petticoat o'th'Scarlet Whore Whose large stiff Plates he dare confide Are Ribs from Antichrists own side A mourning Cope if it look to th' East Is the black Surplice of the Beast A Song of SACK COme let us drink away the time A Pox upon this pelting Rhime When Wine runs high Wit 's in the Prime Drink and stout Drinkers are true Joys Odd Sonnets and such little Toys Are Exercises fit for Boys 2. The whining Lover that doth place His Fancy on a painted Face And wasts his Substance in the Chase Would ne'er in Melancholy pine Had he Affections so Divine As once to fall in Love with Wine 3. Then to our Liquor let us sit Wine makes the Soul for Action fit Who drinks most Wine hath the most Wit The Gods themselves do Revels keep And in pure Nectar tipple deep When sloathful Mortals are asleep 4. They fudled me for Recreation In Water which by all Relation Did cause Deucalions Inundation The Spangle Globe had it almost Their Cups were with Salt-Water do'st The Sun-burnt Center was the Toast 5. The Gods then let us imitate Secure from carping Care and Fate Wine Wit and Courage both create In Wine Apollo always chose His darkest Oracles to disclose 'T was Wine gave him his Ruby-nose 6. Who dare's not drink 's a wretched Wight Nor do I think that Man dares fight All Day that dares not drink all Night Come fill my Cup untill it swim With Foam that overlooks the Brim Who drinks the deepest Here 's to him 7. Sobriety and Study breeds Suspicion in our Acts and Deeds The down-right Drunkard no Man heeds Give me but Sack Tobacco store A drunken Friend a little Whore Provide me these I 'll ask no more A Time-Sonnet NOw that our Holy Wars are done Between the Father and the Son And since we have by Righteous Fate Distrest a Monarch and his Mate And forc'd their Heirs flee into France To weep out their Inheritance Let 's set open all our Packs That contain ten thousand Racks Cast on the Shore of the Red Sea Of Naseby and of Newbery If then you will come provided with Gold We dwell close by Hell where we 'l sell What you will that is ill For Charity waxeth cold 2. Hast thou done Murther or Blood spilt We can soon get another Name That will keep thee from all Blame But be it still provided thus That thou hast once been one of us Gold is the God that shall pardon the Guilt For we have What shall save Thee from th' Grave Since the Law We can awe Although a famous Prince's Blood were spilt 3. If a Church thou hast bereft Of its Plate 't is Holy Theft Or for Zeal sake if thou bee'st Prompted on to be a Thief Gold is a sure prevailing Advocate Then come bring a Sum Law is dumb And submits to our Wits For it 's Policy guides a State The Parliament MOst Gracious and Omnipotent And Everlasting Parliament Whose Power and Majesty Is greater than all Kings by odds And to account you less then Gods Must needs be Blasphemy 2. Moses and Aaron ne'er did do More Wonder than are wrought by you For Englands Israel But though the Red Sea we have past If you to Canaan bring 's at last Is 't not a Miracle 3. In six Years space you have done more Than all the Parliaments before You have quite done the Work The King the Cavaller and Pope You have o'erthrown and next we hope You will confound the Turk 4. By you we have Deliverance From the Design of Spain and France Ormond Montross the Danes You aided by our
the Candle 's out But I profane thy Ashes gracious Soul Thy Spirit flew to high to truss these foul Gnostick Opinions Thou desired'st to meet Such Tenents that durst stand upon their Feet And beard the Truth with as intens'd a Zeal As Saints upon a fast Night quilt a Meal Rome never trembled till thy piercing Eye Darted her through and crush'd the Mystery Thy Revelations made St. Iohn's compleat Babylon fell indeed but 't was thy Sweat And Oyl perform'd the work to what we see Foret old in misty Types broke forth in thee Some shallow Lines were drawn and sâ—…onces made By Smatterers in the Arts to drive a Trade Of Words between us but that prov'd no more Than threats in cowing Feathers to give ore Thy Fancy laid the Siege that wrought her Fall Thy Batteries commanded round the Wall Not a poor loop-hole Error could sneak by No not the Abbess to the Friery Though her Disguise as close and subtly good As when she wore the Monk's hose for a Hood And if perhaps their French or Spanish Wine Had fill'd them full of Beads and Bellarmine That they durst sally or attempt a Guard O! How thy busie Brain would beat and ward Rally And reinforce Rout And relieve Double reserves And then an onset give Like marshal'd Thunder back'd with Flames of Fire Storms mixt with Storms Passion with Globes of ire Yet so well disciplin'd that Judgment still Sway'd and not rash Commissionated Will No Words in thee knew Order Time and Place The instant of a Charge or when to face When to pursue advantage where to halt When to draw off and where to reassault Such sure Commands stream'd from thee that 't was one With thee to vanquish as to look upon So that thy ruin'd Foes groveling confess Thy Conquests were their Fate and Happiness Nor was it all thy Business hereto war With forreign Forces But thy active Star Could course a home-bred Mist a native Sin And shew its Guilt 's Degrees how and wherein Then sentence and expel it Thus thy Sun An Everlasting Stage in labour run So that its motion to the Eye of Man Waved still in a compleat Meridian But these are but fair Comments of our Loss The Glory of a Church now on the Cross The transcript of that Beauty once we had Whilst with the Lustre of thy Presence clad But thou art gone Brave Soul and with thee all The Gallantry of Arts Polemical Nothing remains as Primitive but Talk And that our Priests again in Leather walk A Flying Ministry of Horse and Foot Things that can start a Text but ne'er come to 't Teazers of Doctrines which in long sleev'd Prose Run down a Sermon all upon the Nose These like dull glow-worms twinckle in the Night The frighted Land-skips of an absent Light But thy rich Flame 's withdrawn Heaven caught thee hence Thy Glories were grown ripe for Recompence And therefore to prevent our weak Essays Th' art crown'd an Angel with Coelestial Bays And there thy ravish'd Soul meets Field and Fire Beauties enough to fill its strong Desire The Contemplation of a present God Perfections in the Womb the very Road And Essences of Vertues as they be Streaming and mixing in Eternity Whiles we possess our Souls but in a Veil Live Earth confin'd catch Heaven by retail Such a Dark-lanthorn Age such jealous Days Men tread on Snakes sleep in Batalias Walk like Confessors hear but must not say What the bold World dares act and what it may Yet here all Votes Commons and Lords agree The Crosier fell in Laud the Church in thee On the death of his Royal Majesty Charles late King of England c. WHat went yout out to see a dying King Nay more I fear an Angel suffering But what went you to see A Prophet slain Nay that and more a martyr'd Soveraign Peace to that sacred Dust Great Siâ—… our Fears Have left us nothing but Obedient Tears To court your Hearse and in those Pious Floods We live the poor remainder of our Goods Accept us in these latter Obsequies The unplundred Riches of our Hearts and Eyes For in these faithful Streams and Emanations W' are Subjects still beyond all Sequestrations Here we cry more than Conquerors Malice may Murder Estates but Hearts will still obey These as your Glory 's yet above the reach Of such whose purple Lines confusion preach And now Dear Sir vouchsafe us to admire With envy your arrival and that Quire Of Cherubims and Angels that supply'd Our Duties at your Triumphs Where you ride With full Caelestial Ioes and Ovations Rich as the Conquest of three ruin'd Nations But 't was the Heavenly Plot that snatch'd you hence To crown your Soul with that Magnificence And bounden rites of Honour that poor Earth Could only wish and strangle in the Birth Such pittied Emulation stop'd the blush Of our Ambitious Shame non-suited us For where Souls act beyond Mortality Heaven only can perform that Iubilee We wrestle then no more but bless your day And mourn the Anguish of our sad delay That since we cannot add we yet stay here Fetter'd in Clay Yet longing to appear Spectators of your Bliss that being shown Once more you may embrace us as your own Where never Envy shall divide us more Nor City-tumults nor the Worlds uproar But an Eternal Hush a quiet Peace As without end so still in the Increase Shall lull Humanity asleep and bring Us equal Subjects to the Heavenly King Till when I 'll turn Recusant and forswear All Calvin for there 's Purgatory here An Epitaph STay Passenger Behold and see The widdowed Grave of Majesty Why tremblest thou Here 's that will make All but our stupid Souls to shake Here lies entomb'd the Sacred Dust Of Peace and Piety Right and Just. The Blood O start'st not thou to hear Of a King 'twixt hope and fear Shed and hurried hence to be The Miracle of Misery Add the ills that Rome can boast â—…rift the World in every Coast â—…ix the Fire of Earth and Seas With humane Spleen and Practices To puny the Records of time By one grand Gygantick Crime Then swell it bigger till it squeeze The Globe to crooked Hams and Knees Here 's that shall make it seem to be But modest Christianity The Law-giver amongst his own â—…entenc'd by a Law unknown â—…oted Monarchy to Death By the course Plebeian Breath The Soveraign of all Command â—…uffering by a Common Hand A Prince to make the Odium more Offer'd at his very door The head cut off O Death to see 't â—…n Obedience to the Feet And that by Iustice you must know If you have Faith to think it so Wee 'l stir no further than this Sacred Clay But let it slumber till the Iudgment Day Of all the Kings on Earth 't is not denyed Here lies the first that for Religion dyed A Survey of the World THe World 's a guilded Trifle and the State Of sublunary Bliss adulterate Fame but an empty Sound a
heavy as very Asses as himself He is said to be a crafty Fellow and of an Excellent Wit but wanting Grace yet crafty enough he was not for the great and dangerous Enterprize A Marius however Impious for such he must be pace pessimus fitter to remove things to overturn overturns than for Peace but as Plutarch of him subtil faithless one who could over do all Men in Dissembling in Hypocrisie practised in all the Arts of Lying and some of these good Sleights Tyler wanted not one who had Sense and Iudgment to carry things on as well as desperate Confidence to undertake had become this part incomparably had gone through with it how easily under such a Captain if we look upon the Weakness of the Opposition and the Villainous Baseness of the Gentry had the Frame of the ancient Building been rased the Model must have held Richard whose Endeavours of Defence or Loyalty alone should have been killing had not fallen by the Sword of Lancaster he had found his Grave on Tower-hill or Smithfield where the faithful Lieges of his Crown were torn in peices by these Cannibals The Reverence due to the Anointed Heads of Kings began to fall away and Naked Majesty could not guard where Innocency could not But Tyler blinded by his own fatal Pride throws himself foolishly upon the Kings Sword and by his over-much Hast preserves him whom he had vowed to destroy The Heathens make it a Mark of the Divinity of their Gods that they bestowed Benefits upon Mortal Men and took nothing from them The Clowns of the Idol upon this Rule were not very Heavenly they were the meek Ones of those times the only Inheritors of Right the Kingdom was made a Prey by them it was cantoned out to erect new Principalities for the Mock-Kings of the Commons so their Chiefs or Captains would be called Here though the Title of Rebellion spoke fair was shewn somewhat of Ambition and no little of unjust private Interest no little of Self-seeking which the Good of the People in Pretence only was to give Way to and no Wonder for the good of the People properly was meerly to be intended of themselves and no where but amongst those was the Commonwealth Had these Thistles these Brambles flourished the whole Wood of Noble Trees had perished If the violent casting other Men out of their Possessions firing their Houses cutting off their Heads violating of all Rights be thought Gods Blessing any Evidence of his owning the Cause these Thieves and Murderers were well blessed and sufficiently owned Such was then the Face of things Estates were dangerous Every rich Man was an Enemy Mens Lives were taken away without either Offence or Tryal their Reign was but a Continuation of horrible Injuries the Laws were not only silent but dead The Idol's Fury was a Law and Faith and Loyalty and Obedience to Lawful Power were damnable Servants had the Rule over Princes England was near a Slavery the most unworthy of free and ingenious Spirits of any What I relate here to speak something of the Story I collect out of Sir John Froissart a French-Man living in the Times of King EDWARD the Third and his Grandchild King RICHARD who had seen England in both the Reigns was known and esteemed in the Court and came last over after these Tumults were appeased And out of Thomas of Walsingham a Monk of St. Albans in Henry the Sixth's Days who says Bale in his Centuries of him writes many the most choice Passages of Affairs and Actions such as no other hath met with In the Main and to the Substance of things I have made no Additions no Alterations I have faithfully followed my Authors who are not so historically exact as I could wish nor could I much better what did not please me in their Order No Man says Walsingham can recite fully the Mischeifs Murders Sacriledge and Cruelty of these Actors he excuses his digesting them upon the Confusion of the combustious Flaming in such Variety of Places and in the same time Tyler Litstar and those of Hartfordshire take up most part of the Discourse Westbrome is brought in by the Halves the lesser Snakes are only named in the Chronicle what had been more had not been to any purpose Those were but Types of Tyler the Idol and acted nothing but according to the Original according to his great Example they were Wolves alike and he that reads one knows all Thomas of Becket Simon of Montfort the English Cataline Thomas of Lancaster Rebels and Traitors of the former years are canonized by the Monks generally the Enemies of their Kings Miracles make their Tâ—…mbs Illustrious and their Memories Sacred The Idol and his Incendiaries are abhorred every where every History detests them while Faith Civility Honesty and Piety shall be left in the World the Enemies of all these must neither be beloved nor pittied THE Rustick Rampant OR RURAL ANARCHY THe Reign of King Richard the Second was but a Throw of State for so many Years a Feaver to whose Distempers all pieces of the home Dominions contributed by Fits the forraign part only continuing faithful In the fourth Year of his Reign and Fifteenth of his Age the Dregs and Off-scum of the Commons unite into Bodies in several parts of the Kingdom and form a Rebellion called the Rebellion of the Clowns which lead the rest and shewed the Way of Disobedience first Of which may truly be said though amongst other Causes we may attribute it to the Indisposition and Unseasonableness of the Age that the Fruits of it did not take it was strongly begun and had not Providence held back the Hand the Blow had fallen the Government had broke into Shivers then The young King at this time had few besides Thomas of Woodstock his Uncle Earl of Buckingham and after Duke of Glocester but the Servants of his House in Ordinary about him the Lord Edmund of Langley Earl of Cambridge after Duke of York with the Lords Beauchamp Botereaux Sir Matthew Gourney with others of the Nobility and Gentry had set sail for Portugal the Duke Iohn of Lancaster another of his Uncles was in Scotland treating a Peace when this Commotion brake out Though no Cause can be given for Seditions those who design publick Troubles can never want Pretences Polidore as much out in this Story as any gives this Reason for this the Poll-mony says he imposed by Parliament a Groat Sterling upon every Head was intolerable It was justly imposed and so by some to whom Law and Custom of England were intolerable not to be endured but we shall find in the Tyranny breaking in not only fifth and twentieth Parts and Loans forced out of Fear of Plunder and Death but Subsidies in Troop and Regiments by Fifties more than Sequestrations and Compositions not under Foot low Sales for what had these Rascals to give but down-right Robbery and Violent Usurpations of Estates Thus would Polidore have it in Defence
those who conspired against his Majesty and Authority likes not the Advice the King ought not says he venture his Person among such hoseless Ribaulds but rather dispose things so as to curb their Insolence Sir says he Your Sacred Majesty in this Storm ought to shew how much of a King you can play what you will go for hereafter by your present Carriage you will either be feared for the Future or contemned if you seriously consider the Nature of these rough hewn Savages you will find the gentle Ways pernicious your Tameness will undoe you Mercy will ever be in your Power but it is not to be named without the Sword drawn God and your Right hath placed you in your Throne but your Courage and Resolution must keep you there your Indignation will be Iustice good Men will think it so and if they love you you have enough you cannot capitulate not treat with your Rebels without hazarding your Honour and perhaps your Royal Faith if you yield to the Force of one Sedition your whole Life and Reign will be nothing but a Continuation of Broils and Tumults if you assert your Soveraign Authority betimes not only these Doults these Sots but all Men else will reverence you Remember Sir God by whom Lawful Princes Reign whose Vicegerent you are would not forgive Rebellion in Angels you must not trust the Face Petitions delivered you upon Swords Points are fatal if you allow this Custom 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 Clowns they grow stark mad they bluster they swear to seek out the Kings Traitors for such they must now go for no Man was either good or honest but he who pleased them the Arch-bishop and Lord Prior and to chop off their Heads here they might be trusted they were likely to keep their Words Hereupon without more Consideration they advance towards London not forgetting to burn and raze the Lawyers and Courtiers Houses in the Way to the Kings Honour no doubt which they will be thought to arm for Sir Iohn Froissart and others report this part thus which probably might follow after this Refusal The Rebels say they sent their Knight so they called him yet was he the Kings Knight for Tyler came not up to Dubbing we find 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 half Brothers Thomas Holland Earl of Kent after Duke of Surrey and the Lord Holland the Earls of Salisbury Warwick and Oxford the Arch-bishop Lord Prior and others The Knight casts himself down at the Kings Feet beseeches him not to look upon him the worse as in this Quality and Imployment to consider he is forced to do what he does He goes on Sir the Commons of this Realm those few in Arms comparatively to the rest would be taken for the whole desire you by me to speak with them Your Person will be safe they repute you still their King this deserved Thanks but how long the Kindness will hold we shall soon find they profess that all they had done or would do was for your Honour For your Glory your Honour and Security are their great Care they will make you a Glorious King fearful to your Enemies and beloved of your Subjects they promise you a plentiful and unparalell'd Revenue They will maintain your Power and Authority in Relation to the Laws with your Royal Person according to the Duty of their Allegiance their Protestation their Vow their solemn League and Covenant without diminishing your just Power and Greatness and that they will all the Days 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 Kingdom and that they will not be diverted from this end by any private or Self-respects whatsoever But the Kingdom has been a long time ill governed by your Uncles and the Clergy especially by the Arch-bishop of Canterbury of whom they would have an Account They have found out necessary Counsels for you they would warn you of many things which hitherto you have wanted good Advice in The Conclusion was sad on the Knights part His Children were Pledges for his Return and if he fail in that their Lives were to answer it Which moved with the King he allows the Excuse sends him back with this Answer that he will speak with the Commons the next Morning which it should seem the report of the Outrages done by the Clowns upon his Refusal and this Message made him consent to At the time appointed he takes his Barge and is rowed down to Redriffe the place nearest the Rebels Ten thousand of them descend from the Hill to see and treat with him with a Resolution to yield to nothing to overcome by the Treaty as they must have done had not the Kings Fear preserved him When the Barge drew nigh the new Council of State says our Knight howled and shouted as though all the Devils of Hell had been amongst them Sir Iohn Moton was brought toward the River guarded they being determined to have cut him in peices if the King had broke his Promise All the Desires of these good and faithful Counsellors contracted suddenly into a narrow Room they had now but one Demand The King asks them What is the matter which made them so earnestly sollicite his Presence They have no more to say but to intreat him to land which was to betray himself 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 Earl of Salisbury of the ancient 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 Troops They are now more unsatisfied and London how true soever to the Cause and faithless to the Prince shall feel the Effects of their Fury Southwark a friendly Borough is taken up for their first Quarters Here again they throw down the Malignants Houses and as a Grace of their Entrance break up the Kings Prisons and let out all those they find under Restraint in them not forgetting to ransack the Arch-bishops House at Lambeth and spoil all things there plucking down the Stews standing upon the Thames Bank 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 unclean and might stink in his Nostrils we cannot find him any where quarrelling with the Bears those were no Malignants They knocked not long at the City-Gates which some say were never
could not be well tempered with vulgar Blood a Servant of the Arch-Bishops who had trusted himself to these Guards and Walls is forced to betray his Lord. He brings them into the Chappel where the Holy Prelate was at his Prayers where he had celebrated Mass that Morning before the King and taken the Sacred Communion where he had spent the whole Night in watching and Devotion as presaging what followed He was a Valiant Man and Pious and expected these Blood-hounds with great Security and Calmness of Mind when their bellowing first struck his Ears he tells his Servants that Death came now as a more particular Blessing where the Comforts of Life were taken away that Life was irksome to him perhaps his pious Fears for the Church and Monarchy both alike indangered and fatally tied to the same Chain might make him weary of the World and that he could now dye with more quiet of Conscience than ever a Quiet which these Parricides will not find when they shall pay the Score of this and their other Crimes However the Flattery of Success may abuse our Death-bed represents things in their own Shape and as they are After this the Rout of Wolves enter prophanely roaring where is the Traitor where is the Robber of the Common People He answers not troubled at what he saw or heard Ye are welcome my Sons I am the Arch-Bishop whom you seek neither Traitor nor Robber Presently these Limbs of the Devil griping him with their wicked Clutches tear him out of the Chappel neither reverencing the Altar nor Crucifix figured on the top of his Crosier nor the Host these are the Monks Observations for which he condemns them in the highest Impiety and makes them worse than Devils and as Religion went then well he might condemn them so They drag him by the Arms and Hood to Tower Hill without the Gates there they howl hideously which was the Sign of a Mischief to follow He asks them what it is they purpose what is his Offence tells them he is their Arch-Bishop this makes him guilty all his Eloquence his Wisdom are now of no Use he adds the Murder of their Soveraign Pastor will be severely punished some notorious Vengeance will suddenly follow it These Destroyers will not trouble themselves with the idle Formality of a Mock-trial or Court of their own erecting an abominable Ceremony which had made their Impiety more ugly they proceed down-right and plainly which must be instead of all things He is commanded to lay his Neck upon the Block as a false Traitor to the Commonalty and Realm To deal roundly his Life was forfeited and any particular Charge or Defence would not be necessary his Enemies were his Accusers and Judges his Enemies who had combined and sworn to abolish his Order the Church and spoil the Sacred Patrimony and what Innocency what Defence could save Without any Reply farther he forgives the Headsman and bows his Body to the Axe After the first hit he touches the Wound with his Hand and speaks thus It is the Hand of the Lord. The next Stroke falls upon his Hand e'er he could remove it cuts off the tops of his Fingers after which he fell but dyed not till the eighth Blow his Body lay all that day unburied and no Wonder all Men were throughly Scared under the Tyranny of these Monsters all Humanity all Piety were most unsafe The Arch-bishop dyed a Martyr of Loyalty to his King and has his Miracles recorded an Honour often bestowed by Monks Friends of Regicide and Regicides on Traitors seldom given to honest Men. In his Epitaph his riming Epitaph where is shewn the pittiful ignorant Rudeness of those times he goes for no less he speaks thus Sudburiae natus Simon jacet hic tumulatus Martyrizatus nece pro republica stratus Sudburies Simon here intombed lies Who for the Common-wealth a Martyr dies It is fit says Plato that he who would appear a just Man become Naked that his Vertue be dispoiled of all Ornament that be he taken for a wicked Man by others wicked indeed that he be mocked and hanged The wisest of Men tell us There is a Just Man that perisheth in his Righteousness and there is a wicked Man that prolongeth his Life in his Wickedness The Seas are often calm to Pirates and the Scourges of God the Executioners of his Fury the Goths Hunns and Vandals heretofore Tartars and Turks now how happy are their Robberies how do all things succeed with them beyond their Wishes Our Saviours Passion the great Mystery of his Incarnation lost him to the Iews his Murtherers Whereupon Grotius notes it is often permitted by God that pious Men be not only vexed by wicked Men but murdered too He gives Examples in Abel Isaiah and others the MESSIAH dyed for the Sins of the World Ethelbert and Saint Edmund the East-Angles Saint Oswald the Northumbrian Edward the Monarch c. Saxon Kings are Examples at Home Thucidides in his Narration of the Defeat and Death of Nician the Athenian in Sicily speaks thus Being the Man of all the Grecians of my Time had least deserved to be brought to so great a Degree of Misery It is too frequent to proclaim Gods Judgments in the Misfortunes of others as if we were of the Celestial Council had seen all the Wheels or Orbs upon which Providence turns and knew all the Reasons and Ends which direct and govern its Motions Men love by a strange Abstraction to seperate Facts from their Crimes where the Fact is Beneficial the Advantage must canonize it it must be of Heavenly Off-spring a Way to justifie Cain Abimelech Phocas our Third Richard Ravilliac every lucky Parricide whatsoever Alexander Severus that most excellent Emperor assassinated by the Militia or Souldiery by an ill Fate of the Common-wealth for Maximinus a Thracian or Goth Lieutenant General of the Army a cruel Savage Tyrant by Force usurped the Empire after him replyed to one who pretended to foretell his End That it troubled aim not the most Renowned Persons in all Ages dye violently This Gallant Prince condemned no Death but a dishonest fearful one Heaven it self declared on the Arch-bishops side and cleared his Inocency Starling of Essex who challenged to himself the Glory of being Headsman fell mad suddenly after ran through the Villages with his Sword hanging naked upon his Breast and his Dagger naked behind him came up to London confest freely the Fact and lost his Head there As most of those did who had laid their Hands upon this Arch-bishop coming up severally out of their Countrys to that City and constantly accusing themselves for the Parricide of their spiritual Father Nothing was now unlawful there could be no Wickedness after this they make more Examples of barbarous Cruelty under the Name of Justice Robert Lord Prior of St. Iohn and Lord Treasurer of England Iohn Leg or Laige one of the Kings Sergeants at Arms a
conquering Arms and striking his Sword which shewed the present Power on London-stone The Cyclops or Centaur of Kent spoke these Words From this Day or within four Days all Law or all the Laws of England as others shall fall from Wat Tylers Mouth The Kings indeed had bound themselves and were bound by the Laws They were named in them Tyler was more than a King he was an Emperor he was above the Laws nor was it fit the old over-worn Magna Charta should hold him The Supreme Authority and Legislative Power no one knows how derived were to be and reside in him according to the new Establishment Tyler like Homers Mars 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 was a Whirl windâ—… he was Egnatius in Paterculus rather a Fencer a Swash-Buckler that a Senator his right Arm his brutish Force not Justice not Reason must sway all things Tyler will not rule in Fetters his Will his Violence shall be called Law and grievous Slavery under that Will falsly Peace Had those whom no Government never so sweet and gracious will please unless the Supreme Power be given the People seen the Confusion and Dangers the Cruelty and Tyranny of these few days they would quickly have changed this Opinion The Knight performs his Embassy he urges the Idol with great Earnestness to see the King and speedily He answers if thou must be so much for Haste get thee back to the King thy Master I will come when I list yet he follows the Knight on Horse-back but slowly In the Way he is met by a Citizen who had brought sixty Doublets for the Commons upon the publick Faith This Citizen asks him for his Money he promises Payment before Night and presses on so near the King that his Horse touched the Croup of the Kings Horse Froissart reports his Discourse to the King Sir King says the Idol seest thou yonder People The King answers Yes and asks him what he means by the Question He replys they are all at my Command have sworn to me Faith and Truth to do what I will have them He and they had broke their Faith and Truth to their Prince and he thinks these Men will be true to him Here though it be a Digression too much I cannot omit a passage of the late Civil Wars of France begun and continued by the Iesuiced Party to extirpate the Royal Family there Villers Governour of Roüen for the Holy League tells the Duke of Mayen Captain General of the Rebellion That he would not obey him they were both Companions and Spoilers of the State together The King being levelled all Men else ought to be equal The Idol as he that demanded so the Knight nothing but Riot continues his Discourse thus Believest thou King that these People will depart without thy Letters The King tells him He means fairly that he will make good his Word his Letters are near finished and they shall have them But the Glory of the Idol which was meerly the Benefit of Fortune began to fade his Principality was too cruel too violent to be lasting Vengeance here hovered over his Head and he who had been the Destruction of Multitudes hastens nay precipitates his own Fate and ruins himself by his own Fury he puts himself into the Kings Power who should in his first towring had he been wisely wicked like a Vulture of the Game have flown at his Throat The judicious Politick will not begin to give over However will never venture himself in the Princes Hands whom he has justly offended by Treasons against his Government Charles of Burgundy confesses this to be a great Folly his Grandfather Philip lost his Life at Montereau upon the Yonne by it and our Idol shall not escape better Sir Iohn Newton the Knight imployed to fetch him delivered his Message on Horseback which is now remembred and taken for an high Neglect besides it seemeth the Carriage and Words of the Knight were not very pleasing Every Trifle in Omission was Treason to the Idols Person and new State He rails foully draws his Dagger and bellowing out Traitor menaces to strike the Knight who returns him in Exchange the Lye and not to be behind in Blows draws his This the Idol takes for an intolerable Affront but the King fearful of his Servant cools and asswages the Heat he commands the Knight to dismount and offer up his Dagger to the Idol which though unwillingly was done This would not take off his Edge The Prince who yields once to a Rebel shall find Heaps of Requests and must deny nothing The King had given away his Knights Dagger Now nothing will content Tyler but the Kings Sword with which the Militia or Power of Arms impliedly was sought This he asks then again rushes upon the Knight vowing never to eat till he have his Head When the Nobility and Gentry of the Kingdom whom neither Necessity nor Misery could animate lye down trampled on by these Villaines without Soul or Motion in comes the Mayor of London Sir William Walworth the everlasting Honour of the Nation a Man who over did Ages of the Roman Scaevolae or Curtii in an Hours Action and snatches the King and Kingdom out of these Flames He tells the King it would be a Shame to all Posterity to suffer more Insolences from this Hangman this Lump of Blood This the rest of the Courtiers now wakened by their own Danger for he who destroys one Man contrary to Law or Justice gives all Men else Reason to fear themselves and take heed are Ecchoes to This puts Daring into the young King he resolves to hazard all upon this Chance This Way he could not but dye Kingly at least like a Gentleman with the Sword which God of whose great Majesty he was a Beam gave him in his Hand The only Way left to avoid a shameful Death was to run the Danger of a brave One and a wise Coward I will not say an Honourable One considering the Incertainty of things under that Iron Socage Tenure would think so The King commands the Mayor to arrest the Butcher This was Charge enough and rightly understood indeed there was then no time for Form nor Tryal the Suspension of the Courts was Tylers Act his Crime and he ought not to look for any Advantage from it An Historian says the Duke of Guyse's Power was so much that the Ordinary Forms of Justice could not be observed fair Law is handsome but it is not to be given to Wolves and Tygers Tyler was a Traitor a common Enemy and against such says a Father long agone every Man is a Souldier whosoever struck too struck as much in his own Defence in his own Preservation as the King 's And the Safety of the King and People made this Course â—…ecessary besides Tylers Crimes were publick and notorious The generous Lord Mayor obeys the Sentence which was given by the same Power by which the Judges of Courts sat and acted
our Way Both these Counsels are approved William Greyndcob an Hind who had eaten the Bread of the Monastery for the most part of his Life is elected with others and sent on this Errand to the King before whom he kneels six times out of Zeal to prevail This Loâ—… too was made principal Prolocutor says our Monk or Speaker to the Idol before whose sordid Excellency and his unclean Counsel he complains of the grievous Tyranny of the Abbot and Prior some few Monks are thrust in to make up the Number of the Oppressures of the Commons of witholding the Wages of poor Labourers the Design was to rouze the Wolf Tyler meant not to leave London yet he promises if need be to send Twenty Thousand of the Saints who shall not fail to shave the Beards of the Abbot and the rest which signified in plain English cutting off their Heads The gracious Captain General was yet more kind he vows if it be convenient to assist them in his own Person He gives them Directions and Orders to govern themselves by and makes their Obedience here a Condition of his Love These Orders were generally enjoyned by our English Mahomet through all the Provinces of his Conquest and were framed according to the Law of his bloody Alchoran He swears 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. Albans and gives Intelligence to the Abby of the Exploits of the new Masters at London He tells them in what manner that Dirt of a Captain Tyler fullyed and polluted with the Blood of the Nobless 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 Charnel-house of Richard and his Loyal Vassals That these Fiends who would goe for Saints and the only good Patriots commit the Acts of Thieves and Murtherers neither reverencing Religion nor Laws And that the Conquering French who makes fair War nay the barbarous Scot broke out of the Fastness of his own Desart mortal Enemies of the Nation could not spoil nor ruin with more Cruelty and Villany No Mercy says he yield who will upon Mercy no Favour no Goodness 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 Albans in Northumberland William Greyndcob and William Cadindon a Baker on Fryday had hastened to S. Albans that they might make the Honour of the Atchievement theirs by first appearing in the Action These brag aloud of the Prosperity of Affairs that they were no more Drudges and Slaves but Lords for the time to come that they had brought about great and wonderful Feats against the Abby they propose first to defie the Abbot to renounce all Amity and Peace with him then to break down his Folds and Gates in Fauconwood Eywood and his other Woods and to pull down the Under-Bowsers House standing over against the Fish-market and hindering the Prospect of the Burgesses and Nobility of the Town this is their own Style a Nobility scarce to be parallel'd in the World discovered unless we fetch in the Man-eaters of Brasil who have neither Letters nor Laws acknowledge neither God nor Prince This Night the first Scene of the Tragedy is acted the next day being Saturday fatal to the Hangman Tyler the Upstart Nobility of Churls assemble and make Proclamation That no Man able to serve his Country presume to slight 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 press the Gentry for the Service and to cut off the Heads of those who would not joyn with them and swear to be faithful 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 says our Monk was the Charge of their Lord and Master Wat this was his Rubrick of Blood Next with great Pomp they march to Fauconwood to level the slips of their Haste and Night-work something they feared might be left whole upon Review when Root and Branch were pared and torn up they retire The other Growtnolls of the Neighbourhood subject to the Distress or Seigniory of Saint Albans wait for them these were cited upon the same Threats to meet and promised Belly-fulls Cart Loads of Liberties Now or never for the Liberty of the Subject and the Power of Godliness This Supply swells them into huge Hopes it puffs them up Greyndcob and Cadindon more haughty now than ever lead their Battalias blustering with surly Pride and Disdain to the Gates of the Monastery which with the same Loftiness they command the Porter to set open Some of the Company Friends of the House had given private Intelligence to the Abbot of the Contrivances against him who had instructed his Servants how to carry themselves toward this Tag and Rag of Swains they observe them punctually That they may seem pious in their Entrance they free the publick Malefactors out of the Abbots Prison but so that they should 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 inseparably stick to them One of the Offenders whom they suppose unworthy of Liberty or Life grown Judges and Executioners by the same Inspiration and Spirit they behead on the Ground before the Gates then fix his Head upon the Pillory roaring with that devilish Cry they had learnt at London This was plain Murther by the Law whatsoever this Mans Crime was these Rogues were guilty in a most high Nature so that besides the Baseness of their Condition they were incapable of any Jurisdiction by the ancient fundamental Laws of England as being Traitors and out of the Kings Faith But to wave all this by these ancient Laws 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 illegal 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 only a Continuance of his
resign the Powers to him which we received of him We have voted if you comply not to send for the Captain General Tyler and Twenty thousand of his Militia to the Danger of this Place and of the Monks Heads The Abbot here recites his good Deeds how often in their Necessities he had relieved them he had been he says their spiritual Father thirty two Years in all which time no Man had been grieved or oppressed by him this giving implyedly the Lye to Wallingford they grant but will not be denyed The Obligations and Charters which they require are delivered them which they burn in the Market-place near the Cross. This did not content them they ask for an ancient Charter concerning the Town Liberties the Capital Letters of which say they were one of Gold another of Azure The Abbot prays them to be satisfied for that time he protests they have all he has to give them he knew of no more yet he would make a search and if any such Deed could be found it should faithfully be delivered to them This too was the answer of the Covent it was agreed that the Abbot should after Dinner disclaim under his Hand and Seal in all Things prejudicial to their Liberty In Memory of an old Suit betwixt Abbot Richard the First and the Townsmen in the Reigns of William the Second and Henry the First wherein the Townsmen were overthrown were laid Milstones before the Door of the Parlor These Iohn the Barber with others took away as a Token of Victory over the Law these they break into small pieces and distribute amongst the Worthies as the Sacred Bread is given in the Eucharist Who could forbear Tears says Walsingham heavily bewailing these Changes to see Servants command their Lords who know not how to rule nor how to pity To see London once the noble Head of our Cities become a Stye for unclean Swine Who would not tremble to hear that the Arch-bishop and the Lord Treasurer should be offered Victims to wicked Spirits to the Kentish â—…dol the Kentish Saturn or Moloch and his Hob-goblins in the midst of the Kingdom Nay says he whose Heart would it not have wounded through to have seen the King of England who of Right for Majesty and Dignity ought to precede all Kings in the World out of Fear of his Head observe the Nods and Becks of these Varlets and the Nobility and Gentry mortified Beasts trampled on by these Scullions enslaved at their own Charge lick up their Dust. After Dinner a sad Dinner to the Monks this Merdaille these Stinkards throng before the Gates and demand the Charter of Liberties which the Abbot had promised them to seal which was sent and read to them in the thickest of the Rout If they please to accept it this was the Abbots Complement he is ready to seal They resolved never to be pleased with much Scorn and Pride answer by an Esquire of the Abbot That the Abbot must appoint some Clerk of his to attend them with â—…nk and Parchment themselves would dictate and after the Abbot and Covent should confirm what was done when this Humour was satisfied the Safety and Peace of the Monastery and Monks were as desperate as ever The old Charter which they will everlastingly believe concealed must be produced else they will bury the Covent in the Ruins of the Cloysters This Charter did certainly as they will have it contain all their ancient Liberties and Priviledges and if this was true there was no great Reason it should be in the Abbots keeping Here the Abbot imploys the most Honourable Esquires of the Country as Mediators to soften them and offers if they desire it to say Mass before them next Morning and to swear upon the Sacrament he should be about to take with what Monks they would name that he kept from them no such Charter with his Knowledge Make Choice says he of what Liberties you can you shall have my Charters drawn they shall be granted you by it I will seal you a real Charter instead of a fantastical one never seen by you no where to be had The Abbot struggles in vain against these Waves this Charter of their Fancies they will have Nor shall any other Price redeem the Monastery they intended the Subversion of the House and wrangle thus crossly that they might seem to have some Pretences to do it but because they had much Business to go about and could not be here and there too a Truce was taken for that Day and many of these pure Brethren betake themselves to other parts some of them would not be prevailed with the Bread and Ale of the Monastery brought forth to them in huge Fat 's would not work upon them to lay their Fury they staid only for a leading Hand Here an honest Burgess interposes Ribaulds says he what is it you purpose most of you here are Forreigners of the Villages about this is the most famous Mischief which can be acted in this Country this Beacon must set all on Fire and it is fit we who are Burgesses and Freemen of this Town should give the On-set By this Fineness they are gained to quit the Gates and joyn to the Assistance of their Fellow-Labourers The rest of the Day is spent by their united Forces in overthrowing of Houses clashing of Vessels and spoiling of Goods according to the Rule of Walter the false Founder of the Order At Night the Lieutenants make Proclamamation under the Kings Banner commanding strong Guards to be set about the Town that they may be assured against Surprizes and about the River Werlam and Saint Germains making it Loss of the Head to any Monk who should be found issuing from or entring the Monastery that Way this was done to set a Trap for the Prior and those who fled with him They proclaimed also that whosoever could challenge any Debts due to him from the Monastery might put in his Claim and little Proof should be needed the next Day and the Burgesses of the Town would discharge as far as the Goods of the Monastery would reach Much more was Magisterially thrown in to shew a Cast of the present Power Which was no sooner done but there appears a Farmer of the Mannor of Kingsbury belonging to this Abby arme I with his Sword and Buckler this Man was much in Arrears for his Farm and durst not peep abroad from his lurking Holes before these Broils which hiding of himself he imputes now to the Injustice and Cruelty of the Prior This Chuff demands one hundred Marks Damages for the Losses he had sustained in his Absence and threatens to burn the Grange of Saint Peter and Mannor-house of Kingsbury near the Abby if he be not repaired Twenty pounds he receives upon this Demand and goes away swearing he would freely give it back again for the Priors Head Saturday Night passed with much Perplexity to the Monks who were at their Wits
Brethren Scots Defeated have Malignant Plots And brought your Sword to Cain's 5. What wholesom Laws have you ordain'd Whereby our Property 's maintain'd 'Gainst those would us undo So that our Fortunes and our Lives Nay what is dearer our own Wives Are wholly kept by you 6. Oh! What a flourishing Church and State Have we enjoy'd e'er since you sate With a Glorious King God save him Have you now made his Majesty Had he the Grace but to comply And do as you would have him 7. Your Directory how to pray By th' Spirit shews the perfect Way In Zeal you have abolisht The Dagon of the Common-prayer And next we see you will take Care That Churches be demolisht 8. A Multitude in every Trade Of painful Preachers you have made Learned by Revelation Cambridge and Oxford made poor Preachers Each Shop affordeth better Teachers O Blessed Reformation 9. Your Godly Wisdom hath found out The true Religion without Doubt For sure among so many We have five Hundred at the least Is not the Gospel much increast All must be pure if any 10. Could you have done more piously Than sell Church-Lands the King to buy And stop the Cities Plenty Paying the Scots-Church-Militant That the new Gospel helpt to plant God knows they are Poor Saints 11. Because th' Apostles Creed is lame Th' Assembly doth a better frame Which saves us all with Ease Provided still we have the Grace To believe th' House in the first Place Be our Works what they please 12. 'T is strange your Power and Holiness Can't the Irish Devil dispossess His End is very stout But though you do so often pray And every Month keep Fasting-day You cannot cast them out On the May-Pole THe Mighty Zeal which thou hast late put on Neither by Prophet nor by Prophets Son As yet prevented doth transport me so Beyond my self that though I ne'er could go Far in a Verse and have all Rhimes defi'd Since Hopkins and good Thomas Sternhold dy'd Except it were the little Pains I took To please Good People in a Prayer Book That I set forth or so yet must I raise My Spirits for thee who shall in thy Praise Gird up her Loyns and furiously run All kind of Feet but Satans cloven one Such is thy Zeal so well thou dost express it That wer 't not like a Charm I 'd said God bless it I needs must say it is a spiritual thing To rail against the Bishop and the King But these are private Quarrels this doth fall Within the Compass of the General Whether it be a Pole painted or wrought Far otherwise then from the Wood 't was brought Whose Head the Idol-makers Hand doth crop Where a profane Bird tow'ring on the top Looks like the Calf in Horeb at whose Root The unyoakt Youth doth exercise his Foot Or whether it preserves its Boughs befriended By Neighbouring Bushes and by them attended How canst thou chuse but seeing it complain That Baal's worship'd in the Groves again Tell me how curst an egging with a Sting Of Lust do these unwily Dances bring The simple Wretches say they mean no harm They do'nt indeed but yet these Actions warm Our purer Bloud the more For Satan thus Tempts us the more that are more Righteous Oft hath a Brother most sincerely gone Stifled with Zeal and Contemplation Where lighting on the Place where such Repair He views the Nymph and is clean out in 's Prayer Oft hath a Sister grounded in a Truth Seeing the jolly Carriage of the Youth Been tempted to the Way that 's broad and bad And wer 't not for our private Pleasures had Renounc'd her little Ruff and goggle Eye And quit her self of the Fraternity What is the Mirth what is the Melody That sets them in this Gentiles Vanity When in our Synagogues we rail at Sin And tell Men of the Faults that they are in With Hand and Voice so following our Theams That we put out the Sides-men in their Dreams Sounds not the Pulpit then which we belabor Better and holier then doth a Tabor Yet such is Unregenerate Mans Folly He loves the wicked Noise and hates the Holy If the Sius sweet Enticing and the Blood Which now begins to boyl have thought it good To challenge Liberty and Recreation Let it be done in Holy Contemplation Brother and Sister in the Field may walk Beginning of the Holy Word to talk Of David and Uriah's lovely Wife Of Thamar and her lustful Brothers Strife Then underneath the Hedge that is the next They may sit down and so act out the Text Nor do we want how e'er we live Austere In Winter Sabbath Nights some lusty Chear And though the Pastor's Grace which oft doth hold Half an Hour long make the Provision cold We can be merry thinking ne'er the worse To mend the Matter at the second Course Chapters are read and Hymns are sweetly sung Joyntly commanded by the Nose and Tongue Then on the Word we diversly dilate Wrangling indeed for Heat of Zeal not Hate When at the length an unappeased Doubt Fiercely comes in and then the Lights go out Darkness thus makes our Peace and we contain Our fiery Spirits till we meet again Till then no Voice is heard no Tongue do's go Unless a tender Sister shriek or so Such should be our Delights grave and demure Not so abominable and impure As those thou seek'st to hinder but I fear Satan will be too strong his Kingdom 's there Few are the Righteous nor do I know How this Idol here shall overthrow Sin our sincerest Patron is deceast The Number of the Righteous is decreast But we do hope these times will on and breed A Faction mighty for us for indeed We labour all and every Sister joins To have Regenerate Babes spring from our Loyns Besides what many carefully have done To get the unrighteous Man a Righteous Son Then stoutly on let not thy Flocks range lewdly In their old Vanities thou Lamp of Beaudly One thing I pray thee do not so much thirst After Idolatries last fall but first Follow thy Suit more close let it not go Till it be thine as thou wouldst hav 't for so Thy Successors upon the same entail Hereafter may take up the Whit-sun-Ale To the Queen Most Gracious Queen IF Poets could be born as oft as you Bring Princes forth something might then be new Th'Alembicks of the Womb and Brain run cross Elixars they 'r more common than our Dross Your fair and beautiful Soil pure Manna breeds When our dull Mud is barren too in Weeds Though then you here find nothing fresh but Names This Verse being writ for Charles and that for Iames Yet may they now like sacred Reliques be Lov'd and embrac'd for their Antiquity Your former Teeming taught the costive Earth And barren Wives the Fashion of a Birth But now as if your wise Fertility An Extract were of all State-policy You give Example unto Men and teach Loyalty more than our Divines can reach
a Day Tyler who had insinuated himself into the good Grace of these Churls by appearing the most stirring and active of the Kennel who began and ruled the Cry and was by I know not what Ceremony perhaps like that Irish Election by casting an old Shoe over his Head declared Prince of the Rabble leads them to Rochester which will not come behind Canterbury in Kindness The People of the Town says the Knight were of the same Sect it seems the Castle once one of the strongest in the Kingdom was now neither fortified nor manned the Governour Sir Iohn Moton yields himself into their Hands he was one of the Kings Family of his Houshold and must be thought awed as he was into the Engagement Here the Commons might be thought ashamed of their own Choice they offer Sir Iohn the General 's Staff which had he accepted he must have commanded according to the Motions of Lieutenant General Tylers Spirit and when this turn had been over at the least stamp of his Foot have vanished sneaked off the Stage They tell him Sir Iohn you must be our Captain and which shews the Power of his Commission you shall do what we will have you The Knight likes not their Company he trys his best Wit and Language to be rid of them but could not prevail They reply downright Sir Iohn if you will not doe what we will have you you must dye for it we will not be denyed but at your Peril Enough was said the Knight yields but his Charge of Captain General is forgotten we shall see hereafter what Use they make of him and in what manner he must be employed This Example is followed in the other Countrys The Gentry did not only lose their Estates and Honour but their Courage and Gallantry their Bloods were frozen Fear had stifled their Spirits The Clowns as the Knight had brought them into such Obeysance that they caused them to go with them whether they would or not they fawned on them humbled themselves to them like Dogs groveling at their Feet The Lord Molines Sir Stephen Hales Sir Thomas Guysighen this Sir Iohn Moton and others were Attendants and Vassals to the Idol Every Day new Heaps of Men flock to them like Catalines Troops all that were necessitous at Home Unthrifts broken Fellows such as for their Misdeeds feared the Justice of the Laws who resent the dangerous and distracted State of the Kingdom alike and will no doubt hammer out an Excellent Reformation they will mend their own Condition which will be enough we must expect no more and now the Confidence in their Strength made them bold enough to throw off their Mask of Hypocrisie they began to open the Inside They departed from Rochester says Froissart and passed the River he says the Thames at Kingstone and came to Brentford where I think he leads them out of their Way beating down before them and round about the Places and Houses of Advocates and Procurers and striking off the Heads of diverse Persons Walsingham tells us who those Advocates and Procurers were All Men says he were amused some looked for good from the new Masters others feared this Insurrection would prove the Destruction of the Realm The last were not deceived All the Lawyers of the Land so he goes on as well the Apprentices Counsellors as old Justices all the Jury-men of the Country this was Priest Baal's Charge they could gripe in their Clutches had their Heads chopped off It was a Maxim of the Cabal That there could be no Liberty while any of these Men were suffered to breath From little to great they fell upon things which they never thought of in their first Overflow which Guicciardine observes in civil Discords where the Rebellion is Fortunate and Mens Minds are puft up with Success to be Ordinary The Statue of Cumaean Apollo weeps for the Destruction of Cumae we shall here read of Men without Sense or Apprehensions both the Stories will seem as Incredible The stupid Nobility and Gentry sleep in their Houses till they are roused by these Blood-hounds that they might seem to deserve the Calamity tumbling upon their Heads They were becoming Tenants at Will in Villeinage to their Vassals under their Distress their Task and Taxes more by the sottish Baseness of themselves than any Vertue in these Rascals scorned and sleighted by every tatter'd Clunch Their Lands continually upon any Vote or Information to be sold or given away upon any Information of Loyalty or Faithfulness The ancient Vertues of the Gentleman not to be found in that Age and serving only for a Pretence to Ruin no one could form an Expectation of more than this to be the last Man born what was Polyphemus his Kindness to Ulysses to be devoured last all which they were contented to hazard and indure to preserve a Shred or jagg of an incertain ragged Estate for the Health or Mistresses Sake subject ever to the Violence of the same lawless spoiling Force which maimed and rent it before Next to return to this Riffraff their Cruelty reaches to Parchment Deeds Charters Rolls of Courts Evidences are cast by them into the Fire as if they meant to abolish all Remembrance of things this was to defeat their Lords in the Claims of any ancient Rights and to leave no Man more Title than themselves had to their Sword and Power The Kentish and Essexian Rout were joyned says the Monk but he tells us not where and approached near London at Black-heath they made an Halt where they were near 200000 strong Thither came two Knights sent by the King to them to inquire the Cause of the Commotion and why they had amassed such Swarms of the People They answer they met to conferr with the King concerning Business of Weight they tell the Messengers they ought to go back to the King and shew him that it behoves him to come to them they would acquaint him with their Desires we shall quickly discover why his Presence was required Upon Return of the Knights it was debated in Council by the Lords about the King whether he should go or no Some of the Table more willing to venture the King than themselves willing to throw him into the Gulph or perhaps not senting the Design of the Clowns perswade him to see them Your Majesty thus they must make a Tryal of these Men Necessity now must be looked on above Reason if any thing can give the Check to the Uproars it must be your Presence there can be no Safety but in this Venture it is now as dangerous to seem not to trust as to be deceived Fate is too much feared if it be imagined that this Tree of your Empire which has flourished so many Ages can fall in an Hour The Archbishop of Canterbury Simon Theobald of Sudbury Lord Chancellor of England the most Eloquent most wise and most pious Prelate of the Age Faithful to his Prince and therefore odious to