City and constantly accusing themselves for the Parricide of their spirituall Father Nothing was now unlawfull there could be no wickednesse after this They make more examples of barbarous cruelty under the name of Justice Robert Lord Prior of St. John and Lord Treasurer of England John Leg or Laige one of the Kings serjeants at Armes a Franciscan a Physitian belonging to the Duke of Lancaster whom perhaps they hated because they had wronged his Master a Frier Carmelite the Kings Confessour were murdered there in this fury Whose heads with the Archbishops were borne before them through London streets and advanced over the Bridge This while the King was softning the Rebells of Essex at Mile-end with the Earles of Salisbury Warwick and Oxford and other Lords Thither by Proclamation he had summoned them as presuming the Essexians to be the more civilized and by much the fairer enemies as indeed they were There he promises to grant them their desires Liberty pretious Liberty is the thing they aske this is given them by the King but on condition of good behaviour They are to cease their burning and destruction of Houses to returne quietly to their homes and offend no man in their way Two of every Village were to stay as Agents behinde for the Kings Charters which could not be got ready in time Farther the King offers them his Banners Some of theÌ„ were simple honest people of no ill meaning Froiss who knew not why the Garboils were begun nor why they came thither These were won and win others without more stir those of Essex returne whence they came Tyler and Baal are of another spirit they would not part so easily Tyler the future Monarch who had designed an Empire for himselfe and was now sceleribus suis ferox atque praeclarus famous for his villeinies and haughty would not put up so he and his Kentish rabble tarry The next day being Saturday the 17 of June was spent as the other dayes of their tyranny in Burning Ruining houses Murthers and Depopulations The night of this day the Idol and his Priest upon a new resolution intended to have struck at the neck of the Nation to have Murthered the King the Achan of the Tribes probably by beheading the death these parricides had used hitherto the Lords Gâ—ntlemen the wealthiest and honestest part of the Citizâ—ns then to have pillaged their Houses and fiâ—ed the City in foure parts they â—…ended this hast to avoid odiâ—us partneâ—shâ—p in the exploit and that those of Norfolke Suffolke and other parts might not share in the spoile This Counsell of destruction was against all policy more profit might have beene made of this City by Excise Assessment and Taxes upon the Trade Tyler might sooner have inriched himselfe and have been as secure Estate makes men losty fâ—are and poverty if we may trust Machiavel bend and supple every man had been in danger and obnoxious to him one Clowne had awed a street Near the Abby-Church at Westminster was a Chappell with an image of the Virgin Mary this Chappell was called the Chappell of our Lady in the Piew it stood near the Chappell of S. Steph. since turned from a Chappell to the Parliament house here our Lady then who would not believe it did great miracles Richards preservation at this time was no small one being in the hands of the multitude let loose and inraged There he makes his vowes of safety after which he rides towards these Sonnes of perdition under the Idol Tyler Tyler who meant to consume the day in Cavills protests to those who were sent by the King to offer those of Kent the same peace which the Essex Clownes had accepted That he would willingly embrace a good and honest Peace but the Propositions or Articles of it were only to be dictated by himselfe He is not satisfied with the Kings Charters Three draughts are presented to him no substance no forme would please he desires an accommodation but he will have Peace and truth together He exclaims that the liberty there is deceitfull but an empty name that while the King talkes of liberty he is actually levying Warre setting up his Standard against his Commons that the good Commons are abused to their owne ruine and to the miscarriage of the great undertaking that they have with infinite paines and labour acquainted the King with their humble desires who refuses to joyn with them misled and carried away by a few evill and rotten-hearted Lords and Delinquents contrary to his Coronation Oath by which he is obliged to passe all Lawes offered him by the Commons whose the Legislative power is which deniall of his if it be not a forfeiture of his trust and office both which are now uselesse it comes neare it and he is fairely dealt with if he be not deposed which too might be done without any want of modesty or duty and with the good of the Common-wealth The happinesse of the Nation not depending on him or any of the Regall Branches I will deliver the Nation from the Norman slavery and the world sayes he of an old silly superstition That Kings are onely the Tenants of Heaven obnoxious to God alone cannot be condemned and punished by any power else I will make here he lied not an wholsome President to the world formidable to all tyrannes I declare That Richard Plantagenet or Richard of Bourdeaux at this time is not in a condition to governe I will make no addresses no applications to him nor receive any from him though I am but a dry bone too unworthy for this great calling yet I will finish the work I will settle the Government without the King and against him and against all that take part with him which â—ufficiently justifies our Armes God with Vs sayes he owns them successe manifests the righteousnesse of our cause this is sayes he the voyce of the people by us their Representative and our Counsell After the Vote of no more Addresses which with all their other Votes of treasons were to be styled the resolution of the whole Realm and while he swells in this ruffle Sir John Newton a Knight of the Court is sent to intreat rather than invite him to come to the King then in Smithfield where the Idols Regiments were drawn up and treat with him concerning the additionall Provisions he desired to be inserted into the Charter No observance was omitted which might be thought pleasing to his Pride which pride was infinitely puffing Flattery was sweet to him and he had enough of it that made him bow a little when nothing else could doe it We may judge aâ— the unreasonablenesse of all his demands and supplyes of new Articles out of his instrument by one He required of the King a Commission to impower himselfe and a Committee teame of his owne choosing to cut off the heads of Lawyers and Escheators and of all those who by reason of their knowledge and place were any way imployed in the Law
grave on Tower-hill or Smithfield where the faithfull lieges of his Crown were torn in pieces by these Canibals The reverence due to the annointed heads of Kings began to fall away and naked Majesty could not guard where Innocency could not But Tyler blinded with his owne fatall 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 of their Gods that they bestowed benefits upon mortal men and took nothing from them The Clownes of the Idoll upon this rule were not very heavenly they were the meeke ones of those times the onely inheritours 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 the Rebellion spoke fair was shewn somewhat of ambition and no little of injust private interest no little of self-seeking which the good of the people in pretence onely was to give way to and no wonder for the good of the people properly was meerely 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 tryall their reign was but a continuation of horrible injuries the Lawes were not onely silent but dead The Idolls fury was a Law and Faith and Loyaltie and Obedience to lawfull 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 EDVVARD 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 Thomas of Walsingham a Monk of St. Albanes in Henry the sixth 's dayes who sayes 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 saies Walsingham Hypod. Neust can recite fully the misehiefs murders sacriledge and cruelty of these Actors he excuses his digesting them upon the confusion of the combustions flaming in such varietie of places and in the same time Tyler Litster and those of Hartfordshire take up most part of the discourse Westbrome is brought in by the halves the lesser Snakes are onely named in the Chronicle What had been more had not been to any purpose Those were but types of Tyler the Idoll and acted nothing but acrording to the Original according to his great example they were Wolves alike and he that reads one knowes all Par. Wals Wiston c. Per Thomae Sanguiuem salva nos Breviar fest S. Tho. Cant. Rishang Polyd. D'Avilla Jaques Clem. the Paricide of Hen. 3. of France was prayed for as a Saint Thomas of Becket Simon of Montfort the English Cataline Thomas of Lancaster Rebels and Traitors of the former years are Canonised by the Monks generally the enemies of their Kings miracles make their Tombes 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 pitied THE IDOL OF THE CLOVVNES THe Reigne of King Richard the second was but a throw of State for so many yeares a Feaver to whose distempers all pieces of the home Dominions contributed by fits * Guiâ—… the forrain part onely continuing faithfull in the fourth yeare of his reigne and fifteenth of his Age the dregs and off scum of the Commons unite into bodies in severall parts of the Kingdome and forme a Rebellion called the Rebellion of the Clownes which lead the rest and shâ—wed the way of disobedience first Of which may truly be said Though amongst other causes we may attribute it to the indisposition and unseasonablenesse of the age that the fruits of it did not take it was strongly begun and had not Providence heldback 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 Unkle Earle of Buckingham and after Duke of Glocester but the servants of his house in ordinary about him the Lord Edmund of Langly Earle of Cambridge after Duke of Yorke with the Lords Beauchamp Botercaux Sir Matthew Gourny with others of the Nobility and Gentry had set saile for Portugall the Duke John of Lancaster another of his Unkles was in Scotland treating a peace when this commotion brake out Though no cause can be given for Seditions those who designe publick troubles can never want pretences Polidore as much out in this story as any gives this reason for this The Polle money sayes he imposed by Parliament a groat sterling upon every head was intollerable It was justly imposed and so by some to whom Law and Custome of England were intollerable not to be indured but we shall find in the tyranny breaking in not onely fifth and twentieth parts and loanes forced out of feare of plunder and death but subsidies in Troops and Regiments by fifties more than Sequestrations and Compositions not under foot low sales for what had these Rascalls to give but downright Robbery and violent usurpation of Estates Thus would Polidore have it in defence of his Priests who blew the fire and thrust the silly rout into the midst of it He takes it ill that Baal valle he calls him should be supposed by I know not what flaterers of the Nobles to have filled these sailes to have let these windes out of their Caverns In the fourth yeare of this King sayes the Monk there was a grievous Tax exacted in Parliament after cause of great trouble every Religious paid half a Mark every Secular Priest as much every Lay-man or Woman 12d This might discontent the people but who prepared the Mutineers for such dangerous impressions who fell in with them after and pushed them forward will be soon found Froissart complaines of the servitude of the villanes or Bond-men now Names worne out
but the will of our enemies in forme and rule they were made by them they favour them Perque uterum sonipes hic matris agendus 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 require are delivered them which they burne in the Market-place neare the Crosse This did not content them they aske for an antient Charter concerning the Towne Liberties the capitall Letters of which say they were one of Gold another of Azure * De azorio The Abbot prayes them to be satisfied for the 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 disclaime under his hand and seale in all things prejudiciall to their Liberty In memory of an old suit betwixt Abbot Richard the first and the Townsmen in the reignes of William the second and Henry the first wherein the Townsmen were overthrown were laid Milstones before the doore of the * Locutorii Parler These John the Barber with others tooke 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 forbeare teares sayes Walsingham Wals heaviâ—y 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 stie for uncleane Swine Who would not tremble to heare that the Archbishop and the Lord Treasurer should be offered victimes to wicked spirits to the Kentish Idol the Kentish Saturne or Moloch and his Hob-goblings in the midst of the Kingdome Nay sayes he whose heart would it not have wounded through to have seene the King of England who of right for Majesty and dignity ought to precede all Kings in the World out of feare of his head observe the nods and becks of these varlets and the Nobility and Gentry mortified beasts trampled on by these scullions inslaved at their owne 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 seale 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 seale They resolved never to be pleased with much scorne and pride answer by an Esquire of the Abbot That the Abbot must appoint some Clerk of his to attend them with Ink and Parchment Themselves would dictate and after the Abbot and Covent should confirme what was done when this humour was satisfied The safety and peace of the Monastery and Monkes 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 ruines of the Cloysters This Charter did certainly as they will have it conteine all their antient Liberties and priviledges and if this was true there was no great reason it should be in the Abbots keeping Here the Abbot imployes the most honourable Esquires of the Countrey as Mediatours to loften them and offers if they desire it to say Masse before them next morning Super Sacramentum and to sweare upon the Sacrament he should be about to take with what Monkes they would name that he kept from them no such Charter with his knowledge Make choice sayes he of what Liberties you can you shall have my Charters drawne they shall be granted you by it I will seale you a reall Charter instead of a fantasticall one never seene by you no where to be had The Abbot struggles in vaine against these waves this Charter of their fancies they will have Nor shall any other price redeeme the Monastery they intended the subversion of the house and wrangle thus crossely that they might seeme to have some pretences to doe it but because they had much businesse to goe 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 worke upon them to lay their fury they stayed onely for a leading hand Here an honest Burgesse interposes Ribaldi Ribaulds sayes he what is it you purpose most of you here are forrainers of the Villages about this is the most famous mischiefe which can be acted in this Countrey this Beacon must set all on fire and it is fit we who are Burgesses and Free-men of this Towne should give the on-set by this finenesse they are gained to quit the gates and joyne to the assistance of their fellow-labourers The rest of the day is spent by their united forces in overthrowing of houses clashing of vessells and spoiling of goods according to the rule of Walter Quod didicerantâ—… à Waltero the false founder of the order At night the Lieutenants make Proclamation under the Kings Banner commanding strong Guards to be set about the Towne that they may be assured against surprizes and about the river Werlam and Saint Germanes making it losse of the head to any Monke who
Peers as yet they speak no higher whom he would have brought to Repentance Then the Lawyers Justices Judges Jury-men †Quoscunque nocivos communitatis de terra sua tollerent all the enemies of the commonalty were to be swept from the Earth there could not else so he concludes be any peace or security for the future * Si sublatis Majoribus aequa libertas c. lopping off the Heads of those which were too tall which over-topped too much equall Nobility equall Liberty Dignity and Power this was his old Doctrine were the onely antidotes without which the poysoned Common-wealth must perish Whosoever loved not the Cause was a Reprobate hatefull to God and damned Body and Soule John concludes with an exhortation that in order to the security and preservation of Religion and Liberty of the Subject they will never consent to the laying downe of armes so long as the evill Councellors and Prelates arming or in open warre shall by force of armes be protected against the justice of the Commons John addes of long time there hath beene and now is a traiterous plot for the subversion of us and the liberty of the Subject No wonder when Peter the Hermits Goose was believed to be the Holy Ghost In the Croisade for holy land that John amongst as very Ninnyhammers could strike up for a Prophet The base crew prick up their Eares and wonder at the new truths which their Pastor held forth they applaud him he is †Ut aâ—…lamaâ—ert cum Archiepiscopum Archbishop elect and Chancelour the true Archbishop must be called a Traitour * Communium regni proditorem a Traitour of the Commons and the Realm to make him roome is voted so to be apprehended wheresoever he could be found in England and his Head to be cut off Here was a new Treason and a new way of triall and sentence But though Baal had more of the Spirit there were other adventurers not to be robbed of their honours other Worthies precious men called to doe the Worke of the Lord Who put to their hands and brought Trowels and Morter toward the raising this Babel Jack-Straw another Priest full of life and vigor the Confessour and Bosom-chaplein of Tyler more inward with him his speciall Councellour acquainted with all his plots in the contrivance of which he had a great part bestowed his paines upon the Cause and for action next Tyler the Idoll carryed the name which may be one cause why Polydore kills him in Tylers stead with the Mayors Sword the most eminent sticklers of the Laity of the prophane stie where Wat the Tyler a Tyler by Trade not by Nâ—me his Name was Helier an ungracious Patron as Froissart was * Wals Rex ribaldorum Idolum rusticorum King of the Ribauldes the Idoll of the Kentish Clownes John Kirkby Alan Treder Thomas Scot and Ralph Rugge a Magnifico who gave freely away amongst his fellow Scoundrels the spoiles of his Conquests were princes of the separation of the Tribes in Kent and Essex Robert Westbrome Wraw his Chaplaine refusing to set * Wals Crowne upon Crowne and contented to be the Arch priest of the Province was King of Suffolke and the parts adjacent St. Edmunds-bury once the Palace of the East Angle Kings and Mildenhalle were the seats of his Soveraignty John Litster a Tanner usurps the Name and power of a King at Northwalsham in Norfolk I may say the power and more never was any English King so absolute nor can any just and legall Principality be so large and Arbitrary Law of the Land with which the old Englishman was free enough and contented was here to be thrown out of dores The Heptarchy of the Saxons seemed to revive againe but prodigiously the blaze of these Comets must have been fatall to the Nation to keep an order in the History of these Ruffians who abhorred it I will give the Van to the Idoll of the Clowns it is due to him he is the first who lifts up his Head in the confusion among the Brethren and deserves the first chaire He was the Dragon and no question in the Conclusion had swallowed up or clipped the rest Litster Westbrome and the others merited highly but they must have been taken down some pins Tyler must have elbow-roome he must have been Lord Paramount and one such Comet would have been more than enough for one Horizon Besides Kent and Essex were the puddle the Lerna which bred this Hydra with the many Heads which poysoned most of the Counties and in the conjunction of these two Provinces Tyler the Idoll swayed all and here I must observe this that however Walsingham hatches the cause in Essex yet his owne relations of Baal and the Letters and Sermons of this seducing Prophet bring this into question and by him if Kent be not the Mother yet are the Treasons of her and Essex Sister twins of the same birth Essex onely started first The fire kindled from a small sparke The Clownes of two Villages not named in the Chronicles contrive the Conspiracy there They send Warrants to the smaller Townes about and rather command than intreat all men of what age soever without any stay or deliberation to repaire to a Rendezvouze set downe The conclusion was terrible It threatned plundering of Goods Burning Pucking downe Houses and cutting off the heads of those who disobey the present Power The summoned Villages are frighted into Obedience which is to rebell They leave their Ploughs their Fields their Wives and Farmes and in their first rising no lesse than 5000 of the sink of the people meet ill armed some with Staves some with rusty Swords some with Bowes and Featherlesse Arrowes few knowing any cause of their assembling gazing upon one another Wals and not finding any enemies of their own peace and good but themselves Not one of a thousand was provided like a Souldier but their number supplyed all things they were highly conceited of themselves and believed they were invincible not to be resisted To confirme their steps Baal watching to catch who had long waited for such an opportunity of imbroiling drives them head-long forward he writes to them his Letters exhortatory where to consecrate the enterprise Gods name is brought in He is made to owne the Cause composed of a jargon a canting gibridge fit for the designe to abuse and cheat the innocent peasant who cannot pry into things cannot look farther than the bait fuller of Ridles than sense one of them found in the sleeve of one of these wretched men condemned and under the Gallowes was this John Schep sometimes St. Mary Priest in Yorkn and now of Colchester greeteth well John namelesse and John the Miller and John Carter and biddeth them that they beware of guile in Borough which Stow by a notable mistake calls Gillinborough and stand together in Gods Name and biddeth Pierse Plowman goe to his werk and chastice Hob the robber and take
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 leades them to Rochester which will not come behinde Canterbury in kindenesse The people of the Towne sayes the Knight were of the same sect it seemes the Castle once one of the strongest in the Kingdome was now neither fortified nor manned the Governour Sir John Moton yeelds himself into their hands he was one of the Kings Family of his House-hold and must be thought awed as he was into the ingagement Here the Commons might be thought ashamed of their owne choyce they offer Sir John the Generalls staffe which had he accepted he must have commanded according to the motions of the Lieutenant Generall Tilers Spirit and when this turne had been over at the least stamp of his foot have vanished sneaked off the stage They tell him Sir John Froiss you must be our Captaine and which shewes the power of his Commission you shall do what we will have you The Knight likes not their company he tries his best wit language to be rid of them but could not prevaile they reply downright Sir John if you will not doe what we will have you you dye for it we will not be denied but at your perill Enough was said the Knight yeelds but his charge of Captaine Generall is forgotten we shall see hereafter what use they make of him and in what manner he must be imployed This example is followed in the other Countries The Gentry did not onely lose their Estates and honour but their courage and gallantry their blouds were frozen feare had stifled their Spirits The Clownes 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 Guyfighen this Sir John Moton and others were Attendants and vassales to the Idoll Wals qui censuram juris timebant propter malafacta c. Every day new heaps of men flock to them like Catilines Troops all that were necessitous at home unthrifts broken fellowes such as for their misdeeds feared the Justice of the Lawes who resent the dangerous and distracted state of the Kingdome alike and will no doubt hammer out an excellent reformation they will mend their owne 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 maske of Hypocrisie they began to open the inside They departed from Rochester sayes Froissart and passed the River he sayes the Thames at Kingstone and came to Brentford where I thinke he leads them out of their way beating downe 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 sayes he were amused some looked for good from the new Masters others feared this insurrection would prove the destruction of the Realme The last were not deceived All the Lawyers of the Land so he goes on as well the Apprentices Counsellours as old Justices all the Jury-men of the Countrey this was Priest Balls charge they could gripe in their clutches had their heads chopped off It was a maxime of the Cabal That there could be no liberty while any of these men were suffered to breathe From little to great they fell upon things which they never thought of in their first overflow which Guicciardine observes in civill discords where the Rebellion is fortunate and mens mindes are puft up with successe to be ordinary The statue of Cumaean Apollo weeps for the destruction of Cumae we shall here reade 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 bloud-hounds that they might seem to deserve the calamity tumbling upon their heads They were becomming tenants at will in Villeinage to their vassalls under their distresse their Taske and Taxes more by the Sottish basenesse 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 faithfulnesse the antient vertues of the Gentleman not to be found in that age and serving onely for a pretence to ruine no one could form an expectation of more than this to be the last man borne what was Polyphemus his kindnesse to Vlisses to be devoured lest all which they were contented to hazard and indure to preserve a shred or jagge of an incertaine ragged Estate for the health or mistresses sake subject ever to the violence of the same lawlesse spoiling force which maimed and rent it before Next to returne to this riffraffe their cruelty reaches to Parchment Deeds Charters Rolles 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 antient Rights and to leave no man more title than themselves had to their Sword and power The Kentish and Essexian rout were joyned sayes the Monke Wals but he tells us not where and approached neere London at Black heath they made an halt where they were neare 200000 strong Thither came two Knights sent by the King to them Wals to inquire the cause of the Commotion and why they had amassed such swarmes of the people They answer they met to conferre with the King concerning businesse of weight they tell the Messengers they ought to goe 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 Councell by the Lords about the King whether he should goe 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 designe of the Clownes perswade him to see them Your Majesty thus they must make a tryall of these men necessity now must be looked on above reason if any thing can give the check to the uprores it must be your presence there can be no safety but in this venture it is now as dangerous to seeme 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 houre The Archbishop of Canterbury Wals Simon Theobald of Sudbury Lord Chancellour of England the most Eloquent most Wise and most pious Prelate of the Age faithfull to his Prince and therefore odious to those who conspired against his Majesty and authority likes not the advise
Diâ—caligaâ—os ribauldos The King ought not sayes he to venture his person among such hoselesse ribaulds but rather dispose things so as to curbe their insolence Sir sayes he your sacred Majesty in this storme ought to shew how much of a King you can play what you will goe 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 hewne savages you will finde the gentle wayes pernitious your tamenesse will undoe you mercy will ever be in your power but it is not to be named without the sword drawne God and your right have placed you in your throne but your courage and resolution must keep you there your indignation will be justice good men will 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 oâ— Saint John of Jerusalem 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 swear 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 Hereupon 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 John Froissart and others report this part thus which probably might follow after this refusall The Rebells say they sent their Knight * Grafton so they called him yet was he the Kings Knight for Tyler came not up to dubbing we finde no Sir John nor Sir Thomas of his making Sir John 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 maintaine 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 Councell of state sayes our Knight Froiss howled and shouted as though all the Devills of Hell had been amongst them Sir John 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 any where quarelling with the Beares those were no Malignants They knocked not long at the City-gates Wals which some say were never shut against them or
ground before the Gates then fix 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 these Rogues were guilty in a most high nature so that bâ—sides the basenesse of their condition they were incapable of any jurisdâ—ction by the antient foundamentall Lawes of England as being Traitours and out of the Kings faith Mir. 114. but to wave all this 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 Covenanters of Barnet Luton Watford and the Townes round enter St. Albanes of the same Sacrilegious affection 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 the red Cross before him according to the fashion of the Clownes of London The Commons hearing 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 and 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 June 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 Helhounds 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 doe equall 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 Antigonus 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 our 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 a 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
highnesse and his Officers but the Cement of the Stratocratie of the Government by Sword and Club Law could not be well tempered with vulgar blood a servant of the Arch-bishops who had trusted himselfe to these Guards and Walls is forced to betray his Lord. He brings them into the Chappell where the holy Prelat was at his prayers where he had celebrated Masse thâ—t morning before the King Wals Sacram Communionem 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 calmnesse of mind when their bellowing first struck his ears He tels his servants that Death came now as a more particular blessing where the comforts of life were taken away that life was irkesome to him perhaps his pious feares 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 die with more quiet of conscience than ever a quiet which these Parricides will not finde when they shall pay the score of this and their other crimes However the flattery of successe may abuse our death bed represents things in their owne shape and as they are after this the rout of Wolves enter prophanely roaring where is the Traitour where is the Robber of the Common people He answers not troubled at what he saw or heard Yee are welcome my Sonnes I am the Archbishop whom you seek neither Traitour nor Robber Presently these Limbes of the Devill griping him with their wicked clutches teare him out of the Chappell neither reverencing the Altar nor Crucifix figured on the top of his Crosier nor the Host these are the Monkes observations for which he condemnes them in the highest impiety and makes them worse than Divells and as Religion went then well he might condemne them so They dragge him by the Armes and hood to Tower hill without the Gates there they howle hideously which was the signe of a mischiefe to follow He askes them what it is they purpose what is his offence tells them he is their Archbishop this makes him guilty all his eloquence his Wisdome are now of no use he addes the murder of their Soveraigne Pastour will be severely punished Qui pastor c. 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 traitour to the Commonalty and Realm To deale 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 sworne to abolish his order the Church and spoile the sacred patrimony and what innocency what defence could save Without any reply farther he forgives the Heads man and bowes his Body to the Axe After the first hit he touches the wound with his hand and speakes thus Ahâ—… manus Domini It is the Hand of the Lord. The next stroke falls upon his hand ere he could remove it and cuts off the tops of his fingers after which he fell but died not till the eight 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 Archbishop dyed a Martyr of loyalty to his King and has his Wals miracles Recorded an honour often bestowed by Monkes friends of Regicide and Regicides on Traitours seldome given to honest men In his Epitaph his riming Epitaph where is showne the pittifull ignorant rudenesse of those times he goes for no lesse he speakes thus Sudburiae natus Simon jacet hic tumulatus Martyrizatus nece pro republica stratus Sudburies Simon here intombed lies Who for the Commonwealth a Martyr dies It is fit sayes Plato that he who would appeare a just man become naked that his virtue be despoiled of all ornament that he be taken for a wicked man by others wicked indeed that he be mocked and hanged The wisest of men tell us †Eccles 7. 15. There is a just man that perisheth in his righteousnesse and there is a wicked man that prolongeth his life in his wickednesse The Seas are often calme to Pirates and the scourges of God the executioners of his fury the Gothes Hunnes and Vandalls heretofore Tartars and Turkes now how happy are their Robberies how doe all things succeed with them beyond their wishes Our Saviours Passion the great mysterie of his Incarnation lost him to the Jewes his Murtherers Whereupon Grotius notes Grot. Sape à deo permitti ut pii ab impâ—…s non vexenturâ—… sed in eâ—…ficiantur It is often permitted by God that pious men be not onely 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 Saint Edward the Monarch c. Saxon Kings are examples at home Thucydides in his narration of the defeat and death of Nician the Athenian in Syeily speaks thus Being the man who 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 Celestiall Councell 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 separate Facts from their Crimes where the fact is beneficiall 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 Emperour assassinated by the Militia or Souldiery by an ill fate of the Common-wealth for Maximinus a Thracian or Goth Lieutenant Generall of the Army a cruell Savage tyrant by force usurped the Empire after him Replyed to one who pretended to foretell his end That it troubled him not the most renowned persons in all ages die violently This gallant Prince condemned no death but a dishonest fearfull one Heaven it selfe declared on the Archbishops side and cleared his innocency Starling of Essex who challenged to himselfe the glory of being Heads man fell mad suddenly after ran through the Villages with his Sword hanging naked upon his brest and his Dagger naked behinde him came up to London confest freely the fact and lost his â—…nd there As most of those did who had said their hands upon this Archbishop comming up severally out of their Countries to that