thinke it so and if they love you you have enough you cannot Capitulate not treat with your rebells without hazarding your honour and perhaps your royall faith if you yeild to the force of one sedition your whole life and reigne will be nothing but a continuation of broyles and tumults if you assert your soveraigne authority betimes not onely these doults these sots but all men else will reverence you remember Sir God by whom lawfull Princes reigne whose vicegerent you are would not forgive rebellion in Angels you must not trust the face Petitions delivered you upon Swords points are fatall if you allow this custome you are ruined as yet Sir you may be obeyed as much as you please Of this opinion was Sir Robert Hales Lord Prior of Saint Iohn of Ierusalem newly Lord Treasurer of England a magnanimous and stout Knight but not liked by the Commons When this resolution was known to the Clownes they grow starke mad they bluster they sweat to seek out the Kings Traitours for such now they must go for No man was either good or honest but he who pleased them the Archbishop and Lord Prior to chop off their Heads here they might be trusted they were likely to keep their words Here upon without more consideration they advance toward London not forgetting to burne and rase the Lawyers and Courtiers houses in the way to the Kings honour no doubt which they will be thought to Arme for Sir Iohn Froissart and others report this part thus which probably might follow after this refusall The Rebells say they sent their Knight so they called him yet was he the Kings Knight for Tyler came not up to dubbing we finde no Sir Iohn nor Sir Thomas of his making Sir Iohn Moton to the King who was then in the Tower with his Mother his halfe brothers Thomas Holland Earle of Kent after Duke of Surry and the Lord Holland the Earles of Salisbury Warwick and Oxford the Archbishop Lord Prior and others The Knight casts himselfe downe at the Kings feet beseeches him not to looke upon him the worse as in this quality and imployment to consider he is forced to doe what he does He goes on Sir the Commons of this Realme those few in Armes comparatively to the rest would be taken for the whole desire you by me to speake with them Your Person will be safe they repute you still their King this deserved thanks but how long the kindnesse will hold we shall soone finde they professe that all they had done or would doe was for your honour For your glory your honour and security are their great care they will make you a glorious King fearfull to your enemies and beloved of your Subjects they promise you a plentifull and unparallell'd revenue They will maintâ—…ine your power and authority in relation to the Lawes with your royal person according to the duty of their allegeance their protestation their vow their solemne League and Covenant without diminishing your just power and greatnesse and that they will all the dayes of their lives continue in this Covenant against all opposition They assure you Sir That they intend faithfully the good of your Majesty and of the Kingdome and that they will not be diverted from this end by any private or selfe-respects whatsoever But the Kingdome has been a long time ill governed by your Uncles and the Clergy especially by the Archbishop of Canterbury of whom they would have an account They have found out necessary Counsels for you they would warne you of many things which hitherto you have wanted good advise in The conclusion was sad on the Knights part His Children were pledges for his returne and if he faile in that their lives were to answer it Which moved with the the King He allowes the excuse sends him back with this answer that he will speake with the Commons the next Morning which it should seeme the report of the outrages done by the Clownes upon his refusall this Message made him consent to At the time he takes his Barge is rowed downe to Redriffe the place nearest the Rebells ten thousand of them descend from the Hill to see and treat with him with a resolution to yeild to nothing to overcome by the Treaty as they must have done had not the Kings feare preserved him When the Barge drew nigh the new Câ—…uncell of state sayes out Knight howled and shouted as though all the Devills of Hell had been amongst them Sir Iohn Moton was brought toward the River guarded they being determined to have cut him in pieces if the King had broke his promise All the desires of these good and faithfull Counsellours contracted suddenly into a narrow roome they had now but one demand The King askes them what is the matter which made them so earnestly sollicit his Presence They have no more to say but to intreat him to land Which was to betray himselfe to them to give his Life and Soveraignty up to those fickle Beasts to be held of them during their good pleasures which the Lords will not agree to The Earle of Salisbury of the antient Nobility and illustrious house of Montacute tells them their equipage and order were not comely and that the King ought not to adventure amongst their troopes They are now more unsatisfied and London how true soever to the Cause and faithlesse to the Prince shall feele the effects of their fury Southwark a friendly borough is taken up for their first quarters Here againe they throw downe the Malignants Houses and as a grace of their entrance breake up the Kings prisons and let out all those they finde under restraint in them not forgetting to ransack the Archbishops house at Lambeth and spoyle all things there plucking downe the Stews standing upon the Thames banke and allowed in the former ages It cannot be thought but that the Idol loved Adultery well enough but perhaps these publick bawdy-houses were too uncleane and might stinke in his nostrils we cannot finde him anywhere quarelling with the Beares those were no Malignants They knocked not long at the City-gates which some say were never shut against them or as others quickly opened The Citizens fancyed themselves privy Counsellours borne inspired from their shoppes for affaires of State and would not suppose the Reformation could be effected without them they were rich by lyes and all the most sordid wayes of falshood and must be sage and knowing pride the first sinne the Devill taught man tickles them The Major Sir William Waleworth whose memory while truth and loyalty shall be thought virtues must be honourable and nine of the Aldermen held for King Richard in vaine a prosperous wicked chief shall never want wicked instruments Three Aldermen and the greatest part of the people for the King of the Commons the Idol and his Priests Those the considers and well affected to Tyler forbid their Major to keep him out owne his actions as done
indangered and fatally tied to the same chain might make him weary of the World and that he couâ—…d now die with more quiet of conscience than ever a quiet whâ—…ch these Patricides 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 pâ—…ophane'y roaring whâ—…re is the Traitour where is the Robber of the Common-people He answers not â—…oubled at what he saw or heard Yee are welcome my Sonnes I am the Archbishop whom you seek neither Traitour nor Robber Presently these 〈◊〉 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 some notorious vengeance will suddenly follow it These destroyers will not trouble themselves with the idle formality of 〈◊〉 mock-trial or Court of their own erecting an abominable Ceremony which had made their impiety more ugly they proceed down tight 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 defencâ—… would not be necessary his enemies were his Accusers and Judgeâ—… 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 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 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 nâ—…ce 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 iust 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 â—…ocked and hanged The wisest of men tell us †There is a just man that perisheth in his â—…ghteousnesse 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 thingâ—… succeed with them beyond their wishâ—… Our Saviours Passion the great mysterie of his Incarnation lost him to the Jâ—…wes his Murtherers Whereupon Grotius notes It is often permitted by God that pious men be not onely vexed by wicked men but murdered too He gives exâ—…mples 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 Sycily 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 head there As most of those did who had laid their hands upon thâ—…s Archbishop comming up severally out of their Countries to that 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. Iohn and Lord Treasurer of England Iohn Leg or Laige one of the Kings serjeants at Armes a Franciscan a Physitian belonging to the Duke of Lancaster whom pâ—…rhaps they hated because they had wroâ—…ged 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 Eaâ—…les of Salâ—…bury Warwick and Oxford and other Lords Thither by Pâ—…oclamation he had summoned them as presuming the Essexians to be the more civiliz'd and by much the fairer enemies as indeed they were There he promises to grant them their dâ—…sires Liberty pretious Liberty is the thing they aske this is given them by the King but on condition of good behaviour They are
keepe company with the Priors and chiefe Justices Walter of Todington a Monke was sought for they wanted his head but he hid himselfe and escaped Our hacksters errant of the round Table Knights of industry would be thought Generall redeemers to take care of all mâ—…nin distresse For the Burgesses sake they command the Monkes threatning them and their walls if they obey not to deliver up all the obligations of the Towns-men for their good behaviour all the antient Charters from the time of King Cnut the Founder any way concerning the liberties of the Town besides they must grant and confirmâ—… by Charter the Liberties of the Towne which could not be done in the vacancy for so it was Edmund of Brumfield Abbot in name by provision of the Pope was a prisoner at Notingham nor had any election beene since the death of Abbot Iohn Brivole and therefore the Jewels of the house are pawned to the Townsmen as a gâ—… that Edmund of Brumfield whom they would suppose Abbot and whom they intended to set free should Seals which Jewels were a Crosse and Calice of Gold with other things exceeding in value one thousand pounds these were restored againe in time of peace but with much unwillingnesse Upon the brute of the Idolâ—… mishap and the suppression of his Legions at London these Caterpillers dissolve of themselves Wraw the Priest Westbrome the rest of the capitall villeins in the generall audit or doomesday for these hurliburlies shall be called to a reckoning for their outrages Cambridge suffered not a little in these uproars the Towns-men with the Country peasants about confederated together breake up the treasury of the Universiâ—…y tear and burn its Charters they compell the Chancelour and Schollars under their common Seals to release to the Major and townsmen all rights and Liberties all actions and to be bound in 3000â—… not to molest the Burgesses by sâ—…its of Law concerning these things for the time to come The Mayor and Bailiffs were fetched up by writ to the next Parl. where the deeds were delivered up and Cancelled the Liberties of the towne seized into the Kings hand as forfeited new ones granted by him to the University all which they owe yet to the piety of this King and his Parliament a Court which the Idol never names had he set up one of his owne bâ—…getting it must have had nothing else but the name it would have beene as destroying as the field Norfolke the Mother of the Kets would not loyter this while nor sit lazily and sluggishly looking on Iohn Litster a Dyer of Norwich King of the Commons there infuses zeale and daring into his Country-men he had composed out of his owne Empire and the borders an Army of fifty thousand Men This upstart Kingling would not wholly move by example hâ—… makes presidents of his owne and tramples not like a dull beast the râ—…ad beaten by others He had heard what was done by the London Congregations he had a stock of traditions from the Elders there which he was able to improve and although I know not how he could exceed the Idol with his councell yet so the Monk exceede them he did he presumed greater things Tyler lost his life before things were ripe was watched and undermined by the King and Nobility he could not spread his full saâ—…les else for his presumption he far out-goes Litster Litster the Norfolke Devil begins with plunder and rapine the onely way to flâ—…sh a young Rebellion The Malignants of the Kings party the rich and peaceable goe under that notion are made a prey no place was safe or priviledged Plots were laid to get the Lord William of Ufford Earle of Suffolke at his Mannor of Ufford neer Debenham in Suffolke into the company out of policy That if the cause succeeded not then the Rebels might cover themselves under the shadow of that Peere The Earle warned of their intention rises from Supper and disguised as a Groom * of Sir Roger of Bois with a Port-mantue behind him riding by-waies and about ever avoiding the routs comes to St. Albanes and from thence to the King The Commons Failing here possesse themselves of the places and houses of the Knights neare and compell the owners to sweare what they list and for greater wariness to ride the Country over with them which they durst not deny among those inthralled by this compulsion were the Lords Scales and Morley Sir Iohn Brews Sir Stephanâ—… of Hales and Sir Robert of Sallâ—… which last was no Gentleman borne but as full of honour and loyalty as any man Knighted by the Kings Grand-father for his valour he was sayes Froissart one of the biggest Knights in England a man not supple enough who could not bend before the new Lords He had not the solidity of judgement as some more subtle than honest call it to accommodate himselfe to the times Like Messala he would be of the Justest side let the fortune be what it would he would not forsake Justice under colour of following prudence he thought it not in vaine to prop up the falling Government perhaps his judgement may be blamed he stayed not for a fit time had he not failed here he had not â—…ought against heaven against providence whose counsells and decrees are hid from us are in the clouds not to be pierced our understanding is as weake as foolish as providence is certein and wise Our hopes and feares deceive us alike we cannot resolve our selves upon any assurance to forsake our duty for the time to come Gods designes are knowne onely to himselfe It is despaire not piety despair too farre from that to leave our Country in her dangerous diseases in her publick calamities the insolency of injust men is a prodigie of their ruine and the incerteinty of thingâ—… humane may teach us that those we esteeme most established most assured are not seldome soonest overthrownâ—… Plato would not have men refer all things to fate there is somewhat in our selves sayes he not a little in fortune Ours are but cockfights the least remainder of force and life may strike a necking blow and by an unlooked for victory raise what is falne if death cannot be kept off if our Country cannot be saved by our attempts there is a comlinesse in dying handsomly nor can any man be unhappy but he who out-lives it We have heard of Women who cast themselves into the fiery pits where their dead husbands are consumed of Vassals who stab themselves to follow their Prince into the next world of Othoâ—… Praetorians of the Saguntines burning in their Cities flames What can be so honourable as to dye for or with our Countrey or Faith our Religion or Honesty to die with that which gave us life and liberty and sense of these Litsters Hog-herds vow to burne Norwich unlesse this Knight will come out to them which he does well mounted and forsakes his Horse to please them They seem to honour him highly and offer
killing had not fallen by the sword of Lancaster he had found his 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-muoh 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 shâ—…wn 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 meeraly to be intended of themselvs 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 tho 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 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 can recite fully the mischiefs 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 according to the Original according to his great example they were Wolves alike and he that reads one knowes all 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 abhoâ—…ed 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 CLOWNES 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 * 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 shewed 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 Botereaux Sir Matthew Gourny with others of the Nobility and Gentry had set saile for Portugall the Duke Iohn 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 tentieth parts and loanes forced out of feare of plunder and death but subsidies in Troops and Regiments by fifties more than Sequeltrations 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 slaterers 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 Monkâ—… there was a grievous Tax exacted in Parllament 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 Froisâ—… sart complaines of the servitude of the villanes or Bond-men now Names worne out a miserable sort of drudges frequentth knowne here in the Saxon times excluded from any right of propriety sold and passed away with the Mannour or Lands to
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 Iohn 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 ploâ—… 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 that Iohn 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 heldforth they applaud him he is †Archbishop elect and Chancelour the true Archbâ—…shop must be called a Traitour * 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 Iack-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 Name his Name was Helier an ungracious Patron as Froissart was * King of the Ribauldes the Idoll of the Kentish Clownes Iohn 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 * 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 Iohn Litster a Tanner usurps the Name and power of a King at Northwalsham in Norsolk 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 blazâ—… 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 Propheâ—… bring this into question and by him iâ—…Kent be not the Mother yet are the Treasons of her and Essex Sister-twint of the same birth Essex onely started first The fire kindled from a small sparke The Clownes of two Villageâ—… 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 Pâ—…ucking 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 â—…esse 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 and not finding any enemieâ—… 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 sit 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 wâ—…rk and chastice Hob the robber and take with you John Trewman and all his fellowes and no moe John the Miller hath yground smal smal smal The Kings Sonne of Heaven shall pay for all Beware or ye be woe Know your friend from your foe Have ynough and say hoe And doe well and better and fleâ—… sinne and seek peace and hold therein And so biddeth John Trewman and all his fellows A List of Sanctity does well in these Cases but his seeking of Peace chastising the Robber and fleeing of Sinne I must leave aâ—… mysticall This shewes the industry carefulnesse and vigilancy of
their owne dirt and that advancing their Mushrome thus upon his power by the wayes of force gives an example to the next tumults against themselves There can be no safety for any new power raised upon this force the obedience to that upon these Rules being limitted and annexed to the force and success and to yeild and give way to the next power visible which shall overbeare it A way to thrust a Nation into a state of War continuall perjury and impiety to the Worlds end This Realm as he goes on is my inheritance which I tooke possession of after the death of my Grand-father being a child and did I claime onely by your gift which I shall never grant yet are not you free to make a new choice you are bound to me by Oathes and Compacts and no right of new compliance or submission can be left you to transferre He concludes That despair was a dangerous sinne which would drive them head-long to destruction That whatsoever their offences had been they were not above his mercy He bids them not trouble themselves for Tyler a base fellow who thrust them into dangers and blew them into a storme to raise himselfe upon the billowes upon the ruines of his Country He promises to lead them he will be their Captaine if they will follow him he will please them in all their desires This he spake to draw them off farther into Smithfield fearing they would againe fall to burning of houses They now wanted their Devill who possessed them and being in doubt whether they should kill the King or returne home with his Charters there being no incendiary to command follow the King in suspence Baal and Straw about this time amazed at the Idols fall lose courage and flâ—…p away In the meane time the stout Major spurres to the City with one servant where in a few words he acquaints the Citizens with the Kings perill and his owne and requests their sudden assistance if not for himselfe for the King who sayes he is in danger now to be murthered Some loyall hearts some good men of the Kings party arme and joyn to the number of one thousand and range themselves in the street expecting some of the Cavaliers of the Kings Knights to conduct them resolved either to overcome or not to feare the Conquerours Sir Robert Knowles a renowned Commander in the French Warres of the Kings Grandfather called falsly Canol by Polydor and others undertakes this charge Sir Perducas D' Albret called D' Albreth a noble Gascoigne and a Commander too in those Warres Nicholas Brembre the Kings Draper and other Aldermâ—…n come in with their Levies and march to the King in sight of the Rebels There the King Knights the brave Wil Walworth Iohn Standish one of his Esquires Nicholas Brembre Iohn Philpot a most generous Citizen famous for his faithfull service to his Prince in the times succeeding and others The Nâ—…bility about the King desire him to strike off an hundred or two of the Clowns heads in revenge of the injuries and infamy they had received from them Sir Robert Knowles would have him faâ—…l on and cut them all to pieces The King dislikes both these counsels He sayes many of these unhappy men were awed to side without either malice to his Pâ—…rson or Power and that if the first advise were taken the most innocent might be punished and the guilty scape If the second the very Rebel and the Counterfeit the forced one must be swallowed up together which was high injustice Yet were there many of these Râ—…bels called to account and their acts of bloud rapine and burning cost them deare but these acts of theirs done against Law were punished legally upon the finding of Juries when the Tumults were composed Which was faire and handsome and shewes the honourable justice of our King All that was done against them that night was to forbid the Citizens by Proclamation to entertain any of these men in the City or communicate with them and to command all men who had not dwelt there for one yeare before to depart So farre was the young King from approving the cruelty of the 〈◊〉 counsels that in the next place he causes the Charters which he had promised them to be delivered yet some may suppose this but a pardon of shew and the pardon-piece of the Charters as well as the other part rather a piece of policy than any thing else the Countries being yet tumultâ—…ous the Clownes were upon their good behaviour that was a condition of their pardon which they would not observe they commit new outrages break the Kings Laws pluck down the vengeance of Justice upon their heads afresh they did not give over their mischiefs after their return sayes Wals. By the King and his Counsell the Charters as extorted out of force and necessity were recalled and though the Mâ—…ynie generally were pardoned the King againe provoked staid but for a fit time to take vengeance on the Ring-leaders and punish particular offendors who could not be forgiven It being necessary in so desperate a Revolt for the terrour of others to make 〈◊〉 of some such maliciouâ—… disturbers of the peace as would never have been reclaimed The Kings Charters contained a Manumission of the Villains and abolition of the memory of what was past for the rest The tenor sayes Walsingham of the Charters ixtorted from the King by force was this he gives us onely that of Hartfordshire the Province of his Monastery RIchard by the Grace of God King of England and of France Lord of Ireland to all his Bailies and others his trusty to whom these Letters shall come greeting Know yee that we of our speciall grace have made free all our Lieges and every of our subjects of Hartfordshire and we free those and every of them from all * bondage and quit them by these presents and also we pardon the same our Lieges and subjects for all Felonies Treasons Trespasses and extortions by them or any of them in any wise done or committed and also every Outlary or Outlaries if any against them or any of them are or shall be published and our full peace to them or any of them therefore we grant in witnesse whereof these our Letters we have caused to be made Patents Witnesse our selfe at London the 15. day of June the 4th yeare of our Reigne This Charter was granted about the time the Clownes of Essex disbanded and received theirs it was brought into Harfordshire to Saint Albanes by Wallingford one of the Towne Friday sayes Walsingham the day of tribulation c. which was the 16 of Iune the Towns men of Saint Albanes being at the time of Matines acquainted by those of Barnet with the command of the Ordinance or Act for repairing to London presently with the Esquires of the Abbot set forth So that I conceive the day of this Charter is mistaken in it by the Monke The Clownes throw down
their Armes at the Kings feet sue for mercy and deliver up their chiefs the principall of which Priest Straw was after drawne from his hiding holes and laid hold of by the Kings Officers What became of them we shall see below in the visitation made by the King and his Ministers through the Provinces in uproare The Commons of Kent now scatter and dissolve the heads of the Archbishop Lord Prior and the rest are taken down from the bridge and the Idols advanced there That Baal should now be taken in an old house is an errour of the Knights Baal must take his turn but he shall have a longger runne for it That the dagger should now be given in honour of Sir William Walworth as an addition to the City armes is Fabulous this dagger is the Sword of St. Paul and was borne by the City when Tyler was living The King now rides to Westminster where he gives God thankes for his deliverance and presents his offering to the Virgin Mary in her Chappell of the Piew next he visits the Princesse mother in the Tower Royall called the Queenes Wardrobe and bids her rejoyce for sayes he this day I have recovered mine heritage the Realme of England near lost the Lords returne to their owne houses The other Countries now in combustion and upon their march to London make halt they were thunder-strucken at the disaster of the Idol they hated the fortune not the wickednesse of that monster And tarry to poure out those plagues at home if they be not checked which before they intended to carry farther off The example and successe of the Idol had moved with many but his invitation and sollicitation by the Emissaries of this confederacy and spirit more The Sâ—…ctaries or ringleaders of the hurden rustick raggamuffins in the severall Provinces of the association while Tyler was thus busied in the chiefe seat of his new Dominions promote the cause and pursue the instructions of the Prince of Divells they were all to tread his steps as we shall finde in what followes I have before spoken of the Summons of the Iâ—…ol to fetch the bordering rogues into the Line of Communication who were to serve as Auxiliaries onely to strengthen Tyler rather than to inrich themselves and likely to be casheered and cast off when he had perfected his Worke amongst these take hells were the Towns-men of Saint Albane with the Abbots servants shuffled in the throng of purpose to oversee and awe the Clownes from the new fangles of our fanâ—…ticks These as is related were sworne to the Ingagement at Heibury whence they come to London whither they are no sooner got but the Towns men separate from the servants of the Monastery and in St. Mary bow Church does their profane Conventicle consult how to make advantage of the tumult And what pretences of revolt from their Lord Abbot would seem most faire and taking Here they make not the causes of their disobedience they were hatched secretly amongst themselves they deliberate how to perfect things how to come to effects The inlarging the bounds of their common free fishing hunting in certaine places when they pleased and Hand-mills that the Baily of the Liberty shall no more meddle within the Precincts of the Towne the revocation of Charters prejudiciall to the Free-borne Burgesses cancelling the Bonds of their Fore-fathers made to Abbot Richard are the Propositions first voted One who would be wiser than the rest perswades them not to attempt things rashly and giddily without authority he tells them that Wat Tyler Protectour and Captaine Generall of the Clownes was near that the Protectour was a righter of wrongs raised and inspired by providence to redeeme the faithfull Commons from the thraldome of the wicked At the suite of the godly party sayes he Tyler has accepted the Government he is to govern the two Nations The Supreame executive Power resides in him from him sayes he and from the keepers of the liberties let us seek for remedy Let us make our addresses to him let us seeke to his Highnesse for power and Commâ—…ssion This he said as Walsingham writes supposing a greater than Tyler should not be seene in the Kingdome that Tylers greatnesse for the time to come would onely be eminent That the Lawes of the Land the most ancient English Saxon Lawes would be of no force of no validity because the most of the Lawyers were already murthered and the rest in their account not long lived the Axes edge was turned towards them He concludes let us returne home and in the puissance of Wat and our selves force the Abbot to reason If he deny our requests we will awe hm with burning and demolishing the Monastery with killing the Monkes we will threaten not to leave one stone upon another Others conceive it more safe to petition the King who might be spoken with by every man and durst refuse nothing for his Letters under the Privy Seale commanding the Abbot to restore to the Towns-men the rights and Liberties which their ancestours injoyed in the time of King Henry the first as if the English Church had beene lately indowed the Monasteries founded their Royalties Liberties Priviledges granted by the Norman Princes than which nothing could be more false The most Christian Saxon Kings of blessed memory twelve of which died Martyrs of the Faith ten shine glorious Starres in the Calender of Saints were all nursing Fathers of the Church scarcely was there one in the illustrious rolle who gave not Lands and Possessions with Exemptions and Immunities to the Church who erected not Bishopricks or Monasteries into which thirty of our crowned heads Kings or Queenes entred the superstition of the ages then ought not to blemish their Piety The Mercian King Offa his Son Ecgfryd King Ethelred King Edward are the founders and donours of St. Albanes what King Henry the first did for the Towne I cannot say nor how ample its Liberties were then this is true he confirmes the grants of the Saxon Princes to the Monastery and addes the Norman seale to strengthen the Saxon Crosses this is all but truth is not necessary in such uproares the credulity of a light headed multitude is quickly abused their duty and obedience easily corrupted without it To keepe our way Both these Counsels are approved William Greyndcob an Hinde who had eaten the breade 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 kneeles six times out of zeale to prevaile This Loâ—… too was made principall Prolocutor sayes our Monk or Speaker to the Idol before whose sordid Excellency and his unclean Councell he complaines 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 withholding the wages of poor Labourers the design was to rowzâ—… the Wolfe Tyler meant not to leave
endeavoured to repair the breaches of his entrance it would have been no small labour to have restored things to any mean and tolerable condition If Presbyter VVicklief and his Classes by their pernitious Doctrines as they are charged to this day did first pervert and corrupt the people and broach that vessell with which Father Baal and Straw poysoned them they must have ruined themselves by the change sure enough they had been no more comprehended in any of Tylers Toleration than the Prelatical or Papistical party In the turmoiles and outrages of this Tyrannie had it taken Innocence Virtue Ingenuity Honesty Faith Learning and Goodnesse had been odious and dangerous The profit and advantage of the new Usurpers had been the measure of Justice and right The noble and ignoble had dyed Streets and Scaffolds with their blood not by Laws and Judgement but out of malice to their height and worth out of fury and covetousness to inrich publicke Theeves and Murtherers The jealousies too and feares of Tyler had made all men unsafe Yet the repute the renowne of the Founders could not have been much The glory of successe cannot be greater then the honesty of the enter prise there must be Justice in the quarrell else there can be no true honour in the prosperity Cato will love the conquered Common-wealth Iugurtha's fame who is sayd to bee Illustrious for his Parricides and Rapines will not make all men fall down and worship On Munday the fifteenth of Iuly not of October as VValsingham is mis-printed The Chiefe Justice Tresilian calls before him the Jury for Inquiry who faulter and shamelâ—…sly protest they cannot make any such discovery as is desired The Chiefe Justice puts them in minde of the Kings Words to them upon the way promising pardon if they will finde out the offendors else threatning them with the punishment they should have suffered who through such silence cannot be apprehended Out they goe againe and the Chiefe Justice follows them He shewes them a Roll of the principall Offendors names tells them they must not thinke to delude and blinde the Court with this impudence and advises them out of a care to preserve wicked mens lives not to hazard their own Hereupon they Indict many of the Towne and Country which Indictments are allowed by a second Inquest appointed to bring in the Verdict and againe affiâ—…med by a third Jury of twelve charged onely for the fairenesse of the Tryall So no man was pronounced guilty but upon the finding of thirty sixe Jurors Then were the Lieutenants Greyndcob Cadingdon and Barber and twelve more Condemned Drawne and Hanged VVallingford Iohn Garleck VVilliam Berewill Thomas Putor and many more with eightie of the Countrey were Indicted by their Neighbours and Impriprisoned but forgiven by the Kings Mercie and discharged They were forgiven most by the Kings Mercie for hee had forbidden by Proclamation all men to sue or begge for them a command which the good Abbâ—… sometimes disobey and hee shall bee-well thanked for it No beneficâ—… oblige some men 〈◊〉 true rugged châ—… can never be made fast never bee tyed by any merit whatsoever Nothing can soâ—… him See an unheâ—…rd of shamelesness till then These laziâ—… tender-hearted Clowns who could hardly be got to discover the guilty now runne with full speed to betray the innocent They indict the Abbot as the principall Raiser and contriver of these Tumults which struck at his own life and the being and safetis of his Monastery The Abbot as it is said sent to Tyler upon his ordinances some of the Town and Monastery but to temporiz and secure himself This is now supposed by the very Traytors indeed Treason by Common Law and Statute against the King his naturall lâ—…ige Lord This having not the feare of God in his heartâ—… c. but being seduced by the instigation of the Devill 〈◊〉 compassing the death c. the deprivation and deposing of his Soveraign Lord from his Royal State c. 〈◊〉 such Indictments use to run this must goe for levying VVar against our Lord the King adhering to comforting and aâ—…ding his enemies by opon fact which are the words of the Statute of Treason declarative of the Common Law The Chief Justice abominating and cursing the treacherous malice and perfidiousness of these Bruits makes them tear the Indictment which themselves though urged are not wicked enough to swear to nay which publiquely they confess to bee false in the face of the Court Villeinage was not now abolished though so methink otherwise but by degrees extinguished since this reigne Besides the Letters of Revocation before restoring all things to their old course A Commission which the Abbot procured from the King out of the Chancery then kept in the Chapter-house of this Monastery makes this manifest which speaks to this effect RIchard by the grace of God King of England and of France and Lord of Ireland c. To his beloved John Lodowick Jo Westwycomb c. We command you and every of you upon sight of these presents c. That on our part forthwith ye cause to be proclaimed That all and singular the Tenants of our beloved in Christ the Abbot of S. Albane as well free as bond the Works Customes and Services which they to the foresaid Abbot ought to doe and of ancient time have been accustomed to performe without any contradiction murmur c. Doe as before they have been accustomed The disobedient are commanded to be taken and imprisoned as Rebels In the time of King Henry the seventh there were villains This I observe to make it appeare how little it is which the miserable common people without whom no famous mischiefe can be attained are gainers by any of their riots or seditions whatsoever the changes are their condition is still the same or worse if some few of them advance themselves by the spoiles of the publique shipwrack the rest are no happier for it the insolent sight offends their eyes they see the dirt of their owne ditches Lord it over them and the body of them perhaps more despised than ever Tyler who could not but have known that nothing can be so destructive to Government as the licentiousnesse of the base Commons would doubtlesse when his owne work had been done quickly have chained up the Monster he would have perched in the Kings sacred Oâ—…ke all the Forrest should have beene his Bishopricks Earledomes nay the Kingdomes had been swallowed by him instead of a just ligall power by which the Kings acted an arbitrary boundlesse unlimited power must have beene set up instead of a fatherly royall Monarchy a Tyranniâ—… after the Turkish mode a Monarchy seignioral and had he brought in upon the fall of the Christian Faith and Worship which must have followed his establishment Circumcision and the Creed of Mahoâ—…et as the spirits of men were then debased he must have been obeyed All the Kings right and more must have been his Sultan Tyler's Prerogative