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
motion tired with the mischiefes of the day drunk and asleep without Guards or Watch the Earle of Salisbury and the Nobility against whose Lives Honours and Fortunes these beasts had conspired desire the King to try all faire and gentle wayes of appeasing them which counsell he approves They were not so kind to themselves many lost their lives by the hands and swords of their companions every pettyd scontent or grudging being enough to provoke them Thirty two of them being drunk in a Cellar of the Savoy were immured there finding in the same place Death and the Grave together Some of them threw Barrels of Gunpowder which was little known then into the fire and are blown up with part of the Palace Proclamations were formerly made in Tylers name not in Strawes as Polydore wâ—uld have it Straw was this while busied elsewhere Thâ— Country about was by these Proclamations summoned to repaire to London with all speed to spoyle this Babylon The close menaces leâ—t they provoke Gods Judgments pluck them down upon their heads which themselves explain if ye faile if ye and your Officers give not obedience freely to the Protector we will send out 20000 men 20000 of our Locusts who shall burn the Towns of the children of disobedience Those of S. Albanes and Barnet whose famous deeds challenge a place in this story by themselves struck with the thunder of this edict haste to London Wals in their journey thither at Heibury a retiring house of the Lo Prior of S. John neere Istington they finde 20000. or thereabouts casting downe the firmer parts of the house which the fire could not consume Richard Jack Straw Captain of this herd calls these new comers to him and forces them to sweare to adhere to King Richard and the Commons How long this Oath will be sworne to we shall see and how much the safer the King will be for it We shall see too what is lost by this new Union of King and Commons by the new fellowship to observe the horrible irreligious hypocrisie of these Clownes who onely would be thought the Protectors of his Crown and Person They alone had decreed his ruine who sweare thus often to prevent it to guard him from it A Treason not to be believed by some then till it had taken The Commons were then divided into three Bodies this with Jack Straw the second at Mile end under the Essexian Princes Kirkby Treder Scot and Rugge the third on Tower-hill where the Idoll and Priest Baal were in chiefe This last crue grew horribly rude and haughty the Commons there were not contented to be the Kings Tasters and no more they snatch the Kings provision violently from the Purveyours he is to be starved for his own good and after Harpies or Vultures choose you whether strike high like brave birds of prey they will kill no more Flies this was the way to secure their smaller mischiefs Polydores conceit that the Archbishop and Lord Prior of S. John were sent out by the King to allay their heat is not probable Walsingham relates it thus That they demanded these two with full cryes no doubt of Justice Justice with some others Traitours by their Law a Fundamentall never to be found or heard of before to be given up to them by the King with all the earnestnesse and violence imaginable They give him his choice bid him consider of it they will either have the blood of these their Traitours or his Wals alias scirâ—… semetipsum vita privaÌ„dum they making all those Delinquents who attended on him or executed his lawfull commands whom say they The King with an high and forcible hand protects will not be appeased unlesse they be delivered up conjuring him to be wise in time and dismisse his extraordinary guards his Cavaliers and others of that quality who seem to have little interest or affection to the publike good Whether the Tower doores flew open at this fright or the Man-wolfes crowded in at the Kings going out to appease the party at Mile-end as Sir John Froissart tells it Wat the Idol with Priest Baal are now masters of the Tower into which on Friday the 16 of June they entred not many more than 400 of their company guarding them where then were commanded six hundred of the Kings men of Armes and six hundred Archers a Guard not so extraordinary as was necessary then all so faint-hearted so unmanned at the apparition at the sight of these Goblins they stood like the stones of Medusa remembred not themselves their honour nor what they had been The Clownes the most abject of them singly with their Clubs or Cudgels in their hands venture into all the rooms into the Kings Bed-chamber which perhaps had been his Scaffold had he been there sit lie and tumble upon his Bed they presse into his Mothers Chamber where some of the merry wanton Devills offer to kisse her others gâ—ve her blowes break her head She swownes and is carryed privately to the Wardrobe by her servants Some revile and threaten the noblest Knights of the Houshold some stroke their beards with their uncleane hands which beyond the Romane patience in the same rudenesse from the Gauls is indured and this to claw and sweeten they meant it so they glose with smooth words and bespeak a lasting friendship for the time to come they must maintain the injuries done to themselves must not disturbe the usurpers of their Estates and Rights must not shew any sense of generosity of faith of honour it concerned Tyler that they should be the veryest fools and cowards breathing if they stir make any Claimes they shall be reputed seditious turbulent and breakers of the publick otherwise and plainly Tylers peace It was never heard sayes the Emperour Charles in Sleidan that it should be lawfull to despoile any man of his estates and rights and unlawfull to restore him Our Tyler and his Anabaptists thought otherwise As Walsingham they went in and out like Lords who were varlets of the lowest rank and those who were not Cowherds to Knights but to Bores value themselves beyond Kights Here was a hotchpotch of the rabble a mechanick sordid state composed as those under Kettes Oke of Reformation after Of Countrey gnooffes Hob Dick and Hick with Clubs and clouted shoon Nevilli kettus A medley or huddle of Botchers Coblers Tinkers Draymen of Apron men and Plough-joggers domineering in the Kings Palace and rooting up the plants and wholsome flowers of his Kingdome in it This place was now a vile and nasty sty no more a Kings Palace who will value a stately pile of building of honourable title or Ant que memory since Constantine when it is infected with the plague haunted by Goblins or possessed by Theeves The knights of the Court were but knights of the Carpet or Hangings No man seemed discontented all was husht and still White hall was then a Bishops Palace the Tower was to be prepared for Tylers
not be observed faire Law is handsome but it is not to be given to Wolves and Tygers Tyler was a traytour a common enemy and against such sayes a Father long agone evâ—ry man is a Souldier whosoevâ—… struck too struch as much in his owne defence in his owne preservation as the Kings and the safety of the King and People made this course necessary besides Tylers crimes were publick and notorious The generous Lord Major obeyes the sentence which was given by the same power by which the Judges of Courts sate and acted when Justice flowed down from the fountaine in the ordinary channell and which the damme head being thus troubled by this Wolfe could slow no otherwise which was authority sufficient by this power Richards Captaines must fight when he has them and kill those whom the Courts of Justice cannot deal with Tyler faints and shrinkes to what he had beene he was as cowardly as cruell and could not seem a man in any thing but that he was a theef and a rebell he askes the brave Major in what he was offended by him This was a strange question to an honest man he finds it so The Major sayes Froissart calls him false stinking knave and tells him he shall not speake such words in the presence of his naturall Lord the King The Major answers in full upon the accursed Sacrilegious Head of the Idol with his Sword He struck heartily and like a faithfull zealous subject Dagon of the Clownes sinkes at his feete The Kings followers inviron him round John Standish an Esquire of the Court alights and runs him into the belly which thrust sent him into another World to accompany him who taught Rebellion and murder first Event was then no signe of a good cause All History now brands him for a Traitour which by some will be attributed to his miscarriage without doubt had he prospered in the Worke he had had all the honours which goe along with prosperity Ut reus fit vincendus est The King had beene the wrong doer and his afflictions if nothing in so much youth could have beene found out had beene crimes we must overpower those whom we would make guilty Henry the great of France under the Popes interdict is told by a Gentleman Sir if we be overcome we shall dye condemned hereticks if your Majesty conquer the censures shall be revoked they will fall of themselves He who reads the mischiefes of his usurpation will thinke he perished too late Now I come to an Act of Richards the most glorious of his History which the Annals past can no where parallel here his infancy excells his after man-hood Here and in the gallantry of his death he appeares a full Prince and perhaps vies with all the bayes of his usurpers triumphs Alexander the Monarch of the world Not more wondered at for his victories then for that suppressing the Sedition of his Macedons in Asia tired and unable to march whither his ambition carried him on wings leaps from his Throne of State into the Battels of his Phalanges enraged Seises thirteene of the chiefe malecontents and delivers them to the custody of his Guards Curtius knowes not what he should impute this amazement of the Seditious to every man returning upon it to his old duty and obedience and ready to yeild himselfe up into the same hands it might be sayes he Lib. The veneration of the Majesty of Kings which the Nations submitted under worship equally with the Gods or of himselfe which laid the tempest That confidence too of the Duke Alessandro of Parma in a mutiny of the German Reiters at Namures is memorable who made his way with his Sword alone through the points of all their Lances into the middest of their Troops and brought thence by the coller one of the Mutineers whom he commanded to be hang'd to the terrour of the rest The youth of Richard begat rather contempt than reverence of which too these Clownes breasts were never very full When the fall of the Idol was known to the rout they put themselves into a posture of defence thunder out nothing but vengeance to the King and his whom they now arraign of Murder and Tyranny He is guilty of Innocent bloud a Tyrant a Traitour an Homicide the publique Enemy of the Common wealth Richard Plantaginet is indicted in the name of the people of England of treason and other heynous crimes He is now become lesse than Tylers Ghost a Traitour to the Free-borne people His treason was he would not destroy himselfe he would not open his body to Tylars full blow Walsingh Capitaneus noster They roare out our Captaine Generall is slaine treacherously let us stand to it and revenge his pâ—ecious bloud or die with him I cannot passe this place without some little wonder had these Ruffians with whom Kings hedged about by holy Scripture and Lawes humane are neither divine nor sacred beene asked whether Tyler the Idol of their own clay and hands might have been tryed touched or struck according to their resenting this blow here let his tyrannies his exorbitances have beene what they would they would have answer'd no doubt in the negative Though Richard might have been struck thorough and thorough Tyler who had usurped his power must have been sacred it must have been treason to touch him Phocas must not be hurt in Tylers case Straw would allow the old texts againe The powers were to be obeyed Their bowes were drawne when the King gallops up to them alone and riding round the throng asks them What madnesse it was that armed them thus against their own peace and his life whether they would have no end of things or demands He tells them if Lâ—berty be their onely aim as hitherto they have pretended they may assure themselves of it and that it is an extreme folly to seek to make that our owne with the breach of Faith of Lawes with impieties violating God and Man which we may come by fairely But they trod not the path to Liberty That where every man commands no man can be free the Liberty too they fancy cannot be had the world cannot subsist without Order and Subjection men cannot be freed from Lawes If they were there could be no society no civility any where Men must be shunned as much as Wolves or Beares rapine and bloud-shed would over-run the world the spoyler must feare the next comer like savage beasts who hurt others and know not it is ill to hurt them men would devour men the stronger Thiefe would swallow up the rest no Relations would be sacred where every man has the power of the Sword the aged fire could there be any such must defend his silver haires from the unnaturall violence of his own Sons He addes if there can be any just cause of Sedition yet is the Sedition unjust which outlasts it which continues when the cause is yeilded to and taken away that if his Prerogative has beene
his good will was â—uffiâ—…t â—…d that as to what belonged to the Royal Dâ—gnity they should satisfie thâ— King After Vespers the King made his entry into the Town being met by the Abbot and Covert the Bâ—…s rang aloud and the Monks sang merrily his welcome He was followed by some thousands of Bowmen and Cavaliers In this train was Sir Robert Tresilian Chief Justice of the Kings Bench who the next day being Saturday the 13. of July and first of the Dog-dayes sate in judgement at thâ— Mooâ—-hall saies Walsingham at the Town-house Greyndcob Cadindon and John the Barber are fetched from Hartford and laid fast till Munday against which time new Jury-men are chosen and charged to be ready with their Verdicts Prophet Baal the Sergius of the new Alcaran the Priest of the Idol and his Calves the Martin of the yoak oâ— pure discipline of the Eldership was taken by the Townsmen of Coventry brought to St. Albanes the day before and this Saturday condemned by the Chief Justice to be Drawn Hanged Beheaded Imbowelled and Quartered which was done on the Munday following He confessed to the Bishop of London to whose Christian Piety he ought the two last dayes of his life which were begged for his repentance that certaine hot and powerfull Pastours of the Separation Brethren of simple hearts called by the Spirit he named six or seven had covenanted and engaged to compass England and Wales round as Itinerant Apostles to propagate the Gospel beat down all abomination of the outward Man Antichristian Hierarthy and Tyranny of the Nimrods of the Earth to cry up the great and holy Cause and to spread the Law Principles and Heresies of Baal which Disciples saies this Rabbi unlesse they be prevented and taken off wil destroy the Realm in two years Hee might have said two moneths and been believed as to the Civility Humanity Order and Honour never intermitted but in the confusion of a barbarous impious age which made England glorious they had been destroyed and torn up in a less time A few licentious ill Acts easily beget a custom and an hundred ill customes quicklier grow and prevaile than one single good one there is a proneness in unruly man to run into deboshments and no wonder that the arrogant misled silly multitude capable of any ill impressions should deprave and disorder things where all ties of restraint are loosened nay where disorders are not onely defended by the corrupt wits of hirelings but bidden strengthened by a Law and Villainies made legal Acts. Had the Idol King Tyler with his Council not gone on too far in the way of extermination but 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 enterprise there must be Justice in the quarrell else there can be no true honour in the prosperity Cato will love the conquered Common-wealth Jugurtha'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 fiâ—teenth of July not of October as VValsingham is mis-printed The Chiefe Justice Tresilian calls before him the Jury for Inquiry who faulter and shamelesly 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 princlpall 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 affirmed 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 John 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 Abbot sometimes disobeyed and hee shall bee well thanked for it No benefits can oblige some men A true rugged churle can never be made fast never bee tyed by any merit whatsoever Nothing can soften him See an unheard of shamelesness till then These lazie 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 safetie 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 leige Lord. This having not the feare of God in his heart c. but being seduced by the instigation of the Devill is compassing the death c. the deprivation and deposing of his Soveraign Lord from his Royal State c. as such Indictments use to run this must goe for levying VVar against our Lord the King adhering to comforting and aiding his enemies by open fact 25 Edw. 3. 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 thâ—se Bruits makes them tear the Indictment
THE REBELLION Of the Rude Multitude UNDER WAT TYLER And his PRIESTS BAAL and STRAW In the Dayes of King RICHARD the II d Anno 1381. Parallel'd with the late Rebellion in 1640 AGAINST King CHARLES I. Of ever Blessed Memory By a Lover of his King and Countrey London Printed and Sold by J. R. and in Westminster-Hall and at the New Exchange Fleeâ—street and St. Pauls Church-Yard John of Lydgate lib. 4. ANd semblably to put it at a prefe And execute it by clere experience One the most contrarioâ—s mischiefe Found in this earth by notable evidence Is onely this by Fortunate violence When that wretches churlish of nature The estate of Princes unwarely doth recure A Crown of Gold is nothing according For to be set upon a knaves heed A Foltish clerk for to weare a Ring Accordeth nat who that can take hede And in this world there is no greater drede Then power give if it be well sought Vnto such one that first rose up of nought There is no manner just convenience A royall Carbuncle Ruby or Garnet Nor a chast Emeraud of vâ—rtues exâ—…ence Nor Inde Saphirs in Copper to be set Their Kind'ly power in foule metal is let And so the State of politike puysance Is ever lost where knaves have Governance For a time they may well up ascend Like windy smokes their fumes sprede A crowned asse plainly to comprehend Voyde of discretion is more for to drede Then is a Lyon for that one indede Of his nature is mighty and royall Voyde of discretion that other beastiall The gentle nature of a strong Lyon To prostrate people of kynde is merciable For unto all that fail afore him doun His tryall puisaunce cannot be vengeable But churlish Wolves by rigour untreatable And follyshe asses eke of beastialty Fayâ—ing reason brayde ever on cruelty None is so proude as he that can no good The lâ—…er heed the more presumption Most cruelte and vengeance in loâ—…e blode VVith malapertnesse and indiscretion Of Câ—…urle and Gentle make this division Of outhâ—… of theâ—… I dare right well report Frothens thei came thereto the wyâ— reâ—orte To the Reader THe beginnings of the Second Richard's reign are turmoiled with a Rebellion which shoke his Throne and Empire A Rebellion not more against Religion and Order than Nature and Humanity too A Rebellion never to be believed but in the Age it was acted in and our owne in which we finde how terrible the overflowes of the common people ever delighted in the calamities of others untyed and hurryed on by their own wills and beastly fury must prove though Masanello is short of Tyler yet if we compare that Fisherman with our Hinde the Neapolitan Mechanicks and our Clownes we shall not finde them much unlike not in their sudden flourish and prosperity not in the mischiefs they did and the barbarous savage rudenesse in the doing them Masanello made a shew of foolish unseasonable Piety to the Prince and Archbishop which became not his part which made him the more imperfect Rebell the worse Polititian however he might seem the betteâ— man but these too might be but counterfeit reverences this might be his disguise and he might have come up to more according to the new lights which we may imagine were breaking in The continuance and misrule of these Worthies were much of a length in a few dayes the brands themselves had fired broke upon their own heads they were pluck'd up before their full growth like airy flitting clouds they were blown over ere they could pour down the storm they were big with The colours of these tumults were fair and taking such as their Architects Baal and Straw the Priests had layd such as the Masters of these Schooles have delivered in all ages The Weal publick the liberty of the free-born people pilled and flâ—yed by the Kings taxes and the cruell oppression of the Gentry Justice Reformation or Regulation of Fundamentall Laws long subverted considerable names if we may believe them set them on The King his Glory his Honour his Safety The King and the Commons are cryed up But the King was compassed with Traitours and Malignants they will have it so and it is their care to remove them root and branch they will fire the house to cleanse it much other businesse they had much was amisse much to be reformed but in the first salley all is not noysed what was not handsome what might give a fuller fright was lapped up in folds to be discovered as they had thriven to be swallowed but gilded with a Victory We know crimes carried in a happy streame of luck lose their names in it are beautifull and must be thought so The Ordale of the Sword justified Caesar and condemned Pompey not his cause Adversae res etiam bonos detractant sayes Salust Good men if they miscarry doe not onely lose themselves but their integrity their justnesse their honesty they are what the Conquerour pleases and the silly multitude which ever admires the glitter of prosperity will hate them Providence preserved the English Nation from this blow The Lawrel of success crowned not the Rebels they crumble to their first dust again are ruined by their own weight and confusion They had risen like those Sons of the Dragons teeth in tempests without policy or advice Their leaders were meerly fantastical but goblins and shadows men willing to embroyl and daring whose courage was better then their cause and who to advance the design would not boggle at a peece of Honesty an Oath a Protestation or Covenant a Verse of St. Paul or St. Peter a Case of Conscience in the way of brave bold manly spirits yet without heads or wits to manage the great work which in so vast a body suddainly composed like the spawns of Nile of slime and dirt of so different parts so unequall members was fatall to the whole Tyler had no brains he could not plot not contrive and those about him were as heavy as very Asses as himself He is said to be a crafty fellow and of an excellent wit but wanting grace yet crafty enough he was not for the great and dangerous enterprise a Marius however impious for such he must be pace pessimus fitter to remove things to overturn overturns than for peace but as Plutarch of him subtill faithlesse one who could overdo all men in dissembling in hypocrisie practised in all the arts rf lying and some of these good sleights Tyler wanted not one who had sense and judgement to carry things on as well as desperate confidence â—…o undertake had become this part incomparably had gone through with it how easily under such a Captain if we look upon the weaknesse of the opposition and the villainous baseness of the Gentry had the frame of the ancient building been rased the Modell must have held Richard whose endeavours of defence or loyalty alone should have been killing had not fallen by the sword of Lancaster he had found his
He fancied if those who were learned in the Law were knocked ith'head all things would be ordered by the common people either there would be no law or that which was should be declared by him and his subject to their will with which his expression the day before did well agree Then attributing all things to God the God of Warre and his conquering Armes and striking his Sword which shewed the present power on London-stone The Cyclops or Centaur of Kent spake these words Walsingh From this day or within four dayes all Law or all the Lawes of Engl. as others shall fall from Wat Tylers mouth The Kings indeed had bound themselves and were bound by the Lawes They were named in them Tyler was more than a King he was an Emperour he was above the Lawes nor was it fit the old overworn Magna Charta should hold him The supreme Authority and legislative power no one knowes how derived were to be and reside in him according to the new establishment Tyler like Homers Mars 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 was a whirlewinde he was * Potius gladiator quam senator Egnatius in Paterculus rather a Fencer a Swash buckler than a Senatour his right Arme his brutâ—sh force not Justice not reason must sway all things Tyler will not rule in fetters his will his violence shall be câ—…d Law and grievous slavery under that will falsly peace Had those whom no government never so sweet and gracious will please unlesse the Supreame power be given the people seen the confusions and dangers the câ—uelty and tyranny of these few dayes they would quickly have changed this opinion The Knight performes his Embassy he urges the Idol with great earnestness to see the King and speedily He answers if thou beâ—…t so much for hast get thee back to the King thy Master I will come when I list yet he followes the Knight on Horse back but slowly In the way he is met by a Citâ—zen who had brought sixty doublets for the Commons upon the Publique Faith This Citizen askes him for his mony he promises payment before night presses on so near the King that his horse touched the croupe of the Kings horse Froissart reports his discourse to the King Sir King sayes the Idol seest thou yonder people The King answers yes and askes him what he meanes by the question He replyes they are all at my command have sworne to mâ— Faith and Truth to doe what I will have them He and they had broke their Faith and truth to their Prince and he thinkes these men will be true to him Here though it be a digression too much I cannot omit a passage of the late Civill Warres of France D'Avila begun and continued by thâ— Jesuited party to exâ—irpate the royall Family there Villers Governour of Roüen for the holy League tells the Duke of Mayen Captaine Generall of the Rebellion That he would not obey him they were both companions and spoilers of the State together The King being levelled all men else ought to be equall The Idoll as he that demanded so the Knight nothing buâ— Riot continues his discourse thus Believeâ—t thou King that these people will depart without thy Letters The King tells him He means fairly that he will make good his word his Letters are neare finished and they shall have them But the glory of the Idoll which was merely the benefit of fortune begâ—n to fade his principaliâ—y was toâ— cruell too violent to be lasting Vengeance here hovered over his head and he who had been the destruction of multitudes hastens nay precipitates his own fate and ruins himself by his own fury he puts himself into the Kings power who should in his first towring had he been wisely wicked like a Vulture of the Game have flown at his throat * In magnis principium injuriis non incipitur ut desistatur The judicious politâ—que will not begin to give over However will never venture himself in the Princes hands whom he has justly offended by treasons against his government †Grand foâ—…e Com. Charles of Burgundy confesses this to be a great folly his Grandfather Philip lost his life at Montereau upon the Yonne by it and our Idoll shall not escape better Sir John Newton the Knight imployed to fetch him delivered his message on horseback which is now remembred and taken for an high neglect besides it seemeth the carriage and words of the Knight were not very pleasing Every trifle in omission was treason to the Idols person and new state He railes foulely drawes his Dagger and bellowing out Traitor menaces to strike the Knight who returnes him in exchange the lie and not to be behinde in blowes drawes his This the Idol takes for an intolerable affront but the King fearfull of his servant coole and asswages the heat he commands the Knight to dismount and offer up his Dagger to the Idol which though unwillingly was done This would not take off his edge The Prince who yeilds once to a Rebell shall finde heaps of requests and must deny nothing The King had given away his Knights Dagger now nothing will content Tyler but the Kings Sword with which the Militia oâ— power of Armes impliedly was sought This he askes then againe rushes upon the Knight vowing never to eat till he have his Head When the Nobility and Gentry of the Kingdome whom neither necessity nor misery could animate lie downe trampled on by these Villaines without Soule or motion In comes the Major of London Sir William Walworth the everlasting honour of the Nation a man who over did ages of the Roman Scaevolae or Curtii in an hours action snatches the King Kingdome out of these flames He tells the King it would be a shame to all posterity to suffer more insolencies from this Hangman this lump of bloud This the rest of the Courtiers now wakened by their owne danger For he who destroyes one man contrary to Law or Justice gives all men else reason to feare themselves and take heed are echoes to This puts daring into the young King he resolves to hazard all upon this chance This way he could not but die kingly at least like a Gentleman with the Sword which God of whose great Majesty he was a beam gave him in his hand The onely way left to avoid a shamefull dâ—ath was to run the danger of a brave one and a wise coward I will not say an honourable one considering the incertainty of things under that Iron socage Tenure would think so The King commands the Major to arrest the Butcher This was charge enough and rightly understood indeed there was then no time for forme nor tryall the suspension of the Courts was Tylers act his crime and he ougâ—t not to look for any advantage from it Grot Jur. Bâ—… vâ—l 1. c. 4. an Historian sayes the Duke of Guyse's power was so much that the ordinary formes of Justice could
sometimes grievous his taxes heavy and any of those they call evill Counsellours faulty they ought to remember in their first risings and all along in all their Oathes and Covenants they swore continually not to invade the Monarchy nor touch the Rights of his free Crowne You ought to remember your own Remonstrances you once declared that you acknowledged the Maxime of the Law The King can doe no wrong If any ill be committed in matters of State the Councellors if in matters of Law the Judges must answer for it My person was not to be violated He expect they should deale with him as the honest Husbandman does in overflowes of Waters who cleares and draines his ground repaires the bankes but does not usurp upon the streame does not inhance within the Channell And farther that quarrels to his Government and Lawes are unreasonable from those who out of ambition arme to overthrow both that reformation is not the worke of Sedition which ever disorders what is well setled He conjures them to forsake these suries who sayes he abuse their lightness meerely for their owne ends whose companions or masters they were lately now are they but their Gaurds and that if they refuse a suâ—jâ—ction according to all Lawes Divine and humane to his Scâ—pter they must become slaves and tributanes to their Iron to the Flailes and Pitchforkes of some Mushrome 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 Non est diuturnâ—… possessio in quam gladio inducimur Curt. 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 〈◊〉 â—ubmission 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 â—ousâ—s 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 slip 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 Wals Froiss 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 Aldermen come in with their Levies and march to the King in sight of the Rebels There the King Knights the brave Wil Walworth John Standish one of his Esquires Nicholas Brembre John Philpot a most generous Citizen famous for his faithfull service to his Prince in the times succeeding and others The Nobility 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 Person 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—bâ—ls called to account and their acts of bloud rapine and buâ—ning 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 shâ—wes 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 lâ—… 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 tumultuous 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 Meynie 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 examples of some such malicious 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 extorted 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
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
least signes The same frâ—…siâ—s are againe acted by other Lunaticks the Lawyers or Apprentices of the Law as the Monke and their houses are the first objâ—ctâ— of their spight they doe not onely cut off them but fire their nests Lâ—… John Cavendish chiefe Justice of the Kings Bâ—nch who had beene one of the most able Serjeants of this Kings Grand-fathers Reigne and was made chiefe Justice by him they intercept and behead Orpheus Traâ—ie Nero the Romane Bâ—lgabred the Brittaine excellent in the sweetnesse of a voyce and skill of Song with John of Cambridge Prior of Saint Edmunds lose their lives in the same manner as they unluckily fell in to their hands The cause of the Priors death is made this He was discreet and managed the affaires of his Monastery faithfully and diligently he was taken neare Mildenhall a Towne then belonging to Saint Edmund of the demaine of the Abby the Vassalls Hindes Villeins and bond-men of the house sentenced him murthered him by Vote His body lay five dayes naked in the field unburied In Saint Edmunds-bury these cut-throats compasse the Priors head round as in a procession after they carry it upon a Lance to the pillory where that and the chiefe Justices head are advanced Their next worke was the levelling a new house of the Priours After they enter the Monastery which they threaten to fire unlesse John Lakinhethe Gardian of the temporalities of the Barony in the vacancy then were delivered to them which the Towns-men mingled in the throng put them upon the Gardian stood amidst the croud unknown This man out of piety to preserve the Monastery it was piety then though it may be thought impiety now discovers himselfe he tells them he is the man they seeke and askes what it is the Commons would have with him They call him traitor it was capitall to be called so not to be so drag him to the Market-place and cut off his head which is set upon the Pillory to 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 menin 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 confirme 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 John Brivole and therefore the Jewels of the house are pawned to the Townsmen as a gage that Edmund of Brumfield whom they would suppose Abbot and whom they intended to set free should Seale 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 Idols 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 University 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 3000l not to molest the Burgesses by suits 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 seizâ—d 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 begetting it must have had nothing else but the name it would have beene as destroying as the field Norfolkâ— the Mother of the Kets would not loyter this while nor sit lazily and sluggishly looking on John 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 he makes presidents of his owne and tramples not like a dull beast the road 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 sailes else for his presumption he far out-goes Litster Litster the Norfolke Devil begins with plunder and rapine the onely way to flesh 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 Vfford Earle of Suffolke at his Mannor oâ— Vfford 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 Pâ—ere The Earle warned of their intention rises from Supper and disguised as a Groom * Garcion 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 John Brews Sir Stephane of Hales and Sir Robert of Salle 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 layes 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 bâ— what it would he would not forsake Justice
drawn hanged and beheaded which was done Others of the chiefe Conspirators dispersed over the Country are searched out and executed The Monke here tells us Nisi enim daemoniis pleni fuissent nequaquam in destruct sacr Eccles Chr. fidei regni exterminiuÌ„ conspirass It was apparent by the workes of these Demoniacks by their fruits that they had conspired he speakes of the whole not onely the destruction of the Church and Monarchy but of the Christian faith too Schoolemasters were sworne by them never to teach Grammer more and whosoever was taken with an Inkhorne about him never saved his head Our Monke attributes these calamities to the remisnesse of the Bâ—shops to the conceits and fangles of Presbyter Wycliffe which if they be truly registred by the Monkes his mortall enemies were pestilentiall and damnable Indeed Presbyter Wycliffe was then living but is not named in these commotions as one busie in them by the Monke though busie he might be we shall finde Sir John Old-castle Lord Cobham and others of Wycliffes disciples rebells and traitours too too busie in Henry the fifts beginning Baal and Straw and Wraw were Priests of the Idol and his Lieutenants and might serve the turne to imbroyle without fetching more aide in He attributes too these mischiefes to the licentious invectives of the Clownes against their Lords generally to the sins of the Nation inclusively taking in the Orders of Mendicants or Begging Fryars like factious Lecturers who had nothing of their owne and were obliged to flatter the people and make themselves popular who sayes he forgetfull of their profession and vowes greedy and covetous of mony foster the people in their errors call good evill and evill good seducing the great men with fawning and the rabble with lyes So that in those dayes thus he proceeds the Argument held in every mans mouth This is a Fryar therefore a Lyar as strong as this This is white therfore coloured Here againe is Walsingham at a stand he complaines That it is impossible to relate the villanies of the Rustick Devils done in all parts We will now return to see what the King does next who was not asleep this while After he had cleared the City lately Tylers good Town of the Kentish frie he commands the Nobility and Gentry who durst now peep abroad all the Kingdome over to repair to him at London well armed and well horsed as they loved him and his royall honour Their owne danger and late feares adde wings to their haste Within a few dayes forty thousand Horse meet at a Rendezvouz upon Black-heath whither the young King who had taken his Sequestration off and restored himselfe to his Blood and Majesty rides daily upon a Royall Courser to view their Order with his Imperiall Banner born before him He delighted to be seen and acknowledged for what he was amongst his own Homagers Here he is informed that the Kentishmen a stirring people but with what generous resolution will soone be found are again in mutinie a mutinie however else contemptible not to be sleighted at that time The King commands his Cavalrie on fire as much as himselfe to march and root out this perfidious race of miscreants Here the Nobility and Gentry of the Country interpose and become pledges for the Commons which appeases the King who now disbands his Army and resolves to take no other course of Justice but such as was ordinary and usuall by Judgements upon the known Lawes of the Land and by Juries of twelve men the ancient Birth-right of the Englishmen Lawes which could not have fitted Tylers Courts nor Tryals but which have beene ever the rule in all just and legall Tryalls in all calme and pious Ages The Law Martiall being proper to an Army marching to be exercised in it If otherwise all Sentences by colour of it Earle of Straf case are against the Magna Charta c. and to the manifest subversion of the priviledges of Subjects Upon this faire and Kâ—…gly conclusion of Richard Commissions were given and Justices of Oyer and Terminer to heare and determine the Treasons and Felonies committed in the late Insurrections and principally to inquire who were the chief authors fomenters and incendiaries of the broyles are sent into Kent Essex and the rest of the Provinces in Rebellion The most honourable Mayor of London with others in Commission with him sate upon those of Kent Essex Norfolke and Suffolke c. who were apprehended in London Straw taken in an old rotten house about London Kirkby Treder Sterling are condemned and beheaded Strawes head being set upon London bridge with Tylers but Jack Straw who was privy to all the contrivances and plots of the confederacy could give light into the mid-night darknesse of Tylers steps through all the close windings of his labyrinths of Treasons is urged the Major promising with some honest Citizens to be at the charge of Masses for his soule the good of which they desire him to consider to declare his full knowledge of the Counsells and votes passed and to what end they had conjured up the wicked spirits of those Garboyles John was obstinate at the fiâ—st and would confesse nothing but gained by these promises and a little penitent which was much to be believed of one possessed with Legions he tells them because I have hopes of help from your suffrages after my death and because this discovery may be advantageous to the Common-wealth I will confesse truly to you what we intended when we met at Black-heath and sent for the King by our Captaine Generalls Order we purposed to have massacred all the Nobility and Gentry with him then to have lead the King with us respected and treated Kingly from place to place to baite the vulgar by the authority of his presence into our League whom they might so have taken for the head of our Commotion he being by these meanes likely to have beene supposed by his owne party too to have trusted us when by the confluence of all the Counties our companies had been full and the supreame Executive power wholy ours we meant to have purged the Nation to have destroyed the Gentry and first the Knights of Saint Johns of Jerusalem with all the ragges of royalty which by this time had been but a ragge it selfe Afterwards to have killed the King whose Name could then have been of no use to us Their Oath to preserve him could not last longer then their conveniency and opinions which had then changed We meant so once but we meane otherwise now had beene a satisfactory excuse They had often sworne and Covenanted that they neither meant nor had power to hurt the Kings Prerogative that they intended to maintaine the Kings authority in his royall dignity the free course of Justice and the Lawes of the Land with infinite expressions and protestations of this kind They might answer The time was when all this was reall when they would not have subverted the government
against the Emperour Hen. the IIII. is called by the Germanes a Tyranne upon this score A full Tyrannie sayes one of our Chiefe Justices speaking of the Papall power in Church causes here has two parts without right to usurp and inordinately to rule and the Statute 28 of King Henry the 8. against the Papall Authority calls it an usurped Tyranny and the exercise of it a Robbery and spoyling of the King and his people The Statute 31 Henry 6. adjudging John Cade another Impe of Hell and successour of Wat to be a traitour which are the words of the title and all his Indictments and Acts to be voide speakes thus The most abominable Tyrannie horrible odious and arrant false Traytour John Cade naming himselfe sometime Mortimer he and Tyler had two Names taking upon him Royall power c. by false subtile and imagined language c. Robbing Stealing and spoyling c. And that all his Tyranny Acts Feats and false opinions shall be voyded and that all things depending thereof c. under the power of Tyranny shall be likewise voide c. and that all Indictments in times comming in like case under power of Tyranny Rebellion c. shall be voide in Law and that all Petitions delivered to the King in his last Parliament c. against his minde by him not agreed shall be put in oblivion c. as against God and conscience c. To proceed The King because all thâ—se risings were by the Ring leaders protested to be made for him and his Rights and that the forces then raised were raised by his Authority and all their actions owned by him issues out a Proclamation from London to this effect RIchard c. To all and singular Sheriffes Majors Bayliffs c. of our County of N. c. Because we are given to understand That divers of our Subjects who against our Peace c. have raised and in diverse Conventicles and Assemblies c. Do affirme That they the said Assemblies and Levies have made and doe make by Our will and Authority c. We make knowne to all men That such Levies Assemblies and Mischiefes from Our Will and Authority have not proceeded He addes they were begun and continued much to His displeasure and disgrace to the prejudice of His Crowne and dammage of the Realm Wherefore he injoynes and commands c. To take the best care for the keeping of his Peace opposing of all such Levies with a strong hand Farther He commands every man to leave such Assemblies and return home to his own house under penalty of forfeiture of Life and Member and all things forfeitable to the King c. These Clowns charge not the King to be transported Furiously and Hostilely to the destruction of the whole people which can never happen where the King is in his wits But what is fully as mad they will suppose him to Arme against his own life and power against his own peace and the peace of all that love him This Proclamation put life into the Royalists into all honest hearts and dismayes as much the Rebels yet after this the Essex Traitors gather again at Byllericay near Hatfield Peverell and send to the King now at Waltham to know whether he intends to make good his Grants of Liberties and require to be made equal with their Lords without being bound to any Suits of Court view of Frank pledge only excepted twice the year The King and his Counsell are startled at this impudence The King answers the Agents Wals That if he did not look upon them as Messengers he would hang them up Return sayes he to your fellow Rebels and tell them Clowns they were and are and shall continue in their Bondage not as hitherto but far more basely trampled on While we live and rule this Kingdom by Gods Will we will imploy all our Means and Power to keep you under So that your misery shall frighten all villeins hereafter And your posterity shall curse your memory At the heels of the Messengers the King sends his Unkle Thomas of Woodstock Earl of Buckingham and Sir Thomas Piercy with a body of Horse to quell them The Rebels weâ—… intrenched according to the manner of Litsters Camp in the midst of Woods Tâ—n Lances of the Avant Currours rout them the Lords when they were come up inclose the Woods round five hundred are killed eight hundred Horses for carriage taken the broken remainders of the defeat escape to Colchester Wals a Town ever honest and faithfull to the Prince where the loyal Townsmen would not be gotten to stir they sollicite the Townsmen saies the Monk with much intreaty great threats and many arguments neither intreaties nor threats nor arguments would move them From thence they get to Sudbury making every where such Proclamations as of old they had used where the Lord Fitzwalser whose seat was at Woodham Walters in Essex and Sir John Harlestone rush suddenly upon them kill and take them The King meaning to visite Essex in his own person comes to Havering at the boure a Mannour of his own demain of the sacred Patrimony and from thence to Chelmsford where he appoints Sir Robert Tresilian chief Justice of his Bench of Pleas of the Crown to sit and inquire of the Malefactours and Troublers of the Country and to punish the offendours according to the customs of the Realm known and visible Five hundred of these wretched peasants Wals who had no mercy for others heretofore cast themselves down before the King bare footed and with heads uncovered implore his pardon which he grants them on condition They discover the great Conspiratours the Captain Rogues The Jurors are charged by the chief Justices to carry themselves indifferently and justly in their Verdicts neither swayed by love or hatred to favour or prosecute any man Many upon the Evidence given in and the finding of the Jury were condemned to be drawn and hanged nineteen of them were trussed upon one Gallowes Heading had formerly been the execution of others in Essex Kent and London because of the numbers of the guilty which was now thought a death short of the demerits of the most foul and heynous offenders Wherefore according to the custom of the Realm It was decreed sayes the Monk that the Captains should be hanged The like was done in other Countries by the Justices in Commission where the King was in person Here the King with the advice of his Counsell revokes his Letters Patents the Charters granted to the Clowns Although so he speaks we have have in the late detestable troubles c. manumised all the Commons our Liege Subjects of our Shires and them c. have freed from all bondage and service c. And also have pardoned the same our Liege men and Subjects all Insurrections by Riding Going c. And also all manner of Treasons Felonies Trespasses and Extortions c. Notwithstanding for that the said Charters were without mature deliberation
and unduly procured c. To the prejudice of us and our Crown of the Prelates and great men of our Realm as also to the disherison of holy English Church and to the hurt and damage of the Common wealth the said Letters we revoke make void and annull c. Yet our intention is such Grace upon every of our said Subjects to confer though enormiously their Allegeance they have forfeited c. As shall be usefull to us and our Realm The close commands to bring in to the King and his Councell all Charters of manumission and pardon to be cancelled upon their faith and allegeance and under forfeiture of all things forfeitable c. Witnesse our selfe at Chelmsford the 2. of July and 5. year of our reign False for the 4. In the case of a Subject and no reason Kings shall be more bound every Act extorted by violence and awe upon the Agent is voyd In the time of Edward the third two Thieves which was the case here force a Traveller to swear that hee will at a day appoiâ—…d bring them a thousand pound and threaten to kill him if he refuse their oath He swears and performs what he had sworn 44 E. 3. 14. by advice of all the Justices these two were Indicted of Robbery and the Court maintaines that the party was not bound by this Oath Yet if this be denyed as unsafe Violence or Force which strikes a just fear into any man makes any Contract voyd say the Casuists Bishop Andrewes Resp ad Apolog. that most learned Prelate answers to the pretended resignation of King John urged by Bellarmine that what this King did if any such act was done was done by force and out of feare Widdrington Admonit disp de jur fid l. 1. the most loyall of all Roman-Catholick Priests who writ much against the Gun-powder Jesuits in defence of the right of Kings against those Jesuits who would have cut off the King the Royall Family the Bishops of the English Catholick Church the Nobility and Gentry as their Letter speaks with one blow sayes of this Resignation or Donation if we may so he call it so That it was not freely given The Jesuites challenge the perpetuall dictature or regency of the University of Pontamousson by Bull of Sixtus the fift contrary to the Statutes of the foundation by Gregory the thirteenth Were the Bull true sayes Barclaie yet it ougt not to be of force because it was obtain'd presently after his Creation when things are presumed to be rather extorted than obtained Bodin denyes that a King deceived or forced can be bound by his grants The justice of Contracts is that alone which binds The distinction of Royall and Private acts is of more sound then strength and answers not the injustice of the impulsive violence which must be naturally vicious every where and corrupt and weaken the effects and cannot be good and bad by changes or as to this or that Grotius who loves this distinction in another place is positive There must be Equality in all Contracts He condemns all fear or awe upon the person purposely moved for the contracts sake and tels us out of Xenophon of those of Lacaedemon who annulled a sale of lands which the Elians had forced the owners to passe out of fear A Charter of King Henry the third imprisoned and forced is said by Aldenham to be voyd upon thls reason and I judge the justice of this revocation by the Law of England by which as our old Parliaments such force is Treason Exil Hugle de Spencer pat fil The fruits of which were here more justly plucked up than they were planted He who gives up his money to Thieves according to his oath may lawfully take it away from them however they are bound to make restitution Nor can any prescription of time establish a right of possession in him Rei furtiva â—…terna authoritas esto who makes his seizure upon no other title but Plunder and Robbery The 5th of this King the Parliament declares these Grants to be forced and voyd Enough to clear the honour of King Richard as to this part At Chelmsford the King is informed of the whole History of mischiefs done at St. Albanes and resolved in person with all his Guards and Cavalry to ride thither and sentence the Malefactors with his own mouth but Sir Walter Leye of Hartfordshire fearing the much impoverishing the Country if the King should make any long stay there with such numbers as then attended him beseeches him to make a tryal wehther things might not be composed without him and offers to reconcile the Abbot and Townsmen if the King would which was câ—nsented to The King grants him a Commission and joyns with him Edward Benstude Geofrey Stukelye and others of the Gentry of that County The coming of these Commissioners was noysed at St. Albanes The fiercest of the Clowns knowing what they had done was condemned by the Law and not to be defended but by force which now they had not began to shake and take fright are plotting to get out of the way Grindecob Lieutenant of the late Idol comforts them he perswades to goe to Horse Let us meet the Knight sayes he and see whether his looks promise Peace or not if not the Towns about us have engaged they have associated and are of our League we are rich and cannot want good fellows who will assist us while our monies last On St. Peters day this ill advised crue meets the Knight upon the Rode who was ignorant of their resolutions and conduct him honourably according to their fashion to the Town Sir Walter had with him fiftie Lances and some Companies of Archers listed at random many of them being of the Churles and confederates with them The Knight cites the Towns-men and their Neighbours to appear before him in Derfold to hear the pleasure and commands of the King They fail not There he tells them what Forces the King had assembled how rigorously those of Essex were sentenced That the King was highly incensed at the troubles and seditions of this place of which he was the Patron and Defender That with great difficulty he had procured of the King a Commission by which himself and others not Strangers or Enemies but their Friends and Neighbours were authorised to do Justice in the Kings stead he concludes if they will appease the King they must find out and deliver up the beginners of these broyls and make satisfaction to the Lord Abbot an holy and a just man for the wrong they had done him This many of the hearers approve and promise to obey The Knight charges a Jury to be made ready the next morning and make what discovery they can and gives the people leave to depart Towards night he sends for the Jury to his Chamber intending to have apprehended the Lieutenants by the assistance of the Jury with out any noyse These good men and true
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 contradâ—ctâ—on mumur 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 11 H 7. 13 This I observe to make it appeare how 〈◊〉 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 charges are their condition is still the same or worse if some few of them advance themselves by the spoiles of the publique shâ—pwrack 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 Oake all the Forrest should have beene his Bishopricks Earledomes nay the Kingdomes had been swallowed by him instead of a just legall power by which the Kings acted an arbitrary boundlesse unlimited power must have beene set up instead of a fatherly royall Monarchy a Tyrannie 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 Mahomet 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 would have been found more grievous more heavy more killing than all the yokes and scorpions of our Kings no man when he went to sleep could assure himself that one Law would be left next morning the Ordinances of Tyler and his Council flew about in swarms killing and rooting up the Laws one Proclamation of this Tyrants was of force to blow up the ancient Foundation enough to have made men mad if ever they could wake and understand when the French had conquered Naples the people looked for a Golden World they thought their new Master would as the King of Mexico's Oath used to say do Justice to all men make the Sun to shine the Clouds to rain the Earth to be fruitfull They promise themselves Liberty and that the accustomed Imposts of their former Kings of the House of Arragon should not onely be taken off but the very word Gabelle driven out of the Kingdom ther should be no such thing in nature left but foolish dolts as they were they found an alteration quickly instead of a Court Cavalrie before the new Masters ill established and assured not daring to trust any thing standing Armies were continually to be kept on foot instead of one Tax intolerable of late they are oppressed with ten their backs and shoulders crack under the load Upon this fancy of these abused Italians sayes the Historian This is the custome for the most part of all people weary ever of the present condition and inconsiderately gaping after a change but they receive such wages of their fond and disorderly lightness The War undertaken against Lewis the 11 of France by the House of Burgundy Dukes of Berry Brittaineâ— and Burbon called the Weale publick was not made against the King say the Alâ—ies but against evill order injustice in the Government and for the publick good of the Realm In the Treaty for Peace these fine things are forgotten the wretched Peasants torn and ground with Taxes left to shift for themselves The Prince of the Burgaundies demands the Townes upon the Some for himselfe Normandy for the Duke of Berry and other places Offices and Pensions for the rest some overtures were made for the Weal publick sayes the History â—ommen that is all the Weal publick was the least of the question the Weal publick was turned to Weal particular self-seeking was the sum of the business This has been the fashion of all Rebels hitherto and will bee to the worlds end After these proceedings the Hartfordshire men betwixt the ages of 15 and 60 present themselves according to command and take the Oath of Allegiance they are sworn too to unkennel and apprehend the late Incendiaries The King having now quieted the commotions removes to Berkhamsted eight miles from St. Albanes a royal Castle then and at Easthamsted where he hunts is informed That the bodies of the Traytors executed were taken down from the Gallows hereupon he directs his Writ or Letter to the Bailies of St. Albanes commanding them under penalty of forfeiting all things forfeitable to hang up again the said bodies now rotten and stinking in Iron chains which the Townsmen are forced to do with their own hands A Parliament sitting in May the fift year of this Kings Reign John Wraw Priest of the Reformation at Mildenhall and St. Edmundsbury was taken and upon the Petition of the house of Commons to the King judged to be drawn and hanged In the same Parliament too it was enacted That wheresoever any Clowns by six or seven in a company kept suspicious Conventicles the Kings good and faithfull Subjects should lay hold of them and commit them to the next Gaol without staying for the Kings VVrit Wals Hypod. In the same Parliament of the King it was made Treason to begin a Riot Rout or Rumour by this Parliament and that of the 6. Provisions are made for those whose Deeds were burnt or destroyed in the late insurrection and in the 6. of Richard the King pardons the multitudes for their misdemeanours in the tumults The Clowns now every where return'd to their old Obedience and the winds wcre laid in all tâ—…i quarter Richard a Prince born for troubles shall be turmoiled with the Rebellions of his Peers and Parliaments deposed and murthered by them yet his memory shall be sacred his Peers and Clowns shall dig for him in his grave Posterity too shall owe all things to his person After the death of Maximinus a wicked bloody thief a cruel tyrant Jul. Capitol nefarii improbi latronis who invadâ—d the Roman Empire Capitolinus recites a gratulatory Letter wrâ—tten by Claudius Julianus a Consul to the Empâ—rours Maximus and Balbinus whom he calls Preservers and Redeemers of the Common wealth there the Consul tels them they had restored to the Senate the house of Lords their ancient dignity to the Romans their Laws Equity and Clemency abolished their lives their manners their liberty the hopes of succession to their heirs He adds they had freed the Provinces from the insatiable coverousness of tyrannes no voice language nor wit can express saies he the publick happinesse King Richard restored to the Church and Universities their rights and possessions to the Nobilitie their honour to the Gentry their respect to the Cities their free Trade the plenty of his harvest to the industrious Countryman Security Peace and Liberty to all Orders what Prince could bestow greater benefits upon a people he was the Stator the Saviour of the Nation a Nation not worthy of him whose ingratefulness to his sacred head whose perfidiousness and impiety in advancing an usurper upon his ruins were punished with a fatall Civill War which lasted ages with an issue of blood which could not be stopped till the true and lawful heir of this Prince was seated in the Imperial Throne according to the Faith and Oathes of this people which whatsoever may be pretended no power on earth can dispence with and according to the Fundamental Laws of England FINIS