for Kent a part too small for the Archtyrant and others for other Shires Here was to be Monarchy still not evill in it selfe but where it ought to be of right onely the Family was to be changed the antient Saxon Norman stemme for an upstart dunghill brood of Vipere Tyler to be advanced upon the ruines of Richard the Câ—…dar to be torne up to make the Bramble roome enough while any of the royall off spring had beene in being to claime the right to have involved the miserable perjured foolish people in an everlasting civill Warre never to have ceased while there had beene a veine of blood to run The mainteinance of Tylers wrong his usurpation not to looke farther than the present World would have beene more fatall then ten plagues Iohn addes no man thwarted these ends of ours more than the Archbishop therefore we hated him to death and made all the hast possible to bring him to it In the evening of that Saturday in which Wat perished because the poorer sort of the Londoners favoured us we intended to have fired the City in foure places and to have divided the spoyles So the faithfull Citizens as forward as they were had at last paid for their love he calls God to witnesse these truths The confessions of many others of the ingagement agreed with this of Straw The Lawyers and those as one who fled from the tyranny of the time durst now show their faces Here is tyranny of the rout tyranny of a savage Clown their bouteseu whose few dayes of cruell usurpation were more bloody more destroying then the yeares of any Caligula any Nere any Domitian whatsoever A Civill Warre sayes a noble Frenchman makes more breaches as to a Country as to Manners Lawes and Men in six Moneths then can be repaired in six yeares What then can be thought or said of those Monsters who against all ties of nature and piety shall raise a desperate civill Warre meerely with the intent to overthrow Religion the Church the Government Lawes and Humanity out of a cursed divelish ambition to advance themselves Tylers and Sons of the Earth before to an height which God as some love to speake never called them to For though power is of God it is onely so when the comming to it is by lawfull meanes He that ordaines the power allowes not the usurpation of it Tyler had the power to doe mischiefe the power of rebellion the power which must have ruined the church common wealth but whether this be the power which Christians are to submit to let the next Casuists judge The Septuagint translation of the Bible sayes of Abimelech who slew his seaventy Brethren murder ushers usurpation in He made himselfe King by Tyranny The Monk who writes the lives of the Offa's speaking of Beormred the Mercian Usurper has these words In the same region of the Mercians a certaine Tyranne rather destroying and dissipating the Nobility of the Realm than ruling c. persecuting banishing c. Lest any one especially of the Royall Blood should be advanced in his place he vehemently feared The thirty Usurpers in the time of Gallienus are every where called Tyrannes Paulus Diaconus writing of Valentine in the time of Valentinian sayes He was crushed in Britannie before he could invade the Tyrannie and of Maximus that he was stout and valiant and worthy of the Empire had he not against the faith of his oath raised himselfe per tyrannidem by tyrannie In other places Eugenius Gratian Constance Sebastian created Tyrannes The words Tyranne and Tyrannie and tyrannous partie being used often by him are ever opposed to just and Regall power never used in any other sense Widdrington to the example of Athalia urged by Bellarmine against Kings sayes she was no lawfull Queen she had seized the Kingdome as an Usurpresse by Tyrannie the Kingdome belonged to Ioash in whose right and by whose power she was justly slaine Our most learned Prelate Bishop Abbot of Salisbury tells the Cubs of Loyola Athalia had snatched had grasped and held the kingdome with no right no title but by butchery robbery rapine and forcible entry and that she was thrown down and killed by the common bounden duty and faith of Subjects to their Prince Baronius a Cardinal that the Maccabees of Levi or house of the Assamoneans may not be made Usurpers matches them with the royall line of David else sayes he absque labe tyrannidis without the stain of Tyrannie they could not meddle with the Kingdome Rodolph Duke of Survia or Suabenland set up for a false Emperour by that devilish Pope Hildebrand 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 Iohn Cade another Impe of Hell and successour of Wat to be a traitour whcih 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 Iohn Gade 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 these 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
Egnatius in Paterculus rather a Fencer a Swash buckler than a Senatour his right Aâ—…me his brutish force not Justice not reason must sway all things Tyler will not rule in fetters his will his violence shall be called Law and grievous slavery under that will falsly peace Had those whom no government never so sweet and gracious will please unlesse the Supreame power be given the people seen the confusions and dangers the cruelty 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 beest 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 Citizen 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 me 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 begun and continued by the Iesuited party to extirpate 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 but Riot continues his discourse thus Believest thou King that these people will depart without thy Letters The King tells him He means fairly that he will make good his word his Letters are neare finished and they shall have them But the glory of the Idoll which was merely the benefit of fortune begin to fade his principaliâ—…y was too 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 hebeen wisely wicked likea Vulture of the Game have flown at his throat The judicious politique will not begin to give over However will never venture himself in the Princes hands whom he has justly offended by treasons against his government Charles of Burgundy confesses this to be a great folly his Grandfather Philip lost his life at Montereau upon the Yonne by it and our Idoll shall not escape better Sir Iohn Newton the Knight imployed to fetch him delivered his message on horseback which is now remembred and taken for an high neglect besides it seemeth the carriage and words of the Knight were not very pleasing Every trifle in omission was treason to the Idols person and new state He 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 cooles 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 or 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 Hongman 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 Mâ—…jesty he was a beam gave him in his hand The onely way left to avoid a shamefull death was to run the danger of a brave one and a wise coward I will not say an honourable one considering the incertainty of things under that Iron socage Tenure would think so The King commands the Major to arrest the Butcher This was charge enough and rightly understood indeed there was then no time for foâ—…me nor tryall the suspension of the Courts was Tylers act his crime aâ—…d he ought not to look for any advantagâ—… from it an Historian sayes the Duke of Guyse's power was so much that the ordinary formes of Justice could 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 every man is a Souldier whosoever stâ—…ck too stâ—…uch 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 flow 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 saints 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 Fraissart calls him false stinking knave and tells him he shall not speake such words in the presence of his naturall
it Straw was this while busied elsewhere The Country about was by these Proclamations summoned to repaire to London with all speed to spoyle this Babylon The close menaces lest they provoke Gods Iudgments 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 ouâ—… 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 in their journey thither aâ—…Hâ—…ibury a retiring house of the Lo Prior of S. Iohn neere 〈◊〉 they finde 20000. or thereabouts casting downe the firmer parts of the house which the fire could not consume Iack Straw Câ—…ptain of this herd calls these new comers â—…o him and forces them to sweare to adhere to King Richard and the Commons How long this Oath will bâ—… 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 fellowshâ—…p to observe the horrible irreligious hypocrâ—…sie 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 Iack Straw the second at Mile-end undeâ—… 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 contâ—…nted 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 thâ—…s was the way to secure their smaller mischiefs Polydores conceit that the Archbishop and Lord Prior of S. Iohn 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 Iustice Iustice 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 they making all those Dâ—…linquents 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 â—…ffection to the publike good Whether the Tower doores flew open at this fright or the Mâ—…n-wolfes crowded in at the Kingâ—… going out to appease the party at Milâ—…end as Sir Iohn Froissart tells it Wat the Idâ—…l with Priest Baal are now masters of the Tower into which on Friday the 16 of Iune 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 appatition at the sight of these Goblins they stood like the stones of Mâ—…dusa remembred not themselves their honour nor what they had been The Clownes the most abjâ—…ct of them singly with their Clubs or 〈◊〉 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 swowneâ—… and is carryed privately to the Wardrobe by her servants Some revile and threaten the noblest Knights of the Houshold some strokâ—… their heards with their uncleane hands which beyond the Romane patience in the same â—…udenesse 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 distuâ—…be the 〈◊〉 of their Estates and Rights must not shew any sense of geneâ—…sity of faith of honour it concerned Tyler that they should be the veryest fools and cowards breathing if they stir make any Claâ—…mes they shall be reputed seditious tuâ—…bulent and breakers of the publick otherwise and plainly Tylers peace It was never heard sayes the Emperour Charlâ—…s in Slâ—…idan that it should be lawfuâ—…l 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 noâ—… 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 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 Antique memory since Constantine when it is intected with the plagu 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 highnesse and his Officers but the Cement of the Stratocratie of the Government by Sword and Club-Law could not be well tempered with vulgar blood a servant of the Arch-bishops who had trusted himselfe to these Guards and Walls is forced to betray his Lord He brings them into the Chappell where the holy Prelat waâ—… at his prayers where he had celâ—…brated Masse thâ—…t morning before the King and taken the sacred Communion where he had spent the whole night in watching and devotion as presaging what followed He was a valiant man and pious and expected these Blood-hounds with great security and calmnesse of mind when their bellowing first struck his ears He tels his servants that Death came now as a more particular blessing where the comforts of life wâ—…re taken away that life was iâ—…kesome to him perhaps his pious feares for the Church and Monarchy both alike
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
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 he left next morning the Ordinances of Tyler and his Council slew 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 conquereâ—…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 Suâ—… 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 last 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 presens 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 Brittaine and Burbon called the Weale publick was not made against the King say the Allies 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 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 Incendies 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 Iohn 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 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 cumulâ—… The Clowns now every where return'd to theiâ—… old Obedience and the winds were laid in all their quarter Richard a Prince born for troubles shall be turmoiled with the Rebellion of his Peers and Parliaments deposed â—…nd murthered by them his his memory shall be sacred his Peersâ—…d Chans shall dig for him in his grave Poâ—…ity too shall owe all thâ—… to his person Afâ—…r the death of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a â—…d bloody thiâ—…f a cruel tyrane 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—…d the Pâ—…man 〈◊〉 Capitâ—…â—…it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 tory Petter writtn by Claudâ—… 〈◊〉 Consul to the Emperours Maâ—…us and Balbinus whom he caâ—…s Preâ—…vers and Redeemers of the Common wealth there the Consul tels them they had restoâ—…d 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 adde they had freed the Provinces from the insatiable covetousness of tyrannes no voice language not 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 〈…〉 their respect to the Cities their free 〈…〉 the plenty of his harvest to the ind 〈…〉 Countryman Security Peace and Libertâ—â—â— to all Orders what Prince could best 〈◊〉 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 Hypod. Neust. Par. Wals. 〈◊〉 c. Per Thomae Sanguiuem salva nos breviar. fest. S. Tho. Cant. Rishang Polyd. D'Avilla Iaques Clem. the Paricide of Hen. 3. of France was prayed for as a Saint * Guinue Froiss. Walsingh Deposito scrvituâ—…is jugo libertate c. Wals. more boni patris samil excelentis agriâ—… suum * Regni Majores †Quoscunque nocivosâ—… communitatiâ—… de terra sua tolle reut * Si sublatis Majoribus aequa libertas c. In the 〈◊〉 for holy land †Ut acclamarerâ—… cum Archiepiscopum * Communium regni proditorem * Wals. Rex ribaldorum Idolum rusticorum * Wals. Wals. Wals. Froiss. â—…esar Dial. 〈◊〉 8 c. 69. â—…roiss Wals. Lond. quib nunque deest furia c. Froiss. Wals. qui censuram juris timebant propter malâ—… c. Wals. Wals. Wals. Discaligaios râ—…bauldos Graion Froâ—…ss Wals. Knighton Wals. Wals. Richard Wals. alias scireâ—… semetipsum vita pâ—…v'd dum Nevilli kettus Wals. Sacram Communionem Qui pastor c. Ab ab maâ—… Dominiâ—… Wals. †Eccles. 15. Grot. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 dâ—…o pâ—… 〈◊〉 uâ—… ab impiâ—… non veâ—… turmodo 〈◊〉 tur Walâ—… D' Avila Liâ—… Non est diuturua possessio in quam gladio induâ—… mur Gurt Wals. Froiss. * Ab omni bondagio Illucescente die Venerls Froiss. so Froiss. The lewd prankes of the Clowns at Saint Albanes Wals. Ducem ribaldorum ut accepta ab co potestate c. Wals. All these grants end with horrible curses against Sacriledge Walsingh Walsingh Wals. aâ—… diâ—…dum Subâ—…rii â—…um megna pompa 〈◊〉 114. Perque uterum sonlpeâ—… hic matris agendus * De azorio * Locutorii Wals. Super Sacramentum Ribaldi Quod didicerant à Waltero Wals. foedae memoriae Walsingh Wals. â—…erlingorum Wals. Wals. Sceleratiss Presbyt * Garciâ—… Rarâ—… si 〈◊〉 bonam fortunam cum bona meâ—…e Liv. Nisi enim daemoniâ—…s pleni fuissent nequaquam in destruct sacr. Eccles. Chr. fidei regni exterminiâ—… conspirass Earle of sâ—… case See Mag. Chart c. See 25 H. 8. 1 Eliz. 1 Jac. Quib. sujecti reguâ—…i c. â—…ow Sieur de lâ—… Nâ—…vé Apolog. 234. Antilog c. 32 Apparat. Wals. Wals. Wals. 〈◊〉 3. 14. â—…esp ad Apolog. Adâ—…nit disp. dejur â—…d l. 1. â—…xil Hugle de Spencer pat â—…il â—…ei 〈◊〉 â—…terna authoritaâ—… 〈◊〉 Per tale Martyrium vitaÌ„ fiâ—…ire Si Hertfordia Hesterno decollatâ—… c. See 27 H. 8. c. 24. 25 Edw. 3. 11 H. 7. 13 Commen Wals. Hypod. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉
him a faire Canton of the new Common-wealth if he will command their Forces The faithfull Cavalier abhorred the proposition and could not dissemble his dislike He tells them he will not to his eternall dishonour renounce his Soveraigne whom all good men obeyed to ingage with the veryest perfidious Traitors living in their villanies He attempts to Horse himselfe againe but failes It was Treason to speak against the Government The Commons grow furious they cry out Treason against Treason and Rebellion Thousands of hands are lifted up against him as if they all moved by the same Nerves and Sinews They hew him down but he crushes some of them with his ruine Whosoever stood within his reach lost either Head Legs or Armes He kils twelve of them at length avillein of his owne beats out his brains Then doe the infernal Curs rush in with full mouthes and mangla him to bâ—… who sayes Walsingham would have driven a thousand of them before him had he had faire play This amazes the rest of the Gentry they strive for Vassalage with the same emulation others doe for Liberty they observe Litster they receive his Commands upon their knees who in all things imitates the state and pomp of Kings Sir Stephen of Hales a Knight of honour caâ—…ves before him and tastes his Meates and Drinkes the rest of the miserable Courtiers are imployed in their severall offices But when the same of the Kings good fortune began to grow strong and of his preparations to assert his Right and Authority Litster sends on Embassie from NorthWalsham the thorne of his tyranny to London the Lord Morley and Sir Iohn Brewes with three of the confiding Commons to obtaine Charters of manumission and pardon with great summes of monies squeezed out of the Citizens or Norwich under pretence of preserving the City from slaughter fire and spoile or as others raised by an ordinary tribute to Litster Which monies were sent for presents to the King to win him to grant them Charters more ample and beneficial than had been given to any others THese Messengers are met at Ichlingham neere New-market by Henry le Spenser Lord Bishop of Norwich of a noble Family stout and well armed He had been at his Mannor of Burleigh neere Okeham and there heard of the tumults in Norfolke and was now hasting thither to see how thingâ—… were carryed with eight Lances onely iâ—… his company and a few Archers He charges the Lord Morley and Sir Iohn upon their Allegeance to tell him whether any of the Commons the Kings Traitors weâ—… with them They look upon the Bishop aâ—… a young rash man and the awe of theiâ—… Masters was so prevalent he could hardly wrest the secret from them After many words they discover it and the Bishop causes the heads of the Clowns to be strucâ—… off and fixed on a publick place at Newmarket Then taking with him that Lord and Knight he posts for Northwalsham The Gentry hearing of the Bishops arrivall in his Coat of Male with his Helmet upon his head his Sword by his side and his Lance upon his thigh croud in to him the Bishop quickly found himselfe in 〈◊〉 gallant equipage and as quickly reachâ—… Northwalsham the sinke of the Rebellion Litster was intrenched he had fortified his ditch with Pales Stakes and Dores and shut himselfe in behinde with his Carts and Carriages The heroick Bishop like another Maccabeus charges bravely through the ditch into the midst of the Rebells when all the Barons of England hid themselves so suddenly that the Archers could not let an arrow flie at him and came to handy blowes As the French Historian de Serres observes in affaires of the World oftentimes he that is most strong carries it a good fortune and a good minde seldome goe together Otho tells his Souldiers oftentimes where the causes of things are good yet if judgement be wanting I may put in where the Counsels are unsound the Agents faithlesse where Money Armes and Men are wanting the issue must be perâ—…icious The goods and honours of this world which follow the Triumphers Chariots are common to the good and bad Grace Charity and Love are the marks of a pious man not Successe to brag of which becomes rather a Spartacus or Mahomet who carry Faith and Law upon the Swords point than a Christian The God of the Christians is not the God of robbery and bloud but things here fell out as could be wished the innocency of the side prevailed and the righteout weake side overcame the strong injust Litster touched with the conscience of his mischiefes strugles to the utmost to avert his danger at length gives ground and attempts to shift for himselfe by leaping over his Carriages in the Rere The Bishop pressed forward so fiercely this course proved in vaine most of the unhappy Clownes are laid along upon the place Litster and the Captains of the Conspiracy are taken and condemned to be drawn hanged and beheaded which was done Others of the chiefe Conspirators dispersed over the Country are searched out and executed The Monke here tells us It was apparent by the workes of these Demoniacks by their fruits that they had conspired he speakes of the whole not onely the destruction of the Church and Monarchy but of the Christian faith too Schoole-masters were sworne by them never to teach Grammer more and whosoever was taken with an Inkhorne about him never saved his head Our Monke attributes these calamities to the remisnesse of the Bishops to the conceits and fangles of Presbyter Wycliffe which if they be truly registred by the Monkes his mortall enemies were pestilentiall and damnable Indeed Presbyter Wycliffe was then living but is not named in these commotions as one busie in them by the Monkâ—… though busie he might be we shall finde Sir Iohn Old-castle Lord Cobham and others of Wycliffes disciples rebells and traitours too too bufie in Henry the fists beginning Baal and Straw and Wraw were Priests of the Idol and his Lieutenants and might serve the turne to iâ—…broyle without fetching more aide in He attributes too these mischiefes to the licentious invectives of the Clownes against their Lords generally to the sins of the Nation inclusively taking in the Orders of Mendicants or Begging Fryars like factious Lecturers who had nothing of their owns and were obliged to flatter the people and make themselves popular who sayes he forgetfull of their profession and vowes greedy and covetous of mony foster the people in their errors call good evill and evill good seducing the great men with fawning and the rabble with lyer So that in those dayes thus he proceeds the Argument held in every mans mouth This is a Fryar therefore a Lyar as strong as this This is white therfore coloured Here againe is Walsingham at a stand he complaines That it is impossible to relate the villanieâ—… of the Rustick Devils done in all parts We will now return to see what the King does
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 whâ—… 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 â—…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 flâ—…ighted at that time The King commands his Cavalrie on fire as much as himselfe to march and root out this persidious râ—… of miscreants Here the Nobility and Gentry of the County 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 Juties of twelve men the aâ—…clent 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 legal 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 are against the Magna Charta c. and to the manifest subversion of the priviledges of Subjects Upon this faire and Kingly conclusion of Richard Commissions were given and Justices of Oyer and Terminer to heare and determine the Treasons and Felonis 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 saâ—… 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 Iack 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 honâ—…st Citizens to be at the charge of Mâ—…sses 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 Iohn was obstinate at the first 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 Bâ—…ck-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 those 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 Iustice 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 not have destroyed the antient family to which sayes a Statute which we hope it can be no treason to Tylers Ghost to recite the dominions and rights of the realme of England c. Ought by inhaerent birth-right and lawfull and undoubted succession descend and come This we being bounden thus speake the members heretofore thereunto by the Lawes of God and man doe recognise c. The answer we say might have beene easy they would not have done it some time agon they swore and Covenanted and Covenanted againe they would not now they will Tyler is still Tyler but his Liberty false cheating liberty is every where free both to will and dislike as the safety of the Common-wealth shall require and carry him on This was the faith and honesty of that age by which we may guesse at the cause and men who acted for it who were the undertakers what trust is to be given to such perfidious knaves whose protestations and Covenants of one day are wiped out by an inspiration of the next We may say by an inspiration It was wondrous fit for these changes Our Proteus should bring inspiration in All those of Estates and Possessions Bishops Canons Parsons of Churches Monkes we would have rooted out of the earth onely the begging Fryers should have been preserved who would have served such sheep such Shepheards well enough for Church-duties which we may wonder after all these pranks that they should thinke of here would have beene a very plaine church Questionlesse after all these actions the devotion of these Reformers could not have beene much By that time our publick Theeves had cast lots for the Kings Churches Nobilities and Gentries Revenues what Boores of others Countries could have compared with the riches of our Peasants and their Captaine Tyler When there should have beene so Straw goes on none left more great more strong or more wise then our selves then we had set up a Law of our owne forging at our pleasure by which our Subjects should have beene regulated Necessary it was the old Law should be voted downe It condemned them in every line Then had we created us Kings Tyler