first stroke made a great wound in his neck but was not mortall when the Arch-bishop putting his hand to the place uttered these words Aha it is the hand of God nor could he so soone remove his hand but at the second blow he wounded him deeper and cut off the ends of his fingers at which he fell groveling but was still alive till being piteously mangled by eight severall blowes he gave up his last breath into his hands from whom he first received it all that day his body lay unburied and till the morrow being Satterday none daring to affoord it at any buriall but tooke his head and nayling his head upon it fixt it on a Pole and set it upon London Bridge in the same place where before was fixt the head of Sir Iohn Minster-worth This reverend Arch Bishop Simon Tibald Alias Sandbury sonne to Nicholas Tibald borne in Sudbury a towne in Norfolk Doctor of both Lawes had beene eighteene yeares Bishop of London who was cruelly murthered and his body after borne to Canterbury and buried in the Cathedrall Church There dyed with him a most valiant Knight called Sir Robert Hayles Lord of St. Iohns and Treasurer of England with Iohn Legat one of the Kings Sergeants at Armes and with them a Fryer of the Order of St. Frances whose name was William Axpledore and was at that time Confessor to the King There was executed also by the Brutish tyranny of these Rebells one Richard Lyons an exquisite Lapidary and a Goldsmith who had bin some few yeares before Shriefe of the City of London who was most inhumainly drawne out of his owne house into Cheape side and there beheaded Many the same day had their heads cut off as well Flemings as English and for no other cause but onely to fulfill the madnesse of the barbarous Commons for they spared no men who were not of their diabolcall faction but they cut off their heads saying they cared not whether they sent them to God or to the Divell All sacred places they hold in contempt as such as they had never bin acquainted with for even in the Temples and at the time of divine Service they did not forbeare to kill and murder any man to whom they had any spleene or malice But especially their envy was to the Dutch whom they termed by the generall name of Flemings who as they supposed sucked the very moysture and marrow of the Kingdome and therefore out of the Augustine Fryers Church in London they fetched thirteene Flemings and out of another Church not named in the Chronicle to the number of seventeene and thirty two out of the Vine-tree and so out of other places of the City as also Southwarke whose heads they struck off without any mercy unlesse they could plainely pronounce Breed and Cheese for if their speech sounded any way towards Brott and Cawse off went their heads without redemption c. But I lest the King at Mile-end it is most pertinent to the History that I give you account how he sped there thus therefore it followeth His Majesty riding thether rather commanded then invited was in a great straite and feare withall when he cast his eye upon such a multitude of unruly Rascalls who with supercilious fronts gave him an unmannerly salute he there from fashioned himselfe to the necessity of present and demanded of them what they desired who delivered unto him a writing which they said they would have him confirme by his Letters Pattent the effect of part of their demands were these First that all men in the Kingdome whatsoever should be free from servitude and bondage so as from that time there should be no bond-men at all or to hold any Tenure in villanage c. Secondly that he should grant his free and generall pardon to all men of what estate soever of all manner of Actions or insurrections committed and all Rebellion Treason Fellonics Extortions Robberies traingressions by any of them done and further that their peace might bee so confirmed that there-after their former insolencies might not be called in question c. Thirdly that all persons from time forward might be infranchised and have free liberty to buy and sell in every Country City Borrough Towne Fayre or Market or otherwise within the Realm of England c. Fourthly that no Acres of Land held in service or bondage should bee held but for some pence the Acre and if it had gone for lesse in former time it should not there-after be inhanced These and many other things they required to bee confirmed by his Majesty telling him boldly withall that he had evilly governed till that day and that they would take order that from that time forward be should be better counselled The King perceiving by their sudden foure countenances that unlesse he granted punctually to every of their demands though never so unreasonable his person was in great danger being by them round mvironed and therefore no possible meanes of his escape sealed to their writings and desiring Truce for some small time departed thence without any violence done unto his person and the Essex men returned home peaceably into their Country On the morrow being Satterday and the fifteenth or June the King after dinner went from the Ward-robe in the Royall which is in London to Westminster to visite the shrine of St. Edward King and Confessor and withall to see whether upon it they had committed any out-rage by defacing it Then went he to the Chappell called our Lady in the Piew where after he had offered up his Orisons he returned by the Suburbs of West Smith-field where he found the place thronged with the Kentish Rebells wherefore he sent to their Captaine to informe them that he had pacified their fellowes the Essex men who had abandoned Mile-end and were peaceably departed home-ward and that he was pleased in his gracious clemency to grant unto them the like conditions of peace and superscribe to the same Articles if they pleased to accept of them But their chiefe Captaine whom some call Iohn but the best Chronologers call Walter Hiliard Alias Tyler being of a subtle and crafty condition and wickedly witty made answer that though he had then the power in his hands yet hee was willing to listen unto peace but onely thus with some particular conditions added to his owne approbation and liking his purpose being to feed the King and the Nobility with delayes till hee had compassed his diabolicall purpose whose plot was first the same night to have surprised the King and all those Peeres which then attended him Courtiers and others and then to have spoyled the City and then to have burnt it to the earth by setting fire in foure parts thereof at once But the Providence of Heaven who alwaies favoureth and protecteth Justice and innocense diverted his mischiefe which he intended against others powred it on his owne head as shall appeare by the sequell For whereas the conditions of peace were
ingrossed in their severall Charters and thrice sent unto him by the King not any of them seemed to please him therefore his Majesty sent unto him a Knight Sir Iohn Newton a man both of great courage and discretion not to command but to entreat him as from the King his Soveraigne for his great insolence and pride was knowne to all that hee would vouchsafe to come and speake with him about his owne demands which should be inserted into his Charter of which demands by this one which I will set downe it may manifestly appeare how uncharitâ—ble how unchristianlike all the rest were First he desired to have a Commission sealed to behead all Lawyers of what degree soever from the highest to the lowest all Escheaters or whatsoever by reason of their office communicated with the Law For his apprehension was and if this could be compassed all affaires should be ordered according to the fancie of the Commons and to change the Monarchy into an Anarchy For it is said that but the day before he had made his boast putting his hand to his lips that before foure dayes were come about all the Lawes of England should proceed from his owne mouth Now whilst the Knight importuned him for dispatch that he might returne his answer to the King his Master he contracted his brow and in great rage replyed If thou beest so hastie go get thee back unto him and say I will come unto him at mine owne pleasure and leisure Notwithstanding which hee followed on horseback with a stately and slow pace casting his eyes about him as he rode as glorying in the multitude and that he had been the Prince of all that people In his way hee was encountred by a Doublet-maker who had delivered in threescore doublets to the chiefe of the Commons by his appointment and demanded for them thirtie marks to whom the Captaine made answer Friend content thy selfe for a while I will see thee well and fully satisfied before this day be fully ended He then set forward leaving his company behind'him and came so neare unto the King that his horse brushed against the Kings horses crupper and the first words hee spake unto him were these Sir King seest thou all you people Yes answered the but wheresore doest thou ask me that question Because replyed he they be all at my commandement and have sworne to me their faith and obedience to do all things what soever I shall impose on them In good time answered the King I beleeve it well Then said the Rebell Beleevest thou King that this people and as many mo as be in this Citie at my command and service will depart from thee thus without thy Charters No said the King you shall willingly receive them and they shall be presently delivered unto you In this Interim the Lord Mayor for his last noble and memorable enterprise worthy to be eternized to second his former pecce of service sped him instantly into the City and cryed out aloud You good and faithfull Citizens arme your selves with all speed possible and helpe to assist your King and Soveraigne who is in grear perill to be slaine and ayde me your Major and Governour who am in the danger or if you will not suffer me yet leave not his select Majesty destitute Which when the well-minded Cityzens heard in whose loyall brest the love of their King was ingraven they presently to the number of a thousand armed themselves and staid in the streets attending for some Captaine to order them and leade them towards the King at which instant came to them a noble Knight and a Souldier who was also a freeman of the City him they intreated to take upon him that charge to which he willingly and most cheerefully assented the greatest part of them were under his conduct the rest were commanded by the Lord Major one Preducus Dalbret and some other Knight in the story not named These with this ayde presented themselves before the King who greatly rejoycing in the faith and loyalty of his armed Citizens presently with these fresh forces compassed the Rebells about Now there appeared by Gods wonderfull goodnes a sudden and unexpected alteration for the seditious Commons who but some few minutes before stood uppon such peremptory and proud tearmes with the King himselfe finding themselves thus invironed flung downe their weapons at once and with a loud unanimous voyce cryed pardon pardon such as could escape out of the Ring fled and hid themselves some in Cellers others in the Corne fields Woods and Ditches c. They being now at the Kings mercy the Lords and the rest about desirous to take some vengeance of their former insolency besought his Majesty that for example sake he would command some hundred or two of their heads to bee strunk off to whose request he would no way condescend but gave order that their Charter which was sealed should be delivered unto them which was to prevent a new Insurrection as knowing that Essex was not yet altogether pacified nor Kent quieted The Commons having gotten their Charter and much taken with the Kings extraordinary and unexpected mercy they left both City and Suburbs and departed homeward when the King calling the Lord Major before him he Knighted him in the Field as he had most worthily deserved The like he did to Nicholas Brember Iohn Philpot Robert Lawnd Iohn Standish Nicholas Twisord and Adam Frances Aldermen and after entred the City in great state where he was joyfully received from thence he went to visite his Mother who was at that time lodged in the Tower Royall in a part thereof called the Queenes Wardrope where she had remained for the space of two dayes and two nights the time of this combustion much bewayling and lamenting her Sons imminent danger whom when she saw to returne safe she was greatly comforted and with teares of joy said O my deare Son what sorrowes have I suffered for you even to this houre who answered againe Certainly Madam I knew it well but now rejoyce and praise God with me for I have this day recovered mine Heritage and the Realm of England which I had almost lost Then he gave present Commandements that the arch-Arch-Bishops head should be taken from off the Bridge and Wat Tylers to be set in the place His Majesty further in remembrance of this joyfull day and for the Cities greater honour who next under God were his sole deliverers granted that in regard that worthy William Walworth the Lord Major had staine that dangerous Rebell with a Dagger a bloudy Dagger should therefore be added unto the Armes of the City and to be placed in the right quarter of the Escutchion as an addition to the Armes and to celebrate the memory of a Lord Majors valiant act for before that time the City bore onely a Crosse without a Dagger And where it hath bin vulgarly bruted that the Rebell whom Sir William Walworth flew was not Wat Tyler but Iack
thence to London They staid and arrested all Passengers of what degree or condition foever compelling them to sweare First that they should keep fast and firme their Allegeance to the good King Richard and to the Commons and next if his Majesty should faile they should accept of no Soveraigne whose name was Iohn which was for the great envy which they bare unto Iohn Duke of Lancaster and uncle to the King who by reason of his conquest of Spaine writ himselfe King of Castile And further that they should not yeeld unto any Taxe that should be leavied in the Kingdome from thence forward nor consent unto any unlesse it were a fifteene The rumor of these bold and presumptuous actions was quickly spread into Sussex Essex Hertford-shire Cambridge-shire Suffolke Norfolke c. for Fama malum quo non aliud velocius now when these daily conventions of the Commons increased and their number was almost growne unto an infinite so that they thought themselves to be of that strength that no power was able to resist them they began now to thinke of nothing but misdemeanour and misbeliefe framing themselves to all the rebellious irregularity that could be devised even unto brutish cruelty For first they proclaimed an Edict to apprehend all Lawyers whether Judges Benchers Barristers or younger Students and all Justices of Peace or grand Jurors and to cut off their heads of which they spared none that fell into their hands neither was there any one whom they supposed to have any learning at all if they found but a Pen and Inkhorne about him upon whom they did not unanimously cry out with this acclamation Hence away with him cut off his head The Rebells of Essex having joyned themselves with these of Kent there came certaine Noble men and Knights from the King to them being then on black Heath to demand of them the cause of this their unlawfull assembly to whom they sawcily and most unreverently made answer That for certaine causes best known to themselves they were come together but the chiefest was to have some talke with the King and therefore bad them tell him so and further if hee would come thither in person they would tell him their grievances but to none else they would reveale them His Majesty by some who was neare about him was counselled because of the present necessity to satisfie their request in that and by reason it was no further to give unto them a meeting with all speed possible but Symon Sudbury then Arch-Bishop of Canterbury and Lord Chancellor and Robert Hales of St. Iohns Lord high Treasure would by no meanes admit of their Counsell affirming that it was not for the Kings honour to yeeld to the desires of such base and refractory Rebells but rather to take order for the speedy leavying of an Army to suppresse them of which the Commons having got Intelligence they solemnly vowed and in great furie swore that they would cut off those Traytors heads and to that purpose they left black Heath and instantly marched towards London And first they dispersed themselves in Southwarke filling all the places of the Barrough and the place being not able to containe a tenth part of them they quartered themselves in the fields and Countrey thereabouts and by reason of the vow'd malice and envy that they bore unto the Arch-Bishop their first Barbarous attempt was to set upon his Pallace at Lambeth which they rifled and spoyled and wonder it was in regard of their Brutish furie that they had not set it on fire and burnt it downe to the ground In the interim the Lord Major and the Aldermen fearing also that they would make spoyle of the City called a Counsell amongst themselves in which many things were debated for their publick security and in the end concluded to shut up their gates let downe their Percullices chained their streets and the Citizens should arme themselves man the wals and stand upon their guard But the Mechanicks and meanest sort of people who alwayes are apt to envie their superiours and are therefore prone to any Innovation favouring the cause of the seditious Commons were so farre from suffering the Major and the Sheriffes to come neare unto the gates and by shutting them to keep the Rebells out that they insolently opposed them threatning death to any should attempt it This was the occasion that all the night following being the Eve before Corpus Christi day the Rebells had free ingresse and egresse in and out of the gates by which they stirred up the Commons of the City as Artificers Labourers and Apprentises to take part with them and joyne to their faction making a faire pretence that their purpose was onely to search out such as were traytors to the King and his Realme and they being cut off to make a cessation of Armes and every one peaceably to retyre himselfe into his owne Country This faire pretence wrought much in the hearts of the giddy multitude and the rather because notwithstanding their great number which was difficultly to be guided they offered violence neither to man nor woman neither tooke any commodity from them but at a just and competent price for whomsoever of their owne society they found either pillidging or stealing they used Martiall Law and commanded his head instantly to be smitten off The morrow after they had communication with divers of the most substantiall Commons of the City to whom if they would adhere unto them and take part with them they promised absolute freedome and liberty insomuch that the most or all of the meaner sort were suddainely drawne into their conspiracie for joy whereof they were admitted into the Vintners and Merchants Cellers where they quaffed and dranke together Healths by no allowance with which Licence not being acquainted it so wrought within them that some were merry others mad a motion was made to goe instantly to the Savoy which then was the Pallace and domestick dwelling of the Duke of Lancaster a place for the rich furniture thereto belonging through the whole Kingdome was not to be paralleld and either to burne it or raze it downe to the earth for he being an excellent and worthy Prince their malice towards him was implacable Thither they tumultuously hurried in heapes and setting fire in diverse places thereof made it suddenly all in a flame and to give the greater coour to their insolence caused Proclamation to be made that that was done was not to their owne use or proper ends for no man upon paine of death should reserve any thing but that all plate and vessells of Silver and gold or jewells which were there in abundance should be battered defaced and broken into small peeces and cast into the river which was accordingly performed but as our Author writeth one of the Rebells contrary to the Proclamation tooke a silver Plate and hid it in his bosome which being espyed by one of his fellow Rascalls hee made it knowne to the rest
who instantly laid hold upon him and without further examination or Triall cast him into the fire with the Plate with this loude acclamation Wee are the maintainers of Truth and justiec and are neither Theeves nor robbers It is further remarkable that some of these robbers to the number of two or three and thirty had got into a Celler of the same house where they dranke so much sweet and pleasant wine that they could not find the way out againe in any seasonable time but with the ruines of the house were so barracadoed in with Timber rubbish and stone that they were heard crying and calling for helpe and succour seaven dayes after where they perisht all being or not able or not willing to releive them This exploit being over they againe assembled and broke open a place which was cald the new Temple at the barre which was a place for Lawyers and quite demolisht it for no other reason but the hate which they bore to Sr Robert Hayles Master of St. Johns Hospitall unto which place that of St. Iohns of the Temple belonged There many writings and Monuments which were then in the custody of the Lawyers were destroyed by fire after the ruine of this place many through wearinesse and others over-laded with wine lay downe under the walls and stalls there a bouts where some were slaine by those on whom they had committed such out-rages and some kild one another upon that advantage for antient and former grudges In the interim whilst these things were in action another dangerou troop had gathered themselves together to set fire on the Pallace of S. Iohns in Clarkenwell which was seene to burne seven dayes together they not suffering any man to lay a helping hand to quench it on the Friday after they burnt the mannor of Highbury the multitude of the Commons being at that time divided into three severall bands of which division one part was imployed in the burning of Highbury and other places belonging to the Prior of St. Iohns A second Company lay at Mile-End East of the City A third lodged themselves upon the Tower-hill to intercept all such Victuall as was for the Kings provision whilst they on Mile-end sent a bold and peremptory message to the King to make his personall appearance before them and that too all delays and excuses set apart unarmed and without any guard or power to attend him which if he should deny to doe they would not onely pluck downe the Tower upon his head but neither he nor any of his Attendants should depart alive Observe herein what rebellion is and to what impudence it growes when those that are the Actors therein transgresse all the bounds of Religion and reason but it followeth for so the Chronicle relates that his Majesty advised by some few that were at that time about him with a small traine and those altogether unarmed went towards them no doubt in great feare riding on horseback The gates of the Tower standing open and a great many of the rascall rabble entring and returning at their owne wills and pleasures Here is another thing worthy of note to all Posterity but especially to the braver spirits of our own Nation that there were at the same instant six hundred Armed men reputed valiant and expert in Armes besides sixe hundred able Archers who all this time hanging down their heads were mute and stood amazed They being appointed to guard the sacred person of the King who suffered those pesantly rusticks void of all manners or humanity to enter his Highnesse privy Bed-chamber and the Queene Dowager his mothers with their weapons in their hands and yet against them made at all no resistance N ay saw them there to play the impudent wantons by lying and sporting on his Highnesse owne bed and further in their homely and base accouterment most sawcily to offer to ruffle and kisse the mother queen whilst they stood patiently by sufred it had these things bin reported to have bin done in any other Forraigne Countres as we should have thought them altogether incredible but they are related by our owne Domostick Chronologer Whilst these things were in agitation some of this rude rabble made strict inquiry for the Arch-bishop and some searching one place and some another and not finding him at length finding one of his servants with incredible fury they threatned unto him present death unlesse he would bring them to his Lord and Master whom they most unreverently called by their owne name Rebel and traytor This groome fearing his life and therefore not any way daring to contradict or to displease them presently conducted them to the Chappell in the Kings Lodgings where after masse had beene said and sang the Reverent Prelate was then busie in his private Orisons for having received the Sacrament and ignorant either of their comming or purpose he had the night before confest himselfe to his Ghostly Father for such was the custome in those dayes who when he heard that they were come and had broke open some doores against him with a noble and Christian-like constancy said to those few of his retinew who at that time attended him The enemie is now come let us goe and boldly meete him for seeing things stand as they now doe it is much better for us to dye like Martyrs then to live being reported no better then Malefactors At which word the Rebels entred with this clamor where is this Traytor to the King and common-wealth To which he answered Loe I am the man you seeke the Arch-bishop but no Traytor where presently they laid rude and violent hands upon his Sacred person and dragging him out of the Chappell drew him from the Tower to the Tower hill where being compassed and inclosed with their swords and weapons advanced he appeared no way discouraged or daunted but with a Martyr-like constancy uttered these words following Resolve me my deare brethren what you purpose to doe what is my offence against you or any man for which you purpose to shed mine innocent blood it were good for you to advise before you take away my life for if I be thus undeservedly slaine who am your Pastor there must consequently fall upon you the great indignation of the just Revenger besides for such an heinous fact all the whole shall be interdicted scarce had he ended those few words before they cryed out with an horrible clamour that the men there feared nor cared for any interdiction nor would they allow the Pope to have any power or Supremacy over them the Archbishop seeing his inevitable death before him being an eloquent man and wise beyond most of the Kingdome gave unto them very faire and comfortable words desisiring them only to give some short space to pray for his soules health and then he would submit himselfe to their utmost cruelty which being scarcely granted hee forgave the Executioner and kneeling downe offered his head to be smitten off by the headsman The