by these Canibals The reverence due to the annointed heads of Kings began to fall away and naked Majesty could not guard where Innocency could not But Tyler blinded with his owne fatall pride throws himself foolishly upon the Kings sword and by his over-much hast preserves him whom he had vowed to destroy The Heathens make it a mark of the Divinity of of their Gods that they bestowed benefits upon mortal men and took nothing from them The Clownes of the Idoll upon this rule were not very heavenly they were the meeke ones of those times the onely inheritours of right the kingdom was made a prey by them it was cantoned out to erect new Principalities for the Mock-kings of the Commens so their Chiefs or Captains would be called Here though the title of the Rebellion spoke fair was shown somewhat of ambition and no little of injust private interest no little of self-seeking which the good of the people in pretence onely was to give way to and no wonder for the good of the people properly was meerely to be intended of themselves and no where but amongst those was the Commonwealth Had these Thistles these Brambles flourished the whole Wood of noble Trees had perished If the violent casting other men out of their possâ—ssions firing their houses cutting off their Heads violating of all Rights be thought Gods blessing any evidence of â—â— owning the Cause these Thieves and Murderers were well blessed and sufficiently owned Such was then the face of things estates were dangerous every Rich man was an enemy mens lives were taken away without either offence or tryall their reign was but a continuation of horrible injuries the Lawes were not onely silent but dead The Idolls fury was a Law and Faith and Loyaltie and Obedience to lawfull power were damnable Servants had the rule over Princes England was near a slavery the most unworthy of free and ingenious spirits of any What I relate here to speak something of the Story I collect out of Sir John Froissart a French-man living in the times of King EDVVARD the third and his Grandchild King RICHARD who had seen England in both the reigns was known and esteemed in the Court and came last over after these Tumults were appeased and out of Thomas of Walsingham a Monk of St. Albanes in Henry the sixth's dayes who sayes Bale in his centuries of him writes many the most choice passages of affairs and actions such as no other hath met with In the main and to the substance of things I have made no additions no alterations I have faithfully followed my Authors who are not so historically exact as I could wish nor could I much better what did not please me in their order No man saies Walsingham â—an recite fully the mischiefs murders sacriledge and cruelty of these Actors he excuses his digesting them upon the confusion of the combustions flaming in such varietie of places and in the same time Tyler Litster and those of Hartfordshire take up most part of the discourse Westbrome is brought in by the halves the lesser Snakes are onely nameâ— in the Chronicle What had been more had not been to any purpose Those were but types of Tyler the Idoll â—nd acted nothing but acrording to the Original according to his great example they were Wolves alike and he that reads one knowes all Thomas of Becket Simon of Montfort the English Catalinâ— Thomas of Lancastor Rebels and Traitors of the former years are Canonised by the Monks generally the enemies of their Kings miracles â—ake their Tombeâ— illustrious and their Memories sacred The Idol and his Incendiaries are abhorred every where every History detests them while Faith Civility Honesty and Piety shall be left in the world the enemies of all these must neither be beloved nor pitied THE RUSTICK RAMPANT OR RURAL ANARCHY THe Reign of King Richard the second was but a throw of State for so many years a Feaver to whose distempers all pieces of the home Dominions contributed by fits * the forraign part onely continuing faithfull in the fourth year of his reign and fifteenth of his age the dregs and off-scum of the Commons unite into bodies in severall parts of the Kingdome and form a Rebellion called the Rebellion of the Clownes which lead the rest and shewed the way of disobedience first Of whiâ—h may truly be said though amongst other causes we may attribute it to the indisposition and unseasonablenesse of the age that the fruits of it did not take it was strongly begun and had not Providence held back the hand the blow had faln the Government had broke into shivers then The young King at this time had few besides Thomas of Woodstock his Uncle Earle of Buckingham and after Duke of Glocester but the servants of his house in ordinary about him the Lord Edmund of Langly Earle of Cambridge after Duke of York with the Lords Beauchampe Botereaux Sir Matthew Gourney with others of the Nobility and Gentry had set saile for Portugall the Duke John of Lancaster another of his Uncles was in Scotland treating a peace when this commotion brake out Though no cause can be given for Seditions those who designe publick troubles can never want pretences Polidore as much out in this story as any gives this reason for this The Poll-mony sayes he imposed by Parliament a groat Sterling upon every head was intolerable It was justly imposed and so by some to whom Law and Custome of Engl. were intolerable not to be endured but we shall find in the tyranny breaking in not onely fifth and twentieth parts and loanes forced out of feare of plunder and death but subsidies in Troops and Regiments by fifties more than Sequestrations and Compositions not under foot low sales for what had these Rascalls to give but downright Robbery and violent usurpation of Estates Thus would Polidore have it in defence of his Priests who blew the fire and thrust the silly rout into the midst of it He takes it ill that Baal valle he calls him should be supposed by I know not what flaterers of the Nobles to have filled these sailes to have let these windes out of their Caverns In the fourth yeare of this King sayes the Monk there was a grievous Tax exacted in Parliament after cause of great trouble every Religious paid half a Mark every Secular Priest as much every Lay-man or Woman 12d This might discontent the people but who prepared the Mutineers for such dangerous impressions who fell in with them after and pushed them forward will be soon found Froissart complaines of the servitude of the villanes or Bond-men now Names worne out a miserable sort of drudges frequentlâ—â— knowne here in the Saxon times excluded from any right of propriety sold and passed away with the Mannour or Lands to which they belonged bound to til the Lords ground cut downe and carry in his Corne cleanse his Ditches cover his Halle Qâ— These Fraissart make the first stirrers
force of one sedition your whole life and reigne will be nothing but a continuation of broyles and tumults if you assert your soveraigne authority betimes not onely these doults these sots but all men else will reverence you remember Sir God by whom lawfull Princes reigne whose vicegerent you are would not forgive rebellion in Angels you must not trust the face Petitions delivered you upon Swords points are fatall if you allow this custome you are ruined as yet Sir you may be obeyed as much as you please Of this opinion was Sir Robert Hales Lord Prior of Saint John of Jerusalem newly Lord Treasurer of England a magnanimous and stout Knight but not liked by the Commons When this resolution was known to the Clownes they grow starke mad they bluster they swear to seek out the Kings Traitours for such now they must go for No man was either good or honest but he who pleased them the Archbishop and Lord Prior to chop off their Heads here they might be trusted they were likely to keep their words Hereupon without more consideration they advance toward London not forgetting to burne and rase the Lawyers and Courtiers houses in the way to the Kings honour no doubt which they will be thought to Arme for Sir John Froissart and others report this part thus which probably might follow after this refusall The Rebells say they sent their Knight * so they called him yet was he the Kings Knight for Tyler came not up to dubbing we finde no Sir John nor Sir Thomas of his making Sir John Moton to the King who was then in the Tower with his Mother his halfe brothers Thomas Holland Earle of Kent after Duke of Surry and the Lord Holland the Earles of Salisbury Warwick and Oxford the Archbishop Lord Prior and others The Knight casts himselfe downe at the Kings feet beseeches him not to looke upon him the worse as in this quality and imployment to consider he is forced to doe what he does He goes on Sir the Commons of this Realme those few in Armes comparatively to the rest would be taken for the whole desire you by me to speake with them Your Person will be safe they repute you still their King this deserved thanks but how long the kindnesse will hold we shall soone finde they professe that all they had done or would doe was for your honour For your glory your honour and security are their great care they will make you a glorious King fearfull to your enemies and beloved of your Subjects they promise you a plentifull and unparallell'd revenue They will maintaine your power and authority in relation to the Lawes with your royal person according to the duty of their allegeance their protestation their vow their solemne League and Covenant without diminishing your just power and greatnesse and that they will all the dayes of their lives continue in this Covenant against all opposition They assure you Sir That they intend faithfully the good of your Majesty and of the Kingdome and that they will not be diverted from this end by any private or selfe-respects whatsoever But the Kingdome has been a long time ill governed by your Uncles and the Clergy especially by the Archbishop of Canterbury of whom they would have an account They have found out necessary Counsels for you they would warne you of many things which hitherto you have wanted good advise in The conclusion was sad on the Knights part His Children were pledges for his returne and if he faile in that their lives were to answer it Which moved with the the King He allowes the excuse sends him back with this answer that he will speake with the Commons the next Morning which it should seeme the report of the outrages done by the Clownes upon his refusall this Message made him consent to At the time he takes his Barge is rowed downe to Redriffe the place nearest the Rebells ten thousand of them descend from the Hill to see and treat with him with a resolution to yeild to nothing to overcome by the Treaty as they must have done had not the Kings seare preserved him When the Barge drew nigh the new Councell of state sayes our Knight howled and shouted as though all the Devills of Hell had been amongst them Sir John Moton was brought toward the River guarded they being determined to have cut him in pieces if the King had broke his promise All the desires of these good and faithfull Counsellours contracted suddenly into a narrow roome they had now but one demand The King askes them what is the matter which made them so earnestly sollicit his Presence They have no more to say but to intreat him to land Which was to betray himselfe to them to give his Life and Soveraignty up to those fickle Beasts to be held of them during their good pleasures which the Lords will not agree to The Earle of Salisbury of the antient Nobility and illustrious house of Montacute tells them their equipage and order were not comely and that the King ought not to adventure amongst their troopes They are now more unsatisfied and London how true soever to the Cause and faithlesse to the Prince shall feele the effects of their fury Southwark a friendly borough is taken up for their first quarters Here againe they throw downe the Malignants Houses and as a grace of their entrance breake up the Kings prisons and let out all those they finde under restraint in them not forgetting to ransack the Archbishops house at Lambeth and spoyle all things there plucking downe the Stews standing upon the Thames banke and allowed in the former ages It cannot be thought but that the Idol loved Adultery well enough but perhaps these publick bawdy-houses were too uncleane and might stinke in his nostrils we cannot finde him anywhere quarelling with the Beares those were no Malignants They knocked not long at the City-gates which some say were never shut against them or as others quickly opened The Citizens fancyed themselves privy Counsellours borne inspired from their shoppes for affaires of State and would not suppose the Reformation could be effected without them they were rich by lyes and all the most sordid wayes of falshood and must be sage and knowing pride the first sinne the Devill taught man tickles them The Major Sir William Waleworth whose memory while truth and loyalty shall be thought virtues must be honourable and nine of the Aldermen held for King Richard in vaine a prosperous wicked chief shall never want wicked instruments Three Aldermen and the greatest part of the people for the King of the Commons the Idol and his Priests Those the confiders and well affected to Tyler forbid their Major to keep him out owne his actions as done for the good of the faithfull people of the Land and the Common-wealth his followers for their Brethren and Companions of the holy Cause They vow to live and dye with Tylar
Majesty and the just rights and liberties of his people which they saw like to perish together Farther a Knight of the Court seconds the report and by proclamation in the Kings Name now legall againe commands this herd to keepe the Kings peace under forfeiture of life and members from that houre The King now growne a Protectour againe of his Subjects sends his Letters protectory to the Abbot in these words RIchard c. To all our Lieges and Commons of Hartford c. We pray Charge Command streightly as we may c. by the faith and ligeances which to us yee owe that to our Beloved in God the Abbot of St. Albane nor to our House and Monastery of the said place of our Patronage nor to none of the People Monkes nor others nor to none of the goods of the said Monastery c Yee suffer to be done as much as in you lies any grievance dammage c. Given under our Great Seale at our City of London c. Though now these Carles were well cooled yet ere the zeale was quite slakened and the Clouds dispelled which hovered weakely and were likely to scatter with the next breath of winde they conclude to perfect their building which to the great nusance of this Monastery they had raised Besides the Lieutenants or Major Generalls of Tyler thought it a much unworthinesse to droope too soon before those whom they had summoned in to piece up their deformed insurrection with so much bravery and insolence They continue and pursue their requests to the Abbot but with lesse noise than formerly the Abbot was advised by Letters from Sir Hugh Segrave Lord Steward of the Houshold and Sir Thomas Percy created after Earle of Worcester to grant all things assuring him these grants being thus forced from him would be voide in Law and could not hurt his Monastery The Abbots Chamber the Chappell all places are full of them they give directions to the Abbots Clerke for their Charter of Liberties which now they were contented to accept but will have a Bond of one thousand pounds sterling for the delivering up the Charter unknowne before the annunciation of the blessed Virgin next if it can be found if not that the Abbot with his twelfth hand an antient Saxon manner of purging or clearing the offender where the offence was secret with twelve of his chiefe Monkes should sweare that he neither has nor detains any such Charter with his knowledge The Abbot agrees he and the Covent Seale But oh the miracle not to be believed nor understood without another upon our faith and understanding the Seale in which the glorious Protomartyr was figured three times together could not be pulled from the Wax no sleight no strength could doe it To passe by the pious frauds and dreames of Monkes from thence the black-bands depart to the Market place there at the Crosse they publish their new Acquisitions the Charters of the King and Abbot with the Kings protection of the Monastery which was but a counterfeit of their love On Munday and Tuesday following the villeins of the Patrimony of our Protomartyr as the others did in all places else imbroiled exact of the Abbot deeds of manumission and Liberty according to the effect of the Royall Charter before which Charter the Abbot recites and confirmes From villeins these now conceive themselves Gentlemen of Welsh pedegree descended of Princes nay as our Monk noble beyond the line and race of Kings they are meere free-holders hold onely of God and the Sunne rather of the Sun and club and will neither performe their customes and services nor pay Rent The common people who are neither swayed by Religion or Honesty stop and check themselves not that they were contented but because they could not nay they durst not goe on to more The plague of this distemper was not onely epidemicall but kept its dayes on the fatall Saturday fifty thousand Clownes out of Suffolke Essex Cambridgeshire the Isle of Elie places miserably harrassed according to the former presidents were incorporated by the jugling tricks of the Essexian impostors sent out by the Fathers of disobedience in the first conception of the ruffle to inveigle proselites to the Holy League This was but an indigested Masse without shape or forme Wraw not Straw as sometimes he is called a most lend Presbyter as Walsingham or Priest who came from London the day before with Orders from Tyler who according to his owne establishment had the executive power was imployed into those parts to lick and fashion the Monster He with Robert Westbrome King of this Congregation lead the tatter'd reformers from Mildenhall to St. Edmunds bury where then stood a most glorious Monastery and where their fellow scoundrells expected them Wraw findes these choperloches good disciples willing to learne and quick of apprehension so capable they understood his least signes The same frenâ—ies are againe acted by other Lunaticks the Lawyers or Apprentices of the Law as the Monke and their houses are the first objects of their spight they doe not onely cut off them but fire their nests Lâ—r John Cavendish chiefe Justice of the Kings Bench 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 Tracie Nero the Romane Belgabred 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
vanished sneaked off the stage They tell him Sir John you must be our Captaine and which shewes the power of his Commission you shall do what we will have you The Knight likes not their company he tries his best wit language to be rid of them but could not prevaile they reply downright Sir John if you will not doe what we will have you you dye for it we will not be denied but at your perill Enough was said the Knight yeelds but his charge of Captaine Generall is forgotten we shall see hereafter what use they make of him and in what manner he must be imployed This example is followed in the other Countries The Gentry did not onely lose their Estates and honour but their courage and gallantry their blouds were frozen feare had stifled their Spirits The Clownes as the Knight had brought them into such obeysance that they caused them to go with them whether they would or not they fawned on them humbled themselves to them like Dogs groveling at their feet The Lord Molines Sir Stephen Hales Sir Thomas Guysighen this Sir John Moton and others were Attendants and vassales to the Idoll Every day new heaps of men flock to them like Catilines Troops all that were necâ—ssitous at home unthrifts broken fellowes such as for their misdeeds feared the Justice of the Lawes who resent the dangerous and distracted state of the Kingdome alike and will no doubt hammer out an excellent reformation they will mend their owne condition which will be enough we must expect no more and now the confidence in their strength made them bold enough to throw off their maske of Hypocrisie they began to open the inside They departed from Rochester sayes Froissart and passed the River he sayes the Thames at Kingstone and came to Brentford where I thinke he leads them out of their way beating downe before them and round about the places and Houses of advocates and procurers and striking off the heads of diverse persons Walsingham tells us who those advocates and procurers were All men sayes he were amused some looked for good from the new Masters others feared this insurrection would prove the destruction of the Realme The last were not deceived All the Lawyers of the Land so he goes on as well the Apprentices Counsellours as old Justices all the Jury-men of the Countrey this was Priest Balls charge they could gripe in their clutches had their heads chopped off It was a maxime of the Cabal That there could be no liberty while any of these men were suffered to breathe From little to great they fell upon things which they never thought of in their first overflow which Guicciardine observes in civill discords where the Rebellion is fortunate and mens mindes are puft up with successe to be ordinary The statue of Cumaean Apollo weeps for the destruction of Cumae we shall here reade of men without sense or apprehensions both the stories will seem as incredible The stupid Nobility and Gentry sleep in their Houses till they are roused by these bloud-hounds that they might seem to deserve the calamity â—umbling upon their heads They were becomming tenants at will in Villeinage to their vassalls under their distresse their Taske and Taxes more by the Sottish basenesse of themselves than any vertue in these Rascals Scorned and sleighted by every tatter'd Clunch Their Lands continually upon any Vote or Information to be sold or given away upon any information of loyalty or faithfulnesse the antient vertues of the Gentleman not to be found in that age and serving onely for a pretence to ruine no one could form an expectation of more than this to be the last man borne what was Polyphemus his kindnesse to Vlisses to be devoured lest all which they were contented to hazard and indure to preserve a shred or jagge of an incertaine ragged Estate for the health or mistresses sake subject ever to the violence of the same lawlesse spoiling force which maimed and rent it before Next to returne to this riffraffe their cruelty reaches to Parchment Deeds Charters Rolles of Courts Evidences are cast by them into the fire as if they meant to abolish all remembrance of things this was to defeat their Lords in the Claims of any antient Rights and to leave no man more title than themselves had to their Sword and power The Kentish and Essexian rout were joyned sayes the Monke but he tells us not where and approached neere London at Black heath they made an halt where they were neare 200000 strong Thither came two Knights sent by the King to them to inquire the cause of the Commotion and why they had amassed such swarmes of the people They answer they met to conferre with the King concerning businesse of weight they tell the Messengers they ought to goe back to the King and shew him that it behoves him to come to them they would acquaint him with their desires we shall quickly discover why his presence was required upon return of the Knights it was debated in Councell by the Lords about the King whether he should goe or no some of the Table more willing to venture the King than themselves willing to throw him into the gulph or perhaps not senting the designe of the Clownes perswade him to see them Your Majesty thus they must make a tryall of these men necessity now must be looked on above reason if any thing can give the check to the uprores it must be your presence there can be no safety but in this venture it is now as dangerous to seeme not to trust as to be deceived fate is too much feared if it be imagined that this tree of your empire which has flourished so many ages can fall in an houre The Archbishop of Canterbury Simon Theobald of Sudbury Lord Chancellour of England the most Eloquent most Wise and most pious Prelate of the Age faithfull to his Prince and therefore odious to those who conspired against his Majesty and authority likes not the advise The King ought not sayes he to venture his person among such hoselesse ribaulds but rather dispose things so as to curbe their insolence Sir sayes he your sacred Majesty in this storme ought to shew how much of a King you can play what you will goe for hereafter by your present carriage you will either be feared for the future or contemned If you seriously consider the nature of these rough hewne savages you will finde the gentle wayes pernitious your tamenesse will undoe you mercy will ever be in your power but it is not to be named without the sword drawne God and your right have placed you in your throne but your courage and resolution must keep you there your indignation will be justice good men will thinke it so and if they love you you have enough you cannot Capitulate not treat with your rebells without hazarding your honour and perhaps your royall faith if you yeild to the