Diâ—caligaâ—os ribauldos 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 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 oâ— 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 * Grafton 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 feare preserved him When the Barge drew nigh the new Councell of state sayes our Knight Froiss 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 any where quarelling with the Beares those were no Malignants They knocked not long at the City-gates Wals which some say were never shut against them or
City and constantly accusing themselves for the Parricide of their spirituall Father Nothing was now unlawfull there could be no wickednesse after this They make more examples of barbarous cruelty under the name of Justice Robert Lord Prior of St. John and Lord Treasurer of England John Leg or Laige one of the Kings serjeants at Armes a Franciscan a Physitian belonging to the Duke of Lancaster whom perhaps they hated because they had wronged his Master a Frier Carmelite the Kings Confessour were murdered there in this fury Whose heads with the Archbishops were borne before them through London streets and advanced over the Bridge This while the King was softning the Rebells of Essex at Mile-end with the Earles of Salisbury Warwick and Oxford and other Lords Thither by Proclamation he had summoned them as presuming the Essexians to be the more civilized and by much the fairer enemies as indeed they were There he promises to grant them their desires Liberty pretious Liberty is the thing they aske this is given them by the King but on condition of good behaviour They are to cease their burning and destruction of Houses to returne quietly to their homes and offend no man in their way Two of every Village were to stay as Agents behinde for the Kings Charters which could not be got ready in time Farther the King offers them his Banners Some of theÌ„ were simple honest people of no ill meaning Froiss who knew not why the Garboils were begun nor why they came thither These were won and win others without more stir those of Essex returne whence they came Tyler and Baal are of another spirit they would not part so easily Tyler the future Monarch who had designed an Empire for himselfe and was now sceleribus suis ferox atque praeclarus famous for his villeinies and haughty would not put up so he and his Kentish rabble tarry The next day being Saturday the 17 of June was spent as the other dayes of their tyranny in Burning Ruining houses Murthers and Depopulations The night of this day the Idol and his Priest upon a new resolution intended to have struck at the neck of the Nation to have Murthered the King the Achan of the Tribes probably by beheading the death these parricides had used hitherto the Lords Gâ—ntlemen the wealthiest and honestest part of the Citizâ—ns then to have pillaged their Houses and fiâ—ed the City in foure parts they â—…ended this hast to avoid odiâ—us partneâ—shâ—p in the exploit and that those of Norfolke Suffolke and other parts might not share in the spoile This Counsell of destruction was against all policy more profit might have beene made of this City by Excise Assessment and Taxes upon the Trade Tyler might sooner have inriched himselfe and have been as secure Estate makes men losty fâ—are and poverty if we may trust Machiavel bend and supple every man had been in danger and obnoxious to him one Clowne had awed a street Near the Abby-Church at Westminster was a Chappell with an image of the Virgin Mary this Chappell was called the Chappell of our Lady in the Piew it stood near the Chappell of S. Steph. since turned from a Chappell to the Parliament house here our Lady then who would not believe it did great miracles Richards preservation at this time was no small one being in the hands of the multitude let loose and inraged There he makes his vowes of safety after which he rides towards these Sonnes of perdition under the Idol Tyler Tyler who meant to consume the day in Cavills protests to those who were sent by the King to offer those of Kent the same peace which the Essex Clownes had accepted That he would willingly embrace a good and honest Peace but the Propositions or Articles of it were only to be dictated by himselfe He is not satisfied with the Kings Charters Three draughts are presented to him no substance no forme would please he desires an accommodation but he will have Peace and truth together He exclaims that the liberty there is deceitfull but an empty name that while the King talkes of liberty he is actually levying Warre setting up his Standard against his Commons that the good Commons are abused to their owne ruine and to the miscarriage of the great undertaking that they have with infinite paines and labour acquainted the King with their humble desires who refuses to joyn with them misled and carried away by a few evill and rotten-hearted Lords and Delinquents contrary to his Coronation Oath by which he is obliged to passe all Lawes offered him by the Commons whose the Legislative power is which deniall of his if it be not a forfeiture of his trust and office both which are now uselesse it comes neare it and he is fairely dealt with if he be not deposed which too might be done without any want of modesty or duty and with the good of the Common-wealth The happinesse of the Nation not depending on him or any of the Regall Branches I will deliver the Nation from the Norman slavery and the world sayes he of an old silly superstition That Kings are onely the Tenants of Heaven obnoxious to God alone cannot be condemned and punished by any power else I will make here he lied not an wholsome President to the world formidable to all tyrannes I declare That Richard Plantagenet or Richard of Bourdeaux at this time is not in a condition to governe I will make no addresses no applications to him nor receive any from him though I am but a dry bone too unworthy for this great calling yet I will finish the work I will settle the Government without the King and against him and against all that take part with him which â—ufficiently justifies our Armes God with Vs sayes he owns them successe manifests the righteousnesse of our cause this is sayes he the voyce of the people by us their Representative and our Counsell After the Vote of no more Addresses which with all their other Votes of treasons were to be styled the resolution of the whole Realm and while he swells in this ruffle Sir John Newton a Knight of the Court is sent to intreat rather than invite him to come to the King then in Smithfield where the Idols Regiments were drawn up and treat with him concerning the additionall Provisions he desired to be inserted into the Charter No observance was omitted which might be thought pleasing to his Pride which pride was infinitely puffing Flattery was sweet to him and he had enough of it that made him bow a little when nothing else could doe it We may judge aâ— the unreasonablenesse of all his demands and supplyes of new Articles out of his instrument by one He required of the King a Commission to impower himselfe and a Committee teame of his owne choosing to cut off the heads of Lawyers and Escheators and of all those who by reason of their knowledge and place were any way imployed in the Law
against the Emperour Hen. the IIII. is called by the Germanes a Tyranne upon this score A full Tyrannie sayes one of our Chiefe Justices speaking of the Papall power in Church causes here has two parts without right to usurp and inordinately to rule and the Statute 28 of King Henry the 8. against the Papall Authority calls it an usurped Tyranny and the exercise of it a Robbery and spoyling of the King and his people The Statute 31 Henry 6. adjudging John Cade another Impe of Hell and successour of Wat to be a traitour which are the words of the title and all his Indictments and Acts to be voide speakes thus The most abominable Tyrannie horrible odious and arrant false Traytour John Cade naming himselfe sometime Mortimer he and Tyler had two Names taking upon him Royall power c. by false subtile and imagined language c. Robbing Stealing and spoyling c. And that all his Tyranny Acts Feats and false opinions shall be voyded and that all things depending thereof c. under the power of Tyranny shall be likewise voide c. and that all Indictments in times comming in like case under power of Tyranny Rebellion c. shall be voide in Law and that all Petitions delivered to the King in his last Parliament c. against his minde by him not agreed shall be put in oblivion c. as against God and conscience c. To proceed The King because all thâ—se risings were by the Ring leaders protested to be made for him and his Rights and that the forces then raised were raised by his Authority and all their actions owned by him issues out a Proclamation from London to this effect RIchard c. To all and singular Sheriffes Majors Bayliffs c. of our County of N. c. Because we are given to understand That divers of our Subjects who against our Peace c. have raised and in diverse Conventicles and Assemblies c. Do affirme That they the said Assemblies and Levies have made and doe make by Our will and Authority c. We make knowne to all men That such Levies Assemblies and Mischiefes from Our Will and Authority have not proceeded He addes they were begun and continued much to His displeasure and disgrace to the prejudice of His Crowne and dammage of the Realm Wherefore he injoynes and commands c. To take the best care for the keeping of his Peace opposing of all such Levies with a strong hand Farther He commands every man to leave such Assemblies and return home to his own house under penalty of forfeiture of Life and Member and all things forfeitable to the King c. These Clowns charge not the King to be transported Furiously and Hostilely to the destruction of the whole people which can never happen where the King is in his wits But what is fully as mad they will suppose him to Arme against his own life and power against his own peace and the peace of all that love him This Proclamation put life into the Royalists into all honest hearts and dismayes as much the Rebels yet after this the Essex Traitors gather again at Byllericay near Hatfield Peverell and send to the King now at Waltham to know whether he intends to make good his Grants of Liberties and require to be made equal with their Lords without being bound to any Suits of Court view of Frank pledge only excepted twice the year The King and his Counsell are startled at this impudence The King answers the Agents Wals That if he did not look upon them as Messengers he would hang them up Return sayes he to your fellow Rebels and tell them Clowns they were and are and shall continue in their Bondage not as hitherto but far more basely trampled on While we live and rule this Kingdom by Gods Will we will imploy all our Means and Power to keep you under So that your misery shall frighten all villeins hereafter And your posterity shall curse your memory At the heels of the Messengers the King sends his Unkle Thomas of Woodstock Earl of Buckingham and Sir Thomas Piercy with a body of Horse to quell them The Rebels weâ—… intrenched according to the manner of Litsters Camp in the midst of Woods Tâ—n Lances of the Avant Currours rout them the Lords when they were come up inclose the Woods round five hundred are killed eight hundred Horses for carriage taken the broken remainders of the defeat escape to Colchester Wals a Town ever honest and faithfull to the Prince where the loyal Townsmen would not be gotten to stir they sollicite the Townsmen saies the Monk with much intreaty great threats and many arguments neither intreaties nor threats nor arguments would move them From thence they get to Sudbury making every where such Proclamations as of old they had used where the Lord Fitzwalser whose seat was at Woodham Walters in Essex and Sir John Harlestone rush suddenly upon them kill and take them The King meaning to visite Essex in his own person comes to Havering at the boure a Mannour of his own demain of the sacred Patrimony and from thence to Chelmsford where he appoints Sir Robert Tresilian chief Justice of his Bench of Pleas of the Crown to sit and inquire of the Malefactours and Troublers of the Country and to punish the offendours according to the customs of the Realm known and visible Five hundred of these wretched peasants Wals who had no mercy for others heretofore cast themselves down before the King bare footed and with heads uncovered implore his pardon which he grants them on condition They discover the great Conspiratours the Captain Rogues The Jurors are charged by the chief Justices to carry themselves indifferently and justly in their Verdicts neither swayed by love or hatred to favour or prosecute any man Many upon the Evidence given in and the finding of the Jury were condemned to be drawn and hanged nineteen of them were trussed upon one Gallowes Heading had formerly been the execution of others in Essex Kent and London because of the numbers of the guilty which was now thought a death short of the demerits of the most foul and heynous offenders Wherefore according to the custom of the Realm It was decreed sayes the Monk that the Captains should be hanged The like was done in other Countries by the Justices in Commission where the King was in person Here the King with the advice of his Counsell revokes his Letters Patents the Charters granted to the Clowns Although so he speaks we have have in the late detestable troubles c. manumised all the Commons our Liege Subjects of our Shires and them c. have freed from all bondage and service c. And also have pardoned the same our Liege men and Subjects all Insurrections by Riding Going c. And also all manner of Treasons Felonies Trespasses and Extortions c. Notwithstanding for that the said Charters were without mature deliberation
motion tired with the mischiefes of the day drunk and asleep without Guards or Watch the Earle of Salisbury and the Nobility against whose Lives Honours and Fortunes these beasts had conspired desire the King to try all faire and gentle wayes of appeasing them which counsell he approves They were not so kind to themselves many lost their lives by the hands and swords of their companions every pettyd scontent or grudging being enough to provoke them Thirty two of them being drunk in a Cellar of the Savoy were immured there finding in the same place Death and the Grave together Some of them threw Barrels of Gunpowder which was little known then into the fire and are blown up with part of the Palace Proclamations were formerly made in Tylers name not in Strawes as Polydore wâ—uld have it Straw was this while busied elsewhere Thâ— Country about was by these Proclamations summoned to repaire to London with all speed to spoyle this Babylon The close menaces leâ—t they provoke Gods Judgments pluck them down upon their heads which themselves explain if ye faile if ye and your Officers give not obedience freely to the Protector we will send out 20000 men 20000 of our Locusts who shall burn the Towns of the children of disobedience Those of S. Albanes and Barnet whose famous deeds challenge a place in this story by themselves struck with the thunder of this edict haste to London Wals in their journey thither at Heibury a retiring house of the Lo Prior of S. John neere Istington they finde 20000. or thereabouts casting downe the firmer parts of the house which the fire could not consume Richard Jack Straw Captain of this herd calls these new comers to him and forces them to sweare to adhere to King Richard and the Commons How long this Oath will be sworne to we shall see and how much the safer the King will be for it We shall see too what is lost by this new Union of King and Commons by the new fellowship to observe the horrible irreligious hypocrisie of these Clownes who onely would be thought the Protectors of his Crown and Person They alone had decreed his ruine who sweare thus often to prevent it to guard him from it A Treason not to be believed by some then till it had taken The Commons were then divided into three Bodies this with Jack Straw the second at Mile end under the Essexian Princes Kirkby Treder Scot and Rugge the third on Tower-hill where the Idoll and Priest Baal were in chiefe This last crue grew horribly rude and haughty the Commons there were not contented to be the Kings Tasters and no more they snatch the Kings provision violently from the Purveyours he is to be starved for his own good and after Harpies or Vultures choose you whether strike high like brave birds of prey they will kill no more Flies this was the way to secure their smaller mischiefs Polydores conceit that the Archbishop and Lord Prior of S. John were sent out by the King to allay their heat is not probable Walsingham relates it thus That they demanded these two with full cryes no doubt of Justice Justice with some others Traitours by their Law a Fundamentall never to be found or heard of before to be given up to them by the King with all the earnestnesse and violence imaginable They give him his choice bid him consider of it they will either have the blood of these their Traitours or his Wals alias scirâ—… semetipsum vita privaÌ„dum they making all those Delinquents who attended on him or executed his lawfull commands whom say they The King with an high and forcible hand protects will not be appeased unlesse they be delivered up conjuring him to be wise in time and dismisse his extraordinary guards his Cavaliers and others of that quality who seem to have little interest or affection to the publike good Whether the Tower doores flew open at this fright or the Man-wolfes crowded in at the Kings going out to appease the party at Mile-end as Sir John Froissart tells it Wat the Idol with Priest Baal are now masters of the Tower into which on Friday the 16 of June they entred not many more than 400 of their company guarding them where then were commanded six hundred of the Kings men of Armes and six hundred Archers a Guard not so extraordinary as was necessary then all so faint-hearted so unmanned at the apparition at the sight of these Goblins they stood like the stones of Medusa remembred not themselves their honour nor what they had been The Clownes the most abject of them singly with their Clubs or Cudgels in their hands venture into all the rooms into the Kings Bed-chamber which perhaps had been his Scaffold had he been there sit lie and tumble upon his Bed they presse into his Mothers Chamber where some of the merry wanton Devills offer to kisse her others gâ—ve her blowes break her head She swownes and is carryed privately to the Wardrobe by her servants Some revile and threaten the noblest Knights of the Houshold some stroke their beards with their uncleane hands which beyond the Romane patience in the same rudenesse from the Gauls is indured and this to claw and sweeten they meant it so they glose with smooth words and bespeak a lasting friendship for the time to come they must maintain the injuries done to themselves must not disturbe the usurpers of their Estates and Rights must not shew any sense of generosity of faith of honour it concerned Tyler that they should be the veryest fools and cowards breathing if they stir make any Claimes they shall be reputed seditious turbulent and breakers of the publick otherwise and plainly Tylers peace It was never heard sayes the Emperour Charles in Sleidan that it should be lawfull to despoile any man of his estates and rights and unlawfull to restore him Our Tyler and his Anabaptists thought otherwise As Walsingham they went in and out like Lords who were varlets of the lowest rank and those who were not Cowherds to Knights but to Bores value themselves beyond Kights Here was a hotchpotch of the rabble a mechanick sordid state composed as those under Kettes Oke of Reformation after Of Countrey gnooffes Hob Dick and Hick with Clubs and clouted shoon Nevilli kettus A medley or huddle of Botchers Coblers Tinkers Draymen of Apron men and Plough-joggers domineering in the Kings Palace and rooting up the plants and wholsome flowers of his Kingdome in it This place was now a vile and nasty sty no more a Kings Palace who will value a stately pile of building of honourable title or Ant que memory since Constantine when it is infected with the plague haunted by Goblins or possessed by Theeves The knights of the Court were but knights of the Carpet or Hangings No man seemed discontented all was husht and still White hall was then a Bishops Palace the Tower was to be prepared for Tylers
not be observed faire Law is handsome but it is not to be given to Wolves and Tygers Tyler was a traytour a common enemy and against such sayes a Father long agone evâ—ry man is a Souldier whosoevâ—… struck too struch as much in his owne defence in his owne preservation as the Kings and the safety of the King and People made this course necessary besides Tylers crimes were publick and notorious The generous Lord Major obeyes the sentence which was given by the same power by which the Judges of Courts sate and acted when Justice flowed down from the fountaine in the ordinary channell and which the damme head being thus troubled by this Wolfe could slow no otherwise which was authority sufficient by this power Richards Captaines must fight when he has them and kill those whom the Courts of Justice cannot deal with Tyler faints and shrinkes to what he had beene he was as cowardly as cruell and could not seem a man in any thing but that he was a theef and a rebell he askes the brave Major in what he was offended by him This was a strange question to an honest man he finds it so The Major sayes Froissart calls him false stinking knave and tells him he shall not speake such words in the presence of his naturall Lord the King The Major answers in full upon the accursed Sacrilegious Head of the Idol with his Sword He struck heartily and like a faithfull zealous subject Dagon of the Clownes sinkes at his feete The Kings followers inviron him round John Standish an Esquire of the Court alights and runs him into the belly which thrust sent him into another World to accompany him who taught Rebellion and murder first Event was then no signe of a good cause All History now brands him for a Traitour which by some will be attributed to his miscarriage without doubt had he prospered in the Worke he had had all the honours which goe along with prosperity Ut reus fit vincendus est The King had beene the wrong doer and his afflictions if nothing in so much youth could have beene found out had beene crimes we must overpower those whom we would make guilty Henry the great of France under the Popes interdict is told by a Gentleman Sir if we be overcome we shall dye condemned hereticks if your Majesty conquer the censures shall be revoked they will fall of themselves He who reads the mischiefes of his usurpation will thinke he perished too late Now I come to an Act of Richards the most glorious of his History which the Annals past can no where parallel here his infancy excells his after man-hood Here and in the gallantry of his death he appeares a full Prince and perhaps vies with all the bayes of his usurpers triumphs Alexander the Monarch of the world Not more wondered at for his victories then for that suppressing the Sedition of his Macedons in Asia tired and unable to march whither his ambition carried him on wings leaps from his Throne of State into the Battels of his Phalanges enraged Seises thirteene of the chiefe malecontents and delivers them to the custody of his Guards Curtius knowes not what he should impute this amazement of the Seditious to every man returning upon it to his old duty and obedience and ready to yeild himselfe up into the same hands it might be sayes he Lib. The veneration of the Majesty of Kings which the Nations submitted under worship equally with the Gods or of himselfe which laid the tempest That confidence too of the Duke Alessandro of Parma in a mutiny of the German Reiters at Namures is memorable who made his way with his Sword alone through the points of all their Lances into the middest of their Troops and brought thence by the coller one of the Mutineers whom he commanded to be hang'd to the terrour of the rest The youth of Richard begat rather contempt than reverence of which too these Clownes breasts were never very full When the fall of the Idol was known to the rout they put themselves into a posture of defence thunder out nothing but vengeance to the King and his whom they now arraign of Murder and Tyranny He is guilty of Innocent bloud a Tyrant a Traitour an Homicide the publique Enemy of the Common wealth Richard Plantaginet is indicted in the name of the people of England of treason and other heynous crimes He is now become lesse than Tylers Ghost a Traitour to the Free-borne people His treason was he would not destroy himselfe he would not open his body to Tylars full blow Walsingh Capitaneus noster They roare out our Captaine Generall is slaine treacherously let us stand to it and revenge his pâ—ecious bloud or die with him I cannot passe this place without some little wonder had these Ruffians with whom Kings hedged about by holy Scripture and Lawes humane are neither divine nor sacred beene asked whether Tyler the Idol of their own clay and hands might have been tryed touched or struck according to their resenting this blow here let his tyrannies his exorbitances have beene what they would they would have answer'd no doubt in the negative Though Richard might have been struck thorough and thorough Tyler who had usurped his power must have been sacred it must have been treason to touch him Phocas must not be hurt in Tylers case Straw would allow the old texts againe The powers were to be obeyed Their bowes were drawne when the King gallops up to them alone and riding round the throng asks them What madnesse it was that armed them thus against their own peace and his life whether they would have no end of things or demands He tells them if Lâ—berty be their onely aim as hitherto they have pretended they may assure themselves of it and that it is an extreme folly to seek to make that our owne with the breach of Faith of Lawes with impieties violating God and Man which we may come by fairely But they trod not the path to Liberty That where every man commands no man can be free the Liberty too they fancy cannot be had the world cannot subsist without Order and Subjection men cannot be freed from Lawes If they were there could be no society no civility any where Men must be shunned as much as Wolves or Beares rapine and bloud-shed would over-run the world the spoyler must feare the next comer like savage beasts who hurt others and know not it is ill to hurt them men would devour men the stronger Thiefe would swallow up the rest no Relations would be sacred where every man has the power of the Sword the aged fire could there be any such must defend his silver haires from the unnaturall violence of his own Sons He addes if there can be any just cause of Sedition yet is the Sedition unjust which outlasts it which continues when the cause is yeilded to and taken away that if his Prerogative has beene
least signes The same frâ—…siâ—s are againe acted by other Lunaticks the Lawyers or Apprentices of the Law as the Monke and their houses are the first objâ—ctâ— of their spight they doe not onely cut off them but fire their nests Lâ—… John Cavendish chiefe Justice of the Kings Bâ—nch who had beene one of the most able Serjeants of this Kings Grand-fathers Reigne and was made chiefe Justice by him they intercept and behead Orpheus Traâ—ie Nero the Romane Bâ—lgabred the Brittaine excellent in the sweetnesse of a voyce and skill of Song with John of Cambridge Prior of Saint Edmunds lose their lives in the same manner as they unluckily fell in to their hands The cause of the Priors death is made this He was discreet and managed the affaires of his Monastery faithfully and diligently he was taken neare Mildenhall a Towne then belonging to Saint Edmund of the demaine of the Abby the Vassalls Hindes Villeins and bond-men of the house sentenced him murthered him by Vote His body lay five dayes naked in the field unburied In Saint Edmunds-bury these cut-throats compasse the Priors head round as in a procession after they carry it upon a Lance to the pillory where that and the chiefe Justices head are advanced Their next worke was the levelling a new house of the Priours After they enter the Monastery which they threaten to fire unlesse John Lakinhethe Gardian of the temporalities of the Barony in the vacancy then were delivered to them which the Towns-men mingled in the throng put them upon the Gardian stood amidst the croud unknown This man out of piety to preserve the Monastery it was piety then though it may be thought impiety now discovers himselfe he tells them he is the man they seeke and askes what it is the Commons would have with him They call him traitor it was capitall to be called so not to be so drag him to the Market-place and cut off his head which is set upon the Pillory to keepe company with the Priors and chiefe Justices Walter of Todington a Monke was sought for they wanted his head but he hid himselfe and escaped Our hacksters errant of the round Table Knights of industry would be thought Generall redeemers to take care of all menin distresse For the Burgesses sake they command the Monkes threatning them and their walls if they obey not to deliver up all the obligations of the Towns-men for their good behaviour all the antient Charters from the time of King Cnut the Founder any way concerning the liberties of the Town besides they must grant and confirme by Charter the Liberties of the Towne which could not be done in the vacancy for so it was Edmund of Brumfield Abbot in name by provision of the Pope was a prisoner at Notingham nor had any election beene since the death of Abbot John Brivole and therefore the Jewels of the house are pawned to the Townsmen as a gage that Edmund of Brumfield whom they would suppose Abbot and whom they intended to set free should Seale which Jewels were a Crosse and Calice of Gold with other things exceeding in value one thousand pounds these were restored againe in time of peace but with much unwillingnesse Upon the brute of the Idols mishap and the suppression of his Legions at London these Caterpillers dissolve of themselves Wraw the Priest Westbrome the rest of the capitall villeins in the generall audit or doomesday for these hurliburlies shall be called to a reckoning for their outrages Cambridge suffered not a little in these uproars the Towns-men with the Country peasants about confederated together breake up the treasury of the University tear and burn its Charters they compell the Chancelour and Schollars under their common Seals to release to the Major and townsmen all rights and Liberties all actions and to be bound in 3000l not to molest the Burgesses by suits of Law concerning these things for the time to come The Mayor and Bailiffs were fetched up by writ to the next Parl. where the deeds were delivered up and Cancelled the Liberties of the towne seizâ—d into the Kings hand as forfeited new ones granted by him to the University all which they owe yet to the piety of this King and his Parliament a Court which the Idol never names had he set up one of his owne begetting it must have had nothing else but the name it would have beene as destroying as the field Norfolkâ— the Mother of the Kets would not loyter this while nor sit lazily and sluggishly looking on John Litster a Dyer of Norwich King of the Commons there infuses zeale and daring into his Country-men he had composed out of his owne Empire and the borders an Army of fifty thousand Men. This upstart Kingling would not wholly move by example he makes presidents of his owne and tramples not like a dull beast the road beaten by others He had heard what was done by the London Congregations he had a stock of traditions from the Elders there which he was able to improve and although I know not how he could exceed the Idol with his councell yet so the Monk exceede them he did he presumed greater things Tyler lost his life before things were ripe was watched and undermined by the King and Nobility he could not spread his full sailes else for his presumption he far out-goes Litster Litster the Norfolke Devil begins with plunder and rapine the onely way to flesh a young Rebellion The Malignants of the Kings party the rich and peaceable goe under that notion are made a prey no place was safe or priviledged Plots were laid to get the Lord William of Vfford Earle of Suffolke at his Mannor oâ— Vfford neer Debenham in Suffolke into the company out of policy That if the cause succeeded not then the Rebels might cover themselves under the shadow of that Pâ—ere The Earle warned of their intention rises from Supper and disguised as a Groom * Garcion of Sir Roger of Bois with a Port-mantue behind him riding by-waies and about ever avoiding the routs comes to St. Albanes and from thence to the King The Commons failing here possesse themselves of the places and houses of the Knights neare and compell the owners to sweare what they list and for greater wariness to ride the Country over with them which they durst not deny among those inthralled by this compulsion were the Lords Scales and Morley Sir John Brews Sir Stephane of Hales and Sir Robert of Salle which last was no Gentleman borne but as full of honour and loyalty as any man Knighted by the Kings Grand-father for his valour he was layes Froissart one of the biggest Knights in England a man not supple enough who could not bend before the new Lords He had not the solidity of judgement as some more subtle than honest call it to accommodate himselfe to the times Like Messala he would be of the Justest side let the fortune bâ— what it would he would not forsake Justice
under colour of following prudence he thought it not in vaine to prop up the falling Government perhaps his judgement may be blamed he stayed not for a fit time had he not failed here he had not fought against heaven against providence whose counsells and decrees are hid from us are in the clouds not to be pierced our understanding is as weake as foolish as providence is certein and wise Our hopes and feares deceive us alike we cannot resolve our selves upon any assurance to forsake our duty for the time to come Gods designes are knowne onely to himselfe It is despaire not piety despair too farre from that to leave our Country in her dangerous diseases in her publick calamities the insolency of injust men is a prodigie of their ruine and the incerteinty of things humane may teach us that those we esteeme most established most assured are not seldome soonest overthrowne Plato would not have men refer all things to fate there is somewhat in our selves sayes he not a little in fortune Ours are but cockfights the least remainder of force and life may strike a necking blow and by an unlooked for victory raise what is falne if death cannot be kept off if our Country cannot be saved by our attempts there is a comlinesse in dying handsomly not can any man be unhappy but he who out-lives it We have heard of Women who cast themselves into the fiery pits where their dead husbands are consumed of Vassals who stab themselves to follow their Prince into the next world of Otho's Praetorians of the Sâ—guntâ—nes burning in their Cities flamâ—s What can be so honourable as to dye for or with our Countrey oâ— Faith our Religion or Honesty to die with that which gave us life and liberty and sense of these Lusters Hog-herds vow to burne Norwich unless this Knight will come out to them which he does well mounted and forsakes his Horse to please them They seem to honour him highly and offer 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 â—ngage with the veryest perfidious Traitors living in their villanies He attempts to Horse himselfe againe but failes It was Treaton 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 mangle him to bits 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 carves before him and tastes his Meates and Drinkes the rest of the miserable Courtiers are imployed in their severall offices But when the fame 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 John 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 Thesâ— Messâ—…gers 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 things were carryed with eight Lances onely in his company and a few Archers He charges the Lord Morley and Sir John upon their Allegeance to tell him whether any of the Commons the Kings Traitors were with them They look upon the Bishop as a young rash man and the awe of their 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 struck off and fixed on a publick place at New-market 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 a galiant equipage and as quickly reaches 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 Raro simul bonam fortunam cum bona mente Liv. 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 pernicious 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 righteous 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
grave on Tower-hill or Smithfield where the faithfull lieges of his Crown were torn in pieces by these Canibals The reverence due to the annointed heads of Kings began to fall away and naked Majesty could not guard where Innocency could not But Tyler blinded with his owne fatall pride throws himself foolishly upon the Kings sword and by his over-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 Commons so their Chiefs or Captains would be called Here though the title of the Rebellion spoke fair was shewn 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 possessions firing their houses cutting off their Heads violating of all Rights be thought Gods blessing any evidence of his owning the Cause these Thieves and Murderers were well blessed and sufficiently owned Such was then 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 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 Hypod. Neust can recite fully the misehiefs murders sacriledge and cruelty of these Actors he excuses his digesting them upon the confusion of the combustions flaming in such varietie of places and in the same time Tyler Litster and those of Hartfordshire take up most part of the discourse Westbrome is brought in by the halves the lesser Snakes are onely named in the Chronicle What had been more had not been to any purpose Those were but types of Tyler the Idoll and acted nothing but acrording to the Original according to his great example they were Wolves alike and he that reads one knowes all Par. Wals Wiston c. Per Thomae Sanguiuem salva nos Breviar fest S. Tho. Cant. Rishang Polyd. D'Avilla Jaques Clem. the Paricide of Hen. 3. of France was prayed for as a Saint Thomas of Becket Simon of Montfort the English Cataline Thomas of Lancaster Rebels and Traitors of the former years are Canonised by the Monks generally the enemies of their Kings miracles make their Tombes illustrious and their Memories sacred The Idol and his Incendiaries are 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 IDOL OF THE CLOVVNES THe Reigne of King Richard the second was but a throw of State for so many yeares a Feaver to whose distempers all pieces of the home Dominions contributed by fits * Guiâ—… the forrain part onely continuing faithfull in the fourth yeare of his reigne and fifteenth of his Age the dregs and off scum of the Commons unite into bodies in severall parts of the Kingdome and forme a Rebellion called the Rebellion of the Clownes which lead the rest and shâ—wed the way of disobedience first Of which may truly be said Though amongst other causes we may attribute it to the indisposition and unseasonablenesse of the age that the fruits of it did not take it was strongly begun and had not Providence heldback the hand the blow had fallen the Government had broke into shivers then The young King at this time had few besides Thomas of Woodstock his Unkle Earle of Buckingham and after Duke of Glocester but the servants of his house in ordinary about him the Lord Edmund of Langly Earle of Cambridge after Duke of Yorke with the Lords Beauchamp Botercaux Sir Matthew Gourny with others of the Nobility and Gentry had set saile for Portugall the Duke John of Lancaster another of his Unkles was in Scotland treating a peace when this commotion brake out Though no cause can be given for Seditions those who designe publick troubles can never want pretences Polidore as much out in this story as any gives this reason for this The Polle money sayes he imposed by Parliament a groat sterling upon every head was intollerable It was justly imposed and so by some to whom Law and Custome of England were intollerable not to be indured but we shall find in the tyranny breaking in not onely fifth and 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
was by I know not what Ceremony perhaps like that Irish election by casting an old shoe over his head declared Prince of the rabble leades them to Rochester which will not come behinde Canterbury in kindenesse The people of the Towne sayes the Knight were of the same sect it seemes the Castle once one of the strongest in the Kingdome was now neither fortified nor manned the Governour Sir John Moton yeelds himself into their hands he was one of the Kings Family of his House-hold and must be thought awed as he was into the ingagement Here the Commons might be thought ashamed of their owne choyce they offer Sir John the Generalls staffe which had he accepted he must have commanded according to the motions of the Lieutenant Generall Tilers Spirit and when this turne had been over at the least stamp of his foot have vanished sneaked off the stage They tell him Sir John Froiss 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 Guyfighen this Sir John Moton and others were Attendants and vassales to the Idoll Wals qui censuram juris timebant propter malafacta c. Every day new heaps of men flock to them like Catilines Troops all that were necessitous 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 tumbling 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 Wals 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 Wals 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 Wals 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
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 was at his prayers where he had celebrated Masse thâ—t morning before the King Wals Sacram Communionem 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 were taken away that life was irkesome to him perhaps his pious feares for the Church and Monarchy both alike indangered and fatally tied to the same chain might make him weary of the World and that he could now die with more quiet of conscience than ever a quiet which these Parricides will not finde when they shall pay the score of this and their other crimes However the flattery of successe may abuse our death bed represents things in their owne shape and as they are after this the rout of Wolves enter prophanely roaring where is the Traitour where is the Robber of the Common people He answers not troubled at what he saw or heard Yee are welcome my Sonnes I am the Archbishop whom you seek neither Traitour nor Robber Presently these Limbes of the Devill griping him with their wicked clutches teare him out of the Chappell neither reverencing the Altar nor Crucifix figured on the top of his Crosier nor the Host these are the Monkes observations for which he condemnes them in the highest impiety and makes them worse than Divells and as Religion went then well he might condemne them so They dragge him by the Armes and hood to Tower hill without the Gates there they howle hideously which was the signe of a mischiefe to follow He askes them what it is they purpose what is his offence tells them he is their Archbishop this makes him guilty all his eloquence his Wisdome are now of no use he addes the murder of their Soveraigne Pastour will be severely punished Qui pastor c. some notorious vengeance will suddenly follow it These destroyers will not trouble themselves with the idle formality of a mock-trial or Court of their own erecting an abominable Ceremony which had made their impiety more ugly they proceed down right and plainly which must be instead of all things He is commanded to lay his neck upon the block as a false traitour to the Commonalty and Realm To deale roundly his life was forfeited and any particular charge or defence would not be necessary his enemies were his Accusers and Judges his enemies who had combined and sworne to abolish his order the Church and spoile the sacred patrimony and what innocency what defence could save Without any reply farther he forgives the Heads man and bowes his Body to the Axe After the first hit he touches the wound with his hand and speakes thus Ahâ—… manus Domini It is the Hand of the Lord. The next stroke falls upon his hand ere he could remove it and cuts off the tops of his fingers after which he fell but died not till the eight blow his body lay all that day unburied and no wonder all men were throughly scared under the tyranny of these Monsters all Humanity all Piety were most unsafe The Archbishop dyed a Martyr of loyalty to his King and has his Wals miracles Recorded an honour often bestowed by Monkes friends of Regicide and Regicides on Traitours seldome given to honest men In his Epitaph his riming Epitaph where is showne the pittifull ignorant rudenesse of those times he goes for no lesse he speakes thus Sudburiae natus Simon jacet hic tumulatus Martyrizatus nece pro republica stratus Sudburies Simon here intombed lies Who for the Commonwealth a Martyr dies It is fit sayes Plato that he who would appeare a just man become naked that his virtue be despoiled of all ornament that he be taken for a wicked man by others wicked indeed that he be mocked and hanged The wisest of men tell us †Eccles 7. 15. There is a just man that perisheth in his righteousnesse and there is a wicked man that prolongeth his life in his wickednesse The Seas are often calme to Pirates and the scourges of God the executioners of his fury the Gothes Hunnes and Vandalls heretofore Tartars and Turkes now how happy are their Robberies how doe all things succeed with them beyond their wishes Our Saviours Passion the great mysterie of his Incarnation lost him to the Jewes his Murtherers Whereupon Grotius notes Grot. Sape à deo permitti ut pii ab impâ—…s non vexenturâ—… sed in eâ—…ficiantur It is often permitted by God that pious men be not onely vexed by wicked men but murdered too He gives examples in Abel Isaiah and others the MESSIAH dyed for the sins of the world Ethelbert and Saint Edmund the East-Angles Saint Oswald the Northumbrian Saint Edward the Monarch c. Saxon Kings are examples at home Thucydides in his narration of the defeat and death of Nician the Athenian in Syeily speaks thus Being the man who of all the Grecians of my time had least deserved to be brought to so great a degree of misery It is too frequent to proclaim Gods Judgments in the misfortunes of others as if we were of the Celestiall Councell had seen all the Wheels or Orbs upon which Providence turns and knew all the reasons and ends which direct and govern its motions men love by a strange abstraction to separate Facts from their Crimes where the fact is beneficiall the advantage must canonize it it must be of heavenly off-spring a way to justifie Cain Abimelech Phocas our third Richard Ravilliac every lucky parricide whatsoever Alexander Severus that most excellent Emperour assassinated by the Militia or Souldiery by an ill fate of the Common-wealth for Maximinus a Thracian or Goth Lieutenant Generall of the Army a cruell Savage tyrant by force usurped the Empire after him Replyed to one who pretended to foretell his end That it troubled him not the most renowned persons in all ages die violently This gallant Prince condemned no death but a dishonest fearfull one Heaven it selfe declared on the Archbishops side and cleared his innocency Starling of Essex who challenged to himselfe the glory of being Heads man fell mad suddenly after ran through the Villages with his Sword hanging naked upon his brest and his Dagger naked behinde him came up to London confest freely the fact and lost his â—…nd there As most of those did who had said their hands upon this Archbishop comming up severally out of their Countries to that
Martyrs of the Faith ten shine glorious Starres in the Calender of Saints were all nursing Fathers of the Church scareely was there one in the illustrious rolle who gave not Lands and Possessions with Exemptions and Immunities to the Church who erected not Bishopricks or Monasteries into which thirty of our crowned heads Kings or Queenes entred the superstition of the â—gâ—… then ought not to blemish their Piety The Mercian King Offa his Son Ecgfryd King Ethelred King Edward are the founders and donours of St. Albanes what King Henry the first did for the Towne I cannot say nor how ample its Liberties were then this is true he confirmes the grants of the Saxon Princes to the Monastery All these grants end with horrible curses against Sacriledge and addes the Norman seale to strengthen the Saxon Crosses this is all but truth is not necessary in such uproares the credulity of a light headed multitude is quickly abused their duty and obedience easily corrupted without it To keepe our way Both these Counsels are approved Walsingh William Greyndcob an Hâ—…de who had eaten the breade of the Monastery for the most part of his life is elâ—cted with others and sent on this errand to the King before whom he kneeles six times out of zeale to prevaile This Lob too was made principall Prolocutor sayes our Monk Walsingh or Speaker to the Idol before whose sordid Excellency and his uncleane Councell he complaines of the grievous tyranny of the Abbot and Prior some few Monks are thrust in to make up the number of the oppressures of the Commons of withholding the wages of poor Labourers the design was to rowze the Wolfe Tyler meant not to leave London yet he promises if need be to send twenty thousand of the Saints who shall not fail to shave the beards of the Abbot and the rest which signified in plain English cutting off their heads The gracious Captaine Generall was yet more kind he vowes if it be convenient to assist them in his owne person He gives them directions and orders to governe themselves by and makes their obedience here a condition of his love These Orders were generally injoyned by our English Mahomet through all the Provinces of his Conquest and were framed according to the Law of his bloody Alchoran He sweares them to omit nothing either in his Commands or Doctrine A servant of the Abbot one of the spies upon the Townsmen rides in full career to S. Albanes and gives intelligence to the Abbie of the exploits of the New Masters at London He tells them in what manner that â—…t of a Captaine Tyler sullyed and polluted with the bloud of the Noblesse had butchered the English Patriarch and the Lord Treasurer That London the den of these ravenous beasts falsly called The Chamber of her Kings was likely now to become the Charnelhouse of Richard and his Loyall vassals That these Fiends who would goe for Saints and the onely good Patriots commit the acts of Theeves and Murtherers neither reverencing Religion nor Lawes And that the Conquering French who makes faire war nay the barbarous Scot broke out of the fastnesse of his owne Desart mortall enemies of the Nation could not spoile nor ruine with more cruelty and villanie No Mercy sayes he yeild who will upon mercy no favour no goodnesse can be expected from this rout of Wolves He bids those pointed at and named by Greyndcob to Tyler shift for themselves which they are not long in resolving of The Prior four Monks and some of their servants one part horsed another on foot fly for their lives not assuring themselves till they got to Tynmouth a Priory of this Monastery of Saint Albane in Northumberland William Greyndcob and William Cadindon a Baker on Friday had hastened to S. Albanes that they might make the honour of the atchievement theirs by first appearing in the action these brag aloud of the prosperity of affaires that they were no more drudges and slaves but Lords for the time to come that they had brought about great and wonderfull feats against the Abbie Wals ad diffiduciandum they propose first to defie the Abbot to renounce all amity and peace with him then to breake downe his folds and gates in Fauconwood Eywood and his other words and to pull down the Underbowsers house Subcellerâ—…rii standing over against the Fish-market and hindering the prospect of the Burgesses and Nobility of the Town this is their owne style a Nobility scarce to be parallel'd in the world discovered unlesse we fetch in the Man-eaters of Brasil who have neither Letters nor Lawes acknowledge neither God nor Prince This night the first Seene of the Tragedie is acted the next day being Saturday fatall to the Hangman Tyler the upstart Nobility of Churls assemble and make Proclamation That no man able to serve his Country presume to sleight the Lieutenants of the Idol but that every man furnish himself with such Arms as he can provide to attend them the Lieutenants in his own defence The Crew summoned are commanded to presse the Gentry for the service and to cut off the heads of those who would not joyn with them and sweare to be faithfull to them beheading burning houses forfeiture of goods were menaced to all that would not assist the Forces raised by Tyler and fight the Lords Battels that is for the Cause This sayes our Monke was the charge of their Lord and Master Wat this was his Rubric of blood Next Cum magna pompa with great pomp they march to Fauconwood to levell the slips of their haste and night-worke something they feared might be left whole upon review when Root and Branch were pared and torne up they retire The other Growtnolls of the Neighbourhood subject to the distresse or Siegniory of Saint Albane wait for them these were cited upon the same threats to meet and promised belly fulls cart loads of Liberties Now or never for the Liberty of the Subject and the power of godlinesse This supply swells them into huge hopes it puffs them up Greyndcob and Cadindon more haughty now than ever Lead their Battaâ—…s blustering with surly pride and disâ—…ine to the Gates of the Monastery which with the same loftinesse they command the Porter to set open Some of the company friends of the house had given private intelligence to the Abbots of the contrivances against him who had instructed his servants how to carry themselves towards this tag and rag of Swaines they observe them punctually That they may seeme pious in their entrance they free the publique Malefactors out of the Abbots prison but so that they should owe faith hereafter and grace of the benefit to the Commons a name the most honourable and which must swallow up all things else and inseparably stick to them One of the offenders whom they suppose unworthy of Liberty or life growne Judges and Executioners by the same inspiration and spirit they behead on the
but the will of our enemies in forme and rule they were made by them they favour them Perque uterum sonipes hic matris agendus And our Captaine Generall Tyler who has conquered a sad unhappy word where it is used of one part of a Nation against another and of Benjamin against Israel by the worst and least against the better and greater the makers of them the Law-givers was so become above the Lawes themselves your reasons when these Lawes were backed with force when your King could protect you before our successe might have served well enough Now we expected them not nor will we accept them He concludes in perswasion not to exasperate the godly party the righteous Commons who sayes he will not be appeased will not give over not lay downe Armes till they be Masters of their desires The Abbot entring into a new speech is againe stopped and told the thousand before the doores of his Monastery sent for him not to parly but consent which they looke he should be sudden in if not we sayes Wallingford the Lieutenants chosen by the Captaine representatives of the people will deliver up and resigne the powers to him which we received of him We have voted if you comply not to send for the Captaine Generall Tyler and twenty thousand of his Militia to the danger of this place and of the Monkes heads The Abbot here recites his good deeds how often in their necessities he had relieved them he had beene he sayes their spirituall Father thirty two yeares in all which time no man had beene grieved or oppressed by him this giving implyedly the lie to Wallingford they grant but will not be denied The Obligations and Charters which they require are delivered them which they burne in the Market-place neare the Crosse This did not content them they aske for an antient Charter concerning the Towne Liberties the capitall Letters of which say they were one of Gold another of Azure * De azorio The Abbot prayes them to be satisfied for the time he protests they have all he has to give them he knew of no more yet he would make a search and if any such deed could be found it should faithfully be delivered to them This too was the answer of the Covent it was agreed that the Abbot should after dinner disclaime under his hand and seale in all things prejudiciall to their Liberty In memory of an old suit betwixt Abbot Richard the first and the Townsmen in the reignes of William the second and Henry the first wherein the Townsmen were overthrown were laid Milstones before the doore of the * Locutorii Parler These John the Barber with others tooke away as a token of victory over the Law these they break into small pieces and distribute amongst the worthies as the sacred Bread is given in the Eucharist Who could forbeare teares sayes Walsingham Wals heaviâ—y bewailing these changes to see servants command their Lords who know not how to rule nor how to pity To see London once the noble head of our Cities become a stie for uncleane Swine Who would not tremble to heare that the Archbishop and the Lord Treasurer should be offered victimes to wicked spirits to the Kentish Idol the Kentish Saturne or Moloch and his Hob-goblings in the midst of the Kingdome Nay sayes he whose heart would it not have wounded through to have seene the King of England who of right for Majesty and dignity ought to precede all Kings in the World out of feare of his head observe the nods and becks of these varlets and the Nobility and Gentry mortified beasts trampled on by these scullions inslaved at their owne charge lick up their dust After dinner a sad dinner to the Monks this merdaille these stinkards throng before the gates and demand the Charter of Liberties which the Abbot had promised them to seale which was sent and read to them in the thickest of the rout If they please to accept it this was the Abbots Complement he is ready to seale They resolved never to be pleased with much scorne and pride answer by an Esquire of the Abbot That the Abbot must appoint some Clerk of his to attend them with Ink and Parchment Themselves would dictate and after the Abbot and Covent should confirme what was done when this humour was satisfied The safety and peace of the Monastery and Monkes were as desperate as ever The old Charter which they will everlastingly believe concealed must be produced else they will bury the Covent in the ruines of the Cloysters This Charter did certainly as they will have it conteine all their antient Liberties and priviledges and if this was true there was no great reason it should be in the Abbots keeping Here the Abbot imployes the most honourable Esquires of the Countrey as Mediatours to loften them and offers if they desire it to say Masse before them next morning Super Sacramentum and to sweare upon the Sacrament he should be about to take with what Monkes they would name that he kept from them no such Charter with his knowledge Make choice sayes he of what Liberties you can you shall have my Charters drawne they shall be granted you by it I will seale you a reall Charter instead of a fantasticall one never seene by you no where to be had The Abbot struggles in vaine against these waves this Charter of their fancies they will have Nor shall any other price redeeme the Monastery they intended the subversion of the house and wrangle thus crossely that they might seeme to have some pretences to doe it but because they had much businesse to goe about and could not be here and there too a truce was taken for that day and many of these pure brethren betake themselves to other parts some of them would not be prevailed with the Bread and Ale of the Monastery brought forth to them in huge Fat 's would not worke upon them to lay their fury they stayed onely for a leading hand Here an honest Burgesse interposes Ribaldi Ribaulds sayes he what is it you purpose most of you here are forrainers of the Villages about this is the most famous mischiefe which can be acted in this Countrey this Beacon must set all on fire and it is fit we who are Burgesses and Free-men of this Towne should give the on-set by this finenesse they are gained to quit the gates and joyne to the assistance of their fellow-labourers The rest of the day is spent by their united forces in overthrowing of houses clashing of vessells and spoiling of goods according to the rule of Walter Quod didicerantâ—… à Waltero the false founder of the order At night the Lieutenants make Proclamation under the Kings Banner commanding strong Guards to be set about the Towne that they may be assured against surprizes and about the river Werlam and Saint Germanes making it losse of the head to any Monke who
should be found issuing from or entring the Monastery that way This was done to set a trap for the Prior and those who fled with him They proclaimed also that whosoever could challenge any debts due to him from the Monastery might put in his claime and little proofe should be needed the next day and the Burgesses of the Towne would discharge as far as the goods of the Monastery would reach Much more was Magisterially throwne in to shew a cast of the present power which was no sooner done but there appeares a Farmour of the Mannor of Kingsbury belonging to this Abbey armed with his Sword and Buckler this man was much in arreares for his Farme and durst not peepe abroade from his lurking holes before these broyles which hiding of himselfe he imputes now to the injustice and cruelty of the Prior this chuffe demands one hundred Marks damages for the losses he had sustained in his absence and threatens to burne the grange of Saint Peter and Mannor-house of Kingsbury neare the Abby if he be not repaired twenty pounds he receives upon this demand and goes away swearing he would freely give it back againe for the Priors head Saturday night passed with much perplexity to the Monkes who were at their wits ends and lifes too they could not hope better things about the Charter which was no where extant but in the â—dodles of these cluster-fists But day and comfort broke out together upon them Suddenly this overflow of pride and arrogancy abated their loftinesse fell and their bristles were somewhat laid very unpleasing rumours concerning the Army were spread Wals foedae memoriae and the death of the Idol Tyrant Wat of stinking memory was certainely knowne and divulged and what was as stabbing that the Citizens of London growne wise and resolute either out of loyalty or which is the rather to be supposed experience of their new master began now to owne their Prince their naturall Lord unanimously and to side with him against all seditious opposers of his Majesty and the just rights and liberties of his people which they saw like to perish together Walsingh 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 Wals sterlingorum 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 Wals 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 Wals 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 leud Presbyter as Walsingham Sceleratiss Presbyt 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
know nothing it was the case of their fellows in mischiefe and might be their own They answer in a plain Ignoramus they can indict no man accuse no man Amongst all the sounder of these swine there was not one who had been faithless and disloyal to his natural Liege Lord not one breaker of his peace not one who could appear so to them The Knight seems not to understand the falsnesse and cunning of these Hob-naile perjured Juglers He takes another way and next requires them within a peremptory time to bring him the Charters which they had forced from the Monastery they return after a short consultation and in the Abbots chamber where the Knight then was tell him They dare not obey out of fear of the Commons what was more they knew not in whose custody the Charters were The Knight grows angry 〈◊〉 swears they shall not goe out of the Chamber till he have them which they call imprisoning their persons Here the Abbot intercedes and though he knew them as very knaves and lyars as any Tyler had set on work yet he will not he sayes distrust their honesty he will leave things to their consciences upon which they are freed Another Assembly is appointed at Barnet Wood whither the Vâ—llagers about throng in multitudes Three hundred Bowmen of Barnet and Berkhamsted make here so terrible a show nothing is done The Commissioners privately charge the Gentry Constables and Baylifs to seize in the night Greyncob Cadindon John the Barber with some others and to bring them to Hartford whither themselves went in all haste which was performed The Esquires and servants of the Abby were sent with them to strengthen the company This inrages the Townsmen afresh they gather into Conventicles in the Woods and Fields so much frightful to the Monastery that the Abbot recalls his Esquires le ts the prosecution fall and fearfully summons in his friends to guard him Greyndcobs friends take advantage of this change and bayl him for three dayes within which time they were either tyed to agree with the Abby or render up Greyndcob to the Justices again The Townsmen fierce enough still yet earnest to preserve their Worthy are content to part with the Charters But this Greyndcob more fool-hardy than wise would not consent to Nor does he as knowing the stifnesse of his Clowns whine in a Religious tone never used by him He prayes them to consider how beautifull Liberty is how sweet how honourable Dangerouâ— Liberty sayâ—s he is more valuable than sate and quiet slavery let us live or die with Liberty in so generous so honest a contention it will be glorious to be overcomâ— whatsoever our feares are worse we cannot be than now we are about to make our selves Successe too does not so often faile men as their owne industry and boldnesse Feare not for me nor trouble your selves at my dangers I shall thinke my selfe more happy than our Lords if they prosper or their King to die a Martyr of the Cause Per tale Martyrium vâ—…aÌ„ finire with the reputation of such a gallantry Let such courage as would have hurryed you forward to all brave and signall mischiefs had I lost my head at Hartford Si Hertfordâ—ae Hesterno decollatus c. inflame your hes vy sprights Methinks I see the Heroe Tylers Ghost chiding our sluggish cowardice and by the blazes of his fire-brands kindled in Hel and waved by Fiends about his head leade on to noble villanies Let dreaming Monks and Priests tremble at the aery founds of God and Saints he who feares Thunder-bolts is a religious heartlesse Coxcombe and shall never climb a Molehill Thus our buskin'd Martyr swaggers after the raptures put upon him by Walsingham Greyndcobs stubbornnesse hardens on the Clownes they now accuse themselves of basenesse that they did not cut off the Knights Head and naile it on the Pillory to the terrour say they of all judges and false Justices Greyndcob had raised spirits which he could not lay when he would Three dayes being expired he is againe sent to Hartford Gaol where hee hearts news from his Brother who mediated for him in the Court not very pleasing which he communicates to his Townsmen His intelligence was to this effect That Rich of Beauchamp Earl of Warwick and Sir Thomas Percie with a thousand armed men were appointed to visit S. Albanes At this report the Rebels starâ—…e they fall to new Treaties offer the Charters and Book in which the old Pleas betwixt the Abby and the Town were recorded with 200 l. for amends The Booke is received the rest put off till the next day The Earl of Warwick sends onely excuses he heard his own house was on fire that the Câ—owns of his own Lordshipâ— were up and hee leaves all things else to quel them This raises the fallen courages of those of St. Albanes they now laugh at their â—ate fears If the Commons say they must quit their right of Conquest and surrender their Charters yet will not we the renowned Mechanicks of St. Albanes be their president And as in all tumults which can never be observed too often lying is necessary and must not bee uselesse whatsoever else is They lay the blame of their obstinacy upon the Inhabitants of Barnet and Watford who threaten so they would have it believed to burn their Town if they deliver up their Liberties Which Inhabitants of Barnet and Watford had humbly surrendred theirs before and submitted to the Kings mercy Thus we find these Rebels of St. Albanes again swaggering in their old Rhodomontadoes An Esquire of the Abbots acquaints the King with these turnings who vows to sit personally in judgement upon these everlasting male-contents The Abbot full of pitty and charity who had saved some of these enemies of his House from the Axe by intercession at London continues his goodness still he sollicites Sir Hugh Segrave Steward of the Houshold and others of his friends to mitigate the Kings displeasure and hinder his journey thither which was not in their power Now again are the Townsmen dejected and seek by all means to keep off the tempest which threatned them They fee Sir William Croyser a Lawyer to make their defence and mediate with the Abbot where there was no danger an agreement is concluded the day of the King's entry by which they would bind the Abbot not to disclose them or inform against them He promises if they fail not in performance on their part not to make any complaints to the King of them that he would be a suiter for their peace if his prayers may be heard but that here he cannot assure them Parcons were Acts flowing meerly from the Kings Grace See 27 H. 3. c. 24. No man had any power or authoritie to pardon or remit treasons c but the King and whether he could prevail for them he knew not This doubtfulness troubles them it seems to call their innocency too much into question They tell him
his good will was â—uffiâ—…t â—…d that as to what belonged to the Royal Dâ—gnity they should satisfie thâ— King After Vespers the King made his entry into the Town being met by the Abbot and Covert the Bâ—…s rang aloud and the Monks sang merrily his welcome He was followed by some thousands of Bowmen and Cavaliers In this train was Sir Robert Tresilian Chief Justice of the Kings Bench who the next day being Saturday the 13. of July and first of the Dog-dayes sate in judgement at thâ— Mooâ—-hall saies Walsingham at the Town-house Greyndcob Cadindon and John the Barber are fetched from Hartford and laid fast till Munday against which time new Jury-men are chosen and charged to be ready with their Verdicts Prophet Baal the Sergius of the new Alcaran the Priest of the Idol and his Calves the Martin of the yoak oâ— pure discipline of the Eldership was taken by the Townsmen of Coventry brought to St. Albanes the day before and this Saturday condemned by the Chief Justice to be Drawn Hanged Beheaded Imbowelled and Quartered which was done on the Munday following He confessed to the Bishop of London to whose Christian Piety he ought the two last dayes of his life which were begged for his repentance that certaine hot and powerfull Pastours of the Separation Brethren of simple hearts called by the Spirit he named six or seven had covenanted and engaged to compass England and Wales round as Itinerant Apostles to propagate the Gospel beat down all abomination of the outward Man Antichristian Hierarthy and Tyranny of the Nimrods of the Earth to cry up the great and holy Cause and to spread the Law Principles and Heresies of Baal which Disciples saies this Rabbi unlesse they be prevented and taken off wil destroy the Realm in two years Hee might have said two moneths and been believed as to the Civility Humanity Order and Honour never intermitted but in the confusion of a barbarous impious age which made England glorious they had been destroyed and torn up in a less time A few licentious ill Acts easily beget a custom and an hundred ill customes quicklier grow and prevaile than one single good one there is a proneness in unruly man to run into deboshments and no wonder that the arrogant misled silly multitude capable of any ill impressions should deprave and disorder things where all ties of restraint are loosened nay where disorders are not onely defended by the corrupt wits of hirelings but bidden strengthened by a Law and Villainies made legal Acts. Had the Idol King Tyler with his Council not gone on too far in the way of extermination but endeavoured to repair the breaches of his entrance it would have been no small labour to have restored things to any mean and tolerable condition If Presbyter VVicklief and his Classes by their pernitious Doctrines as they are charged to this day did first pervert and corrupt the people and broach that vessell with which Father Baal and Straw poysoned them they must have ruined themselves by the change sure enough they had been no more comprehended in any of Tylers Toleration than the Prelatical or Papistical party In the turmoiles and outrages of this Tyrannie had it taken Innocence Virtue Ingenuity Honesty Faith Learning and Goodnesse had been odious and dangerous The profit and advantage of the new Usurpers had been the measure of Justice and right The noble and ignoble had dyed Streets and Scaffolds with their blood not by Laws and Judgement but out of malice to their height and worth out of fury and covetousness to inrich publicke Theeves and Murtherers The jealousies too and feares of Tyler had made all men unsafe Yet the repute the renowne of the Founders could not have been much The glory of successe cannot be greater then the honesty of the enterprise there must be Justice in the quarrell else there can be no true honour in the prosperity Cato will love the conquered Common-wealth Jugurtha's fame who is sayd to bee Illustrious for his Parricides and Rapines will not make all men fall down and worship On Munday the fiâ—teenth of July not of October as VValsingham is mis-printed The Chiefe Justice Tresilian calls before him the Jury for Inquiry who faulter and shamelesly protest they cannot make any such discovery as is desired The Chiefe Justice puts them in minde of the Kings Words to them upon the way promising pardon if they will finde out the offendors else threatning them with the punishment they should have suffered who through such silence cannot be apprehended Out they goe againe and the Chiefe Justice follows them He shewes them a Roll of the princlpall Offendors names tells them they must not thinke to delude and blinde the Court with this impudence and advises them out of a care to preserve wicked mens lives not to hazard their own Hereupon they Indict many of the Towne and Country which Indictments are allowed by a second Inquest appointed to bring in the Verdict and againe affirmed by a third Jury of twelve charged onely for the fairenesse of the Tryall So no man was pronounced guilty but upon the finding of thirty sixe Jurors Then were the Lieutenants Greyndcob Cadingdon and Barber and twelve more Condemned Drawne and Hanged VVallingford John Garleck VVilliam Berewill Thomas Putor and many more with eightie of the Countrey were Indicted by their Neighbours and Impriprisoned but forgiven by the Kings Mercie and discharged They were forgiven most by the Kings Mercie for hee had forbidden by Proclamation all men to sue or begge for them a command which the good Abbot sometimes disobeyed and hee shall bee well thanked for it No benefits can oblige some men A true rugged churle can never be made fast never bee tyed by any merit whatsoever Nothing can soften him See an unheard of shamelesness till then These lazie tender-hearted Clowns who could hardly be got to discover the guilty now runne with full speed to betray the innocent They indict the Abbot as the principall Raiser and contriver of these Tumults which struck at his own life and the being and safetie of his Monastery The Abbot as it is said sent to Tyler upon his ordinances some of the Town and Monastery but to temporiz and secure himself This is now supposed by the very Traytors indeed Treason by Common Law and Statute against the King his naturall leige Lord. This having not the feare of God in his heart c. but being seduced by the instigation of the Devill is compassing the death c. the deprivation and deposing of his Soveraign Lord from his Royal State c. as such Indictments use to run this must goe for levying VVar against our Lord the King adhering to comforting and aiding his enemies by open fact 25 Edw. 3. which are the words of the Statute of Treason declarative of the Common Law The Chief Justice abominating and cursing the treacherous malice and perfidiousness of thâ—se Bruits makes them tear the Indictment
which themselves though urged are not wicked enough to swear to nay which publiquely they confess to bee false in the face of the Court. Villeinage was not now abolished though so methink otherwise but by degrees extinguished since this reigne Besides the Letters of Revocation before restoring all things to their old course A Commission which the Abbot procured from the King out of the Chancery then kept in the Chapter-house of this Monastery makes this manifest which speaks to this effect RIchard by the grace of God King of England and of France and Lord of Ireland c. To his beloved John Lodowick Jo Westwycomb c. We command you and every of you upon sight of these presents c. That on our part forthwith ye cause to be proclaimed That all and singular the Tenants of our beloved in Christ the Abbot of S. Albane as well free as bond the Works Customes and Services which they to the foresaid Abbot ought to doe and of ancient time have been accustomed to performe without any contradâ—ctâ—on mumur c. Doe as before they have been accustomed The disobedient are commanded to be taken and imprisoned as Rebels In the time of King Henry the seventh there were villains 11 H 7. 13 This I observe to make it appeare how 〈◊〉 it is which the miserable common people without whom no famous mischiefe can be attained are gainers by any of their riots or seditions whatsoever the charges are their condition is still the same or worse if some few of them advance themselves by the spoiles of the publique shâ—pwrack the rest are no happier for it the insolent sight offends their eyes they see the dirt of their owne ditches Lord it over them and the body of them perhaps more despised than ever Tyler who could not but have known that nothing can be so destructive to Government as the licentiousnesse of the base Commons would doubtlesse when his owne work had been done quickly have chained up the Monster he would have perched in the Kings sacred Oake all the Forrest should have beene his Bishopricks Earledomes nay the Kingdomes had been swallowed by him instead of a just legall power by which the Kings acted an arbitrary boundlesse unlimited power must have beene set up instead of a fatherly royall Monarchy a Tyrannie after the Turkish mode a Monarchy seignioral and had he brought in upon the fall of the Christian Faith and Worship which must have followed his establishment Circumcision and the Creed of Mahomet as the spirits of men were then debased he must have been obeyed All the Kings right and more must have been his Sultan Tyler's Prerogative would have been found more grievous more heavy more killing than all the yokes and scorpions of our Kings no man when he went to sleep could assure himself that one Law would be left next morning the Ordinances of Tyler and his Council flew about in swarms killing and rooting up the Laws one Proclamation of this Tyrants was of force to blow up the ancient Foundation enough to have made men mad if ever they could wake and understand when the French had conquered Naples the people looked for a Golden World they thought their new Master would as the King of Mexico's Oath used to say do Justice to all men make the Sun to shine the Clouds to rain the Earth to be fruitfull They promise themselves Liberty and that the accustomed Imposts of their former Kings of the House of Arragon should not onely be taken off but the very word Gabelle driven out of the Kingdom ther should be no such thing in nature left but foolish dolts as they were they found an alteration quickly instead of a Court Cavalrie before the new Masters ill established and assured not daring to trust any thing standing Armies were continually to be kept on foot instead of one Tax intolerable of late they are oppressed with ten their backs and shoulders crack under the load Upon this fancy of these abused Italians sayes the Historian This is the custome for the most part of all people weary ever of the present condition and inconsiderately gaping after a change but they receive such wages of their fond and disorderly lightness The War undertaken against Lewis the 11 of France by the House of Burgundy Dukes of Berry Brittaineâ— and Burbon called the Weale publick was not made against the King say the Alâ—ies but against evill order injustice in the Government and for the publick good of the Realm In the Treaty for Peace these fine things are forgotten the wretched Peasants torn and ground with Taxes left to shift for themselves The Prince of the Burgaundies demands the Townes upon the Some for himselfe Normandy for the Duke of Berry and other places Offices and Pensions for the rest some overtures were made for the Weal publick sayes the History â—ommen that is all the Weal publick was the least of the question the Weal publick was turned to Weal particular self-seeking was the sum of the business This has been the fashion of all Rebels hitherto and will bee to the worlds end After these proceedings the Hartfordshire men betwixt the ages of 15 and 60 present themselves according to command and take the Oath of Allegiance they are sworn too to unkennel and apprehend the late Incendiaries The King having now quieted the commotions removes to Berkhamsted eight miles from St. Albanes a royal Castle then and at Easthamsted where he hunts is informed That the bodies of the Traytors executed were taken down from the Gallows hereupon he directs his Writ or Letter to the Bailies of St. Albanes commanding them under penalty of forfeiting all things forfeitable to hang up again the said bodies now rotten and stinking in Iron chains which the Townsmen are forced to do with their own hands A Parliament sitting in May the fift year of this Kings Reign John Wraw Priest of the Reformation at Mildenhall and St. Edmundsbury was taken and upon the Petition of the house of Commons to the King judged to be drawn and hanged In the same Parliament too it was enacted That wheresoever any Clowns by six or seven in a company kept suspicious Conventicles the Kings good and faithfull Subjects should lay hold of them and commit them to the next Gaol without staying for the Kings VVrit Wals Hypod. In the same Parliament of the King it was made Treason to begin a Riot Rout or Rumour by this Parliament and that of the 6. Provisions are made for those whose Deeds were burnt or destroyed in the late insurrection and in the 6. of Richard the King pardons the multitudes for their misdemeanours in the tumults The Clowns now every where return'd to their old Obedience and the winds wcre laid in all tâ—…i quarter Richard a Prince born for troubles shall be turmoiled with the Rebellions of his Peers and Parliaments deposed and murthered by them yet his memory shall be sacred his Peers and Clowns shall dig for him in his grave Posterity too shall owe all things to his person After the death of Maximinus a wicked bloody thief a cruel tyrant Jul. Capitol nefarii improbi latronis who invadâ—d the Roman Empire Capitolinus recites a gratulatory Letter wrâ—tten by Claudius Julianus a Consul to the Empâ—rours Maximus and Balbinus whom he calls Preservers and Redeemers of the Common wealth there the Consul tels them they had restored to the Senate the house of Lords their ancient dignity to the Romans their Laws Equity and Clemency abolished their lives their manners their liberty the hopes of succession to their heirs He adds they had freed the Provinces from the insatiable coverousness of tyrannes no voice language nor wit can express saies he the publick happinesse King Richard restored to the Church and Universities their rights and possessions to the Nobilitie their honour to the Gentry their respect to the Cities their free Trade the plenty of his harvest to the industrious Countryman Security Peace and Liberty to all Orders what Prince could bestow greater benefits upon a people he was the Stator the Saviour of the Nation a Nation not worthy of him whose ingratefulness to his sacred head whose perfidiousness and impiety in advancing an usurper upon his ruins were punished with a fatall Civill War which lasted ages with an issue of blood which could not be stopped till the true and lawful heir of this Prince was seated in the Imperial Throne according to the Faith and Oathes of this people which whatsoever may be pretended no power on earth can dispence with and according to the Fundamental Laws of England FINIS