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 seized 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 Norfolke 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 oâ— 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 Minnor of 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 Peere The Earle warned of their intention rises from Supper and disguised as a Groom * 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 inthâ—alled 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 sayes 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 be 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 firstime 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 publica 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 nor 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 Pâ—aetorians of the Saguntâ—nes burning in their Cities flames What can be â—o honourable as to dye for or with our Countrey or Faith our Religion or Honesty to die with that which gave us life and liberty and sense of these Litsters Hog-â—erds vow to burne Norwich unlesse this Knight will come out to them which he does well mounted and forsakes hiâ— Horse to please them They seem to honoâ—â—im highly and offer him a faire Cantoâ—â—â— the new Common-wealth if he will command their Fâ—rces The faithfull Cavalier abhorred the propâ—sition
force of one sedition your whole life and reigne will be nothing but a continuation of broyles and tumults if you assert your soveraigne authority betimes not onely these doults these sots but all men else will reverence you remember Sir God by whom lawfull Princes reigne whose vicegerent you are would not forgive rebellion in Angels you must not trust the face Petitions delivered you upon Swords points are fatall if you allow this custome you are ruined as yet Sir you may be obeyed as much as you please Of this opinion was Sir Robert Hales Lord Prior of Saint John of Jerusalem newly Lord Treasurer of England a magnanimous and stout Knight but not liked by the Commons When this resolution was known to the Clownes they grow starke mad they bluster they swear to seek out the Kings Traitours for such now they must go for No man was either good or honest but he who pleased them the Archbishop and Lord Prior to chop off their Heads here they might be trusted they were likely to keep their words Hereupon without more consideration they advance toward London not forgetting to burne and rase the Lawyers and Courtiers houses in the way to the Kings honour no doubt which they will be thought to Arme for Sir John Froissart and others report this part thus which probably might follow after this refusall The Rebells say they sent their Knight * so they called him yet was he the Kings Knight for Tyler came not up to dubbing we finde no Sir John nor Sir Thomas of his making Sir John Moton to the King who was then in the Tower with his Mother his halfe brothers Thomas Holland Earle of Kent after Duke of Surry and the Lord Holland the Earles of Salisbury Warwick and Oxford the Archbishop Lord Prior and others The Knight casts himselfe downe at the Kings feet beseeches him not to looke upon him the worse as in this quality and imployment to consider he is forced to doe what he does He goes on Sir the Commons of this Realme those few in Armes comparatively to the rest would be taken for the whole desire you by me to speake with them Your Person will be safe they repute you still their King this deserved thanks but how long the kindnesse will hold we shall soone finde they professe that all they had done or would doe was for your honour For your glory your honour and security are their great care they will make you a glorious King fearfull to your enemies and beloved of your Subjects they promise you a plentifull and unparallell'd revenue They will maintaine your power and authority in relation to the Lawes with your royal person according to the duty of their allegeance their protestation their vow their solemne League and Covenant without diminishing your just power and greatnesse and that they will all the dayes of their lives continue in this Covenant against all opposition They assure you Sir That they intend faithfully the good of your Majesty and of the Kingdome and that they will not be diverted from this end by any private or selfe-respects whatsoever But the Kingdome has been a long time ill governed by your Uncles and the Clergy especially by the Archbishop of Canterbury of whom they would have an account They have found out necessary Counsels for you they would warne you of many things which hitherto you have wanted good advise in The conclusion was sad on the Knights part His Children were pledges for his returne and if he faile in that their lives were to answer it Which moved with the the King He allowes the excuse sends him back with this answer that he will speake with the Commons the next Morning which it should seeme the report of the outrages done by the Clownes upon his refusall this Message made him consent to At the time he takes his Barge is rowed downe to Redriffe the place nearest the Rebells ten thousand of them descend from the Hill to see and treat with him with a resolution to yeild to nothing to overcome by the Treaty as they must have done had not the Kings seare preserved him When the Barge drew nigh the new Councell of state sayes our Knight howled and shouted as though all the Devills of Hell had been amongst them Sir John Moton was brought toward the River guarded they being determined to have cut him in pieces if the King had broke his promise All the desires of these good and faithfull Counsellours contracted suddenly into a narrow roome they had now but one demand The King askes them what is the matter which made them so earnestly sollicit his Presence They have no more to say but to intreat him to land Which was to betray himselfe to them to give his Life and Soveraignty up to those fickle Beasts to be held of them during their good pleasures which the Lords will not agree to The Earle of Salisbury of the antient Nobility and illustrious house of Montacute tells them their equipage and order were not comely and that the King ought not to adventure amongst their troopes They are now more unsatisfied and London how true soever to the Cause and faithlesse to the Prince shall feele the effects of their fury Southwark a friendly borough is taken up for their first quarters Here againe they throw downe the Malignants Houses and as a grace of their entrance breake up the Kings prisons and let out all those they finde under restraint in them not forgetting to ransack the Archbishops house at Lambeth and spoyle all things there plucking downe the Stews standing upon the Thames banke and allowed in the former ages It cannot be thought but that the Idol loved Adultery well enough but perhaps these publick bawdy-houses were too uncleane and might stinke in his nostrils we cannot finde him anywhere quarelling with the Beares those were no Malignants They knocked not long at the City-gates which some say were never shut against them or as others quickly opened The Citizens fancyed themselves privy Counsellours borne inspired from their shoppes for affaires of State and would not suppose the Reformation could be effected without them they were rich by lyes and all the most sordid wayes of falshood and must be sage and knowing pride the first sinne the Devill taught man tickles them The Major Sir William Waleworth whose memory while truth and loyalty shall be thought virtues must be honourable and nine of the Aldermen held for King Richard in vaine a prosperous wicked chief shall never want wicked instruments Three Aldermen and the greatest part of the people for the King of the Commons the Idol and his Priests Those the confiders and well affected to Tyler forbid their Major to keep him out owne his actions as done for the good of the faithfull people of the Land and the Common-wealth his followers for their Brethren and Companions of the holy Cause They vow to live and dye with Tylar
Christians are to submit to let the next Casuists judge The Septuagint translation of the Bible sayes of Abimelech who slew his seaventy Brethren murder ushers usurpation in He made himselfe King by Tyranny The Monk who writes the lives of the Offaâ—s speaking of Beormred the Mercian Usurper has these words In the same region of the Mercians a certaine Tyranne rather destroying and dissipating the Nobility of the Realm than ruling c. persecuting banishing c. Lest any one especially of the Royall Blood should be advanced in his place he vehemently feared The thirty Vsurpers in the time of Gallienus are every where called Tyrannes Paulus Diaconus writing of Valentine in the time of Valentinian sayes He was crushed in Britannie before he could invade the Tyrannie and of Maximus that he was stout and valiant and worthy of the Empire had he not against the faith of his oath raised himselfe per tyrannidem by tyrannie In other places Eugenius Gratian Constance Sebastian created Tyrannes The words Tyranne and Tyrannie and tyrannous partie being used often by him are ever opposed to just and Regall power never used in any other sense Widdrington to the example of Athalia urged by Bellarmine against Kings sayes she was no lawfull Queen she had seized the Kingdome as an Usurpresse by Tyrannie the Kingdome belonged to Joash in whose right and by whose power she was justly slaine Our most learned Prelate Bishop Abbot of Salisbury tells the Cubs of Loyola Athalia had snatched had grasped and held the kingdome with no right no title but by butchery robbery rapine and forcible entry and that she was thrown down and killed by the common bounden duty and faith of Subjects to their Prince Baronius a Cardinal that the Maccabees of Levi or house of the Assamoneans may not be made Usurpers matches them with the royall line of David else sayes he absque labe tyrannidis without the stain of Tyrannie they could not meddle with the Kingdome Rodolph Duke of Suâ—via or Suabenland set up for a false Emperour by that devilish Pope Hildebrand against the Emperour Hen. the IIII. is called by the Germanes a Tyranne upon this score A full Tyrannie sayes one of our Chiefe Justices speaking of the Papall power in Church causes here has two parts without right to usurp and inordinately to rule and the Statute 28 of King Henry the 8. against the Papall Authority calls it an usurped Tyranny and the exercise of it a Robbery and spoyling of the King and his people The Statute 31 Henry 6. adjudging John Cade another Impe of Hell and successour of Wat to be a traitour whcih are the words of the title and all his Indictments and Acts to be voide speakes thus The most abominable Tyrannie horrible odious and arrant false Traytour 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 Feaâ—s 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 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 were intrenched according to the manner of Litsters Camp in the midst of Woods Ten 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 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 Fitzwalter whose seat was at Woodham Walters in
by these Canibals The reverence due to the annointed heads of Kings began to fall away and naked Majesty could not guard where Innocency could not But Tyler blinded with his owne fatall pride throws himself foolishly upon the Kings sword and by his over-much hast preserves him whom he had vowed to destroy The Heathens make it a mark of the Divinity of of their Gods that they bestowed benefits upon mortal men and took nothing from them The Clownes of the Idoll upon this rule were not very heavenly they were the meeke ones of those times the onely inheritours of right the kingdom was made a prey by them it was cantoned out to erect new Principalities for the Mock-kings of the Commens so their Chiefs or Captains would be called Here though the title of the Rebellion spoke fair was shown somewhat of ambition and no little of injust private interest no little of self-seeking which the good of the people in pretence onely was to give way to and no wonder for the good of the people properly was meerely to be intended of themselves and no where but amongst those was the Commonwealth Had these Thistles these Brambles flourished the whole Wood of noble Trees had perished If the violent casting other men out of their possâ—ssions firing their houses cutting off their Heads violating of all Rights be thought Gods blessing any evidence of â—â— owning the Cause these Thieves and Murderers were well blessed and sufficiently owned Such was then the face of things estates were dangerous every Rich man was an enemy mens lives were taken away without either offence or tryall their reign was but a continuation of horrible injuries the Lawes were not onely silent but dead The Idolls fury was a Law and Faith and Loyaltie and Obedience to lawfull power were damnable Servants had the rule over Princes England was near a slavery the most unworthy of free and ingenious spirits of any What I relate here to speak something of the Story I collect out of Sir John Froissart a French-man living in the times of King EDVVARD the third and his Grandchild King RICHARD who had seen England in both the reigns was known and esteemed in the Court and came last over after these Tumults were appeased and out of Thomas of Walsingham a Monk of St. Albanes in Henry the sixth's dayes who sayes Bale in his centuries of him writes many the most choice passages of affairs and actions such as no other hath met with In the main and to the substance of things I have made no additions no alterations I have faithfully followed my Authors who are not so historically exact as I could wish nor could I much better what did not please me in their order No man saies Walsingham â—an recite fully the mischiefs murders sacriledge and cruelty of these Actors he excuses his digesting them upon the confusion of the combustions flaming in such varietie of places and in the same time Tyler Litster and those of Hartfordshire take up most part of the discourse Westbrome is brought in by the halves the lesser Snakes are onely nameâ— in the Chronicle What had been more had not been to any purpose Those were but types of Tyler the Idoll â—nd acted nothing but acrording to the Original according to his great example they were Wolves alike and he that reads one knowes all Thomas of Becket Simon of Montfort the English Catalinâ— Thomas of Lancastor Rebels and Traitors of the former years are Canonised by the Monks generally the enemies of their Kings miracles â—ake their Tombeâ— illustrious and their Memories sacred The Idol and his Incendiaries are abhorred every where every History detests them while Faith Civility Honesty and Piety shall be left in the world the enemies of all these must neither be beloved nor pitied THE RUSTICK RAMPANT OR RURAL ANARCHY THe Reign of King Richard the second was but a throw of State for so many years a Feaver to whose distempers all pieces of the home Dominions contributed by fits * the forraign part onely continuing faithfull in the fourth year of his reign and fifteenth of his age the dregs and off-scum of the Commons unite into bodies in severall parts of the Kingdome and form a Rebellion called the Rebellion of the Clownes which lead the rest and shewed the way of disobedience first Of whiâ—h may truly be said though amongst other causes we may attribute it to the indisposition and unseasonablenesse of the age that the fruits of it did not take it was strongly begun and had not Providence held back the hand the blow had faln the Government had broke into shivers then The young King at this time had few besides Thomas of Woodstock his Uncle Earle of Buckingham and after Duke of Glocester but the servants of his house in ordinary about him the Lord Edmund of Langly Earle of Cambridge after Duke of York with the Lords Beauchampe Botereaux Sir Matthew Gourney with others of the Nobility and Gentry had set saile for Portugall the Duke John of Lancaster another of his Uncles was in Scotland treating a peace when this commotion brake out Though no cause can be given for Seditions those who designe publick troubles can never want pretences Polidore as much out in this story as any gives this reason for this The Poll-mony sayes he imposed by Parliament a groat Sterling upon every head was intolerable It was justly imposed and so by some to whom Law and Custome of Engl. were intolerable not to be endured but we shall find in the tyranny breaking in not onely fifth and twentieth parts and loanes forced out of feare of plunder and death but subsidies in Troops and Regiments by fifties more than Sequestrations and Compositions not under foot low sales for what had these Rascalls to give but downright Robbery and violent usurpation of Estates Thus would Polidore have it in defence of his Priests who blew the fire and thrust the silly rout into the midst of it He takes it ill that Baal valle he calls him should be supposed by I know not what flaterers of the Nobles to have filled these sailes to have let these windes out of their Caverns In the fourth yeare of this King sayes the Monk there was a grievous Tax exacted in Parliament after cause of great trouble every Religious paid half a Mark every Secular Priest as much every Lay-man or Woman 12d This might discontent the people but who prepared the Mutineers for such dangerous impressions who fell in with them after and pushed them forward will be soon found Froissart complaines of the servitude of the villanes or Bond-men now Names worne out a miserable sort of drudges frequentlâ—â— knowne here in the Saxon times excluded from any right of propriety sold and passed away with the Mannour or Lands to which they belonged bound to til the Lords ground cut downe and carry in his Corne cleanse his Ditches cover his Halle Qâ— These Fraissart make the first stirrers
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 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 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 * 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 †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 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 Sycily 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 and 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 head there As most of those did who had laid their hands upon this Archbishop comming up severally out of their Countries to that 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 the were simple honest people of no ill meaning 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 Dâ— populations 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 Gentlemen the wealthiest and honestest part of the Citizens then to have pillaged their Houses and fired the City in foure parts they intended this hast to avoid odious partnership 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 lofty feare 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 sufficiently 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 at 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 He fancied if those who were learned in the Law were knocked ith'head all things would be ordered by the common people either there would be no law or that which was should be declared by him and his subject to their will with which his expression the day before did well agree Then attributing all things to God the God of Warre and his conquering Armes and striking his Sword which shewed the present power on London stone The Cyclops or Centaur of Kent spake these words From this day or within four dayes all Law or all the Lawes of Engl. as others shall fall from Wat Tylers mouth The Kings indeed had bound themselves and were bound by the Lawes They were named in them Tyler was more than a King he was an Emperour he was above the Lawes nor was it fit the old overworn Magna Charta should hold him The supreme Authority and legislative power no one knowes how derived were to be and reside in him according to the new establishment Tyler like Homers Mâ—rs {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} was a whirlewindâ— he wâ—s * Egâ—â—â—ius in Paterculus rather a Fencer a Swash buckler than a Senatour his right A me his bâ—uâ—sh force not Justice not reason must sway all things Tyler