STRANGE HISTORIES Of Kings Princes Dukes Earles Lords Ladies Knights and Gentlemen With the great troubles and miseries of the Dutches of Suffolke Verie pleasant either to bee read or sunge and a most excellent warning for all estates LONDON Printed by William Barley the assigne of T. M. and are to be sold at his shop in Gracious streete 1602. Cum Priuilegio THE TABLE Cant. I The Kentishmen with long tayles Cant. II. Of King Henrie the first and his children The Dutchesse of Suffolkes calamitie Cant. III. King Edward the second crowning his Sonne King of England Cant. IIII The Imprisonment of Queene Elenor Cant. V. The death of King Iohn poisoned by a Frier Cant VI. The Imprisonement of King Edward the second Cant. VII The murthering of King Edward the second being kild with a hot burning spit Cant VIII The banishment of the Lord Matreuers and Sir Thomas Gurney Cant IX The winning of the Yle of Man Cant X The rebellion of VVat Tilor and Iacke Straw A speech betweene Ladies being Shepheards on Salsburie plaine The valiant courage and policie of the Kentishmen with long tayles whereby they kept their ancient Lawes and Customes which William the Conquerer sought to take from them Cant. I. Or to the tune of Rogero WHen as the Duke of Normandie with glistering speare and shield Had entred into faire England and foild his foes in fielde On Christmas day in solemne sort then was he crowned heere By Albert Archbishop of Yorke with many a noble Peere Which being done he changed quite the customes of this land And punisht such as daily sought his statutes to withstand And many Citties he subdude faire London with the rest But Kent did still withstand his force which did his lawes detest To Douer then he tooke his way the Castle downe to fling Which â—ruiragus builded there the noble Brutaine king Which when the braue Arch-Bishop bolde of Canterburie knew The Abbot of â— Austines eke with all their gallant crue They set themselues in armour bright these mischiefes to preuent With all the yeomen braue and bold that wer in fruitfull Kent At Canterburie did they meete vpon a certaine day With sword and speare with bill and bowe and stopt the conquerers way Let vs not liue like bondmen poore to Frenchmen in their pride But keepe our ancient liberties what chance so ear betide And rather die in bloudie field in manlike courage prest Then to endure the seruile yoake which we so much detest Thus did the kentish Commons crie vnto their leaders still And so march foorth in warlike sort and stand at Swanscombe hill Where in the woods they hid themselues vnder the shadie greene Thereby to get them vantage good of all their foes vnseene And for the Conquerours comming there they priuily laid waite And thereby suddainely appald his loftie high conceipt For when they spied his approch in place as they did stand Then marched they to hem him in each on a bow in hand So that vnto the conquerers sight amazed as he stood They seemd to be a walking groue or els a mouing wood The shape of men he could not see the bowes did hide them so And now his hart with feare did quake to see a forrest goe Before behind and on each side as he did cast his eye He spide these woods with sober pace approch to him full nye But when the kentishmen had thus inclos'd the conquerer round Most suddenly they drew their swords and threw the bowes to ground There banners they displaid in sight there Trumpets sound a charge There ratling Drummes strickes vp alarme there troopes stretch out at large The Conquerour with all his traine were hereof fore agast And most in perill when he thought all perill had beene past Vnto the kentish men he sent the cause to vnderstand For what intent and for what cause they tooke this warre in hand To whom they made this short replye for libertie we fight And to enioy S. Edwards lawes the which we hold our right Then said the dreadfull conquerer you shall haue what you will Your ancient customes and your lawes so that you will be still And each thing els that you will craue with reason at my hand So you will but acknowledge me chiefe King of faire England The kentishmen agreed here on and laid their armes aside And by this meanes King Edwards lawes in Kent do still abide And in no place in England else those customes do remaine Which they by manly pollicie did of Duke William gaine FINIS ¶ How King Henry thé first had his children drowned in the sea as they came out of france Cant. II. Or to the tune of the Ladies daughter AFter our royall King had foild his foes in France And spent the pleasant spring his honor to aduance Into faire England he returnde with fame and victorie What time the subiects of his land receiued him ioyfully But at his home returne his children left he still In France for to soiourne to purchase learned skill Duke William with his brother deare Lord Richard was his name Which was the Earle of Chester then who thirsted after fame The Kings faire daughter eke the Ladie Marie bright With diners noble Peeres and manie a hardie Knight All those were left together there in pleasure and delight When that our King to England came after the bloodie fight But when faire Flora had drawne forth her treasure driâ—t That winter colde and sad with hoarie head drewe nie Those Princes all with one consent prepared all things meete To passe the seas for faire England whose sight to them was sweet To England let vs hie thus euerie one did say For Christmas draweth nie no longer let vs stay But spend the merrie Christmas time within our Fathers court Where Ladie pleasure doth attend with manie a Princely sport To sea these Princes wene fulfilled with mirth and ioye But this their meriment did turne to deare annoy The Saylers and the shipmen all through foule excesse of wine Were so disguisde that at the sea They shewd themselues like swine The sterne no man could guide the master sleeping lay The saylers all beside went roelling euerie way So that the Ship at randle roode Vpon the foaming flood Whereby in peâ—â—ll of their liues the Princes alwayes stood Which made distilling teares from their faire eyes to fall Their heartes were fild with feares no helpe they had at all They wisht themselues vpon the land a thousand times and more And at the last they came in sight of Englands pleasant shore Then euery one began to turne their sighes to smiles There coulours pale and wan a cheerefull looke exciles The princely Lordes most louingly their Ladies do imbrace For now in England shall we be quoth they in little space Take comfort now they said behold the land at last Then be no more dismaid the worst is gone and past But while they did this ioyfull hope with comfort entertaine The goodly ship vpon
a rocke on suddaine burst in twaine With that a grieuous screeke among them there was made And euery one did seeke on something to be staid But all in vaine such helpe they sought the ship so soone did sinke That in the sea they were constraind to take their latest drinke There might you see the Lords and Ladies for to lie Amidst the salt sea foame with manie a grieuous crie Still labouring for their lines defence with stretched armes abroad And lifting vp their Lillie handes for helpe with one accorde But as good fortune would the sweet yong Duke did get Into the Cock-boat then where safely he did sit But when he heard his sister crie the Kings faire daughter deere He turnd his boat to take her in whose death did draw so neere But while he stroue to take his sweet yong sister in The rest such shift did make in Sea as they did swimme That to the boate a number got to many that at last The boate and all that were therein was drownd and ouercast Of Lords and Gentlemen and Ladies faire of face Not one escaped then which was a heauie case Threescore and ten were drownd in all and none escaped death But one poore Butchee which had swome himselfe quite out of breath This was most heauie newes vnto our comly King Who did all mirth refuse this word when they did bring For by this meanes no child he had his kingdome to succeede Whereby his Sisters Sonne was King as you shall plainely reede The Dutchesse of Suffolkes Calamitie Or to the tune of Queene Dido WHen God had taken for our sinne that prudent Prince K. Edward away Then bloudie Bonner did begin his raging mallice to bewray Al those that did the Gospell professe he persecuted more or lesse Thus when the Lord on vs did lower many in prison did he throwe Tormenting them in Lollards tower whereby they might the truth forgoe Then Cranmer Ridlie and the rest were burnt in fire that Christ profest Smithfield was then with Faggots fyld and many places more beside At Couentry was Sanders kild at Gloster eke good Hooper dyed And to escape this bloudie day beyond seas many fled away Among the rest that sought reliefe and for their faith in danger stood Lady ELIZABETH was cheefe King Henries daughter of royall bloud Which in the tower prisoner did lye Looking each day when she should die The Dutches of Suffolke seeing this whose life likewise the Tyrant sought Who in the hope of heauenly blisse which in Gods word her comfort wrought For feare of death was faine to flye and leaue her house most secretly That for the loue of Christ alone her landes and goodes she left behinde Seeking still for that pretious stone the word of truth so rare to finde She with her nurse her Husband and childe in poore aray their sights beguild Thus through London they past along each one did take a seuerall streete Thus all vnknowne escaping wrong at Billinsgate they all did meete Like people poore in Grauesend Barge they simply went with all their charge And all along from Grauesend Towne with easie tournets on foote they went Vnto the sea coast they came downe to passe the seas was their intent And God prouided so that day That they tooke Ship and saild away And with a prosperous gale of wind in Flaunders safe they did ariue This was to their great ease of mind which from their harts much woe did driue And so with thankes to God on hie They tooke their way to Germanie Thus as they traueld thus disguisde vpon the hie waie sudainely By cruell theeues they were supprisde assailing their small company And all their treasure and their store They tooke away and beat them sore The Nurse in middest of their sight laide downe the childe vpon the ground She ran away out of their sight and neuer after that was found Then did the Dutches make great mone With her good husband all alone The thoenes had there their horses kilde and all their money quite had tooke The prettie babie almost spild was by their Nurse likewise forsooke And they farre from friends did stand all succourlesse in a strange land The skies likewise began to scowle it hailde and rainde in pittious sort The way was long and wonderous foule then may I full well report Their griefe and sorrow was not small When this vnhappy chance did fall Sometime the Dutchesse bore the child as wet as euer she could be And when the Ladie kinde and milde was wearie then the childe bore he And thus they one another casde and with their fortunes were well pleasde And after many wearied steppes all wet-shod both in dyrt and myre After much griefe their heart it leapes for labour doth some rest require A towne before them they did see but lodgd therein they could not be From house to house they both did goe seeking where they that night might lie But want of money was their woe and still the babe with colde did crie With cap and knee they courtsey make But none on them would pitie take Loc here a Princesse of great blood doth pray a Peasant for reliefe With teares be dewed as she stood yet few or none regards her grief Her speech they could not vnderstand But gaue her a penny in her hand When all in vaine the paines was spent and that they could not house-roome get Into a Church-porch then they went to stand out of the raine and wet Then said the Dutchesse to her deare O that we had some fier heere Then did her husband so prouide that fire and coales he got with speede Shee sate downe by the fires side to dresse her daughter that had neede And while she drest it in her lap her husband made the Infant pay Anon the Sexten thither came and finding them there by the fire The drunken knaue all voyde of shame to driue them out was his desire And spurning forth this noble Dame her husbands wrath it did inflame And all in furie as he stood he wroung the Church keyes out of his hand And strooke him so that all of bloud his head ran downe where he did stand Wherefore the Sexten presently for helpe and aide aloud did crye Then came the Officers in hast and tooke the Duchesse and her child And with her husband thus they past like Lambs to set with Tigers wilde And to the Gouernour were they brought who vnderstood them not in ought Then Master Bartue braue and bolde in Latine made a gallant speech Which all their miserie did vnfolde and their high fauour did beseech With that a Doctor sitting by did know the Dutchesse presently And therevpon arising straight with minde abashed at this sight Vnto them all that there did waight he thus brake forth in words aright Beholde within your sight quoth he a Princesse of most high degree With that the Gouernour and the rest were all amazde the same to heare And welcomed these new come guests
with all despight because she was the Kings delight Thus often did the Queene lament as she in prison long did lie Her former deedes she did repent with many a watrie weeping eye But at the last this newes was spred the King was on a suddaine dead But when she heard this tydings tolde most bitterly she mourned then Her wofull heart she did vnfolde in sight of many Noble men And her sonne Richard being King from dolefull prison did he bring Who set her for to rule the land while to Ierusalem he went And while she had this charge in hand her care was great in gouernment And many a prisoner then in holde she set at large from yrons colde ¶ The lamentable death of King Iohn how he was poysoned in the Abbey at Swinsted by a false Fryer Cant. V. Or to the tune of Fortune A Trecherous deede forthwith I shall you tell Which on King Iohn vpon a sudden fell To Lincolneshire proceeding on his way At Swinestead Abby one whole night he lay There did the King oppose his welcome good But much deceit lyes vnder an Abbots hood There did the King himselâ—e in safetie thinke But there the King receiued his latest drinke Great cheare they made vnto his royall grace While he remaind a guest within that place But while they smiled and laughed in his sight They wrought great treason shadowed with delight A flat faced Monke comes with a glosing tale To giue the King a cup of spiced â—le A deadliar or â—â—ght was neuer offered man Yet this false Monke vnto the King began Which when the king without mistrust did see He tooke the Cup of him most courteously But while he held the poisoned Cup in hand Our noble king amazed much did stand For casting downe by chance his princely eye On pretious iewels which he had full nye He saw the colour of each pretious stone Most strangely turne and alter one by one Their Orient brighnesse to a pale dead hue Were changed quite the cause no person knew And such a sweat did ouerspread them all As stood like dew which on faire flowers fall And hereby was their pretious natures tride For precious stones foule poyson cannot bide But though our king beheld their colour pale Mistrusted not the poyson in the Ale For why the Monke the taste before him tooke Nor knew the king how ill he did it brooke And therefore he a hartie draught did take Which of his life a quicke dispatch did make Th' infectious drinke fumd vp into his head And through the veines into the heart it spred Distempering the pure vnspotted braine That doth in man his memorie maintaine Then felt the King an extreame grief to grow Through all his intrels being infected so Wherby he knew through anguish which he felt The Monks with him most traiterously had delt The grones he gaue did mak al men to wonder He cast as if his heart would split in sunder And still he cald while he thereon did thinke For that false Monke which brought y e deadly drinke And theÌ„ his Lords went searching round about In euerie place to find this Traytor out At length they found him dead as any stone Within a corner lying all alone For hauing tasted of that poysoned Cup Whereof our King the residue drunke vp The enuious Monk himself to death did bring That he thereby might kill our royall king But when the king with wonder hard theÌ„ tel The Monks dead body did with poyson swel Why then my Lords ful quickly now quoth he A breathlesse King you shall among you see Behold he said my vaines in peeces cracke A grieuous torment feele I in my backe And by this poyson deadly and accurst I feele my heart strings ready for to burst With that his eyes did turne within his head A pale dead colour through his face did spread And lying gasping with a cold faint breath The royall King was ouercome by death His mournful Lords which stood about him theÌ„ Withal their force and troopes of warlike men To Worcester the corpes they did conueye With Drumbe trumpet marching al y e waye And in the faire Cathedrall Church I find They buried him according to their mind Most pompiously best fitting for a king Who wer aplauded greatly for this thing FINIS Of the Imprisonment of King Edward the second The Argument ¶ The cruell imprisonment of King Edward the second at the Castle of Barkley the 22. of September 1327. Cant. Vj. Or who list to lead a Soldiers life WHen Isabell faire Englands Queene In wofull warres had victorious beene Our comely King her husband deere Subdued by strength as did appeare By her was sent to prison stronge for hauing done his countrie wrong In Barkly Castle cast was he denied of royall dignitie Where he was kept in wofull wise his Queene did him so much dispise There did he liue in wofull state such is a womans deadly hate When fickle fancie followes change and iustfull thoughts delight to range Lord Morcimer was so in minde the Kings sweete loue was cast behinde And none was knowne a greater foe vnto King Edward in his woe Then Isabell his crowned Queene as by the sequell shall be seene While he in prison poorely say a Parliament was helde straight way What time his foes apace did bring billes of complaint against the King So that the Nobles of the land when they the matter throughly scand Pronounced then these speeches plaine he was vnworthie for to raigne Therefore they made a flat decree he should forthwith deposed be And his Sonne Edward young of yeares was iudged by the Noble Peares Most meete to weare the princely Crowne his Father being thus pulde downe Which wordes when as the Queene did heare dissemblingly as did appeare She wept shee waild and wrong her handes before the Lordes whereas she stands Which when the Prince her Sonne did see he spoke these words most courteously My sweete Queene mother weepe not so thinke not your Sonne will seeke your woe Though English Lords chuse me there king my owne deere Father yet liuing Think not I will thereto consent except my Father be content And with good will his Crowne resigne and grant it freely to be mine Therefore Queene mother think no ill in me or them for their good will Then diuers Lords without delay went to the King whereas he lay Declaring how the matetr stood and how the Peeres did think it good To chuse his Sonne there King to bee if that he would thereto agree For to resigne the princely crowne and all his title of renowne If otherwise they told him plaine a stranger should the same attaine This dolefull tidings most vnkind did sore afflict king Edwards mind But when he saw no remedie he did vnto their wils agree And bitterly he did lament saying the Lord this plague had sent For his offence and vanitie which he would suffer patiently Beseeching all the Lords at last for to forgiue
him all was past When thus he was deposed quite of that which was his lawfull right In prison ws he kept full close without all pâ—ttie or remorce And those that shewd him fauour still were taken from him with ill will Which when the Earle of Kent did here who was in bloud to him full neere He did intreate most earnestly for his release and libertie His words did much the Queene displease who said he liu'd too much at ease Vnto the Bishop did shee goe of â—ertford his deadly foe And â—uell letters made him wright vnto his keepers with dispight You are to kind to him quoth shee henceforth more straighter looke you bèe And in their writing subtillie they sent them word that he should die The Lord Matreuers all dismaid vnto Sir Thomas Gourney said The Queene is much displeas'd quoth he for Edwards too much libertie And by her letters doth bewray that soone he shall be made away T is best Sir Thomas then replide the Queenes wish should not be denide Thereby we shall haue her good-will and keepe our selues in credite still Of King Edward the second being poysoned The Argument ¶ How the King was poisoned and yet escaped and afterward how when they saw that thereby he was not dispatched of life they locked him in a most noysome filthie place that with the stinke thereof he might be choaked and when that preuailed not how they thrust a hot burning spit into his fundament till they had burnt his bowels within his bodje whereof he dyed Or how can the teâ—e Cant. vjj. THe Kings curst keepers ayming at reward hoping for fauour of the furious Queene On wretched Edward had they no regard far from their hearts is mercie mooued cleene Wherefore they mingle poyson with his meate Which made the man most fearefull for to eate For by the taste he oftentimes suspected the venome couched in a daintie dishe Yet his faire bodie was full sore infected so ill they spiced hath his fleshe and fishe But his strong nature all their craft beguiles the poyson breaking foorth in blames and byles An vgly scabbe ore spreds his Lyllie skinne foule botches breake vpon his manly face This sore without and sorrowfull within the dispisde man doth liue in loathsome case Like to a Lazer did he then abide that shewes his sores along the hiewaies side But when this practise prooued not to their minde and that they saw he liu'd in their dispight Another dam'd deuice then they finde by stinking fauours for to choake him quight In an od corner did they locke him fast hard by the which their carrton they did cast The stinch whereof might be compared well nie to that foule lake where cursed Sodome stood That poysoned birdes which ouer it did flie euen by the sauour of that filthie mud Euen so the smell of that corrupted den was able for to choake ten thousand men But all in vaine it would not doe God wot his good complexion still droue out the same Like to the boyling of a seething pot that castes the scumme into the fierce flame Thus still he liu'd and liuing still they sought his death whose downefall was alreadie wrought Loathing his life at last his keepers came into his chamber in the dead of night And without noise they entred soone the same with weapons drawne torches burning bright Where the poore prisoner fast asleepe in bed lay on his belly nothing vnder his head The which aduantage when the murderers saw a heauie table on him they did throw Wherewith awakt his breath he scant could drawe with waight thereof they kept him vnder so Then turning vp the cloathes aboue his hips to hold his legges a couple quickly skips Then came the murtherers one a horne had got which far into his fundament downe he thrust Another with a spit all burning hot the same quite through y e horne he strongly pusht Among his intrels in most cruell wise forcing hereby most lamentable cries And while within his body they did keepe the burning spit still rolling vp and downe Most mournefully the murthered man did weepe whose wailefull noise wakt many in the towne Who gessing by his cries his death drew neere tooke great compassion on that noble Peere And at each bitter skroeke which he did make they praide to God for to receiue his soule His gastly grones inforst their harts to ake yet none durst goe to cause the bell to towle Ha me poore man alacke alacke he cried and long it was before the time he dyed Strong was his heart a long it was God knowes ear it would sleepe vnto the streke of death First was it wounded with a thousand woes before he did resigne his vitall breath And being murdered thus as you doe heare no outward hurt vpon him old appeare This cruell murder being brought to passe the Lord Matreuers to the Court doth hies To shew the Queene her will performed was great recompence he thought to get thereby But when the Queene the sequell vnderstands dissemblingly shee weepes and wrings her handes Ah cursed traytor hast thou slaine quoth shee my noble weded Lord in such a sort Shame and confusion euer light on thee O how I griefe to heare this vile reporte Hence cursed catiue from my sight shee said that hath of me a wofull widdow made Then all abasht Matreuers goes his way the saddest man that euer life did beare And to Sir Thomas Gurney did bewray what bitter speech the Queene did giue him there Then did the Queene out-law them both together and banisht them faire Englands bounds for euer Thus the dissembling Queene did seeke to hide the heinous act by her owne meanes effected The knowledge of the deed shee still denied that shee of murder might not be suspected But yet for all the subtiltie shee wrought the truth vnto the world was after brought Of the Lord Matreuers and Sir Thomas Gurney being banished The Argument ¶ The dolefull lamentation of the lord Matreuers and Sir Thomas Gurney being banished the Realme Cant. VIII Or to the tune of light of loue Alas that euer that day we did see that false smiling fortune so fickle should bee Our miseries are many our woes without end to purchase vs fauour we both did offend Our deedes haue deserued both sorrow and shame but woe worth the persons procured the same Alacke and alacke with griefe we may crie that euer we forced king Edward to die The Bishop of Hereford ill may he fare he wrote vs a letter for subtiltie rare To kill princely Edward feare not it is good thus much by his letter we then vnderstood But curst be the time that we tooke it in hand to follow such counsell and wicked command Alacke and alacke with griefe we may crie that euer we forced King Edward to die Forgiue vs sweet Sauiour that damnable deed which causeth with sorrow our harts for to bleed And taking compassion vpon our distresse put far from thy pretence our great
wickednesse With teares all be dewed for mercie we crie and doe not the penitent mercie denie Alacke and alacke with griefe we may say that euer we made king Edward away For this haue we last both our goods and our lands our Castles and towers so stately that stands Our Ladies and babies are turnd out of doore like comfortlesse catiues both naked and poâ—re Both friendlesse and fatherlesse do they complaine for gon are their comforts y t should theÌ„ maintaine Alacke and alacke and alas may we crie that euer we forced king Edward to die And while they go wringing their hands vp down in seeking for succour from towne vnto towne All wrapped in wretchednesse doe we remaine tormented perplexed in dolour and paine Despised disdained and banished quite the coasts of our countrie so sweete to our sight Alacke and alacke and alas may we crie that euer we forced king Edward to die Then farwel faire England wherin we were borne our friends our kindred which holds vs in scorn Our honours and dignities quite haue we lost both profit and pleasure our fortune haue crost Out Parkes and our Chases our mansions so faire our Iemes and our Iewels most precious rare Alacke and alacke and alas may we crie that euer we forced king Edward to die Then farwell deare Ladies and most louing wiues might we mend your miseries w t losse of our liues Then our silly children which begs on your hand in griefe and calamitie long should not stand Nor yet in their Countrie dispised should bee that lately was honoured of euerie degree Alacke and alacke and alas we may crie that euer we forced king Edward to die In Countries vnknowne we range too and fro cloying mens eares with report of our woe Our tood is wild beries greene bankes is our bed the trees serue for houses to couer our head Browne bread to our toste is most daintie sweete our drinke is cold water tooke vp at our feete Alacke and alacke and alas may we crie that euer we forced king Edward to die Thus hauing long wandred in hunger and cold dispising liues safetie most desperate bold Sir E. Gurney toward England doth goe for loue of his Ladie distressed with woe Saying how happie and blessed were I to see my sweete children and wife ear I die Alacke and alacke and alas may we say that euer we made king Edward away But three yeares after his wofull excile behold how false fortune his thoghts doth begile Comming toward England was tooke by the way least that he should the chief murderers bewray Commandement was sent by one called Lea he should be beheaded forthwith on the sea Alacke and alacke and alas did he crie that euer we forced king Edward to die Thus was Sir Thomas dispatched of life in comming to visite his sorrowfull wife Who was cut off from his wished desire which he in his heart so much did require And neuer his Lady againe did he see nor his poore children in their miserie Alacke and alacke and alas did he crie that euer we forced king Edward to die The Lord Matreuers the storie doth tell in Germanie after long time he did dwell In secret manner for feare to be seene by any persons that fauoured the Queene And there at last in great miserie he ended his life most penitently Alacke and alacke and alas did they say that euer we made king Edward away Of the winning of the I le of Man by the Earle of Salisburie The Argument ¶ The winning of the Yle of Man by the noble Earle of Salisburie Cant. IX Or the Queenes goeing to the Parliament THe noble Earle of Salsburie with many a hardie Knight Most valiantly preparde himselfe against the Scots to fight With his speare and his shield making his proud foes to yeeld Fiercely on them all he ran to driue them from the I le of Man Drummes stricking on a row Trumpets sounding as they goe Tan ta ra ra ra tan There silken Ensignes in the field most gloriously were spred The Horsemen on their prauncing steede strucke many a Scotchman dead The browne bils on their Corslets sing the â—owmen with the gray Goose wing The lustie Launce the pearcing speare the lost flesh of their foes doe teare Drummes stricking on a rowe trumpets sounding as they goe Tan ta ra ra ra tan The batell was so fearce and hot the Scots for feare did flie And many a famous Knight and Squire in gorie bloud did lie Some thinking to escape away did drowne themselues within the sea Some with many a bloudy wound lay gasping on the clayey ground Drummes stricking on a row trumpets sounding as they goe Tan ta ra ra ra tan Thus after many a braue exployt that day performd and donnet The noble Earle of Salsburie the I le of man had wonne Returning then most gallantlie with honour fame and victorie Like a conquerer of fame to Court this warlike champion came Drummes stricking on a row trumpets sounding as they goe Tan ta ra ra ra tan Our King reioycing at this act incontâ—nent decred To giue the Earle this pleasant I le for his most valiant deed And forthwith did cause him than for to be Crowned king of man Earle of famous Salsburie and King of man by dignitie Drummes stricking on a row trumpets sounding as they goe Tan ta ra ra ra tan Thus was the first King of man that euer bore that name Knight of the princely Garter blew an order of great fame Which braue king Edward did deuise and with his person royallize Knights of the Garter are they cald and eke at Winsor so instald With princely royaltie great fame and dignitie This knight-hood still is held How Wat Tiler and Iacke Straw rebelled against king Richard the second The Argument ¶ The rebellion of Wat Tiler and Iacke Straw with others against King Richard the se-second Cant. X. Or the Miller would a woing ride WAt Tilor is from Darford gon and with him many a proper man And he a Captaine is become marching in field with Phife and Drumme Iacke Straw an other in like case from Essex flockes a mightie pace Hob Carter with his stragling traine Iacke Shepperd comes with him a maine So doth Tom Miller in like sort as if he ment to take some Fort With bowes and bils with speare and shield on Blacke-heath haue they pitcht their field An hundred thousand men in all whose force is not accounted small And for king Richard did they send much euill to him they did intend For the taxe the which our king vpon his Commons then did bring And now because his royall grace denied to come within their Chace They spoyled Southwarke round about and tooke the Marshals prisoners out All those that in the Kings bench lay at libertie they set that day And then they marcht with one consent through London with a lewd intent And for to fit their lewd desire they set the Sauoy all on fire For
the hate which they did beare vnto the Duke of Lancastere Therefore his house they burned quite through enuie malice and dispighte Then to the Temple did they turne the Lawyers bookes there did they burne And spoyld their Lodgings one by one and all they could lay hand vpon Then vnto Smithfield did they hie to Saint Iohns place that stands thereby And set the same on fire flat which burned seuen dayes after that Vnto the Tower of London then fast troped these rebellious men And hauing entered soone the same with hidious cries and mickle shame The graue Lord Chauncelor thence they tooke amas'd with fearefull pittious looke The Lord high Treasurer likewise they tooke from that place that present day And with their hooting lewd and shrill strucke off their heads on Tower hill Into the Cittie came they then like rude disordered franticke men They robd the Churches euerie where and put the Priests in deadly feare Into the Counters then they get where men imprisoned lay for debt They broke the doores and let them out and threw the Counter bookes about Tearing and spoyling them each one and Recordes all they light vpon The doores of Newgate broke they downe that prisoners ran about the towne Forcing all the Smithes they meete to knocke the yrons from their feete And then like villaines voide of awe followed Wat Tylor and Iacke Straw And though this outrage was not small the King gaue pardon to them all So they would part home quietly but they his pardon did defie And being all in Smithfield then euen threescore thousand fighting men Which there Wat Tylor then did bring of purpose for to meete our king And there withall his royall grace sent Sir Iohn Newton to that place Vnto Wat Tylor willing him to come and speake with our young king But the proud Rebell in dispight did picke a quarrell with the knight The Mayor of London being by when he beheld this villanie Vnto Wat Tylor rode he then being in midst of all his men Saying Traytor yeelde t is best in the Kings name I thee arrest And therewith to his Dagger start and thrust the Rebbell to the heart Who falling dead vnto the ground the same did all the hoast confound And downe they threwe their weapons all and humbly they for pardon call Thus did that proud Rebellion cease and after followed a ioyfull peace FINIS A speeche betweene Ladies being shepheards on Salisburie plaine TRuely said the Ladies this was a most hardie couragious Mayor that durst in the midst of so mightie a multitude of his enemies arrest so impudent and bold a Traytor and kill him in the face of all his friendes which was a deed worthie to be had in euerlasting memory and highly to be rewarded Nor did his Majestie forget said the Lady oxenbridge to dignifie that braue man for his hardie deed for in remembrance of that admired exploit his maiestie made him Knighte and fyue Aldermen more of the Cittie ordayning also that in rememberance of Sir VVil. VValworthes deede against VVatte Tyler that all the Mayors that were to succeede in his place should be Knighted and further he granted that there shoulde be a Dagger added to the Armes of the Citie of London in the right quarter of the shielde for an augmentation of the armes You haue tolde vs quoth the Ladies the end of VVat Tylor but I pray you what became of Iacke Strawe the rest of the rebellious rout I will shew you quoth she Iacke Straw with the rest of that rude rabble being in the ende apprehended as Rebels neuer florish long was at last broght to be executed at London where he confest that there intent was if they could haue brought their vile purpose to passe to haue murdered the King and his Nobles and to haue destroyed so neere as they coulde all the gentilitie of the land hauing especially vowed the death of all the Bishops Abbots Monks and then to haue inriched themselues they determined to set London on fire and to haue taken the spoyle of that honourable Cittie but the gallowes standing betwixt them home they were there trust vppe before they could effect any thing And such ends said the ladies send all Rebels and especially the desperate Traytors which at this present vexeth the whole state With that word one of their seruants came running saying Madam the Rebels are now marched out of VViltshire Hampshire making hastie steppes towards london therefore now you need not feare to come home and commit the flockes to there former keepers The Ladies beeing ioyfull thereof appointed shortly after a banquet to bee prepared where they all met together againe by which time the Kings power hauing incountered the Rebels on Blacke-heath ouerthrew their whole power where the lorde Awdly was taken and committed to Newgate from whence hee was drawne to the Tower-hill in a cote of his owne Armes painted vpon paper reuersed and all to torne and ther was beheaded the 24. of Iune And shortly after Thomas Flamocke and Michaell Ioseph the blacke Smith were drawne hanged quartered after the manner of Traytors but when the husbands to these faire ladies came home heard how their wiues had dealt to saue themselues in this daungerous time they coulde not chuse but heartily laugh at the matter saying that such shepheards neuer kept sheepe on Salisburie plaine before