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 Walsingh 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 Mars 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 was a whirlewinde he was * Potius gladiator quam senator Egnatius in Paterculus rather a Fencer a Swash buckler than a Senatour his right Arme his brutâ—sh force not Justice not reason must sway all things Tyler will not rule in fetters his will his violence shall be câ—…d Law and grievous slavery under that will falsly peace Had those whom no government never so sweet and gracious will please unlesse the Supreame power be given the people seen the confusions and dangers the câ—uelty and tyranny of these few dayes they would quickly have changed this opinion The Knight performes his Embassy he urges the Idol with great earnestness to see the King and speedily He answers if thou beâ—…t so much for hast get thee back to the King thy Master I will come when I list yet he followes the Knight on Horse back but slowly In the way he is met by a Citâ—zen who had brought sixty doublets for the Commons upon the Publique Faith This Citizen askes him for his mony he promises payment before night presses on so near the King that his horse touched the croupe of the Kings horse Froissart reports his discourse to the King Sir King sayes the Idol seest thou yonder people The King answers yes and askes him what he meanes by the question He replyes they are all at my command have sworne to mâ— Faith and Truth to doe what I will have them He and they had broke their Faith and truth to their Prince and he thinkes these men will be true to him Here though it be a digression too much I cannot omit a passage of the late Civill Warres of France D'Avila begun and continued by thâ— Jesuited party to exâ—irpate the royall Family there Villers Governour of Roüen for the holy League tells the Duke of Mayen Captaine Generall of the Rebellion That he would not obey him they were both companions and spoilers of the State together The King being levelled all men else ought to be equall The Idoll as he that demanded so the Knight nothing buâ— Riot continues his discourse thus Believeâ—t thou King that these people will depart without thy Letters The King tells him He means fairly that he will make good his word his Letters are neare finished and they shall have them But the glory of the Idoll which was merely the benefit of fortune begâ—n to fade his principaliâ—y was toâ— cruell too violent to be lasting Vengeance here hovered over his head and he who had been the destruction of multitudes hastens nay precipitates his own fate and ruins himself by his own fury he puts himself into the Kings power who should in his first towring had he been wisely wicked like a Vulture of the Game have flown at his throat * In magnis principium injuriis non incipitur ut desistatur The judicious politâ—que will not begin to give over However will never venture himself in the Princes hands whom he has justly offended by treasons against his government †Grand foâ—…e Com. Charles of Burgundy confesses this to be a great folly his Grandfather Philip lost his life at Montereau upon the Yonne by it and our Idoll shall not escape better Sir John Newton the Knight imployed to fetch him delivered his message on horseback which is now remembred and taken for an high neglect besides it seemeth the carriage and words of the Knight were not very pleasing Every trifle in omission was treason to the Idols person and new state He railes foulely drawes his Dagger and bellowing out Traitor menaces to strike the Knight who returnes him in exchange the lie and not to be behinde in blowes drawes his This the Idol takes for an intolerable affront but the King fearfull of his servant coole and asswages the heat he commands the Knight to dismount and offer up his Dagger to the Idol which though unwillingly was done This would not take off his edge The Prince who yeilds once to a Rebell shall finde heaps of requests and must deny nothing The King had given away his Knights Dagger now nothing will content Tyler but the Kings Sword with which the Militia oâ— power of Armes impliedly was sought This he askes then againe rushes upon the Knight vowing never to eat till he have his Head When the Nobility and Gentry of the Kingdome whom neither necessity nor misery could animate lie downe trampled on by these Villaines without Soule or motion In comes the Major of London Sir William Walworth the everlasting honour of the Nation a man who over did ages of the Roman Scaevolae or Curtii in an hours action snatches the King Kingdome out of these flames He tells the King it would be a shame to all posterity to suffer more insolencies from this Hangman this lump of bloud This the rest of the Courtiers now wakened by their owne danger For he who destroyes one man contrary to Law or Justice gives all men else reason to feare themselves and take heed are echoes to This puts daring into the young King he resolves to hazard all upon this chance This way he could not but die kingly at least like a Gentleman with the Sword which God of whose great Majesty he was a beam gave him in his hand The onely way left to avoid a shamefull dâ—ath was to run the danger of a brave one and a wise coward I will not say an honourable one considering the incertainty of things under that Iron socage Tenure would think so The King commands the Major to arrest the Butcher This was charge enough and rightly understood indeed there was then no time for forme nor tryall the suspension of the Courts was Tylers act his crime and he ougâ—t not to look for any advantage from it Grot Jur. Bâ—… vâ—l 1. c. 4. an Historian sayes the Duke of Guyse's power was so much that the ordinary formes of Justice could
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
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
not have destroyed the antient family to which sayes a Statute which we hope it can be no treason to Tylers Ghost to recite the dominions and rights of the realme of England c. See Mag. Chart c. See 25 H. 8. 1 Eliz. 1 Jac. Ought by inhaerent birth-right and lawfull and undoubted succession descend and come This we being bounden thus speake the members heretofore thereunto by the Lawes of God and man doe recognise c. The answer we say might have beene easy they would not have done it some time agon they swore and Covenanted and Covenanted againe they would not now they will Tyler is still Tyler but his Liberty false cheating liberty is every where free both to will and dislike as the safety of the Common-wealth shall require and carry him on This was the faith and honesty of that age by which we may guesse at the cause and men who acted for it who were the undertakers what trust is to be given to such perfidious knaves whose protestations and Covenants of one day are wiped out by an inspiration of the next We may say by an inspiration It was wondrous fit for these changes Our Proteus should bring inspiration in All those of Estates and Possessions Bishops Canons Parsons of Churches Monkes we would have rooted out of the earth onely the begging Fryers should have been preserved who would have served such sheep such Shepheards well enough for Church-duties which we may wonder after all these pranks that they should thinke of here would have beene a very plaine church Questionlesse after all these actions the devotion of these Reformers could not have beene much By that time our publick Theeves had cast lots for the Kings Churches Nobilities and Gentries Revenues what Boores of others Countries â—…ould have compared with the riches of 〈◊〉 Peasants and their Captaine Tyler Quib. subjecti regulati c. When there should have beene so Straw goes on none left more great more strong or more wise then our selves then we had set up a Law of our owne forging at our pleasure by which our Subjects should have beene regulated Necessary it was the old Law should be voted downe It condemned them in every line Then had we created us Kings Tyler for Kent a part too small for the Arch-tyrant and others for other Shires Here was to be Monarchy still not evill in it selfe but where it ought to be of right onely the Family was to be changed the antient Saxon Norman stemme for an upstart dunghill brood of Vipers Tyler to be advanced upon the ruines of Richard the Cedar to be torne up to make the Bramble roome enough while any of the royall off spring had beene in being to claime the right to have involved the miserable perjured foolish people in an everlasting civilâ— Warre never to have ceased while there had beene a veine of blood to run The mainteinance of Tylers wrong his usurpation not to looke farther than the present World would have beene more fatall then ten plagues John addes no man thwarted these ends of ours more than the Archbishop therefore we hated him to death and made all the hast possible to bring him to it In the evening of that Saturday in which Wat perished because the poorer sort of the Londoners favoured us we intended to have fired the City in foure places and to have divided the spoyles So the faithfull Citizens as forward as they were had at last paid for their love he calls God to witnesse these truths The confessions of many others of the ingagement agreed with this of Straw The Lawyers and those as one who fled from the tyranny of the time durst now show their faces Stow. Here is tyranny of the rout tyranny of a savage Clown their boutefeu whose few dayes of cruell usurpation were more bloody more destroying then the yeares of any Caligula any Nero any Domitian whatsoever A Civill Warre sayes a noble Frenchman Sieur de la Nové makes more breaches as to a Country as to Manners Lawes and Men in six Moneths then can be repaired in six yeares What then can be thought or said of those Monsters who against all ties of nature and piety shall raise a desperate civill Warre meerely with the intent to overthrow Religion the Church the Government Lawes and Humanity out of a cursed divelish ambition to advance themselves Tylers and Sons of the Earth before to an height which God as some love to speake never called them to For though power is of God it is onely so when the comming to it is by lawfull meanes He that ordaines the power allowes not the usurpation of it Tyler had the power to doe mischiefe the power of rebellion the power which must have ruined the church common wealth but whether this be the power which 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 Offa's speaking of Beormred the Mercian Usurper has these words In the same region of the Mercians a certaine Tyranne rather destroying and dâ—ssipating 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 Valeâ—tine 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 â—ath 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 juâ—… and Regall power never used in any other sense Widdrington to the example of Athalia urged by Bellarmine against Kings Apolog 234. 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 Antilog c 3. 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 Apparat. absque labe tyrannidis without the stain of Tyrannie they could not meddle with the Kingdome Rodolph Duke of Suevia or Suabenland set up for a false Emperour by that devilish Pope Hildebrand
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
a miserable sort of drudges frequentlh 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 c. These Froissart make the first stirrers in the Insurrection these he makes look back to the beginning of men and things to talk of the primitve freedome of the liberties of the Creature above Ordinances that only Treason against the Lords could forfeit Liberty which was the case of Lucifer and could not be made theirs who were neither Angels nor spirits but men of the same shape extraction and Soules with those who proudly would be thought their Lords which say they was an height too much and deserved levelling must not be endured hereafter equality was the way of peace and love But can clouds fire in thunder and lightning can earth quakes teare the entrailes of expring Kingdomes without a Muncer or a Wiggington a Garnet or an Hall in the mine If the Church and Government must be blowne up it is fit a sanctified hand should cast the Balles a man according to the pure dialect of immediate calling who has had the Seale of it of wonderfull zeale of resolute dealings the Lords Messengeâ—… extraordinarily gifted and exercised is onely fit to advance Gods matters the Holy cause and action and a Renegado from his orders an Apostate Church-man will best become this person a man with whom nothing else is sacred but his owne ambition his innovation and the propagation of his Schisme One Baal the most sottish and most unworthy but most factious of the Clergy is stirred up by the Devill who if rebellion be as the sinne of Witchcraft is the Father of both to be the Antichrist of this Reign to blaspheme and cry down God and Cesar his anoynted the Rights of God and Cesar and who if he knew any thing was certainly the very Atheist of that age Of these imaginations so Froissert of those before was a foolish Priest in the County of Kent called John Wall for Baal and to make it plain that he was the Father of the uproare he had been sayes this Knight three times in the Archbishops prison a persecuted Saint for these Opinions but delivered by him his Conscience was scrupulous of proceeding farther which this Historian condemnes him for we shall hereafter see the Archbishop in John's hands who shall come short of this mercy John had preached if it be not impious to use the word here twenty yeares and more ever babling those things which he fancied would be gracious to the multitude He haunted by-places the Cloysters of the Cathedrall when the Church was shut against him the Streetes and Fields were holy ground There this excommunicated Apostate laid his Nets His discourses to the people were partly invectives against Tithes which he allowed not where the Parishioner was of better life and smaller estate than the Parson whose estate at this rate must be small enough against Bishops and the Clergy Nobility and Gentry Then he had his quarrells to the Government his Doctrine struck at propriety and order the World was impaired with Diseases which must be the more for their age the crisis would be dangerous and there could be no health no soundnesse hoped for till Names Estates and things were common His advise was to let the King know the resolutions of the new Common-wealths-men to tell him where the Supreme power lies whose Trustee he was that another course must be taken and if he would not joyne with them other remedies thought of Froiss the third time he was imprisoned he had his Revelations his Enlightnings was full of divine raptures he foretold his deliverance by 20000. men which happened in the following tumults when his Disciples made so many Gaole deliveries This knowing what numbers he had seduced and abused he might presume upon probable conjecture He was no sooner loose but he incites and stirs up the unruly Clowns to all the mischiefs possible He tells them they were pious and necessary excesses and that the Law of Nature which allowes all acts for our owne preservation would justifie them that a mad Father who seeks to rob and destroy his off-spring might be resisted his thrusts might be put by the Son might binde his hands and if there were no other way to escape his furious violence kill him in his owne defence The safety of the people is the Supreme law If the Prince persisting after faire warning to make himselfe a shield and defence to wicked instruments of mischiefs Malignants and enemies of the Commons securing them from the justice of the Commons endanger himself and his Kingdome he may thank himselfe We sayes he are willing to hazard our selves good men to preserve both we will never give any impediment or neglect any proper means of curing the distempers of the Kingdome and of closing the dangerous breaches made by themselves according to the trust which lies upon us At Black heath where an assembly of 200000 men made their Randezvouze after some time spent in seeking God he baits in Rime Walsingh VVahn Adam dalf and Eve span VVho was than a Gentleman Was his levelling leud Text hence it was to be consequent that as nature and the Creation made no distinction no more ought Lawes to make or suffer any that servitude is the daughter of unjust oppression introduced by wicked men against Gods Will. That if it had pleased him to have created slaves in the beginning he would have chosen and marked out who should have been the Lord who the Vassail he askes where the word allowes these sweet things called Lords verily Knaves in Purple Sons of Caine of Nimrod of Esau of Ishmael fat by the blood and sweat of the poore innocent Plebeians honourable in nothing but the outside und noble onely in riots and adulteries as cruell as ravenous as killing and as barbarously as the Beares the Lyons the Tigers of their escutcheons the Dragons of their bearing he askes why the limber Knights and Franklins who are onely better combed can kisse the hand and lowt with more grace must eat the Capons which the sturdy brave Commons must starve themselves to cramme nothing could be good which was great nothing but Independency was divine He bids them consider now was the time appointed them by God to cast off the yoake Deposito servitutis jugo libertate c. that if they would not be wanting to themselves they should assert their long looked for liberty and like good Husbandmen who love their field Wals more boni patris famil excolentis agrii suum pluck up the weedes which over run it which signified rooting out the wicked and those who carried the mark of the Beast He points them out the heads devoted destined for flaughter * Regni Majores The House of Lords the
Peers as yet they speak no higher whom he would have brought to Repentance Then the Lawyers Justices Judges Jury-men †Quoscunque nocivos communitatis de terra sua tollerent all the enemies of the commonalty were to be swept from the Earth there could not else so he concludes be any peace or security for the future * Si sublatis Majoribus aequa libertas c. lopping off the Heads of those which were too tall which over-topped too much equall Nobility equall Liberty Dignity and Power this was his old Doctrine were the onely antidotes without which the poysoned Common-wealth must perish Whosoever loved not the Cause was a Reprobate hatefull to God and damned Body and Soule John concludes with an exhortation that in order to the security and preservation of Religion and Liberty of the Subject they will never consent to the laying downe of armes so long as the evill Councellors and Prelates arming or in open warre shall by force of armes be protected against the justice of the Commons John addes of long time there hath beene and now is a traiterous plot for the subversion of us and the liberty of the Subject No wonder when Peter the Hermits Goose was believed to be the Holy Ghost In the Croisade for holy land that John amongst as very Ninnyhammers could strike up for a Prophet The base crew prick up their Eares and wonder at the new truths which their Pastor held forth they applaud him he is †Ut aâ—…lamaâ—ert cum Archiepiscopum Archbishop elect and Chancelour the true Archbishop must be called a Traitour * Communium regni proditorem a Traitour of the Commons and the Realm to make him roome is voted so to be apprehended wheresoever he could be found in England and his Head to be cut off Here was a new Treason and a new way of triall and sentence But though Baal had more of the Spirit there were other adventurers not to be robbed of their honours other Worthies precious men called to doe the Worke of the Lord Who put to their hands and brought Trowels and Morter toward the raising this Babel Jack-Straw another Priest full of life and vigor the Confessour and Bosom-chaplein of Tyler more inward with him his speciall Councellour acquainted with all his plots in the contrivance of which he had a great part bestowed his paines upon the Cause and for action next Tyler the Idoll carryed the name which may be one cause why Polydore kills him in Tylers stead with the Mayors Sword the most eminent sticklers of the Laity of the prophane stie where Wat the Tyler a Tyler by Trade not by Nâ—me his Name was Helier an ungracious Patron as Froissart was * Wals Rex ribaldorum Idolum rusticorum King of the Ribauldes the Idoll of the Kentish Clownes John Kirkby Alan Treder Thomas Scot and Ralph Rugge a Magnifico who gave freely away amongst his fellow Scoundrels the spoiles of his Conquests were princes of the separation of the Tribes in Kent and Essex Robert Westbrome Wraw his Chaplaine refusing to set * Wals Crowne upon Crowne and contented to be the Arch priest of the Province was King of Suffolke and the parts adjacent St. Edmunds-bury once the Palace of the East Angle Kings and Mildenhalle were the seats of his Soveraignty John Litster a Tanner usurps the Name and power of a King at Northwalsham in Norfolk I may say the power and more never was any English King so absolute nor can any just and legall Principality be so large and Arbitrary Law of the Land with which the old Englishman was free enough and contented was here to be thrown out of dores The Heptarchy of the Saxons seemed to revive againe but prodigiously the blaze of these Comets must have been fatall to the Nation to keep an order in the History of these Ruffians who abhorred it I will give the Van to the Idoll of the Clowns it is due to him he is the first who lifts up his Head in the confusion among the Brethren and deserves the first chaire He was the Dragon and no question in the Conclusion had swallowed up or clipped the rest Litster Westbrome and the others merited highly but they must have been taken down some pins Tyler must have elbow-roome he must have been Lord Paramount and one such Comet would have been more than enough for one Horizon Besides Kent and Essex were the puddle the Lerna which bred this Hydra with the many Heads which poysoned most of the Counties and in the conjunction of these two Provinces Tyler the Idoll swayed all and here I must observe this that however Walsingham hatches the cause in Essex yet his owne relations of Baal and the Letters and Sermons of this seducing Prophet bring this into question and by him if Kent be not the Mother yet are the Treasons of her and Essex Sister twins of the same birth Essex onely started first The fire kindled from a small sparke The Clownes of two Villages not named in the Chronicles contrive the Conspiracy there They send Warrants to the smaller Townes about and rather command than intreat all men of what age soever without any stay or deliberation to repaire to a Rendezvouze set downe The conclusion was terrible It threatned plundering of Goods Burning Pucking downe Houses and cutting off the heads of those who disobey the present Power The summoned Villages are frighted into Obedience which is to rebell They leave their Ploughs their Fields their Wives and Farmes and in their first rising no lesse than 5000 of the sink of the people meet ill armed some with Staves some with rusty Swords some with Bowes and Featherlesse Arrowes few knowing any cause of their assembling gazing upon one another Wals and not finding any enemies of their own peace and good but themselves Not one of a thousand was provided like a Souldier but their number supplyed all things they were highly conceited of themselves and believed they were invincible not to be resisted To confirme their steps Baal watching to catch who had long waited for such an opportunity of imbroiling drives them head-long forward he writes to them his Letters exhortatory where to consecrate the enterprise Gods name is brought in He is made to owne the Cause composed of a jargon a canting gibridge fit for the designe to abuse and cheat the innocent peasant who cannot pry into things cannot look farther than the bait fuller of Ridles than sense one of them found in the sleeve of one of these wretched men condemned and under the Gallowes was this John Schep sometimes St. Mary Priest in Yorkn and now of Colchester greeteth well John namelesse and John the Miller and John Carter and biddeth them that they beware of guile in Borough which Stow by a notable mistake calls Gillinborough and stand together in Gods Name and biddeth Pierse Plowman goe to his werk and chastice Hob the robber and take
with you John Trewman and all his fellowes and no moe John the Miller hath yground smal smal smal The Kings Sonne of Heaven shall pay for all Beware or ye be woe Know your friend from your foe Have ynough and say hoe And doe well and better and flee sinne and seek peace and hold therein And so biddeth John Trewmâ—n and all his fellows A List of Sanctity does well in these Cases but his seeking of Peace chastising the Robberâ— and steâ—ing of Sinne I must leave as mysticall This shewes the industry carefulnesse and vigilancy of the Prophet in his preparations and his willingnesse to hurt He disperseth other Letters of this kinde in one he chargeth all men in the Name of the Trinity c. to stand Manlike together and help Truth now we have Truth to our peace and Truth shall help them in his ragges of Verses for a Rimer he would be he is as earnest for Truth They begin Iack Trewman doth you to understond That falsenes guyle hath reigned too long And Truth hath been set under a Lock And falsenes reigneth in every Flock No Man may come truth to But he must sing si dedero Many Remonstrances and Declarations flew abroad from him The Kentishmen seasoned by this Priest or Prophet of the Idol are easily tempted by the Essexians to associate in the undertakings and share in the honour of gaining Liberty pretious Liberty for the people and taking away the evill customes of the Kingdom which is the glorious Title of the tumult This was no more sayes the Monke than the Kentishmen had long wished for They are quickly ready and by the Arts used by those of Essex put all the Countrey into a combustion Wals That they may not appeare with too much horror at the first sight they would seem to pretend to an out-side Piety they account so they tell the Kingdome and the world the professing of any thing in the sight of God the strongest obligaoion that any Christian and the most solemne publick faith that any such state as a Common-wealth can give In all humility and reverence they contrive a sacred vow and Covenant They fasten the knot of their holy League with National Covenants and Oaths which themselves will first break than which there can be no stronger tie Religion consists in Faith he who loses his Faith hath lost himselfe Oaths contrary to their sworne Allegiance and former Oathes which is a most absurd impiety here God must be called upon to helpe and witnesse the perfidiousnesse oathes use to end so helpe me God he who performes not his oath directly and plainly renounces God and all that is sacred and Divine to sweare to day against what we were sworne to yesterday must be strange amongst Christians these impieties being once allowed there can be neither peace society nor government amongst Men safe and unindangered The wayes leading to Canterbury are beset the Pilgrimes swarming thither according to the superstition of those Ages are seized and forced to sweare with these extraordinary Workers To keep faith to King Richard whose most faithfull Servants most humble and loyall Subjects they professe themselves to be and the Commons according to their power and vocation To accept no King called John a vanity throwne in for Duke John of Lancasters sake the Kings Uncle and neglected by the Norfolke reformers who advanced King John Litstere to the Soveraignty To be ready upon summons to assist the Commons the great wheele of the New State for whom this Oath was given and to be principally respected by it To induce their friends and allies to hold with them and to allow no Tax but the fifteenth which say they falsly was the onely Tax their forefathers ever heard of or submitted to How sacred in all the parts this Oath will be with them which never was to be intended more than temporary will soone be discovered diversity of words cannot change the nature of things Their first march is to Canterbury Froiss where they visit Thomas of Canterbury who lived and dyed a Rebell to his Prince and to use the words of Rogerius a Norman Cesar Dial. l. 8. c. 69. in Caesarius the Monke deserved death and damnation for this Contumacy against his King the Minister of God a fit Saint for such votaries Their kindnesse was not much they spoile his Church break up the Bishops Chamber and make a prey of all they finde pâ—otest the Bishop shall give them an account of the profits of his Chancery and here they begin their audit Thus we see our New reformers are entred but Sacriledge ushers them in they break ope the Prisons and free the Saint in Bonds Baal when they had done what they came for the Citizens who had entertained them willingly leave their houses to keep them company a Councell is called to resolve upon what ground the next storme should poure downe London ever false to the Prince The Wood which no doubt would lodge the Wolves is set by their Orders Tyler the Idoll who knew his Reigne would last no longer than while these Men continued madde thought this the onely place likely to keep them so London too was the fairest mark and besides the Clownes were assured of a welcome upon a private invitation from some of the Citizens whose Ancestors and Predecessours in all ages in the tumults of the Confessor S. Edwards reigne in all the Barons Warres since have gained the renowned to be lovers of Reformation otherwise pure Rebellion enemies to Courtiers and Malignants enemies to the enemies of their deare Liberties which yet sometimes they pursue with too much heat and blinde zeale sometimes to their cost and repentance mistaking every where both notions and things the bridles which they without feare or wit provide for their Kings being often thrust into their owne mouthes by the new riders which themselves lift into the saddle while they growne sober Mules dare neither kick nor fling Behold the common people sayes the Knight Froiss when they be up against their Prince and especially in England among them there is no remedy for they are the perillousest people of the World and most outrageous if they be up and specially the Londoners sayes the Monk Wals Lond. quib nunque âcest furia c. The Londoners never want fury if they be not kept in if license or insolence be permitted them The Princess Dowager of the incomparable Edward the black Prince Mother of the young King then at Canterbury hardly escapes these Savages who rudely assault her Chaire and put her and her Ladies in no small feare of Villany to be done to their persons This princess was so willing to be out of their reach that notwithstanding she was very fat and unwieldie she got to London in a day Tyler who had insinuated himselfe into the good grace of these Churles by appearing the most stirring and active of the Kennell who began and ruled the cry and
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
sometimes grievous his taxes heavy and any of those they call evill Counsellours faulty they ought to remember in their first risings and all along in all their Oathes and Covenants they swore continually not to invade the Monarchy nor touch the Rights of his free Crowne You ought to remember your own Remonstrances you once declared that you acknowledged the Maxime of the Law The King can doe no wrong If any ill be committed in matters of State the Councellors if in matters of Law the Judges must answer for it My person was not to be violated He expect they should deale with him as the honest Husbandman does in overflowes of Waters who cleares and draines his ground repaires the bankes but does not usurp upon the streame does not inhance within the Channell And farther that quarrels to his Government and Lawes are unreasonable from those who out of ambition arme to overthrow both that reformation is not the worke of Sedition which ever disorders what is well setled He conjures them to forsake these suries who sayes he abuse their lightness meerely for their owne ends whose companions or masters they were lately now are they but their Gaurds and that if they refuse a suâ—jâ—ction according to all Lawes Divine and humane to his Scâ—pter they must become slaves and tributanes to their Iron to the Flailes and Pitchforkes of some Mushrome of their owne dirt and that advancing their Mushrome thus upon his power by the wayes of force gives an example to the next tumults against themselves There can be no safety for any new Non est diuturnâ—… possessio in quam gladio inducimur Curt. power raised upon this force the obedience to that upon these Rules being limitted and annexed to the force and success and to yeild and give way to the next power visible which shall overbeare it A way to thrust a Nation into a state of War continuall perjury and impiety to the Worlds end This Realm as he goes on is my inheritance which I tooke possession of after the death of my Grand-father being a child and did I claime onely by your gift which I shall never grant yet are not you free to make a new choice you are bound to me by Oathes and Compacts and no right of new compliance 〈◊〉 â—ubmission can be left you to transferre He concludes That despair was a dangerous sinne which would drive them head-long to destruction That whatsoever their offences had been they were not above his mercy He bids them not trouble themselves for Tyler a base fellow who thrust them into dangers and blew them into a storme to raise himselfe upon the billowes upon the ruines of his Country He promises to lead them he will be their Captaine if they will follow him he will please them in all their desires This he spake to draw them off farther into Smithfield fearing they would againe fall to burning of â—ousâ—s They now wanted their Devill who possessed them and being in doubt whether they should kill the King or returne home with his Charters there being no incendiary to command follow the King in suspence Baal and Straw about this time amazed at the Idols fall lose courage and slip away In the meane time the stout Major spurres to the City with one servant where in a few words he acquaints the Citizens with the Kings perill and his owne and requests their sudden assistance if not for himselfe for the King who sayes he is in danger now to be murthered Wals Froiss Some loyall hearts some good men of the Kings party arme and joyn to the number of one thousand and range themselves in the street expecting some of the Cavaliers of the Kings Knights to conduct them resolved either to overcome or not to feare the Conquerours Sir Robert Knowles a renowned Commander in the French Warres of the Kings Grandfather called falsly Canol by Polydor and others undertakes this charge Sir Perducas D'Albret called D'Albreth a noble Gascoigne and a Commander too in those Warres Nicholas Brembre the Kings Draper and other Aldermen come in with their Levies and march to the King in sight of the Rebels There the King Knights the brave Wil Walworth John Standish one of his Esquires Nicholas Brembre John Philpot a most generous Citizen famous for his faithfull service to his Prince in the times succeeding and others The Nobility about the King desire him to strike off an hundred or two of the Clowns heads in revenge of the injuries and infamy they had received from them Sir Robert Knowles would have him faâ—l on and cut them all to pieces The King dislikes both these counsels He sayes many of these unhappy men were awed to side without either malice to his Person or Power and that if the first advise were taken the most innocent might be punished and the guilty scape If the second the very Rebel and the Counterfeit the forced one must be swallowed up together which was high injustice Yet were there many of these Râ—bâ—ls called to account and their acts of bloud rapine and buâ—ning cost them deare but these acts of theirs done against Law were punished legally upon the finding of Juries when the Tumults were composed Which was faire and handsome and shâ—wes the honourable justice of our King All that was done against them that night was to forbid the Citizens by Proclamation to entertain any of these men in the City or communicate with them and to command all men who had not dwelt there for one yeare before to depart So farre was the young King from approving the cruelty of the lâ—… counsels that in the next place he causes the Charters which he had promised them to be delivered yet some may suppose this but a pardon of shew and the pardon-piece of the Charters as well as the other part rather a piece of policy than any thing else the Countries being yet tumultuous the Clownes were upon their good behaviour that was a condition of their pardon which they would not observe they commit new outrages break the Kings Laws pluck down the vengeance of Justice upon their heads afresh they did not give over their mischiefs after their return sayes Wals By the King and his Counsell the Charters as extorted out of force and necessity were recalled and though the Meynie generally were pardoned the King againe provoked staid but for a fit time to take vengeance on the Ring-leaders and punish particular offendors who could not be forgiven It being necessary in so desperate a Revolt for the terrour of others to make examples of some such malicious disturbers of the peace as would never have been reclaimed The Kings Charters contained a Manumission of the Villains and abolition of the memory of what was past for the rest The tenor sayes Walsingham of the Charters extorted from the King by force was this he gives us onely that of Hartfordshire the Province of his Monastery RIchard by the Grace of God
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