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
grave on Tower-hill or Smithfield where the faithfull lieges of his Crown were torn in pieces by these Canibals The reverence due to the annointed heads of Kings began to fall away and naked Majesty could not guard where Innocency could not But Tyler blinded with his owne fatall pride throws himself foolishly upon the Kings sword and by his over-much hast preserves him whom he had vowed to destroy The Heathens make it a mark of the Divinity of of their Gods that they bestowed benefits upon mortal men and took nothing from them The Clownes of the Idoll upon this rule were not very heavenly they were the meeke ones of those times the onely inheritours of right the kingdom was made a prey by them it was cantoned out to erect new Principalities for the Mock-kings of the Commons so their Chiefs or Captains would be called Here though the title of the Rebellion spoke fair was shewn somewhat of ambition and no little of injust private interest no little of self-seeking which the good of the people in pretence onely was to give way to and no wonder for the good of the people properly was meerely to be intended of themselves and no where but amongst those was the Commonwealth Had these Thistles these Brambles flourished the whole Wood of noble Trees had perished If the violent casting other men out of their possessions firing their houses cutting off their Heads violating of all Rights be thought Gods blessing any evidence of his owning the Cause these Thieves and Murderers were well blessed and sufficiently owned Such was then the face of things estates were dangerous every Rich man was an enemy mens lives were taken away without either offence or tryall their reign was but a continuation of horrible injuries the Lawes were not onely silent but dead The Idolls fury was a Law and Faith and Loyaltie and Obedience to lawfull power were damnable Servants had the rule over Princes England was near a slavery the most unworthy of free and ingenious spirits of any What I relate here to speak something of the Story I collect out of Sir John Froissart a French-man living in the times of King EDVVARD the third and his Grandchild King RICHARD who had seen England in both the reigns was known and esteemed in the Court and came last over after these Tumults were appeased and out of Thomas of Thomas of Walsingham a Monk of St. Albanes in Henry the sixth 's dayes who sayes Bale in his centuries of him writes many the most choice passages of affairs and actions such as no other hath met with In the main and to the substance of things I have made no additions no alterations I have faithfully followed my Authors who are not so historically exact as I could wish nor could I much better what did not please me in their order No man saies Walsingham Hypod. Neust can recite fully the misehiefs murders sacriledge and cruelty of these Actors he excuses his digesting them upon the confusion of the combustions flaming in such varietie of places and in the same time Tyler Litster and those of Hartfordshire take up most part of the discourse Westbrome is brought in by the halves the lesser Snakes are onely named in the Chronicle What had been more had not been to any purpose Those were but types of Tyler the Idoll and acted nothing but acrording to the Original according to his great example they were Wolves alike and he that reads one knowes all Par. Wals Wiston c. Per Thomae Sanguiuem salva nos Breviar fest S. Tho. Cant. Rishang Polyd. D'Avilla Jaques Clem. the Paricide of Hen. 3. of France was prayed for as a Saint Thomas of Becket Simon of Montfort the English Cataline Thomas of Lancaster Rebels and Traitors of the former years are Canonised by the Monks generally the enemies of their Kings miracles make their Tombes illustrious and their Memories sacred The Idol and his Incendiaries are abhorred every where every History detests them while Faith Civility Honesty and Piety shall be left in the world the enemies of all these must neither be beloved nor pitied THE IDOL OF THE CLOVVNES THe Reigne of King Richard the second was but a throw of State for so many yeares a Feaver to whose distempers all pieces of the home Dominions contributed by fits * Guiâ—… the forrain part onely continuing faithfull in the fourth yeare of his reigne and fifteenth of his Age the dregs and off scum of the Commons unite into bodies in severall parts of the Kingdome and forme a Rebellion called the Rebellion of the Clownes which lead the rest and shâ—wed the way of disobedience first Of which may truly be said Though amongst other causes we may attribute it to the indisposition and unseasonablenesse of the age that the fruits of it did not take it was strongly begun and had not Providence heldback the hand the blow had fallen the Government had broke into shivers then The young King at this time had few besides Thomas of Woodstock his Unkle Earle of Buckingham and after Duke of Glocester but the servants of his house in ordinary about him the Lord Edmund of Langly Earle of Cambridge after Duke of Yorke with the Lords Beauchamp Botercaux Sir Matthew Gourny with others of the Nobility and Gentry had set saile for Portugall the Duke John of Lancaster another of his Unkles was in Scotland treating a peace when this commotion brake out Though no cause can be given for Seditions those who designe publick troubles can never want pretences Polidore as much out in this story as any gives this reason for this The Polle money sayes he imposed by Parliament a groat sterling upon every head was intollerable It was justly imposed and so by some to whom Law and Custome of England were intollerable not to be indured but we shall find in the tyranny breaking in not onely fifth and twentieth parts and loanes forced out of feare of plunder and death but subsidies in Troops and Regiments by fifties more than Sequestrations and Compositions not under foot low sales for what had these Rascalls to give but downright Robbery and violent usurpation of Estates Thus would Polidore have it in defence of his Priests who blew the fire and thrust the silly rout into the midst of it He takes it ill that Baal valle he calls him should be supposed by I know not what flaterers of the Nobles to have filled these sailes to have let these windes out of their Caverns In the fourth yeare of this King sayes the Monk there was a grievous Tax exacted in Parliament after cause of great trouble every Religious paid half a Mark every Secular Priest as much every Lay-man or Woman 12d This might discontent the people but who prepared the Mutineers for such dangerous impressions who fell in with them after and pushed them forward will be soon found Froissart complaines of the servitude of the villanes or Bond-men now Names worne out
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
King of England and of France Lord of Ireland to all his Bailies and others his trusty to whom these Letters shall come greeting Know yee that we of our speciall grace have made free all our Lieges and every of our subjects of Hartfordshire and we free those and every of them from all * * Ab omni bondagio bondage and quit them by these presents and also we pardon the same our Lieges and subjects for all Felonies Treasons Trespasses and extortions by them or any of them in any wise done or committed and also every Outlary or Outlaries if any against them or any of them are or shall be published and our full peace to them or any of them therefore we grant in witnesse whereof these our Letters we have caused to be made Patents Witnesse our selfe at London the 15. day of June the 4th yeare of our Reigne This Charter was granted about the time the Clownes of Essex disbanded aâ—…d received theirs it was brought into Hartfordshire to Saint Albanes by Wallingford one of the Towne Illucescente die Veneris Friday sayes Walsingham the day of tribulation c. which was the 16 of June the Townsmen of Saint Albanes being at the time of Matines acquainted by those of Barnet with the command of the Ordinance or Act for repairing to London presently with the Esquires of the Abbot set forth So that I conceive the day of this Charter is mistaken in it by the Monke The Clownes throw down their Armes at the Kings feet sue for mercy and deliver up their chiefs the principall of which Priest Straw was after drawne from his hiding holes and laid hold of by the Kings Officers What became of them we shall see below in the visitation made by the King and his Ministers through the Provinces in uproare The Commons of Kent now scatter and dissolve the heads of the Archbishop Lord Prior and the rest are taken down from the bridge and the Idols advanced there That Baal should now be taken in an old house is an errour of the Knights Baal Froiss â—… must take his turn but he shall have a longger runne for it That the dagger should now be given in honour of Sir William Walworth as an addition to the City armes is Fabulous this dagger is the Sword of St. Paul and was borne by the City when Tyler was living The King now rides to Westminster where he gives God thankes for his deliverance and presents his offering to the Virgin Mary in her Chappell of the Piew next he visits the Princesse mother in the Tower Royall called the Queenes Wardrobe and bids her rejoyce for sayes he this day I have recovered mine heritage the Realme of England near lost the Lords returne to their owne houses Froiss The other Countries now in combustion and upon their march to London make halt they were thunder-strucken at the disaster of the Idol they hated the fortune not the wickednesse of that monster And tarry to poure out those plagues at home if they be not checked which before they intended to carry farther off The example and successe of the Idol had moved with many but his invitation and sollicitation by the Emissaries of this confederacy and spirit more The Sectaries or ringleaders of the hurden rustick raggamuffins in the severall Provinces of the association while Tyler was thus busied in the chiefe seat of his new Dominions promote the cause and pursue the instructions of the Prince of Divells they were all to tread his steps as we shall finde in what followes The lewd prankes of the Clowns at Saint Albanes I have before spoken of the Summons of the Iâ—ol to fetch the bordering rogues into the Line of Communication who were to serve as Auxiliaries onely to strengthen Tyler rather than to inrich themselves and likely to be casheered and cast off when he had perfected his Worke amongst these rake hells were the Towns-men of Saint Albane with the Abbots servants shuffled in the throng of purpose to oversee and awe the Clownes from the new fangles of our fanaticks These as is related were sworne to the Ingagement at Heibury whence they come to London whither they are no sooner got but the Towns men separate from the servants of the Monastery and in St. Mary-bow Church does their profane Conventicle consult how to make advantage of the tumult And what pretences of revolt from their Lord Abbot would seem most faire and taking Here they make not the causes of their disobedience they were hatched secretly amongst themselves they deliberate how to perfect things how to come to effects The inlarging the bounds of their common free fishing hunting in certaine places when they pleased and Hand-mills that the Baily of the Liberty shall no more meddle within the Precincts of the Towne the revocation of Charters prejudiciall to the Free-borne Burgesses cancelling the Bonds of their Fore-fathers made to Abbot Richard are the Propositions first voted One who would be wiser than the rest perswades them not to attempt things rashly and giddily without authority he tells them that Wat Tyler Protectour and Captaine Generall of the Clownes was near that the Protectour was a righter of wrongs raised and inspired by providence to redeeme the faithfull Commons from the thraldome of the wicked Wals Ducem ribaldorum ut accepta ab co potestate c. At the suite of the godly party sayes he Tyler has accepted the Government he is to govern the two Nations The Supreame executive Power resides in him from him sayes he and from the keepers of the liberties let us seek for remedy Let us make our addresses to him let us seeke to his Highnesse for power and Commission This he said as Walsingham writes supposing a greater than Tyler should not be seene in the Kingdome that Tylers greatnesse for the time to come would onely be eminent Wals That the Lawes of the Land the most antient English Saxon Lawes would be of no force of no validity because the most of the Lawyers were already murthered and the rest in their account not long lived the Axes edge was turned towards them He concludes let us returne home and in the puissance of Wat and our selves force the Abbot to reason If he deny our requests we will awe â—…m with burning and demolishing the Monastery with killing the Monkes we will threaten not to leave one stone upon another Others conceive it more safe to petition the King who might be spoken with by every man and durst refuse nothing for his Letters under the Privy Seale commanding the Abbot to restore to the Towns-men the rights and Liberties which their ancestours injoyed in the time of King Henry the first as if the English Church had beene lately indowed the Monasteries founded their Royalties Liberties Priviledges granted by the Norman Princes than which nothing could be more false The most Christian Saxon Kings of blessed memory twelve of which died
but the will of our enemies in forme and rule they were made by them they favour them Perque uterum sonipes hic matris agendus And our Captaine Generall Tyler who has conquered a sad unhappy word where it is used of one part of a Nation against another and of Benjamin against Israel by the worst and least against the better and greater the makers of them the Law-givers was so become above the Lawes themselves your reasons when these Lawes were backed with force when your King could protect you before our successe might have served well enough Now we expected them not nor will we accept them He concludes in perswasion not to exasperate the godly party the righteous Commons who sayes he will not be appeased will not give over not lay downe Armes till they be Masters of their desires The Abbot entring into a new speech is againe stopped and told the thousand before the doores of his Monastery sent for him not to parly but consent which they looke he should be sudden in if not we sayes Wallingford the Lieutenants chosen by the Captaine representatives of the people will deliver up and resigne the powers to him which we received of him We have voted if you comply not to send for the Captaine Generall Tyler and twenty thousand of his Militia to the danger of this place and of the Monkes heads The Abbot here recites his good deeds how often in their necessities he had relieved them he had beene he sayes their spirituall Father thirty two yeares in all which time no man had beene grieved or oppressed by him this giving implyedly the lie to Wallingford they grant but will not be denied The Obligations and Charters which they require are delivered them which they burne in the Market-place neare the Crosse This did not content them they aske for an antient Charter concerning the Towne Liberties the capitall Letters of which say they were one of Gold another of Azure * De azorio The Abbot prayes them to be satisfied for the time he protests they have all he has to give them he knew of no more yet he would make a search and if any such deed could be found it should faithfully be delivered to them This too was the answer of the Covent it was agreed that the Abbot should after dinner disclaime under his hand and seale in all things prejudiciall to their Liberty In memory of an old suit betwixt Abbot Richard the first and the Townsmen in the reignes of William the second and Henry the first wherein the Townsmen were overthrown were laid Milstones before the doore of the * Locutorii Parler These John the Barber with others tooke away as a token of victory over the Law these they break into small pieces and distribute amongst the worthies as the sacred Bread is given in the Eucharist Who could forbeare teares sayes Walsingham Wals heaviâ—y bewailing these changes to see servants command their Lords who know not how to rule nor how to pity To see London once the noble head of our Cities become a stie for uncleane Swine Who would not tremble to heare that the Archbishop and the Lord Treasurer should be offered victimes to wicked spirits to the Kentish Idol the Kentish Saturne or Moloch and his Hob-goblings in the midst of the Kingdome Nay sayes he whose heart would it not have wounded through to have seene the King of England who of right for Majesty and dignity ought to precede all Kings in the World out of feare of his head observe the nods and becks of these varlets and the Nobility and Gentry mortified beasts trampled on by these scullions inslaved at their owne charge lick up their dust After dinner a sad dinner to the Monks this merdaille these stinkards throng before the gates and demand the Charter of Liberties which the Abbot had promised them to seale which was sent and read to them in the thickest of the rout If they please to accept it this was the Abbots Complement he is ready to seale They resolved never to be pleased with much scorne and pride answer by an Esquire of the Abbot That the Abbot must appoint some Clerk of his to attend them with Ink and Parchment Themselves would dictate and after the Abbot and Covent should confirme what was done when this humour was satisfied The safety and peace of the Monastery and Monkes were as desperate as ever The old Charter which they will everlastingly believe concealed must be produced else they will bury the Covent in the ruines of the Cloysters This Charter did certainly as they will have it conteine all their antient Liberties and priviledges and if this was true there was no great reason it should be in the Abbots keeping Here the Abbot imployes the most honourable Esquires of the Countrey as Mediatours to loften them and offers if they desire it to say Masse before them next morning Super Sacramentum and to sweare upon the Sacrament he should be about to take with what Monkes they would name that he kept from them no such Charter with his knowledge Make choice sayes he of what Liberties you can you shall have my Charters drawne they shall be granted you by it I will seale you a reall Charter instead of a fantasticall one never seene by you no where to be had The Abbot struggles in vaine against these waves this Charter of their fancies they will have Nor shall any other price redeeme the Monastery they intended the subversion of the house and wrangle thus crossely that they might seeme to have some pretences to doe it but because they had much businesse to goe about and could not be here and there too a truce was taken for that day and many of these pure brethren betake themselves to other parts some of them would not be prevailed with the Bread and Ale of the Monastery brought forth to them in huge Fat 's would not worke upon them to lay their fury they stayed onely for a leading hand Here an honest Burgesse interposes Ribaldi Ribaulds sayes he what is it you purpose most of you here are forrainers of the Villages about this is the most famous mischiefe which can be acted in this Countrey this Beacon must set all on fire and it is fit we who are Burgesses and Free-men of this Towne should give the on-set by this finenesse they are gained to quit the gates and joyne to the assistance of their fellow-labourers The rest of the day is spent by their united forces in overthrowing of houses clashing of vessells and spoiling of goods according to the rule of Walter Quod didicerantâ—… à Waltero the false founder of the order At night the Lieutenants make Proclamation under the Kings Banner commanding strong Guards to be set about the Towne that they may be assured against surprizes and about the river Werlam and Saint Germanes making it losse of the head to any Monke who
least signes The same frâ—…siâ—s are againe acted by other Lunaticks the Lawyers or Apprentices of the Law as the Monke and their houses are the first objâ—ctâ— of their spight they doe not onely cut off them but fire their nests Lâ—… John Cavendish chiefe Justice of the Kings Bâ—nch who had beene one of the most able Serjeants of this Kings Grand-fathers Reigne and was made chiefe Justice by him they intercept and behead Orpheus Traâ—ie Nero the Romane Bâ—lgabred the Brittaine excellent in the sweetnesse of a voyce and skill of Song with John of Cambridge Prior of Saint Edmunds lose their lives in the same manner as they unluckily fell in to their hands The cause of the Priors death is made this He was discreet and managed the affaires of his Monastery faithfully and diligently he was taken neare Mildenhall a Towne then belonging to Saint Edmund of the demaine of the Abby the Vassalls Hindes Villeins and bond-men of the house sentenced him murthered him by Vote His body lay five dayes naked in the field unburied In Saint Edmunds-bury these cut-throats compasse the Priors head round as in a procession after they carry it upon a Lance to the pillory where that and the chiefe Justices head are advanced Their next worke was the levelling a new house of the Priours After they enter the Monastery which they threaten to fire unlesse John Lakinhethe Gardian of the temporalities of the Barony in the vacancy then were delivered to them which the Towns-men mingled in the throng put them upon the Gardian stood amidst the croud unknown This man out of piety to preserve the Monastery it was piety then though it may be thought impiety now discovers himselfe he tells them he is the man they seeke and askes what it is the Commons would have with him They call him traitor it was capitall to be called so not to be so drag him to the Market-place and cut off his head which is set upon the Pillory to keepe company with the Priors and chiefe Justices Walter of Todington a Monke was sought for they wanted his head but he hid himselfe and escaped Our hacksters errant of the round Table Knights of industry would be thought Generall redeemers to take care of all menin distresse For the Burgesses sake they command the Monkes threatning them and their walls if they obey not to deliver up all the obligations of the Towns-men for their good behaviour all the antient Charters from the time of King Cnut the Founder any way concerning the liberties of the Town besides they must grant and confirme by Charter the Liberties of the Towne which could not be done in the vacancy for so it was Edmund of Brumfield Abbot in name by provision of the Pope was a prisoner at Notingham nor had any election beene since the death of Abbot John Brivole and therefore the Jewels of the house are pawned to the Townsmen as a gage that Edmund of Brumfield whom they would suppose Abbot and whom they intended to set free should Seale which Jewels were a Crosse and Calice of Gold with other things exceeding in value one thousand pounds these were restored againe in time of peace but with much unwillingnesse Upon the brute of the Idols mishap and the suppression of his Legions at London these Caterpillers dissolve of themselves Wraw the Priest Westbrome the rest of the capitall villeins in the generall audit or doomesday for these hurliburlies shall be called to a reckoning for their outrages Cambridge suffered not a little in these uproars the Towns-men with the Country peasants about confederated together breake up the treasury of the University tear and burn its Charters they compell the Chancelour and Schollars under their common Seals to release to the Major and townsmen all rights and Liberties all actions and to be bound in 3000l not to molest the Burgesses by suits of Law concerning these things for the time to come The Mayor and Bailiffs were fetched up by writ to the next Parl. where the deeds were delivered up and Cancelled the Liberties of the towne seizâ—d into the Kings hand as forfeited new ones granted by him to the University all which they owe yet to the piety of this King and his Parliament a Court which the Idol never names had he set up one of his owne begetting it must have had nothing else but the name it would have beene as destroying as the field Norfolkâ— the Mother of the Kets would not loyter this while nor sit lazily and sluggishly looking on John Litster a Dyer of Norwich King of the Commons there infuses zeale and daring into his Country-men he had composed out of his owne Empire and the borders an Army of fifty thousand Men. This upstart Kingling would not wholly move by example he makes presidents of his owne and tramples not like a dull beast the road beaten by others He had heard what was done by the London Congregations he had a stock of traditions from the Elders there which he was able to improve and although I know not how he could exceed the Idol with his councell yet so the Monk exceede them he did he presumed greater things Tyler lost his life before things were ripe was watched and undermined by the King and Nobility he could not spread his full sailes else for his presumption he far out-goes Litster Litster the Norfolke Devil begins with plunder and rapine the onely way to flesh a young Rebellion The Malignants of the Kings party the rich and peaceable goe under that notion are made a prey no place was safe or priviledged Plots were laid to get the Lord William of Vfford Earle of Suffolke at his Mannor oâ— Vfford neer Debenham in Suffolke into the company out of policy That if the cause succeeded not then the Rebels might cover themselves under the shadow of that Pâ—ere The Earle warned of their intention rises from Supper and disguised as a Groom * Garcion of Sir Roger of Bois with a Port-mantue behind him riding by-waies and about ever avoiding the routs comes to St. Albanes and from thence to the King The Commons failing here possesse themselves of the places and houses of the Knights neare and compell the owners to sweare what they list and for greater wariness to ride the Country over with them which they durst not deny among those inthralled by this compulsion were the Lords Scales and Morley Sir John Brews Sir Stephane of Hales and Sir Robert of Salle which last was no Gentleman borne but as full of honour and loyalty as any man Knighted by the Kings Grand-father for his valour he was layes Froissart one of the biggest Knights in England a man not supple enough who could not bend before the new Lords He had not the solidity of judgement as some more subtle than honest call it to accommodate himselfe to the times Like Messala he would be of the Justest side let the fortune bâ— what it would he would not forsake Justice
and unduly procured c. To the prejudice of us and our Crown of the Prelates and great men of our Realm as also to the disherison of holy English Church and to the hurt and damage of the Common wealth the said Letters we revoke make void and annull c. Yet our intention is such Grace upon every of our said Subjects to confer though enormiously their Allegeance they have forfeited c. As shall be usefull to us and our Realm The close commands to bring in to the King and his Councell all Charters of manumission and pardon to be cancelled upon their faith and allegeance and under forfeiture of all things forfeitable c. Witnesse our selfe at Chelmsford the 2. of July and 5. year of our reign False for the 4. In the case of a Subject and no reason Kings shall be more bound every Act extorted by violence and awe upon the Agent is voyd In the time of Edward the third two Thieves which was the case here force a Traveller to swear that hee will at a day appoiâ—…d bring them a thousand pound and threaten to kill him if he refuse their oath He swears and performs what he had sworn 44 E. 3. 14. by advice of all the Justices these two were Indicted of Robbery and the Court maintaines that the party was not bound by this Oath Yet if this be denyed as unsafe Violence or Force which strikes a just fear into any man makes any Contract voyd say the Casuists Bishop Andrewes Resp ad Apolog. that most learned Prelate answers to the pretended resignation of King John urged by Bellarmine that what this King did if any such act was done was done by force and out of feare Widdrington Admonit disp de jur fid l. 1. the most loyall of all Roman-Catholick Priests who writ much against the Gun-powder Jesuits in defence of the right of Kings against those Jesuits who would have cut off the King the Royall Family the Bishops of the English Catholick Church the Nobility and Gentry as their Letter speaks with one blow sayes of this Resignation or Donation if we may so he call it so That it was not freely given The Jesuites challenge the perpetuall dictature or regency of the University of Pontamousson by Bull of Sixtus the fift contrary to the Statutes of the foundation by Gregory the thirteenth Were the Bull true sayes Barclaie yet it ougt not to be of force because it was obtain'd presently after his Creation when things are presumed to be rather extorted than obtained Bodin denyes that a King deceived or forced can be bound by his grants The justice of Contracts is that alone which binds The distinction of Royall and Private acts is of more sound then strength and answers not the injustice of the impulsive violence which must be naturally vicious every where and corrupt and weaken the effects and cannot be good and bad by changes or as to this or that Grotius who loves this distinction in another place is positive There must be Equality in all Contracts He condemns all fear or awe upon the person purposely moved for the contracts sake and tels us out of Xenophon of those of Lacaedemon who annulled a sale of lands which the Elians had forced the owners to passe out of fear A Charter of King Henry the third imprisoned and forced is said by Aldenham to be voyd upon thls reason and I judge the justice of this revocation by the Law of England by which as our old Parliaments such force is Treason Exil Hugle de Spencer pat fil The fruits of which were here more justly plucked up than they were planted He who gives up his money to Thieves according to his oath may lawfully take it away from them however they are bound to make restitution Nor can any prescription of time establish a right of possession in him Rei furtiva â—…terna authoritas esto who makes his seizure upon no other title but Plunder and Robbery The 5th of this King the Parliament declares these Grants to be forced and voyd Enough to clear the honour of King Richard as to this part At Chelmsford the King is informed of the whole History of mischiefs done at St. Albanes and resolved in person with all his Guards and Cavalry to ride thither and sentence the Malefactors with his own mouth but Sir Walter Leye of Hartfordshire fearing the much impoverishing the Country if the King should make any long stay there with such numbers as then attended him beseeches him to make a tryal wehther things might not be composed without him and offers to reconcile the Abbot and Townsmen if the King would which was câ—nsented to The King grants him a Commission and joyns with him Edward Benstude Geofrey Stukelye and others of the Gentry of that County The coming of these Commissioners was noysed at St. Albanes The fiercest of the Clowns knowing what they had done was condemned by the Law and not to be defended but by force which now they had not began to shake and take fright are plotting to get out of the way Grindecob Lieutenant of the late Idol comforts them he perswades to goe to Horse Let us meet the Knight sayes he and see whether his looks promise Peace or not if not the Towns about us have engaged they have associated and are of our League we are rich and cannot want good fellows who will assist us while our monies last On St. Peters day this ill advised crue meets the Knight upon the Rode who was ignorant of their resolutions and conduct him honourably according to their fashion to the Town Sir Walter had with him fiftie Lances and some Companies of Archers listed at random many of them being of the Churles and confederates with them The Knight cites the Towns-men and their Neighbours to appear before him in Derfold to hear the pleasure and commands of the King They fail not There he tells them what Forces the King had assembled how rigorously those of Essex were sentenced That the King was highly incensed at the troubles and seditions of this place of which he was the Patron and Defender That with great difficulty he had procured of the King a Commission by which himself and others not Strangers or Enemies but their Friends and Neighbours were authorised to do Justice in the Kings stead he concludes if they will appease the King they must find out and deliver up the beginners of these broyls and make satisfaction to the Lord Abbot an holy and a just man for the wrong they had done him This many of the hearers approve and promise to obey The Knight charges a Jury to be made ready the next morning and make what discovery they can and gives the people leave to depart Towards night he sends for the Jury to his Chamber intending to have apprehended the Lieutenants by the assistance of the Jury with out any noyse These good men and true
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
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