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 Aldâ—…nhans to be voyd upon this reason and I judge the justice of this revocation by the Law of England by which as ouâ—… old Parliâ—…ments such force is Treason The fruits of wch 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 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 muâ—…h impoverishing thâ—… 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 consented to The King grants him a Commission and joyns with him Edward Benstude Geofrey Stukelye and others of the Gentâ—…y 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 waâ—… 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 Aâ—…chers 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 hâ—… tells them what Forces the King had assembled how rigorously those of Essex were sentenced That the King was highly incâ—…nsed 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 Iustice 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 sendâ—… for the Jury to his Chamber intending to have apprehended the Lieutenants by the assistance of the Jury without any noyse These good men and true know nothing it was the case of their fellows in mischiefe and might be their own They answer in a plain Ignoraâ—… they can indict no man accuse no man Amongst all the founder 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 nâ—…ile perjured Jugâ—…ers 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 and 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 Villagers about throng in multitudes Three hundred Bow-men of Barnet and Berkhamsted make here so terrible a show nothing is done The Commissioners privately charge the Gentry Constables and Baylifs to seiz in the night Greyncob Cadindon Iohn 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 Dangerous Liberty sayes he is more valuable than safe
THE IDOL OF THE CLOVVNES OR INSURRECTION OF WAT the TYLER With his PRIESTS BAAL and STRAW Together with His fellow Kings of the Commons against the English Church the King the Laws Nobility and Royal Family and Gentry in the fourth year of K. Richard the 2d An. 1381. In rebus humanis saecula ac personae interâ—â—unt causae eventa eadem recurrâ—â—â—â— Nulla tyrannis vel quieta est vel diâ—â—â—â—â— London Printed in the Year â—â—â—â— Iohn of Lydgate lib. 4. ANd semblably to put it at a prefe And execute it by clere experience One the most contrarious mischiefe Found in this earth by notable evidence Is onely this by Fortunate violence When that wretches thurlish of nature The estate of Princes unwarey doth recure A Crown of Gold is nothing according For to be set upon a knaves heed A Foltish clerk for to weare a King Accordeth nat who that can take hede And in this werld there is no greater drede Then power give if it be well sought Unto such one that first rose up of nought There is no manner just convenience A royal Carbuncle Ruby or Garnet Nor a chast Emeraud of virtues exelence Nor Inde Saphirs in Copper to be set Their Kind'ly power in foule metal is let And so the State of politike puysance Iâ—… ever lost where knaves have Governance For a time they may well up ascend Like windy smokes their fumes sprede A crowned asse plainly to comprehend Uoyde of discretion is more for to drede Then is a Lyon for that one indede Of his nature is mighty and royall Uoyde of discretion that other beastiall The gentle nature of a strong Lyon To prostrate people of kynde is merciable For unto all that fall afore him doun His royall puisaunce cannot be vengeable But churlish Wolves by rigour untreatable And follyshe asses eke of bestialty Fayling reason brayde ever on cruelty None is so proude as he that can no good The lender heed the more presumption Most cruelte and bengeance in lowe blode UUith malapertnesse and indiscretion Of Churle and Gentle make this division Of outhor of them I dare right well report Fro thens thei came thereto the wyl resorte To the Reader THe beginnings of the Second Richard's reign are turmoiled with a Rebellion which shoke his Throne and Empire A Rebellion not more against Religion and Order than Nature and Humanity too A Rebellion never to be believed but in the Age it was acted in and our owne in which we finde how terrible the overflowes of the common people ever delighted in the calamities of others untyed and hurryed on by their own wills and beastly fury must prove though Masanello is short of Tyler yet if we compare that Fisherman with our Hinde the Neapolitan Mechanicks and our Clownes we shall not finde them much unlike not in their sudden flourish and prosperity not in the mischiefs they did and the barbarous savage rudenesse in the doing them Masanello made a shew of foolish unseasonable Piety to the Prince and Archbishop which 〈◊〉 not his part which made him the 〈◊〉 imperfect Rebell the worse Polititian however he might seem the better man but these too might be but counterfeit reverences this might be his disguise and hâ—… might have come up to more according to the new lights which we may imagine were breaking in The continuance and mis-rule of these Worthies were much of a length in a few dayes the brands themselves had fired broke upon their own heads they were pluck'd up before their full growth like airy flitting clouds they were blown over ere they could pour down the storm they were big with The colours of thesâ—… tumults were fair and taking such as their Architects Bâ—…l and Straw the Priests had layd such as the Masters of these Schoolâ—…s have delivered in all ages The Weal publick the liberty of the free-born people pilled and fleyed by the Kings taxes and the cruell oppression of the Gentry Iustice Reformation or Regulation of Fundamentall Laws long subverted considerable namâ—…s if we may believe them set them on The King his Glory his Honour his Safety The King and the Commons are cryed up But the King was compassed with Traitours and Malignants they will have it so and it is their care to reâ—…ove theâ—… râ—…t and branch they will fire the house to cleanse it much other businesse they had much was amisse much to be reformed but in the first sallâ—…y all is not noysed what was not handsome what might give a fuller fright was lapped up in folds to be discovered as they had thriven to be swallowed but gilded with a Victory We know crimes carried in a happy streams of luck lose their names in it are beautifull and must be thought so The Ordale of the Sword justified Caesar and condemned Pompey not his cause Adversae res etiam bonos detractant sayes Salust Good men if they miscarry doe not onely lose themselves but their integrity their justnesse their honesty they are what the Conquerour pleases and the silly multitude which ever admires the glitter of prosperity will hate them Providence preserved the English Nation from this blow The Lawrel of success crowned not the Rebels they crumble to their first dust again are ruined by their own weight and confusion They had risâ—…n likâ—… those Sons of the Dragons teeth in tempests without policy or advice Their leaders were meerly fantastical but goblins and shadows men willing to embrâ—…yl and daring whose courage was better then their cause and who to advance the design would not boggle at a peece of Honesty an Oath a Protestation on Covenant a Verse of St. Paul or St. Peter a Case of Conscience in the way of brave bold manly spirits yet without heads or wits to manage the great work which in so vast a body suddainly composed like the spawns of Nile of slime and dirt of so different parts so unequall members was fatall to the whole Tyler had no brains he could not plot not contrive and those about him were as heavy as very Asses as himself He is said to be a crafty fellow and of an excellent wit but wanting grace yet crafty enough he was not for the great and dangerous enterprise a Marius however impious for such he must be pâ—…ce pessimus fitter to remove things to overturn overturns than for peace but as Plutarch of him subtill faithlessâ—… one who could overdo all men in dissembling in hypocrisie practised in all the arts â—…f lying and some of these good slights Tyler wanted not one who had sense and judgement to carry things on as well as desperate confidence to undertake had become this part incomparably had gone through with it how easily under such a Captain if we look upon the weaknesse of the opposition and the villainous baseness of the Gentry had the frame of the ancient building been rased the Modâ—… must have held Richard whose endeavours of defence or loyalty alone should have been
it Straw was this while busied elsewhere The Country about was by these Proclamations summoned to repaire to London with all speed to spoyle this Babylon The close menaces lest they provoke Gods Iudgments pluck them down upon their heads which themselves explain if ye faile if ye and your Officers give not obedience freely to the Protector we will send ouâ—… 20000 men 20000 of our Locusts who shall burn the Towns of the children of disobedience Those of S. Albanes and Barnet whose famous deeds challenge a place in this story by themselves struck with the thunder of this edict haste to London in their journey thither aâ—…Hâ—…ibury a retiring house of the Lo Prior of S. Iohn neere 〈◊〉 they finde 20000. or thereabouts casting downe the firmer parts of the house which the fire could not consume Iack Straw Câ—…ptain of this herd calls these new comers â—…o him and forces them to sweare to adhere to King Richard and the Commons How long this Oath will bâ—… sworne to we shall see and how much the safer the King will be for it We shall see too what is lost by this new Union of King and Commons by the new fellowshâ—…p to observe the horrible irreligious hypocrâ—…sie of these Clownes who onely would be thought the Protectors of his Crown and Person They alone had decreed his ruine who sweare thus often to prevent it to guard him from it A Treason not to be believed by some then till it had taken The Commons were then divided into three Bodies this with Iack Straw the second at Mile-end undeâ—… the Essexian Princes Kirkby Treder Scot and Rugge the third on Tower-hill where the Idoll and Priest Baal were in chiefe This last crue grew horribly rude and haughty the Commons there were not contâ—…nted to be the Kings Tasters and no more they snatch the Kings provision violently from the Purveyours he is to be starved for his own good and after Harpies or Vultures choose you whether strike high like brave birds of prey they will kill no more Flies thâ—…s was the way to secure their smaller mischiefs Polydores conceit that the Archbishop and Lord Prior of S. Iohn were sent out by the King to allay their heat is not probable Walsingham relates it thus That they demanded these two with full cryes no doubt of Iustice Iustice with some others Traitours by their Law a Fundamentall never to be found or heard of before to be given up to them by the King with all the earnestnesse and violence imaginable They give him his choice bid him consider of it they will either have the blood of these their Traitours or his they making all those Dâ—…linquents who attended on him or executed his lawfull commands whom say they The King with an high and forcible hand protects will not be appeased unlesse they be delivered up conjuring him to be wise in time and dismisse his extraordinary guards his Cavaliers and others of that quality who seem to have little interest or â—…ffection to the publike good Whether the Tower doores flew open at this fright or the Mâ—…n-wolfes crowded in at the Kingâ—… going out to appease the party at Milâ—…end as Sir Iohn Froissart tells it Wat the Idâ—…l with Priest Baal are now masters of the Tower into which on Friday the 16 of Iune they entred not many more than 400 of their company guarding them where then were commanded six hundred of the Kings men of Armes and six hundred Archers a Guard not so extraordinary as was necessary then all so faint-hearted so unmanned at the appatition at the sight of these Goblins they stood like the stones of Mâ—…dusa remembred not themselves their honour nor what they had been The Clownes the most abjâ—…ct of them singly with their Clubs or 〈◊〉 in their hands venture into all the rooms into the Kings Bed-chamber which perhaps had been his Scaffold had he been there sit lie and tumble upon his Bed they presse into his Mothers Chamber where some of the merry wanton Devills offer to kisse her others gâ—…ve her blowes break her head She swowneâ—… and is carryed privately to the Wardrobe by her servants Some revile and threaten the noblest Knights of the Houshold some strokâ—… their heards with their uncleane hands which beyond the Romane patience in the same â—…udenesse from the Gauls is indured and this to claw and sweeten they meant it so they glose with smooth words and bespeak a lasting friendship for the time to come they must maintain the injuries done to themselves must not distuâ—…be the 〈◊〉 of their Estates and Rights must not shew any sense of geneâ—…sity of faith of honour it concerned Tyler that they should be the veryest fools and cowards breathing if they stir make any Claâ—…mes they shall be reputed seditious tuâ—…bulent and breakers of the publick otherwise and plainly Tylers peace It was never heard sayes the Emperour Charlâ—…s in Slâ—…idan that it should be lawfuâ—…l to despoile any man of his estates and rights and unlawfull to restore him Our Tyler and his Anabaptists thought otherwise As Walsingham they went in and out like Lords who were varlets of the lowest rank and those who were noâ—… Cowherds to Knights but to Bores value themselves beyond Kights Here was a hotchpotch of the rabble a mechanick sordid state composed as those under Kettes Oke of Reformation after Of Countrey gnooffes Hob Dick and Hick with Clubs and clouted shoon A medley or huddle of Botchers Coblers Tinkers Draymen of Apron men and Plough-joggers domineering in the Kings Palace and rooting up the plants and wholsome flowers of his Kingdome in it This place was now a vile and nasty sty no more a Kings Palace who will value a stately pile of building of honourable title or Antique memory since Constantine when it is intected with the plagu haunted by Goblins or possessed by Theeves The knights of the Court were but knights of the Carpet or Hangings No man seemed discontented all was husht and still White-hall was then a Bishops Palace the Tower was to be prepared for Tylers highnesse and his Officers but the Cement of the Stratocratie of the Government by Sword and Club-Law could not be well tempered with vulgar blood a servant of the Arch-bishops who had trusted himselfe to these Guards and Walls is forced to betray his Lord He brings them into the Chappell where the holy Prelat waâ—… at his prayers where he had celâ—…brated Masse thâ—…t morning before the King and taken the sacred Communion where he had spent the whole night in watching and devotion as presaging what followed He was a valiant man and pious and expected these Blood-hounds with great security and calmnesse of mind when their bellowing first struck his ears He tels his servants that Death came now as a more particular blessing where the comforts of life wâ—…re taken away that life was iâ—…kesome to him perhaps his pious feares for the Church and Monarchy both alike
the red Cross before him according to the fashion of the Clownes of London The Commons heating of his coming poure themselves out in heaps to meet him He alights strikes the Penon into the Earth and bids them keep close and incircle it like a Standard He intreats them to continue about it and expect his return and the Lieutenants who were resolved with all speed to treat with the Abbot and would suddenly bring them an answer to their propositions Which said he and they enter the Church and send for the Abbot to appeare before them â—…nd answer the Commons onely sacred then and to whom all knees were to bow The Abbot was at first resolute to die for the liberty of his Church a pious gallantry which will be admirable but overcome with the prayers of his Monkes who told him as things stood his death could advantage nothing that these stinking Knaves these Hell-hounds were determined to murder the Monkes and burne the Monastery if they had the repulse and that there was no way of safety but to fall downe before these Baals he yeilds After he was come to the Church and a short salutation past Wallingford reaches out to him the Kings Letter or Writ as Walsingham calls it in these words as I have rendred them out of the barbarous French of that age BEloved in God At the Petition of our loved Lieges of the Towne of St. Albane we will and command you That certaine Charters being in your custody made by our Progenitour King Henry to the Burgesses and good People of the said Towne of commune of pasture and fishing and of certain other commodities expressed in the said Charters in what they say you doe as Law and Reason requires So that they may not have any matter to complaine to us for that Cause Given under our Signet at London the 15. day of June the fourth yeare of our Reigne Here certainly againe is a mistake of the day for till Friday the 16. of Iune the Clownes of Saint Albanes as is observed stirred not Thus is the King forced to be the Author of other mens injustice to consent to those insolencies and wrongs which must undoe all those those who are faithfull to him to please a base rable ingaged to turn in the end their destroying hands upon himselfe and his royall Family The Abbot receives the Letter with due reverence and reads it then thinking to worke upon the consciences of these Hel-hounds he begins a discourse of Law Reason Equity and Justice Law and Reason were the princely bounds betwixt which the Kings commands ran He tells them whatsoever was demanded by them had beene long agoe determined in the Courts of Justice by the publick Judges persons knowing and honourable sworn to doâ—… equill right That the Records were kept amongst the Kings Rolls at Westminster whence he inferred That according to the Lawes antiently in use they had neither right nor claime left he addes the usurpation upon anothers propriety is tyranny in the abstract it is the greatest injustice the very heathens will have it unnaturall to inrich our selves to make our advantage from Spoyle and robbery but force is odious to God and man that aggravates the sinne violence is a more heynous crime than theft This was ridiculous wisdome considering who they were the good Abbot spake to he had forgot perhaps how Antigonâ—…s armed to invade and seize the Cities and Countries of other Princes laughed at the serious grave folly of one who presented him with a tractate of Justice Wallingford with his hand upon his Sword takes him off pertinently as reflecting upon the manners of men whose treasons prosper and practise of the times In which new men did not advance themselves by Vertue by Learning by Justice or Valour but by Murder and Robbery My Lord sayes he every story is not true because it is eloquently told you indeavour here to inveigle and deceive us in a long discourse of equity of Law and Justice we come not hither for words but things we pretend not to refute your reasons which are but injust defences of your oppression but cunning subtilities but colours to paint ore the wrongs you doe us nor can we the rudenesse of our education must disable us for this part we have beene borne and bred under your Dominion slaves and Villens to you under a Dominion so unmanly cruell you have alwayes kept us deprived not onely of all meanes of learning or knowledge but would willingly have taken away ouâ—… very reason and common understanding that we might grone under our miseries with the feeling of beasts but be Masters neither of sence nor language for 〈◊〉 complaint It is time now that we of the Commonalty as you call and range us should take our turne of command however of Liberty Nor is this to be wondered at if you consider our strength and the happinesse of the new Modell the eminency of the Commons is visible to every eye theirs is the present theirs is the Supreame Power we are armed and we will not thinke of the Lawes not regard them they onely submit to Lawes who want power to helpe themselves Besides these Lawes you tell us of are but the will of our enemies in forme and rule they were made by them they favour them 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 râ—…quire are delivered them which they burne in the Market-place neare the Crosse This did not
had he accepted he must have commanded according to the motions of the Lieutenant Generall Tilers Spirit and when this turne had been over at the least stamp of his foot have vanished sneaked off the stage They tell him Sir Iohn you must be our Captaine and which shewes the power of his Commission you shall do what we will have you The Knight likes not their company he tries his best wit language to be rid of them but could not prevaile they reply downright Sir Iohn if you will not doe what we will have you you dye for it we will not be denied but at your perill Enough was said the Knight yeelds but his charge of Captaine Generall is forgotten we shall see hereafter what use they make of him and in what manner he must be imployed This example is followed in the other Countries The Gentry did not onely lose their Estates and honour but their courage and gallantry their blouds were frozen feare had stifled their Spirits The Clownes as thâ—… Knight had brought them into such obeysance that they caused them to go with them whether they would or not they fawned on them humbled themselves to them like Dogs groveling at their feer The Lord Molines Sir Stephen Hales Sir Thomas Guysighen this Sir Iohn Moton and others were Attendants and vassales to the Idoll Every day new heaps of men slock to them like Catilines Troops all that were necâ—…ssitous at home unthrifts broken fellowes such as for their misdeeds feared the Justice of the Lawes who resent the dangerous and distracted state of the Kingdome alike and will no doubt hammer out an excellent reformation they will mend their owne condition which will be enough we must expect no more and now the confidence in their strength made them bold enough to throw off their maâ—…ke of Hypocrisie they began to open the inside They departed from Rochester sayes Froissart and passed the River he sayes the Thames at Kingstone and came to Brentsord where I thinke he leads them out of their way beating downe before them and round about the places and Houses of advocates and procurers and striking off the heads of diverse persons Walsingham tells us who those advocates and procurers were All men sayes he were amused some looked for good from the new Masters others feared this insurrection would prove the destruction of the Realme The last were not deceived All the Lawyers of the Land so he goes on as well the Apprentices Counsellours as old Justices all the Jury-men of the Countrey this was Priest Balls charge they could gripe in their clutches had their heads chopped off It was a maxime of the Cabal That there could be no liberty while any of these men were suffered to breathe From little to great they fell upon things which they never thought of in their first overflow which Guicciardine observes in civill discords where the Rebellion is fortunate and mens mindes are puft up with successe to be ordinary The statue of Cumaan Apollo weeps for the destruction of Cumae we shall here reade of men without sense or apprehensions both the stories will seem as incredible The stupid Nobility and Gentry sleep in their Houses till they are roused by these bloud-hounds that they might seem to deserve the calamity tumbling upon their heads They were becomming tenants at will in Villeinage to their vassalls under their distresse their Taske and Taxes more by the Sottish basenesse of themselves than any vertue in these Rascals Scorned and sleighted by every tatter'd Clunch Their Lands continually upon any Vote or Information to be sold or given away upon any information of loyalty or faithfulnesse the antient vertues of the Gentleman not to be found in that age and serving onely for a pretence to ruine no one could form an expectation of more than this to be the last man borne what was Polyphemus his kindnesse to Ulisses to be devoured last all which they were contented to hazard and indure to preserve a shred or jagge of an incertaine ragged Estate for the health or mistresses sake subject ever to the violence of the same lawlesse spoiling force which maimed and rent it before Nâ—…xt to returne to this riffraffe their cruelty reaches to Parchment Deeds Charters Rolles of Courts Evidences are cast by them into the fire as if they meant to abolish all remembrance of things this was to defeat their Lords in the Claims of any antient Rights and to leave no man more title than themselves had to their Sword and power The Kentish and Essexian rout were joyned sayes the Monke but he tells us not where and approached neere London at Black heath they made an halt where they were neare 200000 strong Thither came two Knights sent by the King to them to inquire the cause of the Commotion and why they had amassed such swarmes of the people They answer they met to conferre with the King concerning businesse of weight they tell the Messengers they ought to goe back to the King and shew him that it behoves him to come to them they would acquaint him with their desires we shall quickly discover why his presence was required upon return of the Knights it was debated in Councell by the Lords about the King wherâ—…e he should goe or no some of the Table more willing to venture the King than themselves willing to throw him into the gulph or perhaps not senting the designe of the Clownes perswade him to see them Your Majesty thus they must make a tryall of these men necessity now must be looked on above reason if any thing can give the check to the uprores it must be your presence there can be no safety but in this venture it is now as dangerous to seeme not to trust as to be deceived fate is too much feared if it be imagined that this tree of your empite which has flourished so many ages can fall in an houre The Archbishop of Canterbury Simon Theobald of Sudbury Lord Chancellour of England the most Eloquent most Wise and most pious Prelate of the Age faithfull to his Prince and therefore odious to those who conspired against his Majesty and authority likes not the advise The King ought not sayes he to venture his person among such hoselesse ribaulds but rather dispose things so as to cuâ—…be 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
Egnatius in Paterculus rather a Fencer a Swash buckler than a Senatour his right Aâ—…me his brutish force not Justice not reason must sway all things Tyler will not rule in fetters his will his violence shall be called 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 cruelty 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 beest 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 Citizen 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 me 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 begun and continued by the Iesuited party to extirpate 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 but Riot continues his discourse thus Believest 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 begin to fade his principaliâ—…y was too 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 hebeen wisely wicked likea Vulture of the Game have flown at his throat The judicious politique 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 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 Iohn 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 cooles 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 or 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 Hongman 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 Mâ—…jesty he was a beam gave him in his hand The onely way left to avoid a shamefull death 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 foâ—…me nor tryall the suspension of the Courts was Tylers act his crime aâ—…d he ought not to look for any advantagâ—… from it an Historian sayes the Duke of Guyse's power was so much that the ordinary formes of Justice could 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 every man is a Souldier whosoever stâ—…ck too stâ—…uch 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 flow 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 saints 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 Fraissart calls him false stinking knave and tells him he shall not speake such words in the presence of his naturall
next who was not asleep this while After he had cleared the City lately Tylers good Town of the Kentish frie he commands the Nobility and Gentry whâ—… durst now peep abroad all the Kingdome over to repair to him at London well armed and well horsed as they loved him and his royall honour Their owne danger and late feares adde wings to their haste Within a few dayes forty thousand Horse meet at a Rendezvouz upon Black-heath whither the young King who had taken â—…his Sequestration off and restored himselfe to his Blood and Majesty rides daily upon a Royall Courser to view their Order with his Imperiall Banner born before him He delighted to be seen and acknowledged for what he was amongst his own Homagers Here he is informed that the Kentishmen a stirring people but with what generous resolution will soone be found are again in mutinie a mutinie however else contemptible not to be flâ—…ighted at that time The King commands his Cavalrie on fire as much as himselfe to march and root out this persidious râ—… of miscreants Here the Nobility and Gentry of the County interpose and become pledges for the Commons which appeases the King who now disbands his Army and resolves to take no other course of Justice but such as was ordinary and usuall by Judgements upon the known Lawes of the Land and by Juties of twelve men the aâ—…clent Birth-right of the Englishmen Lawes which could not have fitted Tylers Courts nor Tryals but which have beene ever the rule in all just and legal Tryalls in all calme and pious Ages The Law Martiall being proper to an Army marching to be exercised in it If otherwise all Sentences by colour of it are against the Magna Charta c. and to the manifest subversion of the priviledges of Subjects Upon this faire and Kingly conclusion of Richard Commissions were given and Justices of Oyer and Terminer to heare and determine the Treasons and Felonis committed in the late Insurrections and principally to inquire who were the chief authors fomenters and incendiaries of the broyles are sent into Kent Essex and the rest of the Provinces in Rebellion The most honourable Mayor of London with others in Commission with him saâ—… upon those of Kent Essex Norfolke and Suffolke c. who were apprehended in London Straw taken in an old rotten house about London Kirkby Treder Sterling are condemned and beheaded Strawes head being set upon London bridge with Tylers but Iack Straw who was privy to all the contrivances and plots of the confederacy could give light into the mid-night darknesse of Tylers steps through all the close windings of his labyrinths of Treasons is urged the Major promising with some honâ—…st Citizens to be at the charge of Mâ—…sses for his soule the good of which they desire him to consider to declare his full knowledge of the Counsells and votes passed and to what end they had conjured up the wicked spirits of those Garboyles Iohn was obstinate at the first and would confesse nothing but gained by these promises and a little penitent which was much to be believed of one possessed with Legions he tells them because I have hopes of help from your suffrages after my death and because this discovery may be advantageous to the Common-wealth I will confesse truly to you what we intended when we met at Bâ—…ck-heath and sent for the King by our Captaine Generalls Order we purposed to have massacred all the Nobility and Gentry with him then to have lead the King with us respected and treated Kingly from place to place to baite the vulgar by the authority of his presence into our League whom they might so have taken for the head of our Commotion he being by those meanes likely to have beene supposed by his owne party too to have trusted us when by the confluence of all the Counties our companies had been full and the supreame Executive power wholy ours we meant to have purged the Nation to have destroyed the Gentry and first the Knights of Saint Johns of Jerusalem with all the ragges of royalty which by this time had been but a ragge it selfe Afterwards to have killed the King whose Name could then have been of no use to us Their Oath to preserve him could not last longer then their conveniency and opinions which had then changed We meant so once but we meane otherwise now had beene a satisfactory excuse They had often sworne and Covenanted that they neither meant nor had power to hurt the Kings Prerogative that they intended to maintaine the Kings authority in his royall dignity the free course of Iustice and the Lawes of the Land with infinite expressions and protestations of this kind They might answer The time was when all this was reall when they would not have subverted the government 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. 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 could have compared with the riches of our Peasants and their Captaine Tyler 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
endeavoured to repair the breaches of his entrance it would have been no small labour to have restored things to any mean and tolerable condition If Presbyter VVicklief and his Classes by their pernitious Doctrines as they are charged to this day did first pervert and corrupt the people and broach that vessell with which Father Baal and Straw poysoned them they must have ruined themselves by the change sure enough they had been no more comprehended in any of Tylers Toleration than the Prelatical or Papistical party In the turmoiles and outrages of this Tyrannie had it taken Innocence Virtue Ingenuity Honesty Faith Learning and Goodnesse had been odious and dangerous The profit and advantage of the new Usurpers had been the measure of Justice and right The noble and ignoble had dyed Streets and Scaffolds with their blood not by Laws and Judgement but out of malice to their height and worth out of fury and covetousness to inrich publicke Theeves and Murtherers The jealousies too and feares of Tyler had made all men unsafe Yet the repute the renowne of the Founders could not have been much The glory of successe cannot be greater then the honesty of the enter prise there must be Justice in the quarrell else there can be no true honour in the prosperity Cato will love the conquered Common-wealth Iugurtha's fame who is sayd to bee Illustrious for his Parricides and Rapines will not make all men fall down and worship On Munday the fifteenth of Iuly not of October as VValsingham is mis-printed The Chiefe Justice Tresilian calls before him the Jury for Inquiry who faulter and shamelâ—…sly protest they cannot make any such discovery as is desired The Chiefe Justice puts them in minde of the Kings Words to them upon the way promising pardon if they will finde out the offendors else threatning them with the punishment they should have suffered who through such silence cannot be apprehended Out they goe againe and the Chiefe Justice follows them He shewes them a Roll of the principall Offendors names tells them they must not thinke to delude and blinde the Court with this impudence and advises them out of a care to preserve wicked mens lives not to hazard their own Hereupon they Indict many of the Towne and Country which Indictments are allowed by a second Inquest appointed to bring in the Verdict and againe affiâ—…med by a third Jury of twelve charged onely for the fairenesse of the Tryall So no man was pronounced guilty but upon the finding of thirty sixe Jurors Then were the Lieutenants Greyndcob Cadingdon and Barber and twelve more Condemned Drawne and Hanged VVallingford Iohn Garleck VVilliam Berewill Thomas Putor and many more with eightie of the Countrey were Indicted by their Neighbours and Impriprisoned but forgiven by the Kings Mercie and discharged They were forgiven most by the Kings Mercie for hee had forbidden by Proclamation all men to sue or begge for them a command which the good Abbâ—… sometimes disobey and hee shall bee-well thanked for it No beneficâ—… oblige some men 〈◊〉 true rugged châ—… can never be made fast never bee tyed by any merit whatsoever Nothing can soâ—… him See an unheâ—…rd of shamelesness till then These laziâ—… tender-hearted Clowns who could hardly be got to discover the guilty now runne with full speed to betray the innocent They indict the Abbot as the principall Raiser and contriver of these Tumults which struck at his own life and the being and safetis of his Monastery The Abbot as it is said sent to Tyler upon his ordinances some of the Town and Monastery but to temporiz and secure himself This is now supposed by the very Traytors indeed Treason by Common Law and Statute against the King his naturall lâ—…ige Lord This having not the feare of God in his heartâ—… c. but being seduced by the instigation of the Devill 〈◊〉 compassing the death c. the deprivation and deposing of his Soveraign Lord from his Royal State c. 〈◊〉 such Indictments use to run this must goe for levying VVar against our Lord the King adhering to comforting and aâ—…ding his enemies by opon fact which are the words of the Statute of Treason declarative of the Common Law The Chief Justice abominating and cursing the treacherous malice and perfidiousness of these Bruits makes them tear the Indictment which themselves though urged are not wicked enough to swear to nay which publiquely they confess to bee false in the face of the Court Villeinage was not now abolished though so methink otherwise but by degrees extinguished since this reigne Besides the Letters of Revocation before restoring all things to their old course A Commission which the Abbot procured from the King out of the Chancery then kept in the Chapter-house of this Monastery makes this manifest which speaks to this effect RIchard by the grace of God King of England and of France and Lord of Ireland c. To his beloved John Lodowick Jo Westwycomb c. We command you and every of you upon sight of these presents c. That on our part forthwith ye cause to be proclaimed That all and singular the Tenants of our beloved in Christ the Abbot of S. Albane as well free as bond the Works Customes and Services which they to the foresaid Abbot ought to doe and of ancient time have been accustomed to performe without any contradiction murmur 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 This I observe to make it appeare how little 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 changes are their condition is still the same or worse if some few of them advance themselves by the spoiles of the publique shipwrack 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 Oâ—…ke all the Forrest should have beene his Bishopricks Earledomes nay the Kingdomes had been swallowed by him instead of a just ligall power by which the Kings acted an arbitrary boundlesse unlimited power must have beene set up instead of a fatherly royall Monarchy a Tyranniâ—… 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 Mahoâ—…et 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