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 mâ—…nin 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 confirmâ—… 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 Iohn Brivole and therefore the Jewels of the house are pawned to the Townsmen as a gâ—… that Edmund of Brumfield whom they would suppose Abbot and whom they intended to set free should Seals 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 Idolâ—… 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 Universiâ—…y 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 3000â—… not to molest the Burgesses by sâ—…its of Law concerning these things for the time to come The Mayor and Bailiffs were fetched up by writ to the next Parl. where the deeds were delivered up and Cancelled the Liberties of the towne seized into the Kings hand as forfeited new ones granted by him to the University all which they owe yet to the piety of this King and his Parliament a Court which the Idol never names had he set up one of his owne bâ—…getting it must have had nothing else but the name it would have beene as destroying as the field Norfolke the Mother of the Kets would not loyter this while nor sit lazily and sluggishly looking on Iohn 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 hâ—… makes presidents of his owne and tramples not like a dull beast the râ—…ad 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 saâ—…les else for his presumption he far out-goes Litster Litster the Norfolke Devil begins with plunder and rapine the onely way to flâ—…sh 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 Ufford Earle of Suffolke at his Mannor of Ufford neer Debenham in Suffolke into the company out of policy That if the cause succeeded not then the Rebels might cover themselves under the shadow of that Peere The Earle warned of their intention rises from Supper and disguised as a Groom * of Sir Roger of Bois with a Port-mantue behind him riding by-waies and about ever avoiding the routs comes to St. Albanes and from thence to the King The Commons Failing here possesse themselves of the places and houses of the Knights neare and compell the owners to sweare what they list and for greater wariness to ride the Country over with them which they durst not deny among those inthralled by this compulsion were the Lords Scales and Morley Sir Iohn Brews Sir Stephanâ—… of Hales and Sir Robert of Sallâ—… which last was no Gentleman borne but as full of honour and loyalty as any man Knighted by the Kings Grand-father for his valour he was sayes Froissart one of the biggest Knights in England a man not supple enough who could not bend before the new Lords He had not the solidity of judgement as some more subtle than honest call it to accommodate himselfe to the times Like Messala he would be of the Justest side let the fortune be what it would he would not forsake Justice under colour of following prudence he thought it not in vaine to prop up the falling Government perhaps his judgement may be blamed he stayed not for a fit time had he not failed here he had not â—…ought against heaven against providence whose counsells and decrees are hid from us are in the clouds not to be pierced our understanding is as weake as foolish as providence is certein and wise Our hopes and feares deceive us alike we cannot resolve our selves upon any assurance to forsake our duty for the time to come Gods designes are knowne onely to himselfe It is despaire not piety despair too farre from that to leave our Country in her dangerous diseases in her publick calamities the insolency of injust men is a prodigie of their ruine and the incerteinty of thingâ—… humane may teach us that those we esteeme most established most assured are not seldome soonest overthrownâ—… Plato would not have men refer all things to fate there is somewhat in our selves sayes he not a little in fortune Ours are but cockfights the least remainder of force and life may strike a necking blow and by an unlooked for victory raise what is falne if death cannot be kept off if our Country cannot be saved by our attempts there is a comlinesse in dying handsomly nor can any man be unhappy but he who out-lives it We have heard of Women who cast themselves into the fiery pits where their dead husbands are consumed of Vassals who stab themselves to follow their Prince into the next world of Othoâ—… Praetorians of the Saguntines burning in their Cities flames What can be so honourable as to dye for or with our Countrey or Faith our Religion or Honesty to die with that which gave us life and liberty and sense of these Litsters Hog-herds vow to burne Norwich unlesse this Knight will come out to them which he does well mounted and forsakes his Horse to please them They seem to honour him highly and offer
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
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
to cease their burning and destruction of Houses to returne quietly to their homes and offend no man in their way Two of every Village were to stay as Agents behinde for the Kings Charters which could not be got ready in time Farther the King offers them his Banners Some of the were simple honest people of no ill meaning who knew not why the Garboils were begun nor why they came thither These were won and win others without more stir those of Essex returne whence they came Tyler and Baal are of another spirit they would not part so easily Tyler the future Monarch who had designed an Empire for himselfe and was now sceleribus suis ferox atque praeclarus famous for his villeinies and haughty would not put up so he and his Kâ—…ntish rabble tarry The next day being Saturday the 17 of Iune was spent as the other dayes of their tyranny in Burning Ruining houses Murthers and Depopulations The night of this day the Idol and his Priest upon a new resolution intended to have struck at the neck of the Nation to have Murthered the King the Achan of the Tribes probably by beheading the death these parricides had used hitherto the Lords Gentlemen the wealthiest and honestest part of the Citizens then to have pillaged their Houses and fired the City in foure parts they intended this hast to avoid odious partnership in the exploit and that those of Norfolke Suffolke and other parts might not share in the spoile This Counsell of destruction was against all policy more profit might have beene made of this City by Excise Assessment and Taxes upon the Trade Tylor might sooner have inriched himselfe and have been as secure Estate makes men lofty fearo and poverty if we may trust Machiavel bend and supple every man had been in danger and obnoxious to him one Clowne had awed a street Near the Abby-Church at Westminster was a Chappell with an image of the Virgin Mary this Chappell was called the Chappell of our Lady in the Pâ—…w it stood near the Chappell of S. Steph. since turned from a Chappell to the Parliament house here our Lady then who would not believe it did great miracles Richards preservation at this time was no small one being in the hands of the multitude let loose and inraged There he makes his vowes of safety after which he rides towards these Sonnet of perdition under the Idol Tyler Tyler who meant to consume the day in Cavills protests to those who were sent by the King to offer those of Kent the same peace which the Essex Clownes had accepted That he would willingly embrace a good and honest Peace but the Propositions or Articles of it were only to be dictated by himselfe He is not satisfied with the Kings Charters Three draughts are presented to him no substance no forme would please he desires an accommodation but he will have Peace and truth together Hâ—… exclaims that the liberty there is deceitfull but an empty name that while the King talkes of liberty he is actually levying Warre setting up his Standard against his Commons that the good Commons are abused to their owne ruine and to the miscarriage of the great undertaking that they have with infinite paines and labour acquainted the King with their humble desires who refuses to joyn with them misled and carried away by a few evill and rotten-hearted Lords and Delinquents contrary to his Coronation Oath by which he is obliged to passe all Lawes offâ—…red him by the Commons whose the Legislative power is which deniall of his if it be not a forfeiture of his trust and office both which are now uselesse it comes neare it and he is fairely dealt with if he be not deposed which too might be done without any want of modesty or duty and with the good of the Common-wealth The happinesse of the Nation not depending on him or any of the Regall Branches I will deliver the Nation from the Norman slavery and the world sayes he of an old silly superstition That Kings are onely the Tenants of Heaven obnoxious to God alone cannot be condemned and punished by any power else I will make here he lied not an wholsome President to the world formidable to all tyrannes I declare That Richard Plantagenet or Richard of Bourdeaux at this time is not in a condition to governe I will make no addresses no applications to him nor receive any from him though I am but a dry bone too unworthy for this great calling yet I will finish the work I will settle the Government without the King and against him and against all that take part with him which sufficiently justifies our Armes God with Us sayes he ownt them successe manifests the righteousnesse of our cause this is sayes he the voyce of the people by us their Representative and our Counsell After the Vote of no more Addresses which with all their other Vote of treasons were to be styled the resolution of the whole Realm and while he swells in this ruffle Sir Iohn Newton a Knight of the Court is sent to intreat rather than invite him to come to the King then in Smithfield where the Idols Regiments were drawn up and treat with him concerning the additionall Provisions he desired to be inserted into the Charter No observance was omitted which might be thought pleasing to his Pride which pride was infinitely puffing Flattery was sweet to him and he had enough of it that made him bow a little when nothing else could doe it We may judge at the unreasonablenesse of all his demands and supplyes of new Articles out of his instrument by one He required of the King a Commission to impower himselfe and a Committee teame of his owne choosing to cut off the heads of Lawyers and Escheators and of all those who by reason of their knowledge and place were any way imployed in the Law He fancied iâ—… those who were learned in the Law were knocked i th head all things would be ordered by the common people either there would be no law or that which was should be declared by him and his subject to their will with which his expression the day before did well agree Then attributing all things to God the God of Warre and his conquering Armes and striking his Sword which shewed the present power on London-stone The Cyclops or Centaur of Kent spake these words From this day or within four dayes all Law or all the Lawes of Engl. as others shall fall from Wat Tylers mouth The Kings indeed had bound themselves and were bound by the Lawes They were named in them Tyler was more than a King he was an Emperour he was above the Lawes nor was it fit the old overworn MagnaCharta should hold him The supreme Authority and legislative power no one knowes how derived were to be and reside in him according to the new establishment Tyler like Homers Mars {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} was a whirlewinde he was
him a faire Canton of the new Common-wealth if he will command their Forces The faithfull Cavalier abhorred the proposition and could not dissemble his dislike He tells them he will not to his eternall dishonour renounce his Soveraigne whom all good men obeyed to ingage with the veryest perfidious Traitors living in their villanies He attempts to Horse himselfe againe but failes It was Treason to speak against the Government The Commons grow furious they cry out Treason against Treason and Rebellion Thousands of hands are lifted up against him as if they all moved by the same Nerves and Sinews They hew him down but he crushes some of them with his ruine Whosoever stood within his reach lost either Head Legs or Armes He kils twelve of them at length avillein of his owne beats out his brains Then doe the infernal Curs rush in with full mouthes and mangla him to bâ—… who sayes Walsingham would have driven a thousand of them before him had he had faire play This amazes the rest of the Gentry they strive for Vassalage with the same emulation others doe for Liberty they observe Litster they receive his Commands upon their knees who in all things imitates the state and pomp of Kings Sir Stephen of Hales a Knight of honour caâ—…ves before him and tastes his Meates and Drinkes the rest of the miserable Courtiers are imployed in their severall offices But when the same of the Kings good fortune began to grow strong and of his preparations to assert his Right and Authority Litster sends on Embassie from NorthWalsham the thorne of his tyranny to London the Lord Morley and Sir Iohn Brewes with three of the confiding Commons to obtaine Charters of manumission and pardon with great summes of monies squeezed out of the Citizens or Norwich under pretence of preserving the City from slaughter fire and spoile or as others raised by an ordinary tribute to Litster Which monies were sent for presents to the King to win him to grant them Charters more ample and beneficial than had been given to any others THese Messengers are met at Ichlingham neere New-market by Henry le Spenser Lord Bishop of Norwich of a noble Family stout and well armed He had been at his Mannor of Burleigh neere Okeham and there heard of the tumults in Norfolke and was now hasting thither to see how thingâ—… were carryed with eight Lances onely iâ—… his company and a few Archers He charges the Lord Morley and Sir Iohn upon their Allegeance to tell him whether any of the Commons the Kings Traitors weâ—… with them They look upon the Bishop aâ—… a young rash man and the awe of theiâ—… Masters was so prevalent he could hardly wrest the secret from them After many words they discover it and the Bishop causes the heads of the Clowns to be strucâ—… off and fixed on a publick place at Newmarket Then taking with him that Lord and Knight he posts for Northwalsham The Gentry hearing of the Bishops arrivall in his Coat of Male with his Helmet upon his head his Sword by his side and his Lance upon his thigh croud in to him the Bishop quickly found himselfe in 〈◊〉 gallant equipage and as quickly reachâ—… Northwalsham the sinke of the Rebellion Litster was intrenched he had fortified his ditch with Pales Stakes and Dores and shut himselfe in behinde with his Carts and Carriages The heroick Bishop like another Maccabeus charges bravely through the ditch into the midst of the Rebells when all the Barons of England hid themselves so suddenly that the Archers could not let an arrow flie at him and came to handy blowes As the French Historian de Serres observes in affaires of the World oftentimes he that is most strong carries it a good fortune and a good minde seldome goe together Otho tells his Souldiers oftentimes where the causes of things are good yet if judgement be wanting I may put in where the Counsels are unsound the Agents faithlesse where Money Armes and Men are wanting the issue must be perâ—…icious The goods and honours of this world which follow the Triumphers Chariots are common to the good and bad Grace Charity and Love are the marks of a pious man not Successe to brag of which becomes rather a Spartacus or Mahomet who carry Faith and Law upon the Swords point than a Christian The God of the Christians is not the God of robbery and bloud but things here fell out as could be wished the innocency of the side prevailed and the righteout weake side overcame the strong injust Litster touched with the conscience of his mischiefes strugles to the utmost to avert his danger at length gives ground and attempts to shift for himselfe by leaping over his Carriages in the Rere The Bishop pressed forward so fiercely this course proved in vaine most of the unhappy Clownes are laid along upon the place Litster and the Captains of the Conspiracy are taken and condemned to be drawn hanged and beheaded which was done Others of the chiefe Conspirators dispersed over the Country are searched out and executed The Monke here tells us It was apparent by the workes of these Demoniacks by their fruits that they had conspired he speakes of the whole not onely the destruction of the Church and Monarchy but of the Christian faith too Schoole-masters were sworne by them never to teach Grammer more and whosoever was taken with an Inkhorne about him never saved his head Our Monke attributes these calamities to the remisnesse of the Bishops to the conceits and fangles of Presbyter Wycliffe which if they be truly registred by the Monkes his mortall enemies were pestilentiall and damnable Indeed Presbyter Wycliffe was then living but is not named in these commotions as one busie in them by the Monkâ—… though busie he might be we shall finde Sir Iohn Old-castle Lord Cobham and others of Wycliffes disciples rebells and traitours too too bufie in Henry the fists beginning Baal and Straw and Wraw were Priests of the Idol and his Lieutenants and might serve the turne to iâ—…broyle without fetching more aide in He attributes too these mischiefes to the licentious invectives of the Clownes against their Lords generally to the sins of the Nation inclusively taking in the Orders of Mendicants or Begging Fryars like factious Lecturers who had nothing of their owns and were obliged to flatter the people and make themselves popular who sayes he forgetfull of their profession and vowes greedy and covetous of mony foster the people in their errors call good evill and evill good seducing the great men with fawning and the rabble with lyer So that in those dayes thus he proceeds the Argument held in every mans mouth This is a Fryar therefore a Lyar as strong as this This is white therfore coloured Here againe is Walsingham at a stand he complaines That it is impossible to relate the villanieâ—… of the Rustick Devils done in all parts We will now return to see what the King does
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
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 he left next morning the Ordinances of Tyler and his Council slew 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 conquereâ—…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 Suâ—… 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 last 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 presens 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 Brittaine and Burbon called the Weale publick was not made against the King say the Allies 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 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 Incendies 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 Iohn 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 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 cumulâ—… The Clowns now every where return'd to theiâ—… old Obedience and the winds were laid in all their quarter Richard a Prince born for troubles shall be turmoiled with the Rebellion of his Peers and Parliaments deposed â—…nd murthered by them his his memory shall be sacred his Peersâ—…d Chans shall dig for him in his grave Poâ—…ity too shall owe all thâ—… to his person Afâ—…r the death of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a â—…d bloody thiâ—…f a cruel tyrane 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—…d the Pâ—…man 〈◊〉 Capitâ—…â—…it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 tory Petter writtn by Claudâ—… 〈◊〉 Consul to the Emperours Maâ—…us and Balbinus whom he caâ—…s Preâ—…vers and Redeemers of the Common wealth there the Consul tels them they had restoâ—…d 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 adde they had freed the Provinces from the insatiable covetousness of tyrannes no voice language not 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 〈…〉 their respect to the Cities their free 〈…〉 the plenty of his harvest to the ind 〈…〉 Countryman Security Peace and Libertâ—â—â— to all Orders what Prince could best 〈◊〉 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 Hypod. Neust. Par. Wals. 〈◊〉 c. Per Thomae Sanguiuem salva nos breviar. fest. S. Tho. Cant. Rishang Polyd. D'Avilla Iaques Clem. the Paricide of Hen. 3. of France was prayed for as a Saint * Guinue Froiss. Walsingh Deposito scrvituâ—…is jugo libertate c. Wals. more boni patris samil excelentis agriâ—… suum * Regni Majores †Quoscunque nocivosâ—… communitatiâ—… de terra sua tolle reut * Si sublatis Majoribus aequa libertas c. In the 〈◊〉 for holy land †Ut acclamarerâ—… cum Archiepiscopum * Communium regni proditorem * Wals. Rex ribaldorum Idolum rusticorum * Wals. Wals. Wals. Froiss. â—…esar Dial. 〈◊〉 8 c. 69. â—…roiss Wals. Lond. quib nunque deest furia c. Froiss. Wals. qui censuram juris timebant propter malâ—… c. Wals. Wals. Wals. Discaligaios râ—…bauldos Graion Froâ—…ss Wals. Knighton Wals. Wals. Richard Wals. alias scireâ—… semetipsum vita pâ—…v'd dum Nevilli kettus Wals. Sacram Communionem Qui pastor c. Ab ab maâ—… Dominiâ—… Wals. †Eccles. 15. Grot. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 dâ—…o pâ—… 〈◊〉 uâ—… ab impiâ—… non veâ—… turmodo 〈◊〉 tur Walâ—… D' Avila Liâ—… Non est diuturua possessio in quam gladio induâ—… mur Gurt Wals. Froiss. * Ab omni bondagio Illucescente die Venerls Froiss. so Froiss. The lewd prankes of the Clowns at Saint Albanes Wals. Ducem ribaldorum ut accepta ab co potestate c. Wals. All these grants end with horrible curses against Sacriledge Walsingh Walsingh Wals. aâ—… diâ—…dum Subâ—…rii â—…um megna pompa 〈◊〉 114. Perque uterum sonlpeâ—… hic matris agendus * De azorio * Locutorii Wals. Super Sacramentum Ribaldi Quod didicerant à Waltero Wals. foedae memoriae Walsingh Wals. â—…erlingorum Wals. Wals. Sceleratiss Presbyt * Garciâ—… Rarâ—… si 〈◊〉 bonam fortunam cum bona meâ—…e Liv. Nisi enim daemoniâ—…s pleni fuissent nequaquam in destruct sacr. Eccles. Chr. fidei regni exterminiâ—… conspirass Earle of sâ—… case See Mag. Chart c. See 25 H. 8. 1 Eliz. 1 Jac. Quib. sujecti reguâ—…i c. â—…ow Sieur de lâ—… Nâ—…vé Apolog. 234. Antilog c. 32 Apparat. Wals. Wals. Wals. 〈◊〉 3. 14. â—…esp ad Apolog. Adâ—…nit disp. dejur â—…d l. 1. â—…xil Hugle de Spencer pat â—…il â—…ei 〈◊〉 â—…terna authoritaâ—… 〈◊〉 Per tale Martyrium vitaÌ„ fiâ—…ire Si Hertfordia Hesterno decollatâ—… c. See 27 H. 8. c. 24. 25 Edw. 3. 11 H. 7. 13 Commen Wals. Hypod. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉