The rustick rampant or rurall anarchy affronting monarchy : in the insurrection of VVat Tiler. / By J.C.

The rustick rampant or rurall anarchy affronting monarchy : in the insurrection of VVat Tiler. / By J.C.

Table of contents

Title page

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John of Lydgate, lib. 4.

To the Reader.

THE RUSTICK RAMPANT, OR RURAL ANARCHY.

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THE RUSTICK RAMPANT, OR RURALL ANARCHY AFFRONTING MONARCHY: In the INSURRECTION of VVAT TILER.

By J. C.

Claudian.

Asperius nihil est humili cum surgit in altum.

LONDON, Printed for F. C. and are to be sold at Westminster-Hall and the Royall Exchange. 1658.

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Vera et viva. Effigies Johannis Cleaueland

John of Lydgate, lib. 4.

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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 churlish of nature

The estate of Princes unwarely doth recure.

A Crown of Gold is nothing according,

For to be set upon a knaves heed

A Foltish clerk for to weare a Ring,

Accordeth nat, who that can take hede,

And in this world there is no greater drede

Then power [...]e (if it be well sought)

Vnto such one that first rose up of nought.

There is no manner iust convenience

A royal Carbuncle, Ruby, or [...]arnet,

Nor a chast Emera [...]d of v [...]rtues exclence,

Nor Inde Saphirs in Copper to be set,

Their Kind'ly power in foule metal [...] let,

And so the State of politike puysance

Is ever lost where knaves have Governance.

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For a time they may well up ascend,

Like windy smokes their fumes sprede,

A crowned asse plainly to comprehend,

Voyde of discretion is more for to drede

Then is a Lyon for that one indede;

Of his nature is mighty and royall,

Voyde 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 foliyshe asses eke of beastialty

F [...]aying reason brayde ever on cruelty.

None is so proude as he that can no good,

The l [...]uder heed the more presumption,

Most cruelte and vengeance in lowe blode

VVith malapertnesse and indiscretion:

Of Churle and Gentle make this division

Of outhor of them I dare right well repor [...]

Fro thens thei came, thereto the wyl resorte.

To the Reader.

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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 [Page] the Prince and Archbishop, which became not his part, which made him the more 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 be 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 these tumults were fair, and taking, such as their Architects Baal and Straw▪ the Priests had layd, such as the Masters of these Schooles have delivered in all ages. The Weal publick, the liberty of the free-born people (pilled, and fl [...]yed by the Kings taxes, and the cruell oppression of the Gentry [...]) Justice, Reformation, or Regulation of Fundamentall Laws long subverted (considerable names 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 [Page] their care to remove them root and branch; they will fire the house to cleanse it; much other businesse they [...]ad, much was amisse, much to be reformed▪ but in the first salley all is not noysed; what was not handsome, what might give a fuller fright was lapped up in folds, to be discovered as they [...]ad thriven, to be swallowed, but gilded with a Victory: We know crimes carried in a happy streame 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 risen like those Sons of the Dragons teeth, in tempests, without policy or advice. Their leaders were meerly fantastical, but gablins and shadows, men willing to embroyl, and daring, whose courage was better then their cause; and [Page] who to advance the design would not boggle at a peece of Honesty, an Oath, a Protestation, or 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) pace pessimus, fitter to remove things, to overturn, overturns, than for peace (hut as Plutarch of him) subtill, faithlesse, one who could overdo all men in dissembling, in hypocrisie, practised in all the arts [...]f lying (and some of these good▪ sleights Tyler wan [...] 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 [Page] the ancient building been rased, the Mode [...] must have held▪ Richard (whose endeavours of defence or loyalty alone should have been killing) had not fallen by the sword of Lancaster, he had found his grave on Tower-hill, or Smithfield, where the faithfull lieges of his Crown were torn in pieces by these Canibals. The reverence due to the annointed heads of Kings began to fall away, and naked Majesty could not guard where Innocency could not: But Tyler blinded with his owne fatall pride, throws himself foolishly upon the Kings sword, and by his over-much hast preserves him whom he had vowed to destroy. The Heathens make it a mark of the Divinity of of their Gods, that they bestowed benefits upon mortal men, and took nothing from them. The Clownes of the Idoll upon this rule were not very heavenly, they were the meeke ones of those times, the onely inheritours of right, the kingdom was made a prey by them it was cantoned out to erect new Principalities for the Mock-kings of the Commens; so their Chiefs or Captains would be called. Here, though the title of the Rebellion spoke fair, was shown somewhat of ambition, and no little of injust private interest, no little of self-seeking which the good of the people (in pretence onely) was to give way to, and no wonder for the good [Page] of the people properly, was meerely to be intended of themselves: and no where but amongst those was the Commonwealth. Had these Thistles, these Brambles flourished, the whole Wood of noble Trees had perished: If the violent casting other men out of their poss [...]ssions, firing their houses, cutting off their Heads, violating of all Rights, be thought Gods blessing, any evidence of [...] owning the Cause, these Thieves and Murderers were well blessed, and sufficiently owned. Such was then the face of things, estates were dangerous, every Rich man was an enemy, mens lives were taken away without either offence or tryall, their reign was but a continuation of horrible injuries; the Lawes were not onely silent, but dead: The Idolls fury was a Law, and Faith, and Loyaltie, and Obedience to lawfull power, were damnable: Servants had the rule over Princes, England was near a slavery, the most unworthy of free and ingenious spirits of any.

What I relate here (to speak something of the Story) I collect out of Sir John Froissart, a French-man, living in the times of King EDVVARD the third, and his Grandchild, King RICHARD, who had seen England in both the reigns, was known and esteemed in the Court, and came last over after [Page] these Tumults were appeased: and out of Thomas of Walsingham, a Monk of St. Albanes in Henry the sixth's dayes; who (sayes Bale in his centuries of him) writes many the most choice passages of affairs and actions, such as no other hath met with. In the main, and to the substance of things, I have made no additions, no alterations, I have faithfully followed my Authors, who are not so historically exact as I could wish, nor could I much better what did not please me in their order. No man (saies Walsingham) [...]an recite fully the mischiefs, murders, sacriledge, and cruelty ofHypod. N [...]st. these Actors; he excuses his digesting them upon the confusion of the combustions flaming in such varietie of places, and in the same time. Tyler, Litster, and those of Hartfordshire take up most part of the discourse; Westbrome is brought in by the halves; the lesser Snakes are onely name [...] in the Chronicle: What had been more, had not been to any purpose: Those were but types of Tyler the Idoll, [...]nd acted nothing but acrording to the Original, according to his great example, they were Wolves alike, and he that reads one knowes all. Thomas Par. Wals. W [...]st [...] &c. Per Thomae Sanguiuem salva nos Breviar. fest. S. Tho. Cant. Rishang Polyd. D'Avilla Jaques Clem. the Paricide of Hen. 3. of France was prayed for as a Saint. of Becket, Simon of Montfort; the [Page] English Catalin [...], Thomas of Lancastor, Rebels and Traitors of the former years are Canonised by the Monks (generally the enemies of their Kings) miracles [...]ake their Tombe [...] illustrious, and their Memories sacred. The Idol and his Incendiaries are abhorred every where, every History detests them, while Faith, Civility, Honesty and Piety shall be left in the world, the enemies of all these must neither be beloved nor pitied▪

THE RUSTICK RAMPANT, OR RURAL ANARCHY.

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THe Reign of King Richard the second was but a throw of State for so many years, a Feaver to whose distempers all pieces of the home Dominions contributed by fits (Guien▪ the forraign part onely continuing faithfull) in the fourth year of his reign, and fifteenth of his age, the dregs and off-scum of the Commons unite into bodies in severall parts of the Kingdome, and form a Rebellion (called the Rebellion of the Clownes) which lead the rest, and shewed the way of disobedience first. Of whi [...]h may truly be said (though amongst other [Page] causes we may attribute it to the indisposition and unseasonablenesse of the age, that the fruits of it did not take) it was strongly begun, and had not Providence held back the hand▪ the blow had faln, the Government had broke into shivers then. The young King at this time had few besides Thomas of Woodstock his Uncle, Earle of Buckingham, and after Duke of Glocester, but the servants of his house in ordinary about him, the Lord Edmund of Langly Earle of Cambridge, after Duke of York, with the Lords Beauchampe▪ Botereaux, Sir Matthew Gourney, with others of the Nobility and Gentry, had set saile for Portugall, the Duke John of Lancaster, another of his Uncles, was in Scotland treating a peace, when this commotion brake out. Though no cause can be given for Seditions, those, who designe publick troubles, can never want pretences: Polidore (as much out in this story as any) gives this reason for this; The Poll-mony, sayes he (imposed by Parliament) a groat Sterling upon every head was intolerable. It was justly imposed, and so by some to whom Law and Custome of Engl. were intolerable, not to be endured, but we shall find in the tyranny breaking in, not onely fifth and [Page] twentieth parts and loanes forced out of feare of plunder and death, but subsidies in Troops and Regiments, by fifties, (more than Sequestrations and Compositions) not under foot, low sales, for what had these Rascalls to give, but downright Robbery and violent usurpation of Estates.

Thus would Polidore have it in defence of his Priests, who blew the fire, and thrust the silly rout into the midst of it. He takes it ill that Baal (valle he calls him) should be supposed by I know not what flaterers of the Nobles to have filled these sailes, to have let these windes out of their Caverns.

In the fourth yeare of this King (sayes the Monk) there was a grievous Tax exacted in Parliament, after cause of great trouble, every Religious paid half a Mark, every Secular Priest as much, every Layman or Woman 12d. This might discontent the people, but who prepared the Mutineers for such dangerous impressions? who fell in with them after and pushed them forward will be soon found. Froissart complaines of the servitude of the villanes or Bond-men▪ (now Names worne out) a miserable sort of drudges frequentl [...] knowne here in the Saxon times: excluded from any right of propriety, sold, and [Page] passed away with the Mannour or Lands to which they belonged, bound to til the Lords ground, cut downe, and carry in his Corne, cleanse his Ditches, cover his Halle, Q [...] ▪ These Fraissart make the first stirrers in the Insurrection, these he makes look back to the beginning of men and things to talk of the primitv [...] freedome, of the liberties of the Creature, above Ordinances, that only Treason against the Lords could forfeit Liberty, which was the case of Lucifer, and could not be made theirs, who were neither Angels nor spirits, but men of the same shape, extraction, and Soules with those who proudly would be thought their Lords, which (say they) was an height too much, and deserved levelling, must not be endured hereafter, equality was the way of peace and love. But can clouds fire in thunder and lightning, can earth quakes teare the entrailes of expiring Kingdomes, without a Muncer, or a Wiggington, a Garnet; or an Hall in the mine?

If the Church and Government must be blowne up, it is fit a sanctified hand should (cast the [...]) a man (according to the pure dialect) of immediate calling, who has had the S [...]al [...] of it, of wonderfull zeale, of resolute dealings, the Lords Messenge [...] extraordinarily [Page] gifted and exercised, is onely fit to advance Gods matters, the Holy cause, and action, and a Renegado from his orders: an Apostate Church-man will best become this person, a man with whom nothing else is sacred but his owne ambition, his innovation, and the propagation of his Schisme. One Baal the most sottish and most unworthy, but most factious of the Clergy is stirred up by the Devill (who, if rebellion be as the sinne of Witchcraft, is the Father of both) to be the Antichrist of this Reign, to blaspheme and cry down God and Cesar his anoynted, the Rights of God and Cesar; and who, if he knew any thing, was certainly the very Atheist of that age, Of these imaginations (so Froissert of those before) was a foolish Priest in the County of Kent called John Wall (for Baal) and to make it plain that he was the Father of the uproare, he had been (sayes this Knight) three times in the Archbishops prison (a persecuted Saint) for these Opinions, but delivered by him, his Conscience was scrupulous of proceeding farther, which this Historian condemnes him for: we shall hereafter see the Archbishop in John's hands, who shall come short of this mercy. John had preached (if it be not impious to use the word [Page] here) twenty yeares, and more, ever babling those things which he fancied would b [...] gracious to the multitude; He haunted by-places, the Cloysters of the Cathedrall; when the Churh was shut against him, the Streetes and Fields were holy ground; There this excommunicated Apostate laid his Nets. His discours [...]s to the people were partly invectives against Tithes (which he allowed not where the Parishioner was of better li [...]e and smaller estate than the Parson, whose estate at this rate must be small enough) against B [...]shops, and the Clergy, N [...]bility, and G [...]ntry; Then he had his quarrells to the Government, his Doctrine struck at propriety, and order, the World was impaired with Diseases, which must be the more for their age, the crisis would be dangerous, and there could be no health, no soundnesse hoped for, till Names, Estates, and things were common. His advise was to let the King know the resolutions of the new Common-wealthsmen, to tell him where the Supreme power lies, whose Trustee he was, that another course must be taken, and if he would not joyne with them, other remedies thought of: the third time he was imprisoned, heFroiss. had his Revelations, his Enlightnings, was full of divine raptures, he foretold his deliverance [Page] by 20000. men, which happened in the following tumults, when his Disciples made so many Gaole-deliveries. This, knowing what numbers he had seduced and abused, he might presume upon probable conjecture. He was no sooner loose, but he incites and stirs up the unruly Clowns to all the mischiefs possible.

He tells them they were pious and necessary excesses, and that the Law of Nature, which allowes all acts for our owne preservation, would justifie them: that a mad Father, who seeks to rob and destroy his off-spring, might be resisted▪ his thrusts might be put by, the Son might binde his hands, and if there were no other way to escape his furious violence, kill him in his owne defence. The safety of the people is the Supreme law. If the Prince persisting (after faire warning) to make himselfe a shield and defence to wicked instruments of mischiefs, Malignants and enemies of the Commons▪ securing them from the justice of the Commons, endanger himself and his Kingdome, he may thank himselfe; We (sayes he) are willing to hazard our selves (good men) to preserve both; we will never give any impediment▪ or neglect any proper means of curing the distempers of the Kingdome, and of closing the dangerous breaches (made [Page] by themselves) according to the trust which lies upon us. At Black-heath, where an assembly of 200000 men made their Randezvouze▪ after some time spent in seeking God, he baits in Rime,

VVahn Adam dalf and Eve span,

Walsingh.

VVho was than a Gentleman?

Was his levelling leud Text: hence it was to be consequent, that as nature, and the Creation made no distinction, no more ought Lawes to make or suffer any; that servitude is the daughter of unjust oppression, introduced by wicked men against Gods Will. That if it had pl [...]ased him to have created slaves, in the beginning he would have chosen, and marked out who should have been the Lord, who the Vassall; he askes where the word allowes these sweet things called Lords, verily Knaves in Purple, Sons of Caine, of Nimrod▪ of Esau, of Ishmael, fat by the blood and sweat of the poore innnocent Plebeians, honourable in nothing but the outside, nnd noble onely in riots and adulteries, as cruell, as ravenous, as killing (and as barbarously) as the Beares, the Lyons▪ the Tigers of their escutcheons, the Dragons of their bearing; he askes why the limber [Page] Knights, and Franklins, who are onely better combed, can kisse the hand and lowt with more grace, must ea [...] the Capons, which the sturdy brave Commons must starve themselves to cramme: nothing could be good which was great, nothing but Independency was divine.

He bids them consider, now was the time appointed them by God to cast off the yoake, that if they would not be wanting to themselves, they should assert theirDeposite servitutl [...] jugo, libertate, &c. Wals. more bo [...]i patrissamil. exc [...] len [...] agrū suum. long looked for liberty, and like good Husbandmen, who love their field, pluck up the weedes which over run it (which signified rooting out the wicked, and those who carried the mark of the Beast) He points them out the heads devoted, destined for slaughter. Regni Majores. The House of Lords, the Peers (as yet they speak no higher) whom he would have brought to Repentance. Then the Lawyers, Justices, Judges, Jury-men, Quoscunque nocivos▪ communitatis de terra sua tollerent. all the enemies of the commonalty were to be swept from the Earth, there could not else (so he concludes) be any peace or security for the future, Si subl [...] tis Majoribu [...] aequa libertas, &c. lopping off the Heads of those which were too tall, which over-topped too much, equall Nobility, equall Liberty, Dignity and Power (this was his old Doctrine) were the onely antidotes, without which the poysoned [Page] Common-wealth must perish. Whosoever loved not the Cause was a Reprobate, hatefull to God, and damned Body and Soule. John concludes with an exhortation, that in order to the security and preservation of Religion and Liberty of the Subject, they will never consent to the laying downe of armes, so long as the evill Councellors and Prelates arming, or in open warre shall by force of armes be protected against the justice of the Commons. John addes▪ of long time there hath beene▪ and now is a traiterous plot for the subversion of us and the liberty of the Subject.

No wonder, when Peter the HermitsIn the C [...]oi [...]e for holy land. Goose was believed to be the Holy Ghost, that John amongst as very Ninnyhammers, could stroke up for a Prophet.

The base crew prick up their Eares, and wonder at the new truths, which their Pastor held forth, they applaud him, he is I [...]t accla [...] cum Ar [...]iep [...]s▪ co [...]m. Archbishop elect, and Chancelour, the true Archbishop must be called a Traitour [...]ommuniu [...] & r [...]g [...] proditorem., a Traitour of the Commons and the Realm, to make him roome, is voted so, to be apprehended wheresoever he could be found in England, and his Head to be cut off. Here was a new Treason, and a new way of triall and sentence. But though Baal [...] more of [...]he Spirit, there were other [Page] adventurers not to be robbed of their honours, other Worthies, precious men, called to doe the Worke of the Lord; Who put to their hands, and brought Trowels and Morter toward the raising this Babel. Jack-Straw, another Priest full of life and vigor, the Consellour, and Bosom-chaplein of Tyler, more inward with him, his speciall Councellour, acquainted with all his plots, in the contrivance of which he had a great part, bestowed his paines upon the Cause, and for action next Tyler the Idoll carryed the name, which may be one cause why Polydore kills him in Tylers stead, with the Mayors Sword, the most eminent stickle [...]s of the Laity▪ of the prophane stie, where Wat the Tyler, a Tyler by Trade, not by Name, his Name was Helier (an ungracious Patron, as Proissart) was Wals. Rex ribaldorum, Idolu [...] [...]u [...]icorum. King of the Ribauldes, the Idoll of the Kentish Clownes▪ John Kirkby▪ Alan Treder, Thomas Scot, and Ralph Rugge, a Magnifico, who gave freely away amongst his fellow Scoundrels the spoiles of his Conquests, were princes of the separation of the Tribes in Kent and Essex. Robert Westb [...]ome (Wraw his Chaplaine refusing to set Wals. Crowne upon Crowne, and contented to be the Arch priest of the Province) was King of Suffolke, and the parts [Page] adjacent. St. Edmunds-bury, once the Palace of the East Angle Kings, and Mildenhalle, were the seats of his Soveraignty. John Litster a Tanner usurps the Name and power of a King at Northwalsham in Norsolk; I may say the power and more, never was any English King so absolute, nor can any just and legall Principality be so large, and Arbitrary, Law of the Land with which the old Englishman was free enough, and contented, was here to be thrown out of dores. The Heptarchy of the Saxons seemed to revive againe, but prodigiously, the blaze of these Comets must have been fatall to the Nation; to keep an order in the History of these Ruffians, who abhorred it, I will give the Van to the Idoll of the Clowns, it is due to him, he is the first who lifts up his Head in the confusion among the Brethren, and deserves the first chaire, He was the Dragon, and no question in the Conclusion, had swallowed up or clipped the rest, Litster, Westbrome, and the others merited highly, but they must have been taken down some pins, Tyler must have elbow-roome, he must have been Lord Paramount, and one such Comet would have been more than enough for one Horizon. Besides Kent and Essex, were the puddle, the Lerna [Page] which bred this Hydra with the many Heads which poysoned most of the Counties, and in the conjunction of these two Provinces, Tyler the Idoll swayed all: and here I must observe this, that however Walsingham hatches the cause in Essex, yet his owne relations of Baal and the Letters and Sermons of this seducing Prophet bring this into question, and by him if Kent be not the Mother, yet are the Treasons of her and Essex, Sister-twins of the same birth, Essex onely started first.

The fire kindled from a small sparke, The Clownes of two Villages not named in the Chronicles contrive the Conspiracy there; They send Warrants to the smaller Townes about, and rather command then intreat, all men of what age soever without any stay or deliberation to repaire to a Rendezvouze set downe. The conclusion was terrible; It threatned plundering of Goods, Burning, Plucking downe Houses, and cutting off the heads of those who disobey the present Power.

The summoned Villages are frighted into Obedience, which is to rebell; They leave their Ploughs, their Fields, their Wives and Farmes, and in their first rising no lesse than 5000 of the sink o [...] the people meet ill armed, some with Staves, some [Page] with rusty Swords, some with Bowes and Featherlesse Arrowes, few knowing any cause of their assembling, gazing upon one another, and not finding any enemies ofWals. their own peace and good but themselves. Not one of a thousand was provided like a Souldier, but their number supplyed all things, they were highly conceited of themselves, and believed they were invincible, not to be resisted. To confirme their steps, Baal (watching to catch, w [...]o had long waited for such an opportunity of imbroiling) drives them head-long forward, he writes to them his Letters exhortatory (where to consecrate the enterprise, Gods name is brought in; He is made to owne the Cause) composed of a j [...]rgon, a canting g [...]or [...]dge, fit for the designe (to abuse and cheat the innocent p [...]asant, who cannot pry into things, cannot look farther than the bait) fuller of Ridles than sense, one of them found in the sleeve of one of these wretched men condemned, and und [...]r the Gallowes was this.

John Schep, sometimes St. Mary Priest in Yorkn, and now of Colchester greeteth well John namelesse, and John the Miller, and John Carter, and biddeth them that they beware of guile in Borough (which Stow [Page] by a notable mistake calls Gillinborough) and stand together in Gods Name, and biddeth P [...]erse Plowman goe to his work▪ and chastice Hob the robber▪ and take with you John Trewman, and all his fellowes and no moe, John the Miller hath yground smal, smal▪ smal▪ The Kings Sonne of Heaven shall pay for all▪ Beware or ye be woe, Know your friend from your foe. Have ynough and say hoe. And doe well and better, and flee sinne and seek peace, and hold therein; And so biddeth John Trewm [...]n and all his fellows. A List of Sanctity does well in these Cases, but his seeking of Peace, chastising the Robber, and flecing of Sinne, I must leave as mysticall. This shewes the industry carefulnesse, and vigilancy of the Prophet in his preparations, and his willingnesse to hurt. He disperseth other Letters of this kinde, in one, he chargeth all men in the Name of the Trinity, &c. to stand Manlike together, and help Truth (now we have Truth to our peace) and Truth shall help them, in his ragges of Verses (for a Rimer he would be) he is as earnest for Truth. They begin,

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Iack Trewman doth you to understo [...]d

That falsenes, & guyle hath reigned too long,

And Truth hath been set under a Lock,

And falsenes reigneth in every Flock;

No Man may come truth to

But he must sing si dedero.

Many Remonstrances and Declarations flew abroad from him. The Kentishmen, seasoned by this Priest or Prophet of the Idol, are easily tempted by the Essexians to associate in the undertakings, and share in the honour of gaining Liberty, pretious Liberty for the people, and taking away the evill customes of the Kingdom; which is the glorious Title of the tumult. This was no more (sayes the Monke) than the Kentishmen had long wished for. They are quickly ready, and by the Arts used by those of Essex put all the Countrey into a combustion. That they may not appeareWals. with too much horror at the first sight, they would seem to pretend to an out-side Piety, they account (so they tell the Kingdome and the world) the professing of any thing in the sight of God, the strongest obliga [...]ion that any Christian, and the most solemne publick faith, that any such state, as a Common-wealth [Page] can give. In all humility and reverence they contrive a sacred vow and Covenant.

They fasten the knot of their holy League with National Covenants and Oaths▪ which themselves will first break (than which there can be no stronger tie, Religion consists in Faith, he who loses his Faith hath lost himselfe) Oaths contrary to their sworne Allegiance, and former Oathes, which is a most absurd impiety, here God must be called upon to helps, and witnesse the perfidiousnesse, oathes use to end—so helpe me God—he who performes not his oath, directly and plainly, renounces God, and all that is sacred and Divine, to sweare to day against what w [...] were sworne to yesterday, must be strange amongst Christians, these impieties being once allowed, there can be neither peace, society, nor government amongst Men safe and unindangered. The wayes leading to Canterbury are beset, the Pilgrimes swarming thither (according to the superstition of those Ages) are seized, and forced to sweare with these extraordinary Workers. To keep faith to King Richard (whose most faithfull Servants, most humble and loyall Subjects, they professe themselves to be) and the Commons according to their [Page] power and vocation. To accept no King called John (a vanity throwne in for Duke John of Lancasters sake the Kings Uncle, and neglected by the Norfolke reformers, who advanced King John Litstere to the Soveraignty) To b [...] ready upon summons to assist the Commons (th [...] great wheele of the New State, for whom this Oath was given, and to be principally respected by it.) To induce their friends and allies to hold with th [...]m, and to allow no Tax but the fifte [...]nth (which say they falsly was the onely Tax their forefathers ever heard of, or submitted to.) How sacred in all the parts this Oath will be with them (which never was to be intended more then temporary) will soone be discovered, div [...]rsity of words cannot change the nature of things. Their fi [...]st march is to Canterbury, where they visit Thomas of Canterbury Froiss. who lived and dyed a Rebell to his Prince, and to use the words of Rogerius [...] Norman, in Caesarius the MonkeCesar Dial. l. 8, c. 69. deserved death, and damnation for this Contumacy against, his King the Minister of God, [...] fit Saint for such votaries; Their kindnesse was not much, they spoile his Church▪ break up the Bishops Chamber, and make a prey of all they finde, p [...]otest the Bish [...]p shall give them an account of [Page] the profits of his Chancery, and here they begin their audit.

Thus we see our New reformers are entred, but Sacriledge ushers them in, they break ope the Prisons, and free the Saint in Bonds, Baal; when they ha [...] done what they came sor, the Citizens, who had entertained them, willingly leave their houses to keep them company; a Councell is called to resolve upon what ground the next storme should poure downe, London ever false to the Prince. The Wood, which no doubt would lodge the Wolves, is set by their Orders. Tyler the Idoll who knew his Reigne would last no lo [...]ger thin while these Men continued madde, thought this the onely place likely to keep them so; London too was the fairest mark; and besides, the Clownes were assured of a welcome upon a private invitation from some of the Cit [...]zens, whose Ancestors and Predecessours in all ages, in the tumults of the Confessor S Edwards reigne, in all the Barons Warres since, have gained the renowned to be lovers of Reformation, otherwise pure Rebellion, enemies to Courtiers and Malignants, enemies to the enemies of their deare Liberties, which yet sometimes they pursue with too much heat and blinde zeale, sometimes to their [Page] cost and repentance, mistaking every where both notions and things; the bridles which they without feare or wit, provide for their Kings being often thrust into their owne mouthes by the new riders, which themselves lift into the saddle, while they growne sober Mules, dare neither kick nor fling. Behold the common people (sayesFroiss. Wals. Lond. [...]b. nun (que) [...]est furia, &c. the Knight) when they be up against their Prince, and especially in England, among them there is no remedy, for they are the perillousest people of the World, and most outrageous if they be up, and specially the Londoners; sayes the Monk, The Londoners never want fury if they be not kept in, if license or insolence be permitted them. The Princess Dowager of the incomparable Edward the black Prince, Mother of the young King, then at Canterbury, hardly escapes these Savages, who rudely assault her Chaire, and put her and her Ladies in no small feare of Villany to be done to their persons.

This princess was so willing to be out of their reach, that notwithstanding she was very fat and unwieldie, she got to London in a day. Tyler, who had insinuated himselfe into the good grace of these Churles by appearing the most stirring and active of the Kennell, who began and ruled the [Page] cry, and was by I know not what Ceremony, perhaps like that Irish election by casting an old shoe over his head, declared Prince of the rabble, leades them to Rochester, which will not come behinde Canterbury in kindenesse. The people of the Towne (sayes the Knight) were of the same sect, it seemes the Castle (once one of the strongest in the Kingdome,) was now neither fortified nor manned, the Governour Sir John Moton yeelds himself into their hands, he was one of the Kings Family▪ of his House-hold, and must be thought awed, as he was into the ingagement. Here the Commons might be thought ashamed of their owne choyce, they offer Sir John the Generalls staffe; which 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 John, you must beFroiss. 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 John, if you [Page] 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 the 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 feet. The Lord Molines, Sir Stephen Hales. Sir Thomas Guysighen, this Sir John Moton, and others were Attendants and vassales to the Idoll. Every day new heaps of menWals. qui censuram [...]uris time [...]ant propter malefacta, &c. flock to them, like Catilines Troops, all that were nec [...]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, [Page] and now the confidence in their strength made them bold enough to throw off their maske 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 Brentford, (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 Jurymen 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 [Page] and mens mindes are puft up with successe) to be ordinary. The statue of Cumaean 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 [...]umbling 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 Ʋlisses) to be devoured lest, 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 [Page] force which maimed, and rent it before. Next (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, wereWals. 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 theWals. 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, whether he should goe or no, some of the Table more willing to venture the King [Page] 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 empire, which has flourished so many ages, can fall in an houre.

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Simon Wals. 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 hisDiscal [...]g [...] [...]o [...] ribauldos. 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 curbe their insolence: Sir, (sayes he) your sacred Majesty in this storme ought to shew how much of a King you can play; what you will goe for hereafter; by your present carriage you will either be feared for the future, or contemned; If you seriously consider [Page] the nature of these rough hewne savages, you will finde the gentle wayes pernitious, your tamenesse will undoe you, mercy will ever be in your power, but it is not to be named without the sword drawne; God and your right have placed you in your throne, but your courage and resolution must keep you there; your indignation will be justice, good men will thinke it so, and if they love you, you have enough, you cannot Capitulate▪ not treat with your rebells, without hazarding your honour, and perhaps your royall faith; if you yeild to the force of one sedition, your whole life and reigne will be nothing but a continuation of broyles, and tumults, if you assert your soveraigne authority betimes, not onely these doults, these sots, but all men else will reverence you; remember Sir, God by whom lawfull Princes reigne, whose vicegerent you are, would not forgive rebellion in Angels, you must not trust the face, Petitions delivered you upon Swords points are fatall▪ if you allow this custome you are ruined, as yet Sir, you may be obeyed as much as you please. Of this opinion was Sir Robert Hales, Lord Prior of Saint John of Jerusalem, newly Lord Treasurer of England, a magnanimous and stout Knight, but not liked by the Commons. When this resolution was known to the Clownes, they [Page] grow starke mad, they bluster, they swear to seek out the Kings Traitours, (for such now they must go for; No man was either good or honest, but he who pleased them) the Archbishop, and Lord Prior; & to chop off their Heads, here they might be trusted, they were likely to keep their words.

Hereupon, without more consideration they advance toward London, not forgetting to burne, and rase the Lawyers and Courtiers houses in the way, to the Kings honour no doubt, which they will be thought to Arme for, Sir John Froissart, and others report this part thus, which probably might follow after this refusall.

The Rebells say they sent their Knight (Grafton. so they called him, yet was he the Kings Knight, for Tyler came not up to dubbing, we finde no Sir John, nor Sir Thomas of his making,) Sir John Moton to the King, who was then in the Tower with his Mother his halfe brothers Thomas Holland Earle of Kent, after Duke of Surry, and the Lord Holland▪ the Earles of Salisbury, Warwick, and Oxford, the Archbishop, Lord Prior and others. The Knight casts himselfe downe at the Kings feet, beseeches him, not to looke upon him the worse as in this quality and imployment, to consider he is forced to doe what he [Page] does; He goes on, Sir the Commons of this Realme (those few in Armes comparatively to the rest would be taken for the whole) desire you by me to speake with them. Your Person will be safe, they repute you still their King (this deserved thanks) but how long the kindnesse will hold we shall soone finde, they professe that all they had done or would doe was for your honour, For your glory, (your honour and security are their great care) they will make you a glorious King, fearfull to your enemies, and beloved of your Subjects, they promise you a plentifull and unparallell'd revenue. They will maintaine your power and authority in relation to the Lawes, with your royal person, according to the duty of their allegeance, their protestation, their vow, their solemne League, and Covenant, without diminishing your just power and greatnesse, and that they will all the dayes of their lives continue in this Covenant against all opposition; They assure you Sir, That they intend faithfully the good of your Majesty and of the Kingdome, and that they will not be diverted from this end by any private or selferespects whatsoever. But the Kingdome has been a long time ill governed by your Uncles, and the Clergy; especially by the Archbishop of Canterbury, of whom they [Page] [...] [Page] [...] [Page] would have an account. They have found out necessary Counsels for you, they would warne you of many things, which hitherto you have wanted good advise in.

The conclusion was sad on the Knights part, His Children were pledges for his returne, and if he faile in that, their lives were to answer it. Which moved with the the King; He allowes the excuse, sends him back with this answer, that he will speake with the Commons the next Morning; which it should seeme the report of the outrages done by the Clownes upon his refusall, & this Message made him consent to. At the time he takes his Barge & is rowed downe to Redriffe, the place nearest the Rebells, ten thousand of them descend from the Hill to see, and treat with him, (with a resolution to yeild to nothing, to overcome by the Treaty; as they must have done, had not the Kings seare preserved him.) When the Barge drew nigh, the new Councell of state (sayes ourWro [...]ss. Knight) howled, and shouted, as though all the Devills of Hell had been amongst them; Sir John Moton was brought toward the River guarded, they being determined to have cut him in pieces, if the King had broke his promise.

All the desires of these good and faithfull [Page] Counsellours contracted suddenly into a narrow roome, they had now but one demand. The King askes them what is the matter which made them so earnestly sollicit his Presence? They have no more to say, but to intreat him to land. Which was to betray himselfe to them, to give his Life and Soveraignty up to those fickle Beasts, to be held of them during their good pleasures; which the Lords will not agree to. The Earle of Salisbury, of the antient Nobility, and illustrious house of Montacute, tells them their equipage and order were not comely, and that the King ought not to adventure amongst their troopes. They are now more unsatisfied, and London, how true soever to the Cause, and faithlesse to the Prince, shall feele the effects of their fury, Southwark a friendly borough, is taken up for their first quarters. Here againe they throw downe the Malignants Houses, and as a grace of their entrance, breake up the Kings prisons, and let out all those they finde under restraint in them; not forgetting to ransack the Archbishops house at Lambeth, and spoyle all things there—plucking downe the Stews standing upon the Thames banke, and allowed in the former ages; It cannot be thought but that the Idol loved Adultery [Page] well enough, but perhaps these publick bawdy-houses were too uncleane, and might stinke in his nostrils; we cannot finde him any where quarelling with the Beares, those were no Malignants.

They knocked not long at the Citygates,Wals. which (some say) were never shut against them, or (as others) quickly opened: The Citizens fancyed themselves privy Counsellours borne, inspired from their shoppes for affaires of State, and would not suppose, the Reformation could be effected without them, they were rich by lyes, and all the most sordid wayes of falshood, and must be sage and knowing, pride the first sinne the Devill taught man tickles them. The Major Sir William Waleworth, whose memory (while truth and loyalty shall be thought virtues) must be honourable, and nine of the Aldermen held for King Richard, in vaine; a prosperous wicked chief shall never want wicked instruments, Three Aldermen, and the greatest part of the people for the King of the Commons, the Idol, and his Priests. Those, the confiders, and well affected to Tyler, forbid their Major to keep him out, owne his actions, as done for the good of the faithfull people of the Land, and the Common-wealth, & his followers for their [Page] Brethren and Companions of the holy Cause. They vow to live and dye with Tylar. Many of those who had no thoughts of doing mischiefe (yet being none of the wisest) were cheated into a good beliefe of them, because of their Protestation (which in their first entrance they made solemnly) that they had no intent, but this onely, to search and hunt out the Traitours of the Kingdome, the subverters of the fundamentall Laws, evill Counsellours, and Malignants, and that this done they would give over, they would disband, and returne home the same men they were, to their Farmes and Cottages, without inriching themselves, without any other harvest of their Labours, not doubting but that in the end, it should appeare to all the world, that their endeavours have been most hearty and sincere, for the maintenance of Religion, the Kings just Prerogatives, the Lawes and liberties of the Land; in which endeavours, by the Grace of God, they would persist, though they should perish in the work. Which was believed; what confirmed this Faith was, they made Theft Capitall (which yet was confined, all without the Fold of the godly▪ were Aegyptians, and could not be robbed) and paid justly for what they had, but they paid not [Page] often, nor could their reckonings be great.

The Citizens were their purveiours, and made provision for them, every house was open to them, and tables continually furnished. Their entry was on the 14 of June, 1385. on Wednesday (a little before Midsummer) the eve of Corpus Christi day; they spend the morning of the next day, being the festivall in ringes, discoursing of the Piety, Honesty, and fairenesse of their cause, of liberty and the courses to gaine it, of seising Traitours, Of bringing Incendendiaries, Malignants, and evill instruments to condigne punishment, of the Duke John of Lancaster, who was above all men hated by them, but too far off for the scratches of their clawes, being imployed in Scotland to treate a peace there, whence these report him turned a traitour to the King, and become Scottish: about noone, being warmed more by their cups, than with the Sun, for the richest Wines were drawne for them, and swallowed with that greedinesse, that they were got to the height of drunkennesse and raved like mad men, They are for execution; The Savoy of the Duke of Lancaster a Princely building, the most stately fabrick of the Kingdome was fired [Page] by them, his Servants there murthered, his Plate and Jewells broke in pieces, a Coat of his of great value (called in that age a Jack) in contempt and scorne to this Prince, was stuck on the top of a Lance, made a marke for their Arrows, then cut and gashed to jagges with their hatchets, one of them who had hid a piece of Plate, was throwne by the rest into the fire with it, crying out. We be zealous of Truth and Knighto [...]. Justice, and not Theeves and Robbers. The Londoners were here no slow men, they knew themselves guilty of receiving, and that their condition could be no worse, they might thinke too, it would be their shame for ever to be overdone in mischiefe, nor were they here exceeded.

The next fiery shower is discharged up▪ Wals. the Temple an Innes of Court, or College for Students of the Lawes of the Nobler sort, but belonging to the Knights of Saint John of Jerusalem, to whom the possessions of the Knights Templars were given by this Kings Grandfather. Many men lost there the evidences of their estates, many their lives. From hence in malice to the Lord Prior, they hasten to Clerkenwell, where they leave nothing of that noble Palace of the Knights of S. John of Jerusalem, but rubbidge, and ashes, [Page] their Church too was consumed in the same wicked flames. This house was seaven dayes burning downe. They breake open the Exchequer and rifle Westminster the same day. The Flemmings or Dutch strangers, who since the Jewes were banished, suffer their part in every Sedition, are sought for all the streets through, all of them massacred, no sanctuary could save them, thirteen Flemmings were drawne out of the Church of the Friers Hermits of Saint Augustine, and beheaded in the streets, and seaventeen others pulled out of another parochiall Church dye in the same manner. They had a Shibboleth to discover them he who pronounced Brot and Cawse, for Bread and Cheese had his head lopt off; It was their sport if they could c [...]tch any man, who had not sworne their Oath, was not of the side, or was hated by any of the Commons, to snatch off his hood or C [...]puch (which was a part of the Cloak, or outward garment worne then, and served to cover the head) with the accustomed cry, or yelling which they used in beheading and overthrowing Houses, then to rush in to the streets, and hack with their fellow Jobernolles, at his neck in Crowds, till the Had dropped down.

Our most famous Chaucer flourishing [Page] then, in his description of the terrible fright, and noyse, at the carrying away of Chanticlere the Cock by Reinold the Fox, reflects upon these cries, but in an Hyperbole of his Poeticall feined ones, and much undervaluing the horrour of the Rentish throats, as he will have it.

They yéllen as Fiends do in Hell, &c.

So hideous was the noyse, Ab benedicite [...]

Certes Iack-Straw ne his meyney

Ne made shouts halfe so shrill,

VVhen they would any Flemming kill.

The Lombards scaped better, they were onely robbed of what they had, their skins were left them whole, Wat the Idol had long agon in France served Richard Lyon a Merchant, and Lapidarie, formerly Sheriffe of London, one of the wealthyest of the City, who had given him blowes, it was not fit this injury should be forgotten, nor was it; It was a s [...]ore now, or never to be paid, he strikes off his old masters head, which in triumph is carryed before him on a Speare.

This night the King was counselled to fall upon these beasts, for the most part drunk, and cut their throats, easie to be destroyed, if any man had had but the courage to overcome. It was the gallant Mayors advise, they lay on heaps without sense or motion, tired with the mischiefes of the [Page] day, drunk and asleep, without Guards or Watch; the Earle of Salisbury and the Nobility, against whose L [...]ves, Honours and Fortunes these beasts had conspired, desire th [...] King to try all faire and gentle wayes of appeasing them, which counsell he approves. They were not so kind to themse [...]ves; many lost their lives by the hands and swords of their comp [...]nions; every p [...]ttyd scontent, or grudging, being enough to prov [...]ke them. Thirty two of them being [...]runk in a Cellar of the Savoy were immured there, finding in the same place Death and the G [...]ave together. Some of them threw B [...]rrels of Gunpowde [...] (which was little known then) into the fire, and are blown up with part of the Palace.

Proclamations were formerly made in Tylers name, not in Strawes, (as Polydore w [...]u [...]d have it.) Straw was this while busied els [...]where. The Country about was by these Proclamations summoned to repaire to London with all speed, to spoyle this Babylon; The close menaces (left they provoke Gods Judgments) pluck them down upon their heads, which thems [...]lves explain, if ye faile, if ye and your Officers give not obedience freely to the Protector, we will send out 20000 men (20000 of our Locusts) who shall burn the Towns of the [Page] 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,Wals. at Heibury, a retiring house of the Lo: Prior of S. John neere Islington, they finde 20000. or thereabouts casting downe the firmer parts of the house, which the fire could not consume.

Jack Straw C [...]ptain of this h [...]rd, callsRichard. these new comers to him, and forces them to sweare to adhere to King Richard, and the Commons. How long this Oath will be 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 fellowship, to observe the horrible irreligious hypocrisie of these Clownes who onely would be thought the Protectors of his Crown and Person. They al [...]ne had decreed his ruine, who sweare thus often to pr [...]vent it, to guard him from it; A Treason not to be b [...]lieved by some then till it had taken. The Commons were then divided into three Bodies, this with Jack Straw, the second at Mile end under the E [...]sexian Princes, Ki [...]k [...]y, Treder, Scot, and Rugge, the third on Towerhill, [Page] where the Idoll, and Priest Baal were in chiefe.

This last crue grew horribly rude, and haughty; the Commons there were not contented 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, this was the way to secure their smaller mischiefs. Polydores conceit that the Archbishop and Lord Prior of S. John, 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 Justice, Justice) 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 bloodWals. alias scire [...] semetipsum vita privā ▪ dum. of these their Traitours or his; they making all those Delinquents, 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, [Page] 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 affection to the publike good. Whether the Tower doores flew open at this fright, or the Man-wolfes crowded in, at the Kings going out to appease the party at Mile-end, as Sir John Froissart tells it, Wat the Idol with Priest Baal are now masters of the Tower, into which on Friday the 16 of June 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 apparition▪ at the sight of these Goblins, they stood like the stones of Medusa, remembred not themselves, their honour, nor what they had been. The Clownes, the most abject of them, singly with their Clubs, or Cudgels 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 give her blowes, [Page] break her head: She swownes, and is carryed privately to the Wardrobe by her servants; Some revile and threaten the noblest Knights of the Houshold, some stroke their beards with their uncleane hands (which beyond the Romane patience in the same rudenesse 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 disturbe the usurpers of their Estates and Rights, must not shew any sense of generosity, of faith, of honour, (it concerned Tyler that they should be the veryest fools and cowards breathing) if they stir▪ make any Claimes, they shall be reputed seditious, turbulent, and breakers of the publick (otherwise and plainly) Tylers peace. It was never heard (sayes the Emperour Charles in Sleidan) that it should be lawfull 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 not Cowherds to Knights, but to Bores, value themselves [Page] beyond Kights. Here was a hotchpotch of the rabble, a mechanick sordid state composed as those under Kettes One of Reformation, after,

Of Countrey gnooffes, Hob, Dick, and Hick,

Nevilli kettus.

with Clubs, and clouted shoon.

A medley or huddle of Botchers, Coblers, Tinkets, D [...]aymen, 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 p [...]le of building, of honourable title, or Antique memory, since Constantine, when it is infected 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 [Page] to betray his Lord: He brings them into the Chappell, where the holy Prelat was at his prayers, where he had celebrated Masse that morning before the King, andWals. Sacram Communionem. 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 were taken away, that life was irkesome to him, (perhaps his pious feares for the Church and Monarchy, both alike indangered, and fatally tied to the same chain, might make him weary of the World) and that he could now die with more quiet of conscience than ever; a quiet which these Parricides will not finde when they shall pay the score of this and their other crimes. However the flattery of successe may abuse, our death▪ bed represents things in their owne shape, and as they are: after this the rout of Wolves enter prophanely roaring, where is the Traitour, where is the Robber of the Common-people? He answers, not troubled at what he saw, or heard.

[Page]Yee are welcome my Sonnes. I am the Archbishop whom you seek, neither Traitour nor Robber; Presently these Limbes of the Devill griping him with their wicked clutches, teare him out of the Chappell, neither reverencing the Altar, nor Crucifix, figured on the top of his Crosier, nor the Host, (these are the Monkes observations, for which he condemnes them in the highest impiety, and makes them worse than Divells, and as Religion went then, well he might condemne them so.) They dragge him by the Armes and hood to Tower hill without the Gates, there they howle hideously, which was the signe of a mischiefe to follow.

He askes them what it is they purpose, what is his offence, tells them he is their Archbishop (this makes him guilty, all his eloquence, his Wisdome are now of no use) he addes the murder of their Soveraigne Pastour will be severely punished,Qui pastor, &c. some notorious vengeance will suddenly follow it. These destroyers will not trouble themselves with the idle formality of a mock-trial or Court of their own erecting, an abominable Ceremony, which had made their impiety more ugly, they proceed down right, and plainly, which must be instead of all things, He is commanded to [Page] lay his neck upon the block, as a false traitour to the Commonalty and Realm: To deale roundly, his life was forfeited, and any particular charge, or defence would not be necessary, his enemies were his Accusers, and Judges, (his enemies who had combined and sworne to abolish his order, the Church, and spoile the sacred patrimony) and what innocency, what defence could save? Without any reply farther, he forgives the Heads-man, and bowes his Body to the Axe.

After the firsthit, he touches the wound with his hand, and speakes thus, It is the A [...] ▪ ah, manus Domini. Hand of the Lord. The next stroke falls upon his hand, ere he could remove it, and cuts off the tops of his fingers, after which he fell▪ but died not till the eight blow, his body lay all that day unburied, and no wonder, all men were throughly scared, under the tyranny of these Monsters, all Humanity, all Piety, were most unsafe.

The Archbishop dyed a Martyr of loyalty to his King, and has his Wals. miracles Recorded, an honour often bestowed by Monkes (friends of Regicide, and Regicides,) on Traitours, seldome given to honest men. In his Epitaph (his riming Epitaph, where is showne the pittifull ignorant rudenesse of those times) [Page] he goes for no lesse, he speakes thus:

Sudburiae natus Simon jacet hic tumulatus,

Martyrizatus nece pro republica stratus.

Sudburies Simon here intombed lies,

Who for the Commonwealth a Martyr dies.

It is fit (sayes Plato) that he who would appeare a just man, become naked, that his virtue be despoiled of all ornament, that he be taken for a wicked man by others (wicked indeed) that he be mocked, and hanged. The wisest of men tell us, Eccles. 7. 15. There is a just man that perisheth in his righteousnesse, and there is a wicked man that prolongeth his life in his wickednesse. The Seas are often calme to Pirates, and the scourges of God, the executioners of his fury, the Gothes, Hunnes, and Vandalls heretofore, Tartars and Turkes now, how happy are their Robberies, how doe all things succeed with them beyond their wishes! Our Saviours Passion, the great mysterie of his Incarnation lost him to the Jewes hisGrot. Saep [...] [...] deo permitti, ut pii ab imp [...]s non vex [...] turmo [...]o sed i [...]ficiantur. Murtherers. Whereupon Grotius notes, It is often permitted by God, that pious men be not onely vexed by wicked men, but murdered too—He gives examples in Abel, Isaiah, and others, the MESSIAH [Page] dyed for the sins of the world, Ethelbert and Saint Edmund the East-Angles, Saint Oswald the Northumbrian, Saint Edward the Monarch, &c. Saxon Kings, are examples at home.

Thucydides in his narration of the defeat and death of Nician the Athenian in Sycily, speaks thus: Being the man who of all the Grecians of my time had least deserved to be brought to so great a degree of misery. It is too frequent to proclaim Gods Judgments in the misfortunes of others, as if we were of the Celestiall Councell, had seen all the Wheels, or Orbs, upon which Providence turns, and knew all the reasons and ends which direct and govern its motions: men love by a strange abstraction to separate Facts from their Crimes; where the fact is beneficiall, the advantage must canonize it, it must be of heavenly offspring, a way to justifie Cain, Abimelech, Phocas, our third Richard, Ravilliac, every lucky parricide whatsoever.

Alexander Severus that most excellent Emperour assassinated by the Militia or Souldiery, by an ill fate of the Commonwealth (for Maximinus a Thracian or Goth, Lieutenant Generall of the Army, a cruell Savage tyrant, by force usurped the Empire after him) Replyed, to one who [Page] pretended to foretell his end; That it troubled him not, the most renowned persons in all ages die violently. This gallant Prince condemned no death but a dishonest fearfull one. Heaven it selfe declared on the Archbishops side, and cleared his innocency. Starling of Essex, who challenged to himselfe the glory of being Heads man, fell and suddenly after, ran through the Villages with his Sword hanging naked upon his brest, and his Dagger naked behinde him, came up to London, confest freely the fact, and lost his head there; As most of those did, who had laid their hands upon this Archbishop, comming up severally out of their Countries to that City, and constantly accusing themselves for the Parricide of their spirituall Father. Nothing was now unlawfull, there could be no wickednesse after this; They make more examples of barbarous cruelty under the name of Justice.

Robert Lord Prior of St. John, and Lord Treasurer of England, John Leg, or Laige one of the Kings serjeants at Armes, a Franciscan, a Physitian belonging to the Duke of Lancaster (whom perhaps they hated because they had wronged his Master) a Frier Carmelite, the Kings Confessour were murdered there in this fury. [Page] Whose heads with the Archbishops, were borne before them through London streets, and advanced over the Bridge.

This while the King was softning the Rebells of Essex at Mile-end, with the Earles of Salisbury, Warwick▪ and Oxford, and other Lords. Thither by Proclamation he had summoned them, as presuming the Essexians to be the more civilized, and by much the fairer enemies, as indeed they were. There he promises to grant them their desires, Liberty, pretious Liberty is the thing they aske, this is given them by the King, but on condition of good behaviour. They are to cease their burning, and destruction of Houses, to returne quietly to their homes, and offend no man in their way. Two of every Village were to stay as Agents behinde for the Kings Charters, which could not be got ready in time. Farther the King offers them his Banners.

Some of the were simple, honest people, [...]r [...]ss. 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 [Page] designed an Empire for himselfe, and was now, sceleribus suis ferox atque praeclarus famous for his villeinies and haughty, would not put up so, he and his Kentish rabble tarry. The next day being Saturday the 17 of June, was spent as the other dayes of their tyranny, in Burning, Ruining houses, Murthers, and D [...] populations.

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, Tyler might sooner have inriched himselfe, and have been as secure. Estate makes men lofty▪ feare and poverty, if we may trust Machiavel, bend and supple, every man had been in [Page] danger, and obnoxious to him, one Clowne had awed a street. Near the Abby-Church at Westminster, was a Chappell with an image of the Virgin Mary▪ this Chappell was called the Chappell of our Lady, in the Piew it stood near the Chappell of S. Steph. since turned from a Chappell to the Parliament house, here our Lady then (who would not believe it) did great miracles. Richards preservation at this time was no small one, being in the hands of the multitude, let loose, and inraged. There he makes his vowes of safety, after which he rides towards these Sonnes of perdition under the Idol Tyler.

Tyler, who meant to consume the day in Cavills, protests to those who were sent by the King to offer those of Kent the same peace, which the Essex Clownes had accepted, That he would willingly embrace a good and honest Peace, but the Propositions or Articles of it were only to be dictated by himselfe. He is not satisfied with the Kings Charters, Three draughts are presented to him, no substance, no forme would please, he desires an accommodation, but he will have Peace, and truth together. He exclaims that the liberty there is deceitfull, but an empty name, that while the King talkes of liberty, he is actually levying [Page] Warre, setting up his Standard against his Commons, that the good Commons are abused to their owne ruine, and to the miscarriage of the great undertaking, that they have with infinite paines and labour acquainted the King with their humble desires, who refuses to joyn with them, misled, and carried away by a few evill and rotten-hearted Lords and Delinquents, contrary to his Coronation Oath; by which he is obliged to passe all Lawes offered him by the Commons (whose the Legislative power is) which deniall of his if it be not a forfeiture of his trust and office (both which are now uselesse) it comes neare it, and he is fairely dealt with; if he be not deposed, which too might be done without any want of modesty or duty, and with the good of the Common-wealth, The happinesse of the Nation not depending on him, or any of the Regall Branches. I will deliver the Nation from the Norman slavery, and the world (sayes he) of an old silly superstition, That Kings are onely the Tenants of Heaven, obnoxious to God alone, cannot be condemned and punished by any power else, I will make: here he lied not, an wholsome President to the world▪ formidable to all tyrannes▪ I declare, That Richard Plantagenet, or Richard of Bourdeaux, at this time is not in a condition to [Page] 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 Ʋs, sayes he▪ owns them, successe manifests the righteousnesse of our cause, this is (sayes he) the voyce of the people, by us their Representative, and our Counsell. After the Vote of no more Addresses, which with all their other Votes of treasons were to be styled the resolution of the whole Realm; and while he swells in this ruffle, Sir John Newton a Knight of the Court, is sent to intreat rather than invite him to come to the King then in Smithfield; where the Idols Regiments were drawn up, and treat with him, concerning the additionall Provisions he desired to be inserted into the Charter.

No observance was omitted which might be thought pleasing to his Pride (which pride was infinitely puffing.) Flattery was sweet to him, and he had enough of it, that made him bow a little, when nothing else could doe it. We may judge at the unreasonablenesse of all his demands, and supplyes of new Articles out of his instrument, [Page] 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 if those who were learned in the Law, were knocked ith'head, all things would be ordered by the common people, either there would be no law, or that which was should be declared by him and his, subject to their will, with which his expression the day before did well agree; Then, attributing all things to God (the God of Warre) and his conquering Armes, and striking his Sword (which shewed the present power) on London stone.

The Cyclops, or Centaur of Kent spakeWalsingh. 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 Magna Charta should hold him. The supreme Authority and legislative power (no one knowes how derived) [Page] were to be, and reside in him, according to the new establishment, Tyler like Homers M [...]rs [...] was a whirlewind [...] he w [...]s Potius gl [...]d atoquam senator. Eg [...]ius in Paterculus rather a Fencer, a Swash buckler than a Senatour; his right A me his b [...]u [...]sh 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 sl [...]very under that will, falsly peace. Had those, whom no government never so sweet, and g [...]cious will plea [...]e, unlesse the Supreame p [...]wer be given the people, seen the confusions and dangers, the c [...]uelty and tyranny of these few dayes, they would quickly have chang [...]d this opinion.

The Knight performes his Embassy, he u [...]ges 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 [...]e followes the Kn [...]ght on Horse back, but slowly. In the way, he is met by a Cit [...]zen who had brought sixty doublets for the Commons, upon the Publique Faith. This Citizen askes him for his mony, he promises payment before night, & presses on so near the King that his horse touched the croupe of the Kings horse.

Froissart reports his discourse to the [Page] King Sir King (sayes the Idol) seest thou yond [...]r 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 m [...] Faith, and Truth, to doe what I will have them. He and they had broke their Faith and truth to their P [...]ince, and he thinkes these men will be true to h [...]m. Here though it be a digr [...]ssion too much, I cannot omit a passage of the late C [...]v [...]ll Warres of France, begun and continued by the Jesuit [...]d party to extirp [...] D'Avila. the royall Family ther [...].

Vil [...]ers. Governour of R [...]ü [...]n for the holy League, tells the Duke of Mayen Captain [...] G [...]nerall 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 b [...] [...]qu [...]ll.

The Idoll, as he that demanded (so the K [...]ight) nothing bu [...] Riot, continues his discourse ( [...]hu,) Believe [...]t thou King, that these people w [...]ll depart without thy L [...]tters? The King tells him, H [...] means fa [...]rly, that he will make good his wo [...]d his Letters are neare finished, and they shall have them. But the glory of the Idoll (which was merely the benefit of fortune) beg [...]n to fade, his principally was to [...] [Page] cruell, too violent to be lasting. Vengeance here hovered over his head, and he who had been the destruction of multitudes hastens, nay precipitates his own fate, and ruins himself by his own fury, he puts himself into the Kings▪ power, who should in his first towring had he been wisely wicked, like a Vulture of the Game, have flown at his throat. In magn [...]s principium injurus non incipitur ut desestatur. The judicious polit que will not begin to give over; However, will never venture himself in the P [...]inces hands whom he has justly offended by treasons against his government.

Grand folie [...]ons. Charles of Burgundy confesses this to be [...] great folly; his Grandfather Philip lost his life at Montereau upon the Yonne by it, and our Idoll shall not escape better.

Sir John Newton the Knight imployed to fetch him, delivered his message on horseback, which is now remembred, and taken for an high neglect; besides, it seemeth the carriage and words of the Knight were not very pleasing. Every trifle in omission was treason to the Idols person, and new state. He railes foulely▪ drawes his Dagger, and bellowing out, Traitor, menaces to strike the Knight, who returnes him in exchange the lie; and not to be behinde in blowes, drawes his: This the Idol takes [Page] 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 Hangman, this lump of bloud. This the rest of the Courtiers now wakened by their owne [Page] 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 reso [...]ves to haz [...]rd all upon this chance: This way he could not but die kingly, at least, l [...]ke a Gentleman, with the Sword, wh [...]ch God (of whose great M [...]jes [...]y he was a beam) gave him in his hand. The onely way left to avoid a sh [...]m [...]full death, was to run the dang [...]r of a brave one, and a wise coward (I will not say an honourable one) considering the inc [...]rtainty of things under that Iron socage Tenure w [...]uld think so▪

The King commands the Major to arr [...]st the Bu [...]cher: This was charge enough, and rightly understood, indeed there was then no time for forme nor tryall, the suspension o [...] the Courts was Tylers act, his crime,G [...]o [...] [...]ur. B [...]ll v l▪ 1. c. 4. a [...]d he oug [...]t not to look for any advantag [...] 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 agains [...] such (sayes a Father long [...]gone) every man is a Souldier; whosoev [...]r struck too, struck as much in his owne [Page] 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 g [...]ven by the same power, by which the Judges of Courts sate and acted▪ when Justice fl [...]wed down from the fountaine in the ordinary channell, and which the damme head being thus troubled by this W [...]lfe, 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 connot deal with: Tyler [...]aints, and sh [...]inkes to what he had beene, he was as cowardly as cruell, and could not seem a man in any thing but that he was a theef, and a rebell▪ he askes the brave Major in what he was offended by him; This was a strange question to an honest man, he finds it so. The Major (sayes Froissart) cal [...]s him false stinking knave, and tells him he shall not speake such words in the presence of his naturall Lord the King. The Major answers in full upon the accursed Sacril [...]gious Head of the Idol with his Sword. He struck heartily, and like a faithfull zealous subject. Dagon of the Clownes [Page] sinkes at his feete. The Kings followers inviron him round, John Standish an Esquire of the Court, alights, and runs him into th [...] belly, which thrust sent him into another World, to accompany him who taught Rebellion, and murder first. Event was then no signe of a good cause.

All History now brands him for a Traitour, which by some will be attributed to his miscarriage: without doubt had he prospered in the Worke, he had had all the honours which goe along with prosperity. The King had beene the wrong doer, andUt r [...]s [...]it vi [...]cendus est. his afflictions, if nothing in so much youth could have beene found out, had beene crimes; we must overpower those whom we would make guilty. Henry the great of France under the Popes interdict, is told by a Gentleman, Sir, if we be overcome, we shall dye condemned hereticks, if your Majesty conquer, the censures shall be revoked, they will fall of themselves. He who reads the mischiefes of his usurpation will thinke he perished too late.

Now I come to an Act of Richards, the most glorious of his History, which the Annals past can no where parallel, here his infancy excells his after man-hood. Here, and in the gallantry of his death he appeares a full Prince, and perhaps vies [Page] with all the bayes of his usurpers triumphs.

Alexander the Monarch of the world, (Not more wondered at for his victories, then for that suppressing the Sedition of his Macedons in Asia, tired, and unable to march, whither his ambition carried him on wings) leaps from his Throne of State, into the Battels of his Phalanges enraged, Seises thirteene of the chiefe malecontents, and delivers them to the custody of his Guards. Curtius knowes not what he should impute this amazement of the Seditious to, every man returning upon it to his old duty, and obedience, and ready to yeild himselfe up into the same hands: it might be (sayes he) The veneration of theLib. Majesty of Kings, which the Nations submitted under, worship equally with the Gods, or of himselfe which laid the tempest. That confidence too of the Duke Alessandro of Parma, in a mutiny of the German R [...]ters at Namures is memorable, who made his way with his Sword alone through the points of all their Lances▪ into the middest of their Troops, and brought thence by the coller one of the Mutineers, whom he commanded to be hang'd to the terrour of the rest. The youth of Richard begat rather contempt, than reverence, [Page] of which too these Clownes breasts were never very full: When the fall of the Idol was known to the rou [...], they put themselves into a posture of defence, thunder out nothing bu [...] vengeance to the King and his, whom they now arraign of Murder and Tyranny: He is guilty of Innocent bloud; a Tyrant, a Traitour, an Homicide, the publique Enemy of the Common wealth. Richard Plantagenet is indicted in the name of the people of England of treason, and other heynous crimes. He is now become lesse than Tylers Ghost, a Traitour to the Freeborne people.

His treason was, he would not destroy himselfe, he would not open his body to Tylars full blow. They roare out, ourWalsingh. Capitaneus noster. Captaine Generall is slaine treacherously, let us stand to it, and revenge his precious bloud, or die with him: I cannot passe this place withou [...] some little wonder; had these Ruffi [...]ns (with whom Kings hedged abou [...] by holy Scripture, and Lawes human, are neither divine nor sacred) beene asked whet [...]er Tyler the Idol, of their own clay and hands, might have been tryed, touched or struck, according to their resenting this blow here: let his tyrannies, his exorbitances have beene what they would, th [...]y would have answer'd no doubt [Page] in the negative: Though Richard might have been struck thorough and thorough, Tyler who had usurped his power, must have been sacred, it must have b [...]en treason to touch him: Phocas must not be hurt: in Tylers case Straw would allow the old texts againe: The pow [...]rs were to be obeyed. Their bowe, were drawne when the King gallops up to them alone, and riding round the throng asks them, What madnesse it was that armed them thus against their own peace, and his life, whether they would have no end of things or demands.

He tells them if L [...]berty b [...] their onely aim, as hitherto they hav [...] pretended, they may assure themselves of it, and that it is an extreme folly to seek to make that our owne with the breach of Faith, of Lawes, with impieties▪ violating God and Man, which we may come by fairely. But they trod not the path to Liberty, That where every man commands, no man can be free; the Lib [...]rty too they fancy cannot be had, the world cannot subsist without Order and Subjection, men cannot be freed from Lawes: If they were, there could be no society, no civility any where, Men must be shunned as much as Wolves or Beares▪ rapine and bloud-shed would over-run the world, the spoyler must feare the next [Page] comer, like savage beasts, who hurt others, and know not it is ill to hurt them; men would devour men, the stronger Thiefe would swallow up the rest; no Relations would be sacred, where every man has the power of the Sword, the aged sire (could there be any such) must defend his silver haires from the unnaturall violence of his own Sons.

He addes, if there can be any just cause of Sedition, yet is the Sedition unjust which outlasts it, which continues, when the cause is yeilded to, and taken away; that if his Prerogative has beene sometimes grievous, his taxes heavy, and any of those they call evill Counsellours faulty, they ought to remember, in their first risings, and all along in all their Oathes, and Covenants they swore continually not to invade the Monarchy, nor touch the Rights of his free Crowne. You ought to remember your own Remonstrances; you once declared, that you acknowledged the Maxime of the Law, The King can doe no wrong; If any ill be committed in matters of State, the Councellors; if in matters of Law, the Judges must answer for it—My person was not to be violated. He expects they should deale with him, as the honest Husbandman does in overflowes of Waters, who cleares [Page] and draines his ground, repaires the bankes, but does not usurp upon the streame, does not inhance within the Channell; And farther that quarrels to his Government and Lawes are unreasonable from those, who out of ambition arme to overthrow both, that reformation is not the worke of Sedition, which ever disorders what is well setled. He conjures them to forsake these [...]uries, who, saye [...] he, abuse their lightness meerely for their owne ends, whose companions or masters they were lately, now are they but their Gaurds, and that if they refuse a subjection according to all Lawes Divine and humane to his Scepter, they must becom [...] slaves and tributaries to their Iron, to the F [...]ailes and Pitchforkes of some Mushrome of their owne dirt, and that advancing their Mushrome, thus upon his power by the wayes of force g [...]ves an example to the next tumults against themselves.

There can be no safety for any newNon est di [...]turu [...] possess [...]o i [...] quam gladi [...] i [...]du [...]imur. Curt. power raised upon this force, the obedience to that upon these Rules being limitted, and annexed to the force, and success, and to yeild, and give way to the next power visible which shall overbeare it. A way to thrust a Nation into a state of War, continuall perjury and impiety to the [Page] Worlds end. This Realm (as he goes on) is my inheritance, which I [...]o [...]ke possession of after the death of my Grand-father being a child, and did I claime onely by your gift (which I shall neve [...] grant) y [...] are not you free, to m [...]ke a [...]ew choice, you are b [...]und [...]o me by Oath [...]s and Com [...]acts, [...]nd no [...]i [...]ht of new compliance, [...] [...]u [...]mission can be l [...]ft you to transferre He concludes, Th [...]t desp [...]ir was a dangerous sinne, which w [...]uld drive them head-long to destruction; That whatsoever their off [...]nces had been, they were not above his mercy.

H [...] bids them not trouble themselves for Tyler, a base fellow, who thrust them into dangers, and blew them into a storme to raise himselfe upon the billowes, upon the ruines of his Country. He promises to lead them, he will be their Captaine, if they will follow him he will please th [...]m in all their desires. This he spak [...], to draw them off farther into Smithfield, f [...]a [...]i [...]g they would againe fall to burning of hous [...]s. They now wanted their Devill, who possessed them, and being in doubt whether they should [...]ill the King▪ or returne home with his Charters, there being no incendiary to c [...]mmand, follow the King in suspence; Ba [...]l and Straw about this time amazed at [Page] the Idols fall, lose courage and slip away▪ In the meane time the stout Major spurres to the City with one servant, where in a few words he acquaints the Citizens with the Kings perill and his owne, and requests their sudden assistance, if not for himselfe, for the King, who (sayes he) is in danger now to be murthered. Some loyall hearts,Wals. Froiss. some good men of the Kings party arme, and joyn, to the number of one thousand, and range themselves in the street, expecting some of the Cavaliers, of the Kings Knights to conduct them▪ resolved either to overcome, or not to feare the Conquerours.

Sir Robert Knowles, a renowned Commander in the French Warres of the Kings Grandfather (called falsly Canol by Polydor, and others) undertakes this charge. Sir Perducas D' Albret (called D' Albreth) a noble Gascoigne and a Commander too in those Warres, Nicholas Brembre the Kings Draper, and other Aldermen, come in with their Levies, and march to the King in sight of the Rebels. There the King Knights the brave Wil: Walworth, John Standish, one of his Esquires, Nicholas Brembre, John Philpot, (a most generous Citizen, famous for his faithfull service to his Prince in the times succeeding) [Page] and others. The N [...]bility about the King desire him to strike [...]ff an hu [...]dred or two of the Clowns heads, in revenge of the injuries and infamy they had received from them. Sir Robert Knowles would have him fall on, and cut them all to pieces. The King dislikes both these counsels; He sayes many of these unhappy men were aw [...]d to side, without either malice to his P [...]rson or Power; and that if the first adv [...]se were taken, the m [...]st innocent might b [...] punished, and the gui [...]ty scape; If the second, the very R [...]bel and the Counterfeit (the forced one) must be swallow [...]d up together, which was high injust [...]ce. Yet were th [...]re many of these R [...]b [...]ls called to account, and their acts of bl [...]u [...], rapine and burning cost them deare; bu [...] these acts of theirs done against Law, w [...]re punished leg [...]lly, upon the finding of Ju [...]ies▪ when the Tumu [...]ts were composed: Which was faire and handsome, and sh [...]wes the honourable justice of our King. All that was done against them that night▪ was, to forbid the Citizens by Proclamation to entertain any of these men in the City, or communicate with them; and to command all men who had not dwelt there for one yeare before, to depart:

So farre was the young King from approving [Page] the cruelty of the l [...] counsels, that in the next place, he causes the Charters, which he had promised them to be delivered; yet some may suppose this but a pardon of shew, and the pardon-piece of the Charters, as well as the other part, rather a piece of policy than any thing else, the Countries being yet tumultuous, the Clownes were upon their good behaviour, that was a condition of their pardon, which they would not observe, they comm [...]t new outrages, break th [...] Kings Laws, [...] pluck down the vengeance of Justice upon their heads afresh, they did not give over their mischiefs after their return sayes, Wals. By the King and his Counsell, the Charters, as extorted out of force, and necessity were recalled; and though the Meynie generally were pard [...]ned, the King (againe provoked) staid but for a fit time to take vengeance on the Ring-leaders, and punish particular offendors who could not be forgiven: It being necessary in so desperate a Revolt for the terrour of others, to make examples of some such malicious disturbers of the peac [...], as would never have been reclaimed. The Kings Charters contained a Manumission of the Villains, and abolition of the memory of what was past for the rest. The tenor, sayes Walsingham, [Page] of the Charters extorted from the King by force▪ was this, (he gives us onely that of Hartfordshire the Province of his Monastery.)

§

RIchard by the Grace of God King of England and of France, Lord of Ireland, to all his Bailies, and others his trusty, to whom these Letters shall come greeting. Know yee that we of our speciall grace have made free all our Lieges, and every of our subjects of Hartfordshire, and we free those, and every of them from all Ab omni bondagio. bondage, and quit them by these presents, and also we pardon the same our Lieges, and subjects, for all Felonies, Treasons, Trespasses, and extortions by them, or any of them in any wise done, or committed, and also every Outlary, or Outlaries, if any against them, or any of them, are or shall be published, and our full peace to them or any of them, therefore we grant, in witnesse whereof these our Letters we have caused to be made Patents. Witnesse our selfe at London the 15. day of June, the 4th yeare of our Reigne.

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[Page]

This Charter was granted about the time the Clownes of Essex disbanded, and received theirs, it was brought into Hartfordshire to Saint Albanes by Wallingford one of the Towne; Illucescente die Veneris. Friday sayes Walsingham the day of tribulation, &c. (which was the 16 of June) the Townsmen of Saint Albanes being at the time of Matines acquainted by those of Barnet with the command of the Ordinance or Act for repairing to London presently with the Esquires of the Abbot set forth; So that I conceive the day of this Charter is mistaken in it by the Monke.

The Clownes throw down their Armes at the Kings feet, sue for mercy, and deliver up their chiefs; the principall of which▪ Priest Straw was after drawne from his hiding holes, and laid hold of by the Kings Officers. What became of them we shall see below, in the visitation made by the King, and his Ministers, through the Provinces in uproare.

The Commons of Kent now scatter and dissolve, the heads of the Archbishop, Lord Prior, and the rest, are taken down from the bridge, and the Idols advanced there▪ That Baal should now be taken in an old house is an errour of the Knights; Baal Froiss. so▪ must take his turn, but he shall have a longger [Page] runne for it. That the dagger should now be given in honour of Sir William Walworth as an addition to the City armes is Fabulous, this dagger is the Sword of St. Paul, and was borne by the City when Tyler was living.

The King now rides to Westminster where he gives God thankes for his deliverance, and presents his offering to the Virgin Mary, in her Chappell of the Piew, next he visits the Princesse mother in the Tower Royall, called the Queenes Wardrobe, and bids her rejoyce, for (sayes he) this day I have recovered mine heritage, the Realme of England near lost, the LordsFroiss. returne to their owne houses. The other Countries now in combustion, and upon their march to London, make halt, they were thunder-strucken at the disaster of the Idol, they hated the fortune not the wickednesse of that monster, And tarry to poure out those plagues at home, if they be not checked▪ which before they intended to carry farther off. The example and successe of the Idol had moved with many, but his invitation, and sollicitation by the Emissaries of this confederacy and spirit more. The Sectaries, or ringleaders of the hurden rustick raggamuffins in the severall Provinces of the association (while Tyler [Page] was thus busied in the chiefe seat of his new Dominions) promote the cause, and pursue the instructions of the Prince of Divells, they were all to tread his steps, as we shall finde in what followes.

I have before spoken of the Summons ofThe lewd prankes of the Clowns at Saint Albanes. the I of to fetch the bordering rogues into the Line of Communication▪ who were to serve as Auxiliaries onely, to strengthen Tyler, rather than to inrich themselves, and likely to be casheered, and cast off when he had perfected his Worke: amongst these rake hells were the Towns-men of Saint Albane with the Abbots servants shuffled in the throng of purpose to oversee and awe the Clownes from the new fangles of our fanaticks; These as is related, were sworne to the Ingagement at Heibury▪ whence they come to London, whither they are no sooner got, but the Towns men separate from the servants of the Monastery, and in St. Mary▪ bow▪ Church does their profane Conventicle consult how to make advantage of the tumult▪

And what pretences of revolt from their Lord Abbot would seem most faire, and taking. Here they make not the causes of their disobedience, they were hatched secretly amongst themselves, they deliberate how to perfect things, how to come [Page] to effects. The inlarging the bounds of their common▪ free fishing, hunting in certaine places, when they pleased, and Handmills, that the Baily of the Liberty shall no more meddle within the Precincts of the Towne, the revocation of Charters prejudiciall to the Free-borne Burgesses, cancelling the Bonds of their Fore-fathers made to Abbot Richard, are the Propositions first voted.

One, who would be wiser than the rest, perswades them not to attempt things rashly, and giddily, without authority, he tells them that Wat Tyler, Protectour and Captaine Generall of the Clownes was near, that the Protectour, was a righter of wrongs raised, and inspired by providence to redeeme the faithfull Commons fromWals. D [...]cem ri [...]aldorum, ut accepta ab [...]o potestate, &c. the thraldome of the wicked, At the suite of the godly party, sayes he, Tyler has accepted the Government, he is to govern the two Nations; The Supreame executive Power resides in him, from him (sayes he) and from the keepers of the liberties let us seek for remedy.

Let us make our addresses to him, let us seeke to his Highnesse for power, and Commission; This he said (as Walsingham writes) supposing a greater than Tyler should not be seene in the Kingdome, that [Page] Tylers greatnesse for the time to comeWals▪ would onely be eminent; That the Lawes of the Land (the most antient English, Saxon Lawes) would be of no force, of no validity, because the most of the Lawyers were already murthered, and the rest in their account not long lived, the Axes edge was turned towards them. He concludes, let us returne home, and in the puissance of Wat, and our selves, force the Abbot to reason; If he deny our requests, we will awe hm with burning and demolishing the Monastery, with killing the Monkes, we will threaten not to leave one stone upon another; Others conceive it more safe to petition the King (who might be spoken with by every man, and durst refuse nothing) for his Letters under the Privy Seale, commanding the Abbot, to restore to the Towns-men the rights, and Liberties which their ancestours injoyed in the time of King Henry the first, as if the English Church had beene lately indowed, the Monasteries founded, their Royalties, Liberties, Priviledges granted by the Norman Princes, than which nothing could be more false. The most Christian Saxon Kings of blessed memory, twelve of which died Martyrs of the Faith, ten shine glorious Starres in the Calender of Saints, were all [Page] nursing Fathers of the Church, scarcely was there one in the illustrious rolle, who gave not Lands and Possessions with Exemptions, and Immunities to the Church, who erected not Bishopricks, or Monasteries into which thirty of our crowned, heads, Kings▪ or Queenes entred, the superstition of the ages then ought not to blemish their Prety: The Mercian King Offa his Son E [...]gfryd. King Ethelred, King Edward, are the founders and donours of St. Albanes what King Henry the first did for the Towne I cannot say, nor how ample its Liberties were then, this is true, he confirmes the grants of the Saxon Princes, to the Monastery, and addes the NormanAll these grants end with horrible curses against Sacriledge. seale to strengthen the Saxon Crosses, this is all, but truth is not necessary in such uproares, the credulity of a light headed multitude is quickly abused, their duty and obedience easily corrupted without it.

To keepe our way; Both these Counsels are approved. William Greyndcob anWalsingh. Hinde, who had eaten the breade of the Monaftery for the most part of his life, is elected with others, and sent on this errand to the King▪ before whom he kneeles six times out of zeale to prevaile. This Lob too was made principall Prolocutor (sayes our Monk) or Speaker to the Idol: beforeWalsingh. [Page] whose sordid Excellency and his uncleane Councell he complaines of the grievous tyranny of the Abbot and Prior, (some few Monks are thrust in to make up the number) of the oppressures of the Commons, of withholding the wages of poor Labourers, the design was to rowze the Wolfe.

Tyler meant not to leave London, yet he promises, if need be, to send twenty thousand of the Saints, who shall not fail to shave the beards of the Abbot and the rest, which signified (in plain English) cutting off their heads.

The gracious Captaine Generall was yet more kind; he vowes, if it be convenient, to assist them in his owne person, He gives them directions and orders to governe themselves by, and makes their obedience here, a condition of his love. These Orders were generally injoyned by our English Mahomet, through all the Provinces of his Conquest, and were framed according to the Law of his bloody Alchoran. He sweares them to omit nothing either in his Commands or Doctrine. A servant of the Abbot, one of the spies upon the Townsmen, rides in full career to S. Albanes▪ and gives intelligence to the Abbie of the exploits of the New Masters at London. He tells them in what manner that dirt of a [Page] Captaine (Tyler) fullyed and polluted with the bloud of the Noblesse, had butchered the English Patriarch, and the Lord Treasurer. That London, the den of these ravenous beasts, falsly called The Chamber of her Kîngs, was likely now to become the Charne [...]house of Richard, and his Loyall vassals; That these Fiends, who would goe for Saints, and the onely good Patriots commit the acts of Theeves, and Murtherers, neither reverencing Religion nor Lawes: And that the Conquering French, who makes faire war, nay the barbarous Scot, broke out of the fastnesse of his owne Desart, mortall enemies of the Nation, could not spoile nor ruine with more cruelty and villanie. No Mercy, sayes he, (yeild who will upon mercy) no favour, no goodnesse can be expected from this rout of Wolves. He bids those pointed at, and named by Greyndcob to Tyler, shift for themselves, which they are not long in resolving of. The Prior, four Monks, and some of their servants, one part horsed, another on foot, fly for their lives, not assuring themselves till they got to Tynmouth, a Priory of this Monastery of Saint Albane in Northumberland, William Greyndcob, and William Cadindon a Baker, on Friday had hastened to S. Albanes, that they might make the honour [Page] of the atchievement theirs by first appearing in the action; these brag aloud of the prosperity of affaires, that they were no more drudges and slaves, but Lords for the time to come; that they had brought about great and wonderfull feats againstWals. ad diffiduci [...] dum. the Abbie; they propose, first to defie the Abbot, to renounce all amity and peace with him, then to breake downe his folds and gates in Fanconwood, Eywood, and hisSubcellerarii. other words, and to pull down the Underbowsers house, standing over against the Fish-market, and hindering the prospect of the Burgesses and Nobility of the Town, this is their owne style, a Nobility scarce to be parallel'd in the world discovered, unlesse we fetch in the Man- [...]aters of Brasil, who have neither Letters nor Lawes, acknowledge neither God nor Prince.

This night the first Seene of the Tragedie is acted; the next day, being Saturday, fatall to the Hangman Tyler; the upstart Nobility of Churls assemble and make Proclamation, That no man able to serve his Country, presume to sleight the Lieutenants of the Idol, but that every man furnish himself with such Arms as he can provide, to attend them the Lieutenants in his own defence. The Crew summoned are commanded [Page] to presse the Gentry for the service, and to cut off the heads of those who would not joyn with them, and sweare to be faithfull to them; beheading, burning houses, forfeiture of goods were menaced to all that would not assist the Forces raised by Tyler, and fight the Lords Battels, that is, for the Cause. This, sayes our Monke, was the charge of their Lord and Muster Wat, this was his Rubric of blood.

Next, with great pomp they march toCum magna pompa. Fanconwood; to levell the s [...]ps of their haste and night-worke, something they feared might be left whole, upon review when Root and Branch were pared and torne up, they retire.

The other Growtnolls of the Neighbourhood, subject to the distresse, or Siegniory of Saint Albane, wait for them; these were cited upon the same threats to meet, and promised belly-fulls, cart loads of Liberties. Now or never for the Liberty of the Subject, and the power of godlinesse. This supply swells them into huge hopes, it puffs them up. Greyndcob and Cadindon more haughty now than ever; Lead their Battaliaes, blustering with surly pride and disdaine, to the Gates of the Monastery, which with the same loftinesse they command the Porter to set open. Some of the [Page] company, friends of the house▪ had given private intelligence to the Abbots of the contrivances against him▪ who had instructed his servants how to carry themselves towards this tag and rag of Swaines, they observe them punctually.

That they may seeme pious in their entrance, they free the publique Malefactors out of the Abbots prison; but so that they should owe faith hereafter, and grace of the benefit to the Commons (a name the most honourable, and which must swallow up all things else) and inseparably stick to them. One of the offenders, whom they suppose unworthy of Liberty or life, (growne Judges and Executioners by the same inspiration and spirit) they behead on the ground before the Gates, then [...]ix his head upon the Pillory, roaring with that divelish cry they had learnt at London. This was plaine murther by the Law whatsoever this mans crime was, these Rogues were guilty in a most high nature, so that besides the basenesse of their condition, they were incapable of any jurisdiction by the antient foundamentall Lawes of England, as being Traitours, and out of the Kings faith; but to wave all [...]h [...]s by theseMir. 1 [...] ancient Lawes, every prisoner might demand Oyer, hearing of the Judges Commission▪ [Page] these villains had neither authority nor Commission, but from Tylers Sword, which was but a derivative of his usurpation. No act of which can be just, the foundation of his tyranny this way, in being just, and illegall at the first.

From the Idols first entrance no act of confirmation or grant was done (could any such act be done and valid) to establish or make a right, by the power which had that right to bestow, he asked for a Commission of life, and death, but was refused, and his arbitrary acts were onely a continuance of his intrusion, and of the violence upon which he began.

To fill up their tattered Regiments, their fellow Leaguers or Covenanters of Barnet, Luton, Watford, and the Townes round enter St. Albanes of the same Sacrilegious affection to the Abby, in all these Conspiracies the Church was the maine marke aimed at, about the carcasses of the Cathedralls and Abbies (they were now nothing else) did these vultures gather; in the same conjuncture of time enters Richard Wallingford, head borough or Constable of the place, who tarried at London for the Kings Letters of Manumission and Pardon, (which Greyndcob had been so earnest for) bearing the Kings Banner or Pennon of [Page] the Arms of S. George, being the red Cross before him, according to the fashion of the Clownes of London. The Commons hearing 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, and 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 [Page] 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 June, 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, [Page] 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 Helhounds, 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 doe equall 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 Antigonus armed to invade and seize the Cities, [Page] 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 [...]rue, 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 our very reason and common understanding; that we might grone under our miseries, with the feeling of beasts, but be Masters [Page] neither of sence nor language for a complaint.

It is time now that we of the Commonalty as you call and range us, should take ou [...] 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 [...]very 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 conqueredPer (que) [...]terum sonipes hic matris agendus. (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.

[Page]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 p [...]rly, but consent, which they looke he should be sudden in, if not we (sayes Wallingford) the L [...]eutenants, 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 [...]mplyedly the lie to Wallingford, they grant, but will not be denied. The Obligations and Charters which they require, are delivered them, which they burne in the Markerplace, neare the Crosse; This did not content them, they aske for an ancient Charter [Page] concerning the Towne Liberties, the capitall Letters of which (say they) were one of Gold, another of Azure; De azorio The Abbot prayes them to be satisfied for the time, he protests, they have all he has to give them, he knew of no more, yet he would make a search▪ and if any such deed could be found, it should faithfully be delivered to them; This too was the answer of the Covent, it was agreed that the Abbot should after dinner disclaime under his hand and seale in all things prejudiciall to their Liberty. In memory of an old suit betwixt Abbot Richard the first▪ and the Townsmen in the reig [...]es of William the second, and Henry the first, wherein the Townsmen were overthrown, were laid Milstones before the doore of the Locutorii. Parler. These John the Barber with others tooke away as a token of victory over the Law; these they break into small pieces▪ and distribute amongst the worthies, as the sacred Bread is given in the Eucharist.

Who could forbeare teares (sayes Walsingham)Wals. heavi [...]y bewailing these changes, to see servants command their Lords, who know not how to rule, nor how to pity. To see London (once the noble head of our Cities) become a [...]e for uncleane Swine. Who would not tremble to heare [Page] that the Archbishop and the Lord Treasurer should be offered vict [...]mes to wicked spirits, to the Kentish Idol, the Kentish Saturne or Moloch, and his Hob▪ goblings in the midst of the Kingdome. N [...]y (sayes he) whose heart would it not have wounded through to have seene the King of England, who of right for Majesty and dignity ought to precede all Kings in the World, out of feare of his head, observe the nods, and becks of these varlets, and the Nobility and Gently, mortified beasts, trampled on by these scullions, inslaved at their owne charge, lick up their dust.

After dinner, a sad dinner to the Monks, this merdaille, these stinka [...]ds, throng before the gates, and demand the Charter of Liberties, which the Abbot had promised them to seale, which was sent, and read to them in the thickest of the rout: If they please to accept it, (this was the Abbots Complement) he is ready to seale. They (resolved never to be pleased) with much scorne and pride answer by an Esquire of the Abbot▪ That the Abbot must appoint some Clerk of his to attend them with Ink and Parchment▪ Themselves would dictate, and after the Abbot and Covent should confirme what was done; when this humour was satisfied, The safety [Page] and peace of the Monastery and Monkes were as desperate as ever. The old Charter, which they will everlastingly believe concealed, mu [...] be produced, else they will buty the Covent in the ruines of the Cloysters.

This Charter did certainly (as they will have it) conteine all their an [...]ient Liberties and priviledges, and if this was true, there was no great reason it should be in the Abbots keeping.

Here the Abbot imployes the most honourable Esquires of the Countrey, as Mediatours to soften them, and offers (if they desire it) to say Masse before them next morning, and to sweare upon the SacramentSuper S [...] cramentuns. he should be about to take, with what Monkes they would name, that he kept from them no such Charter with his knowledge.

Make choice (sayes he) of what Liberties you can, you shall have my Charters drawne, they shall be granted you by it; I will seale you a reall Charter instead of a fantasticall one, never seene by you, no where to be had. The Abbot struggles in vaine against these waves, this Charter of their fancies they will have: Nor shall any other price redeeme the Monastery, they intended the subversion of the house, and [Page] wrangle thus crossely, that they might seeme to have some pretences to doe it, but because they had much businesse to goe about, and could not be here and there too, a truce was taken for that day, and many of these pure brethren betake themselves to other parts; some of them would not be prevailed with, the Bread and Ale of the Monastery brought forth to them in huge Fats, would not worke upon them to lay their fury, they stayed onely for a leading hand. Here an honest Burgesse interp [...]es, Ribaulds (sayes he) what is it you purpose?Ribaldi. most of you here [...]re forrainers of the Villages about, this is the most famous mischiefe which can be acted in this Countrey, this Beacon must set all on fire, and it is fit we, who are Burgesses and Free-men of this Towne should give the on-set: by this finenesse they are gained to quit the gates, and joyne to the assistance of their fellowlabourers. The rest of the day is spent by their united forces, in overthrowing of houses, clashing of vessells, and spoiling of goods according to the rule of Walter Quod did [...]rant. à Waltero. the false founder of the order. At night the Lieutenants make Proclamation under the Kings Banner, commanding strong Guards to be set about the Towne, that they may be assured against sur [...]rizes, and [Page] about the river Werlam, and Saint Germanes; making it losse of the head to any Monke▪ who should be found issuing from, or entring the Monastery that way, This was done to [...]et a trap for the Prior; and those who fled with him. They proclaimed also that whosoever could challenge any debts due to him from the Monastery, might put in his claim [...] (and little proofe should be neede [...]) the next day, and the Burgesses of the Towne, would discharge as far as the goods of the Monastery would reach; Much more was Magisterially throwne in, to sh [...]w a cast of the present power: which was no sooner done, but there appeares a Farmour of the Mannor of Kingsbury belonging to this Abbey, armed with his Sword and Buckler, this man was much in arreares for his Farme, and durst not peepe abroade from his lurking holes before these broyles, which hiding of himselfe he imputes now to the injustice, and c [...]u [...]l [...]y of the Prior, this chuffe demands one hundred Marks damages for the losses he had sustained in his absence, and threatens to burne the grange of Saint Peter, and Mannor-house of Kingsbury neare the Abby, if he be not repaired; twenty pounds he receives upon this demand, and goes away, swearing, he [Page] would freely give it back againe for the Priors head.

Saturday night passed with much perplexity to the Monkes, who were at their wits ends, and lifes too, (they could not hope better things) about the Charter, which was no where extant but in the [...]dodles of these cluster-fists. But day, and comfort broke out together upon them; Suddenly this overflow of pride, and arrogancy abated, their loftinesse fell, and their bristles were somewhat laid, very unpleasing rumours concerning the Army were spread, and the death of the Idol Tyrant Wals. foedae memoriae. Wat, of stinking memory was certainely knowne and divulged, and what was as stabbing, that the Citizens of London growne wise, and resolute, either out of loyalty (or which is the rather to be supposed experience of their new master) began now to owne their Prince, their naturall Lord unanimously, and to side with him against all seditious opposers of his Majesty, and the just rights and liberties of his people, which they saw like to perishWalsingh. together. Farther a Knight of the Court, seconds the report, and by proclamation in the Kings Name (now legall againe) commands this herd to keepe the Kings peace under forfeiture of life, and members from that houre.

[Page]The King now growne a Protectour againe of his Subjects, sends his Letters protectory to the Abbot in these words.

§

RIchard, &c. To all our Lieges, and Commons of Hartford &c. We pray, Charge, Command, streightly as we may, &c. by the faith and ligeances which to us yee owe, that to our Beloved in God, the Abbot of St. Albane, nor to our House and Monastery of the said place, of our Patronage, nor to none of the People, Monkes, nor others, nor to none of the goods of the said Monastery, &c▪ Yee suffer to be done, as much as in you lies any grievance, dammage, &c. Given under our Great Seale at our City of London, &c.

§

Though now these Carles were well cooled, yet ere the zeale was quite slakened, and the Clouds dispelled, which hovered weakely, and were likely to scatter with the next breath of winde, they conclude to perfect their building, which to the great nusance of this Monastery they had [Page] raised; Besides, the Lieutenants▪ or Major Generalls of Tyler, thought it a much unworthinesse to droope too soon, before those whom they had summoned in to piece up their deformed insurrection with so much bravery, and insolence. They continue and pursue their requests to the Abbot, but with lesse noise than formerly, the Abbot was advised by Letters from Sir Hugh Segrave, Lord Steward of the Houshold, and Sir Thomas Percy created after Earle of Worcester▪ to grant all things, assuring him these grants being thus forced from him would be voide in Law▪ and could not hurt his Monastery. The Abbots Chamber, the Chappell, all places are full of them, they give directions to the Abbots Clerke for their Charter of Liberties, which now they were contented to accept, but will have a Bond of one thousand pounds sterling for the delivering up theWals. [...]erlingorum▪ Charter unknowne, before the annunciation of the blessed Virgin next, if it can be found, if not, that the Abbot with his twelfth hand (an antient Saxon manner of purging or clearing the offender, where the offence was secret) with twelve of his chiefe Monkes should sweare, that he neither has nor detains any such Charter with his knowledge.

[Page]The Abbot agrees, he and the Covent Seale; But oh the miracle (not to be believed, nor understood without another upon our faith, and understanding) the Seale, in which the glorious Protomartyr Wals. was figured, three times together could not be pulled from the Wax, no sleight, no strength could doe it; To passe by the pious frauds▪ and dreames of Monkes; from thence the black-bands depart to the Market place, there at the Crosse they publish their new Acquisitions, the Charters of the King, and Abbot, with the Kings protection of the Monastery, which was but a counterfeit of their love. On Munday and Tuesday following the villeins of the Patrimony of our Protomartyr (as the others did in all places else imbroiled) exact of the Abbot deeds of manumission, and Liberty, according to the effect of the Royall Charter before, which Charter the Abbot recites, and confirmes.

From villeins these now conceive themselves Gentlemen of Welsh pedegree, descended of Princes, nay as our Monk, noble beyond the line and race of Kings, they are meere free-holders, hold onely of God and the Sunne, rather of the Sun, and club, and will neither performe their customes, and services, nor pay Rent. The common [Page] people, who are neither swayed by Religion or Honesty, stop and check themselves,Wals. not that they were contented, but because they could not, nay they durst not goe on to more.

The plague of this distemper was not onely epidemicall, but kept its dayes, on the fatall Saturday, fifty thousand Clownes, out of Suffolke, Essex, Cambridgeshire, the Isle of Elie (places miserably harrassed according to the former presidents) were incorporated by the jugling tricks of the Essexian impostors, sent out by the Fathers of disobedience, in the first conception of the ruffle to inveigle proselites to the Holy League. This was but an indigested Masse without shape or forme, Wraw not Straw (as sometimes he is called) a most lend Presbyter as Walsingham, or Priest, who came from London, the day before withS [...]leratiss. Presbyt. Orders from Tyler (who according to his owne establishment had the executive power) was imployed into those parts to lick and fashion the Monster. He with Robert Westbrome King of this Congregation, lead the tatter'd reformers from Mildenhall to St. Edmunds bury, where then stood a most glorious Monastery, and where their fellow scoundrells expected them, Wraw findes these choperloches good disciples, [Page] willing to learne, and quick of apprehension, so capable they understood his least signes. The same fren [...]ies are againe acted by other Lunaticks, the Lawyers or Apprentices of the Law (as the Monke) and their houses are the first objects of their spight, they doe not onely cut off them, but fire their nests. L [...]r John Cavendish chiefe Justice of the Kings Bench, who had beene one of the most able Serjeants of this Kings Grand-fathers Reigne, and was made chiefe Justice by him, they intercept, and behead. Orpheus Tracie, Nero the Romane, Belgabred the Brittaine, excellent in the sweetnesse of a voyce and skill of Song, with John of Cambridge Prior of Saint Edmunds lose their lives in the same manner, as they unluckily fell in to their hands.

The cause of the Priors death is made this; He was discreet, and managed the affaires of his Monastery faithfully, and diligently, he was taken neare Mildenhall, a Towne then belonging to Saint Edmund of the demaine of the Abby, the Vassalls, Hindes, Villeins, and bond-men of the house, sentenced him, murthered him by Vote; His body lay five dayes naked in the field unburied. In Saint Edmunds bury, these cut-throats compasse the Priors head [Page] round as in a procession, after they carry it upon a Lance to the pillory, where that and the chiefe Justices head, are advanced. Their next worke was the levelling a new house of the Priours. After they enter the Monastery, which they threaten to fire, unlesse John Lakinhethe Gardian of the temporalities of the Barony in the vacancy then were delivered to them, which the Towns-men mingled in the throng▪ put them upon: the Gardian stood amidst the croud unknown. This man out of piety to preserve the Monastery (it was piety then though it may be thought impiety now) discovers himselfe, he tells them he is the man they seeke, and askes what it is the Commons would have with him. They call him traitor (it was capitall to be called so, not to be so) drag him to the Market-place, and cut off his head, which is set upon the Pillory to keepe company with the Priors, and chiefe Justices.

Walter of Todington a Monke was sought for, they wanted his head, but he hid himselfe, and escaped. Our hacksters errant, of the round Table, Knights of industry, would be thought Generall redeemers, to take care of all menin distresse; For the Burgesses sake, they command the Monkes, (threatning them and their walls [Page] if they obey not) to deliver up all the obligations of the Towns-men for their good behaviour, all the antient Charters from the time of King Cnut the Founder any way concerning the liberties of the Town, besides they must grant and confirme by Charter the Liberties of the Towne, which could not be done in the vacancy (for so it was) Edmund of Brumfield Abbot in name, by provision of the Pope was a prisoner at Notingham, nor had any election beene since the death of Abbot John Brivole, and therefore the Jewels of the house are pawned to the Townsmen as a gage that Edmund of Brumfield (whom they would suppose Abbot, and whom they intended to set free) should Seale, which Jewels were a Crosse and Calice of Gold, with other things, exceeding in value one thousand pounds, these were restored againe in time of peace, but with much unwillingnesse. Upon the brute of the Idols mishap, and the suppression of his Legions at London, these Caterpillers dissolve of themselves, Wraw the Priest, Westbrome, & the rest of the capitall villeins in the generall audit, or doomesday for these hurliburlies, shall be called to a reckoning for their outrages. Cambridge suffered not a little in these uproars, the Towns-men [Page] with the Country peasants about confederated together, breake up the treasury of the University, tear and burn its Charters, they compell the Chancelour and Schollars under their common Seals to release to the Major and townsmen all rights and Liberties, all actions, and to be bound in 3000l, not to molest the Burgesses by suits of Law concerning these things for the time to come. The Mayor and Bailiffs were fetched up by writ to the next Parl▪ where the deeds were delivered up and Cancelled, the Liberties of the towne 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 begetting, 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. John Litster a Dyer of Norwich King of the Commons there, infuses zeale and daring into his Countrymen; he had composed out of his owne Empire, and the borders, an Army of fifty thousand Men. This upstart Kingling would not wholly move by example, he [Page] makes presidents o [...] his owne, and tramples not like a dull beast the road beaten by▪ others. He had heard what was done by the London Congregations, he had a stock of traditions from the Elders there, which he was able to improve; and although I know not how he could exceed the Idol with his councell, yet (so the Monk) exceede them he did, he presumed greater things.

Tyler lost his life before things were ripe, was watched and undermined by the King and Nobility, he could not spread his full sailes, else for his presumption he far out-goes Litster. Litster the Norfolke Devil begins with plunder and rapine (the onely way to flesh a young Rebellion.) The Malignants of the Kings party (the rich and peaceable goe under that notion) are made a prey, no place was safe, or priviledged. Plots were laid to get the Lord William of Ʋfford Earle of Suffolke, at his Minnor of Ʋfford 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 Garcion. of Sir Roger of Bois, with a Port-mantue behind him, riding by-waies, [Page] 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 inth [...]alled by this compulsion were the Lords Scales, and Morley, Sir John Brews, Sir Stephane of Hales, and Sir Robert of Salle, which last was no Gentleman borne, but as full of honour and loyalty as any man, Knighted by the Kings Grand-father for his valour, he was (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 firstime, had he not failed here, he had not fought against heaven, against providence, [Page] 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 publica calamities; the insolency of injust men is a prodigie of their ruine, and the incerteinty of things humane may teach us, that those we esteeme most established most assured, are not seldome soonest overthrowne, 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 [Page] [...] [Page] [...] [Page] their Prince into the next world; of Otho's P [...]aetorians, of the Sagunt [...]nes burning in their Cities flames. What can be [...]o 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- [...]erds vow to burne Norwich, unlesse this Knight will come out to th [...]m, which he does well mounted, and forsakes hi [...] Horse to please them. They seem to hono [...] [...]im highly, and offer him a faire Canto [...] [...] the new Common-wealth, if he will command their F [...]rces.

The faithfull Cavalier abhorred the prop [...]sition, and could not dissemble his dislike; He [...]el [...]s them he will not to his eternall dishonour renounce his Soveraigne, whom all good men obeyed, to [...]ngag [...] with the veryest p [...]fidious Traitors living, in their villanies. He attempts to Horse himselfe againe, bu [...] failes; It was Treason to speak against the Government.

Th [...] Commons grow [...]urious, they cry out Treason, against Treason and Rebellion: Thousands of hands are lifted up against him, as if they all moved by the same N [...]rves and Sinews; They hew him down, but he crushes some of them with his ruine; Whosoever stood within his reach, lost either [Page] Head Legs or Armes; He kils twelve of them, at leng [...]h avil [...]ein of his owne beats out his brains; Then doe the infernal Cu [...]s rush in with full mouthes, and mangle him to bits, 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 hi [...] Commands upon their knees who in all things imitates the state and pomp of Kings; Sir Stephen of Hales a Knight of honour carves before him, and tastes his M [...]ates, and Drinkes, the rest of the miserable Courtiers are imployed in their severall offices. But when the fame 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 John Brewes, with three of the confiding Commons, to obtaine Charters of manum [...]ssion, and pardon, with great summes of monies, (squeezed out of the Citizens or Norwich, under pretence of preserving the City from sl [...]ughter, fire and spoile, or as others raised by an ordinary tribute to Litster.) Which monies were sent for presents [Page] 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, stone and well armed; He had been at his Mannor of Burleigh neere Okaham, and there heard of the tumults in Norfolke, and was now hasting thither to see how things were carryed, with eight Lances onely in his company, and a few Archers. He charges the Lord Morley, and Sir John upon their Allegeance to tell him, whether any of the Commons (the Kings Traitors) were with them. They look upon the Bishop as a young rash man, and the awe of their 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 struck 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 him selfe in a gallant equipage, and as quickly reaches [Page] 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 S [...]rres observes, in affaires ofRaro simul bonam for [...]am cum bona me [...]te. Liv. 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 pernicious; 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 [Page] 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 righteous 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 Rare. 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 apparentNisi enim daemoniis pl [...]ni fuissent, nequaquam in destruct. sacr. Eccles. Chr. fi [...]i & regn [...] exterm [...]niii conspirass. 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. Schoolemasters 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 [Page] 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 Monke, (though busie he might be▪ we shall finde Sir John Old-castle, Lord Cobham, and others of Wycliffes disciples, rebells, and traitouts, too too busie in Henry the fifts beginning) Baal, and Straw, and Wraw were Priests of the Idol, and his Lieutenants, and might serve the turne to ioebroyle 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 owne, 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 lyes. 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. [...] [Page] 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, Ste [...]ling are condemned, and beheaded, Strawes head being set upon London bridge with Tylers; but Jack 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 honest Citizens to be at the charge of Masses 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, John was obstiuate 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 Black-heath, and sent for the King by our Captaine Generalls Order, we purposed to have massacred all the Nobility and Gentry with [Page] 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 these 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 Justice, and the Lawes of the Land, with infinite expressions and protestations of this kind. They might answer, The time was when all this [Page] 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 toSee Mag. Chart &c. See 25 H. 8. 1 Eliz. [...] Jac. 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 [Page] 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 Quib. subjec [...]i regul [...] ti, &c. should have beene (so Straw goes on,) none left more great, more strong, or more wise then our selves, then we had set up a Law of our owne forging, at our pleasure, by which our Subjects should have beene regulated. Necessary it was the old Law should be voted downe; It condemned them in every line. Then had we created us Kings, Tyler for Kent (a part too small for the Archtyrant) and others for other Shires; Here was to be Monarchy still, not evill in it selfe, but where it ought to be of right, onely the Family was to be changed, the antient Saxon Norman stemme, for an upstare dunghill brood of Vipers, Tyler to be [Page] advanced upon the ruines of Richard, the Cedar to be torne up, to make the Bramble roome enough, while any of the royall off spring had beene in being to claime the right, to have involved the miserable, perjured, foolish people in an everlasting civill Warre; never to have ceased while there had beene a veine of blood to run. The mainteinance of Tylers wrong, his usurpation (not to looke farther than the present World) would have beene more fatall then ten plagues. John addes, no man thwarted these ends of ours more than the Archbishop, therefore we hated him to death, and made all the hast possible to bring him to it.

In the evening of that Saturday in which Wat perished, because the poorer sort of the Londoners favoured us, we intended to have fired the City in foure places, and to have divided the spoyles (So the faithfull Citizens, as forward as they were, had at last paid for their love) he calls God to witnesse these truths. The confessions of many others of the ingagement agreed with this of Straw.

The Lawyers, and those (as one) whoStow. fled from the tyranny of the time, durst now show their faces. Here is tyranny of the rout, tyranny of a savage Clown their [Page] boute [...]eu; whose few dayes of cruell usurpation, were more bloody, more destroying then the yeares of any Caligula, any Nero, any Domitian whatsoever. A CivillSi [...]ur de l [...] Nové. Warre (sayes a noble Frenchman) makes more breaches, as to a Country, as to Manners, Lawes, and Men in six Moneths, then can be repaired in six yeares.

What then can be thought or said of those Monsters, who, against all ties of nature and piety, shall raise a desperate civill Warre, meerely with the intent to overthrow Religion, the Church, the Government, Lawes, and Humanity, out of a cursed divelish ambition to advance themselves (Tylers and Sons of the Earth before) to an height which God (as some love to speake) never called them to. For though power is of God, it is onely so when the comming to it is by lawfull meanes. He that ordaines the power, allowes, not the usurpation of it, Tyler had the power to doe mischiefe, the power of rebellion, the power which must have ruined the church & common wealth, but whether this be the power which Christians are to submit to, let the next Casuists judge.

The Septuagint translation of the Bible sayes of Abimelech, who slew his seaventy Brethren, (murder ushers usurpation in) [Page] He made himselfe King, by Tyranny. The Monk, who writes the lives of the Offa [...]s, speaking of Beormred the Mercian Usurper, has these words: In the same region of the Mercians, a certaine Tyranne rather destroying and dissipating the Nobility of the Realm, than ruling, &c. persecuting, banishing, &c. Lest any one, especially of the Royall Blood, should be advanced in his place, he vehemently feared. The thirty Ʋsurpers in the time of Gallienus are every where called Tyrannes. Paulus Diaconus writing of Valentine in the time of Valentinian, sayes, He was crushed in Britannie, before he could invade the Tyrannie; and of Maximus, that he was stout and valiant, and worthy of the Empire, had he not against the faith of his oath, raised himselfe per tyrannidem, by tyrannie. In other places, Eugenius, Gratian, Constance, Sebastian, created Tyrannes. The words Tyranne, and Tyrannie, and tyrannous partie, being used often by him, are ever opposed to just and Regall power, never used in any other sense. Widdrington, to the example of Athalia urged by Bellarmine againstApolog. 234. Kings, sayes she was no lawfull Queen, she had seized the Kingdome as an Usurpresse by Tyrannie, the Kingdome belonged to Joash, in whose right, and by whose power she was justly slaine—Our [Page] most learned Prelate Bishop Abbot of Salisbury Antilog. c. 3. tells the Cubs of Loyola, Athalia had snatched, had grasped, and held the kingdome with no right, no title, but by butchery, robbery, rapine, and forcible entry—and that she was thrown down and killed by the common bounden duty and faith of Subjects to their Prince. Baronius a Cardinal, that the Maccabees of Levi or house of the Assamoneans, may not be made Usurpers, matches them with the royall line of David, Apparat. else sayes he, absque labe tyrannidis, without the stain of Tyrannie, they could not meddle with the Kingdome. Rodolph Duke of Su [...] via or Suabenland set up for a false Emperour by that devilish Pope Hildebrand against the Emperour Hen. the IIII. is called by the Germanes a Tyranne upon this score. A full Tyrannie (sayes one of our Chiefe Justices, speaking of the Papall power in Church causes here) has two parts, without right to usurp, and inordinately to rule, and the Statute 28 of King Henry the 8. against the Papall Authority, calls it an usurped Tyranny, and the exercise of it a Robbery, and spoyling of the King, and his people.

The Statute 31 Henry 6. adjudging John Cade another Impe of Hell, and successour of Wat to be a traitour, whcih are the words [Page] of the title, and all his Indictments, and Acts to be voide, speakes thus; The most abominable Tyrannie, horrible, odious, and arrant false Traytour▪ John Cade, naming himselfe sometime Mortimer (he and Tyler had two Names) taking upon him Royall power, &c. by false, subtile, and imagined language, &c. Robbing, Stealing, and spoyling, &c. And that all his Tyranny. Acts, Fea [...]s, and false opinions, shall be voyded, and that all things depending thereof, &c. under the power of Tyranny, shall be likewise voide, &c. and that all Indictments in times comming in like case under power of Tyranny, Rebellion, &c. shall be voide in Law; and that all Petitions delivered to the King in his last Parliament, &c. against his minde, by him not agreed, shall be put in oblivion &c. as against God, and conscience, &c.

To proceed, The King, because all th [...]se risings were by the Ring leaders protested to be made for him and his Rights, and that the forces then raised, were raised by his Authority, and all their actions owned by him, issues out a Proclamation from London, to this effect.

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RIchard &c. To all and singular Sheriffes, Majors, Bayliffs, &c. of our County of N. &c. Because we are given to understand; That divers of our Subjects, who against our Peace, &c. have raised and in diverse Conventicles and Assemblies, &c. Do affirme, That they the said Assemblies, and Levies have made, and doe make by Our will and Authority, &c. We make knowne to all men, That such Levies, Assemblies, and Mischiefes, from Our Will and Authority have not proceeded (He addes) they were begun, and continued much to His displeasure and disgrace, to the prejudice of His Crowne, and dammage of the Realm. Wherefore he injoynes and commands, &c. To take the best care for the keeping of his Peace, & opposing of all such Levies with a strong hand: Farther, He commands every man to leave such Assemblies, and return home to his own house under penalty of forfeiture of Life, and Member, and all things forfeitable to the King, &c.

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These Clowns charge not the King to be transported Furiously, and Hostilely, to the destruction of the whole people, which can never happen, where the King is in his wits; But what is fully as mad, they will suppose him to Arme against his own life and power, against his own peace, and the peace of all that love him. This Proclamation put life into the Royalists, into all honest hearts, and dismayes as much the Rebels, yet after this the Essex Traitors, gather again at Byllericay near Hatfield Peverell, and send to the King, now at Waltham, to know whether he intends to make good his Grants of Liberties, and require to be made equal with their Lords, without being bound to any Suits of Court▪ view of Frank-pledge, only excepted twice the year.

The King and his Counsell are startled at this impudence: The King answers theWals. Agents, That if he did not look upon them as Messengers, he would hang them up: Return (sayes he) to your fellow Rebels, and tell them, Clowns they were, and are, and shall continue in their Bondage, not as hitherto, but far more basely trampled on. While we live▪ and rule this Kingdom, by Gods Will we will imploy all our Means and Power to keep you under: So that your misery shall frighten all [Page] villeins hereafter: And your posterity shall curse your memory. At the heels of the Messengers, the King sends his Unkle Thomas of Woodstock Earl of Buckingham, and Sir Thomas Piercy with a body of Horse to quell them. The Rebels were intrenched according to the manner of Litsters Camp, in the midst of Woods; Ten Lances of the Avant Currours rout them; the Lords, when they were come up, inclose the Woods round, five hundred are killed, eight hundred Horses for carriage taken, the broken remainders of the defeat escape to Colchester, a Town ever honest,Wals. and faithfull to the Prince, where the loyal Townsmen would not be gotten to stir; they sollicite the Townsmen (saies the Monk) with much intreaty, great threats, and many arguments; neither intreaties, nor threats, nor arguments would move them: From thence they get to Sudbury, making every where such Proclamations as of old they had used; where the Lord Fitzwalter (whose seat was at Woodham Walters in Essex) and Sir John Harlestone rush suddenly upon them, kill and take them: The King meaning to visite Essex in his own person, comes to Havering at the bou [...]e, a Mannour of his own domain, of the sacred Patrimony, and from thence to [Page] Chelmsford, where he appoints Sir Robert Tresilian chief Justice of his Bench of Pleas of the Crown, to sit and inquire of the Malefactours, and Troublers of the Country, and to punish the offendours according to the customs of the Realm, known, and visible.

Five hundred of these wretched peasants, who had no mercy for others heretofore,Wals. cast themselves down before the King bare footed, and with heads uncovered, implore his pardon, which he grants them, on condition, They discover the great Conspiratours, the Captain Rogues. The Jurors are charged by the chief Justices to carry themselves indifferently, and justly in their Verdicts, neither swayed by love, or hatred, to favour, or prosecute any man: Many upon the Evidence given in, and the finding of the Jury, were condemned to be drawn and hanged; nineteen of them were trussed upon one Gallowes. Heading had formerly been the execution of others in Essex, Kent, and London, because of the numbers of the guilty, which was now thought a death short of the demerits of the most foul and heynous offenders; Wherefore according to the custom of the Realm, It was decreed (sayes the Monk) that the Captains should be hanged.

[Page]The like was done in other Countries by the Justices in Commission, where the King was in person. Here the King with the advice of his Counsell, revokes his Letters Patents, the Charters granted to the Clowns: Although (so he speaks) we have have in the late detestable troubles, &c. manumised all the Commons, our Liege Subjects of our Shires, and them, &c. have freed from all bondage and service, &c. And also have pardoned the same, our Liege men and Subjects all Insurrections by Riding, Going, &c. And also all manner of Treasons, Felonies, Trespasses, and Extortions, &c. Notwithstanding for that the said Charters, were without mature deliberation, and unduly procured, &c. To the prejudice of us, and our Crown, of the Prelates, and great men of our Realm; as also to the disherison of holy English Church, and to the hurt and damage of the Common wealth, the said Letters we revoke, make void, and annull, &c. Yet our intention is such Grace upon every of our said Subjects to confer, though enormiously their Allegeance they have forfeited, &c. As shall be usefull to us, and our Realm.

The close commands to bring in to the King and his Councell all Charters of manumission, and pardon to be cancelled upon their faith and allegeance, and under [Page] forfeiture of all things forfeitable, &c. Witnesse our selfe at Chelmsford the 2. of July, and 5. year of our reign. False for the 4.

In the case of a Subject (and no reason Kings shall be more bound) every Act extorted by violence, and awe upon the Agent is voyd. In the time of Edward the third, two Thieves (which was the case here) force a Traveller to swear that hee will at a day appointed bring them a thousand pound; and threaten to kill him if he refuse their oath; He swears, and performs [...]4 E. 3. 14. what he had sworn; by advice of all the Justices these two were Indicted of Robbery, and the Court maintaines that the party was not bound by this Oath. Yet if this be denyed as unsafe, Violence, or Force, which strikes a just fear into any man makes any Contract voyd, say the Casuists.

Bishop Andrewes, that most learned [...]e [...]p. ad Apolog. Prelate, answers to the pretended resignation of King John, urged by Bellarmine, that what this King did, (if any such act was done) was done by force, and out of feare.

Widdrington, the most loyall of all Roman-CatholickAdmoni [...]. disp. dejur. [...]. l. 1. Priests, who writ much against the Gun-powder Jesuits, in defence [Page] of the right of Kings, against those Jesuits who would have cut off the King, the Royall Family, the Bishops of the English Catholick Church, the Nobility and Gentry, as their Letter speaks, with one blow, sayes of this Resignation, or Donation, if we may (so he) call it so, That it was not freely given. The Jesuites challenge the perpetuall dictature, or regency of the University of Pontamousson by Bull of Sixtus the fift, contrary to the Statutes of the foundation by Gregory the thirteenth. Were the Bull true (sayes Barclai [...]) yet it ougt not to be of force, because it was obtain'd presently after his Creation, when things are presumed to be rather extorted than obtained. Bodin denyes that a King deceived or forced can be bound by his grants. The justice of Contracts is that alone which binds. The distinction of Royall and Private acts is of more sound then strength, and answers not the injustice of the impulsive violence, which must be naturally vicious every where, and corrupt, and weaken the effects, and cannot be good and bad by changes, or as to this, or that. Grotius, who loves this distinction, in another place is positive, There must be Equality in all Contracts. He condemne all fear, or awe upon the person purposely [Page] moved for the contracts sake, and tels us out of Xenophon of those of Lacaedemon who annulled a sale of lands which the Elians had forced the owners to passe out of fear.

A Charter of King Henry the third imprisoned and forced, is said by Aldenham to be voyd upon th [...] reason, and I judge the justice of this revocation by the Law of England, by which, as our old Parliaments,Exil. Hug. le de Spencer pat. & fil. such force is Treason. The fruits of wch were here more justly plucked up than they were planted. He who gives up hi [...] 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, whoRei furtivae [...]terna authoritas esto. 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, [Page] fearing the much impoverishing thē 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 cnnsented to: The King grants him a Commission, and joyns with him Edward Benstude, Geofrey Stukely [...], and others of the Gently of that County.

The coming of these Commissioners was noysed at St. Albanes: The fi [...]rcest of the Clowns knowing what they had done was condemned by the Law, and not to be defended, but by force, which now they had not, began to shake and take fright, are plotting to get out of the way. Grindecob, Lieutenant of the late Idol, comforts them, he perswades to goe to Horse; Let us meet the Knight (sayes he) and see whether his looks promise Peace or not; if not, the Towns about us have engaged, they have associated, and are of our League, we are rich, and cannot want good fellows, who will assist us while our monies last: On St. Peters day this ill advised crue meets the Knight upon the Rode, who was ignorant of their resolutions, and conduct him [Page] honourably, according to their fashion to the Town: Sir Walter had with him fiftie Lances, and some Companies of Archers, listed at random, many of them being of the Churles, and confederates with them: The Knight cites the Towns-men and their Neighbours to appear before him in Derfold, to hear the pleasure and commands of the King; They fail not, There he tells them what Forces the King had assembled, how rigorously those of Essex were sentenced: That the King was highly incensed at the troubles and seditions of this place of which [...] was the Patron and Defender: That with great difficulty he had procured of the King a Commission, by which himself, and others, not Strangers or Enemies, but their Friends and Neighbours were authorised to do Justice in the Kings stead; he concludes, if they will appease the King, they must find out, and deliver up the beginners of these broyls, and make satisfaction to the Lord Abbot, an holy and a just man, for the wrong they had done him.

This many of the hearers approve, and promise to obey. The Knight charges a Jury to be made ready the next morning, and make what discovery they can, and gives the people leave to depart. Towards [Page] night he sends 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 Ignoramus, they can indict no man, accuse no man. Amongst all the sounder of these swine, there was not one who had been faithless and disloyal to his natural Liege Lord, not one breaker of his peace, not one who could appear so to them.

The Knight seems not to understand the falsnesse and cunning of these Hob-nail [...] perjured Juglers: He takes another way, and next requires them within a peremptory time to bring him the Charters which they had forced from the Monastery, they return after a short consultation, and in the Abbots chamb [...], 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 [Page] 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 Bowmen of Barnet, and Berkhamsted, make here so terrible a show nothing is done.

The Commissioners privately charge the Gentry, Constables, and Baylifs to seize in the night Greyncob, Cadindon, John the Barber, with some others, and to bring them to Hartford, whither themselves went in all haste, which was performed: The Esquires and servants of the Abby were sent with them to strengthen the company. This inrages the Townsmen afresh, they gather into Conventicles in the Woods, and Fields, so much frightful to the Monastery that the Abbot recalls his Esquires, lets 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 [Page] Worthy, are content to part with the Charters; But this Greyndcob (more foolhardy 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 and quiet slavery, let us live, or die with Liberty, in so generous, so honest a contention, it will be glorious to be overcome; whatsoever our feares are, worse we cannot be, than now we are about to make our selves; Successe too does not so often faile men as their owne industry and boldnesse; Feare not for me, nor trouble your selves at my dangers, I shall thinke my selfe more happy than our Lords, if they prosper, or their King, toPer tale Martyrium vi [...]ā finire. die a Martyr of the Cause, with the reputation of such a gallantry. Let such courage as would have hurryed you forward to all brave and signall mischiefs, had IS [...] Hertford [...]ae, Hesterno decollatus, &c. lost my head at Hartford, inslame your heavy sprights; Methinks I see the Heroe Tylers Ghost chiding our sluggish cowardice, and by the blazes of his fire-brands kindled in Hel, and waved by Fiends about [Page] his head, leade on to noble villanies.

Let dreaming Monks and Priests tremble at the aery sounds of God, and Saints; he who feares Thunder-bolts is a religious heartlesse Coxcombe, and shall never climb a Molehill. Thus our buskin'd Martyr swaggers, after the raptures put upon him by Walsingham; Greyndcobs stubbornnesse hardens on the Clownes, they now accuse themselves of basenesse, that they did not cut off the Knights Head, and naile it on the Pillory, to the terrour (say they) of all Judges, and false Justices. Greyndcob had raised spirits which he could not lay when he would.

Three dayes being expired, he is againe sent to Hartford Gaol, where hee heares news from his Brother, who mediated for him in the Court, not very pleasing, which he communicaces to his Townsmen. His intellig [...]ce was to this effect; That Rich: o [...] Beauchamp Earl of Warwick, and Sir Thomas Pe [...]cie with a thousand armed men were appointed to visit S. Albanes.

At this report the Rebels startle, they fall to new Treaties, offer the Charters and Bo [...]k, in which the old Pleas betwixt the Abby and the Town were recorded, with [...]00 l. for amends. The Booke is received, [Page] the rest put off till the next day. The Earl of Warwick sends onely excuses, he heard his own house was on fire, that the Clowns of his own Lordships were up, and hee leaves all things else to quel them. This raises the fallen courages of those of St. Albanes, they now laugh at their late fears, If the Commons, say they, must quit their right of Conquest, and surrender their Charters, yet will not we (the renowned Mechanicks) of St. Albanes be their president. And as in all tumults (which can never be observed too often) lying is necessary, and must not bee uselesse, whatsoever else is; They lay the blame of their obstinacy upon the Inhabitants of Barnet and Watford, who threaten (so they would have it believed) to burn their Town if they deliver up their Liberties.

Which Inhabitants of Barnet, and Watford had humbly surrendred theirs before, and submitted to the Kings mercy: Thus we find these Rebels of St. Albanes again swaggering in their old Rhodomontadoes. An Esquire of the Abbots acquaints the King with these turnings, who vows to sit personally in judgement upon these everlasting male-contents.

The Abbot full of pitty and charity, who [Page] had saved some of these enemies of his House from the Axe by intercession at London: continues his goodness still, he sollicites Sir Hugh Segrave, Steward of the Houshold, and others of his friends to mitigate the Kings displeasure, and hinder his journey thither, which was not in their power. Now again are the Townsmen dejected, and seek by all means to keep off the tempest which threatned them: They fee Sir William Croyser a Lawyer to make their defence, and mediate with the Abbot, where there was no danger: an agreement is concluded the day of the King's entry, by which they would bind the Abbot not to disclose them, or inform against them.

He promises (if they fail not in performance on their part) not to make any complaints to the King of them, that he would be a suiter for their peace if his prayers may be heard, but that here he cannot assure them, Pardons were Acts flowing meerly from the Kings Grace. No See 27 H. [...]. c. 24. man had any power or authoritie to pardon or remit treasons, &c. but the King; and whether he could prevail for them he knew not. This doubtfulness troubles them, it seems to call their innocency too much into [Page] question: They tell him, his good will wa [...] sufficient, and that as to what belonged to the Royal Dignity they should satisfie the King.

After Vespers the King made his entry into the Town, being met by the Abbot and Covent, the Bels rang aloud, and the Monks sang merrily his welcome: He was followed by some thousands of Bowmen, and Cavaliers. In this train was Sir Robert Tresilian Chief Justice of the Kings Bench, who the next day, being Saturday the 13. of July, and first of the Dog-dayes sate in judgement at the Moot-hall (saies Walsingham) at the Town-house.

Greyndcob, Cadindon and John the Barber are fetched from Hartford, and laid fast till Munday, against which time new Jurymen are chosen, and charged to be ready with their Verdicts: Prophet Baal, the Sergius of the new Alcaran, the Priest of the Idol, and his Calves, the Martin of the yoak, of pure discipline of the Eldership, was taken by the Townsmen of Coventry, brought to St. Albanes the day before, and this Saturday condemned by the Chief Justice to be Drawn Hanged, Beheaded, Imbowelled, and Quartered, which was done on the Munday following.

[Page]He confessed to the Bishop of London (to whose Christian Piety he ought the two last dayes of his life, which were begged for his repentance) that certaine hot, and powerfull Pastours of the Separation, Brethren of simple hearts, called by the Spirit (he named six or seven) had covenanted, and engaged to compass England and Wales round, as Itinerant Apostles to propagate the Gospel, beat down all abomination of the outward Man, Antichristian Hierarehy, and Tyranny of the Nimrods of the Earth, to cry up the great and holy Cause, and to spread the Law, Principles, and Heresies of Baal, which Disciples (saies this Rabbi) unlesse they be prevented, and taken off wil destroy the Realm in two years: Hee might have said, two moneths, and been believed, as to the Civility, Humanity, Order, and Honour (never intermitted but in the confusion of a barbarous, impious age) which made England glorious, they had been destroyed, and torn up in a less time. A few licentious ill Acts easily beget a custom, and an hundred ill customes quicklier grow and prevaile than one single good one, there is a proneness in unruly man to run into deboshments, and no wonder that the arrogant, missed, silly multitude capable of any ill impressions [Page] should deprave and disorder things, where all ties of restraint are loosened, nay, where disorders are not onely defended by the corrupt wits of hirelings, but bidden, strengthened by a Law, and Villainies made legal Acts.

Had the Idol King Tyler, with his Council not gone on too far in the way of extermination, but 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 [Page] 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 enterprise; there must be Justice in the quarrell, else there can be no true honour in the prosperity. Cato will love the conquered Common-wealth: Jugurtha'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 July (not of October, as VValsingham is mis-printed) The Chiefe Justice Tresilian calls before him the Jury for Inquiry, who faulter, and shamelesly 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.

[Page]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 affirmed 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, John 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 Abbot sometimes disobeyed, [Page] and hee shall bee well thanked for it.

No benefits can oblige some men: A true rugged churle can never be made fast, never bee tyed by any merit whatsoever: Nothing can soften him: See an unheard of shamelesness till then; These lazie, 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 safetie of his Monastery. The Abbot, as it is said, sent to Tyler, upon his ordinances some of the Town and Monastery, but to temporize, and secure himself. This is now supposed by the very Traytors indeed, Treason by Common Law and Statute against the King his naturall leige Lord. This having not the feare of God in his heart, &c. but being seduced by the instigation of the Devill, is compassing the death, &c. the deprivation and deposing of his Soveraign Lord from his Royal State, &c. (as such Indictments use to run) this must goe for levying VVar against our Lord the King, adhering to, comforting, and aiding his enemies by open fact; which are the words of the [...] Edw. 3. Statute of Treason, declarative of the Common Law.

[Page]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 w [...]ll free [Page] 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 seventh11 H▪ 7. 13 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 sh [...]pwrack, the rest are no happier for it; the insolent sight offends their eyes, they see the dirt of their owne ditches Lord it over them, and the body of them (perhaps) more de [...]pised 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 [Page] owne work had been done) quickly have chained up the Monster; he would have perched in the Kings sacred Oake; all the Forrest should have beene his, Bishopricks, Earledomes, nay the Kingdomes had been swallowed by him; instead of a just legall power by which the Kings acted, an arbitrary, boundlesse, unlimited power must have beene set up; instead of a fatherly royall Monarchy, a Tyrannie after the Turkish mode, a Monarchy seignioral; and had he brought in upon the fall of the Christian Faith and Worship, which must have followed his establishment, Circumcision, and the Creed of Mahomet: as the spirits of men were then debased, he must have been obeyed. All the Kings right (and more) must have been his; Sultan Tyler's Prerogative would have been found more grievous, more heavy, more killing than all the yokes and scorpions of our Kings; no man, when he went to sleep, could assure himself that one Law would be left next morning; the Ordinances of Tyler and his Council flew about in swarms, killing and rooting up the Laws: one Proclamation of this Tyrants was of force to blow up the ancient Foundation; enough to have made men mad, if ever they could wake, and understand: [Page] when the French had conquered Naples, the people looked for a Golden World, they thought their new Master would (as the King of Mexico's Oath used to say) do Justice to all men, make the Sun to shine, the Clouds to rain, the Earth to be fruitfull: They promise themselves Liberty, and that the accustomed Imposts of their former Kings of the House of Arragon should not onely be taken off, but the very word Gabelle driven out of the Kingdom, the [...] should be no such thing in nature left; but foolish dolts as they were, they found an alteration quickly, instead of a Court Cavalrie before (the new Masters ill established and assured, not daring to trust any thing) standing Armies were continually to be kept on foot, instead of one Tax, intolerable of late, they are oppressed with ten, their backs and shoulders crack under the load.

Upon this fancy of these abused Italians, sayes the Historian, This is the custome, for the most part of all people weary ever of the present condition, and inconsiderately gaping after a change, but they receive such wages of their fond and disorderly lightness.

The War undertaken against Lewis the 11 of France by the House of Burgundy, [Page] 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,Commen. the Weal publick was the least of the question, the Weal publick was turned to Weal particular, self seeking was the sum of the business. This has been the fashion of all Rebels hitherto, and will bee to the worlds end. After these proceedings the Hartfordshire men betwixt the ages of 15 and 60 present themselves according to command, and take the Oath of Allegiance; they are sworn too to unkennel and apprehend the late Incendiaries.

The King having now quieted the commotions removes to Berkhamsted eight miles from St. Albanes, a royal Castle then, [Page] and at Easthamsted where he hunts, is informed, That the bodies of the Traytors executed were taken down from the Gallows, hereupon he directs his Writ or Letter to the Bailies of St. Albanes, commanding them under penalty of forfeiting all things forfeitable to hang up again the said bodies now rotten, and stinking in Iron chains, which the Townsmen are forced to do with their own hands.

A Parliament sitting in May the fift year of this Kings Reign, John Wraw Priest of the Reformation at Mildenhall, and St. Edmundsbury was taken, and upon the Petition of the house of Commons to the King, judged to be drawn, and hanged. In the same Parliament too it was enacted, That wheresoever any Clowns by six or seven in a company kept suspicious Conventicles, the Kings good and faithfull Subjects should lay hold of them, and commit them Wals. Hypod. 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 [Page] their misdemeanours in the tumults. The Clowns now every where return'd to their old Obedience, and the winds were laid in all their quarter. Richard, a Prince born for troubles, shall be turmoiled with the Rebellions of his Peers and Parliaments, deposed and murthered by them, yet his memory shall be sacred, his Peers and Clowns shall dig for him in his grave, Posterity tooJul. Capitol. [...]farii improbi latron [...]. shall owe all things to his person. After the death of Maximinus a wicked bloody thief, a cruel tyrant, who invaded the Roman Empire, Capitolinus recites a gratulatory Letter written by Claudius Julianus a Consul to the Emperours Maximus and Balbinus, whom he calls Preservers and Redeemers of the Common wealth, there the Consul tels them they had restored to the Senate (the house of Lords) their ancient dignity, to the Romans their Laws, Equity, and Clemency abolished, their lives, their manners, their liberty, the hopes of succession to their heirs. He adds, they had freed the Provinces from the insatiable covetousness of tyrannes, no voice, language, no [...] wit can express (saies he) the publick happinesse.

King Richard restored to the Church and Universities their rights and possessions, to [Page] the Nobilitie their honour, to the Gentry their respect, to the Cities their free Trade, the plenty of his harvest to the industrious Countryman, Security, Peace, and Liberty to all Orders, what Prince could bestow greater benefits upon a people? he was the Stator, the Saviour of the Nation, a Nation not worthy of him, whose ingratefulness to his sacred head whose pe [...]idiousness 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.

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Information about this book

Title statement

The rustick rampant or rurall anarchy affronting monarchy : in the insurrection of VVat Tiler. / By J.C.

Cleveland, John, 1613-1658.

Edition statement

1658

Publication

Publisher

Text Creation Partnership,

Place of publication

Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) :

Date

2008-09 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1).

ID [DLPS]

A79967

ID [STC]

Wing C4699

ID [STC]

Thomason E2133_1

ID [STC]

ESTC R208339

ID [EEBO-CITATION]

99867296

ID [PROQUEST]

99867296

ID [VID]

119602

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Early English books online.

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(EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A79967)

Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 119602)

Images scanned from microfilm: (Thomason Tracts ; 243:E2133[1])

Source

— The rustick rampant or rurall anarchy affronting monarchy : in the insurrection of VVat Tiler. / By J.C., Cleveland, John, 1613-1658..

Extent

[14], 154 p.

Printed for F.C. and are to be sold at Westminster-Hall and the Royall Exchange,. London :: 1658.. (Engraved portrait on verso of first leaf.) (Annotation on Thomason copy: "June".) (Reproduction of the original in the British Library.)

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