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

This Charter was granted about the time the Clownes of Essex disbanded, and received theirs, it was brought into Hart∣fordshire to Saint Albanes by Wallingford one of the Towne; Friday sayes Wal∣singham the day of tribulation, &c. (which was the 16 of June) the Towns∣men 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 deli∣ver up their chiefs; the principall of which▪ Priest Straw was after drawne from his hi∣ding 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 Pro∣vinces 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 must take his turn, but he shall have a long∣ger

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 Ty∣ler was living.

The King now rides to Westminster where he gives God thankes for his de∣liverance, 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 War∣drobe, and bids her rejoyce, for (sayes he) this day I have recovered mine heritage, the Realme of England near lost, the Lords returne to their owne houses. 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 wic∣kednesse 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 suc∣cesse of the Idol had moved with many, but his invitation, and sollicitation by the Emissaries of this confederacy and spirit more. The Sectaries, or ringleaders of the hurden rustick raggamuffins in the severall Provinces of the association (while Tyler

was thus busied in the chiefe seat of his new Dominions) promote the cause, and pursue the instructions of the Prince of Di∣vells, they were all to tread his steps, as we shall finde in what followes.

I have before spoken of the Summons of the I of to fetch the bordering rogues in∣to 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 se∣parate 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 delibe∣rate how to perfect things, how to come

to effects. The inlarging the bounds of their common▪ free fishing, hunting in cer∣taine places, when they pleased, and Hand∣mills, that the Baily of the Liberty shall no more meddle within the Precincts of the Towne, the revocation of Charters preju∣diciall to the Free-borne Burgesses, cancel∣ling the Bonds of their Fore-fathers made to Abbot Richard, are the Propositions first voted.

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

Let us make our addresses to him, let us seeke to his Highnesse for power, and Commission; This he said (as Walsingham writes) supposing a greater than Tyler should not be seene in the Kingdome, that

Tylers greatnesse for the time to come would onely be eminent; 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 up∣on another; Others conceive it more safe to petition the King (who might be spoken with by every man, and durst refuse no∣thing) 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 Mo∣nasteries founded, their Royalties, Liber∣ties, 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

nursing Fathers of the Church, scarcely was there one in the illustrious rolle, who gave not Lands and Possessions with Ex∣emptions, and Immunities to the Church, who erected not Bishopricks, or Monaste∣ries into which thirty of our crowned, heads, Kings▪ or Queenes entred, the su∣perstition 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 am∣ple its Liberties were then, this is true, he confirmes the grants of the Saxon Princes, to the Monastery, and addes the Norman seale to strengthen the Saxon Crosses, this is all, but truth is not necessary in such up∣roares, the credulity of a light headed mul∣titude is quickly abused, their duty and obedience easily corrupted without it.

To keepe our way; Both these Coun∣sels are approved. William Greyndcob an Hinde, who had eaten the breade of the Monaftery for the most part of his life, is elected with others, and sent on this er∣rand 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: before

whose sordid Excellency and his uncleane Councell he complaines of the grievous ty∣ranny of the Abbot and Prior, (some few Monks are thrust in to make up the num∣ber) of the oppressures of the Commons, of withholding the wages of poor Labou∣rers, 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) cut∣ting 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 Or∣ders were generally injoyned by our En∣glish Mahomet, through all the Provinces of his Conquest, and were framed accor∣ding 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 Towns∣men, rides in full career to S. Albanes▪ and gives intelligence to the Abbie of the ex∣ploits of the New Masters at London. He tells them in what manner that dirt of a

Captaine (Tyler) fullyed and polluted with the bloud of the Noblesse, had butchered the English Patriarch, and the Lord Trea∣surer. That London, the den of these rave∣nous 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 Murthe∣rers, 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 cru∣elty and villanie. No Mercy, sayes he, (yeild who will upon mercy) no favour, no good∣nesse can be expected from this rout of Wolves. He bids those pointed at, and na∣med by Greyndcob to Tyler, shift for them∣selves, 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 Northumber∣land, William Greyndcob, and William Ca∣dindon a Baker, on Friday had hastened to S. Albanes, that they might make the ho∣nour

of the atchievement theirs by first ap∣pearing 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 against 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 his other words, and to pull down the Under∣bowsers 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 disco∣vered, 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 Trage∣die is acted; the next day, being Saturday, fatall to the Hangman Tyler; the upstart Nobility of Churls assemble and make Pro∣clamation, 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 com∣manded

to presse the Gentry for the ser∣vice, 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 rai∣sed 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 to 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 Neigh∣bourhood, subject to the distresse, or Sieg∣niory of Saint Albane, wait for them; these were cited upon the same threats to meet, and promised belly-fulls, cart loads of Li∣berties. 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 Bat∣taliaes, blustering with surly pride and dis∣daine, to the Gates of the Monastery, which with the same loftinesse they com∣mand the Porter to set open. Some of the

company, friends of the house▪ had given private intelligence to the Abbots of the contrivances against him▪ who had instru∣cted his servants how to carry themselves towards this tag and rag of Swaines, they observe them punctually.

That they may seeme pious in their en∣trance, 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 what∣soever 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 En∣gland, as being Traitours, and out of the Kings faith; but to wave all ••h••s by these ancient Lawes, every prisoner might de∣mand Oyer, hearing of the Judges Com∣mission▪

these villains had neither authority nor Commission, but from Tylers Sword, which was but a derivative of his usurpati∣on. No act of which can be just, the foun∣dation 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 Conspi∣racies the Church was the maine marke ai∣med at, about the carcasses of the Cathe∣dralls and Abbies (they were now nothing else) did these vultures gather; in the same conjuncture of time enters Richard Wal∣lingford, 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

the Arms of S. George, being the red Cross before him, according to the fashion of the Clownes of London. The Commons hea∣ring 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 sa∣cred 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 stink∣ing Knaves, these Hell-hounds were deter∣mined to murder the Monkes; and burne the Monastery if they had the repulse, and that there was no way of safety but to fall downe before these Baals, he yeilds. After he was come to the Church, and a short salutation past; Wallingford reaches out to him the Kings Letter or Writ (as Walsingham

calls it) in these words, as I have rendred them out of the barbarous French of that age.

BEloved in God, At the Petition of our loved Lieges of the Towne of St. Albane we will and command you, That certaine Charters being in your custody made by our Progenitour King Henry to the Burgesses and good Peo∣ple 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.

Notes

• Illucescen∣te die Veneris.
• Froiss. so▪
• Froiss.
• The lewd prankes of the Clowns at Saint Albanes.
• Wals. D••cem ri∣••aldorum, ut accepta ab ••o pote∣state, &c.
• Wals▪
• All these grants end with horri∣ble curses against Sa∣criledge.
• Walsingh.
• Walsingh.
• Wals. ad diffiduci••••••∣dum.
• Subcellera∣rii.
• Cum magna pompa.
• Mir. 1 〈…〉〈…〉