THE FIRST APPOINTMENT AT DONCASTER
The Duke of Norfolk was the most experienced general whose services were
available to Henry at this crisis, but the King was very reluctant to
trust him, as he was suspected of sympathy with the rebels. At the first
alarm Henry had sent for Norfolk, but it has already been shown how he
was superseded at the last moment by Suffolk[1118]. When the danger
again became pressing, however, Henry was obliged to face the risk of
employing him.
In order to understand how this came about, it is necessary to go back
to 9 October, when Norfolk was at Woolpit, mustering the men of Norfolk
and Suffolk. He was anxiously awaiting orders to go northward, and wrote
to Henry that he was willing to serve under the Duke of Suffolk. He
expected to have 2500 men under him in the course of a few days. As to
artillery, “I have my own five fawcons and twenty brass hakbushes, but
want gunners.” He was badly in need of bows and arrows, and begged that
they might be sent at once[1119]. Three hours after his letter was
despatched he received orders to ride to the King at Windsor, and he set
out the same night by moonlight[1120]. He had hardly reached Colchester
next morning, after a fifty mile ride, when despatches arrived ordering
him to be at Ampthill on 16 October with the troops which he had just
mustered. He was overjoyed at being ordered to the front at last, but in
spite of his professed willingness to serve under Suffolk he wrote to
Cromwell asking that his right as Marshal of England to command the
vanguard, should be recognised. For the rest he was all obedience and
loyalty; he would not fail; he himself would be at Ampthill, as such was
the King’s pleasure[1121]. But the troops would be obliged to go round
by Cambridge and Huntingdon. Ampthill was thirty miles south of
Huntingdon, and Norfolk knew that it was impossible for them to be there
on the appointed day[1122], but he was determined not to risk Henry’s
displeasure, and said nothing of his difficulties to the King. He sent
an account of his precautions for the quiet of the country, where he
left his son Thomas with 300 men, and begged that his eldest son the
Earl of Surrey might go with him[1123]. The beautiful and accomplished
Surrey seems to have been the only living creature whom the cold-blooded
old warrior really loved.
On Thursday 12 October the Duke of Norfolk was at home at Kenninghall,
and wrote to Cromwell that though the men could not be at Ampthill on
the 17th, he hoped to have them as far as Cambridge. From Cambridge to
Huntingdon was only twelve miles and “it were pity with ill-horsed men”
to go back thirty miles to Ampthill. If the King, whom he still expected
in person, would consent, Norfolk would meet him at Huntingdon on the
18th “with a company meet to be a pretty wing to a battle.” In spite of
his boast of their efficiency, Norfolk did not dare to ride to the King
until his men were well on their way, and if Surrey did not go with them
they were likely to dwindle in numbers[1124].
Norfolk was rather aggrieved that the King had commanded fewer gentlemen
to join his company than had gone with Suffolk[1125]. The reason of this
was that when the King received good news from Lincolnshire, he believed
that the rebellion was over[1126], and orders were actually sent out on
the 12th and 15th to countermand the Ampthill musters[1127]. In spite of
Norfolk’s complaint, the knights and abbots who had received the King’s
orders to join Norfolk were able to provide plenty of men, though they
lacked means to equip them. “If I had harness and time to carry footmen
I could bring three times as many,” Norfolk declared, and every letter
ends with an urgent request for “at least 400 bows and 500 sheaves of
arrows. This were better than gold or silver, for, for money, I cannot
get bows nor arrows.”[1128] He hoped these stores would be at Cambridge
when his men arrived there[1129].
On Sunday 15 October Norfolk was with the King at Windsor[1130]. On the
same day, Henry sent long instructions to Shrewsbury and Suffolk about
the arrangements to be made in Lincolnshire[1131]. If the rebellion in
Holderness was already pacified, they were to work together; if not,
Suffolk must advance to Lincoln, while Shrewsbury marched against the
Yorkshire insurgents. The King seems to have had no doubt that his force
would be large enough to settle their business[1132].
When Norfolk arrived at Windsor, he found that the Ampthill musters had
been countermanded, and that the King had given up all intention of
going north. There seemed nothing for him to do but to arrange for the
laying of posts[1133]. But on leaving Windsor that night he met a
messenger on the road with letters from Lord Darcy[1134]. These were the
letters dated from Pontefract on the 13th, and they proved so alarming
that Norfolk returned to Windsor[1135].
At last the King realised that the Yorkshire rebellion was not a mere
demonstration of sympathy with Lincolnshire, but an entirely distinct
and far more serious protest against his policy. He instantly changed
his plans. If the worst were true, Norfolk must be given a joint
commission with Shrewsbury to proceed against the rebels, and must take
command of the troops at Ampthill before they dispersed. The Marquis of
Exeter, who was also mustering men, was to be his second in
command[1136]. A postscript was added to Shrewsbury’s instructions to
inform him of this arrangement, and to direct him to suppress the
Yorkshire rising at once, if he was strong enough,—if not, to wait for
Norfolk, who would join him with 5000 men[1137].
The King, who had been reassured for a moment by the harmless end of the
Lincolnshire rising, was now really alarmed by the news from
Yorkshire[1138]. On 17 October Leonard Beckwith reached Windsor bringing
from York letters from the lord mayor and Sir George Lawson in which
they begged for protection against the rebels[1139]. Next day another
messenger arrived with letters from Darcy describing the serious state
of affairs. This man also carried by word of mouth a lengthy account of
the rebels and the rumours which circulated among them[1140]. Whether
because he repeated only what he knew would please the King, or because
anything which did not suit the royal mind was omitted in writing down
his report, these “bruits” contain no word of the rebels’ real demands,
but give as their only grievances the imaginary taxes on burials and
christenings, white bread and white meat, and so forth[1141].
The King “had no great trust in Darcy.” He was hard put to it to find
money for the troops under Shrewsbury, Suffolk, and Norfolk, and he
never seems even to have contemplated sending any money and stores to
Pontefract. Cromwell, who was in London, received orders from Windsor
“to make shift to the utmost” to get money, and if he could not raise
enough, to coin the King’s plate in the Jewel House[1142].
On 22 October it was known in London that Hull had surrendered, and it
was feared that many of the Lincolnshire captains would fly thither. The
King sent orders to Cromwell to “taste the fat priests thereabouts;” Dr
Chamber had already presented the King with 200 marks, and Dr Lupton had
given £200[1143].
The arrival of any news from the north was watched for with lynx eyes,
less because it was of so much interest to the government than because
the King lived in constant fear that the rebellion would spread
southward. For instance, when Harry Sais reached London safely without
the horses, he related his adventures to his master, Christopher
Askew[1144]. Askew had some interest in the little Benedictine nunnery
at Clementhorpe, York, which had lately been dissolved. The abbess had
promised him £30 to be her suitor to the Queen, and had offered to
present 300 marks to the Queen herself, if the house might stand. But it
had been dissolved in spite of the abbess’ efforts, and there the matter
had ended for the time. When the Pilgrims restored the scattered
sisterhood, the abbess sent word to Askew by Sais that she was again in
a position to bribe the Queen, and that if she could by this means
legalise her position, her brother-in-law, one of the Ellerkers, would
convey the money through the disturbed country. Askew informed the
Queen’s chancellor of this renewed offer, and through him it came to
Cromwell’s ears. On 26 October Askew and Sais were examined before the
Council. By this time it was “in every man’s mouth that Pontefract
Castle was given over.”[1145]
Meanwhile Norfolk set out from Windsor for Ampthill on Monday 16
October, authorised to muster 5000 men[1146]. At Amersham he received a
letter from his son Surrey, who had reached Cambridge with his forces on
Sunday night. About 9 o’clock letters had arrived at Cambridge for the
Duke, which Surrey had been instructed to open. They proved to be from
Cromwell and the Privy Council, announcing that Lincolnshire was quiet
again, and that the advance of the troops was therefore to be delayed
till further orders were received. Surrey dared not make this news
public, lest the men should disperse without waiting for definite
orders. After consulting only two friends, he decided to hold musters at
Cambridge next day, and wrote to his father for advice. Many of the
gentlemen in their zeal had sent two or three times as many men as they
had been commanded to provide, and Surrey was obliged to send for 1500
extra coats. These “liveries” may have been embroidered with the famous
white lion of the Howards, but more probably they were the ordinary
English uniform of that day, white tunics with St George’s red cross on
the back and breast. Food was so dear that the soldiers could not make
3_s._ 4_d._ keep them for two days, although this was an exceptionally
high wage, as 8_d._ a day was usual in most parts of the country. In
spite of these drawbacks, Surrey boasted that the company was “judged by
those here who have seen many musters the finest ever raised on such
short warrant.”[1147]
Many more men had been collected than the 5000 that Norfolk was
authorised to muster, for Exeter had at least 2000 and 1000 more were
coming from Gloucestershire. All Norfolk’s soldierly instincts protested
against dismissing men while the extent of the rising was still so
uncertain. He wrote to Henry to ask that he might be allowed to keep at
least 6000; even then nearly 2000 would have to be sent home[1148]. But
as no orders came to the contrary, the 2000 were dismissed when Norfolk
reached Ampthill[1149].
On Tuesday 17 October Suffolk with Fitzwilliam, Russell and the rest of
the royal troops entered Lincoln, and by securing the capital placed
themselves in a position to keep the county in subjection[1150]. The
Humber and the lower reaches of the Trent were guarded against the
Pilgrims’ crossing[1151].
On the same day Shrewsbury was at Newark with 7000 men[1152]. He had
heard from Darcy that the rebels were 40,000 strong. In spite of this he
was anxious to advance. He had just received the King’s commission to
act as his lieutenant in Yorkshire in conjunction with Norfolk[1153],
and he wrote to the Duke that if the rebels were really too strong to be
attacked, he would “keep them in play” until Norfolk could bring up his
5000 men to Doncaster, which Shrewsbury begged him to do as quickly as
possible[1154].
On Wednesday 18 October Shrewsbury sent Lord Hussey, who had brought him
200 horsemen, to the King[1155]. About midnight, when lying at
Southwell, the Earl received news that Pontefract Castle was besieged
and the Earl of Northumberland taken, and above all that the rebels were
before him at Doncaster, which had risen at their instigation. He sent
at once to Suffolk for as many horsemen as could be spared, under the
command of Fitzwilliam or Brian[1156].
Norfolk and Exeter received Shrewsbury’s letter of the 17th at 6 o’clock
in the evening of Wednesday 18 October. They were together at Ampthill
in no very enviable position. The 2000 men mustered there were only
waiting for their wages before disbanding. Norfolk’s own men were still
at Cambridge, Exeter’s at Buckingham, and the Gloucestershire gentlemen
at Stony Stratford, all obediently awaiting further orders, according to
their last instructions. Although there was no great difficulty in
ordering them to set out for Doncaster, uniting at various points on the
way, it would take them over a week to get there. They could not advance
more than 20 miles a day, as they were badly horsed and the roads were
deep in autumn mud. It was impossible to preserve order and discipline
on the march unless wages were regularly paid, but money was scarce and
went fast. The men could not feed their horses and themselves for 8_d._
a day, and the £10,000 which had been sent to the Duke was not enough to
pay off the disbanded company and also to provide for those going
northward. Norfolk was afraid to set out without money to last as far as
Doncaster, as an unpaid army might dissolve in the face of the rebels,
or advance only as a disorderly rabble[1157]. Shrewsbury had sent for
£20,000, and the King, expecting Norfolk and Exeter to reach him much
sooner than was practicable, wrote that they should receive their next
wages from Gostwick in Shrewsbury’s camp. As to the amount per day, the
King flatly refused to raise it.
The generals received this despatch early on Thursday 19 October. They
could not afford to delay any longer, but money must be obtained at
once. In their answer to the King they explained that they could not be
with Shrewsbury for a week or more. Let the King only lend them £1000
each and send it to Stamford on Saturday 21 October; they would repay
him at the end of the campaign. As it was the King’s pleasure that no
higher wages should be paid, the men should have only the ordinary
amount from the government. But they could not live on 8_d._ a day; they
were to be divided into companies (probably of 100 men) under captains,
and “if the men grudge upon reasonable ground for lack of money,”
Norfolk “will cause the captains to give them money out of their own
purses.” From this it is evident that it was almost as costly to fight
for the King as to fight against him[1158].
After sending off this despatch, Norfolk rode to his own company at
Cambridge, leaving Exeter at Ampthill to discharge the last of the 2000.
This was finally done on Friday 20 October, though Sir Anthony Browne,
who was collecting men for the Duke of Suffolk, secured 600 of the best
mounted. “The rest, being mostly horsed, made haste home to spare their
charges.” These men were “able and well furnished” and were very much
displeased at being dismissed, after all the trouble of attending the
musters, without having seen any fighting[1159]. But on Friday night
Norfolk at Cambridge, and Sir William Paulet and Sir William Kingston at
Beaconsfield, received imperative orders from the Council that they
should on no account dismiss any men. If some had gone already they must
be resummoned and sent to Suffolk under Sir Anthony Browne, with ten
pieces of ordnance[1160]. Norfolk promptly answered that the Ampthill
men could not be recovered. He must have felt a certain satisfaction in
making this reply, for he was very angry that the troops which had been
refused him should be granted to Suffolk. Sir Anthony Browne had secured
600 horsemen, and Norfolk marvelled that he should need such a large
number, unless there was a new outbreak in Lincolnshire. He added
bitterly, “I am apt to think that some desire great company more for
glory than necessity.” As for the munitions he was ordered to send to
Suffolk, he could not spare any. He had never even heard of the ten
pieces of ordnance he was now ordered to give up. What he had was his
own, and so small that it was carried in two carts. As to money, £2000
had been despatched to him, but he had only received £1200. More was
promised him in ten days, but “neither I nor my lord Marquis will be
able to keep our companies so long without money.” If he had not
unsparingly spent £1500 of his own “here would have been ill work. The
pension of France hath now done no hurt to me nor the King’s
affairs.”[1161] Sir William Paulet and Sir William Kingston returned to
Ampthill and did their best to produce the missing 2000 men, but
evidently they had little hope of success[1162]; in the end the attempt
was abandoned, after a brisk correspondence about the men and the
munitions for Suffolk had been carried on for some time[1163].
On Saturday 21 October “the Lord Privy Seal’s band” consisting of 200
horsemen under Richard Cotton joined Norfolk. The leader’s letter
describes the conditions under which the troops advanced:
“Pleaseth it your lordeship to be advertysed that according to your
commandement I have presented your company to my lorde of norffolk and
Mr browne the hoole nomber of them was cc. we be all apoynted to
attende upon Mr brownen who haith willed me to take like charge of
your lordshipes company like as yor lordshipe commanded me at my
departing frome you, which god willing there shalbe no defaulte in me
for wante of good will to do that thing that the kinges highness may
be truley served. And to the advauncement of your honore, by the
advice of Mr Browne I have retorned back xl of your company of such as
ware worste horsed, so that we ar nowe clx of as well-horsed men as
any ar in the company and no suche of no one manes brynging. There
were dyvers of essex men which ar tall men of person and good archers
to the nomber of xii which hade no sadles butt rode uppon panylles
after there countre facion which I thought was not to your honour. Soe
I have bought them sadles with other apperell for there horses
according as in my conceyte was meyte for your honour. Great murmer
and gruging there was amonges your lordshipes company by cause thay
thought the waiges of viiid by the day was to little to fynde them and
there horses. Soe as well as my pore witt will serve me I have
pacefied them with fare wordes soe that there is little said thereof
nowe emonges any of us. Your lordship haith here many of your houshold
servauntes which ar yonger brether and as I am privye unto have no
greate store of money; they be at your lordshipes horseyng; ether they
shall marre there horses for lacke of meat or elles make suche sheftes
for money that shall not stend well with your lordshipes honor. I
beseche your lordship to pardon me for wrytting this rudely and pleyne
unto you butt I se the thynges that is like to ensue that I can no
lesse doe if I shall do according as your lordship put me in trust,
but to advertyce you. I beseche your lordship that I may know your
pleasure in the premisses if it please you that I shall geve unto
every gentilman being a yonger brother asertyn [sum] which in my pore
oppenyon ware moche to your honour. Your pleasure knowen therein I
shall lay forthe the money of myne owen purse till wee retorne.
This berer William Jonson haith by mysfortune hurte his arme soe that
he is not able to goo in this vyage. I assure your lordship we shall
have agret lacke of hym in the company for he was a man that toke
moche payne in provyding of lodinge for all oure company. I trust your
lordshipe will take no displeasure with me for keping one of your
cokes here for we may ill spare hym emonges the company. This the holy
gost have you in hys costodye. Frome burne the xxi day of october
your dayly orator
Rychard Cotton.”[1164]
On 18 October the King had despatched letters to Shrewsbury by Thomas
Miller, Lancaster Herald, with orders that the Earl should advance on
the rebels immediately, “not doubting that they will seek to hide
themselves at your approach.”[1165] Shrewsbury was to send the herald to
the rebels with an enclosed proclamation. The effect of this mission has
already been told[1166].
In obedience to his orders, Shrewsbury advanced; but these orders were
issued in the mistaken belief that Norfolk would join him in a day or
two. On Saturday 21 October when Shrewsbury was as far north as
Scrooby[1167], Norfolk had only reached Cambridge and Exeter was still
further behind[1168]. The King was aware of Norfolk’s situation, but did
not know how far Shrewsbury had advanced. He wrote to Norfolk,
commending his intention of sending letters and proclamations to the
rebels, in order to pacify them, if possible, without a battle. He bade
him forward orders to Shrewsbury to guard the line of the Trent and hold
the bridges at Nottingham and Newark. Shrewsbury was to “settle himself
in such a strong place as he may keep without danger till Norfolk come
to him.” As soon as their forces were united, they were to wait together
on the Trent until the rebels either attempted a crossing or
dispersed[1169]. This admirable plan of campaign seems to have been
originally Norfolk’s own; unfortunately it was frustrated by
Shrewsbury’s advance. The line of the Don, which Shrewsbury proposed to
defend, had none of the advantages of the Trent. The river was smaller
and could easily be forded even in winter. The people on both banks
favoured the rebels; food was therefore hard to get, and the country was
barren, low and unhealthy.
At 6 o’clock in the morning of Monday 23 October Norfolk was at Newark
in great uneasiness of mind. Attended only by four servants, he had far
outridden his company, which could not be expected until the next day,
while Exeter would not arrive till the day after. The distance between
Newark and Doncaster was then called thirty miles, but by modern
reckoning it is nearer forty. Norfolk had already written to Shrewsbury,
imploring him on no account to risk a battle. If Shrewsbury should be
forced to fight and were defeated, the only chance of checking the
rebels was for Suffolk and himself to hold the bridges over the Trent.
He feared the result of Shrewsbury’s advance so much that he wrote to
ask the King to send orders that Suffolk must co-operate with him[1170].
For two nights Norfolk had had no rest, but now he indulged in three or
four hours’ sleep at Newark Castle. When he awoke, it was to find that
Lord Talbot had ridden in from his father’s camp. Shrewsbury was lying
on the south bank of a little river called Goole Dyke, about four miles
south of Doncaster, which he intended to enter by Rossington Bridge.
Lord Talbot’s news was good. Shrewsbury had no intention of fighting
until Norfolk joined him on Wednesday or Thursday; but he hoped he would
be able to advance from Doncaster before that, as his men were dying
“very sore of the sickness.” The rebels had made no attempt to win the
bridges at Doncaster and Rossington. It was “sore bruited” that they
would not fight at all. Many true subjects had enlisted under the King’s
banner. Sir Henry Saville had been among his tenants at Wakefield “and
brought much harness and men from them.” Sir Brian Hastings had left
Hatfield and brought in his “300 tall horsemen,” but Suffolk had not yet
sent the detachment which Shrewsbury needed as scouts and skirmishers.
So far Talbot was reporting what he knew to be true; in addition he had
heard rumours that Sir Richard Tempest had captured one of the rebel
leaders, and that Lord Dacre and Lord Scrope were marching south by way
of Skipton and Wakefield to join the King’s army. This rumour, however,
was unfounded, although Talbot believed it. Sir Richard Tempest was with
the rebels at Pontefract, and Lord Scrope was riding to their musters at
the head of the dalesmen, while Lord Dacre was lying neutral in Naworth
Castle[1171]. Lord Talbot also brought news of the surrender of
Pontefract, and hinted at his suspicions of Darcy’s loyalty. Pontefract
Castle, he said, was considered stronger than Newark, and Norfolk agreed
that Newark might be held against any force which had not heavy
ordnance,—“greater pieces than demi-culverins.”
Shrewsbury was evidently in as much danger of under-estimating the
rebels’ strength as Norfolk had been of over-estimating it. The news did
not entirely overcome Norfolk’s anxiety; he still feared “only two
things,—lack of victual and my lord Steward’s fighting before his
coming.” Talbot carried back Norfolk’s instructions as to how
Shrewsbury’s camp should be fortified and defended in case of a sudden
attack. Norfolk was in hopes that many of the rebels would come over to
him on hearing the letters and proclamations which he was about to send,
for ever since the victory of Flodden he had been more beloved in the
north than any other nobleman, a circumstance which had not escaped the
King’s jealous notice[1172].
The two armies, that of the Pilgrims and that of the King, were now in
touch with one another, and it is possible to follow their movements
simultaneously.
On Monday 23 October, when Lord Talbot was with Norfolk at Newark and
Shrewsbury’s forces lay at Rossington Bridge, the rebels continued their
advance from Pontefract. Gostwick, Shrewsbury’s treasurer, was at
Tickhill, south-west of Rossington, and from there he sent for Lawrence
Cook, the Prior of the White Friars at Doncaster, and ordered him to
cross the water and ride towards Pontefract to view the Pilgrims’ army,
bringing back word of their number and equipment. The prior secretly
sympathised with the Pilgrims, but, like many of his brethren, he was
much more afraid of the King. He went among the rebels in perfect safety
and even had an interview with Aske, either at Pontefract or somewhere
near it on the road south. The prior easily gathered what information he
needed and gave some in return. The captain asked if Shrewsbury’s men
were in Doncaster, and finding they had not even reached the town, still
less prepared it for defence, he said he would be there before them and
lie there that night. Perhaps he said this in the heat of the moment, or
he may have given a misleading account of his plans in order to hurry
Shrewsbury’s advance, for he was too able a leader to risk a battle with
a swollen river in his rear[1173]. Another reason for avoiding Doncaster
was the presence of the plague in the town; the Pilgrims seem to have
escaped the infection by keeping to the north of the river[1174]. The
prior told Aske that Gostwick expected a large sum of money from the
King. It arrived at Tickhill next day, and Aske sent to know if it had
come, but the prior, being then so much nearer the King’s forces,
assured the messenger untruly that it had not. After his inspection of
the rebels on Monday (or possibly the day before, as he gives no dates)
he returned quietly to Doncaster, and thence went to Shrewsbury and
reported what he had seen[1175].
On Monday Sir Thomas Percy and his 4000 men advanced from Wentbridge to
Hampole, about six miles away[1176], where he was joined by the forces
of the Bishopric and Richmondshire, under Lords Latimer, Lumley, and
Neville, Sir Thomas Hilton, and Robert Bowes[1177]. These companies
completed the “vaward,” which was altogether about 12,000 strong. They
encamped near “a little nunnery beside Robin Hood’s Cross.”[1178]
Next morning, Tuesday 24 October, Aske rode into the camp at Hampole,
and ordered a muster on the neighbouring heath “above Barnesdale.”[1179]
The men of the North and West Ridings, who had remained at Pontefract,
were now coming forward under Sir Robert Constable; they formed the
“middle ward.” The “rear ward,” composed of the men from Mashamshire and
the Dales, had not yet reached Pontefract[1180], and only the Archbishop
and Lord Darcy remained in the town with their own servants[1181]. They
had been left “for their ease,” and indeed Lee’s military ardour was not
such as to enable him to spend nights in the open among all the
discomforts of an autumn campaign; while Darcy was over eighty, and
though still vigorous in body and mind, suffered much from his old
wound. Nevertheless, when their absence became known at the muster, the
commons’ suspicion was aroused, and they held them “in great jealousy
and despair,” for what was considered lack of zeal, if not positive
unfaithfulness[1182].
It was perhaps at this time that Darcy suggested to Lee that the
Pilgrims’ oath and articles should be printed, in order that they might
circulate more freely and that their principles might be known. Lee
protested against this, as he did against every decided step, and the
matter was allowed to drop[1183]. It is an interesting question where
Darcy proposed to have the articles printed. To send them abroad would
have taken too long, as the printed copies were wanted at once. There
had formerly been a printing-press at York, and possibly one at
Beverley, but that was twenty years ago, and the press had long since
been removed[1184]. This difficulty may have had as much to do with the
abandonment of the scheme as the Archbishop’s remonstrances.
While the muster was being held at Barnesdale Heath on Tuesday,
Lancaster Herald was brought to Aske and delivered a letter to the rebel
leaders from Shrewsbury at Doncaster. It was read, and the captains held
a brief council before the host. They decided that Aske should ride to
Pontefract and consult Darcy as to their answer, and the captain
immediately set out, only pausing to appoint two gentlemen, Robert
Delariver and Anthony Brackenbury, to see to Miller’s comfort and
safety[1185]. The letter was one of those brought by Talbot from
Norfolk. The Duke suggested that much useless bloodshed might be
prevented if “four of the discreetest men of the north parts” came to
the lords at Doncaster and explained the causes of the rising. Hostages
would be given in pledge of their safety[1186].
There is no account of the considerations which affected the decision of
Aske and Darcy as to the answer. They were quite willing to treat; this
was the first occasion on which the King or his lieutenants had made any
inquiry as to the causes of their assembly, and such a tacit admission
that they were not in arms from mere wilfulness was a step forward. The
Pilgrims had always protested their loyalty to the King’s person. They
thought that he had been led astray by lowborn favourites, but, if he
would grant the petition of his faithful subjects, war was the last
thing that they desired. On the other hand, if he refused to redress
grievances which were felt by so large a part of his kingdom, his
subjects would be justified in using armed force to bring him to a more
reasonable frame of mind. Such was the attitude of the Pilgrims, and
they could not maintain it if they attacked the King’s army before their
petition had been presented, and consequently before they knew whether
the King would grant it or reject it. The pressing question during the
next few days was, were they to sacrifice this conditional loyalty and
use their advantage over Norfolk’s weakness?
It was a momentous problem which they had to solve. If they gave battle,
and failed, their cause was lost for ever; but if they won the immediate
result would be a civil war, and that a religious civil war, of all
forms of strife the bitterest and most cruel; it might be complicated by
a foreign invasion, which, in those days of England’s weakness, might
conceivably have led to conquest and annexation. The Pilgrims were not
blind to these possibilities. They declared that though they had taken
up arms to amend their own affairs, they would accept no help from
Scotland, and if an invasion was threatened during the time of
insurrection, they protested that they were as ready as ever to defend
the Borders. To plunge the country into war was a desperate step which
they had only contemplated as a possible last resource in the future.
Nevertheless their present situation was tempting; the King’s army was
before them, barring their road south, but scattered, unprovided,
fainthearted and entirely at their mercy. It was in their power to
strike a decisive blow—a blow from which the King’s party might never
recover. It is easy to guess what would have been the decision of a
Caesar or a Cromwell; but the Pilgrims had no such leader in their
ranks. Aske and Darcy were not world’s wonders, and they made their
choice as disinterested men, honestly desiring their country’s good,
were likely to do.
They determined to accept the Duke’s offer of a conference, but they did
not altogether trust him. They would not risk four of their leaders in
his host, but they proposed that four, six, eight, or twelve lords and
gentlemen from each side should meet at some place on neutral ground.
The northern gentlemen would then explain the grievances which had
forced them to rise, and would discuss these points and the best road to
a peaceful conclusion with the Duke and his companions[1187].
If this proposal were accepted, it would be well to have a clearer and
fuller set of articles than had yet been drawn up, and Aske applied to
the Archbishop for help as to the wording of the “spiritual articles.”
Lee had already been requested by various gentlemen to help them in this
matter, but he had not the smallest intention of doing anything so
imprudent. He first returned evasive answers, and when pressed said
testily, “that they had spun a fine thread if they made so great a
business and could not tell why.”[1188] He was very anxious to go home,
and Aske would probably have been glad to give him leave, for, though he
expected money and advice from high ecclesiastics, he did not encourage
them to march with the army[1189]; but the commons were in a suspicious
mood[1190], and Aske did not dare to return from Pontefract to Hampole
without both Darcy and Lee. The Archbishop’s servants told him that Aske
had threatened to “strike off his head” if Lee did not go to the field,
and “from that day he accounted himself a prisoner and went with Lord
Darcy.”[1191] Nevertheless the Pilgrims continued to believe that the
Archbishop sympathised with their cause[1192].
The vanguard returned from the muster to their camp at Hampole for the
night of Tuesday 24 October. The weather was bad, and early next
morning, as the men crouched over their smoking camp fires, cooking
their rations as best they could, a little troop of about thirty
horsemen from Doncaster appeared, which hovered round the camp,
examining their numbers and position[1193]. When no one could strike an
enemy beyond longbow range, warfare was a very intimate and personal
affair. It does not seem that much notice was taken of the reconnoitring
party, until they chanced upon a couple of stragglers from the Pilgrims’
camp, doubtless in search of stray poultry; the King’s men seized these
two, made them fast and began their retreat[1194]. The shouts of their
captured comrades roused the Pilgrims, “all men ran to their horses,”
and after a hot pursuit the King’s men were obliged to let their
prisoners go and hasten their own retreat[1195]. The whole camp was in
commotion, every man who could get to his horse joining in the chase.
Stapleton was among the first, who never paused till they reached the
top of Scawby Hill. Before them lay the valley of the Don; the thirty
horsemen, undiminished, were making for the bridge at the gallop.
Inflamed by the sight of a flying foe, the Pilgrims looked upon
Doncaster as absurdly near and unprotected. There was a general cry to
surprise the town by a sudden attack. Wild and disordered as the
pursuers were, an attempt so utterly unexpected might have perhaps been
successful. But Stapleton thought the risk too great, and riding along
the ragged front of the company, he succeeded by commands, entreaties
and reasonings in turning them from their purpose[1196].
Other skirmishes took place in the two or three days during which the
armies lay facing one another. One was doubly interesting as it
concerned the badge of the Five Wounds, and caused the only known
casualty among the Pilgrims. “Mr Bowes scrimmaged with his company with
the scoriers (scouts) of the Duke of Norfolk’s host, and there one of Mr
Bowes’ own servants ran at another of his own fellows, because he had a
cross on his back, and weened he had been on the party of the Duke of
Norfolk’s host, and there with a spear killed his own fellow. And for
that chance then was there a cry for all men to have the badge of I H S
or the Five Wounds on him both before and ’hind them. And there, to his
(Aske’s) knowledge, was all the men that was slain or hurt of either
party, during all the time of business.”[1197] The unlucky Durham man
must have put on his white coat with St George’s cross, which he would
be accustomed to wear at the King’s musters.
On Wednesday 25 October Aske, Darcy and the Archbishop left Pontefract,
and came to Hampole, overtaking on the way Sir Robert Constable and the
middle ward, who had probably lain at Wentbridge the night before. The
rear ward seem to have reached Pontefract and taken up their quarters
there either this day or Thursday[1198]. Lancaster Herald was brought to
the captain by the two in whose charge he was left, and he was
despatched to Doncaster with the message that the Pilgrims were willing
to arrange a conference[1199].
The vanguard had gone forward to Pickburn, about a mile nearer to
Doncaster than Hampole, where the middle ward now occupied their old
camp. The little nunnery had been converted into headquarters for Lord
Darcy and the gentlemen of his division. A dry resting-place was very
desirable “for there was a sore rain, which raised the waters,
especially the Don,” and “the people were lodged in woods and
villages.”[1200] Aske sent out only skirmishers on “scoutwatch,” as it
was called; these were Bishopric men, who, like all Borderers, were
particularly expert at this open, individual kind of fighting. There
were no scouts born and bred to the work in the King’s host, and the
Pilgrims had the best of it in the various little brushes which took
place, the redcross men who showed themselves on the north bank of the
river being promptly encountered and forced to take refuge with their
own people across the bridge.
While Lord Darcy, the Archbishop and Sir Robert Constable were taking up
their quarters at Hampole, Aske rode on to Pickburn to hear the reports
of the scouts and spies as they came in, and to take counsel with the
commanders of the vanguard. In the evening Lancaster Herald returned to
the Pilgrims’ camp with further messages from Shrewsbury. He brought,
not an answer to their last proposal, but an exhortation to the rebels
prepared by Norfolk some days before, which bade them either humbly
submit themselves to the King’s mercy as ungrateful traitors, or make
ready to abide danger by battle, to be given them by the Duke “in place
convenient.”[1201] Shrewsbury must simply have sent it on as soon as it
arrived without considering how far the negotiations had already
advanced. It was particularly irritating to the Pilgrims, as it appeared
to be a deliberate set-back to all schemes for a peaceful settlement.
A long debate followed the reading of the letters. The insurgent leaders
knew that their numbers were overwhelming. Shrewsbury could not muster,
at the highest estimate, 8000 men at Doncaster. Most of his army were at
Scrooby; Norfolk and Exeter at places even further south[1202]. Such
cavalry as he had were ill-horsed; many, “every third man,” according to
rumour, were with the Pilgrims at heart[1203]; the rest were “faint” and
without enthusiasm; such as did not desert outright were not likely to
give much trouble if attacked with vigour[1204]. Aske’s scouts brought
him word as to where every company of the enemy was quartered, and how
the bridge was defended and guarded; no muster could take place on the
south bank without his knowledge. In contrast to Shrewsbury’s troops,
the Pilgrims were at least thirty thousand strong; they were “as tall
men, well-horsed and well appointed, as any men could be.” Every witness
attests their devotion to their cause. “There were neither gentlemen nor
commons willing to depart, but to proceed in the quarrel; yea, and that
to the death.”[1205] In these circumstances the leaders naturally
resented Norfolk’s haughty and final tone, as if he had command of the
situation. The Durham lords were ready to accept the new messages as a
sign that all further negotiations were broken off; they advised that
the challenge should be accepted, and that the attack should be made at
once[1206]. There was little to fear as to the issue. Norfolk afterwards
declared that Doncaster was in the greatest danger “if the rebels had
taken their advantage like men of war.” As soon as the rain ceased and
the waters of the Don fell, Shrewsbury’s position would be quite
untenable[1207].
Aske, however, headed a party in the council which favoured moderate
measures[1208]. He pointed out that they had assembled for the very
purpose of laying their grievances before the King for remedy. There was
no shame in discussing their petition with the King’s lieutenant; it was
only another step on their Pilgrimage[1209]. Norfolk, Shrewsbury, and
the other lords of the old noble blood were the very men that the
Pilgrims were suggesting as more suitable counsellors for the King than
his lowborn favourites; the lords had probably more sympathy for the
rebels’ demands than they dared to show. It was bad policy to attack
those most able to further the petition at court, where the Pilgrims had
little influence. Whatever the result of a pitched battle, it would make
a civil war inevitable. Even though the Pilgrims were successful at
first, the King might prove the stronger in the end, and all the nobles
and gentlemen of the northern counties would be “attainted, slain and
undone, and the country made a waste for the Scots.”[1210]
Darcy was in favour of negotiating for another reason. In his opinion
“it were better (to) have garrison war than hosting war in time of
winter.”[1211] The Pilgrims were not hampered by the bad weather to the
same extent as the royal troops. They were advancing at their leisure,
without ordnance, and they were well supplied with food and fuel from a
base not a dozen miles away. Nevertheless a truce would give them time
to organise and develop. They would be able to determine on the best
places to hold, and to provide for their defence in case the petitions
were refused. They might possibly receive money and encouragement from
the Pope. Above all, the leaders could trust the commons not to lose
heart during a short truce. All were steadfastly determined to fight if
the King would not listen to them[1212]. Of course the King would
equally be able to strengthen himself; but the Pilgrims trusted a good
deal to the secret assurances of sympathy which they received from the
midland and southern shires. The King might summon a larger army, he was
not likely to raise one any more loyal.
In brief Aske and those who thought with him “feared not the royal
troops though they were 40,000,” but they did not desire civil war.
Their one aim was certain political and religious reforms, and they
endeavoured to bring their object to pass in as constitutional a manner
as was then possible. They would lose little or nothing by consenting to
negotiate for a truce; they might gain much; at least they would
preserve their consistency.
These were the chief considerations which Aske laid before the council.
The earlier ones are stated in his own writings, while the later may be
gathered from the circumstances. His arguments convinced the lords and
gentlemen. They decided that they were strong enough to treat, and that
they would accept Norfolk’s first offer, not his second. Lancaster
Herald was again despatched with the message that four gentlemen would
come, upon due pledges, to speak with the Duke next day. Robert Bowes,
who was to be one of the four, set out at once with Aske for Hampole to
announce the arrangement to Darcy and Constable[1213].
None of the leaders entirely trusted the Duke. They thought that he
would not “dishonour himself by making a night attack—a kind of battle
seldom heard of, especially at that season, being November,”[1214] but
they were quite prepared for such an infringement of military etiquette.
The first question that Darcy asked Bowes was “who was that night in
scoutwatch?” This being satisfactorily answered, they discussed the
details of the meeting next day, and also what their tactics should be
in case of battle[1215]. It was not improbable that no peaceful
settlement would be concluded, and in that case they would be able to
make the most of their present advantage after having done their best to
avoid war.
On the night of Wednesday 25 October Norfolk, with Surrey and about
thirty gentlemen and servants, lay at Welbeck. His men, ordnance and
artillery, were at Tuxford, while Exeter had reached Nottingham with
only part of his company. At midnight Norfolk was roused by the arrival
of posts from the north, who brought the news that Shrewsbury had
arranged to treat with the rebels, and that the Duke’s presence at
Doncaster was urgently required.
The letter which he wrote to the King before setting out shows that the
Pilgrims did him no injustice when they suspected his intentions:
“Sir havyng this present hour receyved the lettre herin closed and
never hard one worde fro my lord steward but this sith Monday last at
v in the morning not with standyng dyvers sent fro me to hym to know
of his newes, I being in bed and not a slepe accompanyed with suche as
be named in a sedul herin closed, I have taken my horse only
accompanyd with my brother William and Sir richard page, Sir arthur
darcy and iiii of my servants to ryde towards my lord steward
accordyng to his desire, not knowyng wher th’ enemys be nor of what
nomber, nor no thyng more than is conteyned in their letter, wherin I
am so far priked that what so ever shalbe the sequell I shall not so
spare the litle poure carkes that for any ease or danger other men
shall have cause to obiect any lageousnes in me and Sir most humble I
besech you to take in gode part what so ever promes I shall make unto
the rebells (if any suche I shall by th’ advyse of others make) for
sewerly I shall observe no part theroff for any respect of that other
myght call myn honour distayned langer than I and my company with my
lord marquess may be assembled to gyder, thynkyng and repewting that
none oth nor promes made for polecy to serve you myn only master and
soverayne can destayne me who shall rather be torne in a myllion of
peces then to show one poynt of cowardise or untrouth to your maieste.
Sir I trust the sendyng for me is ment to gode purpose and if it
chaunse to me to myscary most noble and gracious Master be gode to my
sonnys and to my poure doghter. And if my lord steward had not
advansed fro trent unto my comyng and that then I myght have folowed
th’ effect of my letter wryten you from Cambrige these traytors with
ease myght have be[en] subdewed. I pray god that hap torne not to
moche hurt. In hast at Welbek xiiii myles fro dancaster at xii at
nyght.
Yr most humble servant
T. Norffolk.”[1216]
At one or two o’clock on the morning of Thursday 26 October Norfolk
reached Doncaster in answer to Shrewsbury’s summons. He came in the
greatest anxiety, offering to sacrifice his honour to his loyalty, but,
considering how closely his political aims resembled those of the rebels
it is probable that he was only partly sincere in this. He may have
intended double-dealing with the King as well as the enemy—soothing
Henry’s anger by assurances of the piecrust nature of his promises,
while he secretly hoped that the King would not dare to set aside terms
made openly in his name. Henry at least suspected this, but however true
it might be the state of affairs at Doncaster must have convinced the
most eager general that it was wise to treat rather than to fight. Lack
of food, fuel and shelter, scanty wages and disease were rapidly sapping
the feeble loyalty of Shrewsbury’s men. If Norfolk did not really see
and believe the position to be desperate, he still reported it so, and
eagerly as the King expected and demanded more favourable tidings, none
of the royal officers attempted to modify the Duke’s gloomy
reports[1217].
At dawn a great muster was proclaimed in the Pilgrims’ host. The
vanguard came forward from Pickburn and the middleward from Hampole.
After the morning had fully come, “the whole host appeared at the
Stowping Sise before Doncaster.”[1218] Stowping Sise and Scawsby
Lease[1219], which is also mentioned as the mustering place, are
different parts of the plain on the north bank of the Don.
With spirits quite undamped by the wet night, company after company
filed past and took its place in the ranks behind St Cuthbert’s crimson
and silver standard and the Pilgrimage banner of the Five Wounds of
Christ, which device every man wore in miniature on his breast and back.
All “the flower of the north” were there[1220]. The captains spurred up
and down, striving to bring their men into good array; and the companies
engaged in friendly rivalry, each trying to excel its neighbours in
order and discipline. Experience and popularity both proved useful in
this matter; Darcy, Sir Robert Constable, Sir Ralph Ellerker, Robert
Bowes, and Roger Lassells marshalled the smartest companies[1221].
Priests and friars moved along the lines, commending and encouraging the
soldiers; no man, they said, should fear to die in defence of the Faith,
with the sign of Christ’s Passion over his heart[1222]. Perhaps the
ranks chanted the hymn made for the Pilgrims by the monks of Sawley. It
is well fitted for a marching song, and there is a certain charm,
between quaintness and wildness, in the irregular lines, which are at
least simple and sincere:
“God that rights all
Redress now shall
And what is thrall
Again make free,
By this voyage
And Pilgrimage
Of young and sage
In this country.
Whom God grant grace!
And for the space
Of this their trace
Send them good speed,
With health, wealth and speed—
Of sins release
And joy endless
When they be dead[1223].”
It is a relief to find that the vicar of Brayton was not with the host.
That disreputable person had gone quietly home, after he had secured, at
the spoiling of Sir Brian Hastings’ house, fifteen head of cattle and at
least £3 worth of goods[1224].
It is impossible to give the exact number of the Pilgrims. Aske, who was
in the best position to know, twice stated that there were 30,000 men or
more at the muster, divided into vanguard and middleward, and that the
rearward at Pontefract were 12,000 strong; but even Aske probably had
not very definite information[1225]. The only other witness who gave
figures was Marmaduke Neville, a captain of the Bishopric, who stated
that there were 28,000 at the muster and 12,000 at Pontefract[1226].
There is no doubt that, even if the rearward was not 12,000 strong, it
was believed to be so in the forward host. Allowing the same number for
the vanguard and middleward, there would be 24,000 at the muster, and
36,000 men would be the total number of Pilgrims assembled in arms under
Aske’s direct command. The numbers are large, considering that only
Yorkshire and Durham had sent men, that, as the leaders declared, every
man was efficiently if roughly armed and provided with 20_s._, and that
the greater part were horsed. It is possible that their strength was
greatly overestimated.
The vanward was composed of all the men from the Bishopric of Durham,
under the command of Lords Lumley, Neville and Latimer and Sir Thomas
Hilton, and the men of Cleveland and part of Richmondshire under Sir
Thomas Percy and Robert Bowes; in the middleward were the men of the
East and West Ridings, and of the Ainstey of York, with almost all the
knights and gentlemen or their eldest sons from those parts, under the
command of Sir Robert Constable and Lord Darcy. These forces completed
the muster at Stowping Sise. The rearward at Pontefract included the
western parts of Richmondshire, together with the men from Masham,
Ripon, Kirkbyshire, Wensleydale, Fendale and Netherdale, under the
command of Lord Scrope, Sir Christopher Danby, Sir William Mallory, the
Nortons, the Markenfields and many more knights and gentlemen. Aske
moved constantly between the two forward divisions, though his place, in
case of an engagement, was with his own Howdenshire men in the
middleward[1227].
When all were in array, the lords and gentlemen held a council before
the host. They agreed that Sir Thomas Hilton, Sir Ralph Ellerker, Robert
Bowes, and Robert Challoner should go on the embassy to the Duke. At the
head of so splendid an army, with Doncaster lying before them, the war
party seem to have made their last suggestion of immediate attack; the
town might be taken almost without effort[1228]; Shrewsbury and Norfolk
might be captured and forced to take the Pilgrims’ oath. But the
moderate party again prevailed; they argued that the more evident their
superiority, the more likely they were to obtain favourable terms. The
leaders resolved on the five essential points which were weighty enough
to explain their rising. The articles were not written down, but Robert
Bowes undertook to repeat them to the Duke from memory[1229], an easy
feat, as they were in substance the original five:
First, that the Faith might be truly maintained.
Second, that the ancient liberties of the Church might be maintained.
Third, that the unpopular statutes might be repealed and that the law
might stand as it did at the beginning of the King’s reign “when his
nobles did order under his Highness.”
Fourth, that the “villein blood” might be expelled from the Council and
noble blood restored.
Fifth, that Cromwell, Richard Riche, and the heretic bishops might be
deprived and banished or otherwise punished as subverters of the laws of
God and of the commonwealth[1230].
On these terms the Pilgrims were willing to accept the King’s general
pardon and return peaceably to their homes. The articles are expressed
in vague and wide terms, but the messengers who carried them were ready
to amplify and explain their provisions. The vagueness may have been
adopted deliberately because, in the first place, the Pilgrims did not
wholly agree among themselves—some, for instance, were warmly in favour
of the papal supremacy, while others were willing to accept the royal
supremacy. In the second place, the general character of the articles
would make it easier for the delegates on both sides to come to an
agreement. There was no expression used which came within the scope of
the Treason Act, and there were no details over which the two parties
might haggle and quarrel. Henry, with his usual adroitness, seized upon
this vagueness at once and turned it to his own advantage. He declared
that he could make no direct answer to articles which were so general,
vague and obscure. His flatterers borrowed his expressions. Archbishop
Lee declared that the rebels would not write down the articles for
“their enterprise could not be avowed.”[1231] Henry’s panegyrist,
William Thomas, declared that “when they [the rebels] came to reasoning
in very deed they wist not well what to demand except the preservation
of their holy mother church, which their Prelates and Religious did
evermore beat into their heads.”[1232] Yet when the Pilgrims, in answer
to the King’s criticism, proceeded to draw up a detailed list of their
grievances, they were told that it was “a double iniquity to fall into
rebellion and also after to procure matters to be set forth to justify
that rebellion.”[1233] The two statutes which the Pilgrims most strongly
opposed were the Act of Succession, which declared Princess Mary
illegitimate, and the Act of Suppression. The latter was covered by the
second article, and they were afraid to press the other too strongly,
lest they should compromise Mary, who had of late been treated more
kindly. The third article included this statute, besides the Act of
Uses, and all the other unpopular measures of the long parliament, even
to the alienation of the Percy estates to the crown. The Pilgrims
probably did not hope to bring about such an extremely sweeping
reaction, but they realised that in order to obtain a little from Henry
they must begin by demanding a great deal.
Four hostages were delivered to Aske in pledge for the safety of Sir
Thomas Hilton and his companions; the hostages returned with the
Archbishop and Sir Robert Constable to Hampole nunnery for the
night[1234]. There was general hope of good results from the meeting,
and both Darcy and Constable were anxious for an agreement[1235]. They
were encouraged by the gentlemen from Norfolk’s camp, “Mr Herington, Mr
Vellers, Mr Litilton” and another whose name is not known, but may have
been Gifford[1236]. Villiers and Gifford were afterwards accused of
having expressed sympathy with the Pilgrims[1237], and on Gifford’s
return to Buckinghamshire rumour said that he was prepared to raise a
rebellion if the churches were attacked[1238].
If the gentlemen were anxious for a peaceful issue, the commons were by
no means opposed to it. Otherwise the negotiations could scarcely have
proceeded so far. The commons were prepared to fight if the King refused
the petition, but if he granted it without trouble, so much the better.
As to the King’s soldiers, the Pilgrims regarded them rather as friends
who were unwillingly forced to take part against them than as enemies.
All the southern men, they said, “thought as much” as they, but the
southrons dared not show it; as for themselves, they were plain northern
fellows, and said what they thought. The Pilgrims were so certain of
success against the King’s reluctant levies that their sporting
instincts seem to have revolted against so easy a victory. “They wished
the King had sent some younger lords against them than my lord of
Norfolk and my lord of Shrewsbury. No lord in England would have stayed
them but my lord of Norfolk,” whom they honoured as the victor of
Flodden, and suspected to be as much opposed to Cromwell and the
Suppression as themselves[1239].
At noon on Friday 27 October, in due fulfilment of the agreement, Sir
Thomas Hilton and his three companions returned across the bridge and
were delivered in exchange for the hostages. The result of the meeting
was not final. Norfolk, Shrewsbury, Rutland, Huntingdon, Surrey and
their council had received the four and listened to their grievances.
Finding that they brought no written copy of the articles, Norfolk
ordered them to be written down at Bowes’ dictation[1240]. The King’s
nobles said that they were willing to meet a party of the Pilgrims’
leaders, as the latter had proposed, on Doncaster bridge, where they
would discuss the articles in detail. Hilton and the others agreed to a
meeting on the same day of about thirty on each side, and hastened to
announce the arrangement to their own leaders. The representatives had
to be chosen speedily. They were headed by Darcy, Latimer, Lumley, Sir
Robert Constable, Sir John Bulmer, and the four who had crossed in the
morning. Aske did not go with them, but held a second great muster on
the plain. Such a demonstration would remind the southern host of their
strength, guard against any attempt to capture their leaders on the
bridge, and keep the Pilgrims together in order to hear the result,
whatever it might be. Aske “ordered the whole host standing in perfect
array to within night.”[1241] As time went on and still the conference
on the bridge did not break up, some murmuring arose in the ranks. The
old cry was raised that the gentlemen would make terms for themselves
and betray the commons to the King’s vengeance[1242]. Aske had stayed
with them to quiet these fears. Though their suspicion was not justified
on this occasion, the commons had grounds for the fear of the
gentlemen’s desertion. It was that which brought confusion and failure
on the Lincolnshire rising.
No complete account remains of the conference on Doncaster bridge. It
seems probable, however, that Norfolk attacked the Pilgrims’
representatives on their weak side, in the very way that the commons
feared. They were all gentlemen, he may have said, and by their own
account they had been forced to take the rebels’ oath against their
wills. They were now at some distance from their captors, and near the
King’s troops; let them desert in a body and leave the commons without
leaders. The King would doubtless pardon and reward all who took his
part at such a crisis. Darcy’s retort was to turn to the Earl of
Shrewsbury. “Talbot,” he said, “hold up thy long clee[1243] and promise
me the King’s favour, and I will come to Doncaster to you.” Shrewsbury’s
honour was not so accommodating as Norfolk’s. “Well, my lord Darcy, then
ye shall not come [in],” he replied frankly[1244].
Failing in this direct attack, Norfolk seems to have betaken himself to
treachery, or half-treachery, in an attempt to be on good terms with
both sides. The Pilgrims desired a religious reaction, and Norfolk’s
views were well known to be conservative. It was said that he had
persuaded the King to countenance the doctrine of purgatory in the Ten
Articles[1245].
The Pilgrims required the repeal of certain statutes. Norfolk was
reported to have said at Nottingham that the Act of Uses was the worst
act that ever was made[1246], and on the present occasion he was said to
have told the Pilgrims that “it was pity they were on life, so to give
over the Act of Uses,” which was not mentioned in the articles[1247].
Norfolk denied these last words, and the King professed to believe his
denial[1248], but they were afterwards brought up against him[1249].
Darcy and probably others spoke strongly against Cromwell[1250]. Norfolk
could truthfully assure them that he hated Cromwell as much as they did.
The Earl of Surrey seems to have committed an indiscretion on his way
north. At Cambridge and Thetford he had heard and applauded a song
against Suffolk, which was sung by a wandering fiddler, John Hogon, to
the popular tune of “The Hunt Is Up.” The song had as little rhyme or
metre as most political songs and ran:
“The hunt is up etc.
The masters of art and doctors of divinity
Have brought this realm out of good unity,
Three noblemen have taken this to stay;
My lord of Norfolk, lord Surrey and my lord of Shrewsbury.
The Duke of Suffolk might a made England merry—”
No more is preserved[1251]. In July 1537 Surrey was in serious danger on
account of a charge which Darcy brought against him—probably that he had
promised his support to the Pilgrims[1252].
How far Norfolk encouraged the Pilgrims was never discovered, but Lord
Herbert of Cherbury (1649) relates:
“All this great service of the Duke of Norfolk yet could not exempt
him from calumny: For the Lord Darcy during his imprisonment had
accused him, as favouring the rebels’ articles when they first met at
Doncaster: But the Duke denied it, offering the Duel; saying, that
Aske (who suffered at York before the said Lord) told him that said
Lord’s intentions; who (he said) bare him ill-will ever since the Duke
had solicited the said Lord to deliver Aske into his hands, when he
was in chief credit with the rebels; which Darcy denying, some
expostulation pass’d between them. Nevertheless I find the King was so
well satisfied of the Duke, that those things were pass’d over without
further questioning.”[1253]
Some of these statements are manifestly incorrect. Aske did not suffer
before Darcy, but a fortnight after, and this part of the story seems to
be a confused memory of Aske’s last words concerning Norfolk and
Cromwell, not Norfolk and Darcy[1254]. On the other hand it is true that
the Duke solicited Darcy to kidnap Aske, much to Darcy’s indignation,
and this is mentioned in no other early printed account of the
Pilgrimage. It is possible that Herbert may have had access to some
report of Darcy’s examination, now lost, and may have found these
interesting particulars there.
Assuming that Herbert’s story is substantially true, it is easy to
understand the meaning of the terms on which a truce was finally
arranged. Norfolk was to ride to the King in all haste, accompanied by
Sir Ralph Ellerker and Robert Bowes, whose expenses would be paid by the
lords and knights of the Pilgrimage[1255]. The messengers were to lay
the Pilgrims’ petition before the King and to return with his answer.
Within the next two days, both armies must disperse, and a truce,
binding on both sides, was to last until the messengers returned. These
terms at first sight appear to be much less favourable than the Pilgrims
might have been expected to exact in their commanding position, but
Norfolk’s friendly attitude makes all clear. So far were the Pilgrims
from going over to the King that Norfolk promised to be on their side.
He did not yet declare himself openly, because he could be of more use
to them while he continued nominally in the King’s service, but his
influence at court, backed by their armed demonstration, might
reasonably appear a sufficient guarantee for the success of their cause.
When at length the thirty returned from the bridge to the impatient
Pilgrims they were able to announce the terms on which the formal
appointment had been concluded with the King’s nobles, but as Norfolk
required secrecy to be observed with regard to his own intentions, they
could not explain their full grounds for confidence. Nevertheless the
Pilgrims seem to have been well enough contented with the results[1256].
Norfolk’s state of mind is best shown in his letter to the Council,
written a couple of days later on his road south. Henry, angry and
suspicious, believed that his desperation was assumed or, at least,
exaggerated, but the letter bears evident traces of having been composed
by a man in great fear and distress of mind and body.
“my gode lordes I came to this towne this nyght late wher I founde the
skantest soper I had many yeres as wery a man as can be and with
contynewall watche and agony of mynd so tanned [?] that in my liff I
never was in that case I have be[en] a bed now iii howrys and ii tymes
waked in that tyme the one with lettres fro my lord of Suffolk th’
oder fro the Kynges highnes of the xxvii of this moneth the contentes
wheroff shuld be not necessary to answer our affaires being in the
trade they now be in. alas my god lordes I have served his highnes
many tymes without reproch and now inforced to appoynt with the
rebelles my hert is nere broken. and notwithstondyng that in every
mannes mowth it is sayde in our armye that I never served his grace so
well as now as in dissolvyng the army of th’ enemy without los of ours
yet fearyng how his maiestie shall take the dispeachyng of our bande I
am the most unquiet man of mynde lyvyng. all others here joyfull and I
only sorowfull. alas that the valiannt hert of my lord steward wold
not suffer hym to have taried abouts trent but with his fast hastyng
forwardes to bryng us into the most bareyne countre of the realme
wheroff hath insewed th’ effectes that I saw long afore woll fall Gode
my lordes it was not the feare of th’ enemys hath caused us to
appoynt, but thre other sore poyntes. foulle wether ande no howsing
for horse nor man at the most not for the iiid part of the army and no
wode to make fiers withall, honger both for men and horsis of suche
sort that of trouth I thynk never Inglishe man saw the like.
pestilence in the towne mervelous fervent and of suche sort that wher
I and my son lay in a fryers x or xii howsis sore infected within ii
butts length, on fryday at nyght the mayers wiff and ii of his
doghters and one servant died in one howse how many others of the
towne I know [not] but of souldyers ix and if ther wer lefte in the
towne or within v myles one lode of hey or one lode of ootes, pese or
beanys all the purveyors say untrewly. which iii poyntes these ar for
an armye I report me to your wisdomes and to have advansed to th’
enemys no vitayle for man nor horse but all devasted by th’ enemys and
not possible to have yeven batayle but upon apparaunt los theroff. and
if we shuld have retyred in enemyte assewred rewyn of our company.
havying no horsmen and they all the floure of the north and how at
every streyte they shuld at their will have set on the formest part or
the hindermost your wisdomes can well consyder. and my lordes
accordyng to my dewtie to advertise the trouth. thogh never prince had
a company of more trew valiaunt noble men and jantlemen yet right few
of souldiers but that thoght and think their quarelles to be gode and
godly. the companys that came with my lord marques and me I trust wold
have done their partes and the noblemen of the rest. but I feare what
th’ oders woll. my lords what case we wer in when roger ratclyff[1257]
and I wept secretly togyders I report me to you neyther of us bothe
but with gode will wold have be[en] prisoners in turkey to have had it
at the poynt it is now. thogh not as we wold it wer and yet onys
agayne my lords wo wo wo worth the tyme that my lord steward went so
far forth for and he had not ye shuld have herd other newes. ffy ffy
upon the lord darcy the most arraunt traytor that ever was lyvyng and
yet both his sonnys trew knightes. old sir roberd constable as ill as
he and all his blode trew men fynally my gode lordes if the kynges
highnes shuld wright to me to gather the army to gyders it is not
possible to be done. and for godds sake help that his highnes cause
not my lord of Suffolk to put any man to deth unto my comyng. nor
openly to call the lord darcy traytor and also to stay that I be not
in his displesure unto the tyme I may be herd and then Judge me
accordyng to my desertes scribled at tuxford at v in the mornyng this
sonday.
yr owne
T. Norfolk.”[1258]
Late as it was, Darcy and Aske rode to Pontefract on the evening of the
conference, and next morning, Saturday 28 October, they proclaimed the
truce and ordered the rearward to go home. It was easier to give the
order than to see it obeyed. The dalesmen had come far and were very
reluctant to go home empty-handed, without any definite triumph. They
had not been represented at the conference, and consequently felt that
the appointment need not bind them. Their captains, Lord Scrope, Sir
Christopher Danby, and the others, were willing to accept the truce, but
the commons were wild and much more difficult to control than those of
the forward divisions. Nevertheless in the end the commands, arguments
and persuasions of Aske, Darcy and Sir Richard Tempest, seconded by the
efforts of their own leaders, prevailed on the aggrieved and
disappointed rearward, and they sulkily set out on their homeward march,
leaving Pontefract empty for the rest of the army, which lay there that
night[1259].
On the same day Darcy received a message from Thomas Grice, who had
heard from Lancashire that the Earl of Derby intended to attack Sawley
Abbey[1260]. Aske immediately sent the news of the truce to the Pilgrims
there, and Darcy wrote to request Shrewsbury to stop Derby’s operations.
It has already been shown how these messages prevented a collision
between the opposing forces[1261]. At the same time Aske sent messengers
to all the places in which there had been risings with “the most special
letters that could be devised” commanding the Pilgrims to leave the
castles they were besieging, break off their musters and go peaceably
home[1262]. The reception of these letters has been described above.
Norfolk despatched a messenger on Saturday to carry the news of the
truce to the King, and set out himself with Ellerker and Bowes on the
same day[1263].
On Sunday 29 October the King’s heralds, Chester and Carlisle, watched
the last men of the Pilgrims’ host “disparple” at Pontefract and take
their way home over Ferrybridge. The heralds were back at Doncaster
before noon, where Shrewsbury’s army was also disbanding[1264].
Northward went the insurgents, southward the King’s men,—a strangely
peaceful parting. At Tadcaster William Stapleton bade farewell to his
men of Beverley, “desiring them to keep good rule” on the homeward
march, and went back to Wighill, returning to his usual autumn hunting
and shooting as though he had never been the captain of a rebel
host[1265]. Thus the uneasy quiet of an armed truce fell on England at
the end of October 1536.
Norfolk’s anxious letter shows that he expected the King to be very
angry at the news of the truce. Yet all the advantages of it were on the
King’s side. It was very unlikely that the Pilgrims would have another
opportunity of striking so crushing a blow as that which they had
deliberately foregone. Henry did not fail to realise the advantages of
his position, although he was furious at the way in which they were
obtained. He felt it a blot on his honour that his lieutenants should
have made terms with the rebels, instead of scattering them, with or
without bloodshed, and selecting a suitable number for execution; but as
the rebels had dispersed, his experience taught him that they were very
unlikely to assemble again in such large numbers, and he was convinced
that with a little delay, a little diplomacy, and plenty of southern
musters, the north might be brought into complete subjection without any
concessions being made at all.
When the problem is considered in the light thrown on Henry’s character
by the later events of his reign, it is surprising that the leaders of
the Pilgrimage should have expected him to give way so easily. It is
practically certain that while Henry lived and ruled he would never have
changed his policy. The rebels did not propose to dethrone him; yet by
no other means could his work be undone. This they never realised till
too late. It must be remembered that Henry had reigned for twenty years
before doing anything that greatly alarmed his most conservative
subjects. By making the truce, the Pilgrims preserved their consistency.
If the King refused their petition and civil war ensued, he and not they
would be responsible. But as a matter of fact, they did not believe that
the King was in earnest about the religious changes. In their eyes it
was all some devilry of Cromwell’s. It was too absurd that the
monasteries should be suppressed; they had been there for hundreds of
years,—and how could the country do without them? Except for the
wandering reformers and their scattered disciples, English people
believed the New Learning to be not only wicked but ridiculous. Within
two years of his death, Sir Thomas More was busily writing most
excellent and amusing little tracts proving that there was not really
the slightest danger that Catholic England would be infected with
heresy. Although things had now gone so much further, Aske and his
followers still believed implicitly in the strength of their cause. It
was impossible that the Faith should fail to triumph in the end. Wolsey
had suppressed monasteries and countenanced the hated divorce, but he
fell. Anne Boleyn had caused the death of More, Fisher, and the
Carthusian monks, but she had followed them to the scaffold. Cromwell
must go the same way. If once he were dead, and Norfolk, with the other
conservative lords, restored to full power, the work of the last four
years would disappear without difficulty—so the Pilgrims thought—and all
might go on as if no dark-haired coquette and no “Englishman Italianate”
had ever crossed the destinies of England. A complete reaction seemed
perfectly easy then. Looking back, it is equally easy to talk very
wisely of tendencies and inevitable results; but no age can tell whither
it is tending. The Pilgrims could not see that there was no going
back—that the New Learning was bound to triumph and to regenerate as
well as destroy—that despotism had yet a great part to play before it
was shaken and dragged down by civil war and revolution. They were so
sure of their own strength that they were pathetically willing to behave
with chivalrous moderation to the side which they regarded as the
weaker.
NOTES TO CHAPTER XI
Note A. North-country readers will not need to be told that the
commander-in-chief at Flodden was Thomas Howard, Earl of Surrey,
afterwards second Duke of Norfolk, and that his eldest son, who
appears so frequently in this book as the third Duke of Norfolk, was
his second in command. The latter was then simply Lord Thomas Howard,
Admiral of England. He played an important part in the campaign.
Holinshed gives him the credit of suggesting the strategy which placed
the English forces between the Scots army and the Border. In the field
he commanded the vanguard, with the centre of which he fought. He was
said to have gone into battle loudly challenging the King of Scots to
single combat, and to have performed great deeds, slaying the Earl of
Crawford with his own hand. At the moment when the issue was most
doubtful,—when the dying Marmion cried:—
“Tunstall lies dead upon the field,
His life-blood stains the spotless shield:
Edmund is down:—my life is reft;
The Admiral alone is left,”—
Lord Thomas was actually standing firm in the face of the Scottish
attack; taking the Agnus Dei from his neck, he sent it to his father
as a token to hasten to his assistance. He was regarded as the hero of
the day no less than Surrey[1266].
Note B. M. Bapst has shown that the correct date of the letter from
Norfolk to Cromwell, printed in L. and P. XI, 21, as belonging to
1536, is really 1537[1267].