might be shadowed vnder a cloke of good meaning (though his intent
nothing so) he sent vnto the king an humble supplication, affirming
that his comming was not against his grace, but against such of his
councellours, as were louers of themselues, and oppressors of the
poore commonaltie; flatterers of the king, and enimies to his honor;
suckers of his purse, and robbers of his subjects; parciall to their
fréends, and extreame to their enimies: thorough bribes corrupted, and
for indifferencie dooing nothing. ¶ Here, bicause a full report of
this insurrection maie passe to the knowledge of the readers; it is
necessarie to set downe the articles of the commons complaints touching
the premisses, whereof a copie was sent to the parlement then holden
at Westminster, with their bill of requests concerning abuses to be
reformed.
The complaint of the commons of Kent, and causes of their assemblie on
the Blackheath
1 Inprimis, it is openlie noised that Kent should be destroied with
a roiall power, & made a wild forrest, for the death of the duke of
Suffolke, of which the commons of Kent thereof were neuer giltie.
2 Item, the king is stirred to liue onelie on his commons, and other
men to haue the reuenues of the crowne, the which hath caused pouertie
in his excellencie, and great paiments of the people, now late to the
king granted in his parlement.
3 Item, that the lords of his roiall bloud béene put from his dailie
presence, and other meane persons of lower nature exalted and made
chéefe of his priuie councell, the which stoppeth matters of wrongs
done in the realme from his excellent audience, and maie not be
redressed as law will; but if bribes and gifts be messengers to the
hands of the said councell.
4 Item, the people of this realme be not paid of debts owing for stuffe
and purueiance taken to the vse of the kings houshold, in vndooing of
the said people, and the poore commons of the realme.
5 Item, the kings meniall seruants of houshold, and other persons,
asken dailie goods and lands, of impeached or indicted of treason, the
which the king granteth anon, yer they so indangered be conuicted.
The which causeth the receiuers thereof to inforce labours and meanes
applied to the death of such people, so appeached or indicted, by
subtill meanes, for couetise of the said grants: and the people so
impeached or indicted, though it be vntrue, maie not be committed to
the law for their deliuerance, but held still in prison, to their
vttermost vndooing & destruction, for couetise of goods.
6 Item, though diuerse of the poore people and commons of the realme,
haue neuer so great right, truth, and perfect title to their land: yet
by vntrue claime of infeoffement made vnto duierse states, gentles, and
the kings meniall seruants in maintenances against the right, the true
owners dare not hold, claime, nor pursue their right.
7 Item, it is noised by common voices, that the kings lands in France
béene aliened and put awaie from the crowne, and his lords and people
there destroied with vntrue meanes of treason; of which it is desired,
inquiries thorough all the realme to be made how and by whome; & if
such traitors maie be found giltie, them to haue execution of law
without anie pardon, in example of others.
8 Item, collectors of the fiftéenth penie in Kent be greatlie vexed and
hurt, in paieng great summes of monie in the excheker, to sue out a
writ called Quorum nomina, for the alowance of the barons of the ports,
which now is desired, that hereafter in the lieu of the collectors, the
barons aforesaid maie sue it out for their ease at their owne costs.
9 Item, the shiriffes and vndershiriffes let to farme their offices
and bailiwickes, taking great suertie therefore, the which causeth
extortions doone by them and by their bailiffes to the people.
10 Item, simple and poore people that vse not hunting, be greatlie
oppressed by indictements feined & doone by the said shiriffes,
vndershiriffes, bailiffes, and other of their assent, to cause their
increase for paieng of their said farme.
11 Item, they returne in names of inquests in writing into diuerse
courts of the king not summoned nor warned, where through the people
dailie léese great summes of monie, well nigh to the vttermost of their
vndooing: and make leuie of amercements called the gréene wax, more in
summes of monie than can be found due of record in the kings books.
12 Item, the ministers of the court of Douer in Kent vex and arrest
diuerse people thorough all the shire out of Castle ward, passing their
bounds and libertie vsed of old time, by diuerse subtill and vntrue
meanes and actions falselie feined, taking great fées at their lust in
great hurt of the people on all the shire of Kent.
13 Item, the people of the said shire of Kent, maie not haue their frée
election in the choosing of knights of the shire: but letters béene
sent from diuerse estates to the great rulers of all the countrie, the
which imbraceth their tenants and other people by force to choose other
persons than the c[=o]mons will is.
14 Item, whereas knights of the shire should choose the king collectors
indifferentlie without any bribe taking, they haue sent now late to
diuerse persons, notifieng them to be collectors: wherevpon gifts
and bribes be taken, & so the collectors office is bought and sold
extortionouslie at the knights lust.
15 Item, the people be sore vexed in costs and labour, called to the
sessions of peace in the said shire, appearing from the furthest and
vttermost part of the west vnto the east; the which causeth to some men
fiue daies iournie: wherevpon they desire the said appearance to be
diuided into two parts; the which one part, to appeare in one place;
an other part, in an other place; in reléeuing of the gréeuances and
intollerable labours & vexations of the said people.
The requests by the capteine of the great assemblie in Kent.
Inprimis, desireth the capteine of the commons, the welfare of our
souereigne lord the king, and all his true lords spirituall and
temporall, desiring of our said souereigne lord, and of all the true
lords of his councell, he to take in all his demaines, that he maie
reigne like a king roiall, according as he is borne our true and
christian king annointed: and whoso will saie the contrarie, we all
will liue and die in the quarell as his true liege men.
Item, desireth the said capteine, that he will auoid all the false
progenie and affinitie of the duke of Suffolke, the which béene openlie
knowne, and they to be punished after the custome and law of this land,
and to take about his noble person the true lords of his roiall blood
of this his realme, that is to saie, the high and mightie prince the
duke of Yorke, late exiled from our said souereigne lords presence
(by the motion and stirring of the traitorous and false disposed the
duke of Suffolke and his affinitie) and the mightie princes & dukes of
Excester, Buckingham, and Norffolke, and all the earles and barons of
this land: and then shall he be the richest king christian.
Item, desireth the said capteine and commons punishment vnto the false
traitors, the which contriued and imagined the death of the high,
mightfull and excellent prince the duke of Glocester, the which is too
much to rehearse; the which duke was proclamed as traitor. Vpon the
which quarell, we purpose all to liue and die vpon that it is false.
Item, the duke of Excester, our holie father the cardinall, the noble
prince the duke of Warwike, and also the realme of France, the duchie
of Normandie, Gascoigne, and Guion, Aniou, and Maine, were deliuered
and lost by the meanes of the said traitors: and our true lords,
knights, and esquiers, and manie a good yeoman lost and sold yer they
went, the which is great pitie to heare, of the great and gréeuous
losse to our souereigne lord and his realme.
Item, desireth the said capteine and commons, that all extortions
vsed dailie among the common people, might be laid downe, that is to
saie, the gréene wax; the which is falselie vsed, to the perpetuall
destruction of the kings true commons of Kent. Also the kings Bench,
the which is too gréefefull to the shire of Kent, without prouision
of our souereigne lord and his true councell. And also in taking of
wheat and other graines, béefe, mutton, & all other vittels, the which
is importable to the said commons, without the bréefe prouision of our
said souereigne lord and his true councell, they maie no longer beare
it. And also vnto the statute of labourers, and the great extortioners,
the which is to saie the false traitors, Sleg. Cromer, Isle, and Robert
Est.
* * * * *
[Sidenote: King Henrie went against the Kentishmen with a great power.]
These billes when the councell had well perused, they did not onelie
disalow and condemne them and the authors, as proud and presumptuous;
but also persuaded the king rather to suppresse those rebels by force,
than by faire promises. Wherevpon the king remoued from Westminster
vnto Gréenewich, from whence he would haue sent certeine lords with
a power to haue distressed the Kentishmen, but the men said to their
lords they would not fight against them that laboured to amend the
common-weale: wherefore the lords were driuen to leaue their purpose.
And bicause the Kentishmen cried out against the lord Saie the kings
chamberline, he was by the king committed to the Tower of London. Then
went the king againe to London, & within two dais after went against
the Kentishmen with fiftéene thousand men well prepared for the war:
but the said Kentishmen fled the night before his comming into the wood
countrie néere vnto Senocke. Wherevpon the king returned againe to
London.
[Sidenote: The Staffords slaine at Senocke by Iacke Cade.]
The quéene (that bare rule) being of his retrait aduertised, sent sir
Humfreie Stafford knight, and William his brother, with manie other
gentlemen, to follow the Kentishmen, thinking that they had fled: but
they were deceiued, for at the first skirmish both the Staffords were
slaine, & all their companie discomfited. The kings armie by this time
comen to Blackheath, hearing of this discomfiture, began to murmur
amongst themselues: some wishing the duke of Yorke at home to aid the
capteine his cousine: some vndutifullie coueting the ouerthrow of the
king and his councell: other openlie crieng out on the quéene and hir
complices.
This rumor published abroad, caused the king and certeine of his
councell (for the appeasing thereof) to commit the lord Saie treasurer
of England to the Tower of London; and if other (against whome like
displeasure was borne) had béene present, they had béene likewise
committed. Iacke Cade vpon victorie against the Staffords apparelled
himselfe in sir Humfries brigandine set full of guilt nailes, and so in
some glorie returned againe toward London; diuerse idle and vagarant
persons out of Sussex, Surreie and other places, still increasing
his number. Thus this glorious capteine, garded with a multitude of
rusticall people, came againe to the plaine of Blackheath, & there
stronglie incamped himselfe: to whome were sent from the king, the
archbishop of Canturburie, and Humfrie duke of Buckingham, to common
with him of his gréefes and requests.
These lords found him sober in talke, wise in reasoning, arrogant in
hart, and stiffe in opinion; as who that by no means would grant to
dissolue his armie, except the king in person would come to him, and
assent to the things he would require. The K. vpon the presumptuous
answers & requests of this villanous rebell, begining asmuch to
doubt his owne meniall seruants, as his vnknowen subiects (which
spared not to speake, that the capteins cause was profitable for the
common-wealth) departed in all hast to the castell of Killingworth in
Warwikeshire, leauing onlie behind him the lord Scales to kéepe the
Tower of London. The Kentish capteine being aduertised of the kings
absence, came first into Southwarke, and there lodged at the white
hart, prohibiting to all his retinue, murder, rape, and robberie; by
which colour of well meaning, he the more allured to him the harts of
the common people.
[Sidenote: The lord Saie beheaded at the st[=a]dard in Cheap.]
After that, he entered into London, cut the ropes of the draw bridge,
& strooke his sword on London stone; saieng, Now is Mortimer lord of
this citie. And after a glosing declaration made to the maior touching
the cause of his thither comming he departed againe into Southwarke,
and vpon the third daie of Iulie he caused sir Iames Fines, lord Saie,
and treasuror of England, to be brought to the Guildhall, and there
to be arreigned: who being before the kings iustices put to answer,
desired to be tried by his péeres, for the longer delaie of his life.
The capteine perceiuing his dilatorie plée, by force tooke him from the
officers, and brought him to the standard in Cheape, and there (before
his confession ended) caused his head to be striken off, and pitched
it vpon an high pole, which was openlie borne before him thorough the
stréets.
And not content herewith, he went to Mile end, and there apprehended
sir Iames Cromer then shiriffe of Kent, and sonne in law to the said
lord Saie, causing him likewise (without confession or excuse heard)
to be beheaded, and his head to be fixed on a pole: and with these two
heads this bloudie wretch entred into the citie againe, and as it were
in a spite caused them in euerie stréet to kisse togither, to the great
detestation of all the beholders. After this succéeded open rapine, and
manifest robberie in diuerse houses within the citie, and speciallie
in the house of Philip Malpas alderman of London, and diuerse other;
ouer and beside ransoming and fining of diuers notable merchants, for
the suertie of their liues and goods; as Robert Horne alderman, which
paid fiue hundred marks. He also put to execution in Southwarke diuerse
persons, some for breaking his ordinance, and other being of his old
acquaintance, lest they should bewraie his base linage, disparaging him
for his vsurped surname of Mortimer.
The maior and other the magistrates of London, perceiuing themselues
neither to be sure of goods, nor of life well warranted, determined
to repell and kéepe out of their citie such a mischieuous caitife and
his wicked companie. And to be the better able so to doo, they made
the lord Scales, and that renowmed capteine Matthew [21]Gough priuie
both of their intent and enterprise, beséeching them of their helpe
and furtherance therein. The lord Scales promised them his aid, with
shooting off the artillerie in the Tower; and Matthew Gough was by him
appointed to assist the maior and Londoners in all that he might, and
so he and other capteins, appointed for defense of the citie, tooke
vpon them in the night to kéepe the bridge, and would not suffer the
Kentishmen once to approch. The rebels, who neuer soundlie slept for
feare of sudden assaults, hearing that the bridge was thus kept, ran
with great hast to open that passage, where betwéene both parties was a
fierce and cruell fight.
[21] Or rather Goche.
[Sidenote: The skirmish betwéene the citizens and the rebels vpon
London bridge.]
Matthew [22]Gough, perceiuing the rebels to stand to their tackling
more manfullie than he thought they would haue doone, aduised his
companie not to aduance anie further toward Southwarke, till the daie
appeared; that they might sée where the place of ieopardie rested, and
so to prouide for the same: but this little auailed. For the rebels
with their multitude draue backe the citizens from the stoops at the
bridge foot to the draw bridge, & began to set fire in diuerse houses.
Great ruth it was to behold the miserable state, wherein some desiring
to eschew the fire died vpon their enimies weapon; women with children
in their armes lept for feare into the riuer, other in a deadlie care
how to saue themselues, betwéene fire, water, and sword, were in their
houses choked and smothered. Yet the capteins not sparing, fought on
the bridge all the night valiantlie: but in conclusion, the rebels gat
the draw bridge, and drowned manie, and slue Iohn Sutton alderman,
and Robert Heisand, a hardie citizen, with manie other, beside
Matthew [23]Gough, a man of great wit and much experience in feats of
chiualrie, the which in continuall warres had spent his time in seruice
of the king and his father.
[22] Or rather Goche.
[23] Matthew Goche famous for his acts abroad now slaine on L[=o]d[=o]
bridge.
[Sidenote: A staie by assent.]
This sore conflict indured in doubtfull wise on the bridge, till nine
of the clocke in the morning: for somtime, the Londoners were beaten
backe to saint Magnus corner: and suddenlie againe, the rebels were
repelled to the stoops in Southwarke, so that both parts being faint
and wearie, agréed to leaue off from fighting till the next daie; vpon
condition, that neither Londoners should passe into Southwarke, nor
Kentishmen into London. Vpon this abstinence, this rakehell capteine
for making him more friends, brake vp the gailes of the kings Bench and
Marshalsie, and so were manie mates set at libertie verie méet for his
matters in hand.
[Sidenote: Proclamati[=o] of pardon dispersed the rebels.]
The archbishop of Canturburie being chancellor of England, and as then
for his suertie lieng within the Tower, called to him the bishop of
Winchester, who for some safegard laie then at Haliwell. These two
prelats, séeing the furie of the Kentish people, by their late repulse,
to be somewhat asswaged, passed by the riuer of Thames from the Tower
into Southwarke, bringing with them vnder the kings great seale, a
generall pardon vnto all the offenders, and caused the same to be
openlie published. The poore people were so glad of this pardon, and so
readie to receiue it, that without bidding farewell to their capteine,
they withdrew themselues the same night euerie man towards his home.
[Sidenote: _Abr. Fl. ex I.S. pag. 661, 662 in Quart._]
¶ But Iacke Cade despairing of succours, and fearing the reward of his
lewd dealings, put all his pillage and goods that he had robbed, into
a barge, and sent it to Rochester by water, and himselfe went by land,
and would haue entred into the castle of Quinborow with a few men that
were left about him; but he was there let of his purpose: wherefore
he disguised in strange attire, priuilie fled into the wood countrie
beside Lewes in Sussex, hoping so to scape. The capteine & his people
being thus departed, not long after proclamations were made in diuerse
places of Kent, Sussex, and Southerie, that whosoeuer could take the
foresaid capteine aliue or dead, should haue a thousand markes for his
trauell. A copie of which proclamation, touching the apprehension of
the said Cade and his complices, hereafter followeth.
A copie of the said writ and proclamation by the king, for the taking
of the said Cade and his felowship.
Henricus Dei gratia rex Angliæ & Franciæ, & dominus Hiberniæ, vniuersis
& singulis custodibus, &c. For so much as one Iohn Cade borne in
Ireland, which calleth himselfe Iohn Mortimer & in some writing calleth
himselfe capteine of Kent, the which Iohn Cade the last yeare tofore
his dwelling in Sussex with a knight, called sir Thomas Dagre, slue
there a woman with child, and for that cause tooke the gréeth of the
church, and after for that cause forsware the kings land: the which
Iohn Cade also after this, was sworne to the French part, and dwelled
with them; which hath now of late time (to the intent to inrich
himselfe by robbing and despoiling of the kings liegemen, as it is now
openlie knowne, to bring himselfe to great and high estate) falslie
and vntruelie deceiued manie of the kings people, and vnder colour of
holie and good intents made them to assemble with him against the kings
regalitie & his lawes, & nought setting by the kings grace and pardons,
granted not onelie to him but to all the kings subiects, the which by
his deceit haue assembled with him, the which he with great reuerence
receiued on mondaie last passed, and so did all that were assembled
with him. Notwithstanding all this, he laboureth now of new to assemble
the kings people againe, and to that intent beareth them on hand, that
the kings letters of pardon granted to him and them, be not auaileable,
nor of none effect, without authoritie of parlement: whereas the
contrarie is true, as it is openlie knowne by that, that the king
granteth from time to time his charters of pardon to such as him list,
of all manner of crimes and offenses both generall and speciall.
The king therefore willeth and commandeth, that none of his subiects
giue faith nor credence to the said false informations of the said
false traitor nor accompanie with him in anie wise, nor comfort nor
susteine him nor his with vittels, nor with anie other things: but
will, whosoeuer of the kings subiects may take him, shall take him;
and that who so euer taketh him, and bringeth him quicke or dead to
the king or to his councell, shall haue a thousand markes for his
labour trulie paid him, without faile or delaie by the prouision of
the kings councell. And who so euer taketh anie of those that from
this daie foorth accompanie with him, shall haue fiue marks for his
reward, trulie to be paid in maner and forme aboue said. And ouer
this commanding all constables, ministers, and officers of the said
shire, that none of them (on paine of death) take vpon them to execute
anie commandement by word or writing sent or made vnto them by the
said Cade, calling himselfe Mortimer and capteine, be it to reare any
people, or to any other intent: but to arest and make so be arested
such, as take vpon them to bring anie such commandement by writing or
by word. Et hoc nullatenus omittatis. Teste me ipso apud Westm. 10 die
Iulij, anno regni 28.
* * * * *
[Sidenote: Capteine of Kent taken & beheaded.]
[Sidenote: _Abr. Fl. ex I. St._ 663, 664.]
After which proclamation thus published, a gentleman of Kent named
Alexander Eden awaited so his time, that he tooke the said Cade in a
garden in Sussex: so that there he was slaine at Hothfield, and brought
to London in a cart, where he was quartered; his head set on London
bridge, and his quarters sent to diuerse places to be set vp in the
shire of Kent. After this, the king himselfe came into Kent, and there
set in iudgment vpon the offendors: and if he had not mingled his
iustice with mercie, more than fiue hundred by rigor of law had béene
iustlie put to execution. Yet he punishing onelie the stubborne heads,
& disordered ringleaders, pardoned the ignorant and simple persons,
to the great reioising of all his subiects. ¶ But saith another, the
king sent his commissioners into Kent, and caused inquirie to be made
of this riot in Canturburie, where for the same eight men were iudged
and executed, and in other townes of Kent and Sussex was doone the like
execution.
[Sidenote: The bishop of Salisburie murthered.]
[Sidenote: A fray in L[=o]don against the maior.]
This yeare the commons also in diuerse parts of England, as in Sussex,
Salisburie, Wiltshire, and other places, did much harme to manie
persons, among the which, on the nine and twentith of Iune, William
Ascoth bishop of Salisburie (after he had said masse at Edington) was
by his owne tenants drawne from the altar, in his albe with his stole
about his necke to the top of an hill, and there by them shamefullie
murthered, and after spoiled to the naked skin: they renting his
bloudie shirt, tooke euerie man a péece, and made boast of their
wickednesse. The daie before, his chariot was robbed, to the value of
ten thousand markes. Soldiours made a fraie against the maior of London
the same daie he tooke his charge at Westminster, at night comming from
saint Thomas of Acres, after he had béene at Paules.