It was meant therefore that if the duke of Lancaster could compasse
his purpose, for the which he went at that time into Scotland, to the
honour of the king and realme, then should he shortlie after follow his
brother of Cambridge with a great power, to trie what chance God would
send to him, against his aduersarie the king of Castile. ¶ In the meane
time other incidents fell within the realme in the fourth yeare of king
Richard, sore to the disquieting of the same, and vtter disappointing
for that time of the duke of Lancasters intent. The commons of the
realme sore repining, not onelie for the pole grotes that were demanded
of them, by reason of the grant made in parlement (as yée haue heard)
but also (as some write) for that they were sore oppressed (as they
tooke the matter) by their land-lords, that demanded of them their
ancient customes and seruices, set on by some diuelish instinct &
persuasion of their owne beastlie intentions, as men not content with
the state wherevnto they were called, rose in diuerse parts of this
realme, and assembled togither in companies, purposing to inforce the
prince to make them frée and to release them of all seruitude, whereby
they stood as bondmen to their lords and superiours.
[Sidenote: The beginning of the rebellion at Derford in Kent.]
Where this rebellion of the commons first began, diuerse haue written
diuerslie. One author writeth, that (as he learned by one that was not
farre from the place at that time) the first beginning should be at
Dertford in Kent: for when those pole shillings, or rather (as other
haue) pole grotes, were to be collected, no small murmuring, curssing,
and repining among the common people rose about the same, and the more
indeed, through the lewd demenour of some vndiscréet officers, that
were assigned to the gathering thereof, insomuch that one of those
officers being appointed to gather vp that monie in Dertford aforesaid,
came to the house of one Iohn Tiler, that had both seruants in his
house, and a faire yong maid to his daughter. The officer there fore
demanding monie for the said Tiler and for his wife, his seruants, and
daughter, the wife being at home, and hir husband abroad at worke in
the towne, made answer that hir daughter was not of age, and therefore
she denied to paie for hir.
Now here is to be noted, that this monie was in common speech said
to be due for all those that were vndergrowne, bicause that yoong
persons as well of the man as of the womankind, comming to the age of
fouretéene or fifteene yeares, haue commonlie haire growing foorth
about those priuie parts, which for honesties sake nature hath taught
vs to couer and keepe secret. The officer therefore not satisfied with
the mothers excuse, said |736| he would feele whether hir daughter
were of lawfull age or not, and therewith began to misuse the maid,
and search further than honestie would haue permitted. The mother
streightwaies made an outcrie, so that hir husband being in the towne
at worke, and hearing of this adoo at his house, came running home with
his lathing staffe in his hand, and began to question with the officer,
asking who made him so bold to keepe such a rule in his house: the
officer being somewhat presumptuous, and highminded, would foorthwith
haue flowne vpon this Tiler; but I. Tiler auoiding the officers blow,
raught him such a rap on the pate, that his braines flue out, and so
presentlie he died.
Great noise rose about this matter in the stréets, and the poore folks
being glad, euerie man arraied himselfe to support Iohn Tiler, & thus
the commons drew togither, and went to Maidestone, and from thence to
Blackheath, where their number so increased, that they were reckoned to
be thirtie thousand. And the said Iohn Tiler tooke vpon him to be their
cheefe capteine, naming himselfe Iacke Straw. ¶ Others write, that one
Thomas Baker of Fobbings was the first that procured the people thus to
assemble togither: and that one of the kings seruants named Iohn Leg,
with three of his fellowes, practised to féele yoong maids whether they
were vndergrowne (as yée haue hard the officer did at Dertford) which
dishonest and vnséemelie kind of dealing did set the people streight
in such a rage and vprore, that they cared not what they did to be
reuenged of such iniuries.
[Sidenote: The commōs of Essex begin the commotiō as _Wal._ saith.