But Thomas Walsingham affirmeth, that the first sparkes of this
rebellion kindled in Essex, where the inhabitants of two townes onelie
at the first, that were the authors and first stirrers of all this
mischéefe, did send vnto euerie little towne about, that all manner
of men, as well those that were aged, as others that were in their
lustiest time and youthfull yeares, should come to them with speed,
setting all excuses apart, in their best arraie and furniture for
warre, threatning to such as came not, that their goods should be
spoiled, their houses burnt or cast downe, and they to lose their heads
when they were taken. The terror of this threatning caused the ignorant
people to flocke to them by heaps, leauing all their businesse, letting
plough and cart stand, forsaking wife, children, and houses, so that in
a short time there were fiue thousand gotten togither of those commons
and husbandmen, of which number manie were weaponed onelie with staues,
some with rustie swords and billes, and other with smokie bowes, more
ruddie than old yuorie, not hauing past two or thrée arrowes, and the
same happilie with one feather a peece.
Among a thousand of those kind of persons, yée should not haue séene
one well armed: and yet by reason of their multitude, when they were
once got togither, they thought the whole relme had not beene able to
resist them; and supposed that they could with facilitie (in respect of
the aduerse part) make the states of the land stoope to them, and by
their permission to reteine or compulsion to resigne their roomes of
dignitie. But the fond conceited rowt considered not the euent of this
insurrection, that the woorst would be their owne; for the old saieng
is true, namelie,
Læditur a stimulo quicunq; fricatur abillo.
[Sidenote: The oth ministred by the rebels to all passengers.]
Moreouer, to make their part the stronger, these Essexmen sent ouer
into Kent, aduertising the people there of their enterprise, and
therefore willed them to make them readie to ioine with them for their
obteining of libertie, and reforming of the euill customs of the
realme. Whether the Kentishmen through persuasions of their neighbors
of Essex, by occasion of that which had chanced at Dertford (as before
yée haue heard) or (as it may be) the same chancing at that selfe
time, they being mooued as well by the one as the other, vp they
got (as yée haue heard) and gathering their power out of the next
quarters adioining by the like policie which had béene practised by
the Essexmen, they stirred vp the most part of the countrie to ioine
with them, and foorthwith stopping the waie that led to Canturburie,
and arresting all such as passed by the same, they caused them to swere
that they should be true to king Richard, and to the commons, & neuer
to receiue anie king that should be called Iohn. And this was for the
enuie which they bare to Iohn |737| of Gant the duke of Lancaster,
who in right of his wife Constance, that was daughter to king Peter of
Castile, did name himselfe king of Castile.
[Sidenote: The commons of other shires hearing of the stur in Kent &
Essex, rise in like maner.