On the same day also they beheaded manie others, as well Englishmen
as Flemings, for no cause in the world, but onelie to satisfie the
crueltie of the commons, that then were in their kingdome, for it was
a sport to them, when they gat any one amongst them, that was not
sworne to them, and séemed to mislike of their dooings, or if they
bare but neuer so little hatred to him, streightwaies to plucke of
his hood, with such a yelling noise as they tooke vp amongst them,
and immediatlie to come thronging into the stréets, and strike off
his head. Neither had they any regard to sacred places; for breaking
into the church of the Augustine friers, they drew foorth thirteene
Flemings, and beheaded them in the open streets; and out of the parish
churches in the citie, they tooke foorth seuentéene, and likewise
stroke off their heads, without reuerence either of the church or feare
of God.
[Sidenote: The outragious dealing of the rebels.]
But they continuing in their mischéefous purpose, shewed their malice
speciallie against strangers, so that entring into euerie stréet, lane,
and place, where they might find them, they brake vp their houses,
murthered them which they found within, and spoiled their goods in most
outragious manner. Likewise they entered into churches (as before ye
haue heard) into abbeies, monasteries, and other houses, namelie of men
of law, which in semblable sort they ransacked. They also brake vp the
prisons of newgate, and of both the counters, destroied the books, and
set prisoners at libertie, and also the sanctuarie-men of saint Martins
le grand. And so likewise did they at Westminster, where they brake
open the eschequer, and destroied the ancient bookes and other records
there, dooing what they could to suppresse law, and by might to beate
downe equitie and right, as it is said,
Tunc ius calcatur violentia cum dominatur.
They that entered the tower, vsed themselues most presumptuouslie, and
no lesse vnreuerentlie against the princesse of Wales, mother to the
king: for thrusting into hir chamber, they offered to kisse her, and
swasht downe vpon hir bed, putting hir into such feare, that she fell
into a swoone, and being taken vp and recouered, was had to the water
side, and put into a barge, & conueied to the place called the quéenes
wardrobe, or the tower riall, where she remained all that day and the
night following, as a woman halfe dead, till the king came to recomfort
hir. It was strange to consider, in what feare the lords, knights &
gentlemen stood of the cruell proceedings of those rude & base people.
For where there were six hundred armed men, and as manie archers in the
tower at that present, there was not one that durst gainesaie their
dooings.
[Sidenote: The king offereth the rebels pardon.
_Froissard._]
Finallie, when they had eased their stomachs, with the spoiling,
burning, and defacing of sundrie places, they became more quiet, and
the king by the aduise of such as were then about him, vpon good
deliberation of counsell, offered to them pardon, and his peace,
with condition that they should cease from burning and ruinating of
houses, from killing and murthering of men, and depart euerie man to
his home without more adoo, and there to tarrie for the kings charters
confirmatorie of the same pardon. The Essexmen were content with this
offer, as they that were desirous to see their wiues and children,
being waxen wearie of continuall trauell and paines which they were
constreined to take. The king went foorth vnto Mile end, and there
declared vnto the commons that they should haue charters made to them
of his grant, to make them all free. And further that euerie shire,
towne, lordship and libertie should haue banners of his armes deliuered
vnto them, for a confirmation of his grant. Herevpon they séemed well
appeased, and the king rode |740| to the queenes wardrobe, otherwise
called the tower roiall, to visit his mother, and so did comfort hir so
well as he could, and taried with hir there all night.
The Essexmen satisfied with the kings promises, immediatlie departed
homeward; howbeit they appointed certeine of their companie to remaine
still and tarie for the kings charters. The Kentishmen also remained,
and were as busie in maner the next day being saturdaie, in all kind of
mischiefous dealings, as they had béene before, to wit, in murthering
of men, ouerthrowing and burning of houses. The king therefore sent
vnto them such as declared in what sort their fellowes were gone home
well satisfied, & from thencefoorth to liue in quiet, and the same
forme of peace he was contented to grant to them, if it liked them to
accept the same. Herevpon their chéefe capteine Wat Tiler, a verie
craftie fellow, and indued with much wit (if he had well applied it)
said, that peace indeed he wished, but yet so, as the conditions might
be indited to his purpose.
[Sidenote: The wicked purpose of the rebels.