With which words Wat Tiler taking indignation, drew out his dagger,
menacing to strike the knight, calling him therewith traitor: the
knight disdaining to be misvsed at the hands of such a ribald, told him
that he lied falselie, and with that plucked foorth his dagger. Wat
Tiler being among his men, shewed that he would not beare that iniurie,
and foorthwith made towards the knight to run vpon him. The king
perceiuing the knight in danger, |741| bad him alight from his horsse,
and deliuer his dagger to Wat Tiler: but when that would not pacifie
his proud and high mind, but that he would néeds flée vpon him, the
maior of London William Walworth, and other knights and esquiers that
were about the king, told him that it should be a shame for them all,
if they permitted the knight in their presence before the eies of their
prince so to be murthered: wherfore they gaue counsell to succor him
foorthwith, and to apprehend the vile naughtie ribald. The king though
he was but a child in yeares, yet taking courage to him, commanded the
maior to arrest him. The maior being a man of incomparable boldnesse,
foorthwith rode to him and arrested him, in reaching him such a blow
on the head, that he sore astonied him therewith: and streightwaies
other that were about the king, as Iohn Standish an esquier, and diuers
more of the kings seruants drew their swords, and thrust him through in
diuerse parts of his bodie, so that he fell presentlie from his horsse
downe to the earth, and died there in the place.
[Sidenote: The king persuadeth the rebels.]
When the commons beheld this, they cried out, “Our capteine is
traitorouslie slaine; let vs stand togither and die with him: let vs
shoot and reuenge his death manfullie:” and so bending their bowes,
made them readie to shoot. The king shewing both hardinesse and wisdome
at that instant, more than his age required, set his spurs to his
horsse, and rode to them, saieng: “What is the matter my men, what
meane you? Will you shoot at your king? Be not troubled nor offended at
the death of a traitor and ribald; I will be your king, capteine and
leader, follow me into the fields, and you shall haue all things that
you can desire.” This did the king, to the end he might appease them,
least they should haue set fire on the houses there in Smithfield, and
haue attempted some further mischéefe, in reuenge of the displeasure
which they tooke for the death of their chéefe leader. They mooued with
these the kings words, followed him and the knights that were with him,
into the open fields, not yet resolued whether they should set vpon the
king and slea him, or else be quiet, and returne home with the kings
charter.
[Sidenote: Vehement words of the maior of London to the citizens crieng
for aid against the rebels.