But the king being ruled altogither by the duke of Ireland, the earle
of Suffolke, and two or three other, was fullie persuaded that the
lords intended to bring him vnder their gouernement, and therfore he
was counselled to make the French king his sure friend in all vrgent
necessities. And to be assured of him, it was reported, that those
councellors aduised him to render vp into the French kings hands the
towne of Calis, and all that he had else in possession, on the further
side of the sea. Howsoeuer this matter went, truth it is, that the king
sent for the maior of London, requiring to know of him how manie able
men they thought the citie could make. The maior answered, that he
thought verely the citizens might make in time of need, fiftie thousand
men, within an houres respit. Well said the king, then I beseech you go
and prooue what will be done. But when the maior began to attempt the
matter, he was answered generallie, that they would neuer fight against
the kings freends, and defenders of the realme (as indeed they tooke
the lords to be) but against the enimies of the king and realme they
would alwaies be readie to fight, and shew what resistance they were
able. This answer the maior reported to the king. |786|
[Sidenote: The earle of Northumberlands and the lord Bassets words to
the king in the behalfe of the lords.]
At the same time there was about the king the lord Rafe Basset, who
said thus to the king flatlie and plainelie: “Sir, I haue béene,
and euer will be your true liege man, and my bodie and goods shall
euer be at your graces commandement, in all iustice and trueth. But
neuerthelesse, hereof I assure you, that if my hap be to come into
the field, I will without faile alwaies follow the true part; and it
is not I that will aduenture to haue my head broken for the duke of
Irelands pleasure.” Likewise, the earle of Northumberland, being at
that time in the court, spake these words to the king; “Sir, there is
no doubt but these lords, who now be in the field, alwaies haue beene
your true and faithfull subiects, and yet are, not intending to attempt
anie thing against your state, wealth, & honor. Neuerthelesse, they
féele themselues sore molested and disquieted, by the wicked deuises of
certeine persons about you, that seeke to oppresse them. And verilie
without faile, all your realme is sore greeued therewith, both great
and small, as well lords as commons; and I sée not the contrarie, but
they mind to aduenture their liues with the lords that are thus in
armes, speciallie in this case, which they reckon to be yours and your
realmes. And sir, now yée be in the cheefe place of your realme, and in
the place of your coronation, order your selfe now therefore wiselie
and like a king. Send to them to come before your presence in some
publike place, where they may declare vnto you the intent and purpose
of their comming, accompanied with so great a number of people into
these parts, and I beléeue it verelie, they will shew such reasons that
you will hold them excused.”
[Sidenote: The lords take an oth togither, to prosecute their purposed
enterprise.]
The archbishop of Canturburie, and the lord chancellor bishop of Elie,
and other of the bishops also there present, affirmed the earles aduise
to be good. And the king considering wiselie the case as it stood,
began to be appeased, and accorded to follow their aduise, desiring
the archbishop of Canturburie, and the bishop of Elie, to aduertise
them of his plesure, which was, that he willed them to come to him to
Westminster, on sundaie then next following; and so they repairing to
the lords, made report to them of the kings mind and purpose. But the
duke of Glocester, and the other lords, were so fullie bent in their
opinion, that they swore all whole togither, that they would neuer
giue ouer their enterprise, so long as they had a penie to spend, in
maintenance of their cause: and if it chanced anie of them to depart
this life, the ouerliuers should persist therein, vntill the time that
they had brought their purpose to some good effect.
[Sidenote: The lords séeke the fauour of the Londoners.
_Thom. Wals._]
And bicause they doubted least the king might stirre the citie of
London against them, they determined first to aduertise the maior
and the citie, how their comming was onlie to reforme certeine great
enormities, which they set downe in writing, & sent it to the maior
and citizens, beseeching them of their fauour and counsell therin.
This doone, they determined yet to kéepe their daie on the sundaie
following, to appeare before the kings presence: but this was not got
of them, till that the lord chancellor, with diuerse other noblemen of
good credit, had vndertaken vpon their oths for the kings behalfe, that
no fraud nor deceipt, no perill nor euill pretense should be put in
practise against the lords, wherby they might come to losse either of
life, limme, or goods, or otherwise, through the kings means; but that
if he should go about anie such things, the said lord chancellor and
other the mediators should forwarne the lords therof.
[Sidenote: An ambush at Mewes.]
When therefore the lords were readie, according to couenant, to come
vnto Westminster, they were secretlie aduertised, that there was an
ambush laid in a place called the Mewes, and so they staied, and came
not at the appointed houre. Wherevpon, when the king demanded, how
it fortuned that the lords kept not promise, the bishop of Elie lord
Chancellor made him this answer; “Bicause” saith he, “there is an
ambush of a thousand armed men or more laid in such a place (and named
it) contrarie to couenant, and therefore they neither come nor hold
you for faithfull of your word.” The king hearing this, was astonied,
and said with an oth, that he knew of no such thing, & withall sent to
the shiriffes of London, commanding them to go to the Mewes, and (vpon
search made) if they found anie force of men there assembled, to take
and kill all such as they |787| could laie hands vpon. But sir Thomas
Triuet, and sir Nitholas Brambre, knight, that had in déed assembled
such a number of men, when they vnderstood what order the king had
giuen therein, they sent their men backe to London.
[Sidenote: The lords come before the kings presence in Westminster hall.