(a) The commons of Kent, with their leader, Jack Cade, divulge their many grievances: amongft which, that the king was driven to live only on his commons, and other men to enjoy the revenues of the crown; which Caufed poverty in his Majetty, and the great payments of the people, now late granted to the king in parliament. Also they defire, that the king would remove all the falle Progeny and affinity of the late Duke of Suffolk, which be penly known; and them to punish: and to take about his Poron the tre lords of his royal blood; to wit, the mighty prince, the Duke of York, late exiled by the traiterous motion of the falfe Duke of buffolk, and his affinity, &c. Ao they crave, that they who contrived the death of the high and mighty prince, Humphrey Duke of Gloceskr, might have punishment, Which fo increas'd th' opinion of their might, That much it gave to do, and much it wronght; Confirm'd their rage, drew on the vulgar wight, Call'd forth th' tim'rous, fresh partakers brought. For many, though most glad their wrongs to right, Yet durft not venture their estates for nought: But fee'ng the cause had such advantage got, Occafion makes them ftir, that elfe would not. IV. So much he errs that fcorns, or elfe neglects v. Yet this good fortune all their fortune marr'd; VI. For whilft this wild, unreined multitude (Led with an unforeseeing, greedy mind, (b) Anno regni 29. (e) The Duke of York, who at t's time was in Ireland, (fent thither to appeafe a rebellon; which he et fitted in fuch fort, as got him ard his lineage exceeding Jove and liking with that people ever af ei) returning home, and pretending great injuries to be offered him, both whit he was in the king's fervice, and likewife upon his Landing in North Wales; combines himiel with Richard Nevite, Earl of Salisbury, fecond fon to Ralph, Earl of Weftmoreland, (whote daugerer he had married), and with Richard Neve (the ton: Larl of Warwick, with other his cfpecial friends; with whom he confults for the reformation of the government, after he had complained of the great dif rders therein. laying the blanke, for the lofs of Normandy, upon the Duke of Smertet; whom, upon his returning thence, he caufed to be arrested, and committed. Ten thousand ftrait caught with this bait of Are towards greater look'd-for forces led; [breath, Whofe pow'r the king by all means travaileth, In their arifing to have ruined: (The Duke of York raifeth an army in the Marches of Wales, under pretext to renove divers counsellors abut the king; and to revenge the mapiet injuries done to the commonwealth: and withal he publiheth a decaration of his loyalty, and the wrongs done him by his advertaries; offering to take his oath upon the blefled farament, to have been ever true liege-san to the king, and to ever to continue. Which declaration was writtell mis cattle of Ludlow, January 9. abno rega: 30. . Sruary 16 the king, with the Duke of Sumeriet, and matur lords, fet forward towards the Marches; but the ke of York took other ways, and made up towards London. (e) The ufe of guns, and great ordnance, began about this time, or not long before. (f) This principal part of Europe, which contained the molt fourthing itate of Christendom, was at this time in the hands of many feveral princes and commonwealths, which quietly coverned the fame: For being fo many, and none over great, they were lefs attemptive to ditiurbothers, and more careful to keep their own, with a mutual correfpondence of amity. As Italy had then many more principalities and commonwealths than it hath. Spain was divided into many kingdoms: France conafted of divers free chinees. Both the Cermanes, of any more governins.... L. iij L.. And this beginning had this curfed frame, Which (i) York now planted hath against his king: Prefuming by his pow'r, and by the fame, The Duke of York being not admitted into the city, affed over Kington-bridge, and fo into Kent; and on Brent heath, near Dart.ord, pitch'd his field. The King takes after, and embattel'd upon Blackheath From hence he fends the Bithops of Winchester and Ely, with Earl of salisbury and Warwick, to mediate a peace. |