Strange Histories, or, Songes and Sonets, of Kings, Princes, Dukes, Lordes, Ladyes, Knights, and Gentlemen Very pleasant either to be read or songe: and a most excellent warning for all estates [by Thomas Deloney] |
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The Rebellion of Watt Tyler and Iacke Straw:
with others, against K. Richard the second.
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 | Strange Histories, or, Songes and Sonets, of Kings, Princes, Dukes, Lordes, Ladyes, Knights, and Gentlemen |  |
The Rebellion of Watt Tyler and Iacke Straw: with others, against K. Richard the second.
Cant. 10.
Watt Tyler is from Darford gan,and with him many a proper man:
And hee a Captaine is become,
marching in field with Phife and Drumme.
Iacke Straw an other in like case,
from Essex flockes a mighty pace.
Hob Carter with his stragling traine,
Iacke Shepheard comes with him amaine,
So doth Tom Miller in like sort,
as if he ment to take some Fort:
With Bowes and Bils, with Speare & Shield,
on Black-heath haue they pitcht their Field:
whose force is not accounted small:
And for King Richard did they send,
much euill to him they did intend:
For the Taxe the which our king
vpon his Commons then did bring:
And now because his royall Grace,
denyed to come within their Chase,
They spoyled Southwarke round about,
and tooke the Marshals Prisoners out:
All those that in the kings-bench lay,
at libertie they set that day.
And then they marcht with one consent,
through London, with a lewd intent.
And for to fit their lewd desire,
they set the Sauoy all on fire:
And for the hate that they did beare
vnto the Duke of Lancasteare,
Therefore his house they burned quite:
through enuie, malice, and despight.
Then to the Temple did they turne,
the Lawyers Bookes there did they burne:
And spoyld their Lodgings one by one,
and all they could lay hand vpon.
Then vnto Smithfield did they hie,
to Saint Iones Place, that stands thereby,
And set the same on fier flat.
which burned seuen dayes: after that
fast trooped these rebellious men,
And hauing entred soone the same,
with hidious cryes and mickle shame:
The graue Lord Chauncelor thence they tooke,
amazde with fearefull pittious looke:
The Lord high Treasurer likewise they,
tooke from that place that present day:
And with their hooting lowd and shrill,
stroke off their heads on Tower hill.
Into the Cittie came they then.
like rude disordered franticke men:
They robd the Churches euery where,
and put the Priestes in deadly feare.
Into the Counters then they get,
where men in prison lay for debt:
They broke the doores, and let them out.
and threw the Counter Bookes about:
Tearing and spoyling them each one,
and Records all they light vpon.
The doores of Newgate broke they downe,
that Prisoners ran about the towne:
Forcing all the Smiths they meete,
to knocke the Irons from their feete.
And then like villaines voyde of awe,
followed Wat Tylor and Iacke Straw.
And though this outrage was not small,
So they would part home quietly:
but they his Pardon did defie.
And being all in Smithfield then,
euen threescore thousand fighting men,
Which there Wat Tyler then did bring,
of purpose for to meet our King.
And therewithall his royall Grace,
sent Sir Iohn Newton to that place,
Unto Wat Tyler, willing him,
to come and speake with our young King.
But the proud Rebell in despight,
did picke a quarrell with the Knight.
The Mayor of London being by,
when he beheld this villanie,
Unto Wat Tyler rode he then,
being in midst of all his men:
Saying, Traytor yeeld, tis best,
in the Kings name I thee arrest:
And therewith to his Dagger start,
and thrust the Rebell to the hart:
Who falling dead vnto the ground,
the same did all the Host confound:
And downe they threw their weapons all,
and humbly they for pardon call:
Thus did that proud Rebellion cease,
and after followed a ioyfull peace.
FINIS.
| Strange Histories, or, Songes and Sonets, of Kings, Princes, Dukes, Lordes, Ladyes, Knights, and Gentlemen | |