Chronicles of England, Scotland and Ireland (2 of 6): England (12 of 12): Richard the Second, the Second Sonne to Edward Prince of WalesHolinshed, Raphael
History
Chronicles of England, Scotland and Ireland (2 of 6): England (12 of 12): Richard the Second, the Second Sonne to Edward Prince of Wales
Holinshed, Raphael
Great Britain -- History -- Richard II, 1377-1399; Great Britain -- History -- To 1485; Great Britain -- History -- Tudors, 1485-1603
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._]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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