Chronicles of England, Scotland and Ireland (3 of 6): England (3 of 9): Henrie the Sixt, Sonne and Heire to Henrie the FiftHolinshed, Raphael
History
Chronicles of England, Scotland and Ireland (3 of 6): England (3 of 9): Henrie the Sixt, Sonne and Heire to Henrie the Fift
Holinshed, Raphael
Great Britain -- History -- Henry VI, 1422-1461; Great Britain -- History -- To 1485; Great Britain -- History -- Tudors, 1485-1603
Soone after an other disquiet befell here. Those that fauoured the
duke of Yorke, and wished the crowne vpon his head, for that (as they
iudged) he had more right thereto than he that ware it, procured a
commotion in Kent on this manner. A certeine yoong man of a goodlie
stature and right pregnant of wit, was intised to take vpon him the
name of Iohn Mortimer coosine to the duke of Yorke (although his
name was Iohn Cade, or (of some) Iohn Mend-all) [an Irishman as
Polychronicon saith] and not for a small policie, thinking by that
surname, that those which fauoured the house of the earle of March
would be assistant to him. And so in déed it came to passe (as in such
cases there is no bréeder of a broile but he shall find adherents
enow, no lesse forward to further his pernicious enterprise by their
foolehardines, than himselfe was in the plot of his deuise) though in
fine (as it is the vnluckie lot of such tumults) their attempts were
withstood, and their offense dulie rewarded, as in processe of the
storie shall more at large appeare; according to the wisemans sentence:
Sæpe in magistrum scelera redeunt sua.
[Sidenote: _Abr. Fl. ex I. S._ 653.]
This capteine assembling a great companie of tall personages, assured
them, that the enterprise which he tooke in hand, was both honourable
to God and the king, and profitable to the whole realme. For if either
by force or policie they might get the king and quéene into their
hands, he would cause them to be honourablie vsed, and take such order
for the punishing and reforming of the misdemeanours of their bad
councellours, that neither fiftéens should hereafter be demanded, nor
once anie impositions or taxes be spoken of. The Kentish people mooued
at these persuasions & other faire promises of reformation, in good
order of battell (though not in great number) came with their capteine
vnto the plaine of Blackeheath, betwéene Eltham and Gréenewich, and
there kept the field more than a month, pilling the countrie about;
to whome the citie of London at that time was verie fauourable. ¶ And
the said capteine (as I find recorded saith Iohn Stow) sent for such
citizens of London as it pleased him to command to repaire vnto him,
vnder letters of safe conduct, as followeth.
The safegard and signe manuell of the capteine of Kent, sent to Thomas
Cocke draper of London, by the capteine of the great assemblie in Kent.
By this our writing insealed, we grant & will permit trulie, that
Thomas Cocke of London draper, shall come in good suertie and in
safegard to our presence, without anie hurt of his person, and so auoid
from vs againe at his pleasure, with all other persons assigned at his
denomination with him comming in likewise.
The commandement by the capteine of Kent, sent vnto Thomas Cocke aboue
said.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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