The History of England in Three Volumes, Vol. I., Part B.: From Henry III. to Richard III. — David Hume — John Shaqi
The History of England in Three Volumes, Vol. I., Part B.: From Henry III. to Richard III.
David Hume · en
The seditious peasants, meanwhile, favored by the populace of London,
had broken into the city; had burned the duke of Lancaster’s palace of
the Savoy; cut off the heads of all the gentlemen whom they laid hold
of; expressed a particular animosity against the lawyers and attorneys;
and pillaged the warehouses of the rich merchants.[*] A great body of
them quartered themselves at Mile End; and the king, finding no
defence in the Tower, which was weakly garrisoned and ill supplied with
provisions, was obliged to go out to them and ask their demands. They
required a general pardon, the abolition of slavery, freedom of commerce
in market towns without toll or impost, and a fixed rent on lands,
instead of the services due by villainage. These requests, which, though
extremely reasonable in themselves, the nation was not sufficiently
prepared to receive, and which it was dangerous to have extorted by
violence, were, however, complied with; charters to that purpose were
granted them; and this body immediately dispersed, and returned to their
several homes.[**]
During this transaction, another body of the rebels had broken into the
Tower; had murdered Simon Sudbury, the primate and chancellor, with Sir
Robert Hales, the treasurer, and some other persons of distinction; and
continued their ravages in the city.[***]
* Froissard, liv. ii, chap. 76. Walsing. p. 248, 249.
** Froissard, liv. ii chap. 77.
*** Walsing, p. 250, 251.
[Illustration: 1_239_tyler.jpg WAT TYLER]