"We will that you free us for ever," shouted the peasants, "us and our lands; and that we be never named nor held for serfs! "I grant it," replied Richard; and he bade them go home, pledging himself at once to issue charters of freedom and amnesty. A shout of joy welcomed the promise. Throughout the day more than thirty clerks were busied writing letters of pardon and emancipation, and with these the mass of Essex men and the men of Hertfordshire withdrew quietly to their homes. But while the king was successful at Mile-end, a terrible doom had fallen on the councillors he left behind him. Richard had hardly quitted the Tower when the Kentishmen, who had spent the night within the city, entered it, and finding Archbishop Sudbury and other obnoxious ministers in the chapel, the rough horse-play in which they seemed disposed to indulge was soon changed into a cry for blood. The Primate was dragged from his sanctuary and beheaded, and the same vengeance was wreaked on the Treasurer, and the Chief Commissioner for the levy of the hated poll-tax. Richard meanwhile had ridden round the northern wall of the city to the Wardrobe near Blackfriars, and from this new refuge he opened his negotiations with the Kentish insurgents. Many of these dispersed at the news of the king's pledge to the men of Essex, but a body of thirty thousand still surrounded Wat Tyler, when Richard, on the morning of the fifteenth, encountered that leader by mere chance at Smithfield. Hot words passed between his train and the peasant chieftain, and a threat from Tyler brought on a brief struggle, in which the Mayor of London, William Walworth, struck him with his dagger to the ground. "Kill! kill!" shouted the crowd; "they have slain our captain!" But Richard faced the Kentishmen with the same cool courage as he faced the men of Essex. "What need ye, my masters ?" cried the boy-king, as he rode boldly up to the front of the bowmen. "I am your captain and your king; follow me." The hopes of the peasants centred in the young sovereign; one aim of their rising had been to free him from the evil councillors who, as they believed, abused his youth; and at his word they followed him with a touching loyalty and trust till he entered the Tower. His mother welcomed him within its walls with joy. "Rejoice, and praise God," Richard answered, "for I have recovered to-day my heritage which was lost, and the realm of England." But he was compelled to give the same pledge of freedom to the Kentishmen as at Mile-end, and it was only after receiving letters of pardon and emancipation that the yeomen dispersed. 1 Poll'-tax, a tax on every 'head,' or person. * Dart'-ford, a town in Kent. 3 Young king, Richard II.; this was in 1381. • Pal-'ace of the Sa-voy', belong. ing to John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster, the king's uncle. 5 Inn, originally a house or dwelling; a house where students were boarded and taught; hence we still call the colleges of common law Inns of Court. 6 Com-mu-ta'-tion. That is, that a sum of money should be paid instead of the labour due by the peasants to their lord. 7 E-man-ci-pa'-tion, from serfdom. freedom DEATH OF WAT TYLER. SCENE-Smithfield. Wat Tyler, John Ball, Hob Carter, Piers, etc. Mob. Herald. Richard the Second, by the grace of God, Tyler. Let him know Wat Tyler is in Smithfield [Exit HERALD]. I will parley With this young monarch: as he comes to me, Trusting my honour, on your lives, I charge you, Let none attempt to harm him. Enter KING, WALWORTH, PHILPOT, ETC. King. I would speak to thee, Wat Tyler: bid the mob Retire awhile. Piers. Nay, do not go alone: Let me attend you. Tyler. Wherefore should I fear? Am I not armed with a just cause? Retire, And I will boldly plead the cause of freedom. [Advances. And led my honest subjects from their homes, To remedy the ill? Was this the way You should have tried By milder means-petitioned at the throne; The throne will always listen to petitions. Tyler. Petitioning for pity is most weak, King of England, The sovereign people ought to demand justice. Insulted a maid's modesty. Your subjects His yoke is heavy, and his burden grievous. To force upon the French a king they hate, Tearing our young men from their peaceful homes, Forcing his hard-earned fruits from the honest peasant, But to support your court's extravagance, Must we lie tamely at our tyrant's feet, And, like your spaniels, lick the hand that beats us? We toil and sweat for money for your taxes: We pay, we fight; you profit at your ease. Do you not claim the country as your own? And tyrants tremble-mark me, King of England! Walworth (comes behind him and stabs him). Insolent rebel, threatening the king! Piers. Vengeance! Vengeance! King (advancing). My friends and loving subjects, |
