A March on London

he king, my lo

le enough. The king, after reading them, told them in a loud voice that he was willing to grant their desires, and would forthwith issue a charter bestowing these four points on the people. The rebels set up a great shout, and forthwith marched away in their companies, the men of Herts, Cambridge, and Suffo

grant the charter,

s of the Tower. But, indeed, the king could not himself grant such a charter. It is a matter that must be done both by king and parliament, and when the knights of the shires and the representatives of the great towns meet, they will be equally ind

ave the right of buying and selling in open market. As to fixing the price of land, I think not that that can be done, seeing that some land is vastly more fertile than others, and that the land towns is of much greater value than

e best that these things that they now ask for should be granted, and that England should be content, and all classes stand together. Undoubtedly these fellows have shown that they can bite as well as growl, and though they would al

call themselves, to think that they have but to rise in arms to frighten the king and government into granting whatsoever they may demand. And now let us eat and drink, for indeed I am both hungry and thirsty, and I doubt not t

r in the city than here, but we told Hob and Jenkin always to keep a store of food, since there was no saying when you would all return, an

nce I saw you last?" the knight a

ster's palace at the Savoy had been burned, and the houses in the Temple pillaged and fired; and ho

id, "for I think not that I could have kept my swor

" Albert said, with a smile, "and we felt, therefo

re of these villains. Now that I look at you closely, it seems to me that you use your left arm but stiffly, Albert; and you h

ch got some blows-some of them pretty hard

t come abo

e time they came to the assistance of the Flemi

them-seven, you say, in the Tower, and, I doubt not, a good thirteen at the door and on the stair of this Fleming's house-and to think that we considered this boy of ours fit for nothing else than to become a priest. This is the second time since we came up here, a fortnight since, that they h

it was Va

nd now you have befriended Van Voorden, who is the richest and most influential of the Flemish merchants in London. It is to him that the chancellor goes when he desires to raise a loan among the Flemings, and he always manages it wi

e time been thinking of returning to Flanders, and that now he should do so

them were not at heart with the people, which was not altogether unnatural, seeing that they were drawn from the same class and from the same counties. Still, doubtless, most of them would have proved true, and so long as they did their duty the others could

over it, but whether the order was not given for it or whether it was misunderstood I know not, but the blunder has cost the lives of the archbishop, the lord treasurer, a

remained until the next morning. While there he learned that Wat the Tyler and a portion of the Kentish men had rejected contemptuously the charter with which the men from the counties north of

he king on his way may be met by the rabble, which is composed of the worst and most dangerous of all who have been out, for in addition to Tyler's own following, there will be the prisoners released

itizens also in armour, they having come to form an escort for the king. Richard arrived by water with several knights and gentlemen who had accompanied him on his visit to his mother. Mass was celebrated, and the king then paid his devoti

ights with the king that he had the insolence to demand, in addition to all the concessions offered, that all forest laws should be abolished, and that all warrens

de a sign that he would speak with them. Wat the Tyler at once rode

the hilt of his sword; "see, he lifts not his cap

he flank of the king's horse, and he and Richard were knee

"do you see all

hard replied. "Wh

y are all at my will, sworn to

ort sword, stabbed him in the throat. Wat the Tyler reeled on his horse, and Ralph Standish, one of the king's esquires, thrust him through the body, and he fell dead. A great shout arose from his follow

"Wat the Tyler was a traitor. I am your k

ainst his councillors, they had always professed loyalty to

do now?" he aske

and will rush upon us, while if we advance we may gain a little time. Sir Robert Knowles is gathering a force in the city, and

MAYOR STABS WAT THE TY

-KI

lse came forward to take the command, they did nothing until the king reached the open fields by Islington. As he did so, Sir Robert Knowles, with a following of upwards of a thousand men, rode up f

esty? We will speedily make an

who have been led astray. They are no longer dangerous, an

re burning with a desire to avenge the dishonour thrown upon the city by the

fenceless, and it would be an ill deed to slay them unresistin

o stomach. It was a courageous action of the young king, lads, thus to ride alone to that angry crowd armed with bills and bows. Had one of them loosed an arrow at him all would have shot, and nau

lk, Cambridge, and Huntingdon. He surprised several bodies of peasants and utterly defeated them. The prisoners taken were brought before him, and putting off the complete armour which he wore, he heard the confession of his captives, gave th

gain, but were defeated with great loss, as was to be expected. When parliament met they not only approved the annulment of the charters, but declared that such charters were invalid without their consent, and passed several stringent laws to deter the people from venturing u

at the Tyler Sir Ralph told the lad

im how you had rescued my dame and daughter, and also how you had befriend

ves as valiant as you, we should have had no difficulty in dealing with these knaves. It seems to me strange, indeed, th

rawn and pikes pointed. I trembled, and felt well-nigh sick when I saw you thus expose yourself to what seemed certain death. In our case the risk was but small, for in the fray here we had

me that you are as yet young, and that he would prefer-and believed that you also would do so-to wait until you had an opportunity of winning your spurs in combat with a foreign foe. However, it is but deferred, and I promise you that as soon as you are two years older, I will bestow knighthood upo

, to tell him that order is restored, and that h

rival here, your Majesty, for they rescued from an attack by robbers outside Aldersgate Master Robert Gaiton, who is an alderma

ode with the lord mayor from Westminster with me. Pleas

the story of

uld gladly have you here about my person, but, as Sir Ralph has told me, you would fain, at any rate for the present, devote yourselves to arms, I did not press the matter, but be assured that at any time you will find in me a friend. You have but to ask

the people were going about their business. They therefore found the door of the house opposite Van Voorden's standing open. Waiting until they saw that no one was near, they entered, opened the sl

ventured out, thinking that it would be better to remain quiet for a

er has been killed and his followers have fled, loyal gentlemen with their retainers are coming in fast, all is quiet here,

the light and air. I will sally out with you at once and look for a lodging, where we m

that he intended to return home at once, until order was completely restored throughout the country, and he decided to

overed from her malady that she will not need to be carried hither, but I want to get her out from the hiding-place whe

y of room in the house, for I embarked my wife and family ten d

all of whom had believed him to have been killed by the rioters befo

heer," the latter said. "I feared t

was owing to the valo

let me introduc

you see me here alive. If you can spare time to come and take your meal with me, which should be ready by

ot be expecting me back for some time, as they would not

will come too

ert said. "My father is detained at the Tower, and my

ot suppose that you care about havi

both told their stories. "I see not how I am to discharge any of my obligations to them. If they had taken us both captive

d from his sovereign. But his notions of honour will scarce admit of his taking money for a service rendered. I have promised to fit them o

d chance at any time to go to Flanders; but beyond that I see not that I can do aught at present. Later on, when they become knights, and t

nnot count guineas with you, but I am a flourishing man, and as I have but one

afe for them to leave the hiding-place, that he had been a very weakly lad, and had been intended for the Church, but that Edgar had been a great friend of his, had urged him to practise in arms, which so increased his strength that he was, to his

y are in all ways worthy youths. I have seen much of them during the last few day

ridden with him, and granted an augmentation to the arms of the city, introducing a short sword or dagger in the right

nd Edgar had rendered him, and heard for the first time how they had saved Dame Agatha and A

iton said. "Once begun, it was a matter of life and de

ir Ralph said, "and would fain have knight

in. "Of a surety no men could have done better, and as they have beha

nd it were well they served under some brave captain, and learned how to receive as well as give orders. To-morrow, gentlemen, I ride to St. Alwyth, for news has come in that the Kentish rebels,

y ward to join those the city is gathering for the king's aid. They are stout fellows, and will, I w

u for your offer, I can

be

pleasure to lift some small share of the burden of obligation from my shoulder

numerous enough to make defence against a strong attack. I doubt not that all the serfs on the estate have been in th

ou start,

at Aldgate is open I

head of the bridge, awa

," Van Voorden said, "for so many of my countrymen have

d that stout swordsman, young Edgar, and with fifty sturdy Londoners, who have always in their wars pro

e returning

here, and as soon as matters are

y will hardly wish to go back to the Tower at present, after their late exper

Tower is already crowded, so many ladies and gentlemen have come in durin

mewhat shaken from what they have gone through. I will, if it pleases you, be at the gate to-morrow if they will accompany you so far, and will

with you to carry their valises, for I had yesterday all their things removed from that room in the T

more that I could do,"

s they walked b

will relinquish it to you. I marked as we rode two days since to Smithfield that our friend's son and Master Edgar

would be a relief to me to do somethin

l go with you to Master Armstrong's. He is accounted the best armourer in the

be glad if you will accompany me to choose them,

he entered the armourer's shop. "The cost is a matter of no account, but I want the best, and I know

althy Fleming, who was well

id, "See and get the suits somewhat large, for the gentlemen for whom M

on. They are all of foreign make save these two, which, as you see, are less ornamented than the rest. The others are all of Spanish or Milanese workmanship. These two suits are my own make. Our craftsmen are not

ers would scarce be in keeping with two young men who are not yet knights, seeing that they are such as would be worn by wealthy nobles; in the next place, there is

the suits equal in strength to the others I care not, and indeed t

e shoulders?" Sir Robert said. One wa

hts. The one is five feet ten, the other an inch less; but this matters little, seeing that another strip of steel can be added

reason of its temper, but was still light, the excellence of the steel re

at once to the Golden Fleece, in the Poultry, which was till yesterday the abod

two men to carry the armour, and in a quarter

gers of the finest temper with each su