Bourchier of the King, my natural lord? I commit1 never to live 1523 without thou shalt dearly abye2 it.' And with those words the Mayor drew out his sword and struck Tyler so great a stroke on the head, that he fell down at the feet of his horse; and as soon as he was fallen, they environed him all about, whereby he was not seen of his company. Then a squire of the King's alighted, called John Standish, and he drew out his sword and put it into Wat Tyler's belly, and so he died.

Then the ungracious people there assembled, perceiving their captain slain, began to murmur among themselves and said: 'Ah! our captain is slain; let us go and slay them all;' and therewith they arranged themselves on the place in manner of battle, and their bows before them. Thus the King began a great outrage; howbeit, all turned to the best, for as soon as Tyler was on the earth the King departed from all his company, and all alone he rode to these people, and said to his own men: 'Sirs, none of you follow me; let me alone.' And so when he came before these ungracious people, who put themselves in ordinance to revenge their captain, then the King said to them: 'Sirs, what aileth you? ye shall have no captain but me: I am your King; be all in rest and peace.' And so the most part of the people that heard the King speak and saw him among them were shamefast, and began to wax peaceable and to depart; but some, such as were malicious and evil, would not depart, but made semblant 3 as though they would do somewhat. Then the King returned to his own company and demanded of them what was best to be done. Then he was counselled te draw into the field, for to fly away was no boot. Then said the Mayor: It is good that we do so, for I think surely we shall have shortly some comfort of them of London, and of such good men as be of our part, who are purveyed, and have their friends and men ready armed in their houses.' 2 Repay.

1 Promise.

3 Made as they would.

• Provided.

And in this meantime voice and bruit ran through London, Bourchier how these unhappy people were likely to slay the King and 1523 the Mayor in Smithfield; through the which noise all manner of good men of the King's party issued out of their houses and lodgings, well armed, and so came all to Smithfield and to the field where the King was; and they were anon to the number of seven or eight thousand men well armed. And first thither came Sir Robert Knolles and Sir Perducas Dalbret, well accompanied, and divers of the Aldermen of London, and with them a six hundred men in harness, and a puissant man of the city, who was the King's draper, called Nicholas Bramber, and he brought with him a great company; and ever as they came they ranged them afoot in order of battle. And on the other part these unhappy people were ready ranged, making semblance to give battle; and they had with them divers of the King's banners. There the King made three knights: the one the Mayor of London, Sir Nicholas Walworth, Sir John Standish, and Sir Nicholas Braule.

Then the lords said among themselves: What shall we do? We see here our enemies, who would gladly slay us, if they might have the better hand of us.' Sir Robert Knolles counselled to go and fight with them and slay them all; yet the King would not consent thereto, but said: 'Nay, I will not so; I will send to them, commanding them to send me again my banners, and thereby we shall see what they will do; howbeit, either by fairness or otherwise, I will have them.' 'That is well said, sir,' quoth the Earl of Salisbury. Then these new knights were sent to them, and these knights made token to them not to shoot at them. And when they came so near them that their speech might be heard, they said: 'Sirs, the King commandeth you to send to him again his banners, and we think he will have mercy of you.' And incontinent they delivered again the banners, and sent them to the King: also they were com

Bourchier manded, on pain of their heads, that all such as had letters 1523 of the King to bring them forth, and to send them again to

the King. And so, many of them delivered their letters, but not all: then the King made them to be all torn in their presence. And as soon as the King's banners were delivered again, these unhappy people kept none array, but the most part of them did cast down their bows, and so break their array, and returned into London. Sir Robert Knolles was sore displeased in that he might not go to slay them all; but the King would not consent thereto, but said he would be revenged of them well enough, and so he was after.

John Bourchier, Lord Berners.

Tiptoft 1530

THE

THE CONQUEST OF BRITAIN

HE horsemen of the Britons and their essedaries fought sharply with the horsemen of the Romans as they were on their journey: but the Romans were victors, and chased them into the woods and mountains. But after that the Romans had slain many of their enemies, and followed them farther for covetousness, they lost many of their men. And after that a little time, the Romans, being negligent and nothing doubting, were about to fortify their camp, the Britons suddenly leapt out of the wood, and began to assail fiercely, and set on them which kept the watch of the camp, the which withstood them strongly. Then Caesar sent for succours, two companies, and with them the first legion of the two next legions, between which legions and their first fighters was a little space. But the Romans were abashed because of the new manner and fashion that they of Britain used in fighting, the which struck courageously in the midst of the Romans and departed again at their pleasure, without any hurt or wounds. That same day was

Quintus Laberius Durus, captain of the horsemen, slain. Tiptoft But after that Caesar had sent in aid certain company with 1530 all things necessary, the Britons were soon discomfited. Now, for so much as this was open in the sight of all men, because it was fought before the camp where the whole host lay, it was well perceived that the Romans, for weight of their heavy armour, were not able to follow quickly, nor chase their enemies, nor also they durst not depart from their standards. Wherefore they were not meet to fight with their enemies, which used such manner of battle. They perceived also the horsemen could not fight without great peril, because their enemies would oftentimes flee for the nonce. And when they had moved by fraud the Romans a good distance from the legions, then they leapt out of their chariots and began a new battle on foot, after another fashion than the Romans used. And the manner of fight of the horsemen was very perilous, whether they assailed their enemies or whether they followed them. Their enemies also fought not all together, but some here and some there, and great spaces between them when they fought. And some stood still to see the array kept, and to furnish the field ever with fresh men when the other were weary or hurt.

The next day after this battle the Britons were lodged on the mountains not far from the host of the Romans, and showed themselves in a small company, and began to assail the horsemen of the Romans, but not so fiercely as they had done the day before. But about the hour of noon, when Caesar had sent on foraging three legions and all his horsemen, under the conduct of Caius Trebonius, his lieutenant, their enemies leapt suddenly out of all parts on them that went a-foraging, insomuch as they came and assailed them that bare the banners and the legions. But after that the Romans had made a strong assault against them, they put them to flight, and ceased

Tiptoft not to follow them: for the horsemen had much confidence 1530 to have succours, because they perceived the legions following after them: they chased their enemies, and slew a great number of them, and followed them so near that they had neither space to gather themselves together in array, nor to arrest themselves, nor yet to leap out of their chariots. After this flight, all the aliens which were come out of all parts to succour the Britons departed, and after this time never made any plain field with their power against the Romans. When this battle was thus finished, Caesar having knowledge of the counsel of all his enemies, caused his host to march toward the country of Cassevelan by the river of the Thames, over which flood a man can pass afoot, and that very hardily, but at one place. And when he came thither, he perceived on the other side of the river a great army of enemies ready in good ordinance.

Now, the side of the river where his enemies stood was pitched full of sharp piles: and beside it, at the brink of the river, were other piles which were covered with water. Of the which things, when Caesar was advertised by the report of the prisoners, and by them which had left the Britons and were come to Caesar, he sent first his men of arms, and commanded the legions should follow them immediately without delay. And the army went so hastily and with such great violence together, notwithstanding that they had their heads all only above the water, that the Britons, which were not able to resist the strength of the legions and of the horsemen, were compelled to leave the banks and to flee away. Then Cassevelanus, as before, showed when he had lost all his hope that he had to make war, and also had put from him his great army, and kept all only with him four thousand essedaries: he espied all that he might what way the Romans held, and ever kept himself aloof a little out of the way, and lurked in woods and other