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Anonimalle Chronicle is in Late Medieval Books.
At that same time, the Grand Master of the Hospital of St. John of Clerkenwell in London had a very fine and delightful manor in Essex, where he had prepared provisions and other necessities to hold his general chapter. It was well stocked with wine and suitably arranged as was fitting for such a lord and his brethren. And during that time, the commons came to the said manor and consumed the provisions and drank three tuns of good wine, and they tore the manor to the ground and set it on fire, causing great harm and loss to the said master. Then the commons sent out various letters to Kent, Suffolk, and Norfolk to raise support and allies to join them. And when they had gathered, they split into various groups, committing great harm throughout the surrounding countryside.
Mesme celle temps le haut meastre del hospital de seint Johan de Klerkenwell de Loundres avoit une tresbelle et tresdelitable manoir en Excesse ou il avoit ordenee vitailles et autres necessaries pur tener soun chapiter general, et fuist bien estuffe des vines et arraiez avenablement come affert a tiel seignour et a ses freres. Et en celle temps les comunes viendrent al dit manoir et / maungerount les vitailles et beverount troys tonailles de bone vine et traierent le manoir a terre, et mistrent en feu a graunde damage et perde al dit meastre; et puis les comunes manderent diverses lettres en Kent et en Southfolk et Northfolk pur lever ovesge eux ; et quaunt ils furount assemblez departirent en diverses compaignyes fesauntz graunde male parmy le pais enviroun.
Afterwards, on the Monday [3rd Jun 1381]1 following the feast of Pentecost, a knight of our lord the king's household, Sir Simon de Burley (age 41) by name, had with him two of the king's men-at-arms, and came that Monday to Gravesend and there claimed a man to be his serf. The good people of the town came to him to try to make a settlement, out of respect for the king. But Sir Simon would accept nothing less than 300 pounds in silver for the man's release, which was a grave injustice to the said man. The good townspeople begged for mercy, but they could not succeed in getting a reduction in the amount, telling Sir Simon that the man was a Christian and of good standing, and therefore should not be condemned to a life of bondage. At this, Sir Simon became very angry and wrathful, and he greatly scorned the good people. In his fury, he had the man bound by the sergeants and taken to Rochester Castle to be securely held, which led to great harm and misfortune thereafter. And after his departure, the commons began to rise up, welcoming to their cause people from many towns in Kent.
Denapres le lundy prochien apres le fest de Pentecost, une chivaler del measoun nostre seignur le roy, monsire Symond de Burley nome, avoit en sa companye deux seriauntes darmes del dit roy, et vient le lundy susdit a Gravesende et chalanga illeoges une homme destre soun nayff ; et les bones gentz de la ville viendrent a luy pur acorde fair en ease maner al reverence le roy. Mes le dit sire Symond ne vodroit meyns prendre qe ccc li. dargent a graunde defesance del dit homme; et a ceo les bones gentz prierent de mitigacione, mes ils ne purrount esplayter ne avoir lour purpos de meyndre somme, dissauntz al dit sire Symonde ge le homme fuist Cristien et de bone part et pur ceo il ne deveroit estre defait pur toutz iours; par qay le dit sire Symond fuist moult curuce et irrous et despisa graundement les bones gentz, et pur grossour de coer fist les sergeantz lier le dit homme et amener al chastelle de Rouchestre pur estre salvement garde, par qay graunde male et meschief vient apres; et apres soun aler, les comunes comenserount a lever, accoillauntz as eux les gentz des plusours villes en Kent.
Note 1. There is a problem with this narrative insofar as Accounts, etc., Exchequer 318/26, shows that Burley was in 'Bohemia' from the spring to the autumn of 1381 and could not have been at Gravesend on Whit Monday.
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And at that time, a justice was appointed by the king and his council and sent into Kent to conduct inquiries there of 'trailbastonry' (riot and violent crime), in the same manner as had been done in Essex. Accompanying him was a sergeant-at-arms of our lord the king, Master John Legge by name, who brought with him a large number of indictments against various people of the region, with the aim of making the king wealthy. They intended to hold court in Canterbury, but they were driven away by the commons. Then afterward, the commons of Kent—without any official leader or head—gathered again day by day in great numbers. And on the Friday after Pentecost, they came to Dartford and took counsel together, deciding that no one living near the sea, within twelve leagues (roughly 36 miles), should come with them, but rather should stay to guard the coasts against enemies. They said among themselves that they would rather have many kings than just one, and that they would not tolerate or accept any king other than King Richard.
Et en celle temps une iustice fuist assigne par le roy et soun conseil et maunde en Kent pur sere illeoges de traylbastounrie en maner come fuist en Excesse, et ovesqe luy une sergeaunt darmes nostre seignur le roy, meastre Johan Legge par noune, portaunt ovesge luy graunde noumbre des enditementz de diverses gentz del pais pur fair le roy riche; et vodroient avoir assis en Kaunterbury, mes ils furount rebotes par les comunes. Et puis apres les comunes de Kent, saunz test et saunz chieftayne, relierent de iour en iour a graunde noumbre, et le venderdy avaunt le Pentecost viendrent a Dertford et pristrent lour conseil et ordenerent qe nulles qe furount demurrauntz pred de la / meer en nulle lieu par lespace de xii leugez deveroient venir ovesgqe eux, mes garder les costes de le meer des enemys, dissauntz parentre eux qils furount plusours roys ge une et ils ne vodroient soefirer ne avoir autre roy fors roy Richard.
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And at that same time, the commons of Kent came to Maidstone and beheaded one of the best men of the town and tore down various houses and tenements belonging to those who refused to rise up with them, as had been done in Essex. And on the following Friday [7th June 1381], they came to Rochester [Map] and there met with a great number of the commons from Essex. Because of the man from Gravesend, they laid siege to Rochester Castle in order to recover their companion, whom the aforesaid Sir Simon had imprisoned. They launched a fierce assault on the castle, and the constable defended it vigorously for half a day. But in the end, fearing such a vast crowd of people from Essex and Kent who had gathered without reason, he surrendered the castle to them. The commons entered and freed their companion and all the other prisoners from the prison. Those from Gravesend returned with their companion with great celebration, without doing more, while those from Maidstone continued their journey with the other commons through the surrounding countryside.
Et mesme le temps le comunes de Kent viendrent a Maydenstoun et couperount le test de une de les meliours hommes de la ville et abaterount a terre diverses places et tenementz des gentz queux ne vodroient lever ovesqe eux come firent en Exesse ; et le venderdy prochien apres, viendrent a Rouchestre et illeoges encontrerount graunde noumbre des comunes de Exesse et par cause del homme de Grayvesende mistrent ensege al chastelle de Rouchestre pur avoir lour compaignoun del Gravesende, le quel sire Symond avauntdit avoit enprisone; et donerount fort assaute al chastelle, et les conestable se defendist vigurousement une dymy iour, mes au. darrein pur doute qil avoit de tiel multitude des gentz saunz resoun de Exesse et de Kent delivera le chastelle as eux et les comunes entrerent et pristrent lour compaignoun et toutz prisoners hors de prisone ; et ceux de Gravesende repairerount od lour compaignoun od graunde leestee saunz pluis fair, et les autres de Maydenstoun pristrent lour viage ovesge les autres comunes par le pais enviroun.
There, they made as their leader a man named Wat Tyler of Maidstone, to guide and advise them. And on the Monday [10th June 1381] following the feast of the Trinity, they came to Canterbury before the hour of None (around 3 p.m.), and three thousand of them entered the main church of Saint Thomas during high mass. Kneeling, they all cried out in one voice to the monks, demanding that they elect a new monk to be Archbishop of Canterbury, saying that the one who currently held the position was a traitor and would be beheaded for his treason — which indeed happened within five days afterward. When this was done, they returned to the town to join their companions, and by common agreement they summoned the mayor, bailiffs, and commons of the said town and questioned them whether they were willing, in good faith, to swear loyalty and fidelity to King Richard and to the loyal commons of England — or not. The mayor responded that they were willing to do so, and they took their oaths. Then the rebels asked whether there were any traitors among them, and it was said that there were three, who were named. The commons dragged those men out of their houses and beheaded them. Afterwards, they took some men from the town with them toward London and left the others behind to guard the town.
Kt illeoges firent lour chieftayne une Watt Teghler de Maydenstoun pur les mayntener et conseiller; et le lundy prochien apres le fest de la Trinytee viendrent a Caunterbury avaunt la houre de none et iii mille des eux entrerount en la meir esglise de seint Thomas en le temps del haut messe, et engenolauntz toutz a une voyce crierent a les moignes pur eslire une moigne destre ercevesqe de Kaunterbury, gar cestuy qor est, est traytour et serra decolle pur 8a Iniquitee ; et si fuist il deinz le v iours apres; et quaunt ceo fuist fait ils alerount en la ville a lour compaignouns et par une assent manderount pur le meir, baillives et comunes del dite ville et les examinerount sils vodroient ovesqe bone voluntee iurere destre fele et leel al roy Richarde et a les loials comunes Dengleterre ou nemy; et le meir / respoundist qils vodroient volunters, et firent lour serementes et puis demanderent de eux sils furount ascunes traitours parentre eux; et dissoient qils furount trois et nomeront lour nounes; les queux les communes traiherount hors de lour measones et couperont lour testes et apres pristrent d gentz de la ville ovesqe eux devers Londres et les autres lesserount pur garder la ville.
And Wat Tyler, leader and captain of the commons, requested of the King on behalf of the commons that he would allow them to take and seize all the traitors who were against him and against the law; and the King granted that they could take, at their will, those who were traitors and who could be proven traitors by the law. And the said Wat and the commons, bearing two banners and pennants and streamers, made their petition to the King and requested that no man should be a serf, nor owe homage or any kind of service to any lord, but rather pay four pence for an acre of land, and that no one should serve any man except by his own will and by contract or agreement. And at that time the King had the commons drawn up in two ranks and had it proclaimed before them that he would confirm and grant them to be free and to have all their wishes generally, and that they could go throughout the realm of England and seize all the traitors and bring them safely to him, and he would execute them according to what the law demanded; and by that grant, the said Wat Tyler and the commons set out toward the Tower, to seize the Archbishop and the others, while the King remained at Mile's End.
Et Wat Teghler meastre et ductour de eux priaunt a luy depar les comunes qil vodroit soeffrer qils purroient prendre et avoir toutz les traitours quels furont encontre luy et la ley; et le roy les graunta qils prendroient a lour volunte ceux ge furont traitours et qe purrount estre provez traitours par la ley. Et le dit Wat et les comunes portauntz deux baners et penouns et pencels, fesauntz lour peticione al roy et requirauntz ge nulle homme ne deveroit estre nayf, ne fair homage ne nulle maner de servys a ascune selgnur, mes doner iili d. pur une acre de terre et ge nulle ne deveroit servire ascune homme mes a sa volunte de mesme! et par covenant taille. Et en celle temps le roy fist arrayer les comunes en deux raunges et fist crier devaunt eux qil vodroit confermer et graunter 8 eux destre free et toutz lour voluntes generalment et qils purroient aler par tute le roialme Dengleterre et prendre toutz les traitours et les amener a luy salvement et il ferroit execucione de eux come la ley demande ; et pur celle graunt le dit Wat Tyghler et les comunes pristrent lour vay a le Toure, pur prendre lercevesqe et les autres, esteaunt le roy al Miles Ende.
At that time, the Archbishop was devoutly singing his mass in the Tower and heard the confession of the Prior of the Hospital of Clerkenwell and others, and then celebrated two or three more masses and sang the commendation, and Placebo and Dirige, and the seven psalms and the litany. And when he reached "Omnes sancti orate pro nobis" ("All saints, pray for us"), the commons entered and took the Archbishop from his chapel in the Tower and struck and pushed him shamefully, along with the others who were with him, and brought them to Tower Hill. There, they beheaded Master Simon of Sudbury, Archbishop of Canterbury, and Sir Robert Hales, High Prior of the Hospital of St. John of Clerkenwell, Treasurer of England, and Brother William of Appleton, great physician and surgeon and master in high standing with the King and the Duke of Lancaster. And long afterwards, they beheaded John Legge, Sergeant-at-Arms of our Lord the King, and a furrier. At the same time, the commons were proclaiming that anyone who could seize a Fleming or any other kind of foreigner, of whatever nation they were, should cut off their heads — and so they did. Then they took the heads of the Archbishop and the others and placed them on wooden poles and carried them in procession throughout the whole city, all the way to the shrine of the Abbey of Westminster, in contempt of them, of God, and of Holy Church, so that vengeance might fall upon them shortly thereafter. They returned to London Bridge and there placed the Archbishop’s head above the bridge, along with eight other heads that had been beheaded, so that all could see them as they passed the bridge. And after this was done, they went to the church of St. Martin in the Vintry and found in that church thirty-five Flemings. They dragged them out to the street and beheaded them there. That same day, more than 140 or even 160 people were beheaded. Then they took their course to all the places of the Lombards and the other foreigners, broke into their houses, and robbed them of all their possessions that they could find throughout the day and the following night, with hideous cries and horrible noise.
En quel temps lercevesge chaunta sa messe devotement en la Toure et confessa le priour del Hospitalle de Klerkenwell et autres et puis ola deux messes ou trois et chaunta la comendacione et ‘Placebo et Dirige’ et les vii salmes et le letanye; et quaunt il fuist a ‘Omnes sancti orate pro nobis’, entrerent les comunes et pristrent lercevesge hors de sa chapelle en la Toure et luy ferrent et butent vilaynesment et les autres ge furont ovesqe luy et les amenerent al Tourehill ; et couperount les testes de meistre Symonde de Sudburye, ercevesqe de Caunterbury et de monsire Robert de Hales haute / priour del hospitalle de seint Johan de Klerkenwell, tresorer Dengleterre, et frer William de Apiltoun graunt fisciciane et surrezene et graunt meistre ovesge le roy et le duc de Loncastre et longe temps apres couperount? de Johan Legge sergeaunt darmes nostre seignur le roy, et de une lurrour ; et mesme le temps les comunes fesoient crier qe chescune ge purroit prendre ascune Flemmynge ou ascune maner des aliens de quel nacione qil fuist, qils deveroient couper lour testes; et si fesoient apres, et puis pristrent les testes del ercevesge et de les autres et les mistrent sour stoures de fuist et les porterount avaunt eux en processione par tute la citee, tange la schrine del abbaye de Wymoustre, en despit de eux et de Dieu et de seint esglise, qare vengeance descendist sur eux deinz brief temps apres ; et retourneront al pount de Loundres et illeoges mistrent le test del ercevesqe amount le pount et viii autres testes qe furont decolles, ge toutz purroient veer ge passerount le pount. Et quaunt ceo fuist fait ils alerount al esglise de seint Martyne en le Vintrye et troverount en la dite esglise XXXV Flemynges et les traieront hors al® huse et couperont lour testes en la rew. Et furont decolles mesme celle iour passaunt cxl ou VIIIxx ; et puis pristrent lour viage a toutz les places des Lumbardes et des aliens et debriserount lour measones et les robberount de toutz lour biens qils purroient trover par tute le iour et la noet ensuaunt od hidous crye et horrible noyce.
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At that time, because the Chancellor had been beheaded, the King appointed the Earl of Arundel as Chancellor for the day, and gave him the Great Seal. Throughout that day, he had various clerks write charters, letters patent, and protections granted to the people, concerning the aforementioned matters, without taking any fee for the seal or any written registration. And on the next day, Saturday, a great number of the commons came to Westminster Abbey at the hour of Tierce (about 9 a.m.), and there they found John of Imworth, Marshal of the Marshalsea and keeper of the prisoners, a man without pity, like a torturer, near the shrine of Saint Edward, clinging to a marble pillar, seeking help and protection there to save himself from his enemies. But the commons tore his arms from around the pillar of the said shrine and brought him to Cheapside, where they beheaded him. At that time, they also seized from Bread Street a servant of John of Grenville because he had spoken well of Brother William of Appleton and the others, and they brought him to Cheapside and cut off his head. And all this while, the King had proclamations made throughout the city, commanding that everyone should return peacefully to their homes and cease further mischief but they refused to obey.
En quel temps, par cause ge le chanceller fuist decolle, le roy fist le count de Arundell, pur la iourne, chaunceller et luy bailla la graunde seal et par tute le iour fist diverses clerkes escriver chartres et patentes et protectiones a eux grauntes, touchauntz les maters avauntditz, saunz fyne de seal ou de escripcione prendre. Et lendemayne de samadye graunt noumbre des comunes viendrent al abbaye de Wymoustre al houre de tierce et illeoges troveront Johan! de Imworth mareschall del Mareschalcye et meastre de les prisoners, homme saunz pite come tourmentour, pres la schryne de seint Edwarde enbrastaunt une piler de marbre en aide et socoure de luy, pur luy salver de ses enemys. Et les comunes araceront ses braces del piler del dite schryne et amenerount en / Chepe et luy decollerount. En quel temps pristrent hors de Bredstrete une valet Johan de Grenfeld purceo qil parlast le bien de frere William de Appiltoun et des autres, et luy ameneront en Chepe et couperount soun test. Et en tute celle temps le roy fist crier parmy la citee qe chescune deveroit aler peyseblement a lour pais et a lour measones saunz plus malice fair, mes a ceo ne vodroient assenter.
Later that same day, about three hours after None (around 3 p.m.), the King came to Westminster Abbey with about 200 men in his company. The abbot and convent of the abbey, along with the canons and vicars of the chapel of St. Stephen, came out in procession to meet him, vested in copes and barefoot, until they reached a place near Charnel Cross. They then brought the King into the abbey, and into the church and up to the high altar. The King made his devotions and offered at the altar and to the relics, and afterward spoke with the anchoress and made his confession, staying with her for a long time. Then the King ordered a proclamation that all who were within the city and part of the commons from the countryside should come to Smithfield to meet him there and so they did.
Mesme celle iour trois hours apres le none, le roy vient devers labbaye de Wymoustre et a le mountaunce des cc ovesge luy; et labbe et covent de mesme labbeye et les chanouns et vikeers del chapelle de seint Estevene viendrent pur luy encontrer en processione en chapes revestus et nu pees tange my lieu de Charnell Crouche, et luy amenerount en labbaye et puis al esglise et a le haute autre ; et le roy fist ses orisones devotement et soun offerande al autre et a les relikes, et apres parla ovesqe la ankre et luy confessa et fuist par longe temps ovesge luy. Et puis le roy fist crier ge toutz ge furount deinz la citee des comunes del pais, deveroient venir a Smythfeld pur luy encontrer illeoges, et si fesoient ;
When the King arrived with his men, he stood on the eastern side near the house of the canons of St. Bartholomew’s, while the commons gathered in great numbers to the west, formed in battle order. At this point, the Mayor of London, William Walworth, came forward, and the King ordered him to go to the commons and bring their leader to him. When called by the Mayor, Wat Tyler of Maidstone came to the King with a proud bearing, riding a small horse so he could be seen by the commons. He dismounted, holding a dagger in his hand which he had taken from another man, and when he had dismounted, he took the King by the hand, kneeling slightly and shaking the King’s arm roughly and firmly, saying: “Brother, be of good comfort and cheer, for within fifteen days you shall have more than 20,000 of the commons with you, more than you have now—and we shall be good companions.” The King replied: “Why will you not go home to your own place?” Tyler answered with a great oath that neither he nor his companions would go until they had received a charter containing the terms they wished, and that it should include the points they intended to demand. He threatened that the lords of the realm would regret it if the points were not granted according to their will. The King asked him what those points were, and said he would gladly grant what he reasonably could, while preserving the royal dignity of his crown. Tyler then listed his demands: That no law should exist except the law of Winchester; that no outlawry should be used in any future legal process; that no lord should have lordship, only equality among all people—except for the King’s lordship alone; that the property of the Church should not remain in the hands of religious people, priests, vicars, or others of the Church; that rectors should have just enough for sustenance, and the rest of Church goods should be divided among the parishioners; that there should be only one bishop in all England, and only one prelate; that all lands and tenements of those in possession should be taken from them and divided among the commons, keeping for them only reasonable sustenance; that there should be no serfdom or villeinage in England, but all people should be free and of equal condition.
... et quaunt le roy fust venu od ses gentz, il estute devers le est pred de seint Bertelmews, une measone de chanouns, et le comunes devers le west en batailles a graunt noumbre. En quel temps le mayr de Loundres, William de Walworth veignt, et le roy luy comanda daler a les comunes pur fair lour cheftayne venir aluy. Et quaunt il fuist appelle par le mair, Wat Tyghler de Maydenstoun par noune, il vient al roy od graunt countenance, monte sur une petit chivalle pur estre vew od les comunes ; et decendist a terre portant une dragger en sa mayne, le quel il avoit pris de une autre home ; et quaunt il fuist descendu il prist le roy par la mayne dimy genolaunt et schaka sa brace durement et fortement dissaunt / a luy: “ Frer, soiez de bone comforte et lee, qar vous averez deinz la quynszime avenire xi miles des comunes plus ge vous ne avez a ore et nous serroms bones compaignons”’. Et le roy dist al dit Wat: “Pur qay ne voilliez aler en vostre pais?” Et lautre respondist par graunt serement qil, ne ses compaignons, ne irroient poynt tange ils avoient lour chartre tiel qils voilliont aver et tiels poyntes reherces en lour chartre qils voillount demander, manascaunt qe les seignurs del roialme deveroient repenter sils ne avoient les poyntes a lour volunte ; et le roy luy demanda quels furout les poyntes gil vodroit avoir et il les averoit volunters saunz contradictione escript et enseale. Et adongqes le dit Wat rehersa les poyntes queux furount a demander, et demanda ge nulle lay deveroit estre fors la lay de Wynchestre, et ge nulle ughtelarie serroit en nulle processe de laye fait de ore en avaunt, et qe nulle seignur ne averoit seignurie fors swelment! estre proporcione entre toutz gentz, fors tansoulement la seignurie la roy ; et qe les biens de seint esglise ne deveroient estre en mayns des gentz de religione, ne des parsones et vikeers, ne autres de seint esglise, mes les avances averont lour sustenance esement et le remanent de les biens deveroient estre divides entre les parochiens ; et nulle evesge serroit en Engleterre fors une, ne nulle prelate fors une, et toutz les terres et tenementes des possessioners serroient pris de eux et partiez entre les comunes, salvant a eux lour resonable sustenance; et qe nulle nayf serroit en Engleterre, ne nulle servage ne nayfte, mes toutz estre free et de une condicione.
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[15th July 1381] The King gently replied that he would grant all that he could reasonably do, while keeping the dignity of his crown, and told Tyler to go quietly back to his lodging without further delay. During all of this, none of the lords or members of the King’s council dared or wished to speak to the commons, only the King himself. At one point, Wat Tyler asked in the King’s presence for a cup of water to rinse his mouth because of the great heat, and it was quickly brought. He rinsed his mouth rudely and shamefully before the King. Then he had a cup of ale brought to him, drank a great draught, and mounted his horse in front of the King. At the same time, a servant from Kent standing among the King’s men asked to see Wat Tyler, the leader of the commons. When he saw him, he said publicly that Tyler was the greatest thief and robber in all of Kent. Wat Tyler, hearing this, ordered him to come forward, nodding his head toward him menacingly. But the servant refused, fearing Tyler’s companions. Eventually, the lords made him go to Tyler, to see what he would do in front of the King. When Tyler saw him, he ordered one of his men, mounted on a horse and carrying a banner, to dismount and behead the servant. But the servant replied that he had done nothing to deserve death, that what he had said was the truth, and that he would not deny it. He also said that in the King’s presence he could not fight by law without permission, except in self-defense—and that, he said, he would do if needed. Because of these words, Tyler attempted to strike him with his dagger and kill him in front of the King. For this act of violence and insult in the King’s presence, William Walworth, the Mayor of London, confronted Tyler and arrested him. In response to the arrest, Tyler struck the Mayor with the dagger in great rage—but as God willed, the Mayor was armored and unharmed. Then the Mayor, being a brave and vigorous man, drew his short sword (baselard) and struck Tyler in the neck a great wound, and then again on the head with a heavy blow. In that conflict, a servant from the King’s household drew his sword and stabbed Tyler in the chest two or three times, wounding him mortally. Tyler then spurred his horse and cried out to the commons to avenge him, but the horse carried him about 80 feet away before he collapsed, half-dead. When the commons saw him fall and were unsure what had happened to him, they began to draw their bows and prepare to shoot. But then the King himself rode forward toward them, commanding them all to follow him to the fields of St. John of Clerkenwell.
Et a ceo le roy respondist esement et dist qil averoit tute ceo qil purroit bonement graunter, sauvant a luy la regaltee de sa corone, comandant a luy de aler a soun hostelle demesne saunz plus targer. Et en tute celle temps del dises qe le roy avoit, nulle seignur, ne nulle del conseille ne osast ne vodroit doner respouns a les comunes en nulle / lieu, fors le roy mesmes. En quele temps le dit Wat Tyghler manda en presence le roy pur une hanape de eaw pur ryncer soun bouche pur le graunt chalure qil avoit, et tost fuist porte et rynsa soun bouche ledement et vilaynesment avaunt le roy ; et apres fist porter a luy une hanape de cervoys et bust une graunt trete, et en presence le roy monta soun chivalle. En mesme le temps une valet de Kent, esteaunt entre les gentz le roy pria pur vere le dit Wat, cheftane de les comunes; et quaunt il luy vist il dist apertement qil fuist le plus graunt laroun et robboure de tute Kent. Et le dit Wat oiaunt ses paroles luy comanda de venir a luy, mowant soun test devers luy en signe de malice; mes le dit Wat refusa de aler a luy pur doute qil avoit des autres; et au darrein les seignurs luy fist aler a luy pur vere qil vodroit fair devaunt le roy; et quaunt le dit Wat luy vist, il comanda a une de les soens qe fuist monte une chivalle portaunt une baner desplaye, de descendre et decoler le dit valet. Mes le valet respondist qil navoit deservye la mort, mes ceo qil avoit dist fuist veritee et ne vodroit denyer, mes en presence de soun seignur lige ne purroit fair debate par la ley saunz conge, fors en sa defens demesne, et ceo purroit fair saunz reprove; par qay cestuy ge luy ferroit, il luy referroit; et pur cestez paroles le dit Wat luy vodroit avoir ferru od soun dagger et occise en la presence le roy ; et par celle enchesone le mair de Loundres, William de Walworth par noune, arresona le dit Wat de celle violence et despite fait en presence le roy et luy arresta; et pur celle arreste le dit Wat ferrist le maire od le dragger avaunt le pyse od graunde ire ; mes come Dieu voilloit, il fuist arme et ne greva my; mes le dit maire come homme hardy et vigurous trea sa baselarde et referrist le dit Wat en le colle une graunde play et autrefoitz amont le test une graunde coupe; et en celle conflicte une valet del measone le roy trea soun espey et luy ferrist parmy le pys deux foitz ou trois et luy naufra a / la mort; et le dit Wat brocha le chivalle criaunt a les comunes de luy venger et le chivalle luy porta a la mountance de IIIIxx pees et illeoges cheist a la terre dimy mort. Et quaunt les comunes luy virent chayer et ne savoient en certayne coment il fuist, mes comencerount a treer lour arkes et a seter; et purceo le roy mesmes brocha soun chivalle et vient & eux, comandaunt a eux ge toutz deveroient venir a luy al chaumpe de seint Johan de Klerkenwell.