Page:History of Wat Tyler and Jack Straw.pdf/8

                            (  8  ) fatuated them, and infected the city of London, the Commons whereof (that is to say, the poorer sort of mechanics and handicrafts were desperately inclined to mutiny on the reasons afore said incited and invited the multitude, who were also prepared to come thither, promising them their assistance and furtherance.

Hereupon a rude parcel of ruffians, under the leading of Wat Tyler a taylor, who commanded in chief, with a pious minister John Ball, Jack Straw a thresher Jack Shepherd, of the Council of War, under the title of the King’s Men, and the Servants of the Common Wealth of England, came to London ransacking by the way. and demolishing from Essex side all the fair structures and buildings of the Nobility and Gentry. They summoned the King to give them a meeting, who accordingly, accompanied with his best : counsellers to his barge, and went to ; Gravesend : but seeing the rabble so rag- ged and rogue like, nothing but a com- pany of black guards, compacted of the off scum of the people, it was had not proper for the King to venture his person amongst them ; and so he returned back