Compare 1577 edition: 1 Now here is to be noted, that this monie was in common speech said to be due for all those that were vndergrowne, bicause that yoong persons as well of the man as of the womankind, comming to the age of fouretéene or fifteene yeares, haue commonlie haire growing foorth about those priuie parts, which for honesties sake nature hath taught vs to couer and keepe secret. The officer therefore not satisfied with the mothers excuse, said he would feele whether hir daughter were of lawfull age or not, and there|with began to misuse the maid, and search further than honestie would haue permitted. The mother streightwaies made an outcrie, so that hir husband being in the towne at worke, and hearing of this a|doo at his house, came running home with his la|thing staffe in his hand, and began to question with the officer, asking who made him so bold to keepe such a rule in his house: the officer being somewhat pre|sumptuous, and highminded, would foorthwith haue flowne vpon this Tiler; but I. Tiler auoiding the officers blow, raught him such a rap on the pate, that his braines flue out, and so presentlie he died.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 Great noise rose about this matter in the stréets, and the poore folks being glad, euerie man arraied himselfe to support Iohn Tiler, & thus the commons drew togither, and went to Maidestone, and from thence to Blackheath, where their number so increa|sed, that they were reckoned to be thirtie thousand. And the said Iohn Tiler tooke vpon him to be their cheefe capteine, naming himselfe Iacke Straw. ¶Others write, that one Thomas Baker of Fob|hings was the first that procured the people thus to assemble togither: and that one of the kings ser|uants named Iohn Leg, with three of his fellowes, practised to féele yoong maids whether they were vn|dergrowne (as yée haue hard the officer did at Dert|ford) which dishonest and vnséemelie kind of dealing did set the people streight in such a rage and vprore, that they cared not what they did to be reuenged of such iniuries.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 But Thomas Walsingham affirmeth, that the first sparkes of this rebellion kindled in Essex,The commõs of Essex begin the commotiõ as Wal. saith. where the inhabitants of two townes onelie at the first, that were the authors and first stirrers of all this mis|chéefe, did send vnto euerie little towne about, that all manner of men, as well those that were aged, as others that were in their lustiest time and youthfull EEBO page image 430 yeares, should come to them with speed, setting all ex|cuses apart, in their best arraie and furniture for warre, threatening to such as came not, that their goods should be spoiled, their houses burnt or cast downe, and they to lose their heads when th [...]y were taken. The terror of this threatning caused the igno|rant people to flo [...]ke to them by heaps, leauing all their businesse, letting plough and cart stand, forsak|ing wife, children, and houses, so that in a short time there were fiue thousand gotten togither of those commons and husbandmen, of which number manie were weaponed onelie with staues, some with rustie swords and billes,The armor of y^e Essex rebels and other with smokie bowes, more ruddie than old yuorie, not hauing past two or thrée arrowes, and the same happilie with one feather a peece.