Compare 1577 edition: 1 The rebels quite discou|raged threw downe their weapons at the comming of the Lon|doners in aid [...]f the king.There was to be seene a maruellous change of the right hand of the lord, to behold how they throwing downe stanes, bils, axes, swords, bowes and arowes, humblie began to sue for pardon, which a little before gloried to haue the life of the king and his seruants wholie and altogither in their hands, power, and dis|position. The poore wretches sought to hide them|selues in the corne that grew in the fields, in ditches, hedges, and dennes, and wheresoeuer they might get out of the way, so to safe gard their liues. The knights that were with the king would gladlie haue beene dooing with them, and requested licence of him to strike off the heads of some one or two hundred of them, that it might be a witnesse in time to come, that the force of the order of knighthood was able to doo somewhat against the carters and ploughmen: but the king would not suffer them, alledging that manie of them were come thither by compulsion, and not of their owne accord, and therfore it might come to passe that those should die for it, that had nothing offended: but he commanded that there should be proclamation made in London, that the citizens should haue no dealings with them, nor suffer anie of them to come within the citie that night, but to cause them to lie without doores.

Abraham Fle|ming out of Henrie Knigh|ton canon of Leicester abbeie.¶In the report of this commotion chronographers doo somewhat varie, as by this present extract out of Henrie Knighton canon of Leicester abbeie, liuing at the time of this tumult may appeare: which Abra|ham Fleming hath faithfullie and trulie translated out of the annales of the said canon written in parch|ment in old Latine letters, as followeth. Upon a sa|turdaie, these malcontents [to wit, Thomas Baker the first moouer but afterwards the principall lea|ders, Iacke Straw, Iacke Miler, Iacke Carter, Iacke Trewman, and their trecherous traine] met togither in Smithfield, whither also the king repaired in the morning, who although in yeares he was but yoong, yet in wisedome and discretion he was well growne. The ringleader of this tumultuous rowt, whose right name was Wat Tiler, which he had now changed into Iacke Straw, approched neere the king, in so much that he might in a maner touch him, be|ing the mouth of all the residue, and hauing in his hand a drawne dagger, which he tossed from hand to hand, boy-like plaieng with it, & watching due time therewith, if not to [...]ab, yet suddenlie to smite the king, if he denied their requests. Wherevpon they that were next and about the king were greatlie af|feard, least his pretended mischeefe should come to passe.

Now he craued of the king that all warrens, wa|ters, parks and woods should be common, so that as well poore as rich might fréelie in any place where|soeuer practise fishing in ponds, pooles, riuers, or any waters, and might hunt déere in forrests and parkes, and the hare in the fields, with diuerse other requests, which he would haue granted without contradiction or gainesaieng, and exercise without controlment. Now when the king in the grant hereof by delibera|tion vsed some delaie, Iacke Straw drew neerer vn|to him, and speaking vnto him certeine thretening words, tooke hold of the horsses bridle whereon the king rode, vpon what presumptuous enterprise I wot not. Which Iohn Walworth a burgesse of Lon|don beholding, and fearing present death to hang o|uer the kings head, caught a weapon in his hand, and therwith thrust Iacke Straw through the throte, which when another that was by being an esquier, named Rafe Standish did see, with his weapon also ran him through the sides; in so much that he fell flat on his backe to the ground, and beating with his hands to and fro a while, at last he gaue vp his vnhap|pie ghost.