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In order once more to describe the turbulent spirit of the
inhabitants of these northern counties, I shall subjoin an
account of the rebellion against Henry VIII, begun in
Northumberland and part of Yorkshire, which
was soon joined by the inhabitants of Cumberland,
Westmorland, and Lancashire, and will also shew
their illiterateness and orthography of that time. Speed
says, p.773, "That forty thousand of those northern rustics
assembled in Yorkshire, furnished with horse, armour,
artillery, habiliments for war. Their pretence was religion
and defence of the holy church; their banners painted with
the five wounds of our Saviour, the chalice, the cake, and
other inventions of Rome; and upon their sleeve was written
the name of the Lord:" And so forward and so fervent were
they in their proceedings, that this their attempt was
called the Holy Pilgrimage. Neither were the rustics guilty
only, but they were headed and encouraged by Edward the
Archbishop of York, the Lord Lumely, the Percies, &c.
This appears to me rather doubtful; for surely either the
Archbishop would not suffer such illiterate proclamations to
be read as they set forth, or he did not care to appear
publicly in the business. The clergy of that time were not,
however, very learned, as will appear hereafter. They chose
for their General one Robert Aske, a man of low parentage,
and one Rudston for his assistant: others they had of the
same stamp; as a fisherman from this town, who stiled
himself (and very justly) the Earl of Poverty; he
always went by that name, and signed himself so. I shall
first copy General Aske and his associate's letters after
their appointment.
"To all Lords, Knights, masters, kinsmen, and friends, wee
perceive that yee be informed that this assemble our
pilgrimage, which we by the favour and mercie of Almighty
God intendeth to proceede in, is because the King our
Soveraigne Lord hath had much impocessions of us, we doubt
not but yee doe knowne and remember, that to our powers, we
have beene alwaies as ready in paiments and services to his
Highnesse as any of his subjects: And, further, to acertaine
you of the cause of our said assemble and pilgrimage is
this: That forasmuch that such simple and evil disposed
persons, being of the King's councell, hath not only
encensed his Grace with many things which bee contrarie to
the faith of God, honor of the King's Majesty, and the
commonwealth of this realm: And thereby have destroied, and
yet utterly intendeth to destroy the Church of England, and
all the ministers of the same, as yee know so well as wee.
But also the said councell hath robbed and spoiled, and
further intendyth utterly to robbe and spoile the whole body
of the King's realme, and as well all you as us, if God of
his infinte mercy had not caused such as hath taken, and
hereafter shall take this pilgrimage upon them to proceede
in the same; and whether all these things be not true, we
put it to your conscience: And if yee think it be true, and
fight against us, which intendeth the commonwealth of this
realm and nothing else, we trust yee shall have small speed.
For this pilgrimage, we have taken hyt for the preservation
of Cryst's Church of this realm of England, the King our
Soveraigne Lord, the nobility, barony, and comens of the
same, and to the intent to make petition to the King's
highnesse for reformation of that which is amisse within
this his realme; and for punishment of hereticks and
subverters of lawys; and neither for money, mailice, nor
displeasure to any person, but such as be not worthy to
remaine neere the King our Soverayne Lord's person. And
further, we know, if yee should obtaine, as we trust yn God
ye shalnatt, then ye putt both us and you, your heirs and
ours in bondage forever. And further, yee are sure of the
interdiction of Cryst's curse, and we clere and out of the
same; and
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