called Wat Tyler, and with him were Jack Straw and John Ball : thefe three were their commanders, but the principal was Wat Tyler, This Wat had been a tiler of houfes, a bad ' man, and a great enemy to the nobility. When thefe wicked people firft began to rife, all London, except their friends, were very much frightened. The mayor and rich citizens 'afibfflbfed in council, on hearing they were - coming to London, and debated whether they fhould fhut the gates and refufe to admit them ; but, having well confidered, they deter-mined hot to do fo, as they fhould run a rifk of having the fuburbs burnt. • * The gates were therefore thrown open, when they entered in troops of one or two hundred, by twenties or thirties, according to the populoufnefs of the towns they came from 5 and as they came into London they lodged themfelves. But it is a . truth, that full two-thirds of thefe people knew not What they wanted, nor what they fought for 1 they followed one another like fheep, or like to the fhepherds of old, who faid they were going to conquer the holy land, and afterwards accomplifhed nothing. In filth* manner did thefe poor fellows and vaflals come to London from diftances of a hundred and fmy leagues, but the greater part from thofe counties I have mentioned, and on their arrival they demanded to fee the king. * The gendemen of the country, the knights and fquites, began to be alarmed when they few the people thus rife; and, if they Were frightened, they had fufficient reafon, for Iefs catties create '•" * • , - fear. 83S