The banners were immediately handed over and delivered back to the
king. They then received orders that, on pain of death, whoever had acquired the king's letters should yield them up. Some, but not all of them, brought them back, and the
king had them collected up and torn up in their presence. You should know that as soon as the king's banners were reclaimed, the rebels were thrown into disarray and most of them threw down their bows and scattered, retreating into
London.
Sir Robert Knolles was consumed with rage that they were not being chased down and slain, but the
king would not consent to it, saying that he would certainly have his revenge, which he later did.
Thus these wicked people dispersed here and there, and the
king and lords and their companies returned to
London in orderly fashion and with great joy. The first journey the
king made was to see his lady mother, the
princess, who was in the
Royal, known as the
Queen's Wardrobe, where she had been waiting in terrible distress for two days and two nights, and there was good reason for it.
When she saw the
king, her son, she was joyful, "Ah! Fair son, what dreadful pain and anguish I have felt for you!"
To which the
king responded, "Of course my lady, I know it well. Now rejoice and praise God. It is high time for us to thank Him, for this day I have recovered my inheritance and the kingdom of
England which I had lost."
The
king remained with his
mother that day and the lords returned peaceably, each to his own dwelling. A proclamation then travelled from street to street in the
king's name that whoever was not an inhabitant of
London or had not resided there for the past year should depart the city, and if they should be found to be there still by sunrise on Sunday, they would be taken before the
king as traitors and lose their heads. With this proclamation published and heard, nobody dared to violate it and many people left and went back to their homes with their tails firmly between their legs.
John Ball and
Jack Straw were found in hiding in an old ruin, thinking to sneak away, but they could not for they were denounced by their own people. The
king and lords were delighted by their capture and had their heads struck off,
Tyler's too, and set up on
London Bridge, whilst those of the valiant men they had beheaded on the Thursday were taken down. This news spread like wildfire outside
London and reached people from far off lands who were on their way there and who had been summoned by the rebels. Thus they turned back at once to their homes, not daring to come any further.
SHF 2-223 sync
How the duke of Lancaster remained in Scotland for fear of the rebellions in England, and how the English king punished the leaders of these rebellions.
Now let us turn to the
duke of Lancaster, who was on the borders of
Scotland while events such as the popular rebellions in
England were happening. He was in negotiations with the
Scots, the
earl of Douglas and the barons of
Scotland. The
Scots were as well aware of the situation in
England as the
duke, but he did not let on to the
Scots and forged on with the treaties as if
England were at peace.
pb 78 r