who was "as j't wore a Kynge," during tlie King's "j-oung age," 

 and who, by his " softnes and opinion to be good to tlic pore " 

 caused " evell men lyste to prate," that he had some greater 

 ontei'prise in his head, issued a proclamation, in May, in the 

 name of the King, as " ever careful for the contentment and 

 prosperity of the people," forbidding the enclosures, and appointing 

 a day by which they were again to be thrown open. The land- 

 lords however chose to disobey this order, and the peasantry, 

 " having confidence in their preachers," who now told them they 

 would soon have to pay a tax on their sheep and cattle, and an 

 excise for everything they ate or drank, were seduced into 

 insurrection and rebellion, and considering themselves supported 

 by the Protector's proclamation, resolved to redress their 

 grievances by force.* 



The movement first began in Wilts says one account,t in 

 Somerset, says another, where the people rose, and having chosen 

 leaders,:}: " supposing a Commonwealth could not stand without 

 commons," broke down the park enclosures of Sir "William 

 Herbert and Lord Stourton, levelled the ditches and laid the 

 fields open.§ The " Comyns ys become a Kinge," reported Sir 

 William Paget to Somerset. || Sir William Herbert sent off 

 quickly to London and getting the King's Commission for the 

 purpose, gathered a well armed and ordered company and setting 

 sharply upon the I'ioters, some Avere reduced by fear, some of the 

 more forward ■w^cre slain, whilst others, being taken prisoners, 

 were executed as rebellious people.^ 



Horse and foot were also raised under the the Earl of Pembroke, 

 Sir John Paulet and Sir Hugh Speake, but by the influence and 



• Proclamation 2, Edward "VI. Hollinshed's Chronicle, p. 100.3. 



t Carte, p. 234, Vol. iii. i Cox's History of Somerset. 



§ Harl MS.S., 0021. 



II State Papers, 1.549, 7th July, Vol. viii., fol. 4. 



H IloUinshed. Cox's History of Somerset. Earl MSS., 002] , 



