GENERAL DISTRIBUTION OF WEALTH. 89 



pressed upon the wax, it could not be torn away from the 

 impression, and the monks thereupon inferred that the patron 

 saint was unfavourable to the demand for the emancipation 

 of his serfs. 



More solid aid was given to the cause of order by Henry 

 Spenser Bishop of Norwich, one of the last of the warlike 

 prelates. Having got together a decent crowd of followers 

 (decens turba), he attacked an intrenchment of the insurgents, 

 carried it, slew many of the rebels with his own hands, and 

 ordered the instant execution of such prisoners as escaped the' 

 carnage. Among these was John Littlestreet. Having fulfilled 

 satisfactorily his secular duties, he betook himself to spiritual 

 offices, attended at the gallows to shrive the culprits in their 

 last moments, and, with pious forethought, held up the heads 

 of the criminals as they were being drawn to the place of 

 execution, lest they should be bruised as they were dragged 

 over the stones. Spencer seems to have been the only person 

 who shewed activity in the crisis. 



Undeterred by these examples of judicial seventy and epi- 

 scopal energy, the commons of Essex sent certain delegates to 

 petition the king for a confirmation of the charters of manu- 

 mission. They even went so far as to request that they might 

 not be compelled to attend the lords' courts, except twice a 

 year, at the view of frankpledge. But Richard was now in a 

 very different position from that which he occupied at Mile-end 

 and Smithfield. Hesitating awhile, as to how he should answer 

 these audacious petitioners, he at last broke out, " O vile and 

 " odious by land and sea, you are not worthy to live when 

 cc compared with the lords whom ye have attacked ; you should 

 cc be forthwith punished with the vilest deaths, were it not for 

 cc the office you bear. Go back to your comrades and bear the 

 cc king's answer. You were and are rustics, and shall remain 

 <c in bondage, not that of old, but in one infinitely worse. For 

 cc as long as we live, and by God's help rule over this realm, 

 " we will attempt by all our faculties, powers, and means, to 

 cc make you such an example of offence to the heirs of your 



