I40 LAND REFORM 



poor people and Commons of the Realme have so 

 great right, truth, and perfect title to their land, yet 

 by untrue claymes of enfeffeement into divers states, 

 genteles, and the King's menial serv^ants in mainten- 

 ance, against the right, the true owners dare not have 

 hould claim nor pursue their right." (Stow, p. 388.) 



The Bill expresses complete loyalty to the king, but 

 demands justice against the "traitors " by whom he is 

 surrounded. Item five asks that "all the extortions 

 used daily among the common people be layed down." 

 It refers to the "taking of wheat and other grains, 

 beef, mutton, and other victuals, without the provision 

 of our sovereign lord," and asks that "they may no 

 longer bear it." 



This account is confirmed by another writer of 

 repute, Stowe the antiquary (not Stow the chronicler), 

 who left special memoranda on the subject in his own 

 handwriting.^ He gives full particulars of " a pro- 

 clamation " made by Jack Cade and " ye rebelles in 

 Kent." They trust, the rebels say, "our sovereign 

 lorde the Kynge will remedy the grievances of the 

 pore Commyns of England, or else we shall dye 

 therefore." They complain that they cannot come 

 near the king's person without bribery. They wish 

 it to be known that they *'wyll not robbe, ne reve, ne 

 stell, but these defautes be amended and then we will 

 go home," for "his commyns may no longer here it." 

 If redress is given — the proclamation concludes — "we 

 shall be all weye redy to defend our countre from 

 all nations with our owne goods and to go with our 



* This MS. is published by the Camden Society. New Series, 

 Vol. XXVIII. "Historical Memoranda," by John Stowe. Fabyan, refer- 

 ring to the " Bill of Petitions" presented to the king, says that it showed 

 " injureys and oppressions the poore comons suffred by siiche as were 

 about the kynge a few persones in nombre." 



