PEASANT REVOLTS 141 



sovereigne lorde where he wyll commande us as his 

 true ligemen." 



But the king's advisers counselled him to refuse 

 these demands and to put down the rebels by force. 

 Accordingly "the King sent certain Lords to suppress 

 them, but their men told their Lords that they would 

 not fiorht against them that labour to amende the com- 



o o 



monweale. . . . Then the King himself went against 

 the Kentishmen with fifteen thousand men well pre- 

 pared for the warre." But Cade, by skilful strategy, 

 around Sevenoaks, evaded this force and the king 

 returned to London. Another army was then sent 

 against him under the command of Sir John and Sir 

 Humphrey Stafford. This force, by Cade's able 

 manoeuvring, and by the courage of his men, was 

 defeated in battle, and the two generals slain. 



Cade then marched to Blackheath, and certain 

 nobles were sent to negotiate with him, who found 

 him "discrete in his answers," but determined not to 

 lay down his arms until his demands were granted. 

 He then marched to Southwark and entered the city. 

 He issued a proclamation to the effect that "no man 

 under payne of death should rob or take anything 

 without paying therefore. By reason whereof he 

 wanne the hearts of the Commons." 



Cade was a strong man, who meant his orders to be 

 obeyed. He "publicly executed some of his fol- 

 lowers, and particularly a petty Captaine, named Paris, 

 who had done things contrary to his Proclamation." 



After severe fighting and heavy losses on both sides, 

 the Chancellor of England sent a messenger " to the 

 Captaine," with a general pardon for himself and his 

 men, whereupon he and his people withdrew. Cade, 

 however, like Wat Tyler, and all other peasant leaders. 



