152 LAND REFORM 



were disposed of and all disputes settled. Before this 

 tribunal were brought numbers of " gentlemen " who 

 were inclosers of the people's land. Demands were 

 strongly made that some of the most notorious of 

 these should be hanged, but in no case would Kett 

 allow a murder to be committed or any punishment 

 awarded except imprisonment. 



The camp was open to all comers. A chaplain and 

 other officers were appointed. Neighbouring clergy- 

 men came regularly and joined the men in " common 

 prayer under the oak tree." They preached to them 

 and "tried to persuade them from their wicked 

 attempts." The Government became alarmed, and 

 the king sent a herald to proclaim a free pardon to all 

 who would lay down their arms and go home. But 

 •'that wicked caitiff, Kett, dissuaded them. . . . 

 Kings, he said, were wont to send pardons to traitors 

 and wicked persons, not to innocent and just men." 



Kett's power increased ; his following is described 

 as a multitude of " unthrifts and rascalles." Lord 

 Northampton, with a force of horsemen, " a great 

 number of knights, esquires, and gentlemen, and a 

 band of Italian mercenaries under Captain Malesta," 

 was sent into Norfolk to suppress the rebellion. It 

 appears that throughout the rebellion the only man 

 the insurgents murdered was an Italian officer. 

 "This," says the chronicler, is "what was to be ex- 

 pected at these cruel traitors' hands — putting such a 

 gentleman and worthy soldier to death for whose 

 ransom, if they had demanded it, they might have 

 had no small portion of monie." The rebels at mid- 

 night attacked the city of Norwich, and after des- 

 perate fighting, continued till " their hands were scarse 

 able to hold up their weapons," they were repulsed 



