[572] Coventry Leet Book, edited by M.D. Harris, vol. ii. 510 and passim.
[573] Gairdner, L. and P. Henry VIII., vol. xii., Part I., 380, The Examination of the Monk late of Louth Park: “Plummer and one James, a tailor, were the most quick and chiefest rulers of the company.... Melton, whom they named 'Captain Cobbles,' was the most chief and busy man among these commoners.... John Tailor, of Louth, webster, brought out of the house a great brand of fire, and the commons carried the books into the market-place.”
[574] Hist. MSS. Com., Cd. 2319, p. 75, Copy of Letters Patent (28 May, 4 Ed. VI.) granting to Thomas Audeley ... all that manor called Gunvyles Manor in Norfolk, parcel of the possessions of the said ... Robert Ket, in consideration “boni, veri, fidelis, et magnanimi servitii in conflictu versus innaturales subditos nostros proditores ac nobis rebelles in Com. nostro Norf.... quorum ... quidam Bobertus Kett existit capitanus et conductor.”
[575] Sheep-driving in the sixteenth century was like cattle-driving in Ireland to-day; see Gairdner, L. and P. Henry VIII., vol. xii., Part I., 201: “When they first went to York, they drove one Coppyndale’s sheep because he fled away, and sold them again to his deputy for £10,” and the behaviour of the Norfolk rebels in 1549.
[576] Gairdner, L. and P., xi., II., 186, and Rutland MSS., p. 36, quoted by Leadam: “There is a great number of the commons up about Salisbury in Wiltshire, and they have plucked down Sir William Herbert’s Park that is about his new house ... they say they will not have their common grounds to be enclosed and taken from them.”
[577] Gairdner, L. and P., xii., I., 362: “Your rents and others cannot yet be collected.”
[578] I take this story from a transcript kindly supplied me by Mr. Kolthammer of MSS. in the possession of Charles E. Bradshaw Bowles of Wirksworth.
[579] Lodge, Illustrations, ii. p. 218.
[580] Synge, The Playboy of the Western World.
[581] Selden Society, Select Cases in the Court of Requests (Leadam). Customary tenants of Bradford v. Francis: “The said stuard called ... the ... tenants of the manor to be sworn to enquire as they ought to doo, the which to do ... the said tenants ... obstinately and sturdily then and there refused, and said that unless the said defendent ... wold grante them forthwith and immediatelye that they should have and enjoy the commodity of the said three matters ... that they, nor any of them, wolde be sworn at that Court, but wolde depart.”