The following is the story of John Shirle of the
county of Nottinghamshire, as it was presented before Hugh de la Zouche and his
fellow royal justices sitting to hear indictments against recent rebels and disturbers
of the peace in the town of Cambridge on Thursday 16 July 1381, published in
full from the original plea roll by R.B. Dobson, "Remembering the
Revolt," in W.H. Liddell and R.G.E. Wood, eds., Essex and the Great
Revolt of 1381. Essex Record Office: Essex Record Office Publication no.
84, 1982, pp. 3-4.
John
Shirle of the county of Nottingham was taken prisoner because it was found that
he had been a vagabond (vagabundus) in various counties during the whole time
of the late disturbance, insurrection and tumult, carrying lies as well as
silly and worthless talk from district to district, whereby the peace of the
lord the king could rapidly be broken and the people be disquieted and
disturbed. Among other damaging words,
namely after the proclamation of the peace of the lord the king made on the
aforesaid day and year, when the justices assigned by the lord the king were
holding sessions in the town, he said in a tavern in Bridge Street in
Cambridge, where many were assembled to listen to his news and worthless talk,
that the stewards of the lord the king as well as the justices and many other
officers and ministers of the king were more deserving to be drawn and hanged
and to suffer other lawful pains and torments than John Ball, a chaplain, a traitor
and felon lawfully convicted. For John
Shirle said that he (John Ball) had been condemned to death falsely, unjustly
and for envy by the said ministers with the king's assent; because he had been
a true and worthy man, prophesying things useful to the commons of the kingdom
and telling of woes and oppressions done to the people by the king and the
aforesaid ministers; and Ball's death would not go unpunished but within a
short space of time he would well reward both the king and his said ministers and
officers. These sayings and threats
redound to the prejudice of the crown of the lord the king and to the contempt
and manifest disturbance of the people.
And thereupon the said John Shirle was immediately brought by the
sheriff before the said justices sitting in Cambridge castle; and he was charged about these matters and
was diligently examined as regards his conversation, his presence and his
estate; and when these things had been
acknowledged by him before the said justices, his evil behaviour and condition
was made plainly manifest and clear.
And thereupon trustworthy witnesses, in his presence at the time when
the above mentioned lies, evil words, threats and worthless talk had been
spoken by him, were requested; and they, being sworn to speak the truth about
these matters, testified that all the aforesaid words imputed to him had indeed
been spoken by him. And he, examined
once again, did not deny the charges laid against him. Therefore by the discretion of the said
justices he was hanged; and an order
was made to the escheator to enquire diligently about his lands and tenements
and his goods and chattels, and to make due execution thereof for the lord the
king.