y by force of arms. The rising
began at once in several parts of England, as if a universal conspiracy
had been formed by the commonalty. The rebels in Wiltshire were
dispersed by Sir William Herbert: those in' the neighboring counties,
Oxford and Glocester, by Lord Gray, of Wilton. Many of the rioters were
killed in the field: others were executed by martial law. The commotions
in Hampshire, Sussex, Kent, and other counties, were quieted by gentler
expedients; but the disorders in Devonshire and Norfolk threatened more
dangerous consequences.

* Burnet, vol. ii. p. 115. Strype, vol. ii. p. 171.

The commonalty in Devonshire began with the usual complaints against
enclosures and against oppressions from the gentry; but the parish
priest of Sampford Courtenay had the address to give their discontent
a direction towards religion; and the delicacy of the subject, in the
present emergency, made the insurrection immediately appear formidable.
In other counties, the gentry had kept closely united with government;
but here many of them took part with the populace among others, Humphrey
Arundel, governor of St. Michael's Mount. The rioters were brought
into the form of a regular army, which amounted to the number of ten
thousand. Lord Russel had been sent against them at the head of a small
force; but finding himself too weak to encounter them in the field,
he kept at a distance, and began to negotiate with them; in hopes of
eluding their fury by delay, and of dispersing them by the difficulty of
their subsisting in a body. Their demands were, that the mass should be
restored, half of the abbey lands resumed, the law of the six articles
executed, holy water and holy bread respected, and all other particular
grievances redressed.[*] The council, to whom Russet transmitted these
demands, sent a haughty answer; commanded the rebels to disperse, and
promised them pardon upon their immediate submission. Enraged at this
disappointment, they marched to Exeter, carrying before them crosses,
banners, holy water, candlesticks, and other implements of ancient
superstition; together with the host, which they covered with a
canopy.[**] The citizens of Exeter shut their gates; and the rebels, as
they had no cannon, endeavored to take the place, first by scalade, then
by mining; but were repulsed in every attempt. Russel meanwhile lay at
Honiton, till reenforced by Sir William Herbert and Lord Gray with some
German horse, and some Itali