ntague, he entertained a sudden suspicion that they
intended to seize his person or to murder him: and he abruptly left the
entertainment.[****]

* See note S, at the end of the volume.

** Rymer, vol. xi. p. 647, 649, 650.

*** Cotton, p. 702.

**** Fragm. Edward IV. ad fin. Sproti.

{1470.} Soon after, there broke out another rebellion, which is as
unaccountable as all the preceding events; chiefly because no sufficient
reason is assigned for it, and because, so far as appears, the family
of Nevil had no hand in exciting and fomenting it. It arose in
Lincolnshire, and was headed by Sir Robert Welles, son to the lord of
that name. The army of the rebels amounted to thirty thousand men; but
Lord Welles himself, far from giving countenance to them, fled into a
sanctuary, in order to secure his person against the king's anger or
suspicions. He was allured from this retreat by a promise of safety; and
was soon after, notwithstanding this assurance, beheaded, along with Sir
Thomas Dymoc, by orders from Edward.[*] The king fought a battle with
the rebels, defeated them, took Sir Robert Welles and Sir Thomas Launde
prisoners, and ordered them immediately to be beheaded.

Edward, during these transactions, had entertained so little jealousy
of the earl of Warwick or duke of Clarence, that he sent them with
commissions of array to levy forces against the rebels:[**] but these
malecontents, as soon as they left the court, raised troops in their
own name, issued declarations against the government, and complained
of grievances, oppressions, and bad ministers. The unexpected defeat of
Welles disconcerted all their measures; and they retired northwards into
Lancashire, where they expected to be joined by Lord Stanley, who had
married the earl of Warwick's sister. But as that nobleman refused
all concurrence with them, and as Lord Montague also remained quiet
in Yorkshire, they were obliged to disband their army, and to fly into
Devonshire, where they embarked and made sail towards Calais.[***]

* Hall, fol. 204. Fabian, fol. 218. Habington, p. 442.
Holingshed, p. 674.

** Rymer, vol. xi. p. 652.

*** The king offered, by proclamation, a reward of one
thousand pounds, or one hundred pounds a year in land, to
any that would seize them. Whence we may learn that land was
at that time sold for about ten years' purchase. See Rymer,
vol. xi. p. 654.

The deputy gover