eople to rise to save the church jewels from the Bishop's
officers," who were acting by the King's orders, the Bishop being the
King's confessor. Robert Sotheby of Horncastle, being sworn before Sir
Anthony Wyngffeld and Sir Arthur Hopton, says that "David Benet, a wever,
rang the comon bell," to rouse the people. The said Robert stated that
he and William Bywater, being churchwardens, were going to see the work
of the plumbers, and in the meantime the said Davy rang the common bell;
and that "William Leche was the first begynner and sterer of the whole
rysinge there." The mob marched about with a standard, carried by Philip
Trotter, clad in the armour of Lionel Dymoke, which he had taken from the
church of St. Mary. The devices on the standard were "a plough," to
encourage the husbandmen; the "challice and Host," because the church
plate and jewellery were to have been taken away; the "wands" were to
encourage the people "to fight in Cristis cause;" the "horn" betokening
Horncastle.

About 100 persons marched to Scrivelsby, and threatened to drag out
Edward Dymoke, the sheriff, and other gentlemen. The sheriff, Thomas
Dymoke, Robert Dighton, and one Saundon, afterwards went into the field,
and conversed with Leche, who said the Rising was because the Visitors
would take the church goods. The mob took the old gentleman, Sir William
Saundon, and "harried him forth by the arms towards Horncastell, till
from hete and weryness he was almost overcum." A horse was brought for
him by one Salman of Baumbrough, but one of the rebels strake the horse
on the head, so that both horse and rider fell to the ground, and they
then said he must "go afote as they did." He was afterwards confined in
the "Moot Hall," at Horncastle, and "they sware him, whether he woll, or
no." Many witnesses testified to the activity of Leche, in going to
private houses and inducing the men to join, and that the gentlemen only
joined from fear of violence. Richard Mekylwhite of Horncastle was
accused by Thomas Lytellbury, that he was "a great procurer" (of men),
and was "one of the causers of George Wolsey's death," (a servant of the
late Cardinal Wolsey).

William Leche, with a great company, went to Bolingbroke, to take the
Bishop's Chancellor, Dr. John Rayne, who was lying there, sick; he was
brought on horseback to Horncastle amid cries of "kill him! kill him!"
He begged Philip Trotter to save him, who said he would do what he could;
the Cha