Biography of Robert Sheffield 1461-1518

Chronicles of London Vitellius A XVI. [17th June 1497] And the said nyght was Secret Meanes made vnto my lord Chamberleyn by dyuers of the Cornysshe men, that it wold please his lordship to be a meane vnto the kynges grace that the said Comons of Cornwaill myght haue for theym a generall pardon ; And they wold of a Suyrtie bryng in to my said lord Chamberleyn the said lord Awdeley, And their other hede capitayne the Smyth. Vpon the ffriday folowyng in the mornyng, aboute viij of the Clok, the Ost of my lord Chamberleyn Removed out of the ffeeld, and went toward Croydon; but they after Retourned agayn, so that by ij of the Clok they wer all in the forenamed ffelde of Saynt Georges. And that after none came also thider the kynges Oste w^t many of his lordes. And when the Mair with his Brethern and all the chief craftes of the Citie were redy standyng in barneys from the Brigge vnto Graschurche to Receyve the kyng, which as the Mair had vnderstandyng that his grace that nyght wold haue comen to the Tower, tydynges came to the Mayr that the kyng entendid that nyght to lye at Lambhith, so that then euery man departid home ; and the kyng was after seen in the ffeelde, and abrewyng and comfortyng of his people, the which wer numbred vpon XXV M^l men. And the Cornysshe men this after none came agayn vnto the blak heth, and there pitched their ffeeld, and there lay all that nyght in greate Agony and variaunce; ffor some of theym were myended to haue comyn to the kyng, and to hau yolden theym and put theym fully in his mercy and grace, but the Smyth was of the Contrary myende. And vpon the mornyng, aboute vj of the Clok of the Saterday, beyng the XIJ^th day of Juyn, sir Humfrey Stanley w^t his Cumpany set vpon theym, and my lord of Oxinford and other vpon all other partes, so that w^tin a short season, or evir the kyng myght approche the ffeld, they were distressid ; Albe it that my lord Chamberleyn hastid hym in all possible wise, in such maner that hym self was in greate daunger, at whos comyng anon they fledde. And there was taken the lord Awdley (age 34), and a Gentilman called fflammok, and their Capitayn the Smyth, all three on lyve and vnhurt, and moche of their people slayn, and many taken prisoners. And this done the kyng Rode to the place where they had pitched their ffelde. And aboute IJ of the Clok at after none he came over London Brigge, where at Saynt Magnus Chirch [Map] the Mair w^t his brethren in Scarlet receyved hym, to whom he gave cherefull thankes for his good diligence of kepyng and orderyng of the Citie, and also for the plentevous vitailyng of his Ost; after which thankes geven, in the same place the kyng w^t his owne swerd, which was gird aboute hym, he dubbed the Maire knyght, John Shaa (age 37) one of the Shryffes knyght, and the Recorder, Robert Sheffeld (age 36). And so from thens Rode vnto powlis, and there offred. And from thens he went to the Tower, where he loged. And forthwith was proclamacion made through London, that euery man havyng eny prisoner shuld bryng forth the prisoner and his name by IX of the clok vpon Monday folowyng; and euerych of theym so havyng prisoner or prisoners shuld haue his prisoner or prisoners Restored, or elles competent Reward for theym. And after was dyuers of the said Prisoners Sold, some for XIJ D [6000] and summe for more. And vpon Monday folowyng the lord Awdeley, the forsaid flammok, and the Smyth, whos name was Mychaell Joseph, wer before the kyng and the lordes of his Counsaill w^tin the Tower, and there examyned.