Coventry Lammas Day Rebellion 1525 #2: Sir Henry Willoughby's Commission

The first document in the Middleton Manuscripts relating to the quelling of the Coventry Lammas Day Rebellion was dated the 6th August 1525. It was the commission sent by King Henry VIII to Sir Henry Willoughby instructing him to take part in repressing the riot. The following is a transcription of the letter (some words have been altered to modern English to help legibility):

To our trusty and well-beloved servant Sir Henry Willoughby, knight.

Trusty and well-beloved, we greet you well. And forasmuch as we understand that on Lammas Day last passed a great riot and unlawful assembly with other enormities were committed in and near unto our city of Coventry by diverse light and evil disposed persons of the same, and that it is to us yet unknown whether the said enormities be repressed or not: we, not willing the same to continue or pass unpunished, for the danger and evil example that may ensue thereof, have by our other letters instructed our right entirely beloved cousin the Marquess Dorset the manner and form how we will that he, with your assistance, power and strength, or otherwise as he shall think good, shall proceed to the repressing and due correction of the said offenders. Wherefore we, trusting in your perfect fidelities, will and desire you that, according to such order as our said cousin shall give unto you in that behalf, ye, with such persons as ye may make, if he require the same, do give your attendance and assistance unto our said cousin in execution of the premises, as well for repressing of the said offenders, if the same be not already done, as for inquiry to be made upon the offence, by virtue of such commission as we have sent to our said cousin and other for that purpose, and that with all effect, speed and good endeavour as we trust you and ye tender our pleasure, willing you furthermore that in all such things as our said cousin shall show unto you in the premises, ye will give unto him firm credence as shall appertain.

Given under our signet, at our manor of Greenwich, the 6th day of August.

Henry R.

King Henry VIII (aka John White) and Middleton Hall volunteers on Heritage Day in the Jettied Building at Middleton Hall, 2009.

What this letter shows is how little information the King had in regards to the events occurring at Coventry. In fact, the riot was still ongoing and would continue so for many months. It was not until Michaelmas (29th September) that a leet was issued that instructed all recently enclosed commons in Coventry to be opened again. Furthermore, State Papers reveal that on the 6th November the King ordered that a proclamation was to be made ordering the citizens of Coventry to “desist from their riotous combinations, and the circulation of seditious bills and writings”. Thomas Grey, 2nd Marquess of Dorset, also issued an instruction to the rulers of the town to commit to creating order or else he would seize the city in the name of the King. Thomas added that he wished this to be avoided because doing so would remove their liberties as well as those of their citizens forever. In the end, the disorder ended and Thomas did not need to seize the town.

Further Reading: W. H. Stevenson, Report on the Manuscripts of Lord Middleton, Historical Manuscripts Commission, 1911. p141.

"Henry VIII: November 1525, 2-15", in Letters and Papers, Foreign and Domestic, Henry VIII, Volume 4, 1524-1530, ed. J S Brewer, 1875, PD, British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/letters-papers-hen8/vol4/pp773-785

Author - Debbie Jordan, Middleton Hall Volunteer.

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