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Mayor, was ordered to arrest him, when
that brave magistrate gave him such a
blow on the head with his sword, that he
fell wounded from his horse, and was soon
dispatched.
The rebels, in the mean time, observ-
ing what was done, cried out, Our Cap-
tain is murdered, let us revenge his death,
and immediately bent their bows: when
Richard, though but fifteen years of age,
with astonishing prudence and bravery
rode up to them, crying "My friends,
" will you kill your King? be not trou-
" bled for the loss of your leader. I will
" be your captain, and grant what you
" desire." Upon which they changed
their resolution, and marched under his
conduct to St. George's Fields, where find-
ing a thousand citizens completely armed,
they were struck with such an amazing
panic, that, throwing down their arms,
they begged for mercy, which being
granted, they immediately dispersed.
Several writers ascribe to the action of
this day, the addition of the dagger to the
arms of the city, in remembrance of the
good service done by them, and particu-
larly by the Lord Mayor.
This, and other rebellions, being sup-
pressed, King Richard, in the year 1390,
appointed a great tournament to be held
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in Smithfield, on the Sunday after Mi-
chaelmas; and having caused it to be pro-
claimed in all the principal courts of Eu-
rope, several princes and noblemen from
Germany, France, the Netherlands, and
other countries, came to distinguish them-
selves by their courage and military skill.
On the day appointed, which was Sunday
in the afternoon, a pompous cavalcade of
sixty ladies set out from the Tower, all
richly dressed, and mounted on fine
horses, each leading an armed Knight by
a silver chain, attended by their Esquires,
who passing through Cheapside proceed-
ed to Smithfield, where the justs continued
four days, in the presence of the King,
the Queen, and the whole court; his Ma-
jesty himself giving proofs of his skill and
dexterity on the second day. During the
whole time open house was kept at the
King's expence, at the Bishop of London's
palace, for the entertainment of all per-
sons of distinction, and every night the di-
versions concluded with a ball.
Two years after, the city refusing to
lend the King a sum of money, and some
of the citizens beating and abusing a
Lombard merchant, for offering to ad-
vance the sum required, the King was so
exasperated, that he sent for the Lord
Mayor, Aldermen, Sheriffs, and twenty
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