^{page 339 note a} “1431. Soone after Easter the Lord Protector was warned of an assembly of certaine lewd persons, under pretence of religious minded men, to be assembled at Abingdon, wherefore he sent thither certaine persons, and also rode thither himself, and there arrested the Baily of the towne, named William Mandevil, a weaver, the which was appointed for a Captaine, who had named himself Jack Sharpe of Wigmer's land, in Wales, who being examined, confessed that he meant to have done many mischiefs, especially against priests, so that he would have made their heads as cheap as sheepes heads, (that is to say) three or foure a penny, (or, as some write, ten for a penny); many of his complices were taken and sent to divers prisons. Their Captaine was drawne, hanged, and headed at Abingdon, and his head was sent to London and set on the bridge, his other fautors were executed in divers places and countries to the terror of other. Also, the thirteene of July, Richard Russel, woolman, was drawne, hanged, and quartered, for that he would have made Dukes and Earls at his pleasure.” Stowe's Annales, edit. 1631, fo. 372. “While these things were doing in France, Henry Beaufforde, Cardinall of Winchester, was sailed again into Englande, to appease and represse certain divisions and commocions, sprung up by mischevous and pernicious persons, within the realm, which, under the colour of a new sect of religion, conjured together, to disquiet and vert the whole quietnes of the realme. But after that William Maundeville and Jho Sharpe were taken and executed by the governor and the kinge's justices, the remnaunt yielded and co'fessed there offences, whereof two articles wer these, as some men wrote, —that priestes should have no possessions; and that all thinges, by the order of charitie amongest Christian people, should be in common.” Hall, edit. 1543, fo. 120 b. See also Annales Wilhelmi Wyrcester, 1431.