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The Life and Reign of King Edward VI is in Tudor Books.
At this time the seditious lived by rapine and ruine of all the country, omitting nothing of that which savages enraged in the height of their unruly behaviour doe commit, but the Citizens driven to great distresse for want of vicuales, bread they made of coursest branne moulded in cloathes, for that otherwise it would not cleave together. Their finest flesh was of their owne horses, especially for 12 daies they endured most extreame famine. During this time they were much encouraged by an aged cittizen, who brought forth all his provisions and said, that as hee did communicate unto them his store, so would he participate of their wants. And that for his part he would feed on the one arme and fight with the other before he would consent to put the citty into the seditious hands. Herewith the Lord privy Seale for want of power to performe any services, was about to rise and returne to London. But in good time the Lord Gray came to him with supply of forces most Almane horsemen, and with him came Spinola with his band of Italians consisting of 300 shot, purposed for Scotland, also 200 men were sent unto him from Reading, so being in all not much above 1000 strong, he made head against the seditious.
[4th August 1549]. So departing from Honington he came to a little Village [Clyst St Mary, Exeter [Map]] from whence lay 2 waies towards Exeter, both which were blocked up with 2 bulwarkes of earth, made by the seditious, hither they had driven 2000 men from before Exeter whom they divided into 4 companies. In either of the Bulwarkes they lodged one, at the bridge neere the backe of one of the fortes, a third company was placed, neere the back was laid in ambush behinde a hedge on the high way, at the backe of the other fortresse, the Arriere of the kings forces led by captaine Wavers set upon one of the fortes, the vaward and battaile upon the other, Spinola with his shot did beare upon those within, who offered to appeare upon the walls. At length Captaine Wavers wonn the fort which he assailed and drave the defendands to the bridge where one of their companies made stand. Herewith the other two companies did forthwith resort unto them, one from the second fort, the other trom the Ambush. These casting a strong guard upon the bridge, marshalied the residue upon a plaine ground behinde the bridge. The Kirgs forces coming forward drave the guard from the bridge, and making profit of the fresh terror set upon those who were upon the plaine. The kings footmen were firmely ranked, the troopes of horse in good array, whereas the seditions had neither weapons, order nor counsaile, but being in all things unprovided were slaine like beasts. They tooke their flight towards St Mary cliffe but the souldiers upon disdaine of their unworthy actions filled themselues with revenge and blood, and slue of them above 900 not sparing one.
[6th August 1549]. This sad blow abated much the courage and hope of the seditious, and yet the next day about 2000 of then affronted the Kings forces at the entrance of a high way, whom when they found both ready and resolute to fight, they defired enterparlance, and in the meane time began to fortify. But understanding that their intention was understood more like slaves then souldiers they furiously ran away. The same night the.seditious before Exeter raised their seige, and therewith discharged the citty from many miseries and dispaires. The King afterwards enlarged the constant obedience of the citty with enlargement both of liberties and of revenews, hee gave unto then the mannor of Emiland for a perpetuall remembrance both of their loyalty and of his love.
[6th August 1549]. Now the seditious driven almost to a dead dispaire and supported only by the vehemency of desire, brought forth their forces to Clifton heath [Map], to whom many of the most vile vulgars resorted hourely, which much enlarged their numbers but nothing their strength, but what measure have men in the encrease of madnes, if they keepe nor themselves from falling into it, they brought with them a crucifix upon a carte covered with a canopie, and beset with crossses,tapers,banners, holy bread and holy water as a representation of those things for which they fought. The Lord Gray (age 40) encouraged his men to set sharpely upon the vague villaines good neither to live peaceably nor to fight, and to win at once both quiet to the Realme and to themselves glory, so he brought the Kings forces upon them rather as to a carnage then to a fight, insomuch as without any great either losse or danger to themselues, the greatest part of the seditious were slaine, divers also were taken, of whom the common sort were forthwith executed by martiall law, the chiefest leaders were sent to receive justice at Loudon, Some escaped and sailed to Bridgewater, who taking dangers to be the only remedy against dangers, endeavoured to set up the sedition againe, but they were speedily repressed, and thereby the sedition suppressed wholly.