They say that it were great reproof to the king to take again what he has given, so that they will not suffer him to have his own good, nor land, nor forfeiture, nor any other good but they ask it from him, or else they take bribes of others to get it for him.

Despite the well-known anger of the peasants towards the Duke and their efforts to rid England of corrupt high officials the Bill of Complaints dismissed the idea that the rebels were responsible. M. M.

Promised pardons and reforms many of the rebels were instead declared traitors and Cade was killed in a small skirmish on 12 July 1450 near Lewes in Sussex. Cade's power-base was Kent from which he led an army of as many as 5000 against London causing the King to flee to Warwickshire. The revolt arose from local grievances linked to the weakness and corruption of the king's regime.