Norfolk had proved loyal; despite his age and lumbering gait, the Duke had moved swiftly and deadly as any cat. He had sent out reconnoitring parties to occupy Gravesend and the river passages across the Thames, whilst browbeating the citizens to prepare the defences of London. He had despatched a force to Reigate and managed to throw a protective circle around London, vigorously snapping the links between the rebels in Surrey and East Anglia. Sir John Fogge attempted to attack Gravesend but the Duke’s men beat them off. Richard now ordered a general advance into the south-west. He proclaimed one thousand pounds reward for Buckingham, dead or alive, and appointed Sir Ralph Assheton as Vice-Constable of England with powers to try all rebels and mete out summary justice. As we advanced south, Assheton took his new office seriously, hanging rebels, even rolling prisoners down hills in barrels with spikes inside. Richard attempted to curb this ferocious enthusiasm but the bloodlust of the royal army was aroused, whetted by the news of Buckingham’s revolt being on the wane.
