dreds of Norfolk and one of Suffolk. The demands were singularly moderate, and aimed at redressing the hardships of the feudal system by diminishing the power of lords of manors as regards enclosures, outgoings which were unjustly thrown upon tenants, restrictions of rights of fishing, keeping of dovecots, and such like. The only general principle laid down is, ‘We pray that all bondmen may be made free; for God made all free with his precious bloodshedding.’ There is no ground for finding in this rising any sympathy with the old form of the church; clerical residence and diligence in teaching are the only demands of a religious nature. On 21 July came a royal herald, offering pardon, whom Kett answered, ‘Kings were wont to pardon wicked persons, not innocent and just men.’ After being thus treated as a rebel, Kett began the siege of Norwich, and William Parr, marquis of Northampton, was sent with 2,500 men to its succour. Among his troops were some Italian mercenaries, who were worsted in a skirmish, and on 1 Aug. Kett attacked Norwich, slew Lord Sheffield, and drove the royal troops out of the city. The privy council was in great anxiety, and not till 16 Aug. was John Dudley, earl of Warwick, named commander against the rebels. On 23 Aug. he reached Norwich, and sent a herald offering pardon to all except Kett. While the herald was delivering his message one of his escort shot a boy who affronted him, and the herald was almost torn to pieces. Kett interposed to save him, and for a moment hesitated whether or no he should accompany him to Warwick. But his followers seized his bridle, and the chances of peace were at an end. Warwick forced his way into one end of Norwich while the rebels held the other, and there was confused fighting in the streets till, on 26 Aug., Warwick was reinforced by eleven hundred lanzknechts, and was strong enough to meditate an attack on the camp at Mousehold. Moved by a local prophecy, which foretold that ‘the country gnuffes should fill up Dussindale with blood,’ Kett moved from Mousehold to Dussindale below, and there awaited Warwick's onslaught. In the open field trained soldiers easily prevailed; the lanzknechts fired a volley, and charged the centre of the rebels, who gave way, and their forces were thus cut into, and fled on different sides. At least 3,500 men were slain on the field, and so fulfilled the prophecy. Kett rode away to Swannington; but his horse was weary and he could go no further. He was taken and brought back to Norwich, whence he was sent with three brothers to London. Only he and William were brought to trial; they pleaded guilty, and were condemned to death as traitors. On 29 Nov. they were handed over to the sheriff, and were taken back to Norwich, where Robert was executed on 7 Dec. 1549, and his body was hanged in chains from the top of the castle. William was sent to Wymondham, and was similarly hanged from the church tower.
[Russell, Kett's Rebellion in Norfolk, has collected most of the documents relating to the rising. There are two contemporary accounts, Neville's De Furoribus Norfolcensium, first published 1575, and Southerton's The Commoyson in Norfolk (Harl. MSS.), 1576. Besides these: Hayward's Reign of Edward VI; Holinshed's Chronicle; Strype's Ecclesiastical Memorials and Life of Parker; Blomefield's Hist. of Norfolk, ii. 160, &c. Of modern writers: Froude's Hist. of England; Dixon's Hist. of the Church of England; Rye's Popular Hist. of Norfolk.]
KETTELL, RALPH (1563–1643), third president of Trinity College, Oxford, born in 1563, was the third son of John Kettell, gentleman, of King's Langley, Hertfordshire. He was nominated to a scholarship at Trinity College, Oxford, in 1578 by Lady Elizabeth Paulet of Tittenhanger, the widow of Sir Thomas Pope, knt., founder of the college; and was elected fellow in 1583. One of his contemporaries and friends was Sir Edward Hoby [q. v.] The Christopher Kettell who became a commoner of the college in 1583, and the George Kettell who became a commoner in 1588, were Ralph's younger brothers, and John Kettell of King's Langley, whose family bible is in the college library, was his elder brother (King's Langley reg.) Ralph Kettell graduated B.A. 1682, M.A. 1586, B.D. 1594, and D.D. 1597, and, after filling various college offices, was elected president in 1598-9, on the death of Dr. Yeldard. Among those who as young men were under his care while he was either tutor or president were Archbishop Sheldon, Bishops Glemham, Lucy, Ironside, and Skinner, Sir John Denham, James Harrington, Ludlow, Ireton. George and Cecil Calvert, Lord Baltimore, William, earl of Craven, and Sir Henry Blount. Many documents drawn up in his very curious and marked handwriting remain in the college archives. He exercised great vigilance in dealing with the college estates and college discipline, rebuilt the college hall, and added attics or 'cocklofts ' to the old Durham College quadrangle, of which the east side still remains. About 1620 he built for the use of commoners, on the site of 'Perilous Hall,' the fine stone house in Broad Street which is still known as Kettell Hall.
