Revolting Peasants...

     The Worm Fights Back

I am merely talking figuratively about worms, but the principal is the same which will soon become obvious.

The English labourers of the 12th century were being treated worse than the lowest animal in the kingdom. Yet they were being taxed at the same rate as the rich. This is basically the reason behind the ‘Peasants Revolt’ of 1381 in England.

After the disastrous Black Death (bubonic plague) of 1348 and 1349, the poor working classes in England were reduced in numbers by between one third and one half. This gave them power in so far as they could try to negotiate for better wages under the law of supply and demand.

The ‘elite’ did not like it……………….

They had been used to cheap labour and in fact passed an Act of Parliament called the Statute of Labourers in 1351. This act attempted to curb any form of negotiation and to hold down wages. It restricted the ‘mobility’ of the labourers.

Those employed by Lords were exempted but for most of the others, especially those classed as ‘peasants’, were liable to be fined or held in the stocks.

King Richard Second was on the throne, but as he was only aged 14, he had others acting as his Regent and Chancellor. These and many high members of the Church were seen to be corrupt and trying to exploit the weakness of the King.

In order to continue to finance overseas military campaigns known as the ‘Hundred Years’ War’, in 1377, a ‘poll tax’ was levied on everyone. The rate was set at four pence per person. By 1379, the third year, it had been increased to twelve pence per person. It made no difference if you were rich or poor; the tax was the same for all.

The revolt started when a tax collector and his guards entered the village of Brentwood in Essex to enforce and collect the tax. The locals insisted that they had already paid and refused to pay any more. The collector, John Bampton tried to arrest some of the villagers, but about one hundred men, under the unofficial leadership of Thomas Baker, chased Bampton and his men out of the village.

Bampton returned to London and reported what had happened. Troops were dispatched but again Baker and the villagers repelled them. Six of the accompanying tax clerks were beheaded……………

News of the ‘uprising’ had by now spread throughout Essex and across the River Thames to Kent. Refusals to pay the poll tax were spreading far and wide. Soon villagers from all over the counties were on the move towards London in what was now becoming an armed uprising.

The leader appointed by the Kent men was Wat (Walter) Tyler. Many renegade priests and others joined them. They camped outside London on June 12, 1381, the Essex contingent on the North side of the river and the Kent men on the South side. The following day, they joined forces and marched on the City of London.

On their journey, they began to torch many properties, in particular those of the ‘elite’ and the Church. They are said to have met the young King and presented him with their demands.

They demanded the abolition of serfdom (which was even worse than being a peasant) and the dismissal of some of his more unpopular ministers. At the same time, a group of the marchers stormed the Tower of London and summarily executed those hiding inside.

This included the hated Lord Chancellor the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Lord Treasurer. The Savoy Palace of the King’s uncle, John of Gaunt was destroyed. Richard agreed to reforms such as fair rents and the abolition of serfdom.

Serfdom was a system close if not identical to slavery. They were the lowest form of workforce whereby they were forced to work for their ‘lords’ merely for the right to rent small areas of land. They were treated worse than animals.

The following day, they met up at Smithfield (now the main London Meat Market) and further negotiations took place.

Wat Tyler rode up to the King’s party to discuss the demands. It is said that he became belligerent and demanded drink. When he produced his dagger, the Mayor of London, assisted by his aide, mortally wounded Tyler with his sword. He suffered a fatal neck wound………….

When the rebels saw this from afar, they began to move forward. Richard rode towards them and convinced them that all that had happened was that Tyler had been knighted by laying the sword on his shoulders.

They all moved off to another site where negotiations were to continue. However, a hastily organised militia of seven thousand men was mustered. The rebels were routed, chased, captured and executed. All the so-called leaders who had escaped were subsequently captured, tortured and executed…………..

Needless to say, all the concessions promised by the King were quickly revoked and the dreaded poll tax was re-levied………………..

------------------Mike----------------