Changes

In late May, 1381, the men of the village of Fobbing, [[Essex]] and others attacked a pair of tax commissioners in nearby Brentwood. Within a fortnight around 10.000 men from [[Kent]], across the [[River Thames]], stirred up by [[Wat Tyler]], Jack Straw and John Ball (the only three names still known), had begun converging on [[London]]. For two days they burnt and looted (their destruction of John of Gaunt’s Savoy palace was especially brutal) until on 14 June the young King [[Richard II]] agreed to meet them. The king was conciliatory and the agreement satisfied most of the men who began returning to their villages. Wat Tyler and a hard core of rebels remained, and during the night took and killed the [[Archbishop of Canterbury]] and others.

In late May, 1381, the men of the village of Fobbing, [[Essex]] and others attacked a pair of tax commissioners in nearby Brentwood. Within a fortnight around 10.000 men from [[Kent]], across the [[River Thames]], stirred up by [[Wat Tyler]], Jack Straw and John Ball (the only three names still known), had begun converging on [[London]]. For two days they burnt and looted (their destruction of John of Gaunt’s Savoy palace was especially brutal) until on 14 June the young King [[Richard II]] agreed to meet them. The king was conciliatory and the agreement satisfied most of the men who began returning to their villages. Wat Tyler and a hard core of rebels remained, and during the night took and killed the [[Archbishop of Canterbury]] and others.

The king met them again the next day (15 June). Wat Tyler made impossible demands; including the end of serfdom, disestablishment of the Church, and the sharing of “nobility” amongst all men. (It is possible that the Peasants’ Revolt is the first known instance of a political slogan - in this case: “When Adam delved and Eve span, who was then the gentleman?”) Tyler was belligerent and rude. At one stage he drew his dagger and was struck down by one of Richard’s retinue, the Mayor of London. Richard immediately rode away from his supporters, faced the angry mob and declared: “Thou shalt have no leader but me!” He told them that if they went home there would be no repercussions.

The king met them again the next day (15 June). Wat Tyler made impossible demands; including the end of serfdom, disestablishment of the Church, and the sharing of “nobility” amongst all men. (It is possible that the Peasants' Revolt is the first known instance of a political slogan - in this case: “When Adam delved and Eve span, who was then the gentleman?”) Tyler was belligerent and rude. At one stage he drew his dagger and was struck down by one of Richard’s retinue, the Mayor of London. Richard immediately rode away from his supporters, faced the angry mob and declared: “Thou shalt have no leader but me!” He told them that if they went home there would be no repercussions.

There were of course. The leaders were chased down and executed. There was no widespread retribution, however, and in December, the king issued a general pardon. Whilst there had been other outbreaks, notably in [[Bury St Edmunds]] and [[St. Albans]] and at [[Norwich]] Castle, they were as short lived as in London.

There were of course. The leaders were chased down and executed. There was no widespread retribution, however, and in December, the king issued a general pardon. Whilst there had been other outbreaks, notably in [[Bury St Edmunds]] and [[St. Albans]] and at [[Norwich]] Castle, they were as short lived as in London.