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The king met them again the next day (15th 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 (15th 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.

The revolt was a failure in that all the king’s promises were rescinded immediately, and the glacial pace of social and political change returned. However, the next government to levy a poll tax on the English was Margaret Thatcher’s in 1990!  

The revolt was a failure in that all the king’s promises were rescinded immediately, and the glacial pace of social and political change returned. However, the next government to levy a poll tax on the English was Margaret Thatcher’s in 1990!