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Peasants' Revolt
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| During the summer of 1381 the government of England
was rocked by an event now called the Peasants' Revolt. The
country had already been experiencing economic and social difficulties
as a consequence of the Black Death. The immediate cause of
the uprising is clear: the raising of a third poll tax. This
was bitterly resented. Unlike previous poll taxes, where ability
to pay had been taken into account, this one simply raised a
flat rate of 1 shilling per person. As a result, evasion was
widespread, with taxpayers concealing the existence of dependants
such as widowed mothers or unmarried sisters. Eventually the
poor rates of collection triggered a series of official investigations,
held between January and March 1381. These had considerable
success in uncovering deceptions, but they also created significant
local unrest. |
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Stirrings of rebellion
The revolt began in Essex, at the end of May, with an attack
by men from Fobbing and surrounding villages on John Bampton
and other justices who were part of an investigating commission.
Another commission, led by Sir Robert Belknap, Chief Justice
of Common Pleas, attempted to deal with rioters at Brentwood,
but this provoked further violence. The revolt quickly spread
across the Home Counties and East Anglia. |
| Within a short space of time the Essex men had
linked up with Kentish dissidents, and a radical political agenda
emerged. The rebel leaders, who were key members of their local
communities, viewed themselves as protectors of the laws and
customs of the realm. On 2 June, at Bocking, in Essex, they
declared their intention 'to destroy divers lieges of the king
and to have no law in England except only those which they themselves
moved to be ordained'. |
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Death of Wat Tyler
The rebels then converged on London. By 12 June groups from
Kent and Essex had reached the suburbs. The government hesitated.
It chose to negotiate and arranged a meeting at Blackheath
between the 14-year-old king, Richard II, and the Kentish
rebel leader, Wat Tyler. The rebels demanded the heads of
'traitors', among them the king's uncle, John of Gaunt, Duke
of Lancaster. This was refused. They then forced their way
into London, attacking and looting property - including Gaunt's
residence at the Savoy - and releasing prisoners from Newgate
Prison. |
At a further meeting, on 14 June, at Mile End,
the rebels demanded the abolition of serfdom .
The king agreed and charters of manumission
were quickly issued. Unfortunately, these concessions sparked
further outbreaks of violence, and the rebels also decided to
execute the 'traitors'. Another meeting was arranged between
Tyler and the king, this time at Smithfield, on 15 June. Tensions
were high and an argument broke out during which Tyler was killed,
probably by one of the king's servants. Then, in an apparently
well co-ordinated plan, the Londoners set upon the rebels, driving
them from the capital. |
Certificate of manumission
Document
(147k) | Transcript |
Inquisition into offences
committed in Essex, 1381
Document
(180k) | Transcript |
Harsh retribution
The government quickly swung into action, ordering sheriffs
to proclaim the enforcement of peace and to take whatever
measures were necessary to crush the revolt. Judicial commissions
were appointed to restore order, authorised to deal with the
rebels 'according to the law and custom of England'. Only
one county offered active resistance - Essex. Here retribution
was harshest. In the course of the judicial hearings, 19 rebels
were executed by hanging and another dozen by hanging and
drawing. The Peasants' Revolt was over.
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