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In 1381 there was the Peasants Revolt
led by a man called Wat Tyler. Despite the fact that there was a shortage of labour, some nobles still refused to pay more money to their workers. Then, in
1380, the King, through his Chancellor, the man who looked after his money, enforced a poll tax. Everybody over 15 had to pay 12p which was about a month’s
wages. From everywhere people marched on London. In fact it wasn’t just a peasants’ revolt, it included tradesman and farmers too. They demanded to see the King.
When they were told no, they ran riot.
Then the King, now 14, rode out from the Tower of London to meet
them. The people didn’t really hate the King; their anger was against his Council. He met them, promised to give them all they demanded and told them to go home.
Meanwhile another group broke into the tower and captured Simon Sudbury, who was both Archbishop of Canterbury and Chancellor, dragged him through the streets
and then beheaded him, at the seventh attempt.
Richard agreed to meet the rioters again the following day, this time at a place called Smithfields, outside the city walls. The idea was said to be
that of the then Lord Mayor of London who was concerned that, with London and its wooden buildings, there was a chance the angry crowd could cause a fire and
destroy the whole city. The Mayor may have had another plan too because at this next meeting it is said that he attacked and killed Wat Tyler, the crowd all
panicked and fled to their homes and all was peaceful again. Richard claimed that everything he had promised had been said under threat, (when have we heard that
before – answer John and the Magna Carta) and so was not valid in law, which is a pretty good excuse and also, legally, correct.
Forward to 1399AD
