Peasants' Revolt

Anonimalle Chronicle. Afterwards, on the Monday [3rd Jun 1381]¹ following the feast of Pentecost, a knight of our lord the king's household, Sir Simon de Burley (age 41) by name, had with him two of the king's men-at-arms, and came that Monday to Gravesend and there claimed a man to be his serf. The good people of the town came to him to try to make a settlement, out of respect for the king. But Sir Simon would accept nothing less than 300 pounds in silver for the man's release, which was a grave injustice to the said man. The good townspeople begged for mercy, but they could not succeed in getting a reduction in the amount, telling Sir Simon that the man was a Christian and of good standing, and therefore should not be condemned to a life of bondage. At this, Sir Simon became very angry and wrathful, and he greatly scorned the good people. In his fury, he had the man bound by the sergeants and taken to Rochester Castle to be securely held, which led to great harm and misfortune thereafter. And after his departure, the commons began to rise up, welcoming to their cause people from many towns in Kent.

Denapres le lundy prochien apres le fest de Pentecost, une chivaler del measoun nostre seignur le roy, monsire Symond de Burley nome, avoit en sa companye deux seriauntes darmes del dit roy, et vient le lundy susdit a Gravesende et chalanga illeoges une homme destre soun nayff; et les bones gentz de la ville viendrent a luy pur acorde fair en ease maner al reverence le roy. Mes le dit sire Symond ne vodroit meyns prendre qe ccc li. dargent a graunde defesance del dit homme; et a ceo les bones gentz prierent de mitigacione, mes ils ne purrount esplayter ne avoir lour purpos de meyndre somme, dissauntz al dit sire Symonde ge le homme fuist Cristien et de bone part et pur ceo il ne deveroit estre defait pur toutz iours; par qay le dit sire Symond fuist moult curuce et irrous et despisa graundement les bones gentz, et pur grossour de coer fist les sergeantz lier le dit homme et amener al chastelle de Rouchestre pur estre salvement garde, par qay graunde male et meschief vient apres; et apres soun aler, les comunes comenserount a lever, accoillauntz as eux les gentz des plusours villes en Kent.

Note 1. There is a problem with this narrative insofar as Accounts, etc., Exchequer 318/26, shows that Burley was in 'Bohemia' from the spring to the autumn of 1381 and could not have been at Gravesend on Whit Monday.

Anonimalle Chronicle. And at that same time, the commons of Kent came to Maidstone and beheaded one of the best men of the town and tore down various houses and tenements belonging to those who refused to rise up with them, as had been done in Essex. And on the following Friday [7th June 1381], they came to Rochester [Map] and there met with a great number of the commons from Essex. Because of the man from Gravesend, they laid siege to Rochester Castle in order to recover their companion, whom the aforesaid Sir Simon had imprisoned. They launched a fierce assault on the castle, and the constable defended it vigorously for half a day. But in the end, fearing such a vast crowd of people from Essex and Kent who had gathered without reason, he surrendered the castle to them. The commons entered and freed their companion and all the other prisoners from the prison. Those from Gravesend returned with their companion with great celebration, without doing more, while those from Maidstone continued their journey with the other commons through the surrounding countryside.

Et mesme le temps le comunes de Kent viendrent a Maydenstoun et couperount le test de une de les meliours hommes de la ville et abaterount a terre diverses places et tenementz des gentz queux ne vodroient lever ovesqe eux come firent en Exesse; et le venderdy prochien apres, viendrent a Rouchestre et illeoges encontrerount graunde noumbre des comunes de Exesse et par cause del homme de Grayvesende mistrent ensege al chastelle de Rouchestre pur avoir lour compaignoun del Gravesende, le quel sire Symond avauntdit avoit enprisone; et donerount fort assaute al chastelle, et les conestable se defendist vigurousement une dymy iour, mes au. darrein pur doute qil avoit de tiel multitude des gentz saunz resoun de Exesse et de Kent delivera le chastelle as eux et les comunes entrerent et pristrent lour compaignoun et toutz prisoners hors de prisone; et ceux de Gravesende repairerount od lour compaignoun od graunde leestee saunz pluis fair, et les autres de Maydenstoun pristrent lour viage ovesge les autres comunes par le pais enviroun.

Anonimalle Chronicle. There, they made as their leader a man named Wat Tyler of Maidstone, to guide and advise them. And on the Monday [10th June 1381] following the feast of the Trinity, they came to Canterbury before the hour of None (around 3 p.m.), and three thousand of them entered the main church of Saint Thomas during high mass. Kneeling, they all cried out in one voice to the monks, demanding that they elect a new monk to be Archbishop of Canterbury, saying that the one who currently held the position was a traitor and would be beheaded for his treason — which indeed happened within five days afterward. When this was done, they returned to the town to join their companions, and by common agreement they summoned the mayor, bailiffs, and commons of the said town and questioned them whether they were willing, in good faith, to swear loyalty and fidelity to King Richard and to the loyal commons of England — or not. The mayor responded that they were willing to do so, and they took their oaths. Then the rebels asked whether there were any traitors among them, and it was said that there were three, who were named. The commons dragged those men out of their houses and beheaded them. Afterwards, they took some men from the town with them toward London and left the others behind to guard the town.

Kt illeoges firent lour chieftayne une Watt Teghler de Maydenstoun pur les mayntener et conseiller; et le lundy prochien apres le fest de la Trinytee viendrent a Caunterbury avaunt la houre de none et iii mille des eux entrerount en la meir esglise de seint Thomas en le temps del haut messe, et engenolauntz toutz a une voyce crierent a les moignes pur eslire une moigne destre ercevesqe de Kaunterbury, gar cestuy qor est, est traytour et serra decolle pur 8a Iniquitee; et si fuist il deinz le v iours apres; et quaunt ceo fuist fait ils alerount en la ville a lour compaignouns et par une assent manderount pur le meir, baillives et comunes del dite ville et les examinerount sils vodroient ovesqe bone voluntee iurere destre fele et leel al roy Richarde et a les loials comunes Dengleterre ou nemy; et le meir / respoundist qils vodroient volunters, et firent lour serementes et puis demanderent de eux sils furount ascunes traitours parentre eux; et dissoient qils furount trois et nomeront lour nounes; les queux les communes traiherount hors de lour measones et couperont lour testes et apres pristrent d gentz de la ville ovesqe eux devers Londres et les autres lesserount pur garder la ville.

Froissart Book 10: 1380-1382. [220] 14th June 1381. When the king had arrived, accompanied by the lords previously mentioned, at the place of Mile End, he found more than sixty thousand men from various places and villages throughout the regions of England. He went into their midst and said to them very gently: 'Good people, I am your king and your lord. What is it you need? What do you wish to say?' Then those who heard him responded and said: 'We want you to free us forever, us, our heirs, and our lands, and that we should never again be called or considered serfs.' The king said: 'I grant it to you. Now return peacefully to your homes and villages, just as you came here from the countryside, and leave two or three men from each village here. I will have letters written and sealed with my seal for them, so that they may carry them back with them, granting freely and entirely all that you have asked. And, so that you may be more comforted and assured, I will have my banners delivered through the seneschalties, the castellanies, and the mayoralties.'

[220] Quant li rois fu venus, et li baron dessus nommé en sa compaignie, en la place de la Milinde, il trouva plus de soissante mille homme[s] de divers lieux et de divers villages des contrées d'Engletiére. Il se mist tout enmi eux et leur dist moult doucement: "Bonnes gens, je sui vostres rois et vostres sires. Que vous fault? Que vollés vous dire?" Adont respondirent cil qui 'entendirent et dissent: "Nous volons que tu nous afranchisses a tous les jours dou monde, nous, nos hoirs et nos terres, et que jamais nous ne soions tenu ne nommeé serf." Dist li rois: "Je le vous acorde. Retraiiés vous bellement en vos lieux et en vos maissons, enssi que vous estes chi venu par villages et laissiés de par vous de cascun village deus ou trois hommes, et je leur ferai escripre a pooir lettres et seeler de mon seel, que il en reporteront avoec euls quitement, liegement et francement tout ce que vous demandés. Et, afin que vous en soiés mieux conforté et aseuré, je vous feral par senescaudies, par casteleries et par mairies delivrer mes baniéres."

Froissart Book 10: 1380-1382. [219] 14th June 1381 Then the common people from the villages began to depart and make their way toward that place, but not all of them went, nor were they all of one mind. There were many among them who sought nothing but riot and the destruction of the nobles, and who wanted all of London to be overrun and pillaged. That was, in truth, their main purpose for starting the revolt, and they made it clear by their actions. For as soon as the gate of the Tower was opened and the king had come out with his two brothers, the Earls of Salisbury, Warwick, and Oxford, Sir Robert of Namur, the Lord of Vertain, the Lord of Gommegnies, and many others, Walter Tyler, Jack Straw, and John Ball, along with more than four hundred men, entered the Tower and took control of it. They burst from room to room and found the Archbishop of Canterbury, named Simon, a truly valiant and upright man, who had just finished celebrating Mass before the king. These brutes seized him and immediately beheaded him. They also killed the Grand Prior of the Order of St. John of the Hospital and a Franciscan friar, a physician to the Duke of Lancaster, this man was killed out of hatred for his master, and a sergeant-at-arms of the king named John Legge. These four heads were then placed on long spears and carried through the streets of London, and when they had had enough of their gruesome display, they fixed them on London Bridge, as though they had been traitors to the king and the realm.

Adont se commenchièrent à departir ces gens les communs des villages et iaus à traire et à aler celle part, mais tout n'i alèrent mies, et n'estoient mies tout de une condition, car il en i avoit pluiseurs qui ne demandoient que le rihote et le destrution des nobles et Londres estre toute courue et pillie. Che estoit le principaulx matère pour quoi il avoient commenchiet, et bien le monstroient, car, sitrestos que la porte dou castiel fu ouverte et que li rois en fu issus et si doi frère, li contes de Sasleberi, li contes de Waruich, li contes d'Aquesufort, messires Robers de Namur, li sires de Vertaing, li sires de Goumegnies et pluiseur autre, Wautre Tieullier, Jaques Strau et Jehan Balle et plus de quatre cent entrèrent ens ou castiel et l'efforchièrent, et sallirent de cambre en cambre et trouvèrent l'arcevesque de Cantorbie, que on appeloit Simon, vaillant homme et preudomme durement, cancelier d'Engletière, liquelx avoit tantos fait le divin office et celebré messe devant le roi; il fu pris de ces gloutons et là tantos decollés. Ossi fu li grans prieus de Saint Jehan de l'Ospital et uns frères meneurs, maistres en medechine, liquels estoit au duc de Lancastre; et pour che fu il mors ou despit de son maistre, et uns sergans d'armes dou roi, que on appelloit Jehan Laige, et ces quatre testes missent il sus longes glaves et les faissoient porter devant iaulx parmi les rues de Londres; et, quant il eurent assés joué, il les missent sus le pont de Londres, comme il euissent esté traïteur au roi et au roiaulme.

Froissart Book 10: 1380-1382. [222] [15th June 1381] At those words, he spurred his horse, on which he was mounted, and separated himself from his companions, coming directly toward the King—so close that the tail of his horse was over the head of the King's own horse. The first thing he said, he addressed the King and said: "King, do you see all these people over there?" "Yes," said the King. "Why do you ask?" "I ask because they are all under my command, and they have all sworn loyalty and obedience to do whatever I want." "Very well," said the King. "I am content with that." Then Tyler, who was looking for trouble, said: "And do you think, King, that all those people here—and just as many in London—who are under my command will leave without carrying letters from you? No! We will carry them all with us before us." The King replied: "It has been arranged, and they will be given, one after another. Friend, go back peacefully to your men and lead them back to London. Be calm and think of yourselves, for it is our will that each of you, by village and town, shall have letters as agreed." At these words, Wat Tyler turned his eyes toward a royal squire who stood behind the King and bore the King's sword. Tyler hated this squire greatly, for they had once exchanged angry words, and the squire had insulted him. "Ah, so you're here," said Tyler. "Give me your dagger." "I will not," said the squire. "Why should I give it to you?" The King looked at his squire and said: "Give it to him." The squire gave it reluctantly. Once Tyler had it, he began to play with it and turn it in his hand. Then he said to the squire again: "Give me that sword." "I will not," replied the squire. "It is the King's sword. You are not worthy to have it, for you're just a rogue. And if you and I were alone in this place, you wouldn't say such things—not for all the gold as great as the church of Saint Paul." "By my faith," said Tyler, "I will not eat again until I have your head." At this point, the Mayor of London, William Walworth, arrived, mounted on horseback and armed under his coat. He forced his way through the crowd, saw how Tyler was behaving, and said: "Fellow, how dare you speak such words in the presence of the King? That's far too much for you!" The King grew angry and said to the mayor: "Mayor, lay hands on him." While the King was speaking, Tyler turned to the mayor and said: "And what I say and do—what's it to you?" "Indeed!" said the mayor, who was devoted to the King. "Filthy scoundrel, you speak like that in the presence of my natural lord? I swear, you'll pay for it." Then the mayor drew a large baselard (a kind of long dagger) he was carrying and gave Tyler such a powerful blow to the head that he knocked him to the ground at his horse's feet. As soon as Tyler fell, he was surrounded on all sides so he could not be seen by the assembled crowd—his own followers—who were standing nearby. Then a royal squire named John Standwich dismounted, drew his fine sword, and stabbed Tyler in the stomach—there he died. When the rebel crowd realized their captain had been killed, they began to murmur and cry out: "They've killed our captain! Let's go! Let's kill them all!" With that, they formed into battle ranks on the field, each man who had one placing his bow before him. At that moment, the King performed a great and bold act, which turned out for the best. For as soon as Tyler was brought down, the King rode away from his companions alone, saying: "Stay here. Let no one follow me." He rode straight toward the angry crowd, who were forming to avenge their captain, and said: "Good people, what is it you want? You have no other captain but me. I am your King. Remain in peace." And so it happened that most of the crowd, when they saw the King and heard him speak, were overcome and began to flee—for they were the peaceful ones. But the more violent ones did not retreat; rather, they held their ground and made it seem as though they would attack. Then the King returned to his men and asked what should be done next. He was advised to move toward the open fields, because flight or delay would do them no good. And the mayor said: "It is best we do this, for I believe we will soon receive great support from the good people of London, who are prepared and armed with their friends, waiting in their homes."

[222] A ces mos, il esperonne un cheval sur quoi il estoit montés, et se part de ses compaignons, et s'en vient droitement au roi et si priès de li que la queue de son cheval estoit sus la teste dou cheval dou roi. Et la première parolle qu'il dist, il parla au roi et dist enssi: "Rois, vois tu toutes ces gens qui sont là?" —"Oïl, dist li rois, pourquoi le dis tu?"—"Je le di pour ce que il sont tout à men commandement, et m'ont tout juré foi et loiauté à faire che que je vaurai." —"A le bonne heure, dist li rois, je voel bien qu'il soit enssi." Adont dist Tieulliers, qui ne demandoit que le rihotte: "Et quides tu, di, rois, que cils peuples qui là est, et otant à Londres, et tous en men commandement, se doie partir de toi enssi sans porter ent vos lettres? Nenil; nous les emporterons toutes devant nous." Dist li rois: "Il en est ordonné, et il le faut faire et delivrer l'un apriès l'autre. Compains, retraiiés vous tout bellement deviers vos gens et les faites retraire à Londres, et soiés paisieule, et pensés de vous, car c'est nostre entente que cascuns de vous par villages et maries ara se lettre, enssi comme dit est." A ces mos, Wautre Tieullier jette ses ieus sus un escuier dou roi qui estoit derière le roi et portoit l'espée dou roi, et haoit cils Tieulliers grandement cel escuier, car autrefois il s'estoient pris de parolles, et l'avoit li escuiers vilonné: "Voires, dist Tieulliers, es tu là? Baille moi ta daghe."—"Non ferai, dist li escuiers, pour quoi le te bailleroie je?" Li rois regarde sus son vallet, et li dist: "Bailles li." Chils li bailla moult envis. Quant Tieulliers le tint, il en commencha à juer et à tourner en sa main, et reprist la parolle à l'escuier et li dist: "Baille moi celle espée." —"Non ferai, dist li escuiers, c'est li espée dou roi; tu ne vaulx mies que tu l'aies, car tu n'ies que uns garchons, et, se moi et toi estièmes tout seul en celle place, tu ne diroies ces parolles ne eusses dit, pour ossi grant d'or que cils moustiers de Saint Pol est grans." —"Par ma foi, dist Tieulliers, je ne mengerai jamais si arai ta teste." A ces cops estoit venus li maires de Londres, li dousimes montés as chevauls et tous armés desous leurs cottes, et rompi la presse, et veï comment cils Tieulliers se demenoit; si dist en son langage: "Gars, comment es tu si ossés de dire tels parolles en la presence dou roi? C'est trop pour toi." Adont li rois se felenia et dist au maieur: "Maires, mettés le main à li." Entrues que li rois parloit, cils Tieulliers avoit parlé au maieur et dit: "Et, de ce que je di et fach, à toi qu'en monte?"—"Voire, dist li maires, qui ja estoit avoés dou roi, gars puans, parles tu enssi en la presence de mon naturel signeur? Je ne voel jamais vivre, se tu ne le comperes." A ces mos il traïst un grant baselaire que il portoit, et lasque et fiert che Tieullier un tel horion parmi la teste que il l'abat as piés de son cheval. Sitos comme il fu cheus entre piés, on l'environna de toutes pars, par quoi il ne fust veus des assamblés qui là estoient et qui se dissoient ses gens. Adont descendi uns escuiers dou roi, que on appelloit Jehan Standuich, et traïst une belle espée que il portoit et le bouta, ce Tieullier, ou ventre, et là fu mors. Adont se perchurent ces folles gens là asamblés que leur cappitains estoit ochis. Si commenchièrent à murmurer ensamble et à dire: "Il ont mort nostre cappitaine! alons! alons! ochions tout!" A ces mos, il se rengièrent sus le place par manière de une bataille, cascun son arc devant li, qui l'avoit. Là fist li rois un grant outrage, mais il fu convertis en bien, car, tantos comme Tieulliers fu aterés, il se parti de ses gens tous seuls, et dist: "Demorés chi. Nuls ne me sieue." Lors vint il au devant de ces folles gens, qui s'ordonnoient pour vengier leur cappitainne, et leur dist: "Signeur, que vous fault? Vous n'avés autre cappitainne que moi: je sui vostres rois; tenés vous en pais." Dont il avint que li plus de ces gens, sitos comme il veïrent le roi et oïrent parler, il furent tout vaincu et se commenchièrent à defuir, et che estoient li paisiule; mais li mauvais ne se departoient mies, anchois se ordonnoient et monstroient que il feroient quelque cose. Adont retourna li rois à ses gens et demanda que il estoit bon à faire. Il fu consilliet que il se trairoient sus les camps, car fuirs ne eslongiers ne leur valloit riens, et dist li maires: "Il est bon que nous fachons enssi, car je suppose que nous arons tantos grant confort de ceuls de Londres des bonnes gens de nostre lés, qui sont pourveus et armés, eux et leurs amis, en leurs maissons."

Anonimalle Chronicle. [15th June 1381] The King gently replied that he would grant all that he could reasonably do, while keeping the dignity of his crown, and told Tyler to go quietly back to his lodging without further delay. During all of this, none of the lords or members of the King's council dared or wished to speak to the commons, only the King himself. At one point, Wat Tyler asked in the King's presence for a cup of water to rinse his mouth because of the great heat, and it was quickly brought. He rinsed his mouth rudely and shamefully before the King. Then he had a cup of ale brought to him, drank a great draught, and mounted his horse in front of the King. At the same time, a servant from Kent standing among the King's men asked to see Wat Tyler, the leader of the commons. When he saw him, he said publicly that Tyler was the greatest thief and robber in all of Kent. Wat Tyler, hearing this, ordered him to come forward, nodding his head toward him menacingly. But the servant refused, fearing Tyler's companions. Eventually, the lords made him go to Tyler, to see what he would do in front of the King. When Tyler saw him, he ordered one of his men, mounted on a horse and carrying a banner, to dismount and behead the servant. But the servant replied that he had done nothing to deserve death, that what he had said was the truth, and that he would not deny it. He also said that in the King's presence he could not fight by law without permission, except in self-defense—and that, he said, he would do if needed. Because of these words, Tyler attempted to strike him with his dagger and kill him in front of the King. For this act of violence and insult in the King's presence, William Walworth, the Mayor of London, confronted Tyler and arrested him. In response to the arrest, Tyler struck the Mayor with the dagger in great rage—but as God willed, the Mayor was armored and unharmed. Then the Mayor, being a brave and vigorous man, drew his short sword (baselard) and struck Tyler in the neck a great wound, and then again on the head with a heavy blow. In that conflict, a servant from the King's household drew his sword and stabbed Tyler in the chest two or three times, wounding him mortally. Tyler then spurred his horse and cried out to the commons to avenge him, but the horse carried him about 80 feet away before he collapsed, half-dead. When the commons saw him fall and were unsure what had happened to him, they began to draw their bows and prepare to shoot. But then the King himself rode forward toward them, commanding them all to follow him to the fields of St. John of Clerkenwell.

Et a ceo le roy respondist esement et dist qil averoit tute ceo qil purroit bonement graunter, sauvant a luy la regaltee de sa corone, comandant a luy de aler a soun hostelle demesne saunz plus targer. Et en tute celle temps del dises qe le roy avoit, nulle seignur, ne nulle del conseille ne osast ne vodroit doner respouns a les comunes en nulle / lieu, fors le roy mesmes. En quele temps le dit Wat Tyghler manda en presence le roy pur une hanape de eaw pur ryncer soun bouche pur le graunt chalure qil avoit, et tost fuist porte et rynsa soun bouche ledement et vilaynesment avaunt le roy; et apres fist porter a luy une hanape de cervoys et bust une graunt trete, et en presence le roy monta soun chivalle. En mesme le temps une valet de Kent, esteaunt entre les gentz le roy pria pur vere le dit Wat, cheftane de les comunes; et quaunt il luy vist il dist apertement qil fuist le plus graunt laroun et robboure de tute Kent. Et le dit Wat oiaunt ses paroles luy comanda de venir a luy, mowant soun test devers luy en signe de malice; mes le dit Wat refusa de aler a luy pur doute qil avoit des autres; et au darrein les seignurs luy fist aler a luy pur vere qil vodroit fair devaunt le roy; et quaunt le dit Wat luy vist, il comanda a une de les soens qe fuist monte une chivalle portaunt une baner desplaye, de descendre et decoler le dit valet. Mes le valet respondist qil navoit deservye la mort, mes ceo qil avoit dist fuist veritee et ne vodroit denyer, mes en presence de soun seignur lige ne purroit fair debate par la ley saunz conge, fors en sa defens demesne, et ceo purroit fair saunz reprove; par qay cestuy ge luy ferroit, il luy referroit; et pur cestez paroles le dit Wat luy vodroit avoir ferru od soun dagger et occise en la presence le roy; et par celle enchesone le mair de Loundres, William de Walworth par noune, arresona le dit Wat de celle violence et despite fait en presence le roy et luy arresta; et pur celle arreste le dit Wat ferrist le maire od le dragger avaunt le pyse od graunde ire; mes come Dieu voilloit, il fuist arme et ne greva my; mes le dit maire come homme hardy et vigurous trea sa baselarde et referrist le dit Wat en le colle une graunde play et autrefoitz amont le test une graunde coupe; et en celle conflicte une valet del measone le roy trea soun espey et luy ferrist parmy le pys deux foitz ou trois et luy naufra a / la mort; et le dit Wat brocha le chivalle criaunt a les comunes de luy venger et le chivalle luy porta a la mountance de IIII^xx pees et illeoges cheist a la terre dimy mort. Et quaunt les comunes luy virent chayer et ne savoient en certayne coment il fuist, mes comencerount a treer lour arkes et a seter; et purceo le roy mesmes brocha soun chivalle et vient & eux, comandaunt a eux ge toutz deveroient venir a luy al chaumpe de seint Johan de Klerkenwell.

Thomas Walsingham [-1422]. [15th June 1381] Upon hearing this, the King, although he was but a boy and of tender age, was seized with boldness and ordered the Mayor of London to arrest him. The Mayor, a man of incomparable courage and boldness, immediately and without hesitation arrested him, striking his head with a blow that greatly disoriented him. Soon after, he was surrounded by other royal officers and pierced with swords in various parts of his body. Falling from his horse to the ground, he became the first to show that resistance to the commons was possible, restoring hope to the nearly defeated English nobility. Immediately, when the commons saw his fall, they cried out in grief over his death, saying: "Our captain is dead! Our leader has been treacherously killed! Let us stand together! Let us die with him! Let us shoot our arrows and manfully avenge his death!" So they readied their bows to shoot. But the King, displaying a mind and courage beyond his years, spurred his horse and rode toward them, circling their ranks, and said: "What is this, my people? What are you doing? Would you shoot at your King? Do not stir trouble, nor grieve over the death of a traitor and a knave. I will be your King. I will be your captain and leader. Follow me into the field, and you shall have whatever you wish to ask for."

Quibus aunditis, Rex, quanquam puer esset et tenerioris ætatis, concepta audacia, jussit Majori Londoniarum ut eum arestaret. Major autem, vir incomparabilis animositatis et andaciæ, indubitanter eum illico arestavit, librato ictu ejus capiti, qui eum plurimum perturbavit. At mox ab aliis ministris regiis circumclusus, gladiis diversis in locis corporis transverberatur ; corruensque de equo in terram, primum dedit spem Anglicaniæ militiæ, fere mortuæ, communibus posse resisti. Statimque, ut communes viderunt ejus ruinam, præ dolore mortis clamaverunt;—"Mortuus est capitaneus noster, proditiose peremptus est ductor noster. Stemus simul, moriamur cum ipso, sagittemus et vindicemus viriliter mortem ejus." Tensis ergo arcubus, sagittare pararunt. Rex vero ultra ætatem mirabiliter ingenio præventus, et andacia concitus, calcaribus urgens equum ad eos accesgit, et in circnitu eorum equitans, dixit eis;—"Quid est hoc, homines mei? Quid agitis? Nunquid sagittare vultis Regem vestrum? Non causemini, nec sitis tristes de morte proditoris et ribaldi. Ego enim ero Rex vester, ego capitaneus et ductor vester; sequimini me in campum, habituri omnia quecunque vos petere delectabit."

Chronicle of Adam of Usk. 15th June 1381. In this rising of the commons were many great men of the land in many places beheaded. The Savoy [Map], the palace of the duke of Lancaster (age 41) and the fairest in the kingdom, standing near London on the bank of Thames, was, from the commons' hatred of the duke, utterly destroyed by them with fire; and the duke himself, for fear of them, fled into Scotland¹. To appease them and to quiet their fury, the king (age 14) granted that the state of villeinage, as well in their persons as in their labour, should be henceforth done away, freedom fully given, and all prisoners set at large. And this he commanded and made to be openly proclaimed throughout the counties of the kingdom. And then what a throe of grief passed through the desolated land! For they boasted that they would slay all those of higher birth, would raise up king and lords from among themselves, would stablish new laws, and, in a word, would make new, or rather - disfigure, the face and estate of the whole island. Then every man struck off the head of his enemy, and despoiled his richer neighbour. But, by the mercy of God, when their leader, being in Smithfield near London, doffed not his hood before the king nor in anything did reverence to the king's majesty, his head was deftly struck off, in the very midst of his flock of kites, by sir William Walworth, knight and citizen of London; and straightway, being raised on the point of a sword, it was shown before them. Then the commons in sore dread sought flight by stealth, and there and then casting away their rebellious weapons, as though unguilty of such riot and wickedness, like foxes into their holes, they pitifully crept home. But the king and the lords pursued them, and some they made to be dragged behind horses, some they slew with the sword, some they hanged on the gallows, some they quartered; and they destroyed thousands².

Note 1. John of Gaunt was at this time in the north, negotiating a truce with Scotland. Knighton (ij. 143-7) tells us that so unpopular was his name that his duchess was refused admission into his own castle at Pontefract [Map], and that he himself was denied hospitality by the earl of Northumberland; and that it was reported that a large force of the insurgents was sent north in pursuit of him. He retired to Edinburgh on a safe-conduct from the Scots, by whom he was well entertained.

Note 2. The severity of the punishments inflicted after the suppression of the outbreak is fully set forth in the pages of Walsingham's History. Richard, however, interfered to prevent indiscriminate slaughter of the insurgents when first beaten in the field.— Wals. Hist. Angl. (Rolls series), i. 466.

Thomas Walsingham [-1422]. July 1381. And continuing the sermon he had begun, he strove, through the words of the proverb he had taken as his theme, to introduce and prove that from the beginning all were created equal by nature, and that servitude was introduced by the unjust oppression of wicked men, against the will of God; for, if it had pleased God to create servants, surely at the beginning of the world He would have determined who should be a servant and who a lord. Therefore, they should consider now the time given to them by God, in which, having cast off the yoke of long servitude, they could, if they wished, enjoy the long-coveted freedom. Whereupon he advised that they be wise men, and like a good head of a household who cultivates his field and removes and cuts back the harmful weeds that usually suppress the crops, they too should make haste to act in the present—first, by killing the greater lords of the kingdom; then, by destroying the lawyers, justices, and jurors of the country; finally, by removing any they knew to be harmful to the community in the future from their land; thus, they would finally secure peace and safety for themselves in the future, if, with the nobles removed, there would be among them equal freedom, the same nobility, equal dignity, and similar power.

Continuansque sermonem inceptum, nitebatur, per verba proverbii quod pro themate sumpserat, introducere et probare, ab initio omnes pares creatos a natura, servitutem per injustam oppressionem nequam hominum introductam, contra Dei voluntatem; quia, si Deo placnisset servos creasse, utique in principio, mundi constituisset quis servus, quisve dominus, futurus fuisset. Considerarent igitur jam tempus a Deo datum eis, in quo, deposito servitutis jugo diutinæ, possent, si vellent, libertate diu concupita gaudere. Quapropter monuit ut essent viri cordati, et amore boni patrisfamilias excolentis agrum suum, et extirpantis ac resecantis noxia gramina que fruges solent opprimere, et ipsi in presenti facere festinarent.—Primo, majores regni dominos occidendo; deinde, juridicos, justiciarios, et juratores patriæ, perimendo; postremo, quoscunque scirent in posterum communitati nocivos, tollerent de terra sua; sic demum et pacem sibimet parerent et securitatem in futurum, si, sublatis majoribus, essct inter eos squa libertas, eadem nobilitas, par dignitas, similisque potestas.

Thomas Walsingham [-1422]. July 1381. On this day furthermore, John Ball (age 43), a priest, having been captured by the men of Coventry, and the day before brought to Saint Albans and into the presence of the King, was found guilty of having grievously offended His Majesty, heard and confessed the most shameful crimes, and was condemned by the same Robert to dragging, hanging, beheading, disemboweling, and quartering; his death was postponed until Monday, through the intervention of Lord William (age 39), the Bishop of London, who, concerned about the salvation of his soul, obtained for him this time for repentance. Here, for twenty years and more, always preaching in various places what he knew to be pleasing to the common people, he detracted both ecclesiastical persons and secular lords, seeking the goodwill of the common people more than merit with God. Indeed, he taught that tithes should not be given to the curate unless the giver was wealthier than the vicar or rector who would receive them. He also taught that tithes and offerings should be withheld from curates if it was evident that the parishioner or subject was of a better life than their curate. He also taught that no one was fit for the kingdom of God who was not born in wedlock. He taught also the perverse doctrines of the perfidious John Wycliffe, and the opinions he held, and false insanities, and many things that would be too long to recount; because of which, forbidden by the Bishops in whose parishes he presumed to preach, from henceforth he was not allowed to preach in churches, and took to the streets and alleys, or to the fields, to preach. Nor was he lacking listeners from among the common people, whom he always tried to attract to his sermons through slanders of the prelates and pleasing words. Finally excommunicated, when he did not desist, he was imprisoned, where he predicted that he would be freed by twenty thousand friends. This later happened during the aforementioned turmoil of the kingdom, when the commons broke all prisons and compelled the imprisoned to leave. And having been freed in this manner, he followed them, inciting them to commit many evils, and preaching that it must indeed be done. And that his doctrine might infect more people, at Blackheath [Map], where two hundred thousand common people were gathered together, he began a sermon like this:—

"Whan Adam dalf, and Eve span,

"Wo was thanne a gentilman?"

Hoc die præterea, Johannem Balle, presbyterum, captum a viris Coventrensibus, et pridie ductum ad Sanctum Albanum et Regis præsentiam, cujus majestatem convictus est læsisse enormiter, auditum et confessum turpissima scelera, tractioni, suspendio, decollationi, exentrationi, et quarterizationi, ut usu vulgari loguar, idem Robertus adjudicavit; cujus mors dilationem accepit usque in diem Lunæ, interventu Domini Willelmi, Londoniensis Episcopi, qui, circa salutem sollicitus suæ animæ, illud ei spatium pœnitentise impetravit. Hic per viginti annos, et amplius, semper prædicans in diversis locis en quæ scivit vulgo placentia, detrahens tam personis ecclesiasticis quam dominis ssecularibus, benevolentiam magis communis populi quam meritum penes Deum captabat. Docuit nempe plebem decimas non esse dandag curato, nisi is qui daturus esset foret ditior quam vicarius qui acciperet, sive rector. Docuit etiam decimas et oblationes subtrahendas curatis, si constaret subjectum aut parochianum melioris vite fore quam curatum suum. Docuit etiam neminem aptum regno Dei, qui hon in matrimonio natus fuisset. Docuit et perversa dogmata perfidi Johannis Wiclyf, et opiniones quas tenuit, et insanias falsas, et plura que longum foret recitare: propter quæ, prohibitus ab Episcopis in, quorum parochiis hæc præsumpsit, ne in ecclesiis de cætero prædicaret, concessit in plateas et vicos, vel in campos, ad prædicandum. Nec defuerunt ei de communibus auditores, quos semper studuit per detractiones prælatorum, et placentia verba, allicere ad sermonem. Postremo excommunicatus, cum nec desisteret, carceri mancipatur, ubi prædixit se deliberandum per viginti millis amicorum. Quod postea evenit in turbatione regni præfata, cum communes omnes carceres confregerunt, et incarceratos abire compulerunt. Cumque taliter deliberatus fuisset, eos secutus est, instigans ad plura mala perpetranda, et prædicans ita omnino fore faciendum. Et ut sua doctrina plures inficeret, ad le Blakheth, ubi ducenta millia hominum communium fuere simul congregata, hujuscemodi sermonem est exorsus:—

"Whan Adam dalf, and Eve span,

"Wo was thanne a gentilman?"

Anonimalle Chronicle. And at that same time in Suffolk, a great number of commons rose up, and they had as their captain a chaplain from Suffolk, Sir John Wrawe (age 43) by name, bringing with him more than ten thousand people. They robbed many good people, tore down their houses, and set them on fire and in flames. The said Sir John took the gold and silver for his own use. They came to Cambridge and there did great damage by burning houses. Then afterward they went to Bury (St Edmunds), and in the town they found a just judge, Sir John de Cavendish, Chief Justice of the King’s Bench. They brought him to the pillory, cut off his head, and placed it upon the pillory. After that, they dragged the prior of the abbey—a good and wise man, and a fine and excellent singer—and another monk with him, out of their house to the pillory, and cut off their heads as well, placing them on poles above the pillory so that all who passed through that street could see them.

[15th July 1381] And the said Sir John, their captain, was later captured as a traitor and brought to London, where he was condemned to death. He was drawn, disemboweled, hanged, and beheaded.

Et mesme celle temps furount levez e Southfolk graundes noumbre des comunes et avoient a lour chevetayne une chaplein en Southfolk, sire Johan Wraw par noune, amenaunt ovesge luy passaunt x mille; et robberont plusours bones gentz et treerount lour mesones a terre et mistrent en feu et en flame et le dit sire Johan prist le avoir dore et dargent a soun oeps demesne; et viendrent a Caumbrigge et illeoges firent graunde male de mesons par arsure, et puis apres alerount a Bury et troveront en la ville une iustice droiturelle, sire Johan de Caundische, chief del bank le roy, et luy amenerount al pilorie et firent couper sa test et metterount sur le dit pilorie; et apres traherount le priour del abbaye, bone homme et sage et bone et excellent chauntour et une autre moigne ovesge luy, hors de lour mesone a le pilorie et couperount lour testes et les mistrent sur stoures amount le pelorie, qe toutz ge passerount par celle estreit les purroient veer;

et sire Johan avauntdit lour cheftayne fuist apres pris come traitour et amene a Loundres et foriuge a la morte et fuist trayne, bowelle, pendu et decole.