Home » History » British Social History » The Peasant's Revolt

The Peasant's Revolt

© Viola Ashford

Although the first four years of King Richard II's reign have been described as 'dreary' things heated up somewhat with The Peasant's Revolt. The young King was only 14 when the peasants, under the leadership of Wat Tyler, itinerant priest John Ball and Jack Straw (an ancestor of the Attorney-General?), began their battle for reforms.Enraged by the introduction of a poll tax to finance one of England's perpetual wars with France, they decided to march on London and make their requests to the King himself.

The origins of the revolt lie thirty-five years before with the Black Death, i.e. the plague. This caused an acute shortage of labour. Whereas peasants had previously remained working on the land where they were born, they could now move about and sell their labour. Not only had the lords demanded service from the peasants, they had also subjected them to crippling extortions, eg. there were penalties for adultery, the marriage of a peasant's daughter. Upon a peasant's death his lord took his best animal and his best bed.

As wages and prices grew higher legislation was introduced to stop this movement in search of increased pay. However this was difficult to enforce. The peasants also formed leagues, and were able to fix their pay and conditions and eventually buy the land that they had leased.

The first poll tax was accepted, but when the amount was tripled the poor found it very difficult to pay. The beginnings of revolution shook the kingdom. Peasants stormed Rochester Castle, freeing the prisoners, and liberated the prisoners of Maidstone prison. One of the prisoners there, John Ball, became a leader. Wat Tyler, another leader, described as 'a wicked and nasty fellow' by Froissart, was also a freed prisoner.

Several, in fact, up to 100,000 marched on the capital, London, looting the Archbishop of Canterbury's palace and murdering him, and burning John of Gaunt's Savoy Palace on their way. Once they reached London they continued their orgy of destruction, storming Fleet prison, and releasing the prisoners, and sacking the New Temple. They also destroyed the headquarters of the Knights at Clerkenwell.

Bravely, the teenage King decided to meet with the leaders and listen to their demands. He met them in a field near Mile End and agreed that their requests were reasonable, promising that he would grant them. They had petitioned the King for The abolition of villeinage, the right to sell their labour and to rent their land.