© boardworks ltd 2007 1 of 20 © boardworks ltd 2007 britain 1066–1500 1 of 20 the peasants'...

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Britain 1066–1500

1 of 20

The Peasants' Revolt

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Learning objectivesL

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Consider the reasons why the peasants wanted to revolt.

Understand the impact of the poll tax and its role in sparking the revolt.

Learn how Richard II dealt with the peasants.


I might be a humble villein, but I survived the plague when many did not.

Why should I be afraid of the lord of the manor when I’ve faced down King Death!

I want more money to farm the lord’s land, I want to pay lower rent and I want more freedom.

If the lord does not agree I’ll walk away. After all, there are others who need men to work – perhaps they will not be as stubborn!

What does this peasant tell you about how he felt life had changed?

Why did the peasants revolt?


Medieval kings were used to the threat of rebellion – it was almost part of their job – but rebellions tended to come from barons or lords, not from the ordinary people.

In 1381 the peasants of England were angry. They revolted and demanded that the king make radical changes to the country.


What made them want to revolt?


After the Black Death, peasants started demanding higher wages and more freedom. Not everyone thought that they were entitled to these. Who do you think might disagree with the peasants?

The lords of the manors and the barons were not impressed. They decided to pass the Statute of Labourers in 1351. This said that wages had to be at pre-plague levels and that it was a crime to ask for or pay more.


Do you think this was fair?


There were also changes in the way people viewed the world. Many who had survived the plague decided that things should change.

One new idea was sharing the wealth. The Church said it was God’s will that there be rich and poor – the peasants didn't think that this was very fair!

Then the king’s counsellors decided to try out a new tax called the poll tax. It was levied in 1377 and again in 1379 and 1380.

Was the Church rich or poor?

Changing ideas


Under the 1380 poll tax everyone paid the same, regardless of how rich or poor they were.

Some radical preachers, like John Ball, began giving sermons (speeches) to ordinary people, saying that they should go to the king and complain that they were being treated unfairly.

How would that make you feel?

Changing ideas

This meant that if you were a peasant you would pay the same amount as the

lord you worked for.


Opinions


The introduction of the poll tax was the final straw for many peasants, who saw it as the rich trying to make the lives of the poor even harder.

So many people avoided paying in 1381, that the tax collectors recorded that a third of the population had ‘disappeared’. Commissioners were sent out to catch the tax dodgers.

The poll tax

Would you have avoided the tax if you had lived then?

Few peasants could afford the tax. When officials came round, they hid or lied about the number in their family.


The causes of the revolt


Causes of the Peasants' Revolt


The rebellions started among peasants in Essex and Kent. The two main leaders were John Ball and Wat Tyler.

John Ball had started out as a priest in Colchester, but he had been thrown into prison by the Church because some of the ideas in his sermons were out of line with Church teachings.

Wat Tyler was chosen by the rebels of Kent to lead them. Little is known about him. He helped to break John Ball out of prison in 1381.

Who was involved?

Good people, things do not go well in England, nor will they until

everyone is equal and there are neither villeins nor gentlemen, and lords be no greater than we are…

John Ball


What happened?


King Richard was only 14 years old at the time.

Why do you think the rebels did not blame him for their problems?

The peasants demanded:

The peasants’ demands

the abolition of ‘oppressive statutes’ – like the Statute of Labourers

that everyone who had taken part in the rebellion should be given a free pardon

that labour services should be abolished, and peasants should pay a low, fixed rent – this meant that all villeins would be free

that the king’s advisers should be punished.


The king invited the rebels to meet him again at Smithfield on the following day.

On 14th June the king agreed to have charters written granting the peasants’ requests, except the one regarding punishment of his advisers.

Most of the Essex villagers went home, but some of those from Kent went to the Tower of London and executed the Archbishop of Canterbury, the treasurer and John of Gaunt’s doctor.

Riots occurred throughout London.

London riots


When Richard and Wat Tyler met at Smithfield, there was an argument and Wat Tyler was killed.

No one knows for sure what happened.

Imagine how Richard must have felt seeing the riots in London.

It is thought that there could have been up to 100,000 rebels in London. The king did not keep many soldiers in the city and his forces were greatly outnumbered by the peasants.

Events at Smithfield

Some historians say that Wat insulted the king; others think that the lords planned to

kill him all along – an assassination!


What sort of picture does this source paint of Richard?

Richard’s bravery

The peasants were furious when they saw their leader was dead. They were about to attack when the king rode forward and said:

Sirs, will you shoot your king? I will be your chief

and captain, you shall have from me that which you seek. Only follow me…

according to John Froissart.


As soon as the rebels had left, the king started to break the promises he had made to them.

Rebels were rounded up and executed. John Ball was found and his head was cut off and displayed on a spike on London Bridge.

Was Richard a coward or was he brave?

After the revolt

According to the chronicler Thomas Walsingham, Richard said to the rebels he caught:

Oh you wretched men … Villeins you were and

villeins you shall remain.

Do you think his actions were sensible?


Events of the Peasants’ Revolt


Cause and effect

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learning objectives

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