Bruce, You get started on that right away lad.
On Nov 20, 11:34 pm, Bruce Majors <[email protected]> wrote: > I went to a lecture recently that showed that in anglo-american history > there is a tax revolt every 130 years or so > > The State raises tax slavery to a level where finally there is revolution. > It then backs off a little, grants some freedom, and then kills the leaders > of the revolt and starts raising the level of enslavement again > > Here is part of our history: > > Peasants' Revolt > From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia > (Redirected from English peasants' revolt of > 1381<http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=English_peasants%27_revolt_...> > ) > "Peasants' revolt" redirects here. For other peasant revolutions, see Peasant > revolt > (disambiguation)<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peasant_revolt_(disambiguation)> > . > <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Richard_II_meets_rebels.jpg> > <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Richard_II_meets_rebels.jpg> > Richard II meets the rebels in a painting from Froissart's*Chronicles* > <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:DeathWatTylerFull.jpg> > <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:DeathWatTylerFull.jpg> > The end: Wat Tyler killed by Walworth while Richard II watches / Richard > addresses the crowd > > The *Peasants' Revolt*, *Tyler’s Rebellion*, or the *Great Rising* of > AD<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AD> 1381 > was one of a number of popular revolts in late medieval > Europe<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Popular_revolts_in_late_medieval_Europe> > and > is a major event in the history of > England<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_England>. > Tyler's Rebellion was not only the most extreme and widespread insurrection > in English history but also the best-documented popular rebellion ever to > have occurred during medieval times. The names of some of its leaders, John > Ball <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Ball_(priest)>, Wat > Tyler<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wat_Tyler> > and Jack Straw <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Straw_(rebel_leader)>, > are still familiar even though very little is actually known about these > individuals. > > The rising is significant because it marked the beginning of the end of > serfdom <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serfdom> in medieval > England<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medieval_England> though > the revolt itself was a marked failure. It led to calls for the reform of > feudalism <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feudalism> in > England<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/England> and > an increase in rights for the serf class. > Contents [hide <javascript:toggleToc()>] > > - 1 Events leading to the > revolt<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_peasants%27_revolt_of_1381#Event...> > - 1.1 The poll > tax<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_peasants%27_revolt_of_1381#The_p...> > - 1.2 Labour > shortage<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_peasants%27_revolt_of_1381#Labou...> > - 1.3 How the revolt was > triggered<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_peasants%27_revolt_of_1381#How_t...> > - 2 First > protests<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_peasants%27_revolt_of_1381#First...> > - 3 Storming the Tower of > London<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_peasants%27_revolt_of_1381#Storm...> > - 4 > Smithfield<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_peasants%27_revolt_of_1381#Smith...> > - 5 > Conclusion<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_peasants%27_revolt_of_1381#Concl...> > - 6 Literary > mention<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_peasants%27_revolt_of_1381#Liter...> > - 7 Further > reading<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_peasants%27_revolt_of_1381#Furth...> > - 8 > Footnotes<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_peasants%27_revolt_of_1381#Footn...> > > [edit<http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Peasants%27_Revolt&action=e...> > ]Events leading to the > revolt[edit<http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Peasants%27_Revolt&action=e...> > ]The poll tax > > The revolt was precipitated by heavy-handed attempts to enforce the third poll > tax <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poll_tax>, first levied in 1377 supposedly > to finance military campaigns overseas — a continuation of the Hundred > Years' War <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hundred_Years%27_War> initiated by > King Edward III of > England<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_III_of_England>. > The third poll tax <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poll_tax> was not levied at > a flat rate (as in 1377) nor according to schedule[*clarification > needed<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Please_clarify> > *] (as in 1379); instead it allowed some of the poor to pay a reduced rate, > while others who were equally poor had to pay the full tax, prompting calls > of injustice. The tax was set at 3 > groats<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Groat_(coin)>(equivalent > to 12 pence or 1 shilling) compared with the 1377 rate of 1 groat (4 pence). > The youth of King Richard > II<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_II_of_England> (aged > only 14) was another reason for the uprising: a group of unpopular men ruled > in his stead. These included John of > Gaunt<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_of_Gaunt> (the > acting regent),Simon Sudbury <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simon_Sudbury> > (Lord > Chancellor <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lord_Chancellor> and Archbishop of > Canterbury <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archbishop_of_Canterbury>, who was > the figurehead to what many then saw as a corrupt Church) and Sir Robert > Hales <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Hales> (the Lord Treasurer, > responsible for the poll tax). Many saw them as corrupt officials, trying to > exploit the weakness of the King.[*citation > needed<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed> > *] > [edit<http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Peasants%27_Revolt&action=e...> > ]Labour shortage > > The Black Death <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Death> that ravaged > England in 1348 and 1349 had greatly reduced the labour force, and > consequently the surviving labourers could demand higher wages and fewer > hours of work. Some asked for their freedom. They often got what they asked > for: the lords of the manors were desperate for people to farm their land > and tend their animals. Then, in 1351, King Edward III summoned parliament > to pass the Statute of > Labourers<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Statute_of_Labourers>. > The Statute attempted to curb the demands for better terms of employment by > pegging wages to pre-plague levels and restricting the mobility of labour; > however the probable effect was that labourers employed by lords were > effectively exempted, while labourers working for other employers, both > artisans and more substantial peasants, were liable to be fined or held in > the stocks. The enforcement of the new law angered the peasants greatly and > formed another reason for the revolt. > [edit<http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Peasants%27_Revolt&action=e...> > ]How the revolt was triggered > > Incidents in the Essex villages of > Fobbing<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fobbing> > [1]<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_peasants%27_revolt_of_1381#cite_...> > and Brentwood <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brentwood,_Essex> triggered the > uprising. On 30 May 1381, > John[2]<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_peasants%27_revolt_of_1381#cite_...> > or > Thomas[3]<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_peasants%27_revolt_of_1381#cite_...> > Bampton[4]<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_peasants%27_revolt_of_1381#cite_...> > attempted > to collect the poll tax from villagers at Fobbing. The villagers, led by > Thomas > Baker<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Baker_(Peasants%27_Revolt_leader)>, > a local landowner, told Bampton that they would give him nothing, and he was > forced to leave the village empty-handed. Robert Belknap (Chief Justice of > the Court of Common > Pleas<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Court_of_Common_Pleas_(England)>) > was sent to investigate the incident and to punish the offenders. On 2 June, > he was attacked at Brentwood. By this time the violent discontent had > spread, and the counties of Essex and Kent were in full revolt. Soon people > moved on London in an armed > uprising.[5]<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_peasants%27_revolt_of_1381#cite_...> > [edit<http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Peasants%27_Revolt&action=e...> > ]First protests > > In June 1381, Kentish rebels formed behind Wat Tyler and marched on > London<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London> to > join the Essex contingent. When the Kentish rebels arrived at > Blackheath<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackheath,_London> on > June 12, the renegadeLollard <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lollard> priest, > John Ball, preached a sermon including the famous question that has echoed > down the centuries: *"When Adam > <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adam_and_Eve> delved > and Eve <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adam_and_Eve> span, who was then the > gentleman > <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gentleman>?"*[6]<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_peasants%27_revolt_of_1381#cite_...> > (i.e. > "Back in the Garden of Eden <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garden_of_Eden>, > were there any class distinctions?") The following day the rebels, > encouraged by the sermon, crossed London > Bridge<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_Bridge> into > the heart of the city. Meanwhile the 'Men of Essex' had gathered with Jack > Straw at Great Baddow <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Baddow> and had > marched on London, arriving at Stepney<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stepney>. > Instead of a full-scale riot, there were only systematic attacks on certain > properties, many of them associated with John of > Gaunt<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_of_Gaunt> and/or > the Hospitaller Order <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knights_Hospitaller>. On > June 14, the rebels are reputed to have been met by the young king himself, > and, led by Richard of > Wallingford<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_of_Wallingford_(constable)>, > to have presented him with a series of demands, including the dismissal of > some of his more unpopular ministers and the effective abolition of serfdom. > One of the more intriguing demands of the peasants was "that there should be > no law within the realm save the law of Winchester". This is often said to > refer to the statutes of the Charter of Winchester (1251), though it is > sometimes considered to be a reference to the more equitable days of > King Alfred > the Great <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfred_the_Great>, when > Winchester<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winchester> was > the capital of England. > [edit<http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Peasants%27_Revolt&action=e...> > ]Storming the Tower of London > > At the same time, a group of rebels stormed the Tower of > London<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tower_of_London>— > probably after being let in[*citation > needed<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed> > *]— and summarily executed those hiding there, including the Lord > Chancellor<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lord_Chancellor> > (Simon of Sudbury <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simon_Sudbury>, the Archbishop > of Canterbury <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archbishop_of_Canterbury>, who > was particularly associated with the poll tax), and the Lord Treasurer (Robert > de Hales <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Hales>, the Grand Prior of > the Knights Hospitallers of > England<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knights_Hospitaller>). > The Savoy Palace <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Savoy_Palace> of the king's > uncle John of Gaunt <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_of_Gaunt> was one of > the London buildings destroyed by the rioters. > [edit<http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Peasants%27_Revolt&action=e...> > ]Smithfield > > At Smithfield <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smithfield,_London> on the > following day, further negotiations with the king were arranged, but on this > occasion the meeting did not go according to plan. Wat Tyler rode ahead to > talk to the King and his party. Tyler, it is alleged by the chroniclers, > behaved most belligerently and dismounted his horse and called for a drink > most rudely. In the ensuing dispute, Tyler drew his dagger and William > Walworth <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Walworth>, the Lord Mayor of > London, drew his sword and attacked Tyler, mortally wounding him in the > neck; Sir Ralph de > Standish<http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ralph_de_Standish&action=ed...>, > one of the King's knights, drew his sword and ran it through Tyler's > stomach, killing him almost instantly. Seeing him surrounded by the King's > entourage, the rebel army was in uproar, but King Richard, seizing the > opportunity, rode forth and shouted "You shall have no captain but > me",[7]<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_peasants%27_revolt_of_1381#cite_...> > a > statement left deliberately ambiguous to defuse the situation. He promised > the rebels that all was well, that Tyler had been knighted, and that their > demands would be met - they were to march to St John's > Fields<http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=St_John%27s_Fields&action=e...>, > where Wat Tyler would meet them. This they duly did, but the King broke his > promise. The nobles quickly re-established their control with the help of a > hastily organised militia of 7000, and most of the other leaders were > pursued, captured and executed, including John Ball and Jack Straw, who was > beheaded. Following the collapse of the revolt, the king's concessions were > quickly revoked. > [edit<http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Peasants%27_Revolt&action=e...> > ]Conclusion > > Despite its name, participation in the Peasants' Revolt was not confined to > serfs or even to the lower classes. Although the most significant events > took place in the capital, there were violent encounters throughout eastern > England—but those involved hastened to dissociate themselves in the months > that followed. > > Although the Revolt is generally considered a failure, it did succeed in > showing the peasants that they were of some value and had some power. In the > longer term, the revolt helped to form a radical tradition in British > politics (a development explained by Christopher Hampton, see further > reading). After the revolt, the term 'poll tax' was no longer used, although > English governments continued to collect broadly similar taxes until the > 17th century. The Community > Charge<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Community_Charge>, > introduced 600 years after the peasants revolt, was popularly known as the > poll tax (particularly by its opponents). > [edit<http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Peasants%27_Revolt&action=e...> > ]Literary mention > <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:William.Morris.John.Ball.jpg> > <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:William.Morris.John.Ball.jpg> > Title page to William Morris <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Morris>' > *A Dream of John Ball <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Dream_of_John_Ball>* > (1888) > > Geoffrey Chaucer <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geoffrey_Chaucer> mentions Jack > Straw <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Straw_(rebel_leader)>, one of the > leaders of the Revolt, in his satiric *The Nun's Priest's Tale* in *The > Canterbury Tales <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Canterbury_Tales>*. > > *Froissart's Chronicles<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Froissart%27s_Chronicles> > * devotes 20 pages to the revolt. > > John Gower <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Gower>, a friend of Geoffrey > Chaucer <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geoffrey_Chaucer>, saw the peasants as > unjustified in their cause. In his *Vox > Clamantis<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vox_Clamantis> > *, he sees the peasant action as the work of the > Anti-Christ<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-Christ> and > a sign of evil prevailing over virtue, writing "....according to their > foolish ideas there would be no lords, but only kings and peasants...". > > William Morris <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Morris> described the > revolt in *A Dream of John Ball* (1888). > > Singer-songwriter Frank Turner > <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Turner> wrote > Sons of Liberty on his album Poetry of the > Deed<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poetry_of_the_Deed> about > the Revolt. > [edit<http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Peasants%27_Revolt&action=e...> > ]Further reading > > - R. B. Dobson, editor, (2002), *The Peasants' Revolt of 1381 (History in > Depth)* ISBN > 0-333-25505-4<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0333255054>; > a collection of source materials > - Alastair Dunn (2002), *The Great Rising of 1381: The Peasant's Revolt > and England's Failed Revolution*, ISBN > 0-7524-2323-1<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0752423231> > - Charles Oman <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Oman> (1906), *The > Great Revolt of > 1381*<http://www.archive.org/details/greatrevoltof13800omanuoft>; > a classic account > - Andrew Godsell <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Godsell> (2008) > "The Peasants' Revolt and the Radical Tradition" in "Legends of British > History" > - P. J. P. Goldberg (2004), *Medieval England 1250-1550: A Social History > *, ISBN > 0-340-57745-2<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0340577452>; > Chapter 13 is devoted to the Peasants' Revolt > - Christopher Hampton (1984) "A Radical Reader: The Struggle for Change > in England, 1381-1914" > - John J. Robinson, (1990), *Born in Blood: The Lost Secrets of > Freemasonry* ISBN > 0-87131-602-1<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0871316021>; > Chapters 1-5 are dedicated to the Peasants' Revolt, tracing some of its > features (eg, the names of leaders, especially Wat Tyler, the special > targets of the destruction in London, etc) to a Templar tradition which > survived the earlier suppression of that Order > - A contemporary > chronicle<http://www.britannia.com/history/docs/peasant.html>, > the final meeting of king Richard II and the leader of the Peasants' Revolt > Wat Tyler. > - "The Peasants' > Revolt"<http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/history/voices/voices_revolt.shtml> > Voices of the powerless - readings from original > sources<http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/history/voices/voices_reading_revolt.shtml> > BBC <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BBC> Radio programme, Thursday > 25 July<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/July_25> 2002, > 9.02 am - 9.30 am. > - Britannia:The History of the Peasants' Revolt by Jeff > Hobbs<http://www.britannia.com/history/articles/peasantsrevolt.html> > with > useful bibliography > - "Wat Tyler's > Rebellion"<http://www.ku.edu/kansas/medieval/108/texts/froissart.html>, > from *The Chronicles of Froissart*, , pp 61–63 includes John Ball's > speech. > - "King Richard punishes the rebels in > Kent"<http://www.nipissingu.ca/department/history/muhlberger/froissart/king...> > from *The Chronicles of Froissart*, edited by Steve Muhlberger, > Nipissing University. > - *A Dream of John Ball; and, a King's > Lesson*<http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/357> by > William Morris (Project > Gutenberg<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_Gutenberg> > etext <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Etext>) > - "Conflagration: The Peasants' > Revolt"<http://historymedren.about.com/library/weekly/aa071798.htm>, > by Melissa Snell. > > [edit<http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Peasants%27_Revolt&action=e...> > ]Footnotes > > 1. > *^<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_peasants%27_revolt_of_1381#cite_...> > * ::Peasants > Revolt::<http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/peasants_revolt.htm> > 2. > *^<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_peasants%27_revolt_of_1381#cite_...> > * > http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/pathways/citizenship/citizen_subje... > 3. > *^<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_peasants%27_revolt_of_1381#cite_...> > *http://marxists.anu.edu.au/history/england/peasants-revolt/story.htm > 4. > *^<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_peasants%27_revolt_of_1381#cite_...> > * The Anonimalle Chronicle says "une Thomas de > Bamptoun"[1]<http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=QIS8AAAAIAAJ&pg=PA134&dq=%22The+An...>. > Some authors (eg Vivian Hunter > Galbraith<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vivian_Hunter_Galbraith> in > A R Myers (ed), *English Historical Documents 1327-1485*) have taken > this as an error for John de Bampton who had been High Sheriff of both > Essex > and Hertfordshire a few years earlier. > 5. > *^<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_peasants%27_revolt_of_1381#cite_...> > * Maurice Hugh Keen, *England in the Later Middle Ages: A Political > History* (Routledge, 1975) > 6. > *^<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_peasants%27_revolt_of_1381#cite_...> > * See John Ball (priest): Footnotes: > 1<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Ball_(priest)#Footnotes> > 7. > *^<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_peasants%27_revolt_of_1381#cite_...> > * Simon Schama <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simon_Schama>'s *A History > of Britain <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_History_of_Britain>*, Episode > 5, 'King Death'. -- Thanks for being part of "PoliticalForum" at Google Groups. 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