The peasants' revolt
Throughout the ages there have been mass uprisings against unpopular laws. The Peasants’ Revolt of 1381 was the first major popular rebellion in British history. Masses of peasants from East Anglia and the Southeast marched into London, captured the Tower of London and executed officials responsible for introducing an unpopular poll tax.
The revolt was led by Wat Tyler from Kent and involved about 30,000 labourers and other workers from Cambridgeshire, Huntingdonshire and neighbouring counties. [Spartacus Educational]
The protestors were angry about the poll tax – the third tax introduced in four years. They were also angry about threats to privileges introduced after the Black Death, when there had been a shortage of workers.
Led by rebels from Kent, the peasants marched to London, destroying tax records and torching buildings where government records were kept. As the uprising gathered momentum, some of the peasants started looting businesses. A number of foreigners were killed by protestors. [History Learning Site]
King Richard II, who was 14 at the time, agreed to meet the protestors at Mile End on June 14, 1381. He agreed to their demands and asked them to return home. Some refused, instead capturing the Tower of London and beheading officials.
The king was forced to go into hiding for the night. The following day, he met with rebels again at Smithfield and promised a series of reforms. During the meeting Tyler was killed by the Mayor of London. The uprising was mostly brought to an end.
The rebellion continued for another fortnight in East Anglia. [Britannica]
Ely rebellion
Ely had a significant part to play in the 1381 uprising.
On June 15, locals Richard de Leycester, Robert Buk and Adam Clymme gave a series of speeches in the marketplace, calling on residents to rebel against the church. Clymme told peasants to refuse customary labour services and behead lawyers. Shortly after, Edmond Galon, an Ely lawyer, was killed. [Cambridgeshire Genealogy]
The following day, Leycester climbed the pulpit of Ely Cathedral “on behalf of the king” to deliver further speeches, inciting townsfolk to join the protest. Leycester and Buk beheaded Justice Edmond Walsyngham, going on to destroy court documents in the Bishop’s Prison.
Later that week the Ely rebels marched towards Ramsey, where they were defeated. The ringleaders were hanged but others were spared the death penalty because of fears of further riots. [Cambridgeshire Genealogy]
Cambridge riots
Outside London, the biggest uprisings associated with the Peasants' Revolt were in Cambridgeshire, Suffolk, Norfolk and Essex. Cambridge townspeople joined the rebellions, burning books and archived documents belonging to the University of Cambridge. [Encarta]
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