England's 1381 Peasants' Revolt

Source: Thomas Walsingham's Historia Anglicana

The text provided is a fragment from Historia Anglicana II, written by Thomas Walsingham in 1395, although it's said that it wasn’t entirely written by him. He was an English Benedictine monk and chronicler at St Albans Abbey, and he is well known for his works. This one tells us about the period during the reign of Richard II, and the text refers to the Peasants' Revolt, an important event. The story is relevant because it reflects the spirit of the people of the period. The text focuses on how people were influenced by John Ball, an English Lollard priest and a leader of the peasants, and the new way of thinking among the population.

England Under Richard II: Context of the Revolt

In 1377, King Edward III died. England was once again without a king, and Richard II (his grandson) was his successor. Richard II was just a child when he came to the throne, so John of Gaunt was his regent until he reached the age to reign. His reign was marked by political and religious unrest: the Peasants' Revolt and the rise of the Lollards led by John Wycliffe and John Ball were significant challenges.

Causes of the 1381 Peasants' Uprising

The Black Death and Labor Shortages

During the reign of Edward III, the Black Death, one of the most devastating epidemics in human history, spread through Europe (1348-1349). It is believed to have been transmitted by rats on boats. It was called so because during the disease, the skin turned this color. Because of this, between one-third and one-quarter of the population died in Britain. The result was that there were not enough workers for the land, and this meant that laborers could demand higher wages. Peasants began to move from one land to another, and this displeased both feudal lords and the monarchy.

The Statute of Labourers and Poll Taxes

In 1351, the Statute of Labourers was created, which made workers' conditions very harsh. There was also a third poll tax in order to pay for the Hundred Years' War, in which England was engaged during the reign of Edward III. This meant that peasants had to pay the tax for every family member, including children. This was considered unjust.

The Peasants' Revolt of 1381

The revolt started in 1381 in two villages in Essex when officials tried to collect the poll tax. The counties of Essex and Kent rebelled and marched on London, where several nobles were executed. King Richard II entered negotiations with the peasants and made many promises and concessions to suppress the revolt. But he had no intention of accepting the peasants' demands; consequently, none of these concessions were honored once the rebellion was over. The leaders of the rebellion were captured, and the nobles re-established control.

The Role of John Ball

One of the Lollard leaders was John Ball, to whom the text frequently refers.