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Mail David
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King betrays Londoners
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- 14-year-old King Richard II introduced a new poll tax (money paid to the Government by an individual) in 1381.
- It was very unpopular with the peasants (poor people) because some of them had to pay more than others & the amount had tripled from last time.
They already hated the young King’s advisors, especially the King’s uncle,
John of Gaunt.
- The King’s officials tried to collect the tax in Essex & Kent. They were sent away.
Lots of men in those counties gathered together with weapons in large groups. They marched on London.
- The Kentish men went to
Blackheath. Then they crossed London Bridge into the City.
They were led by Wat Tyler. The Essex men went to Stepney.
They were led by Jack Straw.
- They attacked buildings owned by
the money-grabbing Knights Hospitaller and the hated John of Gaunt, including
the Savoy Palace.
- They captured the Tower of London. The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Lord Treasurer & the Grand Prior of the Knights Hospitaller were
taken prisoner & executed. They let the
King's popular mother go, but asked for kisses in return!
- A meeting with the King was arranged at Smithfield, near the
Priory of St. Bartholomew the
Great. Wat Tyler was rude to the King and got out his dagger. So the Lord Mayor attacked him with his sword and another man ran him threw. He died almost immediately.
- The rebels didn’t know what was happening. King Richard rode amongst them. He said Wat had been knighted & their demands would be met if they marched to
Clerkenwell.
- The King had lied. The nobles quickly gathered 7,000 militia men (local soldiers). They dispersed the rebels. They captured the leaders & executed them.
- King Richard was back in control.
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