Introduction
After the Black Death wiped out nearly three-quarters of England’s population in the 1340s, fit working men were scarce, and wealthy landowners had to bid for every labourer’s favour. The Government hurriedly capped wages and banned labouring men from buying luxury food or clothing. Astonishingly, London then raised taxes to pay for the faltering Hundred Years’ War.
In 1381 a tax of a shilling on every person above fifteen years of age was levied upon the people.* In those days a shilling was more than many a poor Englishman possessed; and as the tax-gatherers were very rough and rude in their way of collecting the tax, the people became very angry. One of the collectors insulted the daughter of Wat Tyler, a blacksmith, of Dartford in Kent, whereupon Wat Tyler raised his great hammer, and killed the tax-gatherer by a blow on the head. The neighbours, who came crowding up, declared that the tax-gatherer had been rightly served; and they determined to march to London, and get their grievances redressed. Their numbers increased greatly as they approached the capital, until they amounted to some ten thousand men. Tyler and his forces soon entered London.* There they behaved riotously, burning the palace of the Duke of Lancaster and various other buildings.* At last they encamped in Smithfield, and here the young King Richard gave the only instance of courage we find recorded of him during all his reign.
* This was the third attempt to boost revenue with taxes. The tax levied in the 1379 had been ‘progressive’, with lower rates for the poor, who paid only fourpence, whereas a nobleman was charged £6 13s 4d. The new tax, agreed by Parliament at Northampton in November 1380, required a shilling or twelve pence a head from all classes alike. Evasion was widespread, so the authorities began to make house-to-house searches to build a census and courts were summoned to prosecute those who failed to pay, which became the focus of violence on both sides.
* Wat Tyler (or perhaps simply Wat the tiler) was not the only rebel leader. Thomas Faringdon brought marchers from Essex, but they returned meekly home after they were told their demands would be met. John Litster raised Norfolk and Suffolk, and murdered Sir John Cavendish, the chief justice, and John of Cambridge, the prior of Bury, but the revolt there was forcefully suppressed by the Bishop, Henry Spenser. Other key figures were John Ball (?-1381), a Dominican friar who had been banned from preaching in 1366 but was released from Maidstone gaol by the rebels, and Jack Straw (?-1381), sufficiently important to be the only rebel whose name is mentioned by Geoffrey Chaucer.
* The Duke was in Scotland at the time. His son, the future Henry IV of England, was at home but escaped harm. The following day, June 14th, the rebels seized the Tower of London, and murdered both Simon of Sudbury, the Archbishop of Canterbury and Lord Chancellor of England, and Sir Robert Hales, the royal Treasurer. The rebels also targeted foreigners, especially the Flemish, whose wars at home and businesses in London were held to be harmful to England’s interests.
Précis
In 1381, the Government imposed an iniquitous tax on ordinary labourers and their families. When Wat Tyler killed a collector who was assaulting his daughter, he aroused such sympathy in Kent that soon he found himself in Smithfield at the head of an army of rebels. Young king Richard II, not known for his courage, came to meet them there. (60 / 60 words)
In 1381, the Government imposed an iniquitous tax on ordinary labourers and their families. When Wat Tyler killed a collector who was assaulting his daughter, he aroused such sympathy in Kent that soon he found himself in Smithfield at the head of an army of rebels. Young king Richard II, not known for his courage, came to meet them there.
Variations: 1.increase the length of this precis to exactly 65 words. 2.reduce the length of this precis to exactly 55 words. 3.introduce one of the following words into the precis: about, although, besides, just, must, or, ought, since.
Word Games
Sevens Based on this passage
Suggest answers to this question. See if you can limit one answer to exactly seven words.
Variations: 1.expand your answer to exactly fourteen words. 2.expand your answer further, to exactly twenty-one words. 3.include one of the following words in your answer: if, but, despite, because, (al)though, unless.
Jigsaws Based on this passage
Express the ideas below in a single sentence, using different words as much as possible. Do not be satisfied with the first answer you think of; think of several, and choose the best.
You are welcome to share your creativity with me, or ask for help with any of the exercises on Clay Lane. Write to me at this address:
See more at Email Support.
If you like what I’m doing here on Clay Lane, from time to time you could buy me a coffee.
Buy Me a Coffee is a crowdfunding website, used by over a million people. It is designed to help content creators like me make a living from their work. ‘Buy Me a Coffee’ prides itself on its security, and there is no need to register.
