The Essex town which started a revolution against the government

Essex is a county with a wealthy and assorted historical past.

Whether it’s the Romans establishing Colchester as the capital metropolis, or ‘witches’ being burned alive, we’ve seen all of it.

But do you know that it’s additionally the place which kick-started a revolution?

The Peasants’ Revolt of May and June, 1381, was a main outbreak of civil unrest throughout the reign of the teenage king, Richard II.

There have been a variety of causes for the revolt, however it was largely sparked by the introduction of an unpopular ballot tax, though excessive taxes throughout the Hundred Years’ War with France didn’t assist.

Two of the revolt’s leaders, John Ball and Jack Straw, have been stated to have met in Brentwood, frequenting the town’s inns the place they most probably mentioned their grasp plans.

Brentwood cemented its identify in historical past when John Bampton, a royal official, tried to gather unpaid taxes in the town.

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This led to a confrontation in which three of Bampton’s clerks have been slain.

But Bampton got here out unscathed, making his method again to London the place he was in a position to inform the authorities about his battle again in Brentwood.

By the subsequent day, the revolt was spiralling uncontrolled.

The villagers unfold the information throughout the area, and John Geoffrey, a native bailiff, rode between Brentwood and Chelmsford rallying help.

On June 4, 1381, the rebels gathered at Bocking, Braintree, the place their future plans have been mentioned.

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The Essex rebels, probably a few thousand sturdy, superior in direction of London, some in all probability travelling immediately and others through Kent.

One group, underneath the management of John Wrawe, a former chaplain, marched north in direction of the neighbouring county of Suffolk, with the intention of elevating a revolt there.

Brentwood was the first of many locations to see violence in the south-east of the nation.

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Robert Belknap, Chief Justice of Common Pleas, was despatched to analyze the incident and to punish the offenders.

But on June 2, 1381, he was attacked at Brentwood.

By this time, the violent discontent had unfold, and the counties of Essex and Kent have been in full revolt.

Soon after, folks swarmed on London in an armed rebellion.

Following the revolt, and unable to boost contemporary taxes, the government needed to hone-in its international coverage and navy expeditions and started to look at the choices for peace in Europe.

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The establishment of serfdom started declining after 1381, primarily for financial slightly than political causes.

And to the peasants’ delight, rural wages continued to extend and lords more and more bought their serfs’ freedom in trade for money, or transformed conventional types of tenure to new leasehold preparations.

During the fifteenth century, the establishment vanished in England.

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