A discussion on whether the “Great Revolt” in England in the summer of 1381 against the government was the result of high taxation.
This paper examines how The ?Great Revolt? in England in the summer of 1381, though perhaps unexpected in its magnitude and diversity, was not a sudden or chance uprising but the product of a number of complicated and inter-related antagonisms. It looks at how, although the unreasonably high Poll Taxes of 1377, 1379 and 1380 were the principal triggers for revolt, there were other underlying roots of disorder, sown into English society in the first half of the fourteenth century. It explores the feudal state of England at the time, the decay of the tenant-serf relationship, the impacts of the 100 years war and the influence of Lollardy and the Wyclif movement as well as the state of the monarchy and the corruption within government in relation to the social and political grieviences of the bourgeoise.
“High taxation certainly inflamed the commons though to what extent this was out of desperation or anger is unclear. Interestingly, the first target of the Essex rebels under John Wrawe was the manor of Overhall – the property of hated financier Sir Richard Lyons. Further targeting of Archbishop Sudbury’s fiscal officers occurred. Disturbances in Essex ended with the stoning of poll-tax commissioners; the house of John Cobat, a collector of the Poll Tax, was among the few to be attacked and looted in Ipswich and the prime occupation of the Suffolk rebels was the capture of Sir John Cavendish – the Chief Justice of the King’s Bench and the new Chancellor of the University of Cambridge.”