The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-06-12
TODAY IN HISTORY
Wat Tyler Rebellion.
SUNDAY, JUNE Il, 1910.


There broke out In England, on June
10. 1881. formidable insnrrectlon known
as Wat Tylers Rebellion, Tho move
ment seems TO have begun among the
bondmen OF Essex and of Kent, but 1t
spread at once TO a number OF other
counties. The peasantry, armed WIN
bludgeons and rusty swords, FIRST occu-
pied the roads by which pilgrims went
to Canterbury and made everyone swear
that he would be true TO King Ricndrd
and not accept a king named John. Ihls,
of course, was aimed at the government
of John OF Gaunt, TO whom the people
attributed every grievance they nad 10
complain OF. The principal, or at least
the Immediate cause OF offense arose out
of poll tax which had been voted III
the preceding year.
The chief leader in the insurrection
was Wat Tyler and his two associates
were John Ball. a priest and preaener
of democratic and soclalistic doctrines:
and one known as Jack Straw. There
should have been little difficulty TO have
kept the insurgents out Of London. out
Londoners generally, and some OF the
aldermen, were Inclined to the rebels,
so on Wednesday. June 10. the insur-
gents began 10 stream in across the
London bridge, and finally the. whole
body was marched 10 the splendid pal
ace of the duke OF Lancaster.
The palace was wrecked and burned,
gold and silver plate was shattered and
the oattleaxes thrown into the Ihanies :
rings anc smaller Jewels were braZed In
mortars, silk and embroidered dresses
were trampled under foot and torn up.
Then the temple was burned with all It's
munlments, Other noted buildings were
destroyed. and the king and his court
took refuge In the tower.
The insurgents threatened TO storm
their stronghold II the King did not come
out and speak TO them. He did so. but
this did not pacIfy them. and they broke
into tho tower. and SO great was the
CONSERVATION that the soldiers dared not
raise a hand while these ruffians
Go arch 20
sparlng the kings bedroom. In their
search for the archbishop of Canterbury.
The archbishop and the lord treasurer
were found and beheaded. Murder now
became the order OF the day. and for
eigners were among the chief victims;
and altogether it is said that 400 per-
isbed.
On June Is, the king. with an armed
escort, went to the camp Of the insur-
gents, and invited them TO a personal
conference. In the midst Of the king g
conference, on some provocation or pre-
tended provocation In his words or bear :
Ing. the popular leader was struck from
his horse and killed King Richard i'm
mediately rode out before the ranks of
the rebels. while they were still dazed
by the suddenness and audacity OF the
treacherous blow, crying: 81 will be your
leader; follow me-" The mob followed,
and soon were surrounded by bodies of
troops. whose courage had been revived.
The king now commanded the trembling
peasants to 'ffall on their knees. cut the
strings Of their bows. and leave the city
and Its neighborhood under pain of death,
before nightfall." This command was in
stantly obeyed.
The Wat Tyler Rebellion proved dis
astrous in its effect on the work OF
church reform, which Wyclif was then
pursuing Much OF the odium of the out
break fell on the reformer. John Ball
who had figured In the front rank Of the
revolt, was claimed as one of his adj
herents.
On June IL. 1865. New York City was
incorporated by Governor Nichols. On
that date the first naval battle OF the
revolution occurred at Mach!as, Me. in
lffo. The Rye House plot In England
was disclosed In 1883 The DecIaration
OF Rights adnnted hw the Virginia CON