The Ely miner., 1932-09-09
"HUNGER MARCH" NO
REALLY NEW THING
Two Similar Instances In
English History.

esting example of the tendency Of
history to repeat itself, James Waldo
Fawcett writes in the Washington
post. There have been many such
incidents In the annals of European
countries and several in those of the
United States. e
In England in 1881, following par
uament's institution of the poll tax.
the peasants rose at Brentwood in
Essex and at hartford, and began
a march on London. At Rochester
they seized the castle. Proceeding
up the Midway to Maidstone, where
they chose for their leader one Wat
Tyler, a veteran of the French war.
Tyler was a born commander and
something Of a statesman withaL
But any moderating influence he may
have had upon his followers was fu-
tile to protect them after they had
taken Canterbury, sacked the palace
of Archbishop Sudbury, the chan
ceIlor, and beheaded three citizens
as traitors"
The mob reached Blackheath on
June IL, burned the prisons al South
wark and pillaged the archbishop's
palace at Lambeth. King Richard
II was lodging at the Tower, but
neither the sovereign nor his coun-
cilors had thus far taken any steps
to protect London. The draBbridge
of London bridge having been low
cred by treachery, Tyler crossed the
Thames and occupieS the city. John
Of Gaunt's splendid mansion on So
voy hill was sacked and burned. The
official residence of Sir Robert Hales.
the royal treasurer, Jared likewise.
The prisoners in Newgate and the
feet were released.
The London mob received the
rebels with enthusiasm. For three
days the riot continued. Then, on
June Il, the king, boy of fifteen at
the time, rode out to meet Tyler
in conference. They met at Mile
End. Tyler demanded the immediate
abolition of serfdom and all feudal
services, the removal of all restric-
tons on labor and trade, and gen.
eral amnesty for the insurgents
Charters were drawn up to give ef-
feet to these demands. The king in
dicated that he would approve them.
But Tyler's mob went too far. At
the moment of seeming victory, they
damaged their cause beyond repair.
They executed Sudbury ana Hales
on Tower hill During the following
night and day London was given over
TO disorder and pillage. But even as
the disorder proceeded the power TO
successfully oppose it was being or
ganized. The propertied classes
banded together for the restoration
Of order. The king had agreed 10
meet Tyler at Smithfield on June Is.
When he arrived there, he was con-
froned by Tyler with a new series
of demands. The confscation of &C.
clesiastical estates and the institu-
ton of social equality were among
these requirements. The king replied
that the popular desire should be
satisfied Saving the regalities of the
crown" But at the moment Of the
monarch's concession an alteration
occurred, and Tyler was stabbed to
death by Sir William Walworth. the
lord mayor, and John Standwick, one
Of the kings squires. The revolt col
lapsed. Parliament revoked the kings
grants, and there were no permanent
results beneficial TO the peasants In
consequence of the rising.
In 1850 there was another rebellion
in England. This time the leader
was one Jack Cade, a gentleman Of
some substance and standing. His
followers were Kentish farmers and
Iaborers AT one time they numbered
10000. They marched from Ashford
TO Blackheath, retreated, defeated
the royal forces at Sevenoaks (June
1s) and returned victoriously TO Lon
don. entering the city on July 3. The
town was favorable TO Cade's COM
plant Of maladministration. waste,
COIEupAOu anu OppISSS4Ou. anu dlSo
to his Indictment Of the statute of
laborers.
But when Cade executed Lord
Say-and-Sele and William Crowmer.
sheriff Of Kent, and attempted to
exact forced contributions from the
wealthy classes, the gates of the city
were closed against him on the with
drawal of his army to Southwark
However, the government offered con
cessions and pardons, and these be
ing accepted many of the rebels re-
turned to their homes. Cade himself
received a formal pardon. but this
was later revoked, and the new
sheriff of Kent. one Alexander Iden,
hunted down his little band of per-
sonal followers and killed them all
near Heathfeld The chronicle of
the rising terminated with the death
of fha loader Iulv 72