England in the Middle Ages

The Hundred Years’ War also damaged England’s economy. A poll tax was introduced in 1377 and tripled in 1380; abuses by the tax collectors led to the uprising of 1381. The poor priest John Ball preached that people are equal by nature. Wat Tyler led the rebels; they entered London and burned officials’ houses. The 14-year-old Richard II accepted the “Mile End” programme: abolition of the peasants’ dependence, free trade and a lower land tax. At a second meeting at Smithfield Tyler died in a scuffle, the king dispersed the rebels with promises and then troops crushed them harshly. Nevertheless, in the 15th century many dependent peasants were freed for payment. In 1455–1485 the Wars of the Roses between the Lancasters and the Yorks took place, and many barons were killed. In 1485 Henry Tudor, victorious at Bosworth, took the throne as Henry VII (1485–1509). Under him royal power grew: he brought new families into the House of Lords, while the Commons helped him with new taxes.