Salty Sam’s Fun Blog for Children
Number 440
The Peasants’ Revolt
Hello Everyone
This week, Auntie Alice wanted the children to help her in the garden.
There was lots of watering to be done and usually they liked playing with the hosepipe.
But they just didn’t feel in the mood.
They were lolling about in the living room and moaning that they were bored.
Auntie Alice said that if they came out in the garden, she would tell them a story. Then after they had watered the garden they could all have some sticky toffee pudding.
The children said that they would need some sticky toffee pudding before they went outside to give them the strength to do the watering.
Auntie Alice said that work comes first and treats come afterwards.
They would get some energy just being out in the fresh air.
The children still didn’t want to budge.
“What is this, the peasants’ revolt all over again?” Auntie Alice exclaimed.
The children didn’t know what she meant.
So they went out to do the watering and listen to her story.
And this is the story she told them…
Once upon a time, there was a little boy called Richard.
He became king when he was only 10 years old.
The year was 1377.
He was the son of a man called the Black Prince. He was called the Black Prince because he wore black armour. The Black Prince was Edward lll’s eldest son, and he was also called Edward.
The Black Prince was very popular with the people and was also the most feared military commander in the whole of Europe. But he did not ever become king because he died in 1376; the year before his father died.
England needed a new king.
So Edward lll’s grandson came to the throne. He was Richard ll.
For the first 10 years of Richard’s reign, the country was ruled by the young boy’s advisers.
But there was trouble brewing…
Between the years of 1348 and 1350 the Black Death had spread through the country and reduced the population by more than a third. lt was a devastating blow to many communities.
The proper name for the Black Death is bubonic plague. lt is a truly horrible bacterial infection that easily kills people within days.
The plague that swept through Asia, Africa and Europe in the 1300s was thought to have killed about 50 million people.
Because the plague killed so many people, there was a shortage of labourers to work of the land.
A law was passed in 1351 that set wages at the level they were before the Black Death outbreak and also prevented labourers from moving to another job to try and get higher wages.
The labourers were not happy and the landowners were not happy either because they were not able to offer good money to attract good workers.
The feudal system meant that landowners allowed peasants to have land to grow food for themselves in return for labouring on the landowner’s land and also maybe helping to form a fighting force when called to by their overlord.
The people would be transferred to a new owner when the land they lived on was sold.
This was called serfdom.
The peasants’ life was arduous (hard) because there wasn’t any machinery to help on the farm like there is today. They had tools like hoes, rakes, scythes and pitchforks and if they were lucky, they might have an ox to pull a plough.
The government of Richard ll was short of money and decided to raise funds by imposing a tax on the people called a poll tax. This happened in 1377 and also in 1379.
The word ‘poll’ means head. A poll tax meant that every person had to pay money to the crown. lt didn’t matter how rich or poor anyone was; they all had to pay the same money.
The poor were very unhappy about the situation as you can imagine.
They had to pay the same tax as a person with a lot of money – and what was more their wages were being held down.
So a lot of people did not pay the tax.
ln 1380, an even higher poll tax was introduced and tax collectors were sent out to collect all the money that was owed.
The people were furious. They attacked the government officials and violence broke out in various parts of the country.
Things got so bad that the situation became a full-scale rebellion.
Peasants from Essex and from Kent began to march to London. On the way they burned documents that listed the names of people who had to pay the poll tax and they also raided large houses.
ln June of 1381, more than 100,000 men marched on London.
They even murdered the Archbishop of Canterbury and the King’s Treasurer in the Tower of London. Things were getting really serious!
The Essex rebels were lead by John Ball, who was a priest and Jack Straw. The Kent rebels were lead by Wat Tyler. Both brigades carried the king’s flag in the hope he would look favourably upon them.
The king was by this time a young teenager. He and his government were taken completely by surprise. The king met with the rebels and agreed to their demands.
They wanted an end to serfdom and they wanted fixed reasonable low rents for land. They also wanted a pardon for all the trouble they had caused.
The fourteen-year-old king met with the Essex rebels lead by Jack Straw on 14th June at Mile End to the east of London.
The next day the king met with the Kent rebels at Smithfield near the City of London.
Because of the successful meeting the day before, Wat Tyler tried to ask for even more concessions. This angered the Mayor of London who struck Wat Tyler killing him on the spot – as depicted in the picture at the top of the post. The king saw what had happened and thinking very quickly, cleverly declared himself the peasants’ new leader.
The rebels were satisfied with the king’s promises.
The uprising was quelled and the peasants left London to go back home.
But Richard broke his promises.
Any more uprisings were suppressed; often with much violence, and officials went after the trouble-makers.
ln St Albans fifteen rebels were hanged including John Ball.
Probably about 200 people in all died as a result of the Peasants’ Revolt.
The names of the leaders of the Peasants’ Revolt remain famous. They were known as martyrs to their supporters at the time.
A martyr is someone who is prepared to suffer or even die for a cause or their beliefs.
Although the Peasants’ Revolt failed, the landowners were very shaken up by what had happened and in the long term things did change for the peasants.
The landowners became frightened to enforce feudal duties onto their tenants and before long serfdom died out.
The poll tax was also abolished.
No sticky toffee pudding was ever involved as a bargaining chip, as far as l know though.
Under the government of Margaret Thatcher in the late 1980’s, six hundred years later, another poll tax was introduced for people to pay instead of property council tax. Once more people were rioting in the streets and the idea was eventually withdrawn because of pressure from the unhappy people.
l am glad to say that there were no riots in Auntie Alice’s garden though; and the plants were all pleased to eventually get a drink.
lf you like my blog, please support it by telling all your friends and followers about it.
Thank you!
And see you again next Fun Friday!
Love and kisses
Salty Sam
www.christina-sinclair.com
Bill and Bob’s Joke of the Week
Bob: Why was the picture sent to prison?
Bill: l don’t know. Why was the picture sent to prison?
Bob: Because it was framed!
Salty Sam © Christina Sinclair 2015
Unauthorized use and/or duplication of material from this blog without express and written permission from this blog’s author and owner is strictly prohibited.
Links may be used to www.christina-sinclair.com
Picture Gallery
Richard ll as a man
Peasants working in the fields
The peasants carried the king’s flag –
the Royal Standard
THE SALTY SAM NEWS DESK
After the family conference last week, when Bill and Bob’s mum and dad told us of their plans to change jobs; they told Bill and Bob about the changes that were going to take place in the family.
They explained why they had taken the decision to make changes and exactly what was going to happen.
They said that Bill and Bob were old enough to understand.
One of the things that was going to happen was that they were going to change the attic into a little office.
They would need to put a little window called a skylight in the roof at the back and change the dark, dingy attic into a bright, little room.
Bill and Bob said that they knew what a skylight was because Henry had them in his attic playroom.
Henry’s mum had warned Bill and Bob’s mum about how much dirt and dust would rain down inside the house when they had an attic room put in; and she wasn’t looking forward to it!
Bill and Bob’s mum and dad said that the room wouldn’t be very big and it wasn’t going to become a playroom.
Their dad would have a desk up there and some filing cabinets to keep important papers in. They would not be allowed to go up there and look at the papers because they would be private. They would not be the least bit interesting anyway.
Their mum would have a desk as well because she was going to start her own business too.
There would be a lot of disruption during the building work but before it started their dad would need a lot of quiet so that he could study in peace.
Bill and Bob said that if they thought they needed to be very noisy, they could go to Auntie Alice’s garden or Henry’s playroom to let off steam.
Their mum and dad thanked them for being so helpful.
Bill and Bob’s mum and dad said that money might be a bit tight as well for a while so they would be grateful if they could help out with that.
They said that they were the kind of sensible family who always tried to save money, and had savings, so there was no reason to worry; but even so there was never any reason to waste it.
They could help by eating up all their packed lunches and not waste food. They could make sure they didn’t leave lights on in rooms when no one was in there, or use more hot water than they needed to, or let the tap run when they were washing their teeth – and most of all not keep leaving the back door open in the winter letting all the warm air out.
Bill and Bob asked if they were allowed to lick their plates clean now and their mum said no, on no account!
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Quick Quiz
Can you answer these questions about the Mediaeval Era?
- What were serfs and villeins?
- What was a yeoman?
- What was a tithe?
- Why did people bring their animals into their cottages at night?
- What was a hovel?
- What killed off a huge part of the population in 1348?
- What was a scythe?
- What was a coracle?
- What was a wimple?
- How was butter made?
A dowry was a collection of goods/money
brought by a woman into a marriage
lt’s the Weekend!
HOW TO MAKE CHARACTER DOLLS’ FARM CLOTHES
These people are ready to start working on their farm.
Look at Blog Post 371 for the patterns for the dolls.
Use over-sew stitching with right sides together when you make up all the garments.
There is a farmer and his wife and a farm hand who can drive a tractor or be a shepherdess.
A vet has come to visit; or she might live on the farm as well.
FARMER’S TOP BACK AND FRONT (KNIT TWO)
Using 4mm knitting needles and white dk yarn cast on 12 stitches
Knit 2 rows of garter stitch
Knit 12 rows of stocking stitch
Knit 2 rows of garter stitch
Cast off
FARMER’S TOP SLEEVES (KNIT TWO)
Using 4mm knitting needles and white dk yarn cast on 12 stitches
Knit 2 rows of garter stitch
Knit 8 rows of stocking stitch
Cast off
TO MAKE UP
- Using over-sew stitching and with right sides together sew up shoulder seams
- Sew the tops of the sleeves to the shoulders
- Sew up the under arm and side seams
FARMER’S DUNGAREES – TROUSERS (KNIT TWO)
Using 4mm knitting needles and denim blue yarn cast on 14 stitches
Knit 2 rows of garter stitch
Knit 18 rows of stocking stitch
Decrease 1 stitch at the beginning of the next 4 rows of stocking stitch
Knit 4 rows stocking stitch
Slip 1 (p1, k1) repeat these 2 stitches to the last stitch purl 1
Repeat the last row once
Cast off rib-wise to give more stretch to the top of the trousers
FARMER’S DUNGAREES – BIB (KNIT ONE)
Using 4mm knitting needles and denim blue yarn cast on 8 stitches
Knit 10 rows of garter stitch
Cast off
FARMER’S DUNGAREES – STRAPS (MAKE TWO)
Using denim blue yarn crochet 18 chains
TO MAKE UP
With right sides together using over-sew stitching
- Sew up the front and back seam of the trousers on the part that will fit onto the body
- Sew along the inside leg seams with right sides together using over-sew stitching
- Sew the pocket to the bib and the bib to the front of the trousers
- Attach the straps to the top corners of the bib and the back of the trousers crossing them over at the back as you do so
FARMER’S WIFE’S DRESS FRONT AND BACK (KNIT TWO)
Using 4mm knitting needles and pink dk yarn cast on 18 stitches
Knit 4 rows of garter stitch
Change to green yarn
Knit 10 rows of stocking stitch
Decrease 1 stitch at the next 4 rows of stocking stitch
Knit 12 rows of stocking stitch
Change to pink yarn
Knit 2 rows of garter stitch
Cast off
FARMER’S WIFE’S DRESS SLEEVES (KNIT TWO)
Using 4mm knitting needles and pink dk yarn cast on 14 stitches
Knit 2 rows of garter stitch
Change to green yarn
Knit 2 rows of stocking stitch
Cast off
TO MAKE UP
- Using over-sew stitching and with right sides together sew up shoulder seams
- Sew the tops of the sleeves to the shoulders
- Sew up the under arm and side seams
APRON (KNIT ONE)
Using 4mm knitting needles and white dk yarn cast on 10 stitches
Knit 2 rows of garter stitch
Knit 1 row
Knit 2, purl 6, knit 2
Repeat last 2 rows 4 times
Cast off 1 stitch at the end of the next knit row
Knit 1 row
Knit 1 row
Knit 2, purl 4, knit 2
Repeat last 2 rows 4 times
Knit 2 rows of garter stitch
Cast off
Crochet 15 chains into a length of white yarn to make a strap to go over the doll’s head
Crochet 30 chains into a length of white yarn (twice) to make two straps to go behind her waist
Sew them into place
Secure and neaten all ends
FARM WORKER’S VEST (KNIT TWO)
Using 4mm knitting needles and white dk yarn cast on 14 stitches
Knit 2 rows of garter stitch
Knit 8 rows of stocking stitch
Knit 2 rows of garter stitch
Cast off
Crochet 5 chains into a length of white yarn (twice) to make 2 straps
TO MAKE UP
- Using over-sew stitching and with right sides together sew up side seams
- Attach the shoulder straps
- Secure all ends and neaten
FARM WORKER’S SHORTS (KNIT TWO)
Using 4mm knitting needles and brown dk yarn cast on 19 stitches
Knit 2 rows of garter stitch
Knit 4 rows of stocking stitch
Decrease 1 stitch at the next 4 rows of stocking stitch
Knit 6 rows of stocking stitch
Change to 3¾mm knitting needles
Knit 2 rows of 1×1 rib
Cast off
TO MAKE UP
- Using over-sew stitching and with right sides together sew up top of shorts and inside leg seams
- Thread 30cm/12” of brown yarn through the channel at the top of the shorts
VET’S OVERALLS – LEFT BACK (KNIT ONE)
Using 4mm knitting needles and white dk yarn cast on 8 stitches
Knit 2 rows of garter stitch
Increase 1 stitch at the beginning of the next 2 rows of stocking stitch
Knit 16 rows of stocking stitch
Decrease 1 stitch at the beginning of the next knit row
Purl 1 row
Knit 18 rows of stocking stitch
Knit 2 rows of garter stitch
Cast off
VET’S OVERALLS – RIGHT BACK (KNIT ONE)
Using 4mm knitting needles and white dk yarn cast on 8 stitches
Knit 2 rows of garter stitch
Increase 1 stitch at the beginning of the next 2 rows of stocking stitch
Knit 16 rows of stocking stitch
Decrease 1 stitch at the end of the next knit row
Purl 1 row
Knit 18 rows of stocking stitch
Knit 2 rows of garter stitch
Cast off
VET’S OVERALLS – RIGHT FRONT (KNIT ONE)
Using 4mm knitting needles and white dk yarn cast on 8 stitches
Knit 2 rows of garter stitch
Increase 1 stitch at the beginning of the next 2 rows of stocking stitch
Knit 16 rows of stocking stitch
Decrease 1 stitch at the beginning of the next knit row
Purl 1 row
Knit 12 rows of stocking stitch
Knit 1 row
Purl 7, knit 2
Repeat the last 2 rows 2 times
Knit 2 rows of garter stitch
Cast off
VET’S OVERALLS – LEFT FRONT (KNIT ONE)
Using 4mm knitting needles and white dk yarn cast on 8 stitches
Knit 2 rows of garter stitch
Increase 1 stitch at the beginning of the next 2 rows of stocking stitch
Knit 16 rows of stocking stitch
Decrease 1 stitch at the end of the next knit row
Purl 1 row
Knit 12 rows of stocking stitch
Knit 1 row
Knit 2, purl 7
Repeat the last 2 rows 2 times
Knit 2 rows of garter stitch
Cast off
VET’S OVERALLS – SLEEVES (KNIT TWO)
Using 3¾mm knitting needles and white dk yarn cast on 12 stitches
Knit 2 rows of 1×1 rib
Change to 4mm knitting needles
Knit 6 rows of stocking stitch
Cast off
TO MAKE UP
- Using over-sew stitching and with right sides together sew up shoulder seams
- Sew the tops of the sleeves to the shoulders
- Sew up the front seams and the under arm and side seams
Please note that the material on this blog is for personal use and for use in classrooms only.
It is a copyright infringement and, therefore, illegal under international law to sell items made with these patterns.
Use of the toys and projects is at your own risk.
©Christina Sinclair Designs 2015
Quick Quiz Answers
- What were serfs and villeins? They were peasants who had no rights and would be sold with the land they worked on.
- What was a yeoman? lt was a landowner that had many acres to farm and make money from.
- What was a tithe? lt was a tax that had to be paid to the church. The tax could be paid in things as well as money. People also had to work on church lands without payment. The church had control over people because they were frightened of being punished in the afterlife if they did not obey the church.
- Why did people bring their animals into their cottages at night? ln those days there were still dangerous animals in Britain like bears and wolves. Farm animals were precious and valuable and could be stolen if left unattended.
- What was a hovel? lt was a one-roomed shelter made with sticks and straw with little comfort inside.
- What killed off a huge part of the population in 1348? The Black Death
- What was a scythe? A tool for cutting grain crops – it had a long pole with a sharp curved blade at the base
- What was a coracle? A small, round boat used for fishing on the river
- What was a wimple? Headgear for women
- How was butter made? Milk was beaten in a barrel with a paddle
Scythe
Coracle
Love the design of this blog and it stands out from others with its content.
Thank you so much Jim. That is a really nice thing to say.
This is a fantastic read for children! Effortless learning!
Thank you for your lovely comment!