THE GROWTH OF FREEDOM 61 



paying a fixed annual rent to their manorial lord. 

 Subsequently he issued charters bestowing freedom 

 and amnesty, and presented banners to the leaders as 

 a token of his approval. His promises, circulated 

 throughout the peasant forces, sent many home happy 

 and satisfied. They were, they thought, to be free men, 

 and to have permanent tenancies at a fixed rent. 

 However, the more disorderly section of the people 

 remained in London, and the sacking of houses and 

 the killing of innocent people went on all that day 

 and night. On the following day Wat Tyler was 

 killed, on the occasion of an interview with the king 

 at Smithfield where he had submitted fresh demands, 

 and the crowd was dispersed by a contingent of the 

 king's soldiers. 



The rising, so far as it centred in London, was now 

 practically over and the peasants were hurrying back 

 to their homes, when the young king, acting doubtless 

 on his ministers' advice, repudiated his promises of 

 freedom and sent out men-at-arms on a mission of 

 repression throughout the country. The peasants 

 showed little fight, though one strong contingent col- 

 lected at the edge of the woods at Billericay in Essex ; 

 they were, it seems, completely beaten, and are said 

 to have lost 500 men. Events somewhat similar to 

 those that took place in and around London, occurred 

 throughout East Anglia, and where risings took place 

 promises were given and many charters were issued. 

 But in no cases were the promises acted upon. The 

 policy of repression was adopted everywhere, and those 

 of the peasants who showed fight were overwhelmed 

 by the better armed forces of the king or his retainers, 

 or of the local nobles or bishops who organized forces 

 for the suppression of the risings. 



