PEASANT REVOLTS 113 



which followed, and which proved to be a turning- 

 point in the history of the EngHsh peasantry. 



During these years of discomfort, allied with despair, 

 discontent became intense and widespread, and the 

 rural population in every part became ripe for an out- 

 break. They welcomed with open arms certain of 

 the inferior clergy, wandering preachers, whose political 

 sermons gave voice to their wrongs and suffer- 

 ings. Chief and foremost among these humble and 

 despised preachers was the "profligate priest," the 

 "wicked incendiary " John Ball, who, in season and 

 out of season, in market-place and churchyard, braving 

 all consequences, taught self-help and deliverance to 

 eager and sympathizing crowds. In spite of persecu- 

 tion, imprisonment, and excommunication, and with a 

 full knowledge of his ultimate fate, this lone and 

 homeless man, in the true spirit of a martyr, obeyed 

 the dictates of somethino- within him which he regarded 

 as greater than himself. The ruling classes became 

 speedily aware of the dangers of these teachings. 

 They tried, but in vain, to stop them by securing a 

 law inflicting heavy penalties for " telling horrible and 

 false lies of prelates, dukes, earls, barons and other 

 great men of the realm." ^ 



In this inflammable condition of the people the 

 rebellion of Wat Tyler broke out. It is generally 

 stated that a brutal assault made by a tax-collector on 

 Wat Tyler's daughter was the cause of the outbreak. 

 The peasantry and other cultivating classes were the 

 beasts of burden, not only for work, but for money 

 to maintain the extravagance of the corrupt ruling 



' 2 Richard II, chap. 5. 



