Document two

An eighteenth century account of the event which started the Peasants' Revolt of 1381

In the Fifth Parliament of King Richard II, amongst other hard Taxes, a Poll Tax was granted at 4d per Head of all Persons, of, or above 14 Years of Age. The Collection of this Tax, which did greatly anger the People ... was also managed by very rude Officials, who collected the Money from the People harshly: And one of them going into the House of John Tyler, who lived in Dartford, demanded the Poll tax for a young Girl that was in the House: The Mother said that she was under Age, the official offered to convince her she was old enough in a very rude manner: of which complaining to her Husband, he was so angry that he beat out the Officer’s Brains; and after that raised the Common People up in Arms, who got together in large Numbers, choosing Tyler as their Captain.

From John Harris, The History of Kent, 1719