ges where they could get it,
and resorting to thievery on the highways or beggary where they
could not. The Robin Hood legends were popular among them. In
them, Robin Hood is pure outlaw and does not contribute money to
the poor. Nor does he court Maid Marion.

They spread political songs among each other, such as: "To seek
silver to the King, I my seed sold; wherefore my land lieth fallow
and learneth to sleep. Since they fetched my fair cattle in my
fold; when I think of my old wealth, well nigh I weep. Thus
breedeth many beggars bold; and there wakeneth in the world dismay
and woe, for as good is death anon as so for to toil."

Groups of armed men took lands, manors, goods, and women by force.
The villeins agreed to assist each other in resisting by force
their lords' efforts to return them to servitude. A statute of
laborers passed in 1351 for wages to be set at the pre-plague
rates was ineffectual. Justices became afraid to administer the
law. Villeins, free peasants, and craftsmen joined together and
learned to use the tactics of association and strikes against
their employers.

The office of Justice of the Peace was created for every county to
deal with rioting and vagrants. Cooperation by officials of other
counties was mandated to deal with fugitives from its justice.

The Black Death visited again in 1361 and in 1369. The Black Death
reduced the population from about 5 million to about 2 1/2
million. It was to rise to about 4 million by 1600.

When there were attempts to enforce the legal servitude of the
villeins, they spread rhymes of their condition and need to
revolt. A secret league, called the "Great Society" linked the
centers of intrigue. A high poll tax, graduated from 20s. to 12d.,
that was to be raised for a war with France, touched off a
spontaneous riot all over the nation in 1381. This tax included
people not taxed before, such as laborers, the village smith, and
the village tiler. Each area had its own specific grievances.
There was no common political motive, except maladministration in
general.

In this Peasants' Revolt, mobs overran the counties around London.
The upper classes fled to the woods. Written records of the
servitude of villeins were burned in their halls, which were also
looted. Title deeds of landlords were burned. Rate rolls of
general taxation were destroyed. Prisoners were released from
gaols. Men connected with tax collection, law enforcement,
attorneys, and alien