Jonty Claypole

Towards the end part of his writing The Canterbury Tales, he's actually become clerk of the king's works.

He's responsible for the upkeep and construction of royal palaces.

Well, within government.

He's the sort of Robert Moses, I think, isn't he?

He's the power broker.

So Richard II comes to the throne aged 10.

So obviously he has John of Gaunt, his uncle, to look after things.

And Richard's reign gets off to not a great start because very early on there is something which in politically incorrect terms is known as the Peasants' Revolt.

The Peasants' Revolt happens in 1381.

There are lots of theories about why the Peasants' Revolt happens.

I think it's fair to say that a very material and in a way the sort of main one is the deeply unpopular poll tax that's being introduced to fund the wars against France.

So those of us of my age who remember the protests against the poll tax in Britain in the 1990s, we weren't there first, guys.

This happened in 1381.

Earlier, a poll tax had been introduced to four pence a year.

Not a lot now.

Quite a lot then to fund the wars.

And because the wars are ongoing and the public coffers or the public treasury is there, this is ramped up to 12 pence a year.

Massive hike.

in 1381.

And people go ballistic.