grievances. It is to be scattered broadcast through Kent and Essex, but it
is likely to have no effect. The men know well enough that they have
rendered themselves liable to punishment, and as they were ready to run
that risk when they first took up arms, it is not likely that they will be
frightened at the threat now when they find none to oppose them, and that
their numbers grow from day to day. Seeing that time is likely to do
little for us, I would rather they had marched straight on to London; they
would then have arrived here in more sober mood; but now that they have
begun to slay and to drink, they will get fiercer and more lawless every
day, and as their numbers increase so will their demands."

Day by day more and more serious news came in. Canterbury was occupied by
the rebels, and they declared their intention of slaying the archbishop,
but he had left before they had arrived. There they committed many
excesses, executed three rich citizens, opened the prisons, killed all
lawyers, and burned all deeds and registers as they had done at Rochester,
and kept the whole place in a state of terror while they remained, which
they did while the stores of wine remained unexhausted.

"Why should they be so bitter against lawyers, and why should they destroy
deeds and registers, father?" Albert asked.

"It can be but for one reason, Albert. The great part of them have small
plots of land, an acre or two, or perhaps more, on terms of villeinage,
paying so much in kind or money, and their desire is to destroy all deeds
and documents in order that they may henceforth pay no rent, claiming the
land for themselves, and defying those from whom they hold it to show
their titles as lords of the soil. There must be some shrewd knaves among
them. This Wat the Tyler and the men of the towns can care naught for such
matters; but they suffer those who have an interest in the matter to do as