unsellors, unable to prevent the work of conference,
boldly decided to come out and meet the rebels. Mile End was appointed for
the conference, and to Mile End Richard came with a very modest retinue.
The King was only fifteen, but he was the son of the Black Prince, and he
had both courage and cunning. He was fully aware that the people did not
lay on him responsibility for the sins of the Government. "If we measure
intellectual power by the greatest exertion it ever displays, rather than
by its average results, Richard II. was a man of considerable talents. He
possessed along with much dissimulation a decisive promptitude in seizing
the critical moment for action."[37]

At Mile End Tyler stated the grievances of the people. But first he asked
that all traitors should be put to death, and to this the King agreed.

Four positive articles of reform were put forward, and were at once
assented to by the King:--

1. A free and general pardon to all concerned in the rising.

2. The total abolition of all villeinage (forced labour) and serfdom.

3. An end to all tolls and market dues--"freedom to buy and sell in all
cities, burghs, mercantile towns, and other places within our kingdom of
England."

4. All customary tenants to become leaseholders at a fixed rental of
fourpence an acre for ever.

That all doubts might be removed, thirty clerks were set to work on the
spot to draw up charters of manumission, and banners were presented to each
county. At nightfall thousands returned home convinced that the old order
was ended, and that the Royal charters were genuine assurances of freedom.

But Tyler and the bulk of the men of Kent and Surrey remained in the city.
It seemed to Wat Tyler that better terms still were to be wrung from the
King. It looked that night as though the insurrection had triumphed
completely. Not only were the charters signed and the royal promises given,
but several in high office, whom Tyler held to be "traitors," had gone to
their doom. Sir Robert Hales, the Treasurer, Archbishop Sudbury, the
Chancellor--a gentle and kindly old man, "lenient to heretics"--John Legge,
the hated poll-tax commissioner, with Appleton, John of Gaunt's chaplain,
and Richard Lyons, a thoroughly corrupt contractor of Edward III.'s reign,
were all dragged out of the Tower and beheaded on Tower Hill on Friday,
June 15th.

On Tyler's request for another conference with Richard on the following
day, the King saw he had no ch