52 STORIES FROM ENGLISH HISTORY. 
some with rusty old swords, and many with scythes 
tied to the end of sticks, were on the march to 
London, and Wat Tyler rode at their head. 
11. 
5. When the rebels got to London, they marched 
up and down the streets, burning the houses of the 
rich, breaking open the doors of the prisons, and 
striking off the head of every man they met, who 
would not say he was “for King Richard and the 
common people.” 
6. The gold and silver plate, that they found in 
rich men’s houses, they smashed to bits with ham- 
mers, but they took none of it away. They were 
so angry with one man, who stole a silver cup and 
hid it in his breast, that they flung him into the 
river—eup and all. 
7. The young king, who was only sixteen, rode 
up fo them at Mile End and called out to them, 
“ What is it you want, my men?” «We want you 
to make us free,” they said, And the king said 
he would give them their freedom, anl sent them 
back to their homes. 
8, But Wat Tyler, with many thousands of the 
rebels, stayed in London. Next day, King Richard 
met them again in Smithfield, and Tyler rode up 
to have a talk with the king. While Tyler was 
speaking, in a rough sort of way, he laid his hand 
On the king’s bridle, Upon this, Walworth, the 
Lord Mayor of London, thinking the king in danger, 
plunged his dagger into Tyler’s throat. Wat fell,