End of the hearings into Kentish rebels of 1450

5 February 1451 was the last day of hearings in Kent in which the King, amongst others, presided over the trials of key rebels. In 1450 two uprisings had taken place in Kent and adjoining counties. The largest of these was the Cade Revolt. The rebels had marched on London, crossed London Bridge and summarily executed several nobles. The revolt was ended through a promise of a general pardon, except for the ring leaders.

Investigations into those responsible for the 1450 Revolts

It was a promise the Council had no intention of keeping. Once the rebels had returned to their homes, commissions were established to identify those involved in causing the revolt. Once those investigations were undertaken many barons, judges and soldiers accompanied the King to Canterbury, where he and other nobles presided over hearings.

‘A Harvest of Heads’

5 February 1451 was the final day of these hearings. Henry VI presided over the last of four days of judicial hearings in person. Resulting from these hearings were 9 beheadings at Rochester. A further 12 executions took place on a later date.

The heads were taken to London and placed on spikes along London Bridge. In Kent, the mass executions became colloquially known as the “Harvest of Heads”. The executions sent out a strong message to the area: insurrections would not be tolerated.

Revolts and Murders

The show of force by the crown attempted to prevent any further uprisings or sedition in the region. There been the revolts led by Cheyne and Cade. The South East was also the region in which the Duke of Suffolk had been murdered, and where the Peasants Revolt had begun 70 years earlier. A hardline was now taken. Control was being asserted—the hard way.

Education Resource: A Harvest of Heads

‘A Harvest of Heads‘ is an activity for students studying the era Wars of the Roses or the politics of England in the 15th century. It utilises contemporary and near contemporary source material to explore the medieval attitude towards Revolt, and the approach of King Henry VI in particular towards dealing with the rebels.

Featured Image

Lord Saye and Sele brought before Jack Cade, painting by Charles Lucy. Lord Saye and Sele was killed during the revolt of 1450. Via Wikimedia. Public Domain.