Death of Wat Tyler
Wat Tyler, leader of the Peasants' Revolt, confronts King Richard II at Smithfield Market to demand reforms. During the tense negotiation, Tyler is stabbed by the Mayor of London, William Walworth, le
Setting
Smithfield Market, London - an open-air livestock market with trampled grass and mud underfoot, surrounded by wooden stalls and pens. The market square is bordered by timber-framed buildings with thatched roofs, their upper stories jutting out over the street.
Characters
Wat Tyler
primary
A rugged man in his late 30s with a wiry, muscular build from years of labor. His face is weathered, with deep-set eyes that burn with conviction, framed by unkempt brown hair streaked with gray. A prominent scar runs down his left cheek, a testament to past conflicts.
King Richard II
primary
A slender, fair-haired youth of 14 years with delicate features and pale complexion, his regal bearing contrasting with his youthful frame. His blue eyes betray a mix of forced composure and underlying apprehension.
William Walworth
secondary
A middle-aged man with a sturdy build, his face weathered from years of civic duty. His sharp eyes are framed by deep-set wrinkles, and his jaw is set with determination. His hands, though clean, bear the callouses of a man who has wielded both sword and quill.
Rebel Archer
secondary
A wiry peasant man in his late 20s with sun-weathered skin and calloused hands from years of labor. His dark hair is cropped short beneath a worn hood, and his sharp eyes scan the royal forces with suspicion. A longbow is gripped tightly in his hands, the muscles in his forearms taut with tension.
Royal Guard
background
A battle-hardened knight in his late 30s with a broad, muscular build. His face bears several old scars from previous conflicts, and his sun-weathered skin suggests years of outdoor service. His steel-grey eyes remain vigilant beneath a furrowed brow.
Dialog
Wat Tyler
Ye promised us charters, boy king! Where be thy writs? Or do noble words melt like snow in summer?
King Richard II
Good Tyler, we have given our royal word. These matters require proper seals and clerks—
Wat Tyler
Proper seals? Proper clerks? Nay! We'll have our freedom NOW! No more lordship! No more bondage!
William Walworth
Stand back, knave! You address His Grace!
Wat Tyler
Grace? What grace has he shown starving men?
William Walworth
Treason!
King Richard II
Walworth! Nay—