William Walworth group conspired to keep food prices up, lent money to the king at inflated interest, and through personal and financial influence persuaded the king to issue edicts profitable to themselves. His most famous exploit was his encounter with Wat Tyler during the English peasants' revolt of 1381, in his second term of office as Lord Mayor. In June of that year, when Tyler and his followers entered south London, Walworth defended London Bridge against them. He was with Richard II when he met the insurgents at Smithfield, and killed the rebel leader with his baselard. The circumstances of the killing
Thomas Baker (Peasants' Revolt leader) and he was forced to leave the village empty handed. Robert Belknap, Chief Justice of Common Pleas, was sent to investigate the incident and to punish the offenders. On 2 June, he was attacked at Brentwood. By this time the violent discontent had spread, and the counties of Essex and Kent were in full revolt. Soon people moved on London in an armed uprising. For his role in the uprising, Thomas Baker was drawn and hanged on 4 July 1381 at Chelmsford. Thomas Baker (Peasants' Revolt leader) Thomas Baker, an English landowner, was one of the leaders who initiated the