Flag of the City of London about the 13th century. His full figure representation was rapidly replaced with his symbolic representation of the sword. Some believe the sword is a dagger that commemorates the dagger of Sir William Walworth, former Lord Mayor of London, which killed Wat Tyler, leader of the Peasants' Revolt, in 1381. A verse at Fishmongers' Hall may explain the relationship: "Brave Walworth, Knight, lord mayor that slew Rebellious Tyler in his alarmes; The king therefore did give him in lieu The dagger to the city armes. However this is believed to be a fable, with the sword on the arms being used
Peasants' Revolt hated legal system centred in London. As the historian Miri Rubin describes, for many, "the problem was not the country's laws, but those charged with applying and safeguarding them". Concerns were raised about these changes in society. William Langland wrote the poem "Piers Plowman" in the years before 1380, praising peasants who respected the law and worked hard for their lords, but complaining about greedy, travelling labourers demanding higher wages. The poet John Gower feared England might see an uprising similar to the French Jacquerie revolt of 1358, in which the peasants had risen up against their masters. There was