Chapter XXVII: Appendix: The Pheasants Revolt

They did this in several reigns under such memorable leaders as Black Kat, Straw Hat, John Bull and What Tyler

I. Objects:

(_a_) to obtain a free pardon for having revolted.

(_b_) to find out which was the gentleman when Adam delved and Eve
span. (The answer was, of course, Adam, but the mystics of the
Church had concealed this dangerous knowledge.)

(_c_) to find out who was King and which of them was the Leader of
the Rebellion.

(_d_) to abolish the Villein.

The Pheasants’ Revolts were therefore purely educational movements and were thus easily suppressed.

II. How Quelled:

(_a_) the Pheasants were met at Smithfield by the King who

(_b_) riding forward alone on a white horse answered object (_c_) by
announcing (I) “I am your King,” and (II) “I will be your
leader.”

(_c_) the real leader was then slain quickly by one of the Barons.

(_d_) a free pardon was granted to the Pheasants [see object (_a_)].

(_e_) all were then put to death on the ground that they were
Villeins [see object (_d_)].

These Revolts were thus clearly romantic episodes, and a Good Thing, and the clergy were enabled to prevent the pheasants finding out the answer to object (_b_).