15th June

On this date, the 15^th June 1215 The Magna Carta (Great Charter) was sealed by King John at Runnymede on the Thames, near Windsor.

English kings are a thuggish breed. ‘Richard the LIonheart’ spent only a handful of days in his kingdom and the rest of his time in the Middle East shoving his sword into Saracens. At home brother John took over and as Kings do, developed a penchant for riches. This annoyed the nobles as it was their riches he had a penchant for! John was excellent at obtaining money but useless at the wars in which he spent it. As an Englishman he considered France to belong to him, which is why so many English buy houses there and refuse to speak the local language and demand that 'Marmite' is available in all the shops, but Johns wishes caused problems with the natives who did not see things his way. Upsetting the Pope was also a bad idea. He took the huff and closed all the churches, thus upsetting the English who thought they could only reach heaven by the churches authority, (Their theology was poor then as it is in the Church of England now!). The Barons did not like this either, they wished to avoid Hell also! The usual convention was for the King to ask for money and discuss this with the powerful Barons. John had instead just demanded all the money he wanted, I told you he was English. Losing the war, having watched the Pope close the churches, having John demand more taxes, combined to ensure the Barons got miffed. So they rose up, captured London, and forced John to ‘discuss’ things. The discussion led to the ‘Magna Carta’ being signed!

The ‘Magna Carta’ is seen by many as the beginning of a legal system which brought law to all, although Hammurabi had done this years before. Many look to it as the beginnings of democracy, but not if you were a serf! The idea of ‘Freedom’ from oppressive kings has been used to justify many similar ‘revolutions.’ However the serfs and vassals remained serfs and vassals, the poor remained poor, and the rich remained rich, and in control! Written constitutions, as many have discovered, can be used for good or ill, no matter the intent behind them.

Naturally, as soon as he was clear of the Barons John repudiated all he had signed away! The Pope was none to pleased also as it meant his hold over the King , the people, and the land, was reduced. Civil war ensued, and this probably pleased the English as they like that sort of thing. I bet they blamed the foreigners!

15th June1381 Saw the end of 'Wat Tyler,' leader of the Peasants Revolt.

After the plague had ravaged the land in the 14th century there was a desire among the lower orders for a fairer society. Naturally those at the top disagreed. Had they increased wages and allowed more freedom the ‘Peasants Revolt’ may never have occurred. However this was not the attitude, and indeed never is the attitude of those who are at the top! The imposition of the ‘Poll Tax’ led to Jack Straw, John Bull and others leading the revolt.

Around fifty thousand approached London and gained admission. Bad leadership, lack of clarity of the aims, and a few beheadings of some leading Bishops and the like occurred before the revolt came to an end. The end came when Richard II, then only fifteen years old, rode out to confront Tyler. Tyler foolishly came alone. In the middle of the discussion the Lord Mayor of London, then an important position, used his sword to dispatch Wat Tyler, (Did he cry “Wat about that then?” as he did so I wonder?). This brought the revolt to an end, and indeed brought the end of most of the ringleaders of the revolt.

15th June1836 Arkansas.

On this day also in 1836 Arkansas became the 25^th state of the US. Whether this has been a good thing for the United States or not I have no idea. I await further information on this. But I could make an educated guess if pushed.....

15th June 1888 In Germany, Crown Prince Wilhelm becomes Kaiser Wilhelm II.

I said at the time this did not look a good idea but nobody listened then. They still don't!

15th June1971 Britain.

The Mad Baroness, Margaret Thatcher, while secretary of State for Education showed her concern for others by banning the distribution of ‘Free milk’ to primary schools. One of the benefits of an education during the fifties and sixties was the free milk, a benefit much required at the time. 'Thatcher the milk Snatcher' brought this to an end because it cost money! Childrens health has never been important to Margaret, money yes, children, or indeed adults, never!

She fell over recently, I want it put on record I did not push her, but I think I would have!

I note she is using an NHS hospital, had she got her way it would never have been built!