In the spring of 1381 the English crown levied a poll tax on everyone aged fifteen and over. To verify age the collectors were said to need to inspect bodies directly. The story goes, perhaps exaggerated, perhaps a metaphor to expose state-sanctioned rape, that there would be official measuring of pubic hair, meaning the cost of dignity was about to land hardest on poor young girls.

If you’re already thinking wow this sounds like modern age-gating, ID checks, facial-age estimation, using the body as the verification surface, you’re on the right path. The people in the position least able to refuse were being targeted with the most invasive and permanent “classifier” system, hundreds of years ago.

As collection in early 1381 began to roll-out it became so dangerous, due to protests, that collectors refused to work in London, and on the 30th of May two of them were assaulted in Essex.

Two weeks later, on this day, the 14th of June, it really blew up. Before the crown could muster a coherent response, tens of thousands had marched on London. The 14-year old Richard II rode out to meet them on open ground at Mile End, where he conceded a charter abolishing serfdom and granted a blanket pardon. Around thirty clerks were put to work writing sealed manumissions for every manor and shire, and the king’s own banner was sent to each county as warranty of his word. He sent most of them home believing him. It was a trick. He rode to Waltham, declared the charters all null and void because they had been extracted from him under duress, and told the peasants on June 22 “rustics you were, and rustics you are still.” His word was worthless, and he kept none of it, instead escalating and hanging some 1,500 people.

You wretches, detestable on land and sea; you who seek equality with lords are unworthy to live. Give this message to your colleagues: rustics you were and rustics you are still: you will remain in bondage, not as before but incomparably harsher. For as long as we live we will strive to suppress you, and your misery will be an example in the eyes of posterity. However, we will spare your lives if you remain faithful and loyal. Choose now which course you want to follow.

With that kind of state treachery in mind, I have to point out a notable difference from protests in England back then versus today. There is no single neck carrying the decision today for pushing biometric age verifications on children, unlike Sudbury, Hales, and Legge, upon whom the crowd focused their rage. Sudbury was Archbishop of Canterbury and Chancellor of England; Hales was Treasurer, Grand Prior of the Knights Hospitaller, a crusader. Legge ran the commission that reassessed the tax. The public removed them all from the Tower and beheaded them on Tower Hill, to parade their heads through the streets on poles.

So now you know how things turned out for England’s council of a 14-year old King that tried in 1381 to enact biometric verification of other teenagers.