 In some histories, Sir Simon Burley figures as the trigger for the explosion of the English Peasants' Revolt in 1381 in the county of Kent.In the story related by the "Anonimalle Chronicle", Simon Burley appeared in Gravesend with two sergeants on June 3, 1381, and laid claim that one of its residents, a certain Robert Belling (or Bellyng), was his runaway bondsman.When the townsfolk of Gravesend pleaded with Burley on the man's behalf, Burley demanded £300 in silver for manumission.