 Richard 's government was formed around his uncles , most prominently the rich and powerful John of Gaunt , and many of his grandfather 's former senior officials . They faced the challenge of financially sustaining the war in France . Taxes in the 14th century were raised on an ad hoc basis through Parliament , then comprising the Lords , the titled aristocracy and clergy ; and the Commons , the representatives of the knights , merchants and senior gentry from across England . These taxes were typically imposed on a household 's movable possessions , such as their goods or stock . The raising of these taxes affected the members of the Commons much more than the Lords . To complicate matters , the official statistics used to administer the taxes pre @-@ dated the Black Death and , since the size and wealth of local communities had changed greatly since the plague , effective collection had become increasingly difficult . 
