 In November 1380 , Parliament was called together again in Northampton . Archbishop Simon Sudbury , the new Lord Chancellor , updated the Commons on the worsening situation in France , a collapse in international trade , and the risk of the Crown having to default on its debts . The Commons were told that the colossal sum of £ 160 @,@ 000 was now required in new taxes , and arguments ensued between the royal council and Parliament about what to do next . Parliament passed a third poll tax ( this time on a flat @-@ rate basis of 12 pence on each person over 15 , with no allowance made for married couples ) which they estimated would raise £ 66 @,@ 666 . The third poll tax was highly unpopular and many in the south @-@ east evaded it by refusing to register . The royal council appointed new commissioners in March 1381 to interrogate local village and town officials in an attempt to find those who were refusing to comply . The extraordinary powers and interference of these teams of investigators in local communities , primarily in the south @-@ east and east of England , raised still further the tensions surrounding the taxes . 
