The rural rebels came from a wide range of backgrounds, but typically they were, as the historian Christopher Dyer describes, "people well below the ranks of the gentry, but who mainly held some land and goods", and not the very poorest in society, who formed a minority of the rebel movement.; ; Many had held positions of authority in local village governance, and these seem to have provided leadership to the revolt. Some were artisans, including, as the historian Rodney Hilton lists, "carpenters, sawyers, masons, cobblers, tailors, weavers, fullers, glovers, hosiers, skinners, bakers, butchers, innkeepers, cooks and a lime-burner". They were predominantly male, but with some women in their ranks. The rebels were typically illiterate; only between 5 and 15 per cent of England could read during this period. They also came from a broad range of local communities, including at least 330 south-eastern villages.
the rural rebels came from a wide range of backgrounds but typically they were as the historian christopher dyer describes "people well below the ranks of the gentry but who mainly held some land and goods" and not the very poorest in society who formed a minority of the rebel movement; ; many had held positions of authority in local village governance and these seem to have provided leadership to the revolt some were artisans including as the historian rodney hilton lists "carpenters sawyers masons cobblers tailors weavers fullers glovers hosiers skinners bakers butchers innkeepers cooks and a lime-burner" they were predominantly male but with some women in their ranks the rebels were typically illiterate; only between 5 and 15 per cent of england could read during this period they also came from a broad range of local communities including at least 330 south-eastern villages