Sir Gawain and Sir Walter atte Lea

The much damaged remains of the tomb of Sir Walter Atte Lea, who helped in calming the Peasants’ Revolt of 1381

And so we went riding through dark woods and groves,

Gringolet and myself going slow down wind-ways,

Till we came unto Albury set high on its hill

With eyes over Hertfordshire at sweet summer tide

Where Walter atte Lea lies asleep in repose

In a bier by a window beside a bright light

That shines upon him and his wife lying there.

What now he whispers I wish I could hear

But all of his voice has gone blown with the barley

Along with the words that he spoke long ago

To Richard the boy king who ruled with weak reason

When peasants in Essex and Suffolk and Kent

Did rise up against those grasping greedy for tax!

Walter wanted to walk with his own peasants there

To tackle them himself and not to allow

Central courts to oppress them and cause much contempt

When he had to live there and treat with his men

And help rule his lands without disloyal folk.

Repression he argued had gone way too far

And if it did not stop well then doom must swift follow

For sure.

He talked with his men there

Who knew his local law

Walter saw what was right fair

In talking with the rural poor.

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The Church of St Mary at Albury in Hertfordshire contains a variety of monuments and brasses to attract the casual visitor. The tomb of Sir Walter atte Lea, referred to in this post, is now sadly much defaced and has also been moved at some time in the past. Sir Walter atte Lea (also known as Sir Walter atte Lee) himself played a key role during the Peasants’ Revolt of 1381, attempting to deal with complaints locally rather than to impose harsher penalties from a distant monarchy. He appears to have handled the matter incompetently although this did not stop his further advancement under Richard II, as this link reveals. The location of the church, atop a hill surveying much of the surrounding countryside, means it commands attractive views over the east Hertfordshire uplands.

New Book by the Author: Michael Smith’s new translation of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight will be published in July 2018. To pre-order your special collector’s limited first edition – with your name in the back – please click here

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The much damaged remains of the tomb of Sir Walter Atte Lea, who helped in calming the Peasants’ Revolt of 1381

The much defaced tomb of Sir Walter atte Lea and his wife Margaret at Albury Church, Hertfordshire

Much defaced tomb of lady Margaret, wife of Sir Walter atte Lea, at Albury in Hertfordshire

Albury Church, Hertfordshire, where can be found the tomb of Sir Walter atte Lea. Gringolet rests just outside the door.

Bascinet detail of Sir Walter atte Lea from his tomb at the church in Albury, Hertfordshire. Sadly much defaced.

Lady Margaret, wife of Sir Walter atte Lea, at Albury church, Hertfordshire; now greatly defaced.

Much defaced remains of a loyal hound from the tomb of lady Margaret and Sir Walter atte Lea at Albury in Hertfordshire

Exquisite detailing of belt and upper leg armour of Sir Walter atte Lea, from his tomb at Albury in Hertfordshire

Detail of the leg armour of Sir Walter atte Lea from his tomb at Albury in Hertfordshire. Notice the decorated banding which most probably would have been finished in polished brass.

The graveyard at Albury church in Hertfordshire. Note the house, itself of some vintage, and compare it with the Griggs drawing shown elsewhere in this post.