The Great Rumour was a protest movement that emerged in south-east and south-west England during 1377.
During 1377, protests began to break out in south-east and south-west England.[1] Rural workers organised themselves into protest groups and refused to work for their lords, arguing that, according to the Domesday Book, they were exempt from requests for feudal labour services.[2] This argument depended on the legal concept of ancient demesne, and their belief that the Domesday Book was an accurate reflection of early land tenure agreements.[3] Unsuccessful appeals and petitions were made both to the law courts and to King Richard II.[4] The events of the Great Rumour closely resembled much of the subsequent Peasants' Revolt of 1381.[5]