ORDINARY people are furious with their money-grubbing political leaders. On top of that, the strains and drains of war and a shattered economy are causing concern and hardship.

ORDINARY people are furious with their money-grubbing political leaders. On top of that, the strains and drains of war and a shattered economy are causing concern and hardship.

That's not an obvious comment on what's happening in Britain- it's describing the national mood back in the spring of 1381 which resulted in the Peasants' Revolt.

North Norfolk's own part in that bloody, but unsuccessful, national uprising is still remembered in North Walsham.

We've got the remains of three stone crosses marking a battle in June which ended in tears for an army of discontents led by Felmingham dyer Geoffrey Litester.

They had earlier successfully captured Norwich but were forced to scarper and finally surrendered just south of North Walsham, beaten into submission by a bruiser of a bishop, Henry Despenser.

That charming chap decided to teach the rebels a lesson by massacring them inside North Walsham Parish Church.

If, as the saying goes, tragic history repeats itself as farce, we could be facing another popular uprising this month.

Only this time the fleeing rebels will probably arm themselves with copies of North Walsham's bed and breakfast guide, rather than camp rough on the heath.

And when the Rt Rev Graham James, our current Bishop of Norwich, courteously escorts them to St Nicholas' Church, the only thing they stand to lose inside is a couple of quid in the donations box.

We have a far more effective way of expressing our feelings in this anniversary month of that historical drama, undreamt of by our medieval forebears - the vote.

I urge everyone to use theirs today in the county council and Euro elections.