The Sampford Courtenay muster of 10 June 1549 was the flashpoint of the Western Rising. On Whit Monday the villagers demanded their priest resume the old Latin mass and rejected the new English Prayer Book as a Christmas game. When the local gentleman William Hellions tried to disperse them he was killed. This transformed a religious protest into armed insurrection that would eventually besiege Exeter.
William Hellions killed; several injured
Village commons of Sampford Courtenay, c.200-500 initial
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