Someone else will have more but I love this bit of history and remember some from my degree. He's credited as being one of the leaders of the Peasant's Revolt but the main instigator was John Ball.

The Peasant's Revolt was an early levellers movement for social justice and equality after a poll tax was introduced. However its a misnomer in many ways and although representing the masses, the leaders were definitely middle class and literate. John Ball was a priest trying to take people back to the equality god created and remove the inequality of the class system. Hence his famous quote 'when Adam delved and Eve span, who was then the gentleman?'

Wat Tyler along with other leaders is a character who's role in history is essentially legend. Historians would study the cause and fallout of the peasants revolt and not need lots of background on an individual character which is always much more interesting for popular history. His death when the revolt came to an end solidifies his place in folk history.

Therefore as a keen fan of folk music as well as history I think folk songs can be a great way of accessing some of the 'truth' of these characters. Folk music is not only about tradition but also often a movement for socialist protest so a good way to find out more stories of this kind.

I recommend Sing John Ball, great version by the Young UN's Wat Tyler by Fairport Convention

Similar folk hero songs: Tom Paine's Bones, loads of versions I like Roy Bailey Patience Kershaw, Roy Bailey again. Musical version of an interview with Patience a teenage girl who worked in the mines Lizzie Loved A Highwayman. Reg Meurross looking at the real story not romanticised one of Dick Turpin.