It is 1598, in the reign of Elizabeth I. Peter Brownrigg is 14. He lives in Cumberland, a mountainous region near the border of Scotland. His family is yeomanry: relatively wealthy farmers who own their land, paying tax to the crown instead of rent to a local nobleman. Sir Philip Morton has inherited the local estate and built a wall around a piece of land that has always been “common land”: land the local people are entitled to use to supplement their farming by hunting, fishing, and foraging. Sir Philip claims it is his.

Peter, his father, and his brother sneak out of the cottage in the middle of the night to join the other men from the area. Together, they break down the wall. They plan to collectively deny all knowledge, ensuring Sir Philip can’t blame any individuals. Peter keeps watch. At dawn, Sir Philip arrives with a group of armed horsemen. Everyone flees. Peter throws a stone at Sir Philip. A horseman shoots at Peter, knocking his cap off, but he escapes up the mountain Blencathra.