The king made it a capital crime for peasants to carry weapons longer than a short knife.

In other words "It's not my fault you're too thick to know what's best for you peasants"

For peasants and warriors it was always at the knee or above.

Just as well; the recent political revolution there seemed to have made things even worse for peasants than before.

In time it became a source of building material for local peasants.

Why buy land for peasants who will just have to sell it?

But with the poor conditions for peasants, the rebels grew.

The second theory is the "meal for peasants during the farming season".

This was a night for peasants to dance with princes.

And for peasants forced into the cities, a full-time job is little more than a dream.