Bells rung in an emergency? I was aware of this many years before I became a ringer in the context of WW2 in the case of an invasion. Makes sense that the locals would be alert to a sound they are not used to yet the invaders might not realise a warning had been given. Afraid I can’t help with a reference. I was told it many years ago from a generation who were around at the time.
In the context of the peasants revolt, makes sense as the defenders would assemble at the church where weapons would be kept. Thinking about it, maybe the backward rounds was a summons to the locals to assemble at times of trouble, in the same way that the lifeboat siren calls its crew from the community. No old bill then of course.
Were forward rounds even a thing then? Different bells meant different things?