Biography of John Ball 1338-1381

Thomas Walsingham Chronicon Angliæ 1381. July 1381. On this day furthermore, John Ball (age 43), a priest, having been captured by the men of Coventry, and the day before brought to Saint Albans and into the presence of the King, was found guilty of having grievously offended His Majesty, heard and confessed the most shameful crimes, and was condemned by the same Robert to dragging, hanging, beheading, disemboweling, and quartering; his death was postponed until Monday, through the intervention of Lord William (age 39), the Bishop of London, who, concerned about the salvation of his soul, obtained for him this time for repentance. Here, for twenty years and more, always preaching in various places what he knew to be pleasing to the common people, he detracted both ecclesiastical persons and secular lords, seeking the goodwill of the common people more than merit with God. Indeed, he taught that tithes should not be given to the curate unless the giver was wealthier than the vicar or rector who would receive them. He also taught that tithes and offerings should be withheld from curates if it was evident that the parishioner or subject was of a better life than their curate. He also taught that no one was fit for the kingdom of God who was not born in wedlock. He taught also the perverse doctrines of the perfidious John Wycliffe, and the opinions he held, and false insanities, and many things that would be too long to recount; because of which, forbidden by the Bishops in whose parishes he presumed to preach, from henceforth he was not allowed to preach in churches, and took to the streets and alleys, or to the fields, to preach. Nor was he lacking listeners from among the common people, whom he always tried to attract to his sermons through slanders of the prelates and pleasing words. Finally excommunicated, when he did not desist, he was imprisoned, where he predicted that he would be freed by twenty thousand friends. This later happened during the aforementioned turmoil of the kingdom, when the commons broke all prisons and compelled the imprisoned to leave. And having been freed in this manner, he followed them, inciting them to commit many evils, and preaching that it must indeed be done. And that his doctrine might infect more people, at Blackheath [Map], where two hundred thousand common people were gathered together, he began a sermon like this:—

"Whan Adam dalf, and Eve span,

"Wo was thanne a gentilman?"

Hoc die præterea, Johannem Balle, presbyterum, captum a viris Coventrensibus, et pridie ductum ad Sanctum Albanum et Regis præsentiam, cujus majestatem convictus est læsisse enormiter, auditum et confessum turpissima scelera, tractioni, suspendio, decollationi, exentrationi, et quarterizationi, ut usu vulgari loguar, idem Robertus adjudicavit; cujus mors dilationem accepit usque in diem Lunæ, interventu Domini Willelmi, Londoniensis Episcopi, qui, circa salutem sollicitus suæ animæ, illud ei spatium pœnitentise impetravit. Hic per viginti annos, et amplius, semper prædicans in diversis locis en quæ scivit vulgo placentia, detrahens tam personis ecclesiasticis quam dominis ssecularibus, benevolentiam magis communis populi quam meritum penes Deum captabat. Docuit nempe plebem decimas non esse dandag curato, nisi is qui daturus esset foret ditior quam vicarius qui acciperet, sive rector. Docuit etiam decimas et oblationes subtrahendas curatis, si constaret subjectum aut parochianum melioris vite fore quam curatum suum. Docuit etiam neminem aptum regno Dei, qui hon in matrimonio natus fuisset. Docuit et perversa dogmata perfidi Johannis Wiclyf, et opiniones quas tenuit, et insanias falsas, et plura que longum foret recitare: propter quæ, prohibitus ab Episcopis in, quorum parochiis hæc præsumpsit, ne in ecclesiis de cætero prædicaret, concessit in plateas et vicos, vel in campos, ad prædicandum. Nec defuerunt ei de communibus auditores, quos semper studuit per detractiones prælatorum, et placentia verba, allicere ad sermonem. Postremo excommunicatus, cum nec desisteret, carceri mancipatur, ubi prædixit se deliberandum per viginti millis amicorum. Quod postea evenit in turbatione regni præfata, cum communes omnes carceres confregerunt, et incarceratos abire compulerunt. Cumque taliter deliberatus fuisset, eos secutus est, instigans ad plura mala perpetranda, et prædicans ita omnino fore faciendum. Et ut sua doctrina plures inficeret, ad le Blakheth, ubi ducenta millia hominum communium fuere simul congregata, hujuscemodi sermonem est exorsus:—

"Whan Adam dalf, and Eve span,

"Wo was thanne a gentilman?"

Anonimalle Chronicle. And at that same time in Suffolk, a great number of commons rose up, and they had as their captain a chaplain from Suffolk, Sir John Wrawe (age 43) by name, bringing with him more than ten thousand people. They robbed many good people, tore down their houses, and set them on fire and in flames. The said Sir John took the gold and silver for his own use. They came to Cambridge and there did great damage by burning houses. Then afterward they went to Bury (St Edmunds), and in the town they found a just judge, Sir John de Cavendish, Chief Justice of the King’s Bench. They brought him to the pillory, cut off his head, and placed it upon the pillory. After that, they dragged the prior of the abbey—a good and wise man, and a fine and excellent singer—and another monk with him, out of their house to the pillory, and cut off their heads as well, placing them on poles above the pillory so that all who passed through that street could see them.

[15th July 1381] And the said Sir John, their captain, was later captured as a traitor and brought to London, where he was condemned to death. He was drawn, disemboweled, hanged, and beheaded.

Et mesme celle temps furount levez e Southfolk graundes noumbre des comunes et avoient a lour chevetayne une chaplein en Southfolk, sire Johan Wraw par noune, amenaunt ovesge luy passaunt x mille; et robberont plusours bones gentz et treerount lour mesones a terre et mistrent en feu et en flame et le dit sire Johan prist le avoir dore et dargent a soun oeps demesne; et viendrent a Caumbrigge et illeoges firent graunde male de mesons par arsure, et puis apres alerount a Bury et troveront en la ville une iustice droiturelle, sire Johan de Caundische, chief del bank le roy, et luy amenerount al pilorie et firent couper sa test et metterount sur le dit pilorie; et apres traherount le priour del abbaye, bone homme et sage et bone et excellent chauntour et une autre moigne ovesge luy, hors de lour mesone a le pilorie et couperount lour testes et les mistrent sur stoures amount le pelorie, qe toutz ge passerount par celle estreit les purroient veer;

et sire Johan avauntdit lour cheftayne fuist apres pris come traitour et amene a Loundres et foriuge a la morte et fuist trayne, bowelle, pendu et decole.