Everything Everywhere Daily · Tuesday, August 4, 2026
John Ball, a radical priest imprisoned for his sermons, became a key voice for the Peasants' Revolt. He argued that inherited social distinctions lacked a basis in Christianity, famously questioning, 'When Adam delved and Eve spanned, who was then the gentleman?' This challenged the divine right of aristocracy and promoted an egalitarian viewpoint.
“The rebels of Kent had went to Maidstone where they supposedly released from the Archbishop's prison the radical priest John Ball, who had been excommunicated and imprisoned for years for preaching against the social order and the wealth of the church.”
“Ball had provided the revolt with its most famous expression. He argued that inherited social distinctions had no foundation in Christianity.”
“Quote: "When Adam delved and Eve spanned, who was then the gentleman?"”