Bondmen and Freemen
約翰·保爾 / John Ball
約翰·保爾（？—1381），英國傳教士與社會改革家。原為肯特郡神父，因宣傳無階級社會，抨擊社會不公，反對教會和封建領主，1366年被坎特伯雷大主教開除教籍。但他的反叛精神絲毫不減，依然在市場或任何可能的場合進行說教，被上層人物咒為“肯特郡瘋牧師”。1376年起屢遭監禁。1381年泰勒農民起義爆發後，他加入並領導起義隊伍前往倫敦。沿途發表演說，呼籲殺盡貴族和主教，應者甚眾，被起義農民譽為“平民演說家”。起義失敗後不幸被捕，慘遭絞刑。
Ace in the Hole
Understand these new words before you listen to this article.
1. oppression n. 壓迫，壓製；壓抑，鬱悶
2. despatch v. 派遣
3. bethink v. 考慮，開始想；(被)想起，提醒
4. nobility n. 貴族階層；高貴，高尚，崇高
5. dignity n. 莊嚴，端莊，尊嚴；高尚，尊貴，高貴
When Adam delved and Eve span，who was then the gentleman？
From the beginning all men by nature were created alike， and our bondage or servitude came in by the unjust oppression of naughty men. For if God would have had any bondmen from the beginning， he would have appointed who should be bond， and who free. And therefore I exhort you to consider that now the time is come， appointed to us by God， in which ye may (if ye will) cast off the yoke of bondage， and recover liberty. I counsel you therefore well to bethink yourselves， and to take good hearts unto you， that after the manner of a good husband that tilleth his ground， and riddeth out thereof such evil weeds as choke and destroy the good corn， you may destroy first the great lords of the realm， and after， the judges and lawyers， and questmongers， and all other who have undertaken to be against the commons. For so shall you procure peace andsurety to yourselves in time to come； and by despatching out of the way the great men， there shall be an equality in liberty， and no difference in degrees of nobility； but a like dignity and equal authority in all things brought in among you.