John Ball's letter to an unidentified community (1381)

For other versions of this work, see John Ball's letter to an unidentified community.

John Ball's first letter to an unidentified community (1381)
by John Ball

This is a pastoral exhortation or sermon, possibly written in Spring 1381. This edition was collected in Canon Henry Knighton's (died 1396) Addresses of the Commons.

41597John Ball's first letter to an unidentified community1381John Ball (1338-1381)

John Balle seynte Marie prist gretes wele alle maner men and byddes hem in the name of the Trinité, Fadur, and Sone and Holy Gost stonde manlyche togedyr in trewthe, and helpez trewthe, and trewthe schal helpe yowe.

Now regneth pride in pris,
And covetys is hold wys,
And leccherye withouten shame
And glotonye withouten blame.
Envye regnith with tresone,
And slouthe is take in grete sesone.
God do bote, for nowe is tyme. Amen.

This work was published before January 1, 1929, and is in the public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago.

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John Ball's letter to an unidentified community (1381)

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