Letter to the Community in Essex
From Wikisource
| John Ball's Letter to the Community in Essex by |
| A pastoral exhortation/sermon, possibly written in Spring 1381, preserved in the British Library, Royal MS 13.E.ix folio 287R |
Littera Johannis Balle missa communibus Essexiae
Johon Schep, som tyme Seynte Marie prest of York, and now of Colchestre, greteth wel Johan Nameles, and Johan the Mullere, and Johon Cartere, and biddeth hem that thei bee war of gyle in borugh, and stondeth togidre in Godes name, and biddeth Peres Ploughman go to his werk, and chastise wel Hobbe the Robbere, and taketh with yow Johan Trewman and all hiis felawes, and no mo, and loke schappe you to on heved, and no mo.
Johan the Mullere hath ygrounde smal, smal, smal
The Kynges sone of hevene schal pay for al.
Be war or ye be wo;
Knoweth your freend fro your foo.
Haveth ynow, and seith "Hoo!"
And do wel and bettre, and fleth synne,
And seketh pees, and hold you therinne.
And so biddeth Johan Trewman and alle his felawes
(Modern English)
John Shepherd [a coded reference to Ball himself], once Saint Mary's priest of York, and now of Colchester, warmly greets John Nameless, John the Miller, and John Carter, and bids them beware of guile in the town, and to stand together in God's name, and bids Piers Plowman do his work, and chastise thoroughly Hob the Robber, and take with you John True-man and all his fellows, but no one else, and have only one leader, and no more.
John the Miller has ground small, small, small [that is: has had less and less work]
The King's son of heaven shall pay for all [a reminder of the Christian doctrine that says Jesus's sacrificial death on the cross redeems everyone, presumably including common people who are fed up and on the verge of making political trouble]
Be wary or you will be woeful
Know your friend from your foe.
Have enough, and say 'Stop!'.
And do good and better, and flee from sin,
And seek peace, and hold yourself therein [that is: keep the peace]
And so [the author] bids John True-man and all his fellows.
