Bondmen and Freemen
约翰·保尔 / John Ball
约翰·保尔（？—1381），英国传教士与社会改革家。原为肯特郡神父，因宣传无阶级社会，抨击社会不公，反对教会和封建领主，1366年被坎特伯雷大主教开除教籍。但他的反叛精神丝毫不减，依然在市场或任何可能的场合进行说教，被上层人物咒为“肯特郡疯牧师”。1376年起屡遭监禁。1381年泰勒农民起义爆发后，他加入并领导起义队伍前往伦敦。沿途发表演说，呼吁杀尽贵族和主教，应者甚众，被起义农民誉为“平民演说家”。起义失败后不幸被捕，惨遭绞刑。
Ace in the Hole
Understand these new words before you listen to this article.
1. oppression n. 压迫，压制；压抑，郁闷
2. despatch v. 派遣
3. bethink v. 考虑，开始想；(被)想起，提醒
4. nobility n. 贵族阶层；高贵，高尚，崇高
5. dignity n. 庄严，端庄，尊严；高尚，尊贵，高贵
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.