Spectres of John Ball - The Peasants' Revolt in English Political History, 1381-2020 - James Crossley
Exit Ball: Late Medieval Receptions
Spectres of John Ball - The Peasants' Revolt in English Political History, 1381-2020 - James Crossley
James Crossley [+]
St Mary's University, London
James Crossley is Research Professor in Bible, Society, and Politics at MF Norwegian School of Theology, Religion, and Society, Academic Director of the Centre for the Critical Study of Apocalyptic and Millenarian Movements (CenSAMM), and Professor of Bible and Society at St Mary's University, Twickenham, London. He is author of numerous books and articles on Christian Origins, reception history of the Bible, and English politics and religion, reception history of the Bible, including Cults, Martyrs and Good Samaritans: Religion in Contemporary English Political Discourse (Pluto, 2018). The website John Ball, English Legend provides images and resources discussed in Spectres of John Ball.
Description
This chapter looks at the beginning of the long reception of Ball as a heretic and seditious threat in late medieval England. However, alongside this reception was an ignoring of Ball in some prominent accounts of 1381. This chapter provides reasons for this absence—and the grounds for his return.