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many a man's son shall die who is now alive and happy； and if the soldiers
be slain； and of them most not on the field； but by the lawyers； how shall
the captains escape？ Surely thou goest to thy death。〃
He smiled very sweetly； yet proudly； as he said： 〃Yea； the road is
long； but the end cometh at last。 Friend； many a day have I been dying；
for my sister； with whom I have played and been merry in the autumn tide
about the edges of the stubble…fields； and we gathered the nuts and
bramble…berries there； and started thence the missel…thrush； and wondered
at his voice and thought him big； and the sparrow…hawk wheeled and
turned over the hedges and the weasel ran across the path； and the sound
of the sheep…bells came to us from the downs as we sat happy on the grass；
and she is dead and gone from the earth； for she pined from famine after
the years of the great sickness； and my brother was slain in the French
wars； and none thanked him for dying save he that stripped him of his gear；
and my unwedded wife with whom I dwelt in love after I had taken the
tonsure； and all men said she was good and fair； and true she was and
lovely； she also is dead and gone from the earth； and why should I abide
save for the deeds of the flesh which must be done？ Truly； friend； this is
but an old tale that men must die； and I will tell thee another； to wit； that
they live： and I live now and shall live。 Tell me then what shall befall。〃
Somehow I could not heed him as a living man as much as I had done；
and the voice that came from me seemed less of me as I answered：
〃These men are strong and valiant as any that have been or shall be；
and good fellows also and kindly； but they are simple； and see no great
way before their own noses。 The victory shall they have and shall not
know what to do with it； they shall fight and overcome； because of their
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lack of knowledge； and because of their lack of knowledge shall they be
cozened and betrayed when their captains are slain； and all shall come to
nought by seeming； and the king's uncles shall prevail； that both they and
the king may come to the shame that is appointed for them。 And yet
when the lords have vanquished； and all England lieth under them again；
yet shall their victory be fruitless； for the free men that hold unfree lands
shall they not bring under the collar again； and villeinage shall slip from
their hands； till there be； and not long after ye are dead； but few unfree
men in England； so that your lives and your deaths both shall bear fruit。〃
〃Said I not；〃 quoth John Ball； 〃that thou wert a sending from other
times？ Good is thy message； for the land shall be free。 Tell on now。〃
He spoke eagerly； and I went on somewhat sadly： 〃The times shall
better； though the king and lords shall worsen； the Gilds of Craft shall wax
and become mightier； more recourse shall there be of foreign merchants。
There shall be plenty in the land and not famine。 Where a man now
earneth two pennies he shall earn three。〃
〃Yea；〃 said he； 〃then shall those that labour become strong and
stronger； and so soon shall it come about that all men shall work and none
make to work； and so shall none be robbed； and at last shall all men labour
and live and be happy； and have the goods of the earth without money and
without price。〃
〃Yea；〃 said I； 〃that shall indeed come to pass； but not yet for a while；
and belike a long while。〃
And I sat for long without speaking； and the church grew darker as the
moon waned yet more。
Then I said： 〃Bethink thee that these men shall yet have masters over
them； who have at hand many a law and custom for the behoof of masters；
and being masters can make yet more laws in the same behoof； and they
shall suffer poor people to thrive just so long as their thriving shall profit
the mastership and no longer； and so shall it be in those days I tell of； for
there shall be king and lords and knights and squires still； with servants to
do their bidding； and make honest men afraid； and all these will make
nothing and eat much as aforetime； and the more that is made in the land
the more shall they crave。〃
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〃Yea；〃 said he； 〃that wot I well； that these are of the kin of the
daughters of the horse…leech； but how shall they slake their greed； seeing
that as thou sayest villeinage shall be gone？ Belike their men shall pay
them quit…rents and do them service； as free men may； but all this
according to law and not beyond it； so that though the workers shall be
richer than they now be； the lords shall be no richer； and so all shall be on
the road to being free and equal。〃
Said I； 〃Look you； friend； aforetime the lords； for the most part； held
the land and all that was on it； and the men that were on it worked for
them as their horses worked； and after they were fed and housed all was
the lords'； but in the time to come the lords shall see their men thriving on
the land and shall say once more； ‘These men have more than they need；
why have we not the surplus since we are their lords？' Moreover； in
those days shall betide much chaffering for wares between man and man；
and country and country； and the lords shall note that if there were less
corn and less men on their lands there would be more sheep； that is to say
more wool for chaffer； and that thereof they should have abundantly more
than aforetime； since all the land they own； and it pays them quit…rent or
service； save here and there a croft or a close of a yeoman； and all this
might grow wool for them to sell to the Easterlings。 Then shall England
see a new thing； for whereas hitherto men have lived on the land and by it；
the land shall no longer need them； but many sheep and a few shepherds
shall make wool grow to be sold for money to the Easterlings； and that
money shall the lords pouch： for； look you； they shall set the lawyers a…
work and the strong hand moreover； and the land they shall take to
themselves and their sheep； and except for these lords of land few shall be
the free men that shall hold a rood of land whom the word of their