A few weeks back I promised @poorquentyn that I’d write up that comparison between the English heretics known as Lollards, their connection with the Peasants’ Revolt of 1381, and the Sparrows of ASoIaF. It took a bit longer than I’d hoped, but as promised, and for your reading pleasure, the case for why the Lollards and the Peasants’ Revolt is the strongest parallel we’ve got here, and their similarities – theological and political.
I’d also like to thank @meddlingwithdragons for her assistance with this essay.
Fascinating!
So if John Ball isn’t considered a Lollard any more, what is he considered: a sui generis heretic? An orthodox Catholic who looked for religious grounding for his political beliefs?
Because “when Adam delve and Eve span, who was then the gentle man” is pretty unambiguous as a statement of religious radical populism, imho.
RFTIT Tumblr Backup 