Execution of John Ball
John Ball, a radical preacher and leader of the Peasants' Revolt, is being executed in the town square of St Albans. The authorities are making a public example of him to quell the rebellion, while th
Setting
The execution takes place in the town square of St Albans, surrounded by timber-framed buildings with thatched roofs. The square is dusty from summer heat and trampled by the feet of onlookers. A crude wooden gallows stands at the center, hastily constructed for this purpose.
Characters
John Ball
primary
A middle-aged priest with gaunt features, sunken eyes, and a ragged beard. His body shows signs of recent mistreatment—bruises and dirt from imprisonment. His hands are rough from years of labor before becoming a priest, and his posture is weary but defiant.
Sheriff
primary
A middle-aged man of imposing stature, with a broad chest and a thick beard streaked with grey. His face is weathered from years spent outdoors, and his piercing blue eyes command attention. His hands are calloused but well-groomed, a sign of his station.
Guard
secondary
A sturdy, middle-aged man with a weathered face and broad shoulders, his muscular build evident even beneath his padded gambeson. His short-cropped brown hair is slightly greying at the temples, and a thick beard covers his jaw. His hands are rough and calloused from years of handling weapons.
Peasant Woman
secondary
A middle-aged woman in her late 30s, with sun-weathered skin and calloused hands. Her lank brown hair is tied back with a simple cloth, and her face bears deep lines from years of hardship. She stands slightly hunched from labor, with a wiry frame typical of peasants who work the fields.
Town Crier
background
A middle-aged man of average height with a wiry build, his face weathered from years of outdoor work. His thinning brown hair is cropped short beneath his cap, and he sports a patchy beard. His voice carries the rasp of frequent public announcements.
Dialog
John Ball
Ye good folk, hear me this last time! Like sheep ye were, and like wolves ye became. Yet still they shear ye and slay ye.
Sheriff
Enough of your treasonous parables, Ball. The axe speaks louder than words.
Peasant Woman
Good father! Christ's mercy upon thee!
John Ball
Nay, daughter, weep not for me. The Lord sees when sparrows fall - how much more shall He remember this day?
Sheriff
Executioner! Do your office.
Peasant Woman
They'll answer for this blood when harvest comes!
John Ball
When Adam delved and Eve span, who was then the gentleman? Remember!