🕯️ #JohnBall, the English priest who played a prominent leadership role in the Peasants' Revolt of 1381, was hung, drawn, and quartered at St Albans #OTD 15 July 1381, with #KingRichardII in attendance. Ball's head was displayed stuck on a pike on London Bridge.

"And gladly wolde he lerne, and gladly teche."

📖 #OTD in the #History of #Literature 17 April 1397 #GeoffreyChaucer read from "The Canterbury Tales" for the first time at the court of #KingRichardII of England, using English rather than courtly French.