The Morning Star of The Revolution

John Wycliffe is often called "The Morning Star of The Reformation" because of how much of what he taught was similar to what would become Protestant Doctrine (though the actual core of Protestantism arguably wasn't quite there yet).

John Ball is someone who was condemned as a Heretic by the Organized Church in 1366, over a decade before Wycliffe.  His teachings (the ones we know about at least) do not seem interested in traditional Protestant concerns.  Instead he anticipates the Taborites, Petr Chelčický, Thomas Muntzer and other Anabaptists, and then Gerrard Winstanley and the Diggers of the English Revolution.

John Ball's preaching was a major inspiration for the Peasants' Revolt of 1381.  Here are the most important Quotes.

• My good friends, things cannot go on well in England, nor ever will until everything shall be in common, when there shall be neither vassal nor lord, and all distinctions levelled; when the lords shall be no more masters than ourselves. How ill they have used us!… They have wines, spices and fine bread, when we have only rye and the refuse of fine straw; and if we drink, it must be water. They have handsome seats and manors, when we must brave the wind and rain in our labours in the field; but it is from our labour they have the wherewith to support their pomp.… Let us go to the king, who is young, and remonstrate with him on our servitude, telling him we must have it otherwise, or that we shall find a remedy for it ourselves.
  • Typical sermon, described in the Chronicles of England, France, Spain, and other places adjoining by Jean Froissart

• When Adam delved, and Eve span, who was then the gentleman? From the beginning all men by nature were created alike, and our bondage or servitude came in by the unjust oppression of naughty men. For if God would have had any bondmen from the beginning, he would have appointed who should be bond, and who free. And therefore I exhort you to consider that now the time is come, appointed to us by God, in which ye may (if ye will) cast off the yoke of bondage, and recover liberty.
  • Sermon at Blackheath (12 June 1381), quoted in Annals, or a General Chronicle of England

So indeed I think John Ball can perhaps be called the Morning Star of the Revolution.

The first confirmed documented references to the figure of Robin Hood are from the 1370s, during this same era of social upheaval.  It's always speculated he could have been an Oral Folk Hero for ages before then, but given this cultural context it would make sense to me if the concept was in fact born then.  One detail of Robin Hood often ignored in modern depictions is his Anti-Clericalism, while still a very Pius Christian.

Occasionally a Conservative or Libertarian will try to say that "Robin Hood didn't steal form the rich and give to the poor, he stole from the King and gave the money back to the Tax Payers".  This of course is a very inappropriate application of modern ways of looking at things to Medieval Feudalism.  Not the only time they do this, they love to equate "King" with "State" to make Feudalism seem more similar to Socialism then Capitalism.  However the modern Conception of a Nation State is a product of the post Reformation phase of the Renaissance.  The Kings of Medieval Europe simply were the highest level of Feudal Nobility, they were wealthy Lander Owners, the Kingdom was the Domain of the King, like the Pharaoh's of Egypt all land was basically his personal property.

So in fact the concept of Robin Hood fits in well with what John Ball was preaching.  Whether the figure is actually older or not I think this era's climate definitely played a role in the story's popularization.