When Adam delved and Eve span, who was then the gentleman?

The rhyme is particularly associated with the itinerant preacher John Ball, a leader of the 1381 ‘Peasants' Revolt’, who used it to incite the people against their feudal lords.

When Adam dalfe [dug] and Eue spane‥Whare was than the pride of man?
[c 1340 R. Rolle in G. G. Perry Religious Pieces (EETS) 88]

Whan adam delffid and eve span, Who was than a gentilman?
[1381 in Brown & Robbins Index Middle English Verse (1943) 628]

When Adam dalve, and Eve span, Who was than a gentle man? Up start the carle, and gathered good, And thereof came the gentle blood.
[1562 J. Pilkington Aggeus & Abdias i. ii.]

When Adam delved and Eve span Who was then the gentleman? The question had ironic relevance for the arrivé.
[1979 C. E. Schorske Fin-de-Siècle Vienna vi.]

Related to: equality; gentry

Bibliography of major proverb collections and works cited from modern editions is available here.