The Marrow of Ecclesiastical History, John Wycliffe
JOHN WICKLIFF.
The Life of John Wicklief, who dyed Anno Christi 1384.
IOhn Wicklief an English man born,His birth and education. famous both for Life and Learning, under King Ed Ward the third, Anno Christ 1371. was brought up in Merton Colledge in Oxford, profited exceedingly in the knowledge of the Arts, and School-Divinity, every one admiring both his carriage and abilities. He was Divinity-Reader in Oxford, His preferments in Oxford.and also preferred to a Pastoral charge there, in which he took great pains, and protested that his chief end and purpose, was to call back the Church from her Idolatry, especially in the matter of the Sacrament.
After he had now a long time prosessed Divinity in Oxford, perceiving the true Doctrine of Christs Gospel to be adulterated, and defiled with so many filthy inventions of Bishops,His zeal. Sects of Monks, and Errors, with many secret sighes bewailing the general ignorance of the Christian World, he could no longer suffer, nor endure the same, whereupon he resolved to do his utmost endeavor for the Reformation there of: But withall foreseeing how dangerous this attempt would be, for that such things as by long use and custom had been rooted in mens minds, could not suddenly be eradicated and pulled out, he judged it fittest to attempt the same by little and little.His prudence. Where upon he first affailed his Adversaries by Logical and Metaphysical questions, and having made way hereby, he at length came to the matter of the Sacraments, and other abuses of the Church.
But this Bile could not be touched without great grief and pain to the whole World:His adversaries. For first the rabble of Monks and begging Fryars were enraged against him, who (as so many Hornets) assaulted him on every side: after them the Priests, and lastly the Archbishop Simon Sudbury took him in hand, who deprived him from his Benefice which he had in Oxford: yet being befriended and supported by the King he remained there still till about the year 1377.His friends. But the King growing old and infirm, and his son called Edward the black Prince being now dead, a Parliament was convened, wherein twelve sage and discreet Lords and Peers were chosen to manage the affairs of the State (fix at one time, and fix at another) who remained for a certain space in that employment: but they afterwards being removed, the whole Government of the Realm under the King was devolved upon Iohn of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster. This John was a great friend to Wicklief: whereupon to disgrace him, the Bishop of Winchester reported that the said John was not King Edwards son;Popish lyes and slanders. nor of the Queen, who being in travel at Gaunt, had no son, but a daughter, which was overlaid by the Mother in bed: whereupon the Queen, fearing the Kings displeasure, caused a manchilde of a woman of Flanders, born the same day with her own, to be secretly brought to her, whom she brought up, and is now called Duke of Lancaster; and this (as the Bishop affirmed) the Queen told him upon her Death-bed under the seal of Consession; yet withall enjoying him if the Kingdom were like to fall to him, to reveal it, so that a false Heir might not be King; which slanderous report of the wicked Bishop, as it savoured of a contumelious lye; so many apprehended that it proceeded from his zeal to uphold his Popish Religion; The foresaid Duke favouring Wicklief, thereby declared himself to be a professed Enemy to their superstitious practises.John of gaunt Favers Wicklies. The Duke being justly incensed against the Bishop for this soul slairder, so perseceuted him in Parliament, that he was condemned, and deprived of all his Temporal goods:The Bishop banished. he was also inhibited from coming within twenty miles of the Court: But shortly after the Clergy made great suit in the Parliament in his behalf: and when a Subsidie was asked in the Kings name of the Clergy, the Bishops complained grievously for the lack of their Brother of Winchester, and enforced the Archbishop to send for him from Winchester, to appear at the Convocation of the Clergy, which he gladly did, and was joyfully received by the Bishops;And restored. and by means of one Alice Perris, a wicked Harlot, which had bewitched the Kings heart, he was restored to his Temporalties again. In the mean time the Duke of Lancaster sent for Wicklief from Oxford, who had now proceeded so far as to teach, that in the Sacrament of the Lords Supper the accidents of Bread and Wine remained not without the substance: proving his Assertion by the Authority of Scriptures and the Ancient Fathers, and withall rejecting such as had written upon that Argument since Anno 1000, saying that after that time Satan was loosed, and men were led into many Errors.Wicklies hated by the Bishops. These things the Bishops hated him for exceedingly; yet by the favor of the Duke of Lancaster, and of Henry Lord Percy, he was preserved from their rage and sury, till Anno Christi 1376. at which time they had prevailed with their Archibishop Simon Sudbury, who had before deprived him, and prohibited him to meddle any more in those matters, to send forth his Citation to have him brought before them.Cited to appear before them. The Duke having notice hereof, and fearing that he being but one, should be too weak for such a multitude, sent for four Batchelors of Divinity to joyn with him;Is encouraged by the Duke. and for more surety, when the day of his appearance was come, himself with the Lord Percy, Marshal of England went along with him.
As they went along, they enconraged him not to fear the faces of the Bishops, who (say they) are all unlearned in comparison of you, neither be you troubled at the concourse of the people, for we will defend you from them. Being thus encouraged, Wicklief approached Pauls Church, where multitudes of persons were assembled to hear what should be spoken and done, insomuch as the Lord Marshal could searce make way in the crowd: whereupon Courtney the Bishop of London seeing what stir he made amongst the people, said to him, if I had known what masteries you would have plaid amongst the people, I would have kept you out of this place: at which speech the Duke being offended, said that he would keep such mastery there, though he said nay. When they came to the place where the Archbishop and Bishops sate, Wicklief presented himself before them to know what should be laid to his charge.Appears before the Bishop. Then the Lord Percie speaking to him, bade him sit down, for that having many things to answer to, he had need have a soft seat: whereupon the Bishop of London growing into a great fume,The Bishops pride. said, he should not sit there, neither said he, is it according to Law or Reason,Great contention. that he that is cited to appear before his Ordinary should sit down during the time of his Answer, but should stand: This kindled such a fire betwixt them, the one rating and reviling the other, that the people began all to be on a hurry: Then the Duke taking the Lord Percies part, gave some hasty words to the Bishop; but neither did the Bishop spare him one jot, returning rebukes for rebukes, so that the Duke was ashamed that the Bishop should out-rail him, telling him that he would take a course to bring down his pride, and of all the Prelates in England: Hereupon the Londoners cryed out, that they would rather lose their lives then suffer their Bishop to be abused: So that all things being in a confusion, the Assembly was dissolved for that time: and the Duke with the Lord Pertie returning to the Parliament,A Bill in Parliament against the Londoners. that day a Bill was put up in the name of the King by the Lord Thomas of Woodstock, [another of the Kings sons] and the Lord Percie, that London should be no more governed by a Major, but by a Captain, a formerly it had been, and that the Marshal of England should have all the power in taking the arrests in the City, as he had in other Cities. This Bill one John Philpot, a Burgess for London, stoutly opposed; and the next day the Londoners assembled themselves together in Council to consider what to do about it: and whilst they were in consultation, came in two Lords, the Lord Fitz-Walter, and the Lord Guy Brian, whom the Vulgar sort taking to be Spies, were ready to flye upon them, till they were enforced to swear that they came for no harm towards them; and that if it proved otherwise they would be content to forfeit all their Goods and Possessions in the City. Then did the Lord Fitz-Walter tell them of his love to them, and of his care to preserve their Liberties, which said he, If you do not speedily look to, and prevent, you will lose the same: for at this time the Lord Marshal hath one of your Citizens in prison in his house, &c. This was no sooner spoken,The Citizens make a tumult. but the rash Citizens ran to their houses, armed themselves, and going to the Lord Percies house,Their rage. brake open his gates, rescued the Prisoner, took the Stocks and burned them in the midst of the City, searched and ransaked his house for the Lord himself: whom if they had found, they would certainly have slain: and when they found him not, they tore and cut his rich Beds and Hangings in pieces; and then supposing him to be with the Duke, they ran to the Savoy, where though they were disappointed of their cruel purpose, yet they took the Dukes Arms, and hung them up in a reproachful manner in the midst of the City, as if he had been a Traitor: They also so wounded a Priest that spake in his defence, that he dyed within a few days after, and meeting one of the Dukes men with his Arms hanging in a Plate on his Breast, they pulled him off his Horse, pulled the Arms from him, and had slain the man but that he was speedily rescued by the Maior. But these out rages created much trouble to the Londoners, which being beside my purpose, I shall leave the Reader to search them out in the Chronicles of those times.
Shortly after the old King Edward dyed, and his Grand-son Richard the second succeeded him: upon which change the Bishops taking notice that the Duke and the Lord Percie had given over their Offices, living privately at their own houses without medling with State affairs, they thought it a fit time to revenge themselves upon John Wicklief; whereupon they caused these Articles to be gathered and drawn up out of his Sermons against him.Articles against Wicklief.
1. That the holy Eucharist after the Consecration is not the very body and blood of Christ, but figuratively.
2. That the Church of Rome is not the head of all other Churches in the World: nor that Peter had any more power given him by Christ, then any other of the Apostles.
3. That the Pope of Rome hath no more power of the Keys then any ….
4. That the Lords Tomporal may lawfully take away the Temporalties of the Church men offending habitualiter.
5. That the Gospel is of it self a sufficient rule both of Faith and Manners without any other rule.
6. That neither the Pope, nor any other Prelate ought to have Prisons of their own wherein to punish offenders &c.
These with some others the Bishops gathered out of his Sermons and Writings,Condemned at Rome. Persecuted. which they sent to Pope Gregory, who condemned them for Heretical and Erroneous by twenty three Cardinals; and withall sent his Bull to Oxford, rebuking them sharply for suffering Wickliefs Doctrine so long to take root amongst them, and not wholly eradicating the same; which Bull being exhibited by the Popes messenger to the Proctors and Masters of the University, they deliberated long amongst themselves whether they should receive it with honor, or reject it with contempt. The Pope also at the same time sent Letters to the Archbishop Sudbury, and Bishop Courtney of London, commanding them to apprehend and imprison Wicklief, and to admonish the King and Nobles of England, that they should not give any Credit to John Wicklief or his Doctrine in any wise. He wrote also at the same time to the King, desiring him to assist the Bishops in the apprehension and imprisonment of John Wicklief.
These Letters so encouraged the Bishops,The Bishops resolve to proceed against Wicklief. that they resolved to proceed against him in their Provincial Council, all fear or favor set apart, and that no person neither high nor low should hinder them, neither would they be induced to favor him neither by intreaty, threatnings, nor reward: but that they would proceed roundly with him, though it should be to the hazard of their lives. But it pleased God by a small matter to confound and overthrow their devices, notwithstanding all their proud brags and policies: For the day of Examination being come,A special providence. there came in a Courtier amongst them called Lewis Clifford, a m a of no great birth, and commanded them that they should not proceed to any definitive sentence against John Wicklief, wherewith the Bishops were so amazed and crest-faln, that they became as mute ment, not having one word to answer: And thus it pleased God by his Providence thus once more to deliver Mr. Wicklief out of their cruel hands: and one that writes this story saith further, that whilst the Bishops were sitting in the Chappel at Lambeth upon John Wicklief, not only the Citizens of London, but (saith he) the vile abjects of the City were so bold as to intreat for him, and to stop the Bishops in their proceedings. And thus was Wicklief dismissed, the Bishops charging him that he should Preach no more such Doctrine to the offence and hurt of the Lay people: yet being departed, he ceased not to proceed in his godly purpose,His zeal and diligence. going up and down bare-footed, and in a Frize Gown, endeavouring by his Ministry still to edifie and profit the Church as formerly he had done. And Gods Providence so ordered it, that about the same time Pope Gregory the 11th dyed:Other providences. whereupon ensued such a Schism in the Church of Rome between two Popes, and others succeeding after them, that it continued 39. years, even to the Council of Constance. About the same time also, or shortly after, there arose a cruel commotion of the Commons under Jack Straw, where the rude multitude taking Simon Sudbury Archbishop of Canterbury beheaded him, whom William Courtney Bishop of London succeeded, who was very zealous and diligent against the Heresies of Wicklief, (as he called them). Also in the year 1380. William Barton being Vicechancellour of Oxford, Wicklief again persecuted.called together eight Monastical Doctors, and four others, and having the consent of others of that Fraternity, set forth an Edict under the Common Seal, threatning all under a grievous penalty, if they should be so hardy as to associate themselves with any of the fautors of Wicklief: and to Wicklief himself he threatned the greater Excommunication and Imprisonment both to him and his favorers, unless within three days after Canonical warning they repented and amended. Wicklief understanding this, resolved to forsake the Pope, and all his Clergy, and to appeal to the King: but the Duke of Lancaster being now inveagled by the Bishops, interposed, forbidding him not to attempt any such thing, but rather to submit to his Ordinary: Wicklief finding himself hereby in this great strait, was forced to make a Confession of his Doctrine,His weakness. and therein to qualifie his Assertions after such a sort that thereby he asswaged the rigor of his Enemies.
Anno 1382.He is again persecuted. Archbishop Courtney appointed a Convocation to be held at London, principally against Wicklief, wherein this memorable accident fell out: When they were all gathered together at the Gray-Fryers in London, just at the very instant when they were beginning their business against Wicklief, there fell out a wonderful and terrible Earthquake through all England, A great Earthquake.whereupon divers of the Suffragans being frighted with the terror of it, thought good to leave off their further proceeding therein: Yet did the Archbishop carry on his design, declaring some of Wickliefs Doctrines to be Heretical, others Erroneous, and other Irreligious and Seditious, and not Consonant to the Doctrine of the Church of Rome: and not content herewith, he so prevailed with the young King, that he procured Letters Patents to be directed from the King to himself,The kings Letters against him. wherein are these words; Forasmuch as the Archbishop of Canterbury hath made his supplication to us for the coertion, and due castigation of all such as shall hence forth obstinately Preach and maintain any of those conclusions which in the late Convocation have been adjudged Heretical, &c. requesting that we would vouchsafe to put to the arm and helping hand of our Kingly power: We therefore moved by the zeal of the Catholick Faith, whereof we are, and will be Defenders, and being unwilling that any such Heresies should spring up within our Dominions: Give, and grant License and Authority by these presents unto the aforesaid Archbishop and his Suffragans, to arrest, and imprison either in their own Prisons, or elsewhere, all and every such person and persons as shall either privily, or openly Preach, or maintain the aforesaid conclusions, &c. Further, charging and commanding all our Leigh-men, Ministers and Subjects, upon their Fidelity and Allegiance neither to favor, counsel nor help such Preachers or maintainers of the aforesaid conclusions, upon pain of forfeiting all that they have; but to obey, and humbly to attend upon the Archbishop and his Suffragans in the execution of these presents, &c.The Kings Letter to Oxford. The like Letter the King wrote also to the Vicechancellor of the University of Oxford, requiring him to give notice, that none should be so bold as to entertain Mr. John Wiclief, or any of his followers into their houses, or to Communicate with them, which if any did that he should banish them the University and Town of Oxford, till they should prove their Innocency before the Archbishop of Canterbury; yea, this young King, pressed by the violent importunity of the Archbishop, wrote another Letter to the Vicechancellor and Proctors of the University, straightly charging and commanding them to make a general Inquisition through the whole University, as well for Wicklief and his followers, as for all others which were suspected to be maintainers, receivers or defenders of those persons, or their opinions any manner of way, and all such to apprehend and expell the University, and to send them up to the Archbishop of Canterbury, to be further proceeded against by him: As also to attach and seize upon all their Books, and to send them to the said Archbishop: and this to do as they would avoid the forfeiting of all the Liberties and Priviledges of the University, &c. John Wicklief was hereupon either banished or retired for a while to some secret place;Wicklief returns to Lutterworth. but ere long he returned to his Parsonage of Lutterworth in Leicestershire, where after all these storms, he at last dyed in Peace, Anno Christi, 1384.His death.
He wrote very many Books,His works. many of which were burned at Oxford, Anno Christi 1410. Aeneas Sylvius writes that Subincus Archbishop of Prague burnt two hundred Volumes of his, excellently written, richly covered and adorned with Bosses of Gold: One that had all his works, wrote that they were as big as the works of St. Augustine.
Mr. Wicklief received his first knowledge of the Truth from one Fryar Rainard Lollard, who brought the Doctrine of the Waldenses into England, and from whom his Disciples were called Lollards. Mr. Wicklief was an Eloquent man, and so profound a Scholar, that he drew the hearts of many Noble Personages to affect and favor him; whereby he was sheltred from the rage of the Popish Clergy, till Pope Gregory the 11. raised up a Persecution by the Monks Inquisitors against him.
All his Books were commanded to be burnt;Gods providence in preserving his books. but he had before enlightned so great a number, who kept his Books carefully, maugre all the diligence of his Adversaries, so that they could never wholly deprive the Church of them. For the more they laboured by horrible threats, and death it self, to hinder the knowledge and reading of them, the more were many kindled in their affections to read them with ardency.
He wrote above a hundred Volumes against Antichrist and the Church of Rome.His works. Multos praeterea in Philosophia, multos quibus S. Scripturam interpretatus est, edidit: Quorum Catalogum videre est apud Balaeum in suis Centuriis. Transtulit etiam Wiclevus in Anglicum sermonem Biblia, adhibitis praefationibus, & argumentis cui que , libro suis. Vertit & Libros 12. Clementis, Lanthoniensis Ecclesiae Praesbyteri, De concordia Evangelistarum, cum multis veterum Doctorum Tractatibus.
He was a great Enemy to the swarms of begging Fryars, with whom it was harder to make war then with the Pope himself. He denyed the Pope to be the Head of the Church, and pronounced him to be Antichrist: He confuted and condemned his Doctrine about Buls, Indulgences, Masses, &c. He affirmed the Scripture to be the Supreme Judge of Controversies, condemned Transubstantiation, &c. He was a painful and faithful Preacher under King Edward the third,King Edwayd the third favored him. who always favored and protected him against the rage of his Adversaries: by his means the Pope lost in England his power of Ordaining Bishops, the Tenth of Benefices, and Peter-pence; whereupon Polidore Virgil cals him an Infamous Heretick. He was buryed at his Parsonage of Lutterworth in Leicester-shire. His dead body being digged up 51 years after: viz. 1428. by the command of Pope Martin the fifth,His body condemned and burned. and the Council of S…ne, was burned: And thus he suffered their cruelty after death, whose cruelty he had Preached against in his life. He wrote above two hundred Volumes, most of which were burned by the Archbishop of Prague.