An apologie for Iohn Wickliffe shewing his conformitie with the now Church of England; with answere to such slaunderous obiections, as haue beene lately vrged against him by Father Parsons, the apologists, and others. Collected chiefly out of diuerse works of his in written hand, by Gods especiall providence remaining in the publike library at Oxford, of the honorable foundation of Sr. Thomas Bodley Knight: by Thomas James keeper of the same.

Iohn VVickliffe life collected out of diuerse Auctors.

THis Iohn Wickliffe was borne in the North, where vnto this day, some of his name and family (as I vnderstand by others) doe yet remaine: brought vp in Oxford in that a Colledge which hath iustly had the preheminence a∣boue all the Colledges, & most of the Vniversities in Chri∣stendome, for the nomber, and excellency of men learned in all faculties, qualified with extraordinary gifts, both for Church and Common-wealth: such as were, (to omit other Faculties) in Divinitie, Bacon, Burley, Scotus, Occham, Peccham, Bradwardine, with diuerse others•• and by example of these, as∣wel as by the strict Discipline of that House, this Io. Wickliffe, nothing inferiour vnto any of the former, either in quicknes of apprehension, sharpnes of wit, shortnes of deliuery, great∣nes of industrie, stoutnes of courage, and variety of all kinde of good learning; and aboue them all in a full knowledge of the truth of the Gospel, and constant defense of the same, vnto the ende: amidst so many troubles, vexations, accusations, imputations and c••lumniations so many denun∣ciations, excōmunications, Anathemaes and Curses solemn∣ly pronoūnced against him, at London, and at Oxford, by Arch∣bishops, Bishops, and Popes; so that he was neuer free from their curses, which God (evermore blessed be his name) tur∣ned into blessings, as may appeare, by the sequeale of his life and doctrine. He was beloued of all good men for his good life, and greatly admired of his greatest aduersaries, for his learning and knowledge, both in Diuinity & humanity. He writ so many large volumes in both, as it is almost incredible, He seemed to follow, in the whole course of his studies the methode of the Schoole men: and amongst them hee was a

professed follower of Occham; by reading of whose learned bookes, and sundry others which liued about the same time, or not long before; such as were Bradwardine, Marsilius, Guide S. Amore, Abelardus, Armachanus, and that true great Clearke Rob. Grosthead. God gaue him grace, to see the trueth of his Gospel, and by seeing of it, to loth all superstition and Po∣perie. Of Occham, & Marsilius, he was informed of the Popes intrusions & vsurpations vpon kings, their Crownes & dig∣nities: of Gu. de S. Amore, and Armachanus, hee learned the sundry abuses of Moonkes and Friars, in vpholding this vsur∣ped power: by Abelard and others he was grounded in the right faith of the Sacrament of the Lords Supper, by Brad∣wardine, in the nature of a true sole-iustifying faith, against merit-mongers and Pardoners, Pelagians, and Papists. Finally by reading Grostheads workes, in whō he seemed to be most conversant he descried the Pope to be open Antichrist, by letting the Gospell to be preached, and by placing vnable & vnfit men in the Church of God. He passed thorough al de∣grees in this famous Vniversity very commendably, writing and speaking many things against the then corrupted do∣ctrine of the Church of Rome. His many Positions were chiefly directed against the Orders of the Begging Friars, which were his professed enemies, and all forraine and v••ur∣ped Iurisdiction of the Pope. By which meanes he purchased vnto himselfe the favour of all good men. The reason was this; he li••ed in a time, when the Friars orders, by their mani∣fold disorders were become exceeding odious, and the Popes Iurisdiction by Provisions, Reservations, and Collations ve∣ry intolerable. This made way vnto those excellent Statutes Lawes and Acts of Parliament of Praemunire, against Pr••vi∣sors, and the Abuses of Begging Friars, which so bridled and restrained the Popes auctority that he could but litle prevaile here in England during the raigne of K. Edw. the 3. & Rich. the 2. In making of these lawes Wickliffe had a great stroke, maintaining verie learnedly and stoutly the Kings Iurisdi∣ction,

Crowne, and dignitie, by the lawes Ciuil Canon and Common. And for this reasō he was by one King sent Em∣bassadour into forraine parts, & by an other consulted here at home. He vrged the Common law most of al other lawes for maintenance of his opinion, wherein hee tooke great de∣light, and had good directions from time to time from the reuerend Iudges and Sages of the law. He was not so much hated of the Clergie, but hee was as much fauoured by the State Temporal. He was openly defended by King Edward and that noble Duke of Lane aster, and secretly abetted and maintained by King Richard whose Chaplaine he appeared to haue beene, notwithstanding hee shewed him but little countenance outwardly during his minoritie. Twise was he conuēted before the By shops, and thrise summoned to ap∣peare. The first time hee escaped by the Duke, the second time by meanes of a messenger that came from the Queene. The third time he voluntarily abse••ted himselfe, because he knewe the Byshops had plotted his death by the waie, deui∣sing the meanes and encouraging men thervnto. Notwith∣standing al their deuises and plotts, he liued a longe time without death, bonds, banishment or imprisonment, both writing, teaching, and preaching, opēly in their Schooles & Synagogues, drawing both Prince and people, Schollers & others, and al the world almost after him. He begun to de∣fend his opinions when hee was verie yong, and continued tel he was verie old, constantly retaining and maintaining the same, some few excepted which he reformed; and refin∣ed more and more, as he grew in yeares and knowledge. He was Doctor of Diuinitie almost 30. yeares, and for some fewe yeares Parson of Lutterworth in L••cester-she••re. He had some∣times before beene fellow of Marton, and Master of Ballioll Colledge & (as some write) beneficed in Oxford. He began to be famous, about the yeare of our Lord 1360. & died in the yeare of grace 1387. in high fauour both with God & men. In his life time. •• finde but of one or two that wrot against him, which also demeaned themselues very respectfully, &

as became Diuines. But after his death manie, I may saie, the whole host and ••ost of Moonks and Friars beganne to praie most cowardly vpon his dead corps, disgo••ging to praie macks and the verie gaule of bitternes agaînst his parson & doctrine. But amongst al others, Frear Walden, hath both shā∣fully and wrongfully belied him in sundry passages of his workes; as partly doth appeare by my Apologie, and farther (God willing) shalbe manifested, against all such as shall a∣vouch the conrarie.

FINIS.

Notes

• a

  Merton Coll.