A Lollard and a Wickliffite

"Verily, daughter," answered the priest, "what you say seems truth; and

yet, nearly viewed, too much of the comfort you describe will be found

delusive. It is true, there was a period in the Christian world when

good men, maintaining themselves by the work of their hands, assembled

together, not that they might live easily or sleep softly, but that

they might strengthen each other in the Christian faith, and qualify

themselves to be teachers of the Word to the people. Doubtless there are

still such to be found in the holy edifices on which we now look. But it

is to be feared that the love of many has waxed cold. Our churchmen have

become wealthy, as well by the gifts of pious persons as by the bribes

which wicked men have given in their ignorance, imagining that they can

purchase that pardon by endowments to the church which Heaven has only

offered to sincere penitents. And thus, as the church waxeth rich, her

doctrines have unhappily become dim and obscure, as a light is less

seen if placed in a lamp of chased gold than beheld through a screen

of glass. God knows, if I see these things and mark them, it is from no

wish of singularity or desire to make myself a teacher in Israel; but

because the fire burns in my bosom, and will not permit me to be

silent. I obey the rules of my order, and withdraw not myself from

its austerities. Be they essential to our salvation, or be they mere

formalities, adopted to supply the want of real penitence and sincere

devotion, I have promised, nay, vowed, to observe them; and they shall

be respected by me the more, that otherwise I might be charged with

regarding my bodily ease, when Heaven is my witness how lightly I value

what I may be called on to act or suffer, if the purity of the church

could be restored, or the discipline of the priesthood replaced in its

primitive simplicity."

"But, my father," said Catharine, "even for these opinions men term

you a Lollard and a Wickliffite, and say it is your desire to destroy

churches and cloisters, and restore the religion of heathenesse."

The text above is from Walter Scott’s “The Fair Maid of Perth”.  Catherine Glover’s favorite priest has much to be concerned about, if he is considered a Lollard and a Wickliffite.  On May 4^th, 1415, John Wycliffe was condemned by the Council of Constance as a heretic.  Wycliffe is remembered partly for his focus on introducing the Bible in the vernacular.