My poster/report today will be on the topic of John Wycliffe the evening star of scholasticism and the morning star of the Reformation. Wycliffe was born in Ipreswell, Yorkshire, England. Wycliffe had a very formal and exceptional education and Wycliffe completed his arts degree at the College of Scholars of Merton in the University of Oxford. That same year he wrote a small treatise, The Last Age of the Church. In the recent events of the malignance of the plague that had subsided only seven years previously, Wycliffe's studies led him to the conclusion that the close of the 14th century would be the end of the world. While other writers viewed the plague as God’s punishment on a sinful people, Wycliffe saw it as an indictment of an unworthy
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In 1374, he received the crown living of Lutterworth in Leicestershire, which he retained until his death. Wycliffe received his early education close to his home. It is not known when he first came to Oxford, with which he was so closely connected until the end of his life, but he is known to have been at Oxford around 1345. Thomas Bradwardine was the archbishop of Canterbury, and his book On the Cause of God against the Pelagians, a bold recovery of the Pauline-Augustine doctrine of grace, would greatly shape young Wycliffe's views, as did the Black Death which reached England in the summer of 1348. From his frequent references to it in later life, it appears to have made a deep and abiding impression upon him. According to Robert Vaughn, the effect was to give Wycliffe "Very gloomy views in regard to the condition and prospects of the human race." Wycliffe would have been at Oxford during the St Scholastica Day riot in which sixty-three students and a number of townspeople were killed. Wycliffe also played a role in political matters and aided officials in solving a dispute between the pope and the king about tithes. Wycliffe was strongly disliked by John of Gaunt's opponents among the nobles and church hierarchy. By now wycliffe had amassed a following of protectors and followers calling themselves lollards. Pope Gregory the eleventh had called for his arrest and to denounce his theories. But England refused and Wycliffe told the king after being summoned that it is perfectly legal to withhold tithes from
In 1374, he received the crown living of Lutterworth in Leicestershire, which he retained until his death. Wycliffe received his early education close to his home. It is not known when he first came to Oxford, with which he was so closely connected until the end of his life, but he is known to have been at Oxford around 1345. Thomas Bradwardine was the archbishop of Canterbury, and his book On the Cause of God against the Pelagians, a bold recovery of the Pauline-Augustine doctrine of grace, would greatly shape young Wycliffe's views, as did the Black Death which reached England in the summer of 1348. From his frequent references to it in later life, it appears to have made a deep and abiding impression upon him. According to Robert Vaughn, the effect was to give Wycliffe "Very gloomy views in regard to the condition and prospects of the human race." Wycliffe would have been at Oxford during the St Scholastica Day riot in which sixty-three students and a number of townspeople were killed. Wycliffe also played a role in political matters and aided officials in solving a dispute between the pope and the king about tithes. Wycliffe was strongly disliked by John of Gaunt's opponents among the nobles and church hierarchy. By now wycliffe had amassed a following of protectors and followers calling themselves lollards. Pope Gregory the eleventh had called for his arrest and to denounce his theories. But England refused and Wycliffe told the king after being summoned that it is perfectly legal to withhold tithes from