But the real reformer of that day was John Wycliffe, rector of
Lutterworth in Leicestershire and lecturer at Oxford (S246). He
boldly attacked the religious and the political corruption of the
age. The "Begging Friars," who had once done such good work (S208),
had now grown too rich and lazy to be of further use.
Wycliffe, whose emaciated form concealed an unconquerable energy and
dauntless courage, organized a new band of brothers known as "Poor
Priests." They took up and pushed forward the reforms the friars had
dropped. Clothed in red sackcloth cloaks, barefooted, with staff in
hand, they went about from town to town[1] preaching "God's law," and
demanding that Church and State bring themselves into harmony with it.
[1] Compare Chaucer's
"A good man ther was of religioun,
That was a poure persone [parson] of a town."
Prologue to the "Canterbury Tales" (479)
The only complete Bible then in use was the Latin version. The people
could not read a line of it, and many priests were almost as ignorant
of its contents. To carry on the revival which he had begun, Wycliffe
now began to translate the entire Scriptures into English, 1378. When
the great work was finished it was copied and circulated by the "Poor
Priests."
But the cost of such a book in manuscript--for the printing press had
not yet come into existence--was so high that only the rich could buy
the complete volume. Many, however, who had no money would give a
load of farm produce for a few favorite chapters.
In this way Wycliffe's Bible was spread throughout the country among
all classes. Later, when persecution began, men hid these precious
copies and read them with locked doors at night, or met in the forests
to hear them expounded by preachers who went about at the peril of
their lives. These things led Wycliffe's enemies to complain "that
common men and women who could read were better acquainted with the
Scriptures than the most learned and intelligent of the clergy."