In this season, the followers of Wickliffes doctrine maruellouslie
increased, speciallie in the diocesse of Sarum, where they had manie
that tooke vpon them as ministers, both to preach the word, and to
dispense the sacraments. This they did in secret: but they were
discouered by one that had beene of their fellowship, who declared
to the bishop of Salisburie at his manor of Sonning, all the whole
circumstances thereof, as he knew. There were of them that preached in
those daies earnestlie against pilgrimages, calling such images as the
people had in most veneration, as that at Walsingham, and the rood of
the north doore at Paules in London, rotten stocks, and worme eaten
blocks, through which the vnskilfull people being mocked and deceiued,
were compelled most manifestlie to commit idolatrie. The bishops (saith
Thomas Walsingham) hearing, beholding, and knowing these things with
much more, to be true, did little or nothing to redresse the same, saue
onlie the bishop of Norwich who stirred coles, swearing and staring,
that if anie of that sect presumed to preach anie peruerse doctrine
within his diocesse, he would cause them either to hop headlesse, or to
frie a fagot for it: he was therefore not a little praised and extolled
by the moonks and other religious men (as should appeare) for that his
zeale.
[Sidenote: The duke of Lancaster returneth into Englād foorth of
Gascoigne.
A councell holden at Reding where y^e duke of Lancaster reconcileth the
king and the lords.]
In Nouember, the duke of Lancaster came foorth of Gascoigne into
England, after he had remained first in Spaine, and after in Gascoigne,
thrée yeares togither. Of his successe in Spaine is spoken before, &
likewise of the agréement betwixt the king of Castile, & the said duke,
which was not in all points confirmed, till a little before his returne
now into England. About the same time the king had called a councell
of his nobilitie at Reading, to the which the duke of Lancaster made
the more hast to come, bicause he knew that the king would shew no good
countenance to some of the noblemen; and therefore he doubted least
malicious offenses might arise betwixt them, which to appease he meant
the best he could, and his trauell came to good effect: for he did so
much, that as well the king as the lords departed from the councell
as freends, the lords taking their leaues of him in louing maner, and
he courteouslie bidding them farewell: and so each of them resorted
vnto their homes well pleased for that present. ¶ The king held his
Christmasse this yéere at Woodstoke, and the duke of Lancaster laie at
his castell of Hertford.
[Sidenote: 1390.