disquisitions of the age, he mingled
opinions in divinity apparently novel. The usurpations of the court of
Rome was a favourite topic. On these he expatiated with all the keenness
of argument, joined to logical reasoning. This soon procured him the
clamour of the clergy, who, with the archbishop of Canterbury, deprived
him of his office.

At this time, the administration of affairs was in the hands of the duke
of Lancaster, well known by the name of John of Gaunt. This prince had
very free notions of religion, and was at enmity with the clergy. The
exactions of the court of Rome having become very burdensome, he
determined to send the bishop of Bangor and Wickliffe to remonstrate
against these abuses, and it was agreed that the pope should no longer
dispose of any benifices belonging to the church of England. In this
embassy, Wickliffe's observant mind penetrated into the constitution and
policy of Rome, and he returned more strongly than ever determined to
expose its avarice and ambition.

Having recovered his former situation, he inveighed, in his lectures,
against the pope--his usurpation--his infallibility--his pride--his
avarice--and his tyranny. He was the first who termed the pope
Antichrist. From the pope, he would turn to the pomp, the luxury and
trappings of the bishops, and compared them with the simplicity of
primitive bishops. Their superstitions and deceptions were topics that
he urged with energy of mind and logical precision.

From the patronage of the duke of Lancaster, Wickliffe received a good
benefice; but he was no sooner settled in his parish, than his enemies
and the bishops began to persecute him with renewed vigor. The duke of
Lancaster was his friend in this persecution, and by his presence and
that of Lord Percy, earl marshal of England, he so overawed the trial,
that the whole ended in disorder.

After the death of Edward III. his grandson Richard II. succeeded, in
the eleventh year of his age. The duke of Lancaster not obtaining to be
the sole regent, as he expected, his power began to decline, and the
enemies of Wickliffe, taking advantage of this circumstance, renewed
their articles of accusation against him. Five bulls were despatched in
consequence by the pope to the king and certain bishops, but the regency
and the people manifested a spirit of contempt at the haughty
proceedings of the pontiff, and the former at that time wanting money to
oppose an expected invasion of the French