and published a treatise on the subject. Dr.
Barton, at this time vice-chancellor of Oxford, calling together the
heads of the university, condemned Wickliffe's doctrines as heretical,
and threatened their author with excommunication. Wickliffe could now
derive no support from the duke of Lancaster, and being cited to appear
before his former adversary, William Courteney, now made archbishop of
Canterbury, he sheltered himself under the plea, that, as a member of
the university, he was exempt from episcopal jurisdiction. This plea was
admitted, as the university were determined to support their member.

The court met at the appointed time, determined, at least to sit in
judgment upon his opinions, and some they condemned as erroneous, others
as heretical. The publication on this subject was immediately answered
by Wickliffe, who had become a subject of the archbishop's determined
malice. The king, solicited by the archbishop, granted a license to
imprison the teacher of heresy, but the commons made the king revoke
this act as illegal. The primate, however, obtained letters from the
king, directing the head of the university of Oxford to search for all
heresies and the books published by Wickliffe; in consequence of which
order, the university became a scene of tumult. Wickliffe is supposed to
have retired from the storm, into an obscure part of the kingdom. The
seeds, however, were scattered, and Wickliffe's opinions were so
prevalent, that it was said, if you met two persons upon the road, you
might be sure that one was a Lollard. At this period, the disputes
between the two popes continued. Urban published a bull, in which he
earnestly called upon all who had any regard for religion, to exert
themselves in its cause; and to take up arms against Clement and his
adherents in defence of the holy see.

A war, in which the name of religion was so vilely prostituted, roused
Wickliffe's inclination, even in his declining years. He took up his pen
once more, and wrote against it with the greatest acrimony. He
expostulated with the pope in a very free manner, and asks him boldly,
"How he durst make the token of Christ on the cross (which is the token
of peace, mercy and charity) a banner to lead us to slay christian men,
for the love of two false priests, and to oppress Christendom worse than
Christ and his apostles were oppressed by the Jews? When, said he, will
the proud priest of Rome grant indulgences to mankind to live i