CHAP.
X.

SECTION II.

Including the Wycliffe manuscripts extant in England and Ireland. This series contains nearly forty MSS. preserved in the library of Trinity College, Dublin, the existence of which has been hitherto unknown to the reformer's biographers.

1. De ultima ætate ecclesiæ. Trinity College, Dublin, Class C. Tab. No. 12. See vol. i. pp. 241-247.

2. Expositio Decalogi. This exposition is in the British Museum Cott. MSS. Titus. D. xix. For an analysis of this work, see vol. i. 304–313. In the Bodleian is a more extended Exposition of the Decalogue in Latin. It was minutely consulted by Dr. James, in composing his Apology for John Wicliffe.

3. The Pore Caitif, sometimes called pauper rusticus; sometimes confessio derelicti pauperis, consists of a series of tracts in english, designed for the instruction of the poorer classes of the people, in the elements of the christian religion. It is described by its author as "sufficient to teach simple

men and women of good will, the right way to heaven." The comments on the apostle's creed, the pater-noster, are followed by pieces with the following titles. Sweet sentences, exciting men and women to heavenly desire. Virtuous patience. Of temptation. The charter of heaven. Of ghostly battle. The name Jesus. The love of Jesu. The desire of Jesu. Of very meekness. The effect of man's will. Active and contemplative life. The mirror of maidens. At the conclusion of the last piece in this collection are the words, "endeth this book, that is clepid the Pore Caitif." of this work are in the British Museum, Lambeth Library, and Trinity College, Dublin.

"Here

Copies

4. De Veritate Scripturæ. Bibl. Bodl. Archi. A. 3021. 32. Trin. Coll. Dub. Class. C. Tab. 1. No. 24. See this volume, pp. 7, 8.

X.

5. De hypocritarum imposturis. This tract is in english, CHAP. beginning," Crist commandith to his disciplis, and to alle "Christen men to understonde and flee the saur dow of Pha"risees which is yprocrisy." C. C. C. Cambridge, Trin. Coll. Dub. See vol. ii. pp. 233-236. The following pieces also to No. 19, are in the same collections.

6. De obedientia Prælatorum. It begins, "Prelates slan"dren poor priests and other Cristen men, that they will not "obesthe to their Sovereigns," &c. &c. See vol. ii. pp. 215–217.

7. De clericis possessionariis, which begins, "Clerkes Pos"sessioners fordon priesthood, knighthood, and commoners." See vol. ii. pp. 225, 226.

8. Impedimenta Evangelizantium. This is the same with the piece described as, "Of Of feigned contemplatif life," which thus begins “First, when true men teach by God's law, wit, "and reason, that eche Priest oweth to do his wit, and his will, "to preche Christ's gospel," &c. &c. See vol. ii. pp. 360–362. 9. Pro amplexando evangelio. The english title of this piece is," How religious men should kepe certain Articles;" beginning thus." Christen men, preyen meekly and devoutly "to Almighty God, that he grant his grace for his endless "mercy to our religious, both possessioners and mendicants," &c. &c The articles are numerous, but the notices connected with them are very brief.

10. How Satanas and his priests, and his feyned Religions, casten by three cursed heresies to destroy all good living and meyntening all manner of sin. It begins thus.-As "Almighty “God in Trinity, ordeineth men to come to the bliss of heaven by three grounds," &c. &c. See vol. ii. pp. 217-219.

11. De nequitiis ejusdem. This piece in english, has a title, beginning with the words, "How Antichrist and his "Clerks travellen to destroy holy Writ, and to make Cristen "Men unstable in the faith," &c. &c. See vol. ii. pp. 239—

242.

12. Super Testamento Francisci. Wycliffe's remarks on this testament begins thus-" But here the Menours sayn that "the pope dischargeth them of this testament." The comment

X.

CHAP. is preceded by a translation of the rule of St. Francis, as given by Matthew Paris.

13. For three skills lords shulden constrain Clerks to live in meekness, wilfull poverty, and discreet penance and ghostly traveile. It begins thus-"Open teaching of God's law, "old and new, open ensample of Christ's life, and his glorious Apostles," &c. &c.

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14. De Prelatis et eorum officio. This is the piece so frequently cited as "Of Prelates;" beginning thus-" Here "it telleth of Prelates, that Prelates leaven preching of the "Gospel, and ben gostly manquellers of men's souls." See vol. ii. pp. 238, 239.

15. Speculem de Antichristo. The english copy of this tract professes to describe" How Antichrist and his Clerks "feren true Priests fro preching of Christ's Gospel by four "Deceits." It commences thus" First, they seyn that "preching of the Gospel maketh dissension and enmity." See vol. ii. pp. 221-223.

16. De clericorum ordinatione. The copy of this preserved, is also in english, intitled, " Of the order of priesthood;" beginning" For the order of priesthood is ordained of God, "both in the old law, and in the new." See vol. ii. pp. 238, 239. 17. De dominis et servis; or, 66 Of servants and lords,” how eche shull kepe his degree; beginning" First, servants "shullen truly and gladly serve to their lords or masters." See vol. ii. pp. 219, 220.

18. How Prayer of good Men helpeth much, and Prayer of sinfull Men displeaseth God, and harmeth themselves and other Men; beginning" Our Lord Jesu Christ techeth us to pray evermore for all nedefull things both to body and soul.” See vol. ii. pp. 223-225.

19. De Episcoporum erroribus; beginning" There bin "eight things by which simple Christen men ben deceyed." Also, "De *** III. erroribus Curatorium;" beginning-" For "the office of curates is ordained of God." Of these pieces, the reader may form his judgment from that of prelates, and that for the order of priesthood. See vol. ii. pp. 238, 239.

20. How Satanas and his children turnen works of mercy upon Sodom and deceyven men therein; beginning-" First, "Christ commandeth men of power to feed hungry poor men ; “the fend and his techen to make costly feasts, and waste many goods on lords," C. C. C. Cambridge.

21. A short rule of life for eche man, in general, and for priests, and lords, and labourers in special; beginning"First, when thou risest, or fully wakest, think on the good"ness of thy God, how for his own goodness, and none other nede, he made all things of nought," C. C. C. Cambridge. This piece is followed by a brief comment on The Ave Maria.

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22. Of wedded men and wives; beginning-" Our Lord "God Almighty, speaketh in his law of tweie matrimonies or "wedlocks," &c. &c. C. C. C. Cambridge. See vol. i. pp. 122,

123.

23. Of good preching Priests; beginning" The first gene"ral point of poor priests that prechen in England, is this," &c. &c. C. C. C. Cambridge. See vol. ii. pp. 220, 221.

24. The great Sentence of the Curse Expounded; beginning"First, all heretics against the faith of holy writ, ben cursed solemnly, four times in the year." C. C. C. Cambridge. See vol. ii. pp. 237, 238.

25. De blasphemia contra fratres; beginning-". It is seide "that three things stourblin this realme, and specially here"sie." Bibl. Bodl. Archio. A. 83.

26. De domino divino, is a tract of four pages; beginning"Sith false glossiris maken Goddis law derk, and letten se“cular men to susteyne, and kepe it, of sich false glossis "schulde each man bewar."

27. Super oratione dominica; beginning-" When we seyn "Our Fader that art in heaven, we ben taught."

28. Ad ducem Glocestria contra fraterculem; beginning-"Most worshipful and gentlest Lord Duke of Gloucester." Trin. Coll. Dub. See vol. ii. p. 157.

29. De Sathanæ astu contra fidem: beginning" The fend "seeketh many ways to mar men in belief,' This tract

extends to two pages only.

CHAP.

X.

CHAP.

X.

30. Sermones in Epistolas, and Sermones in Evangleia, are the titles of his homilies, or parochial discourses. Copies of these more or less perfect, and some of them beautifully written, are in the manuscript collections of the British Museum, Cambridge, Trinity College, Dublin, and elsewhere. See vol. ii. c. i,

S

31. Transtrulit in Anglicum sermonem Biblia tota. Of this memorable work, several copies are extant; as in the British Museum and Lambeth Palace. The costs of transcribing, obliged our ancestors to secure parts of the sacred volume; sometimes including the four gospels; sometimes the epistles of St. Paul, and not unfrequently, still smaller portions. Dr. Whitaker states, (Hist. of Richmondshire, Art. Wycliffe) that the copy of Wycliffe's Bible, in Lambeth Palace, is beautifully illuminated; and suggests that the portrait of Sir Antonio More was probably obtained from such a source. But there is not, nor has there ever been, a manuscript at all of that description in the Lambeth Library. See Appendix, No. 1. and vol. ii. c. ii,

32. Translatio Clementis Lanthoniensis. "Oxford's Library," observes Mr. Lewis,

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"In the Earl of is a MS. entitled, John Wiclif's Translation of Clement Lanthon's Harmony "of the Gospels, which begins thus"-" Clement, a Preest of "the Chirche of Lanthonth," in 12 parts. Lanthon (wasan Austin Friar, who flourished in 1154. Leland de Scrip. Brit. 226. There is a copy of this work in the British Museum, Harl. MSS. 1862.

33. De stidendis ministrorum. This tract is exant in english, intitled, "How men shulden find priests, and beginning"Think wisely, ye men, that finden priestes that ye don this "alms for God's love, and help of your soules, and help of "Christen men." C. C. C. Cambridge.

. 34. De Ecclesiæ dominio; in english, "Of the Chirche of "Christ, and of hir Membris, and of hir Governaunce;" begining thus--" Christis Chirche is his spouse, that hath three "parts," &c. &c. Bib. Reg. 18, 13, ix. It is also in Trin. Coll. Dub. It is frequently cited in the preceding chapters.