СНАР. Among the persons who carried these devout VI. Notice of William sentiments into action, an important place is occupied by William Thorp. Within the parish of Wycliffe was a hamlet bearing the name of Thorp. In the fourteenth century it was the residence of a family, known by the same designation: and there are circumstances which render it probable, that the confessor referred to was a native of that spot, and a member of its principal household. It is from himself we learn, that his parents were in circumstances which enabled them to expend considerable sums upon his education, with a view to his becoming a priest. But on reaching the years of manhood, he felt some grave scruples as to the propriety of assuming that office. His hesitation disappointed his friends, and so far excited their displeasure, that he had nearly resolved on quitting the home which his conscientious feeling had rendered a place of the greatest discomfort. Apprised of his half-formed purpose, his relatives were induced for a while to soften the severity of their manners toward him. The alternative, however, ere long, before him, was either to enter the church, or to wander a fugitive under the anathema of his parents. If a native of the parish of Wycliffe, the name and the doctrines of our reformer could hardly have been unknown to him. He submitted to his parents, that previous to forming his decision, he should be allowed to ascertain from certain who were considered wise priests, and of virtuous conversation, what the office of priesthood really imported. It is evident 7 This appears from the inscriptions in the parish church, and from other local records. 66 VI. that the men intended were the rector of Lutter- CHAP. worth, and his poor priests. The consent of his parents was obtained, who supplied him with money, and gave him their blessing, as he set forth on his journey. "And so," he observes, "I "went to those priests, whom I heard to be of "best name, and of most holy living, and best "learned, and most wise of heavenly wisdom; " and so I communed with them unto the time " that I perceived by their virtuous and continual occupations, that their honest and charitable "works passed their fame which I had heard be"fore of them." After a considerable intercourse with these men, among whom Hereford and Rippington were then numbered, and particularly with Wycliffe himself, Thorp resolved on joining them in their labours. Through more than thirty winters, he continued to advocate their doctrines in the different parts of England, especially in the northern counties. At the close of that period, terror and persuasion were employed, with a view to induce a renunciation of the tenets which he had learned from the lips and from the writings of our reformer, but they were employed in vain. His examination before archbishop Arundel will be noticed in a subsequent chapter; but his sentiments with respect to preaching, and the general obligations of the priestly office, were common to the class of men with whom he considered it no small honour to be associated. These may be inserted in this place. Accused by the primate of preaching without a licence, and of laying claim to a peculiar wisdom. and sanctity, the prisoner replies: "By the 66 66 66 CHAP. " authority of God's law, and also of saints and VI. doctors, I am taught to believe that it is every priest's office and duty to preach busily, freely, and truly the word of God. For, no doubt, every priest should propose first in his soul, to “make known to the people the word of God, "according to his knowledge and power, ever proving his words to be true by his virtuous "works. For this intent, also, we suppose that bishops and other prelates of holy church "should chiefly take and use their prelacy, and "for the same cause bishops should give to priests "their orders. For bishops should admit no man to the priesthood, except that he hath good will, and full purpose, and were well disposed, and well learned to preach. Wherefore, Sir, by the bidding of Christ, and by the "example of his most holy living, and also by "the living of his holy apostles and prophets, we "are bound under full great pain, to exercise our"selves after our knowledge and power (as every 66 66 66 priest is likewise charged of God) that we may "fulfil duly the office of priesthood. We pre sume not here of ourselves, for to be esteemed "faithful disciples, and special followers of Christ, "neither in our own reputation, nor in any other "man's. But, Sir, as I said to you before, we 66 judge thus from the authority chiefly of God's "word, where it is the chief duty of every priest "to employ himself faithfully in making known "the law of God unto the people, and so to com"municate the commandments of God in charity, when, and to whom, that ever we may." Such are the obligations which are said to devolve VI. imperiously on every priest, and desiring to be CHAP. faithful disciples of Christ he writes, "We pray "this gracious Lord, for his holy name, that he "would make us able to please him with devout prayers, and charitable priestly works, that we may obtain of him to follow him thankfully.” 66 s Fox, i. 687-708. Wordsworth's Ecclesiastical Biography, i. СНАР. CHAPTER VII. NOTICE OF WYCLIFFE'S WRITINGS SUBSEQUENT TO HIS EXCLUSION FROM OX- THE reader must be left to judge of the foreboding which possessed the mind of Thorp and his brethren, as the arm of intolerance was raised to reduce them to silence or consign them to a prison. They would regard their own fate, as involved in the case of Hereford and his associates; and as rendered certain by the result of the prosecution instituted against Wycliffe. That result we have witnessed, and our attention is now called to the conduct of the reformer during the two last years of his life, which were spent wholly at Lutterworth. But while evidently sedulous in the performance of his parochial duties, his discourses, and his numerous compositions, produced at this period, demonstrate, that his zeal as a reformer had gathered intensity from the means which had been employed to extinguish it. During the interval between his appearance before the papal delegates at Lambeth in 1378, and before the Oxford convocation in 1382, his |