Page 28 - 05 John Wycliffe

than Wycliffe—an agency against which their

weapons would avail little. There was at this

time no law in England prohibiting the Bible,

for it had never before been published in the

language of the people. Such laws were

afterward enacted and rigorously enforced.

Meanwhile, notwithstanding the efforts of the

priests, there was for a season opportunity

for the circulation of the word of God.

Again the papal leaders plotted to silence the

Reformer's voice. Before three tribunals he

was successively summoned for trial, but

without avail. First a synod of bishops

declared his writings heretical, and, winning

the young king, Richard II, to their side, they

obtained a royal decree consigning to prison

all who should hold the condemned

doctrines.