Page 29 - 05 John Wycliffe

Wycliffe appealed from the synod to

Parliament; he fearlessly arraigned the

hierarchy before the national council and

demanded a reform of the enormous abuses

sanctioned by the church. With convincing

power he portrayed the usurpation and

corruptions of the papal see. His enemies

were brought to confusion. The friends and

supporters of Wycliffe had been forced to

yield, and it had been confidently expected

that the Reformer himself, in his old age,

alone and friendless, would bow to the

combined authority of the crown and the

miter. But instead of this the papists saw

themselves defeated. Parliament, roused by

the stirring appeals of Wycliffe, repealed the

persecuting edict, and the Reformer was

again at liberty.