Author(s):
Ehrenschwendtner, Marie-Luise
[German Version] (Wyclif[f]ites), adherents of the teachings of J. Wycliffe, were persecuted as heretics in England by both the church and the state until 1559. Spread beyond Oxford, initially by Wycliffe himself and later by his students, Wycliffite ideas were evident from 1382 in London, Leicester, Bristol, and elsewhere. This led to a tightening of the heresy laws (esp. stricter controlling of teachers of theology and priests who preached out-¶ side their parishes; a penalty for possessing the English Bible and religious literature in the vernacular) and to initial persecutions. The revolt of the Lollard Sir John Oldcastle (1414/1415) intensified the pressure because his fellow believers were now forced to go underground. Supporters of the movement were mostly businessmen and artisans, initially also some nobility. At the end of the 15th century, members of the higher classes were increasingly found among the sympathizers. The movement was prompted by the wish for reforms in the church and by anticlerical sentiments. The English Bible translation (II, 1.b) and religious tracts in the vernacular, which were also distributed among non-Lollards and were sometimes published by Reformers after 1530, were particularly attractive. Although the content of Lollard belief derived from Wycliffe, cut off from academic discourse it was simplified and sometimes misunderstood. There was no uniform doctrine. Emphasis was placed on the equality of priests and laity; every believer should be able to interpret Holy Scripture. The church in all its manifestations was to be assessed according to New Testament crtiteria. The sacraments lost significance relative to the Bible, and the Lord's Supper became a memorial meal.…