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Home Wyclif and the Lollards Wyclif and the Lollards; Part 2 |
Wyclif and the Lollards; Part 2The feeling of the time is reflected very strongly by Chaucer, who, in the Prologue of his Canterbury Tales, hits off all the weak points of the churchmen. He describes the Prioress as dainty, frivolous, and amiable, wearing a brooch with the motto, "Amor Vincit Omnia", and so softhearted that she would weep if she saw a mouse in a trap; the Monk, " full fat and in good poynt", who loved hunting and gaudy apparel more than "Upon a book in cloystre alway to poure, Or swynke (work) with his handes, and laboure As Austyn (Augustine's rule, " Laborare est orare ") bid"; the Friar, an "easy man" to give penance, beloved and familiar with womankind, and "The beste beggere in his hous, For though a widowe hadde noght oo schoo (one shoe), So plesaunt was his In Principio, Yet wolde he have a ferthing or he wente"; the Summoner, who taught that "purse was the Archdeacon's hell", but did not act up to his principles; the Pardoner, with wallet "Bretful of pardouns come from Rome all hot, Who made the parsoun and the people his apes". We must not think that all the churchmen in England were negligent or careless; there were many then - as there always have been - who were bent on doing their duty to the utmost. Witness Chaucer's Poor Parson, who "Waited after no pompe and reverence, But Christe's lore and His apostles twelve He taughte, but first he folwede it himselve".Unfortunately it was not, for the most part, these men who were in high places. Bishops and the greater men were mostly little known in the countryside; monks led retired and sometimes lazy lives in their monasteries, but no one saw them. The bitterest feeling was aroused by the friars, for they were in daily contact with the people. That the friars, especially the Dominican and Franciscan Friars, should be the object of this violent dislike is at first sight not a little curious, for these orders were the result of one of those periodical " revivals" in religion which aimed at bringing the Church into more intimate connection with the poor, and giving them practical help and teaching, Both orders began early in the thirteenth century. St. Dominic founded his - the Black Friars - to combat heresy and to strengthen faith. They were accordingly preachers and teachers; men of learning and zeal. St. Francis bade his followers show, by the example of a pure, simple, cheerful, and contented life and charitable acts, what the true followers of Christ should be. Hence his followers (St. Francis had no wish to found an order. This was done after his death.) - the Grey Friars - were to be like the Apostles, unlearned men, without property, living in poverty amongst the poor, healing the sick and succouring the wretched. For many years both Black Friars and Grey Friars did an enormous amount of good, the Franciscans especially being real benefactors of the poor. By degrees, however, popular admiration became too much for them. Each order strove to copy and outdo its neighbour. The Franciscans copied the Dominican learning, and lost their simplicity; the Dominicans borrowed the vow of apostolic poverty, and broke it. Then both sets of friars began to accumulate wealth, not for themselves, but for their orders. Thus, becoming rich and learned, they deserted the habitations of the poor, going instead among the well-to-do, or to the universities, where they became great scholars, but no longer teachers of what they had first been sent to teach, the simple message of Christ. And those who remained scattered over the country were disliked because, being an order founded by a papal decree, they were obedient to the Pope; they were not obliged to obey the English bishops; they interfered between the parish priest and his flock; they intercepted a great deal of charity for their own order; and as there were occasional black sheep among them, as among all ranks of men, the orders got a bad name. Perhaps jealousy of their popularity and success will account for some of the abuse, but no doubt a good deal of the complaint was well founded. |
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