[1] Shirley (preface to Fasciculi Zizaniorum, Rolls Ser., p. xxvi.) thought that Wycliffe was “the sworn foe of the mendicants” in 1377, and E.M.  Thompson’s emphatic words repudiating the contrary statement of the St. Alban’s writer, Chron.  Anglice, p. liii., illustrate the view prevalent in England in 1874.  Lechler’s Wiclif und die Vorgeschichte der Reformation, published in 1873 proves that it was not until Wycliffe denied the doctrine of transubstantiation in 1379 or 1380 that the friars deserted him.

    [2] Chron.  Anglice, p. 117.

On February 19, Wycliffe appeared in Courtenay’s cathedral.  Four mendicant doctors of divinity, chosen by Lancaster, came with him to defend him against the “possessioners,” while the Duke of Lancaster himself, and Henry Percy, the new marshal, also accompanied him to overawe the bishops by their authority.  The court was to be held in the lady chapel at the east end of the cathedral, and Wycliffe and his friends found some difficulty in making their way through the dense crowd that filled the spacious nave and aisles.  Percy, irritated at the pressure of the throng, began to force it back in virtue of his office.  Courtenay ordered that the marshal should exercise no authority in his cathedral.  Thereupon Percy in a rage declared that he would act as marshal in the church, whether the bishop liked it or not.  When the lady chapel was reached, there was further disputing as to whether Wycliffe should sit or stand, and Lancaster taunted Courtenay for trusting overmuch to the greatness of his family.  When the bishop replied with equal spirit, John muttered:  “I would liefer drag him out of his church by the hair of his head than put up with such insolence”.  The words were overheard, and the Londoners, who hated the duke, broke into open riot at this insult to their bishop.  It was rumoured that the duke had come to St. Paul’s, hot from an attack on the liberties of the city that very morning in parliament.  The court broke up in wild confusion, and the riot spread from church to city.  Next day Percy’s house was pillaged, and John’s palace of the Savoy attacked.  The duke and the marshal were forced to seek the protection of their opponent, the Princess of Wales, at Kennington.  The followers of Lancaster could only escape rough treatment by hiding away their lord’s badges.  The citizens cried that the Bishop of Winchester and Peter de la Mare should have a fair trial.  At last the personal authority of Bishop Courtenay restored his unruly flock to order.  The old king performed his last public act by soothing the spokesmen of the citizens with the pleasant words and easy grace of which he still was master.  The Princess of Wales used her influence for peace, and matters were smoothed over.

At some risk of personal humiliation, Lancaster secured a substantial triumph.  Convocation followed the lead of parliament and gave an ample subsidy.  William of Wykeham purchased the restoration of his temporalities by an unworthy deference to Alice Perrers.  Wycliffe remained powerful, flattered, and consulted, though his enemies had already drawn up secret articles against him, which they had forwarded to the papal curia.  Perhaps in the rapidly declining health of the king all parties saw that their real interest lay in the postponement of a crisis.