CONTENTS. PAGE 9 78 97 BUNYAN, THE DREAMER, IN BEDFORD JAIL-By J. G. Whittier, 144 THOMAS ELLWOOD, THE GENIAL-HEARTED SCHOLAR—By J. G. Andrew Marvell, THE WITTY PATRIOT—By J. G. Whittier, 212 JOHN ROBERTS AND BISHOP NICHOLSON: A GLIMPSE OF RURAL ILLUSTRATIONS. PAGE BISHOP RIDLEY'S INTERVIEW WITH THE PRINCESS MARY. Frontispiece. RIDLEY AND LATIMER-THE CONFERENCE BEFORE THE TRIAL.-Vignette Title. WYCLIFFE AT ST. PAUL'S-THE ANGRY DISCUSSION, 17 THE BRAVE OLD ENGLISH CONFESSORS. JOHN WYCLIFFE, HIS LIFE, HIS TIMES, AND HIS CREED. PART I. THERE are no fewer than sixteen different ways in which, according to different writers, the name of this celebrated English reformer may be spelled. The one adopted in an instrument which nominates him one of the embassy appointed to meet the Pope's delegates in 1794, is Wiclif (Rymer's Fœdera, An. 48, Edw. III.), but we retain that which has become more common in modern literature. John de Wycliffe is supposed to have been born about the year 1324, in the parish of Wycliffe, a village on the banks of the river Tees, near Richmond, in Yorkshire. Who or what his parents were, where or how he was educated, or what were the characteristics of his mind in childhood, we know not. We meet with him first as a commoner of Queen's College, Oxford; which had just been founded by Robert Eaglesfield, confessor to Philippina, Queen of Edward II. From Queen's College, he removed to Merton College; the latter of which was noted for its then embracing within its precincts many men who afterwards rose to high distinction in the world. Among these were Walter Burley, tutor to Edward III., surnamed, on account of his skill in the niceties of school divinity, the plain doctor; William Occham, surnamed, for the same reason, the singular doctor; and Thomas Bradwardine, afterwards Archbishop of Canterbury, surnamed the profound doctor; John Gatesden, an eminent physician; John Etswood, and William Rede, afterwards Bishop of Chichester, celebrated astronomers; and Simon Mepham, and Simon de Islip, both subsequently Archbishops of Canterbury and metropolitans of all England. At Merton College, Wycliffe-whose industry was great, and talents lofty-mastered all the learning then in fashion. Bacon had not yet lived; and the sun of experimental science had not yet dawned upon mankind. The works of Aristotle still held sway over the human race; and with these, Wycliffe, through the aid of Latin interpreters and commentators for the Greek language was, in his age, a neglected and almost forgotten language, not only in England, but in Europe generally, and was not restored to Franguistan till after the taking of Constantinople by the Turks in 1453, when learned Grecians fled to Italy for shelter and protection became intimately acquainted. Thus initiated in scholastic divinity, he acquired the character of a subtle disputant; and we afterwards find him studying law, which was then an important part of university education. He next made himself conversant with the Latin fathers; and he perused the Scriptures with such avidity, and to such an extent, as to acquire the title of the evangelic doctor. The first thing which brought Wycliffe prominently forward was his controversy with the mendicant friars, which took place in or about the year 1360. These "sturdy beggars" had attempted to trench upon the statutes and privileges of the University of Oxford; and Wycliffe albeit in opposition to the authority of the Pope, who was the great patron of the friars espoused the cause of the University, with an alacrity and zeal which called forth the gratitude of the latter in a very striking degree. He was made Master of Balliol College in 1361. He was also presented, by his college, to the living of Fillingham, in the county of Lincoln, which he afterwards exchanged for that of Luggershall, in Wiltshire. In 1365 he was, by Simon de Islip, Archbishop of Canterbury, constituted Warden of Canterbury Hall, in Oxford. The site of this hall is now occupied by that part of the extensive and magnificent buildings of Christ Church, called Canterbury Quadrangle. Simon de Islip had lately founded it; and the first warden of it-appointed by the archbishop himself was Henry de Woodhall, a monk of Christ Church, Canterbury. Woodhall's hasty temper had so involved him in university broils, that the archbishop was glad to reject him, together with three of the monks, of whom the scholars were composed, and to place the Master of Balliol College and three seculars in their stead. This event occurred on the 14th of December 1365. Not long after—in April 1366-Islip died. He was succeeded, in the see of Canterbury, by Simon Langham, Bishop of Ely; who, being a monk, and having no regard for the wishes of its founder, reversed the order of things in Canterbury Hall. He deprived Wycliffe and his associates; and Wycliffe, influenced by the advice of his friends, appealed to Rome. Urban v. then occupied the papal chair. Being inclined to support the mendicants, to whom the Roman see was indebted for much of its power and stability, he, nevertheless, knew the justice of Wycliffe's claims; and, on that account, hung the case up, commanding a cardinal to examine its merits. At this time, a dispute took place between Pope Urban and B |