'''John Wyclif''' (or Wycliffe) (1330-1384) was a lecturer in Theology at [[Balliol College]] of [[Oxford University]], a leading world university founded in the late 1100s. He became known for his criticisms of the wealth and power of the [[Catholic church]], and for arguing that the [[Pope]] had no right to ecclesiastical revenues from English religious foundations. His arguments won the support of [[John of Gaunt]], the powerful [[Duchy of Lancaster|Duke of Lancaster]], who brought him to [[London]], where his preaching fell under the censure of William Courtenay, the Bishop of London. Wyclif had by this time many supporters among the ranks of the nobility, and the Church was unable to censure him directly. | '''John Wyclif''' (or Wycliffe) (1330-1384) was a lecturer in Theology at [[Balliol College]] of [[Oxford University]], a leading world university founded in the late 1100s. He became known for his criticisms of the wealth and power of the [[Catholic church]], and for arguing that the [[Pope]] had no right to ecclesiastical revenues from English religious foundations. His arguments won the support of [[John of Gaunt]], the powerful [[Duchy of Lancaster|Duke of Lancaster]], who brought him to [[London]], where his preaching fell under the censure of William Courtenay, the Bishop of London. Wyclif had by this time many supporters among the ranks of the nobility, and the Church was unable to censure him directly. |