Wycliffe, John c. 1320-1384. English
religious reformer. Allying himself with the
party of John of Gaunt, which was opposed to
ecclesiastical influence at court, he
attacked abuses in the church, maintaining
that the Bible rather than the church was the
supreme authority. He criticized such
fundamental doctrines as priestly absolution,
confession, and indulgences, and set
disciples to work on translating the Bible
into English. Having studied at Oxford
University, he became Master of Balliol
College there, and sent out bands of
travelling preachers. He was denounced as a
heretic, but died peacefully at Lutterworth.