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IHE PEASANT REVOLT.
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transubstantiation.
But Teutonic Christianity had to
await more than two centuries and a half Vjefore it
offered a new system of doctrine to the reHgious necessities
of man.
Lutheranism, Anglicanism, Calvinism,
are forms of faith ; from Wycliffism it would be difficult,
perhaps impossible, to frame a creed like that
of Augsburg, articles like those of the Church of
England, or even those of Westminster, "i
About two years before Wyclifife's death that remarkable
rising took place, called the " Peasant
Revolt," remarkable for its widespread nature and the
simultaneous character of the rebel movement. The
people rose in Yorkshire, as well as in Kent and
Devonshire. Tumults arose in York, Beverley, and
Scarborough, and each of those places had to purchase
pardons in 13S2. But it was not a Lollard
rising, nor did it spring, as alleged by some, from the
preaching of Wycliffe's doctrines. In some places,
no doubt, the Wycliflite preachers declaimed loudly
against the clergy, but in others the clergy themselves
were vehement in promoting the movement
and exasperating the feelings of the people. There
was general discontent and ill-feeling, arising mainly
from the pressure of taxation, which was intensified
by the obnoxious poll-tax which was felt by all. To
this was added the grievance of the statute of
labourers, which limited the wages they were to
receive. But numbers joined the malcontents, as in
all insurrectionary movements, who had no special
grievance except hatred to the wealthy and governing
classes, — fanatic preachers, like John Ball,
'
Milman's "Latin Christianity," vol. viii. p. 202.