John Wiclif.

The Translation of the Bible.

The Ashes of Wiclif.
HISTORICAL FACTS.
Leaving the pilgrims' cavalcade for a more philosophical consideration of the historical teachings of the subject, it may be clearly shown that the work of Chaucer informs us of a wholesome reform in religion, or, in the words of George Ellis,[16] "he was not only respected as the father of English poetry, but revered as a champion of the Reformation." Let us recur briefly to the history.

With William the Conqueror a great change had been introduced into England: under him and his immediate successors--his son William Rufus, his nephew Henry I., the usurper Stephen, and Henry II.,--the efforts of the "English kings of Norman race" were directed to the establishment of their power on a strong foundation; but they began, little by little, to see that the only foundation was that of the unconquerable English people; so that popular rights soon began to be considered, and the accession of Henry II., the first of the Plantagenets, was specially grateful to the English, because he was the first since the Conquest to represent the Saxon line, being the grandson of Henry I., and son of _Matilda_, niece of Edgar Atheling.

In the mean time, as has been seen, the English language had been formed, the chief element of which was Saxon.