CONVERGENT PATHS: THE CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN WYCLIFFE, HUS AND THE EARLY QUAKERS BY DANIEL STALEY ZEMAITIS A thesis submitted to the University of Birmingham For the degree of DOCTOR OF THEOLOGY Department of Theology and Religion College of Arts and Law University of Birmingham February 2012 University of Birmingham Research Archive e-theses repository This unpublished thesis/dissertation is copyright of the author and/or third parties. The intellectual property rights of the author or third parties in respect of this work are as defined by The Copyright Designs and Patents Act 1988 or as modified by any successor legislation. Any use made of information contained in this thesis/dissertation must be in accordance with that legislation and must be properly acknowledged. Further distribution or reproduction in any format is prohibited without the permission of the copyright holder. Abstract This dissertation examines the correspondence in theology, practice and social views between Early Quakers and John Wycliffe and John Hus (QWH), founders of the late- medieval heretical sects the Lollards and Hussites. It discusses the diversity of religious experience that characterized the first generation of ‘Early Quakers,’ and argues the end of early Quakerism as 1678, when the Quaker establishment completed enforcement of greater conformity in belief and practice. The dissertation examines Wycliffe and the Lollards and Hus and the Hussites, placing them in an experiential religious tradition and exploring their belief in the need to return to a primitive church in reaction to the perceived apostasy of the Catholic Church. By focusing on possible modes of dissemination of Wycliffe’s and Hus’ ideas and personal stories in works such as Foxe’s Book of Martyrs, the thesis concludes that there exists a close correspondence among QWH respecting the following characteristics: (1) accessibility of Christ’s message; (2) belief in the visible and invisible church; (3) biblical authority; (4) personal understanding of Scripture; (5) opposition to established churches; (6) return to a ‘primitive church’; (7) attitudes toward reforming society; (8) the imminence of Christ’s return; and (9) the role of women. Table of Contents Abstract .............................................................................. 2 Table of Contents ................................................................ 3 Chapter One: Introduction, Methods, and Literature Review ................................................................................ 1 1.1. Introduction ...................................................................................... 1 1.2. Academic Importance ...................................................................... 5 1.3. Literature Review ............................................................................. 7 1.3.1. Early Quakers ............................................................................................. 7 1.3.2. Heresy ....................................................................................................... 19 1.3.2.1. General Heresy.................................................................................... 19 1.3.2.2. Wycliffe .............................................................................................. 22 1.3.2.3. Hus ...................................................................................................... 27 1.4. Primary Sources ............................................................................. 29 1.4.1. Wycliffe .................................................................................................... 29 1.4.2. Hus ............................................................................................................ 31 1.4.3. Early Quakers ........................................................................................... 33 1.5. Introduction to the Early Quakers, Heresy in General, and Wycliffe and Hus ........................................................................................... 40 1.5.1. Early Quakers ........................................................................................... 40 1.5.2. Heresy ....................................................................................................... 42 1.5.3. Heresy in the Late Medieval Period ......................................................... 45 1.5.4. Wycliffe, Hus, and Their Correspondence with the Quakers ................... 47 1.5.4.1. Why Wycliffe and Hus?...................................................................... 50 1.5.4.2. The Waldensians ................................................................................. 51 1.5.4.3. The Free Spirits ................................................................................... 52 1.5.4.4. Why Not the Lollards and Hussites? .................................................. 54 1.6. Outline of Dissertation ................................................................... 55 Chapter Two: Early Quakerism ........................................ 57 2.1. Introduction .................................................................................... 57 2.2. Definition of the ‘Early’ Period of Quakerism .............................. 57 2.3. Normative Quakerism .................................................................... 71 2.3.1. Early Quaker Texts That Contribute to Defining Normative Quakerism 72 2.3.1.1. Nayler’s Love to the Lost .................................................................... 73 2.3.1.2. Burrough’s Declaration of Faith ........................................................ 75 2.3.1.3. Fox’s Some Principles of the Elect People of God Who in Scorn Are Called Quakers ................................................................................. 76 2.3.1.4. Barclay’s Apology ............................................................................... 78 2.3.1.5. Comparison of the Early Quaker Works ............................................. 81 2.4. Identifying the Characteristics of Early Quakers ........................... 83 2.4.1. Carole Spencer ........................................................................................... 84 2.4.2. Rosemary Moore ...................................................................................... 89 2.4.3. Comparison of Moore and Spencer .......................................................... 93 2.4.4. This Author’s Views ................................................................................ 95 2.5. The Characteristics of Early Quakerism ...................................... 100 2.5.1. Conversion .............................................................................................. 100 2.5.2. Seeking ................................................................................................... 105 2.5.3. Walking in the Light (Conformity of Conduct) ..................................... 107 2.5.4. Eschatology ............................................................................................ 109 2.5.5. Suffering ................................................................................................. 115 2.5.5.1. Spiritual Suffering ............................................................................. 115 2.5.5.2. Physical Suffering ............................................................................. 117 2.5.6. Charismatic/Evangelistic ......................................................................... 121 2.5.7. Spirit-Led ................................................................................................ 126 2.5.8. Mystical .................................................................................................. 128 2.5.9. Leveling .................................................................................................. 132 2.5.9.1. Spiritual Leveling.............................................................................. 132 2.5.9.2. Social Leveling ................................................................................. 134 2.5.9.3. The Early Quaker View on Women.................................................. 135 2.5.10. The Bible ................................................................................................ 139 2.5.11. Primitive Christianity Restored.............................................................. 142 2.6. Chapter Summary ......................................................................... 146 Chapter Three: Wycliffe and Hus .................................. 147 3.1. Introduction .................................................................................. 147 3.2. John Wycliffe ............................................................................... 148 3.2.1. Introduction ............................................................................................ 148 3.2.2. Roots and History of Wycliffe’s Beliefs ................................................ 149 3.2.3. Wycliffe’s Major Works ........................................................................ 153 3.2.3.1. On Civil Lordship (De Civili Dominio) ............................................ 154 3.2.3.2. On the Church (De Ecclesia) ............................................................ 157 3.2.3.3. The Truth of the Sacred Scripture (De Veritate Sacrae Scripturae) 159 3.2.3.4. The Role of the Clergy (De Potestate Papae) .................................. 160 3.2.3.5. Trialogus ..........................................................................................