The so-called Lollards were followers of John Wycliffe’s teaching and dissenters from the established Roman Catholic Church in England in the 1400s. They are known to have opposed the excesses of the clergy, the doctrine of transubstantiation, and various other beliefs and practices associated with Catholic liturgy. It is sometimes said that they opposed church music, but upon closer examination, it appears that their objections were focused on the Latin lyrics, which most common people did not understand. (Translating the Bible into English was a major concern for Wycliffe). Although less well known, at least some of them also opposed instrumental music in worship.

In 1407, there was a famous trial in which Bishop Thomas Arundel, archbishop of Canterbury, questions the Lollard, William Thorpe. The following exchange comes from John Foxe’s Acts and Monuments (the more complete work that was eventually abridged into the famous Book of Martyrs). The spelling is somewhat difficult (even if I have changed a few letters around to make it easier to read), but the reward will be worth your effort to work through it. This is from Foxe’s 1583 edition, Book 5, p. 560.

Thorpe

These poore mens goods and their livelode, these runners about, offer to riche priestes which have mekill more livelode then they neede. And thus those goods they wast wilfully, & spend them unjustly against Gods bidding upon straungers, with which, they should helpe and relieve, after Gods wil, their poore nedy neighbors at home: yea & over this folly, oft times divers men and women, of these runners thus madly hether and thither into pilgrimage: borow hereto, other mens goodes, yea and sometime they steale mens goods hereto, and they pay them never again. Also sir, I know wel that when divers men and women wil go thus after their owne wills, and fyndinge out one pilgrimage: they will ordeyne wyth them before, to have with them both men and women, that can wel sing wanton songs, and some other pilgrimes, wil have with them bagge pipes: so that every town that they come through, what with the noyse of their singing, and with the sound of their piping, and with the jangling of their Caunterbury bels, and with the barkyng out of dogges after them, that they make more noyce, then if the king came there away, with all his clarions, & many other minstrels. And if these men and women be a month out in their pilgrimage, many of them shall be an halfe yeare after, great janglers, tale tellers, and lyers.

Archbishop Arundel

And the Archbishop said to me: Leud losel (= “lewd good-for-nothing”), thou seest not farre enough in this matter, for thou considerest not the great travaile of pilgrims: therfore, thou blamest that thing that is praysable. I say to thee, that it is right wel done, that pilgrimes have with them both singers and also pipers: that when one of them that goeth barefoote, striketh his toe upon a stone, and hurteth him sore, & maketh him to blede: it is well done that he or his felow begin then a song, or els take out of his bosom a bagpipe, for to drive away with suche mirth, the hurt of his fellow. For which such solace, the travayle and wearynes of pilgrymes, is lightly, and merily borne out.

Thorpe

And I sayd: sir, St. Paule teacheth men to weepe with them that weepe.

Archbishop Arundel

Aud the Archbishop said, what janglest thou against mens devotion? Whatsoever thou or such other say, I say that the pilgrimage that now is used, is to them that do it, a praysable and a good meane to come the rather to grace.  But I hold thee unable to know this grace, for thou enforcest thee to let (i.e. forbid) the devotion of the people: since by authoritie of holye scripture, men may lefully have & use such solace as thou reprovest. For David in his last Psalme, techeth men to have divers instruments of musike for to praise therwith God.

Thorpe

And I saide: sir, by the sentence of divers Doctours expounding the psalmes of Dauid: that musike and minstrelsie that David & other saints of the olde lawe spake of, ought now nother to be taken nor used by the letter, but these instruments with their musike ought to be interpreted ghostly (i.e spiritually):  For al those figures are called vertues and grace, with which vertues men should please God, & praise hys name. For S. Paul sayth: al such things befell to them in figure. Therfore sir, I understand, that the letter of this psalme of David and of such other Psalmes and sentences doth slay them that take them now litterally. This sentence as I understand sir, Christ approveth himselfe; putting out the minstrels, or that he would quicken the dead damsell.

Archbishop Arundel

And the Archbishop said to me, Leud losel, is it not lefull to us to have Organes, in the church for to worship therewithall God?

Thorpe

And I sayd, yes sir, by mans ordinance: But by the ordinance of God, a good sermon to the peoples understanding were mekil more pleasant to God.

Archbishop Arundel

And the Archbishop said, that Organes and good delectable songs, quickened & sharpened more mens wits then should any sermon.

Thorpe

But I saide: sir, lusty men & worldly lovers, delite and covet & travail to have al their wittes quickened & sharpened with divers sensible solace: But al the faythful lovers and followers of Christ, have al their delite to heare Gods word, and to understand it truely, and to worke therafter faithfully and continually. For no doubt, to dread to offend God, and to love to please him in all things quickeneth and sharpeneth all the wittes of Christs chosen people: and ableth them so to grace, that they joy greatly to withdrawe their eares and al their wits and members, from al worldly delite and from all fleshly solace. For St. Jerome (as I thinke) sayth, No body may joy with this world & raigne with Christ.

Mike Wilson