Page "John Wycliffe" Paragraph 12

Pope Urban apparently recognised his mistake and dropped his claim.

The tone of the pope was, in fact, not threatening, and he did not wish to draw England into the maelstrom of politics of Europe.

Harsh words were bound to be heard in England, because of the close relations of the papacy with France.

It is said that on this occasion Wycliffe served as theological counsel to the government, composed a polemical tract dealing with the tribute, and defended an unnamed monk over against the conduct of the government and parliament.

This would place the entrance of Wycliffe into politics about 1365 – 66.