The great Protestant Reformation of the 16th century did not
burst upon Europe as something entirely new and without prior
preparation. The work of God through Luther and Calvin was built
upon God's work in men who preceded them and paved the way. Two
such men were John Wycliffe in England and John Hus in Bohemia.
England was a difficult place in which to live during Wycliffe's
life. Although a great deal of emphasis was placed on education,
and the road to success was through the colleges, very few had
the means to go to college, and the lot of the peasant was
difficult and spiritually empty. One description is graphic: The
peasant could not expect any preaching from the resident priest,
but he would get it from the preaching friar, and from the
travelling pardoner, with his wallet "bret full of pardons, come
from Rome all hot." Besides these religious roundsmen there were
others who would travel through the winding, muddy roads and
green lanes of England: minstrels, tumblers, jugglers, beggars
and charlatan