the supposed followers of Walter Lollard, or rather of Walter
the Lollard, who, according to Dr. Mosheim, was a Dutchman of remarkable
eloquence and piety, though tinctured with mysticism, and who, for
teaching sentiments contrary to the church of Rome, and nearly
corresponding with those of Wickliffe, was burned alive at Cologne in
1322. But before this there existed, in different parts of Germany and
Flanders, various societies of Cellites, to whom the term Lollards was
applied, and who were protected by the magistrates and inhabitants, on
account of their usefulness to the sick, and in burying the dead. They
received the name Lollards, from the old German or Belgic word _lullen_,
(Latin, _lallo_,) to sing with a low voice,” to _lull_ to sleep,”
(whence _lullaby_,) because when they carried to the grave, the bed of
death, such as died of the plague, which at that period ravaged all
Europe, they sung a dirge or hymn, probably, in a soft and mournful
tone. These Lollards obtained many papal grants, by which their
institution was confirmed, their persons exempted from the cognizance of
the inquisitors, and subjected entirely to the jurisdiction of the
bishops; and, at last, for their farther security, Charles, duke of
Burgundy, in 1472, obtained a bull from Pope Sixtus IV., by which they
were ranked among the religious orders, and delivered from the
jurisdiction of their bishops; which privileges were yet more extended
by Pope Julius II. in 1506.
In England the followers of Wickliffe were called Lollards by way of
reproach, either on account of the humble offices of the original
Lollards, (the Cellites,) or from the attachment of the Wickliffites to
singing hymns. Their enemies probably meant to describe them as poor
melancholy creatures, only fit to sing psalms at a funeral.
the Lollard, who, according to Dr. Mosheim, was a Dutchman of remarkable
eloquence and piety, though tinctured with mysticism, and who, for
teaching sentiments contrary to the church of Rome, and nearly
corresponding with those of Wickliffe, was burned alive at Cologne in
1322. But before this there existed, in different parts of Germany and
Flanders, various societies of Cellites, to whom the term Lollards was
applied, and who were protected by the magistrates and inhabitants, on
account of their usefulness to the sick, and in burying the dead. They
received the name Lollards, from the old German or Belgic word _lullen_,
(Latin, _lallo_,) to sing with a low voice,” to _lull_ to sleep,”
(whence _lullaby_,) because when they carried to the grave, the bed of
death, such as died of the plague, which at that period ravaged all
Europe, they sung a dirge or hymn, probably, in a soft and mournful
tone. These Lollards obtained many papal grants, by which their
institution was confirmed, their persons exempted from the cognizance of
the inquisitors, and subjected entirely to the jurisdiction of the
bishops; and, at last, for their farther security, Charles, duke of
Burgundy, in 1472, obtained a bull from Pope Sixtus IV., by which they
were ranked among the religious orders, and delivered from the
jurisdiction of their bishops; which privileges were yet more extended
by Pope Julius II. in 1506.
In England the followers of Wickliffe were called Lollards by way of
reproach, either on account of the humble offices of the original
Lollards, (the Cellites,) or from the attachment of the Wickliffites to
singing hymns. Their enemies probably meant to describe them as poor
melancholy creatures, only fit to sing psalms at a funeral.