Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 63.djvu/247

Böhringer's Johannes von Wykliffe in Die Vorreformatoren des vierzehnten und fünfzehnten Jahrhunderts, Zürich, 1856 (containing an elaborate study of his theology); Lechler's Johann von Wiclif und die Vorgeschichte der Reformation, Leipzig, 1873 (Engl. transl., John Wiclif and his English Precursors, by Lorimer, 1878, and 1881 and 1884; this is at present the most important authority for Wycliffe's life, and the fullest account of his opinions); R. L. Poole's Wycliffe and Movements for Reform, London, 1889 (Dr. Poole has also dealt with Wycliffe's politico-theological doctrines in his Illustrations of the Hist. of Mediæval Thought, London, 1884); Burrows's Wiclif's Place in History, London, 1881 and 1884; Buddensieg's Johann Wiclif und seine Zeit, Gotha, 1885, and John Wiclif as Patriot and Reformer, London, 1884 (both short ‘Festschriften’ for the Wycliffe Quincentenary); Vattier's John Wyclyff, D.D., sa vie, ses œuvres, sa doctrine, Paris, 1886; Sargeant's John Wyclif, last of the Schoolmen and first of the English Reformers, New York, 1893—a popular work. G. M. Trevelyan's Age of Wycliffe, 1898, is a thorough and brilliant study of the history of the period, especially from the political and social point of view. The following studies of Wycliffe's theology may also be noticed: Jäger's John Wycliffe und seine Bedeutung für die Reformation, Halle, 1854; and Lewald's Die theol. Doctrin des Johann Wycliffe in the Zeitschrift für die Hist. Theologie, Leipzig, 1846 and 1847. The dependence of Huss upon Wycliffe is shown by Loserth in Hus und Wiclif, Prague, 1884, Engl. transl. (Wiclif and Hus), by M. J. Evans, London, 1884. Many important corrections of the older biographies are to be found in Dr. Poole's works, and in various articles and prefaces by Mr. F. D. Matthew, some of which are quoted above.]

H. R.-l.

WYCUMBE, WILLIAM (fl. 1160), biographer. [See William.]

WYDDEL, OSBORN (fl. 1280), founder of various Welsh families. [See Osborn.]

WYDEVILLE or WYDVILLE. [See Woodville.]

WYDFORD, WILLIAM of (fl. 1380–1411), opponent of Wycliffe. [See Woodford.]

WYDOW, ROBERT (d. 1505), poet and musician, was born at Thaxted, Essex. His stepfather, a schoolmaster, educated him and sent him to Oxford. He is the first recorded holder of the degree of Bachelor of Music at Oxford; in 1502 he was incorporated at Cambridge. After his stepfather's death Wydow returned to Thaxted and succeeded him as master of the school, becoming also vicar of Thaxted on 22 Dec. 1481. He resigned the living on 1 Oct. 1489, and seems to have travelled about this time in France and Italy. Besides being probably appointed penitentiary in St. Paul's Cathedral, he was collated rector of Chalfont St. Giles on 19 Nov. 1493. On 27 March 1497 he was made canon in Wells Cathedral; and after the death of Henry Abyngdon on 1 Sept. succeeded him as succentor. On 21 Dec. 1499 he was granted the vicarage of Chew Magna, and in the following year was installed subdean and prebendary of Holcombe Burnell. He was also ‘scrutator domorum,’ librarian, seneschal, and auditor of the chapter-house at Wells. Other preferments granted him were the advowson of Wookey and the perpetual vicarage of Buckland Newton; these may have been in recognition of his appointment as deputy for the transaction of business between the pope and the cathedral of Wells. He died on 4 Oct. 1505, bequeathing considerable property to the Carthusians of Henton; a requiem was ordered to be sung in every Carthusian monastery in England.

Wydow wrote some Latin poems (not known to be extant), including a life of the Black Prince and a book of epigrams. Edward Lee, archbishop of York, who had known Wydow, calls him facile princeps among the poets of his day; and he is also celebrated by Leland and Holinshed. None of his musical compositions are mentioned; but if William Cornysshe [q. v.] came from Wells, as there is some reason to suppose (a Thomas Cornish succeeded Wydow as rector of Chew, Wood, Athenæ, ii. 699), Wydow may have had a considerable influence in preparing the way for the great school of Elizabethan composers.

[Grove's Dict. of Music and Musicians, iv. 817; Leland's Catalogus, p. 484; Abdy Williams's Degrees in Music, pp. 60, 65, 119, 121, 154; Davey's Hist. of English Music, p. 84.]

H. D.

WYER, ROBERT (fl. 1530–1556), printer, belonged to a family some members of which were settled at Wendover in Buckinghamshire (Pat. Roll, 33 Hen. VIII, pt. vii.) John Wyer, who died in 1552, held at Wendover a house called ‘The Maidenhead’ and half an acre of land there. His will makes no mention of Robert. Edward Wyer of Wendover, grandson of this John, bought of the printer, Richard Tottel, in 1579 ‘the Three Cranes in the Vintry,’ London (Chancery Proceedings, 21 Eliz. No. 49). It is possible that John of Wendover was identical with a contemporary printer of the name, who issued in 1550, at the sign of ‘St. John the Evangelist in Fleet Street, in St. Bride's Churchyard, over against the Conduit,’ Bale's ‘Paraphrase of the Book of