William White
WILLIAM WHITE
William White, a well-educated, upright, and well-spoken priest, also became a follower of John Wycliffe. He surrendered his priesthood and its salary to marry a godly young woman but continued to read, write, and preach the doctrines of Wycliffe throughout the Norfolk area, drawing many people to God and developing a reputation as a good, honest man.
His main points of doctrine were:
That men should seek forgiveness of sins only from God, not priests.
That the pope’s wicked living made him an enemy of Christ.
That men should not worship images, other idolatrous paintings, or the saints.
That the Roman Church brought forth no true doctrine.
That all monks, friars, and priests were the soldiers of Lucifer and damned.
Brought before Archbishop Henry Chicesley in 1424, White held his ground for some time before being forced to recant. He returned to Norfolk, where he continued to teach and convert the people to the true doctrine of Christ. Captured and tried before William, the bishop of Norwich, he was condemned under thirty articles and burned in September 1424. After his death, his wife continued his work, bringing even more people to God, until she, too, was captured and punished at the hands of the same bishop.