Education > Elements of universal history on a new and systematic plan

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MIDDLE AGES.
About 1360, Wickliffe began to expose the corraption of
the clergy, which paved the way for the Reformation in Eng¬
land. Twenty years afterwards, he made known to the people
the records of divine truth, by the first English translation of
the Bible. It was now that more forcibly than ever he raised
his powerful voice against the doctrine of transubstantiation ;
and above all, he boldly declared that the sacred Scriptures
alone are the sole foundation of our belief. His followers, by
way of reproach, were termed “ Lollards.”*
The Flagellants—This sect, which appeared during the great pes¬
tilence of 1348, imagined that scourging was the only means of procuring a
remission of the divine punishment. It originated in Hungary, and gradu¬
ally spread over the central parts of Europe: it was excluded from France,
but reached England in 1348.
The Bianchi—In the summer of 1399, a sect of fanatics suddenly
arose in Italy called Bianchi, from the long white garments they wore.
Their faces were covered with a veil that they might not be known. They
walked in procession from town to town, following a large crucifix, and
chanting that beautiful hymn of the Romish church, “ Stabat mater dolor¬
osa.” They restricted themselves to bread and water. A remarkable
although transient reformation of manners has been ascribed to their in¬
fluence. They were opposed by the pope, and strictly prohibited both in
France and England. The founders of this sect are said to have come
from Britain; and their description corresponds to a certain extent with
that of the itinerant priests in 1382.
The Mariner’s Compass In this century many new inventions, by
seconding the exertions of genius, accelerated the progress of knowledge
and civilisation. The chief of these were the construcUon of the mariner s
compass, and the manufacture of linen paper. The Chinese were acquainted
with the polarity of the magnetic needle so early as 1121; and they assign
the invention of the compass to 1108 B. C. This instrument was probably
introduced into Europe by the Saracens; but only came into general use at
the end of this century. The pretensions of Flavio Gioia of Amalfi have
been long detected; indeed it is doubtful if such a person ever existed. A
more fearless spirit of maritime adventure soon arose; and its fruits in the
next century were the discovery of a New World.
Linen Paper The revival of learning in the fourteenth century called
for cheaper materials than the parchment in general use. Paper made from
cotton appears to have been known as early as 1100. The Arabians assert
that cotton paper had been manufactured at Samarcand in the eighth century,
the method having been, introduced from China. Though linen paper was
very little known till the latter part of the fourteenth century, it is an un¬
reasonable scepticism to doubt its use in the West in the middle ot the
thirteenth. Pace da Fabiano of Treviso is said to have been its inventor;
but subsequent researches place him in the same rank of fabulous persons,
as Flavio Gioia and the monk Schwartz.
INVENTIONS, &c.
* A word of doubtful origin: pi
Dr from Lullards or Lollards, the