John Aston (preacher)
Encyclopedia
John Aston or Ashton was one of John Wycliffe
's earliest followers.
at Oxford
, and, according to Anthony à Wood, was a member of Merton College. He appears first to have been engaged as one of Wycliffe's band of itinerant priest
s, and by the year 1382 had become conspicuous for his advocacy of his master's views, particularly of those relating to the sacrament
of the Lord's supper
. Knighton (col. 2658, sq.) describes the zeal with which he carried on his mission as a preacher of the new doctrine
, and the Fasciculi Zizaniorum (p. 274) makes the rebel John Ball
, in his confession, name Aston in company with Nicholas Hereford
and Lawrence Bedeman as the leaders of Wycliffe's party. In 1382 these three men, together with Philip Repyngdon, were singled out among the Oxford Wycliffites as the subjects of a prosecution at the hands of Archbishop William Courtney
, who first issued, 12 June, an ineffectual mandate restraining them from public functions in the university, and then summoned them to an examination to be held before him at Blackfriars Priory in London.
Wycliffe's specific doctrines had, in fact, been already condemned at the 'earthquake' council of Blackfriars in the preceding month, and there was little difficulty in implicating his disciples in them. Aston appeared on 18 June. He circulated a broadsheet declaring his allegiance
to the faith of the church
, and won so much sympathy that his final hearing on the 20th was interrupted and nearly broken up by the invasion of a friendly mob. He was, however, condemned, and, by virtue of a subsequent royal patent, dated 13 July, was expelled from his university.
By the archbishop's order a search was then made for him and his companions, and at length, in October, Aston was seized. On 27 November he followed the example of Bedeman and Repyngdon (Hereford had left the country), recanted, and returned to Oxford. His recantation, however, was transient. In 1387 Bishop Wakefield of Worcester denounced him as a dangerous Lollard, and prohibited him from preaching. According to John Foxe
he was cited and condemned later by Archbishop Arundel; but this statement seems to rest upon the notice in the St. Albans Chronicles of the popular disturbance at his trial, which evidently relates to that held by Archbishop Courtney.
(Scriptorum Illustrium Catalogus, p. 495, ed. Basle, 1559).
John Wycliffe
John Wycliffe was an English Scholastic philosopher, theologian, lay preacher, translator, reformer and university teacher who was known as an early dissident in the Roman Catholic Church during the 14th century. His followers were known as Lollards, a somewhat rebellious movement, which preached...
's earliest followers.
Life
Aston is described as M.A. and 'scholar' (or, once, 'bachelor') in theologyTheology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
at Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
, and, according to Anthony à Wood, was a member of Merton College. He appears first to have been engaged as one of Wycliffe's band of itinerant priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
s, and by the year 1382 had become conspicuous for his advocacy of his master's views, particularly of those relating to the sacrament
Sacrament
A sacrament is a sacred rite recognized as of particular importance and significance. There are various views on the existence and meaning of such rites.-General definitions and terms:...
of the Lord's supper
Lord's Supper
The Lord's Supper may refer to:*Eucharist, Mass or Communion, a rite in Christianity*The Last Supper, the last meal Jesus of Nazareth shared with his disciples in the collection of Christian Scriptures called The Holy Bible....
. Knighton (col. 2658, sq.) describes the zeal with which he carried on his mission as a preacher of the new doctrine
Doctrine
Doctrine is a codification of beliefs or a body of teachings or instructions, taught principles or positions, as the body of teachings in a branch of knowledge or belief system...
, and the Fasciculi Zizaniorum (p. 274) makes the rebel John Ball
John Ball (priest)
John Ball was an English Lollard priest who took a prominent part in the Peasants' Revolt of 1381. In that year, Ball gave a sermon in which he asked the rhetorical question, "When Adam delved and Eve span, who was then the gentleman?".-Biography:Little is known of Ball's early years. He lived in...
, in his confession, name Aston in company with Nicholas Hereford
Nicholas Hereford
Nicholas of Hereford was an English theological scholar, and advocate of the English reform movement within the Roman Church. He later recanted his unorthodox views and participated in the repression of other reformers. He collaborated with John Wycliffe on the first complete English translation...
and Lawrence Bedeman as the leaders of Wycliffe's party. In 1382 these three men, together with Philip Repyngdon, were singled out among the Oxford Wycliffites as the subjects of a prosecution at the hands of Archbishop William Courtney
William Courtney
William Courtney may refer to:* William Leonard Courtney , English author* William Harrison Courtney , American diplomat...
, who first issued, 12 June, an ineffectual mandate restraining them from public functions in the university, and then summoned them to an examination to be held before him at Blackfriars Priory in London.
Wycliffe's specific doctrines had, in fact, been already condemned at the 'earthquake' council of Blackfriars in the preceding month, and there was little difficulty in implicating his disciples in them. Aston appeared on 18 June. He circulated a broadsheet declaring his allegiance
Allegiance
An allegiance is a duty of fidelity said to be owed by a subject or a citizen to his/her state or sovereign.-Etymology:From Middle English ligeaunce . The al- prefix was probably added through confusion with another legal term, allegeance, an "allegation"...
to the faith of the church
Christian Church
The Christian Church is the assembly or association of followers of Jesus Christ. The Greek term ἐκκλησία that in its appearances in the New Testament is usually translated as "church" basically means "assembly"...
, and won so much sympathy that his final hearing on the 20th was interrupted and nearly broken up by the invasion of a friendly mob. He was, however, condemned, and, by virtue of a subsequent royal patent, dated 13 July, was expelled from his university.
By the archbishop's order a search was then made for him and his companions, and at length, in October, Aston was seized. On 27 November he followed the example of Bedeman and Repyngdon (Hereford had left the country), recanted, and returned to Oxford. His recantation, however, was transient. In 1387 Bishop Wakefield of Worcester denounced him as a dangerous Lollard, and prohibited him from preaching. According to John Foxe
John Foxe
John Foxe was an English historian and martyrologist, the author of what is popularly known as Foxe's Book of Martyrs, , an account of Christian martyrs throughout Western history but emphasizing the sufferings of English Protestants and proto-Protestants from the fourteenth century through the...
he was cited and condemned later by Archbishop Arundel; but this statement seems to rest upon the notice in the St. Albans Chronicles of the popular disturbance at his trial, which evidently relates to that held by Archbishop Courtney.
Works
A few writings by Aston are enumerated by John BaleJohn Bale
John Bale was an English churchman, historian and controversialist, and Bishop of Ossory. He wrote the oldest known historical verse drama in English , and developed and published a very extensive list of the works of British authors down to his own time, just as the monastic libraries were being...
(Scriptorum Illustrium Catalogus, p. 495, ed. Basle, 1559).