ABSTRACT
Modern studies of the development of Lollardy have followed two main approaches: the analysis of Lollard manuscripts, and prosopographical studies of individuals whom either contemporary chroniclers or later historians have identified as sympathisers with heresy. One of the most crucial forms of evidence which McFarlane used in his examination of the knights’ piety was in the language of their wills, where certain sentiments were expressed in recurrent formulae, such as contemptuous language towards their physical remains and requests for burial to take a humble form. It is clear that however one understands the term ‘Lollardy’, its development among the landed class took widely heterogeneous forms, and the extent of their unorthodoxy varied considerably. The fact that some of the individuals concerned were prominent in public affairs, and in some cases had a connection with the court, probably guaranteed them a reasonable chance of immunity from ecclesiastical prosecution.
