Slavery and Serfdom, in Europe. By W. Po. Brownlow, M.A.
(Burns and Oates.)—This is an interesting and valuable book, bringing together into a small compass a great quantity of notable facts bearing on the subject of slavery and cognate con- ditions, from the Christian ore downwards. Mr. Browniow's fairness seems to fail him when he comes to speak of Wyclif. He quotes from the " Fasciculi Zizaniorum," an alleged confession of John Ball, and cannot see " how, in the face of this testimony, it is possible to acquit Wyclif of the most direct complicity with the Rebellion." Now, the confession is not given in the book, though it is promised. Probably the author found that it was not forthcoming. It is quite likely that it was never made. The terms are unlikely to have been used by Ball. And even if it was genuine, it would not argue Wyclif guilty of "direct complicity." It may very well mean that the teaching of Wyclif led to the movement. And, indeed, no one can doubt that it had much to do with it. On the other hand, is it likely that John of Gaunt, after the treatment which his property received at the hands of John Ball's followers, would have continued the staunch friend of a man who had been found guilty of "direct complicity " P Wyclif's immunity is, under any view, a perplexing fact ; but it becomes absolutely unintelligible, if we suppose his enemies to have had in their hands conclusive proof of his com- plicity in the revolt. It is as well to give the concluding words of the supposed confession :—" Inde adjecit quod nisi foret resietentia facto pra.edictis, ipsi intra biennium destruerent totum regnum." The praedicti are " Wyclif," who is named as principalia auctor, and Nicholas Herford, John Aston, and Lawrence Bedena, who are styled auctores secundo loco. It is quite clear that this means not the heads of a defeated rebellion, who would be no longer formidable, but the teachers of a subversive doctrine.
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