General Prologue of the Wycliffe Bible the later version of Wycliffe Bibles at about 1395–1397. The other two "General Prologues" are attached to revised earlier version Wycliffe Bibles, revised 1395–1397. There are more than 200 later versions of the Wycliffe Bible that do not have the "General Prologue" attached. The Prologue contains wording that indicates it was written between 1395 and 1397. Purvey, as the eximious doctor prominent leader of the Lollards at the time, is credited with the later version Wycliffe Bible New Testament portion, as well as the "General Prologue." Chapter fifteen shows the procedures how the Lollard translators went about their work of
John Wycliffe into sin and that it ought therefore to give up all its property and that the clergy should live in complete poverty. The tendency of the high offices of state to be held by clerics was resented by many of the nobles. John of Gaunt, who had his own reasons for opposing the wealth and power of the clergy, possibly used a naive Wycliffe as his tool. Wycliffe was summoned before William Courtenay, Bishop of London, on 19 February 1377. The exact charges are not known, as the matter did not get as far as a definite examination. Lechler suggests