History of Protestantism History of Protestantism Protestantism originated from work of several theologians starting in the 12th century, although there could have been earlier cases of which there is no surviving evidence. Any prominent dissent was subject to persecution by the Roman Catholic Church, and thus attempts to change anything in the Catholic Church were kept isolated or effectively eradicated up to the 16th century. One of the early Protestant Reformers was John Wycliffe, an English theologian and early proponent of reform in the 14th century. His followers, known as Lollards, spread throughout England but soon were persecuted by both the Catholic Church
John Spalding (14th-century MP) John Spalding (14th-century MP) John Spalding (fl. 1388), of Kingston upon Hull, Yorkshire, was an English politician and cloth merchant. Nothing is known of Spalding's family. John Spalding of York was also a cloth merchant at this time in the same county, but there is no proof that they were related. Spalding was the coroner for Kingston upon Hull by February 1389 until after Michaelmas 1392. He held the title Searcher of ships, Kingston-upon-Hull from 14 November 1379 until 8 February 1384. He was Bailiff of Kingston upon Hull in 1385–86 and 1398–99. He exported cloth from the port of