The Lollard Knights were a group of men closely connected to the court of Richard II in the late fourteenth century. These knights were from gentry or lesser noble families and served Richard II in a variety of ways. Many started their careers during the reign of Edward III as soldiers during the Hundred Years’ War with France and later went on to serve Richard II on diplomatic missions to the Continent. As Knights of the King’s Chamber, some became trusted councillors to Richard II. These men are referred to as “Lollard Knights” because of their support of Lollardy, a heresy that rejected the miracle of the Eucharist, translated the Bible into English, and advocated for clerical disendowment. The Lollard Knights are also an important group because of their literary interests;…
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Citation: Havens, Jill. "The Lollard Knights". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 10 March 2005 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/stopics.php?rec=true&UID=1529, accessed 18 April 2024.]
