31 
altar of the Abbey Church. Swynderby was in Leicester at this time, and did 
not escape. On the representation of Friar Frisby (an Observant), Friar Hincaley 
(an Augustine), and Thomas Blaxton (a Dominican), he was cited to appear before 
John Bokynham, Bishop of Lincoln, in the Cathedral Church of that city, to 
answer certain articles drawn up against him. These articles were eleven in num- 
ber, and were chiefly directed against his attacks on the priests and the Church. 
Swynderby’s caution, however, had been so great that his accusers preferred to 
invent charges against him rather than to bring forward the true ones. In his 
letter to the Bishop of Hereford (Reg. Trefnant) he makes his defence, and says 
that ‘‘ at the instance of the Friars he was compelled to revoke conclusions that he 
“had never held.” Knighton gives the result of Swynderby’s examination before 
the Bishop of Lincoln, as follows :—‘‘ At length he was publickly convicted of 
‘‘ divers heresies and errors, and deserved to have made fuel for the fire. Then 
‘did his followers lament, and strike their hands and heads against the walls, 
“making a mourneful noise. Fora great many of the town of Leicester accom- 
‘*panied him every time, to give him their assistance; but all was to no purpose. 
“But, by chance, the pious Duke of Lancaster was at Lincoln the same day, who 
““was always ready to assist all the Lollards, for he believed them to be holy men 
‘“of God, on account of their fair speeches and assurance, although he was 
‘deceived as well as many others. He interposed with the Bishop in behalf of 
“Swynderby, and the Bishop yielded to the Duke’s request, and let him off on 
‘‘condition of his making a retractation ” in several churches named. (Knighton, 
fol. 2,671). 
Walsingham says :—‘‘ When the Bishop of Lincoln had made preparations 
“to correct this man, the mad multitude raged in such a manner as frightened the 
“Bishop, and deterred him from proceeding against him.” (Hist. Aug., p. 284). 
Swynderby left Liecestershire as soon as possible after his narrow escape, 
and he is next heard of at Monmouth, then in the diocese of Hereford. John of 
Gaunt held the castle at Monmouth, and Swynderby had very probably visited the 
town before and made friends there. The Friars, however, soon followed him up. 
Copies of the proceedings at Lincoln were sent down to the Bishop of Hereford, 
who forthwith issued a monitory letter, inhibiting anyone to preach in his diocese 
without license. This inhibition was personally served upon Swynderby, at Mon- 
mouth, early in the year 1390. 
The greatest tribute paid to the eloquence and successful preaching of 
Swynderby consists in a special inhibition issued against him by Archbishop 
Courtney. It is entitled “‘ An Inhibition of the Archbishop of Canterbury, lest 
‘‘any one should presume to listen to the preaching of William Swynderbye,” &c., 
&c., and threatens all who do so with the penalty of “‘ the Greater Excommunica- 
tion” ; given ‘‘at our Manor of Maghfield, May 18, 1391.” (Reg. Courtney, fol. 
338a ; Wilkins IV., p. 215.) This inhibition affords direct inference that Swyn- 
derby was considered at that time the leading preacher of the Lollards. 
Swynderby is next mentioned as preaching at Whitney on Monday, August 
1, 1390, and by that time he had probably taken up his residence in Deerfold 
Forest. The following year, on June 14, 1391, by the introduction of some in- 
