7 And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.



Ver. 7. A great company of the priests] Despair not therefore of the worst; God hath his time to call them. Wycliffe was a great enemy to the swarms of begging friars, with whom it was harder to make war than with the pope himself; whom he pronounced Antichrist, and made him lose in England his tenths and Peter’s pence. {a} Howbeit, sundry of the frairs fell to him, and embraced his opinions; among whom, one that was the pope’s chaplain, professing that he came out of his order and out of the devil’s nest. (Speed.)



{a} An annual tax or tribute of a penny from each householder having land of a certain value, paid before the Reformation to the papal see at Rome; also, a similar tribute paid by several northern lands. The institution of Peter’s pence has been attributed to Ine king of Wessex, 688728, and to Offa king of Mercia, 75594. It is mentioned as due by ancient law in a (Latin) letter of Canute in 1031. It was discontinued by statute in 1534. ŒD