In the midst of this came the Peasants ' Revolt of 1381 . The revolt was sparked in part by Wycliffe 's preaching carried throughout the realm by " poor priests " appointed by Wycliffe ( mostly laymen ) . The preachers did n't limit their criticism of the accumulation of wealth and property to that of the monasteries , but rather included secular properties belonging to the nobility as well . Although Wycliffe disapproved of the revolt , some of his disciples justified the killing of Simon Sudbury , Archbishop of Canterbury . In 1382 Wycliffe 's old enemy William Courtenay , now Archbishop of Canterbury , called an ecclesiastical assembly of notables at London . During the consultations on 21 May an earthquake occurred ; the participants were terrified and wished to break up the assembly , but Courtenay declared the earthquake a favourable sign which meant the purification of the earth from erroneous doctrine , and the result of the " Earthquake Synod " was assured
an earthquake
1382 Dover Straits earthquake
John Wycliffe