John Wycliffe

John Wycliffe also spelled Wyclif, Wycliff, Wiclef, Wicliffe, Wickliffe; lived between 1320 – December 1384. He was an English Scholastic philosopher, theologian, lay preacher, translator, reformer and university teacher at Oxford in England, who was known as an early dissident in the Roman Catholic Church during the 14th century.

His followers were known as Lollards which preached reforms. The Lollard movement was persecuted by the government and established orthodox church. Wycliffe called them "The Morning Star of the Reformation".

Wycliffe was also an early advocate for translation of the Bible into the common language. While there are at least two versions the work was probably done by his secretary John Purvey. They were hand written and the printing did not come until 1456. A more popular second copy and General prologue came from Purvey in 1495-1496.

"This Bible is for the Government of the People, by the People, and for the People." is attributed to the General Prologue to the Bible translation of 1384, as quoted in Lincoln at Gettysburg : An Address (1906) by Clark Ezra Carr, p. 75. [1]

The Columbia Dictionary of Quotations By Robert Andrews, page 89, item 16 gives us this same reference.