Woodford’s earliest extant work, of which the date is known, was composed in 1381; it consists of theological lectures under the title, ‘_72 questiones de Sacramento Altaris_,’ in answer to Wiclif’s ‘Confession,’ and was written in great haste; these lectures were delivered, perhaps at the Grey Friars London, within five weeks of the publication of the ‘Confession[1556].’ He does not seem to have been D.D. at this time. On the subject of his inception, a curious piece of information has been preserved in a MS. of the 15th century;
‘when he was going from London to Oxford to incept in theology he fell among robbers, who took from him £40[1557].’
In 1389 he was regent master in theology among the Minorites at Oxford, and as such lectured in the schools of the Minorites against the adherents of Wiclif[1558]. In 1390 when he also lectured at Oxford on the same subject, he was vicar of the Provincial Minister[1559]. Among his pupils was Thomas Netter of Walden, afterwards Provincial of the Carmelites and reputed author of the _Fasciculi Zizaniorum_[1560]. Woodford appears now to have resided mainly at the Grey Friars, London: in 1396 he obtained from Boniface IX a papal sanction of the special privileges and graces which he enjoyed in this convent; the chief of them was the right to a private chamber or house[1561]. According to Bale and Pits he died, and was buried at Colchester in 1397[1562]. His name however appears among those buried in the choir of the Grey Friars Church, London.
‘Et ad ejus (sc. Willelmi Goddard) dexteram sub lapide cruce exarato Jacet bone memorie et hereticorum extirpator Acerimus frater Willelmus Wydford doctor Egregius et minister[1563].’
The date of his death is uncertain; but one of his works seems to have been written in the reign of Henry IV[1564].
Woodford’s writings, dealing as they did for the most part with the question of the hour, were very popular and often copied.
Commentaries on _Ezechiel_, _Ecclesiastes_, _S. Luke_ (cap. 6-9), _S. Paul’s Epistle to the Romans_.
British Museum MS. Royal 4 A xiii (sec. xiv)[1565].
_De sacramento Eucharistiae_, or, _72 quaestiones._ _Inc._ ‘Ratione solemnitatis jam instantis.’
MSS. Brit. Museum: Royal 7 B iii. § 2, (sec. xiv): Harl. 31, fol. 1-94 (sec. xv), and 42 fol. 1 (sec. xv).