set downe in the processe of the Archbishop directed forth against the same persons whereof some whole housholds both men and women were driuen to forsake their houses townes for danger of persecution yea so cruelly was the Romish Clergy bent against them and so grieued to see the poore flocke of Christ to multiply that Henry Chichely stirred vp the Pope against them alledging that there were so many infected with the doctrine of Wickliffe and Husse here in England that without force of an army they could not be suppressed 1422. Henry 5. being dead his Sonne Henry 6. a child of nine moneths old succeeded In the first yeere of whose raigne was W. Taylor accused conuicted condemned afterward in Smithfield with Christian constancy after long imprisonment did consummate his martyrdome Others there were that professed the same truth but for feare durst not be so bold so that it appeareth by the Registers of Norwich in that Diocesse within the space of 3. yeeres viz. from 1428. to 1431. about the number of 120. men and women were examined and much vexed for the profession of the Christian faith of whom three suffered death viz. Father Abraham of Colchester W. White and I. Waddon Priests the rest sustained such cruell penance as pleased the Bishop his Chancellor to lay vpon them which howsoeuer through the hard dealing of the times they were constrained to recant and many of them to abiure their opinions yet their good will to the truth is manifest and it is fit to preserue the memory of their names if it be but to stop the mouth of such malignant aduersaries who following blind affection rather then true knowledge of times and antiquities through ignorance blame they know not what accusing the true doctrine of the Gospell to be nouelty and the Preachers thereof to bee Nouelists whereas this doctrine lacking none antiquity hath from time to time burst forth and preuailed in many places though in the most through tyranny it hath beene suppressed as by these good men of Norfolk Suffolk may appeare who if they had had the liberty which we haue and authority to back them it would haue well appeared how old this doctrine is so that all men would haue acknowledged that this our Church was long before Luther 1430. Shortly after the solemne Coronation of Hen. 6. which was in the 8. yeere of his raigne was Richard Houedon a Londoner crowned with martyrdome The next yeere Th. Bagly a Priest and Paul Craw a Bohemian both valiant defenders of Wickliffes doctrine were condemned and burned Not long after about the yeere 1439. which was the 18. of Henry 6. was Ri. Wiche burned for heresie as then they counted it So much the more famous was his martyrdome because the fame was that before his death he spake as prophesying that the Posterne of the Tower should sinke which came to passe vpon which hee was counted an holy man Many came to the place where he was burnt and there made their oblations till by the commandement of the King they were forbid and some punished After Chichely in the See of Canterbury succeeded Stafford Kempe and then Burscher in whose time fell out the trouble of Reynold Peacock Bishop of Chichester who after the death of Humfrey Duke of Gloucester his Patron was molested by the Archbishop in the yeere 1457. because he taught against the reall presence the infallibility of the Councels the locall dissention into hell That the Church may erre in matter of faith That the literall sence of the Scripture is onely to be held He was at length inforced to giue way for what with blustering threats to terrifie him as also with faire promises to allure him they left no stone vnrolled till they brought him to recantation at Pauls crosse where also his bookes were burnt yet for all this himselfe belike he was suspected was kept in his own house during his naturall life 1473. King Henry 6. being deposed Edward 4. got the Crowne In the time of whose raigne a godly and constant seruant of Christ named Iohn Goose alias Husse was vniustly condemned and burnt at the Tower hill 1485. Henry 7. comming to the Crowne mention is made in the Registers of Couentry and Lichfield of 9. persons persecuted in that Diocesse whose names are set downe to be I. Blomston Rich. Hegham Robert Crowther I. Smith Rob. Browne Th. Butler I. Falkes R. Hilman The heresies of which they were accused were for opposing Pilgrimages Images Merits Purgatory Shrift Transubstantiation and the like After these in the ninth yeere of Henry 7. was burned an old woman of 80. yeeres loane Boughton by name who held eight of Wickliffes opinions so stiffely that all the Doctours in London could not turne her she was burned in Smithfield shortly after in Anno 1497. Some for feare recanted at Pauls Crosse and in the next yeere an old man and a Priest and one Babram were burned 1506. William Tilsworth was burned for his Religion in Amersham at which time Ioane Clarke the said Tilsworths daughter was constrained to put fire to her Father at whose burning about 60. other were enioyned to beare fagots of whom diuers were commanded to beare and weare fagots at Lincolne the space of 7. yeeres after some at one time some at another A little after was Father Roberts a Miller of Missenden burned at Buckingham and 20. other bare fagots and did penance About 2. or 3. yeres after at Amersham was burned Th. Barnard la. Mordon in one fire and Father Rogers and Father Reeue was burned in the cheeke So also was W. Littlepage and 30. more were burned in the right cheeke and bare fagots at the same time The manner of their burning in the cheeke was this Their neckes being tyed fast to a poste with towels and their hands holden that they might not stirre they were marked with a hot iron The cause of those mens trouble was because they talked against superstition and idolatry and were desirous to heare and reade the holy Scriptures Thomas Chase condemned by the Bishop of Lincolne William Smith and cast into prison was there murthered and after slandered to haue made away himselfe Thomas Norrice for the profession of Christs Gospel was burned at Norwich 1507. Elizabeth Samson accused to speake against Pilgrimages adoration of Images and against the Sacrament of the Altar was compelled to abiure before William Horsey Chancellor at London 1508. Laurence Ghest two yeeres in prison at Salisbury was afterward put to death for his religion so also was there martyred another poore woman whose death so greedily sought by the Chancellor Whittington was presently reuenged by the enraged Bul which running through the prease of people came to the Chancellor and gored him thorow with his hornes carrying his guts along the streets to the great admiration and wonder of all them that saw it 1509. H. 7. hauing finished his course after him followed H. 8. in whose dayes hapned much stir
returne from the same yea that religious men being in their priuate religion are not of the Christian Religion but are members of the Diuell 3. Concerning the Authoritie of the Church his doctrine was that whatsoeuer the Pope and his Cardinals can deduce cleerely out of the Scriptures that only is to bee beleeued or to bee done at their admonition and that whatsoeuer else they command is to bee condemned as hereticall As for the decretals of the Pope they are Apocrypha and seduce men from the faith of Christ and the Clergy that studie them are fooles 4. As touching preaching and hearing the Word which is the execution of Christs Propheticall Office hee taught That it is lawfull for any man either Priest or Deacon to preach the Word of God without the authoritie of the Apostolike Sea or any other of his Catholikes and that all such who doe leaue preaching or hearing the Word for feare of their excommunication they are already excommunicated and in the Day of iudgement shal be counted traitors against God 5. Hee opposed also the selling of Prayers Pardons Indulgences and such Popish trash by which the satisfaction of Christ is weakened affirming that it was but a folly to beleeue the Popes Pardons Item that all such as bee hired for temporall liuing to pray for other doe offend and sinne in Simony 6. In the doctrine of the Sacraments which are the instruments of Christ to apply to vs the work of his satisfaction he laboureth much to reforme the abuses 1. In Baptisme hee found fault with their doctrine of necessity teaching that they which doe affirme that the infants of the faithfull departing without the Sacrament of Baptisme are not saued are presumptuous and fooles in so affirming 2. In the Supper of the Lord hee opposed the reall presence and transubstantiation teaching that Christ is not really in the Sacrament of the Altar in his proper and corporall person but only figuratiuely That without all doubt it is a figuratiue speech to say This is my body Item that the substance of materiall bread and wine euen bread in his owne substance doth remaine in the Sacrament of the Altar and ceaseth not to be bread still That the Accidents do not remain without the Subiect in the same Sacrament after the consecration So also hee taught That it is not found or established by the Gospell that Christ did ordaine Masse 3. As for the other fiue which we count bastard-sacraments some he did doubt of as Extreame Vnction for this is one article if corporall vnction or anneyling were a Sacrament as it is faigned to be Christ and his Apostles would not haue left the ordinance thereof vntouched So also for Shrift if a man be duely and truely contrite and penitent all outward confession is superfluous and vnprofitable Other Sacraments he complained of as being abused hallowing of Churches saith hee confirmation of children and the Sacrament of Orders be reserued to the Pope and Bishops onely for the respect of temporall lucre So also concerning Matrimony he held that the causes of diuorcement of consanguinity or affinity be not founded in the Scripture but are onely the ordinances of men and humane inuentions 7. Lastly concerning the power of the Keyes and the Churches censures his positions are That no Prelate ought to excommunicate any man except he know him first to be excommunicate of God and that he that doth excommunicate any other man is thereby himselfe either an hereticke or excommunicate Item that a Prelate excommunicating any man of the Clergy which hath appealed to the King or to the Councell is thereby himselfe a traitour to the King and Realme This in effect is the summe of his doctrine wherein howsoeuer there may be some few small slips or harsh phrases yet no pernicious errours much lesse damnable heresie but for the substance it is sound and good and agreeable to the Canon of the World Wherefore howsoeuer the Synod of London and the Councell of Constance haue agreed to condemne these Articles and his Books yea his bones also to the fire 41. yeeres after his death yet since de iure they ought not so to haue done and that we are able to iustifie his doctrine we are bold to challēge him as a fit instance to answer the question proposed and doe conclude that our Church had a being and the doctrine of the reformed Churches had professors long before the dayes of Luther But goe to let vs goe on and see what other can be named one Swallow maketh no Summer nor one professor a Church True and therefore except we can draw downe the profession of this doctrine successiuely from Wickcliffe to the dayes of Luther let vs lose all this labour wherefore we are to know that both together with Wickcliffe and after him arose a multitude in the Church of England maintaining the same doctrine and spreading it abroad among the people labouring with might and maine to defend it Such were Lau. Redman Master of Arts Dau. Sawtree Diuine Iohn Aschwarby Vicar of S. Maries Church in Oxford William Iones an excellent young-man well learned Th. Brightwell Will. Haulam a Ciuilian Ralph Grenhurst Io. Scut Ph. Norrice who being excommunicate by Pope Eugenius the fourth appealed to a generall Councell Peter Paine Lord Cobham with diuers others whose names are mentioned in the Kings writ sent to the Sheriffe of Northampton giuen at the Mannor of Langly March 8. in the 12. of Richard the second so also for confirmation of their multitudes the words of the Statute made Anno 5. of Richard 2. About this time W. Courtny Archbishop being in his Visitation at Leicester conuented diuers before him as Dexter Tailor Wagstaffe Scriuener Smith Henry Parchmeanar Goldsmith these with other moe were accused to the Archbishop for holding the opinion of the sacrament of the Altar auricular confession and other sacraments contrary to that which the Church of Rome did teach The which persons because being cited they came not in were solemnely accursed as hereticks with bell booke and candle yea and by the same Archbishop was the whole Towne of Leicester interdicted so long as any of these excommunicate persons should remaine in it There was also one Matilda an Anchoresse accused of the same opinions all this happened in 1387. in the 10. yeere of Richard 2. About the same time Peter Pateshall an Austen Frier hauing obtained leaue of the Pope to change his coate and religion hearing the doctrine of Wickliffe and others of the same sort began to preach openly and to detect the vices of his Couent preaching in London by the Londoners graciously entertained and vpheld against the turbulent Friers who sought to molest him Thus by the preaching of Wickliffe and others the Gospell began to fructifie and spread abroad in London and other places of the Realme and more would haue done had not the Prelates set themselues so forcibly with might and maine to gaine-stand the course thereof 1389.
the Lords Supper of penance orders the power of the Keyes the preaching of the Gospell of marriages vowes possessions correction of the Clergy of the lawes and decrees of the Church of the state and condition of the Pope and Clergy 1409. Iohn Badly first molested and condemned by the Bishop of Worcester was afterwards accused before Archbishop Arundel and other his Assistants for being vnsound in the doctrine of the Sacrament as denying the reall presence and transubstantiation and being demanded whether he would renounce and forsake his opinions and adhere to the Doctrine of the Catholike Church hee confessed That he had both said and maintained the same and would adhere and stand to these his opinions and while he liued would neuer retract the same for which hee was condemned and in Smithfield burned After this the Prelates not contenting themselues with this that now they had the power of the secular arme to assist them in the punishment of Heretikes and hauing a King to their mind ready to serue their turne in al points at the Parliamēt thē held procured the Statute ex Officio the sequell whereof cost many a man his life at the same time also came foorth diuers constitutions of Archbishop Arundell forbidding to preach or teach any thing contrary to the Determination of the Church in the points of the Sacrament of the Altar Matrimony Confession or other Sacraments or other Articles of faith Item that no Schoolemasters should in teaching the Sciences intermingle any thing concerning the Sacraments contrary to the determination of the Church That none of Wickliffes bookes should bee read those onely excepted which the Vniuersitie of Oxford had allowed Item That none should translate any Text of Scripture into English Item That diligent inquisition should bee made by euery Prouost Principall and Master of euery Colledge in Oxford among the Schollers for persons defamed of heresie Now let all men iudge whether these constitutions giuen at Oxford in this manner do not plainely declare that there was a great company of these men who professed and taught such points which these constitutions did condemne Againe is it any wonder that after such strength and force such policy and practices vsed to supplant the doctine of Wickliffe and his followers it should bee almost extinguished The Bishops and Clergy hauing the King on their side armed with Lawes Statutes Punishments Imprisonments Fire Faggot Sword and the like what wonder is it if they beare all before them Is it equall to challenge vs to shew foorth our Church to require a visibility of it when these who are our aduersaries hauing the sword in their hand did labour so abundantly to suppresse the memoriall of them And yet by the goodnesse of God it came to passe as may appeare by the Registers that those persons whom they condemned and detested as Heretikes calling them Lollards did increase daily in diuers countries especially at London in Lincolne-shire Norfolke Hereford Shrewsbury and in Calice and other quarters in the Prouince of Canterbury with whom Archbishop Arundel had much adoe as by his Registers doth appeare 1413. Henry the fourth beeing dead succeeded Henry the fifth crowned on Passion Sunday presently after began a Parliament to be called and holden after Easter at Westminster at which time also was holden a Synod at London vnder Archbishop Arundel The chiefe cause of assembling thereof was to represse the growing of the Gospell and especially to withstand the noble and worthy Lord Cobham who was then noted to be a principall fauourer receiuer and maintainer of them whom the Clergy called Lollards especially in the diocesse of London Hereford and Rochester setting them vp to preach whom the Bishops had not licensed hee was also accused to bee farre otherwise in the beliefe of the Sacraments of the Altar of Penance of Pilgrimage Image-worship and of ecclesiasticall power then the holy Church of Rome had taught for many yeeres before his examination confession and declaration of his Christian beliefe his godly answers and reasons his constancy in the truth is worth the reading Finally he was also condemned and committed to the Tower out of which hee made an escape peraduenture not without the helpe of Sir Roger Acton who himselfe whatsoeuer hee was otherwise certaine it is that hee was alwaies of a contrary minde and opinion to the Romish Bishops and Clergy for which he was greatly hated of thē his friendly helpe to the Lord Cobham is thought to haue bin the cause why hee was apprehended and brought into trouble and in the end came to his death some three yeres before the Lord Cohbam and with him I. Browne and I. Bouerly a preacher suffered the same kind of death in S. Giles fields with other moe to the number of 36. as the stories doe report all which are said to haue bin hanged and burned in the moneth of Ianuary 1413. The which death also the Lord Cobham suffred some foure yeeres after his escape being betrayed and brought in by the Lord Powes either for the hatred of the religion and true Doctrine of Iesus Christ or else for greedinesse of the reward promised by the King to them that could bring in the Lord Cobham aliue or dead for being thus taken he was adiudged to be hanged vpon the new gallows in S. Giles field and burned hanging for you must know that the Prelates the better to suppresse this doctrine had gotten an Act passed which condemned the Lollards and followers of Wickliffe decreeing that they should be accounted as traitors to the King and Realme and so should suffer double punishment viz. to be burnt as heretikes and hanged as traitors to the King testified by Polydore Virgil and by Waldensis 1415. After Th. Arundel succeeded Archbishop Chichely before whom was conuented Iohn Claydon who for the space of 20. yeeres before had beene suspected of Lollardy He was accused to haue diuers bookes in English out of which his Aduersaries collected 15. Articles which they condemned as hereticall and erronious for which cause he was condemned and shortly after together with Rich. Turning burned in Smithfield Shortly after the Archbishop with the rest of the Clergy made other constitutions against the Lollards After the setting forth of which constitutions great inquisition followed in England and many good men whose hearts began to fauour the Gospell were brought to much vexation and trouble and caused outwardly to abiure Thus while Christ had the inward hearts of men Antichrist would needs possesse the outward body and make them sing his song In the number of whom were I. Taylor W. Iames I. Dwerfe Iohn Iourdly M. Roberts Parson of Hegly W. Henry I. Gall Bart. Cornmonger N. Hooper Th. Granter so also Ralph Mongin Priest was condemned to perpetuall prison After this followed the Recantation of Ric. Monke and of Edmund Frith besides many more recorded in the same Register who likewise for their faith and Religion were much vexed and troubled The names of 16. are
and contention about religion as in the History of the Church doth appeare In the Regist. of Fitz-Iames B. of London are cōtained the names of diuers to the number of 40. persecuted in the Diocesse of London betweene the yeere 1509. and 1527. of whom some after they had shewed their weaknes in recanting did afterwards returne to their former profession and cleauing fast to it were for it martyred as W. Sweeting I. Bruster burned in Smithfield 1511. I. Browne burned in Ashford about the 4. yere of H. 8. about which time also fell out the trouble of Rich. Hunne whom after his death they condemned of Heresie But now the numbers of Confessors and Martyrs arise to such multitudes that a long discourse and a large treatise would hardly suffice to set them downe wherefore I passe ouer the story of I. Stilman Tho. Man Rob. Cosin Chri. Shomaker Martyrs As also diuers Confessors to the number of 35. abiured about the yeere 1520. for speaking against worshipping of Saints Pilgrimage Inuocation of the Virgin the Sacrament of the Lords body and for hauing bookes in English as the 4. Euangelists the Epistles of Paul Peter and Iames the Book of the Reuelation a Booke of Antichrist of the 10. Commandements and Wickliffes Wicket Bookes no doubt wonderfully stuft with heresies doctrine vnmeet for Christians to know and vnderstand Oh the subtilty of those Romish Foxes How many men and women were persecuted in the Diocesse of Lincolne vnder Bishop Longland anno 1521. for opposing or not consenting to the Romish doctrine of pilgrimage Image-worship Transubstantiation reall presence Their arguments they collected out of the Scripture the Shepheards Calender Wickliffes Wicket and such other bookes as they had amongst them and notwithstanding they had not with them any learned man to ground them in the doctrine yet they conferring together did conuert one another the Lords hand working among them maruelously After the great abiuration which was vnder Bishop Smith they were termed amongst themselues Knowne men or iust fast men not much vnlike to the present name of Protestants Amongst whom to see their trauels their earnest seeking burning zeale their readings watchings sweete assemblies loue and concord godly liuing faithfull meaning may make vs now in these our dayes of free profession to be ashamed From all which duely considered we may easily gather what would haue bin the number of Professors had the world looked friendly vpon them For if when the Temporall Magistrate tooke hand with the Ecclesiasticall to suppresse them and roote them out if when all men of note and learning either for hope of preferment or feare of trouble turned their studies otherwaies if when the Scripture and English bookes were forbidden if when bookes were so rare and deare and so hard to come by as before the Science of printing was inuented they were if notwithstanding all these hinderances the Truth of God did so multiply amongst them what would it haue done had they had multitude of bookes or those cheape the Scripture in English had they had learned men to guide them had they liued in a peaceable time had they had the Magistrate either for them or at least not against them for why was the increase of the Gospell in Bohemia by the preaching of I. Husse more remarkable and further spred then here in England but that the Magistrate with his sword was not so seuere against them Whence was it that Luther preuailed more then Wickliffe but that hee had a supporter the Duke of Saxony which Wickliffe wanted Amongst vs at this day doe we not all know that Arminianisme would haue more preuailed and infected further then yet it doth if the Kings Maiesty were either for it or not against it Wherefore all men may easily see that they are much deceiued who cōdemne this our doctrine of nouelty and insultingly demand Where was your Church before Luther To whom wee answere out of this demonstration hitherto made That euer since the dayes of Wickliffe almost 200. yeeres before Luther the doctrine of the reformed Churches that is those points wherein they differ from the church of Rome and in which the reformation doth consist these points I say were held and professed for whence came those persecutions or vvho vvere they that thus were persecuted If of the same profession with them then is their cruelty vnreasonable to persecute their ovvn fraternity if they were othervvise how then is the doctrine of the reformed Churches so new or the Professours thereof so lately start vp as our aduersaries pretend they be But this is the fruit of ignorance and carelesnesse to read the Histories of the Church and the records of antiquity heretofore For then might men easily see that the Church of England hath not wanted multitudes of well-disposed hearts howsoeuer the publike authority then lacked to maintaine the open preaching of the Gospell Now whilst our aduersaries bethinke themselues what to say to this part of the Induction concerning the estate of the Church in our owne country of England in the ages next before Luther I wil passe ouer into Germany and see what successe the Gospell had there especially in Bohemia by the preaching of Iohn Husse and others who liued in the same age with Wickliffe Afterwards will I proceede to prosecute the argument of the Induction by the demonstration of History in the ages before Wickliffe and Husse if it shall be thought conuenient FINIS