great desire heare his sermons did read the scriptures being turned by him into their mother tongue so that they could dispute with the Priestes which the very women were able to doe yea and one woman did make a Booke Not long after three of the schollers of this Preacher did affirme that the Pope thē liuing was Antichrist who had proclaimed a Croisado against a Christian King that was Ladislaus King of Naples then infesting the lands of the Church of Rome These three persons were martyred for this speech and tooke their death patiently In small processe of time this Doctrine so multiplied that as Onuphrius hath the Councell of Constance was called principally for two things the one was against the Hussites the other to take away the Schisme between the Popes These of liklihood grew great that now a generall Councell was called against them Neither did the people only agree in faith with Iohn Hus but the Nobles of Bohemia stood apparantly for him in so much that they sent two seuerall and solemne supplications to the Councell of Constance in his behalfe And when these their request were neglected and Iohn Hus and Hierom of Prage contrary to the Emperors safe conduct giuen to the former of them were burnt the Nobles of Bohemia did mightily murmure against the Fathers of the Councell in so much that Sigismund the Emperour to giue them satisfaction on his behalfe did write vnto them excusing himselfe touching the death of these men and laying the fault vpon the Councell But this gaue not contentment vnto the Bohemians now robbed of their principall Pastor but being mooued at the perfidiousnesse of those at Constance they assembled themselues together to the number of thirtie thousand and in the fields vpon three hundred Tables erected for that purpose they receiued the Eucharist in both kindes Afterward they rushing into the Churches and Monasteries did breake downe the Images there It was not long after but that vnder Iohannes Zisca a Noble and victorious Warriour these Hussites grew to bee of Souldiers fortie thousand in one armie who got into their hands the Castle of Prage the chiefe Citie of Bohemia Then not long after did Pope Martin the fift publish a Croysado against these whom hee called Heretiques promising remission of their sinnes to such as could destroy them Notwithstanding these hated persons did still prosper getting many Victories vnder Procopius and other Captaines but especially vnder Zisca who was of that dexteritie and felicitie in his Warres as that Cochleus almost amazed at his strange successe sayeth That scant any Historie of the Greekes or Hebrewes or Latines doeth mention such a Generall as Zisca was Hee built a new Citie as a refuge for his men and called it Thabor whereof diuers embracing the Doctrine of Hus were afterward called Thaborites A second time did Pope Martine proclaime a Croysado against them graunting remission of sinnes to all who did either fight or contribute money against them Vpon which there were at one time fortie thousand Germane Horse men gathered to destroy them but such was the terror of their name that vpon the approaching to them the Horsemen of their owne accord turned their backes and fled The Popish Authour saith that there was in this some secret Iudgement of God but hee thinketh the cause of their ill successe was that they had Bishops and Priests to their Leaders and Captaines By this time came on the Councell of Basil which as Onuphrius saith was held against the Hussites This sheweth that there were many which may also appeare in that the Fathers at Basil did by an Indulgence graunt to the Bohemians this dispensation That contrary to the Act of the Councell of Constance they might receiue the Eucharist both in Bread and Wine Genebrard who was euer a true seruant to the Pope confesseth so much but addeth withall that the Cup was permitted vnto them because that alwaies before had beene their custome so to communicate yet saith he all was on that condition That they should not finde fault with the contrary vse nor seuer themselues from the Catholique Church in other Rites and Doctrines Cochleus nameth no such condition Nay to shew that simply and directly it was yeelded vnto them hee reporteth that the Legates of the Councell of Basil did thus expound that which was concluded in the Bohemians behalfe The Councell doeth permit the Eucharist vnder both kindes not tollerating it onely as a thing euill as to the Iewes was permitted a Bill of Diuorce but so that by the authoritie of Christ and his Church it is lawfull and profitable to the worthy Receiuers Where is it likely that vnlesse the Bohemians now after Husses death had beene a strong partie the Antichristian rabble would haue yeelded to their importunitie so directly against the Canon of the next precedent Councell Indeed the Emperour Sigismund did afterward take a course to lessen their number when he sent many of them into Hungaria against the Turkes that there they might either conquering winne to him victories or being conquered themselues so be destroied and perish He who list to see more concerning the multitude of these Professors let him but looke on diuers places in the workes of Aeneas Syluius who was afterward Pope by the name of Pius the second and hee shall finde him reporting of his owne knowledge as trauailing himselfe into Bohemia that they were many and very earnest also in their Religion If heere it should bee replyed that these perhaps were base people and of the vulgar who thus followed Iohn Hus but men of learning and knowledge or persons of authoritie they had none to ioyne with them the course of the Story will easily cleare the same and shew that they had both learned Pastors and great Magistrates who beleeued as they beleeued and stood wholly with them Of what literature Hus himselfe was is euident by his workes yet remaining and by his personall withstanding the whole Councell of Constance And what learning what eloquence what memory all admirable were in Hierom of Prage as also with what singular patience he tooke his death is most significantly deliuered in an Epistle of Poggius who as an eye witnes beheld him and seemed to be much affected with the singular parts of the man Which noble testimony of that worthy Poggius is acknowledged by Cochleus Whilst these two liued there were diuers Priests and Preachers which agreed in their doctrine and in their Sermons reproued the Popish Clergy for their Simony keeping of Concubines auarice ryot and Secular-like pride But after the death of those two famous seruants of God their followers got to them a Bishop who was a Suffragane to the Archbishop of Prage and by him they put into holy Orders as many Clerkes as they would Which the Archbishop tooke so ill that he suspended his Suffragan But it
copy of that treatise is yet extant and deserueth to bee read There wee may finde these and the like positions that Bread remaineth in the Sacraments after Consecration that The Pope is Antichrist that Nothing is to be beleeued but what may bee confirmed out of the Scriptures that The Pope is the Idoll of desolation sitting in the Temple of God that Antichrist is not to come of the Tribe of Dan neither onely to raigne three yeeres and a halfe that The Citie Apoc. 17 is Rome that Our Iustification is freely by faith alone that The doctrine of the Pope differeth from that of Christ that Miracles are no assurance of truth that Men are not rashly to bee reputed Saints that The Pope hath not power beyond other Bishops neither is the Head of the Church that Papists mistake the keys of binding loosing that Infants dying before Baptisme are not therefore damned that Auricular Confession is not prescribed in the Scripture that The Canon Lawe is ill grounded that The Pope deceiueth men in his pardons that Absolution is to be sought at the hands of God onely that The Priests vse vaine prayers in the Masses that Exorcismes and holy water are vnlawfull that Priests doe sinne who bargaine to sing for the soules of men departed that Religious men and women are deuourers of widowes houses that Selling of orders and dirges is naught that The Pope is the beast with the two hornes like the Lamb while he challengeth the double sword that He seeketh to bee worshipped as God that Dux Cleri doth make vp the number 666 that Worshipping of Images is idolatry that Temporall goods may be taken from the Clergie offending There was a great Papist one William Wideford whom before I mentioned who giueth testimony to this Treatise of Bruite whom hee calleth Waltherus Britta in Latine and writing against Wicklef maketh twise mention of a booke of his owne sent to the Bishop of Hereford Dominum Erfordensem he calleth him in confutation of the book of Walter Bruite While I write these things I cannot but think vpon the audacious absurdnes of an ignoraÌ„t popish Doctor who blusheth not to vtter that it is most manifest that All in England were Papists without exception from the first christening thereof vntill this age of King Henry the Eight He is doubtless an honest man and worthie to bee trusted on his word It is not onely manifest but most manifest not that the greatest part but all yea and because it shall not be scanted all without exception were Papists c. Were Iohn Wicklefs bones burnt because he was a Papist And were the Bulls of the pope denounced against him for that cause And were the Arch-bishop Arundels constitutions against his Followers so seuere because they were Papists The man is to be pitied for his simplicity A man may know by the Lawes Proclamations Letters and Proceedings by the State against some as against Hereticks as also by the records of Bishops yet extant and by the manifold executions and burnings afterward that euen in that deepe time of ignorance England did giue most noble testimony of Christs truth against Popery euen so farre as to the fiery triall If the Christian Reader peruse the Ecclesiasticall History of Master Fox hee shall finde how before the Councel William Sawtree a Priest was burnt after him Iohn Badby that because they were Wickleuists or Lollards as they then called them and not because they were Papists There are the reasons also and asseuerations of Puruey and Thorpe against Poperie with diuers other matters And is it not to be thought that the Hereticks increased when a Synod was assembled in S. Paul's Church at London into the which came twelue Inquisitors who in a former Synod were appointed to sift and scan the writings of Wicklef wherein they found 246. Conclusions all which they supposed to be heresie But it is plaine that in the first yeere of King Henry the Fift diuers were put to death as Lollards Afterward the Lord Cobham was hanged for a shew as if hee had beene a kinde of Traytor but hee was then also burnt as a reputed Heretick So was one Iohn Claydon for his Conscience consumed to ashes Not long after the comming of Henry the Sixt to the Kingdome besides diuers which were questioned and much troubled about religion Taylor and White two Priests and Houeden a Citizen of London were burnt and some other followed afterward Neither did the daies of King Edward the Fourth and of King Henry the Seuenth escape without the Martyrdome of sundry English yeelding vp their liues for Iesus Christ his sake and for the profession of the truth The particular Stories of whom may bee found in the Author aboue-named The Clergy of those times did beare much sway with their Princes and left no meanes vnsought no stone vnturned to keepe vp the dignity and preeminence of their romish Hierarchy and the superstitious Idolatry which then was in vse Now if in the Raigne of all these Princes so many were slaughtered for the testimony of a good conscience how many weake brethren were there who made not open profession of their faith how many did there lie hid diuers of them in probability hauing confederates and some of them beeing Priests and therfore not vnlikely to haue learning both to confirme themselues in the truth and such others as heard them Thus haue I both in England and else-where brought vp the doctrine of the Gospell vntill the time of Iohn Wicklef who flourished in the yeere 1371. Heer it may please the Reader to remember that the iudgement before cited of two Popes was that Wicklef taught the doctrine of Marsilius of Padua of Iohn of Gâ—â—dune Of the later of these there yet appeareth no monument written but he ioined in opinion with the former But as for Marsilius Patauinus our Aduersaries cannot but acknowledge him to be a very learned man after the measure of the age wherein he liued which was in the yeere 1324. He wrote a Book against the vsurped power of the Bishop of Rome which argument he entred into in behalfe of the Emperour Lewes of Bauiere who was mightily layd-at by three Popes successiuely There the Authour auoweth as right and iust the supreme authoritie of the Emperour displaying the iniquity of the Popes vsurpation ouer Christian Princes and generall Councels The book is worth the reading to see Whether all in times past did allow of the Popes doctrine and proceedings or not his opinions are these I that The Pope is not superiour to other Bishops and much lesse to the Emperour and ciuill Magistrates 2 that Things are to be decided by the Scripture 3 that Learned men of the Laity haue voices in Councels 4 that The Clergie and Pope himself are to be subiect to Magistrates 5 that The Church is the whole company of the faithfull 6 that Christ is the foundation
and Head of the Church and appointed no one to be his Vicar 7 that priests may be maried 8 that Saint Peter was neuer at Rome 9 that The Popish Synagogue is a denne of theeues 10 that The Doctrine of the Pope is not to be followed because it leads to euerlasting destruction In the time of this Marsilius liued the noble Poet â—â—ente who wrote also a booke against the pope concerning the Monarchy of the Emperour but for taking part with Lewes Bauiere he was condemned for an Heretike and his book as hereticall Then also wrote Occam directly to the same purpose but for his labour therein and his large reproofe of the Papacie in other points hee was excommunicated by the Romane Bishop which he so much contemned that hee not vnwillingly dyed vnder that Sentence About that time were heer and there dispersed sundry godly men who saw more than the common sort touching religion as Hayabalus a Minorite who frequently said in his Sermons that The Church of Rome was the whore of Babylon and that the Pope and his Cardinals were meere Antichrists which propositions were held somewhat before also by Gerhardus and Dulcinus two learned men This Dulcinus may bee thought to haue many followers since Cochleus could say that Iohn Hus committed spirituall fornication with the Wickleuists and with the Dulcinists The same opinions concerning the Pope and Rome did that rare man Franciscus Petrarcha seeme fully to embrace as may appeare to any who will reade his workes howsoeuer Cardinall Bellarmine labour to make the world beleeue otherwise beeing desirous to haue vs thinke that Petrarch spake not against the Pope but some abuses in the Court of Rome And to make it plaine that it was not a slight conceipt or onely in a few that The Pope was Antichrist and Rome was Babylon Apo. 17. God stird vp yet more in that age who proclaimed the same matter as Petrus Iohannes Biraensis or Piranensis who was a Minorite and for teaching so was digged vp after that he was dead and his body after the Sentence of Clement the Sixt was burnt A few yeeres after him did Iohannes de Rupe-scissâ— a Monk teach the same doctrine which as euery man may ghesse doth ruinate the Papacy in euery respect Iohannes Gerson came not so farre but saw in his age many horrible abuses of the Church of Rome and in his writing spake liberally of it And it did bite deepe when hee disputed that the Pope might bee taken away safely from the Church and yet no danger follow of it But let vs now goe a little higher I mentioned before how Cochleus saith that Iohn Hâ—s took his doctrine from the Wickleuists and the Dulcinists Heare I pray you what he saith Hus did commit spirituall fornication with many aliens with the Wickleuists the Dulcinists with the Leonists the Waldenses the Albingenses and other of that sort enemies of the Church of Rome These Leonists or poor-men of Lyons and Waldenses and Albingenses were the same men but diuersly on diuers occasioÌ„s tearmed by the Roman Synagogue which hated them Their opinion then did Hus maintain AEneas Syluius doth also witnesse the same affirming that the Hussites did embrace the opinions of the Waldenses There you may see that their doctrine was against the Primacy of the Pope Purgatory and such like matters Genebrard who saith that these Waldenses began Anno 1170. or as some other will 1218. rehearseth out of Syluius these opinions of theirs that Prayers for the dead and Purgatory fire are an inuention of the Priests couetousnesse that Holy Images are to be defaced that Confirmation and Extreme Vnction are no Sacraments that Auricular Confession is a trifling thing Hee who list may see a great many more of their positions agreeing with the doctrine which we teach which may well also be gathered from the Iesuites themselues For that is the cause that Bellarmine ioyneth these together as Hereticks the Berengarians the Petrobrusians the Waldenses the Albingenses the Wickleuists the Hussites the Lutherans c. And Lewes Richcome another of that Society in his defence of the Masse against the Lord Plessis saith that The Ministers for the confirming of their figuratiue sense in This is my body haue none for their Doctors for their Antients for their Fathers but Berengarius Zuinglius Caluin Carolastadius Wicklef the Albingenses the Waldenses These Waldenses then and Albingenses are ours by the confession of our Aduersaries and of these long agone there were no small company For as Du Haillan in the life of Philip the Third King of France speaketh being driuen from Lyons in France they withdrew themselues into Lombardy where they so multiplied that their doctrine began to spread through Italy and came as farre as Sicily As the same Author writeth Philippus Augustus came to his Kingdome Anno 1180. which is now more then foure hundred yeeres since and in his time it was that the Albingenses did so increase in France that the Pope and Princes adioyning were afraid of their number Hee who readeth the Story of them shall see that they are reported to haue held many grosse wicked and absurd opinions mingled with their true Doctrine But Du Haillan the best and iudicious Chronicler of France and no partiall witnesse in our behalfe since his profession touching Religion was such that hee was imployed to write that Story by King Henry the third had not so little wit but that he perceiued those imputations to bee laid on them in odium and of purpose to procure their defamation See how wisely hee speaketh truth and his conscience and yet so coucheth it that his fellowes might not bee iustly offended at his words Although saith hee these Albingenses had euill opinions yet so it is that these did not stir vp the hate of the Pope and of great Princes against them so much as their liberty of speech did wherewith they vsed to blame the vices and dissolutenesse of the said Princes and of the Clergie yea to tax the vices and actions of the Popes This was the principall point which brought them into vniuersall hatred and which charged them with more euil opinions then they had Now first that they were not men infamous either for their vile opinions or filthy conuersation and secondly that they were not onely base and poore people it is euident by this that so many noble and worthy men took part with them yea to the aduenturing of their liues in their company and for their behalfe as the Counts or Earles of Tholouse of Coninges of Bigorr of Carmain yea the King of Arragon And when Raymund the Earle of Tholouse was for his beliefe excommunicated by the Pope and a Croisado was proclaimed against him and the Albingenses as if they had beene Saracens or Infidels not onely the Counties of Foix and Coninges came with all their strength to assist Raymund
disturbe the peace of the vniuersall world Whereunto Liberius did not take exception saying that the visible Church stood for him and Athanasius but rather giueth another reason to make good his being alone Be it that I am alone notwithstanding for that the cause of the faith is not the worse for a great while agoâ—e there were three onely found who would resist the Kings commandement Heere the Church for any external shew was low brought for if any body held it vp it was Athanasius who then played least in sight and durst not appeare For this Liberius who did for a time second him did afterward shrinke He went at first into banishment in defence of the truth but after that he was solicited and laid at by Fontunatianus that he relented and condiscended to subscribe to the Arrian heresie as Hierom witnesseth who liued in that age and was long conuersant in Rome and therefore could better report what was the issue of Liberius his constancie then some others who doe relate it otherwise What can be said for him Bellarmine hath but yet inforced by the euident testimony of Athanasius Hillary and Hierome he confesseth so much as I haue here set down but couer it he would that he only consented to the externall act of subscribing but remained in heart Othodox Why should it then bee a maruell if in processe of time Antichrist growing to greater strength the Church should bee in couert It is no more then often fell out vnder the Iewish Synagogue hath bin exemplified to haue been since among the Christians and was so euidently foretold before In so much that by the example of the woman it can not bee the true Church vnlesse it should be hidden in the wildernesse Which while our Popish teachers deny to agree to their Romish Church but professe that it hath euer been in sight they themselues doe by a consequent proclaime that they are not the pure and vndefiled flying woman but another painted harlot and strumpet The true Church is for a time out of sight in the wildernes but so say they was their Church neuer and therefore will they nill they their Church is not the true Church And here to the end that the slaunderous calumniation of our aduersaries may the more be manifested to all those who wil not wilfully close their eyes against truth I will a little shew the vanity yet maliciousnes of their obiection when they say there was neuer any of our faith before the daies of Luther who in the yeare 1517 began for his part to display the kingdome of Antichrist Where I pray the Reader to consider that the most part of those whom I shall cite are Popish Writers and no way partially affected towards vs. We say then that Martine Luther was not the first brocher of those points which he taught again't papistry but as he did originally deduce them from the Scriptures out of the works of the ancient Fathers so he did derine them also hereditarily from other who immediatly before him had taught the same doctrine left it both in books the hearts of men recommended vnto him as principal parties herein I name Iohn Hus Hierome of Prage and all such as were their schollers in or about Bohemia who before Luthers time oppugned the beliefe of the church of Rome their profession was not extinguished vntill his dayes howsoeuer it before had bin mainly assaulted If we could learne this no where els yet Fr. Guicciardine an Italian Florentin Historiographer would informe vs of it who writing of the yeare 1520 saith plainly that Luther did set abroad the Heresies as he tearmeth them of the Bohemians and hee nameth there Hus and Hierome as former diuulgers of the same and Petrus Messias a Spaniard therein agreeth with him who mentioning the opinions of Hus and the Bohemians saith they were the seed of those errours which were afterward in Germany alluding to the doctrine of Luther There is no man whose testimony in this behalfe may be of more worth then Ioh. Cochleus First because he wrote a large story of purpose concerning the Hussites therfore by his long search reading and writing in that argument may be persumed to know as much as any Secondly because it may be well imagined that he would fain nothing to do Luther good in as much as he also wrote a volume purposely against that worthy seruant of God intending to rip vp his whole life from yeare to yeare and to censure all his works yet this enemy of his in the Story of the Hussites doth plentifully satisfie vs about the matter now in question One where he telleth vs that Hus did slay soules for an hundred yeares together neither yet doth he cease to slay them by the second death Within an hundred yeares after him came in Luther according as the said Iohn Hus did prophecie not long before his death And when it is added that yet he doth not cease to slay it is manifest that his Doctrine remained till the dayes of Cochleus In another place he relateth that Luther did stirre vp seditions in Germanie by the Books of the Hussites Afterward he calleth those who were in Germany in his time New Hussites And againe Hus did so rent the vnitie of the Church that vnto this day there remaineth a pitifull diuision in Bohemia He proceedeth in the same matter elsewhere saying That the people of Germanie are now by Luther partakers of the Heresies of Hus and Hierome One sort of the followers of this Iohn Hus did call themselues Thaborites and these were they who most dissented of all from the Doctrine of Rome Of these he speaketh thus Vnto this day remaineth the Sect of the Thaborites in many places of Bohemia and Morauia vnder the name of Picards and Waldenses Lastly the same Cochleus in the yeare 1534. doth wish that hee may see the remainders or leauings of the Hussites to returne to the Church and the Germanes to cast out all new Sectes VVhat can bee more euident then that the Doctrine of Iohn Hus was sensibly and apparantly continued somewhere euen till the dayes of Martin Luther Vnto which may bee added that whereas Luther began to shew himselfe but in the yeare 1517 that very yeere was ended the Councell of Laterane held at Rome and finished by Pope Leo the tenth And there consultation was had of reforming the manners of the Church and of recalling the Bohemians to the vnity of the Church of Rome And as these Testimonies doe conuince that the Christian Confession of Hus was not extinguished at the comming of Martin Luther so may there be good reason assigned why it did so long continue in as much as it was imbraced by many and earnestly maintained euen vnto the death When Hus began first to preach the people which vsed handy craftes did with
the same time liued Archdeacon Nicholaus Clemangâ—is who rebuked many things in the Ecclesiasticall state and spake excellently in the matter of generall Councels and their circumstances as hereafter may be declared Petrus de Aliaco Cardinall of Cambray gaue a Tract to the Councell of Constance touching the reformation of the Church There doth he reproue many notable abuses of the Romanists giueth aduise how to represse them There should not be multiplied saith he such varietie of Images and pictures in the Churches there should not be so many holy dayes there should not be so many new S t s canonized Apocryphal writings should not be read in the churches on holy dayes such numerosity variety of religious persons not expedient there are so many Orders of begging Friers that their state is burtheusome to men hurtfull to hospitals and to the poore few doe now study diuinity for the abuse of the Church of Rome who hath despised Diuines all now turne to the law artes of gaine He saith that it was then a prouerbe The Church is come to that estate that it is not worthy to be ruled but by reprobates He hath very much more and in the end concludeth That as there were 7000 who had not bowed to Baal so it is to bee hoped there bee some which desire the reformation of the Church Imagine whether this Cardinall if he had found company to haue ioyned with him would not haue sayd much more About that time liued Leonardus Aretinus whose little book against Hypocrites is worth the reading So is the oration of Antonius Cornelius Eynniâ—hanus laying open the lewd lubricâ—â—e of Priests in his dayes So doth he detect many abuses and errours who wrote The ten grieuances of Germany but those who compiled the hundred grieuances of the German nation doe discouer many more Finally he who list to see further that God euen in those dead dayes had diuers seruants who by more then a glimpse did see the truth and desired yet to be more plentifully instructed in religion let him read the Catologus testium veritatis lately set out and there he shall find diuers whom I haue not named By this time I trust it is manifest how fals a slander that of the Papists is that before the daies of M. Luther there was neuer any man of our religion Til the time of the Councell of Constance this case is cleared And beyond that it is as easie to shew that I. Hus Hierom of Prage had their imediat antecessors in witnessing the faith of Christ For they were instructed much helped by the Books of Io. Wiclif an English man and therefore saith Platina as spectators of Wiclife they were condemned in the Councell of Constance AEneas Syluius sheweth the meanes how those Bohemians came to know the doctrine of Wiclife he saith thus He who first raised vp the opinion of the Hussites had them froÌ„ Oxford carying thence into Bohemia Wiclefs books de Realibus Vniuersalib ' Coehleus who by his good will would bee taken for a great defender of Popery giueth yet a larger testimony for he saith That as a Bohemian brought first into Bohemia Wiclefs books de Realibus Vniuer salibus so there was afterward one Peter Paine a Scholler of Wiclefs who after the death of his Master came also into Bohemia and brought with him Wiclef bookes which were in quantity as great as S. Austins works many of these books did Hus afterward translate into their mother tongue In plaine termes after this the Author deliuereth it That the Hussites Thaborites were branches of Wiclefe And in the same book Hus did commit spiritual fornication with many strangers with Wiclefist the Dulcimist c. And in the next he auoucheth that Hus Hierom tooke their heresies froÌ„ Wiclef And once againe he termeth the Protestant GermaÌ„s new Wiclefists What an opinion of this man I. Hus had may be fully seen by that wish of his wherin he praied that he might there be where the soul of Wiclef was Now what Wiclef did teach may be easily gathered if by nothing else yet by the deadly hatred which the Romanistes did carrie towards him The Councell of Constance did define him to be an Heretike long after his death commanded that his bones should be taken vp burnt Also Pope Iohn 23. in a general Councell at Rome did before that time condemne him for an heretike which the Hussites did but laugh at but no man had a harder conceit of him then Cochl who sticketh not to affirme that he thinketh that the torments of Wiclefe are greater in hell then those of Iudas or Nero. If God almightie had no better opinion of him the man were in an ill case But the best is this cholerick Criticke is not the Iudge of all the world He was angry belike in behalfe of Transubstantiation concerning which he citeth this article of Wiclefe There was neuer a greater heresie then that which putteth the Accident without a Subiect in the Eucharist But hee might haue named more points wherein that holy man did differ from the Church of Rome The Councel of ConstaÌ„ce picketh out 45. articles of his Positions which the learned Reader may find there Yet doubtles many of them are falsly reported which is a matter common with enemies of the truth to peruert misconster that so they may more freely defame There was one Wilh Wideford who tooke on him to answer 18. articles said to bee Wiclefs whence a man may gathersome of his doctrine But that all things there said against him were not true may wel be obserud out of the same answere declaring that he had many things concerning Wiclef but only by a fame and report and that is not the most certaine relater What positions indeed he held may be seen in M. Fox reporting his life and actions as also in Catalogo testium veritatis And those who be not learned may esteem of theÌ„ by the doctrine of Io Huâ— before rehearsed who by the testimony of the Papists themselues as I haue shewed maintained the opinions of Wiclef Now that this worthy Champion Preacher of the Gospel of Iesus Christ went not alone but had many English men and women who in his life time after his death beleeued as he beleeued and professed as he professed is in the next place to be shewed Among the chiefe of his fautours were Iohn of Gant as Parsons the Iesuite confesseth and Lord Henry Percy the one of them Duke of Lancaster the other Marshall of England M. Fox citeth out a Register of the Archb. of Canterbury a Mandate that the Conclusions of Wiclefe were preached in diuers and sundry places of the Archbishops Prouince generally commonly and publikely The same also is manifested by a letter of the Archbishop to the Bishop
of LoÌ„don and in a Monition directed to Oxford where it is said that certain Conclusions hereticall and erronious were generally and commonly preached and published in diuers places of the Prouince of Canterbury There be extant also Letters of king Richard 2. directly signifying so much But there is nothing which may more amply testifie the spreading of his doctrine then an Act of Parliament in the beginning almost of that young Kings dayes where it is related that there were diuers Preaching dayly not onely in Churches and Church-yardes but also in markets faires other open places where as great congregation of people is diuers Sermons containing heresies and notorious errours This putteth me in minde of a written book which once I saw being a Chronicle compiled by a Monk of Leicester Abby who writing of the time of the said King reporteth at large that the people in faires and markets and riding by the way and almost euery where would talke of the Scripture and reprooue the customes of that time as also the Priests to the exceeding great trouble and offence of the Clergie This they might the rather do out of the Word of God because the Scriptures were then translated into English as may bee seene by diuerse Copies written and remaining vnto this day supposed to be so turned by Wicklef And it is very probable that in Leicester shire there were many of those of whom the Monk Leicestrensis spake since at Lutterworth a Towne in that County Iohn Wicklef was beneficed But the greatest part of this learned mans abode was at the first in the Vniuersitie of Oxford where hee was both a Doctor and Reader in Diuinity and therefore is to bee conceiued to haue many learned men partaking with him in his opinions Master Fox saith out of the Chronicle of S. Albanes that hee had a Benefice in Oxford of which he was depriued by Simon Sudbury Arch-Bishop of Canterbury It may bee this was nothing else but the Mastership or chiefe Gouernors place in Bailioll Colledge which I am perswaded that hee had since there are yet two antient Writings in the treasury of that Colledge which I haue seene which were made in the name of Iohn Wicklef Master of that house and that in the daies of King Richard the Second But while he liued he had so many fauourers in that Vniuersity as that Master Robert Rigges Vice-Chancelor and the two Proctors took part with him as also Nicholas Herford Philip Repington and Iohn Ashton Preachers and Batchelors of Diuinity and grew into great question for his cause where Repington in the end beeing Doctor did slippe from him Yea so farre was his doctrine there spred that Pope Gregorie the Eleuenth in the yeere 1378 did direct his Bâ—ll to the Vniuersity of Oxford against the Doctrine and Articles of that learned man euen Rome it selfe ringing of his opinions in that Vniuersity Neither did his Followers dye when he himselfe died But long after that Pope Gregory the twelfth did direct downe another Bull to Oxford against Wicklef in which he vsed the same words which his Predecessors had that is to say that Wicklef did follow the doctrine of Marsilius of Padua and of Iohn of Gandune of vnworthy memory Which speech is worth the marking to shew that this man also had his Predecessors The Copie of this latter Bull is to bee seene in the Booke which that worthy louer of Antiquities Master Hare gaue to our Vniuersity where also is to bee seene in the Constitution of a Prouinciall Councell celebrated at Oxford a sharp Inquisition decreed by Thomas Arundel Archbishop of Canterbury against all euen the heads of Colledges and Halles and others suspected of Lollardy and Wicleuisme They might well suppose that the Students of that place were entertainers of such doctrine since about that very time a testimoniall was giuen in their Congregation house vnder seale in fauour of Iohn Wicklef where these words are among other God forbid that our Prelates should haue condemned a man of such honesty for an Heretick And yet in the Councell of Constance hee was condemned for such a one forty yeeres after that he was dead and buried But all would not serue to extirpate his Bookes or memory out of our Vniuersity but euen in the daies of King Edward the Fourth there were new letters directed to the Gouernors of that place by the King himselfe to make search for his Bookes and to burne them I haue in my custody a faire antient Record of that Vniuersity which by meanes of a good friend I haue gained back to this place And therein is a solemne Letter directed from the Conuocation of Doctors and Masters to the King teâ—tifying that according to their Soueraigns Commandement they had with accurate diligence searched out the Bookes and Tracts of Wicklef himselfe and of Reginald Pecock and had burnt them So much adoe was it and that in so long a space to suppresse the head whereunto Wicklefs doctrine was growne in the famous Vniuersity of Oxford How elsewhere in this Kingdome his positions were spred may be easily collected out of Geffry Chaucer who dying about the yeere 1400 may rightly be supposed to haue liued while Ioh. Wicklef liued This Chaucer who wanted neither wit nor learning did at large paint-out the pride lasciuious vicious and intolerable behauior of the Pope Cardinals and Clergy euen applying the name of Antichrist diuers times vnto the Romane Bishop and saying that There were many in those daies of the speakers minde yea finding fault with their faith aswell as with their manners The whole tale is wel worth the reading but I will cite onely a few verses Peter was neuer so great a foole To leaue his Key with such a lorell Or take such cursed such a toole He was aduised nothing well I trow they haue the key of hell Their master is of that place Marshall For there they dressen hem to dwell And with false Lucifer there to fall They beene as proud as Lucifer As angry and as enuious From good faith they beene full farre In couetize they beene curious To catch cattaile as couetous As hound that for hunger will yall Vngodly and vngracious And needily such falshod shall fool fall This and a hundred times as much he expresseth in a simple plough mans person as euidently inferring that the husbandman meanest country body of that time by the reading and hearing of the Word of God could tell what was right and religious and what otherwise yea and complaine of the blindnesse and impiety of the Romanists in that age But if wee would be aduertised what euen Lay-men in those times could doe let vs looke into the Declarations of Walter Bruite who was in question for his opinion before the Bishop of Hereford in the yeere 1393 and gaue vp a a little booke containing those tâ—â—ngs which he maintained The true