William Swinderby a worthy defender of the faith with Wickliffe was accused to the Bishop of Lincolne of certaine Articles both vntruely collected and cruelly exhibited against him by the Friers by their vehemency was vrged to reuoke afterward he remoouing into the Diocesse of Hereford was there also molested and troubled vnder Iohn Tresnant Bishop of Hereford vpon the same Articles the which Articles as they were giuen in by the Friers and how answered by Swinderby in his protestation hangeth vpon record and out of the Registers in the same old English in which it was written is by M. Fox transcribed into his History of the Church By the reading of which protestation wee may note a notable piece of knauery in his accusers viz. not to deliuer his assertions faithfully as he did deliuer them but as they supposed to make him most odious in the defence of them and by that we may well guesse that these points in Wickliffe which seeme rough and harsh met with such vnhandsome workmen The processe against this Swinderby his declaration vpon certaine conclusions touching the Sacrament of the Altar Confession Indulgences and touching Antichrist his appeale to the King his letter to the Parliament doe sufficiently confirme his worth and sufficiency in the cause 1391. Walter Brute a man of sufficient learning though no Priest was conuented before the Bishop of Worcester and accused of the same Articles with Swinderbies admirable it is to reade his storie especially in it his learned declarations concerning Antichrist the Popes vsurped power the power of the Keyes free iustification by faith onely auricular confession absolution the matter of the Sacrament Transubstantiation Idolatry Exorcising priestly blessing buying and selling of prayers and other Romish dregs the lawfull vse of an oath in which hee also prooueth that the City of Rome is Babylon What could hee haue done more in our cause had he liued since Luther Out of his declarations may be taken a sufficient Commentary and Exposition of those Articles which as they are ascribed vnto Wickliffe seeme something harsh Furthermore the Bull of Pope Boniface the 9. dated the 15. Kal. Oct. in the 6. yeere of his Popedome directed to King Richard the 2. and to the Bishop of Hereford doth confesse that these Christians whom the common people called Lollards did daily grow and increase and preuaile against their Diocesans for which cause the Pope stirreth vp the King against them who therupon directed forth a commission to the Bishops to proceed with greater authority against William Swinderby Stephen Bell Walter Brute and others of the same opinions By which meanes the growth of the Gospell was nipped and a little kept in but afterward it brake forth with more effectualnesse as may appeare by the booke of conclusions exhibited to the Parliament holden at London in the 18. of Richard the 2. 1395. Touching the abuses of the Church Popish priest-hood single life of Priests the fained miracle of Transubstantiation Exorcismes and Priestly blessings Masses for the dead Pilgrimages and oblations to Reliques and Images Confession Nunnes and Widdowes vowing single life in all which a reformation was desired in the said Bill the copy whereof is to bee seene in Archiuis Regijs so also the Kings dealing with certaine of his Lords as namely Richard Sturie Lewis Clifford Tho. Latimer Io. Mountacute c. whom he did sharpely rebuke and threaten terribly for that he heard them to be fauourers of that side Adde to this the complaints of the Bishops against the Londoners occasioned by another brawle but certainely the maine matter was because the Londoners were fauourers of Wickliffes doctrine as in the story of S. Albons is to be seene vpon which occasion the King remoued the Courts and Termes to be kept at Yorke to the great decay of the City which happened An. 1393. All these things laid together doe plainely and demonstratiuely tell vs that there was more then one or two knowne to be infected else what need such adoo with Letters Epistles Bulls Mandates Commissions to roote out the proceeding of a few No doubt therefore but there were many worthy witnesses and confessors of the truth of the Gospell 1400. After the deposing of Richard 2. when Henrie 4. had gotten the Crowne the next yeere hee called a Parliament in which one W. Sawtree a good man and faithfull Priest inflamed with the zeale of true Religion required he might be heard for the commodity of the whole Realme But the matter being smelt out by the Bishops they obtained that it might be referred to the Conuocation before whom being conuented examined of diuers Articles of Religion agreeable to Wickliffes doctrine for that hee stood constantly in the defence of the truth was by them condemned degraded and lastly burned And this was the first Martyr that suffered for Religion since the renuing of it by Wickliffe for howsoeuer the Bishops had obtained the Statute de comburendo in the daies of Rich. 2. yet in all his time none suffered death for that cause But when Henry 4. came to the Crowne hee willing to keepe in with the Clergy which in those daies was a strong faction put the Statute in execution first vpon this Sawtree and after him followed many moe some whereof are recorded but certainely the names of many are lost and forgotten See the words of the Statute made in the second yeere of Henry the fourth mentioning a good company of such Preachers whom that age called hereticall 1407. The storie of William Thorpe is famous written by his owne hand contayning his accusation and examination before Archbishop Arundell his answere his commendation of VVickliffe and defence of his doctrine he taught against the Sacrament of the Altar Masse Images Pilgrimages pride of Priest confession c. A constant Professour hee was of the Truth and questionlesse continued to the end howsoeuer his end is vnknowne in all likely-hoode he dyed in prison The like end befell to Iohn Ashton another of Wickliffes followers who for the same Doctrine of the Sacrament was condemned by the Bishops and because he would not recant was committed to perpetuall prison wherein the good man continued vntill his death Somewhat before Thorps trouble happened the trouble of Iohn Puruey who as Waldensis writeth was the Library of the Lollards and a glosse vpon Wickliffe This Puruey together with Harford a Doct. of Diuinity were grieuously tormented and punished in the Castle of Saltwood at length recanted at Pauls Crosse afterward againe hee was imprisoned vnder Archbishop Chichely in the yeere 1421. his Articles which he taught were touching transubstantiation confession Power of the keyes vowes of chastity the charge of Priests he said that Innocent the third and the 600. Bishops and all the rest of the Clergy which in the Councell of Lateran determined the doctrine of transubstantiation and confession were fooles and blockheads seducers of the people Heretickes and blasphemers he wrote diuers bookes as touching the Sacrament of
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