godlye disciples left that good manne behynde him to defende the lowlynesse of y e Gospell agaynst the exceadynge pryde ambycyon symâ—nye anaryce hypocresye whoredome sacrylege tyrannye ydolatrouse worshyppynges and other fylthye frutes of those styfnecked Pharysees Agaynst whom Thomas Arundell than Archebysshop of Caunterburye so ferce as euer was Pharao Antiochus Herodes or Cayphas collected in Paules churche at London a vniuersall synode of all the papystycall clergye of Englande in the yeare of oure Lorde a M. CCCC and .xiii. as he had done dyuerse other afore to withstande theyr most godlye enterpryse And this was the fyrst yeare of kynge Henrye the fyft whom they had than made fyt for theyr hande As these hygh Prelates with theyr Pharysees and Scrybes were thus gathered in this pestilent counsell against the Lorde and his worde fyrst there resorted vnto them the .xii. inquysytours of heresyes whom they had appoynted at Oxforde the yeare afore to serche out heretyques with all Vvycleues bokes and they brought CC. and .lxvi. faythfull conclusyons whom they had collected as heresyes out of the seyd bokes The names of the seyd inquysytours were these Iohan Vvitnam a masâ—râ— in the newe college Iohan Langedon monke of Chry churche in Caunterbâ—rye Vvillyam Vfforde regent of the Carmelytes Thomas Clayton regent of the Dominykes Robert Gylberâ— Rycharde Cartysdale Iohan Luclâ—e Rycharde Snedysham Rycharde Flemâ—mynge Thomas Rodborne Robâ—rt Roadberye and Rycharde Grasdale In the meane season caused they ther hyred seruauÌ„tes to blowe it forth a brodâ— through out all the realme that they were there congregate for an wholsom â—nyte and reformacyon of the churche of Englande to stoppe so the mouthes of the coÌ„mon people Soche is alwayes the coÌ„mon practyse of these subtyle sorcerers whyls they are in doynge myschefe to blere the eyes of the vnlerned multitude with one false craft or other After a certen communicacyon they concluded amonge themselues that yt was not possyble for them to make whole Christes cote without seme meanynge therby theyr patched Popyshe synagoge vnlesse certen great menne were brought out of the waye which semed to be the chefe maynteners of the seyd disciples of Vvycleue Amonge whom the most noble knyght syr Iohan Oldecastell the lorde Cobham was complayned of by the generall proctours yea rather betrayers of Christ in his faythfull members to be y e chefe principall Him they accused fyrst for a myghtye mayntener of suspected preachers in y e dyoceses of London Rochestre Herforde contrarye to the myndes of theyr ordynaryes Not onlye they affermed him to haue sent thyder the seyd preachers but also to haue assysted them there by force of armes not withstandynge theyr synodall constitucyon made afore to the coÌ„trarye Last of all they accused him that he was farre otherwyse in beleue of the sacrament of the aultre of penaunce of pylgrymage of ymage worshyppynge and of the ecclesyastycall power than the holye churche of Rome had taught manye years afore In the ende yt was concluded amonge them that without anye farther delaye processe shuld out agaynst him as agaynst a most pernycyouse heretyque Some of that felyshyp which were of more craftye experieÌ„ce than the other wolde in no case haue y e matter so rashlye handeled but thought this waye moche better Consyderynge the seyd lorde Cobham was a manne of great byrthe and in fauer at that tyme with the kynge theyr counsell was to knowe fyrst the kynges mynde to saue all thynges ryght vp This counsell was wele accepted and thervpon the Archebysshop Thomas Arundell with his other Bysshoppes and a great part of the clergye went strayght wayes vnto the kynge as than remaynynge at kenyngton And there they layed forth most grenouse complayntes agaynst the seyd lorde Cobham to his great infamye and blemyshe beynge a manne most godlye The kynge gentyllye harde those bloud thurstye rauenours farre otherwyse than became his princelye dignite he insâ—auÌ„tlye desyred them that in respect of his noble stocke and knyghthode they shulde yet fauorablye deale with him And that they wolde yf yt were possyble without all rygour or extreme handelynge reduce him agayne to the churches vnyte He promysed them also that in case they were contented to take some delyberacyon his selfe wolde seryouslye common the matter with him Anon after the kynge sent for the seyd lorde Cobham And as he was come he called him secretlye admonyshyng him betwixt him and him to submyt himsâ—lfe to his mother the holye churche and as an obedyent chylde to acknowledge himselfe culpable vnto whom the Christen knyght made this answere yow most worthye prince sayth heâ— am I alwayes prompt and willynge to obeye for so moche as I knowe you a Christen kynge and the appoynted minystre of God bearyng his ryghtuouse swerde to the ponnyshment of yll doers and for the sauegarde of them that be vertuouse Vnto you next my eternall lyuynge God owe I my whole obedience and submyt me therunto as I haue done euer all that I haue eyther of fortune or nature redye at all tymes to fulfyll what so euer ye shall in that lorde commaunde me But as touchynge the Pope and his spiritualte trulye I owe theÌ„ neyther sure nor seruyce for so moche as I knowe him by the scripturs to be the great Antichrist the sonne of perdicyon the open aduersarye of God and the abhominacyon standynge in the holye place Vvhan the kynge had hearde this with soche lyke sentences more he wolde talke no longar with him but left him so vtterlye And as the Archebysshop resorted agayne vnto him for an answere he gaue him his full auctorite to cyte him examyne him and ponnyshe him accordynge to the deuylyshe decrees which they call the lawes of holye churche Than the seyd Archebyshop by the couÌ„sell of his other Bysshoppes and clergye appoynted to call before him y e seyd syr Iohan Oldecastell the lorde Cobham and to cause him personallye to apere to answere to soche suspected artycles as they shuld laye agaynst him So sent he forth his chefe sommener with a verye sharpe cytacyon vnto the castell of Cowlynge where as he at that tyme dwelt for his solace And as y e seyd sommener was thyder coÌ„men he durst in no case entre the gates of so noble a manne without his lycens and therfore he returned home agayne his massage not done Than called the Archebysshop one Iohan Butler vnto him which was than the dorekeper of the kynges preuye chambre with him he couenaunted through promyses and rewardes to haue this matter craftelye brought to passe vndre y e kynges name Vvhervpon the seyd Iohan Butler toke the Archebysshoppes sommener with him and went vnto the seyd lorde Cobham shewynge him that it was the kynges pleasure that he shuld obeye that cytacyon and so cyted him frawde lentlye Than sayd he vnto them in fewe wordes that in no case wolde
more his lyfe in the sixt yeare after at the craftye accusement of certen Prelates though it hath in the chronycles an other colour had not God than most gracyously preserued him An other cause of his death yet besydes all that hath bene sayd afore was this He caused all the workes of Iohan Vvycleue to be written at the instaunce of Iohan huss and so to be sent into Boheme Fraunce Spayne Portyngale and other landes Vvherof Subinco Lepus the Archebysshop of Prage caused more than two hondreth volumes fayre wrytten openlye to be brent afterwarde as wytnesseth Aeneas Siluius de origine Bohemorum These causes knowen with other more that I coude reherse consydre whether the worlde that is alwayes so wycked was worthye to holde soche a noble christen warryour as this was or naye Consydre also the iust ponnyshment of the lorde for wycked lawes that were than made with the exceadynge myscheues that the spiritualte than vsed And waye the myserable estate that the realme was in sone after for contempt of his eternall worde And there vpon lawde his ryghtousnesse and beware of lyke coÌ„tempt and plage in these dayes In the yeare of oure Lorde a M. cccc xxii departed kynge Henry the fyft in his most floryshynge tyme euen in the begynnyng of the .xxxvii. yeare of his age which was abought .iiii. years after the death of this lorde Cobham His sonne Henry the sixt succeded in his rome and had the gouernaunce of this whole realme beynge but a babe of viiâ— monethes olde and odde dayes Vvhat a doloure was this vnto menne of rype difcressyon naturally louynge theyr coÌ„tre and regardynge the common welthe therof yea what a plage of God was it after the scripturs to haue a yonge chylde to theyr kynge And that it shuld the more manyfestlye apere to come that waye or of the stroke of God he was a chyldyshe thynge all y e dayes of his lyfe I shall geue you sayth the lorde in his hygh dyspleasure chyldren to be youre princes yonge infauntes with out wysdome shall haue the gouernaunce of you Wvhat wretched calamytees the realme suffred afterwarde for the space of more than .iii. score years and thre tyll the dayes of kynge Henry the seuenth yt is vnspeakable Sens the preachynge of Iohan Vvycleue hath the lorde suffred the pompouse Popyshe Prelates to shewe themselues forth in theyr owne ryght colours that they myght now in the lyght of his Gospell apere as they are in dede euen spyghtfull murtherers ydolaters and Sodomytes Afore his tyme they lurked vndre the glytterynge shyne of hypocrefye and coude not be seane in theyr mastryes The fryers with theyr charmynge sophysirye threwe soche a darke myst ouer the vniuersall worlde that superstycyon coude not be knowen for superstycyon nor ydolatrye for ydolatrye Vnspeakable fylthynesse of all fleshlye occupyenge was than called Prestes chastyte as yt is yet and will be tyll yt come to the hyghest that God maye take full vengeaunce Than was whoredome worshypped in Prelates of the churche and sacred wedlock rekened soche a detestable vyce as was worthye in a prest most cruell death As was seane for example in syr Vvillyam Vvyghe which was brent for the same at Norwych in the yeare of oure Lorde 14.28 Thus was Vvhyght iudged blacke and lyght darkenesse so ylâ— was meÌ„ a syght in those dayes By soche meanes sayth the Prophete they drewe wyckednesse vnto them as yt were with a corde and all kyndes of synne as yt were with a cart rope If Englande at that tyme had not bene vnthankefull for the syngular benefyght that God than sent them by those good meÌ„ne the dayes of Antichrist and his beastlye broode had bene shortened there longe a go as yt is euen now here after lyke to be more largelye A most oryent fresshe myrrour of Christen manhode apereth this worthye lorde Cobham in our age the veryte now open which was in herabsens a lampe of contempt before wordlye wyse menne In him maye noble menne beholde here playnelye a wolâ— noble stomake and precyouse fayth in the myddes of great Antichristes modye mustre His corage was of soche vaâ—â—e that yt gaue him the victorye ouer them by the clere iudgement of the scripturs what though the worldes iudgementes be farre otherwyse And as for the cruell death which he most contumelyouslye suffred yt is now vnto him a most plentuouse wynnynge for in the iust quarell was yt of his Lorde Iesus Christ. Myght those bloudye blusterers haue had theyr full swaye now of late they wolde haue made more Oldecastels Actons Brownes Beuerlayes yea they wolde haue made there a greatter hauocke vpon Christes congregacyon than euer ded Saul in his ragynge furye They ment more than they vttered whan they approched so nygh as ded cruell Haman to the presence of noble Assuerus But blessed be the eternall father which hath geuen soche wysdome godlye vnto oure most worthye kynge that he perseyuynge theyr slayghtes so abated theyr tyraÌ„nouse fercenes Praye noble menne praye yea with the true clergye and commons that lyke as he hath now with duke Iosue the ouerhande of wycked Hierico by his onlye gyft and is through that becomen an whole perfyght kynge within his ownâ— realme farre aboue all his predecessours so that he maye in conclusyon ouerthrowe her clerelye For as yet the dredefull damsell tyrannye that was Cayphas dorekeper dwelleth in the howses of Byshoppes and dalye compelleth poore Peter to denye his mastre As manye eyes as euer had vygylaunt Argus had he nede to haue that is compassed with soche a sort as are that broode of the wylye serpent Consydre what heauenlye thynges ye haue receyued of the scripturs vndre his permyssyon and yet praye ones agayne for his gracyouse contynuaunce to the more increase of knowledge Amen O Babylon thy merchauÌ„tes were princes of the earth And with thyne inchauÌ„tementes were all nacyons deceyued Apocal. xviii ☞ The great processe of Thomas Arundell the Archebysshop of Caunterburye and of the Papisticall clergye w t him agaynst the most noble knyght syr Iohan Oldecastell the lorde Cobham in the yeare of oure Lorde a. M. cccc and .xlii. wherin is coÌ„tayned his examinacyon impresonmeÌ„t and excommunycacyon The processe before his examinacyon AFter that y e true seruauÌ„t of Iesus Christ Iohan Vvycleue a maÌ„ne of verye excellent lyfe lernynge had for the space of more than .xxvi. years most valeauntlye batteled with the great Antichrist of Europa or Pope of Rome his dyuerslye dysgysed host of anoynted hypocrytes to restore the churche agayne to the pure estate that Christ left her in at his ascensyon he departed hens most Christenlye into the handes of God the yeare of oure Lorde a M.CCC.lxxxvii and was buryed in his owne parryshe churche at Lutterworth in Lyncolne shere No small nombre of
his armes a brode This is a verye crosse yea and so moche better than youre crosse of wode in that yt was created of God yet will not I seke to haue yt worshypped Than sayd the Bysshop of London Syr ye wote wele that he dyed on a materyall crosse The lorde Cobham sayd yea and I wote also that oure saluacyon came not in by that materyall crosse but alone by him which dyed thervpon And wele I wote that holye saynct Paule reioysed in non other crosse but in Christes passyon and death onlye and in his owne sufferynges of lyke persecucyon with him for the same selfe veryte that he had suffred for afore An other clarke yet asked him Vvill ye than do non honour to the holye crosse He answered him â–ª yes yf he were myne I wolde saye him vp honestlye and se vnto him that he shulde take no more scathes a broode nor be robbed of his goodes as he is now a dayes Than sayd the Archebysshop vnto him Syr Iohan ye haue spoken here manye wonderfull wordes to the slaunderouse rebuke of all the whole spiritualte geuynge a greatyâ—â— example vnto the common sort here to haue vs in the more dysdayne Moche tyme haue we spent here abought yow and all in vayne so farre as I can se. Vvell we must be now at this short poynt with you for the daye passeth awaye ye must eyther submytt youre selfe to the ordynaunce of holye churche or els throwe youre selfe no remedye into most depe daunger Se to yt in tyme for anon yt will be els to late The lorde Cobham sayd I knowe not to what purpose I shuld otherwyse submytme Moche more haue you offended me than euer I offended yow in thus troublynge me before this multytude Than sayd the Archebysshop agayne vnto him Vve ones agayne requyre you to remembre youre selfe wele and to haue non other opynyon in these matters than the vnyuersall fayth and beleue of the holye Churche of Rome is And so lyke an obedyent chylde to returne to y e vnyte of youre mother Se to yt I saye in tyme for yet ye maye haue remedye where as anon yt will be to late The lorde Cobham sayd expreslye before them all I will non otherwyse beleue in these poyntes than I haue tolde ye hereafore Do with me what ye will Fynallye than the Archebysshop sayd Vvell than I se non other but we must neades do the lawe we must procede forth to the sentence diffynytyue and both iudge ye and condemne ye for an heretyque And with that the Archebysshop stode vp and redde there a byll of his condemnacyon all the clergye and layte auaylynge theyr bonettes And this was therof the tenour ☞ The diffynytyue sentence of his condemnacyon IN Deâ—nomine Amen Nos Thomas permissione diuina Cantuariensis ecclesie Archiepiscopus metropolitanus totius Anglie primas Apostolice fedis legatus so fourth in Barberouse Latyne which I haue here translated into Englyshe for a more playne vnderstandynge to y e reader â— In the name of God So be yt Vve Thomas by the sufferaunce of God Archebysshop of Caunterburye metropolytane and prymate of all Englande and legate from the Apostolyque seate of Rome willeth this to be knowen vnto all menne In a certen cause of heresye and vpon dyuerse artycles wherevpon syr Iohan Oldecastell knyght and lorde Cobham after a dilygent inquysycyon made for the same was detected accused and presented before vs in oure last conuocacyon of all oure whole clergye of oure prouince of Caunterburye holden in the cathedrall churche of Paules at london At the lawfull denouncement request of oure vnyuersall clergye in the seyd conuocacyon we proceded agaynst him accordyng to the lawe God to wytnesse with all the fauer possyble And folowynge Christes example in all that we myght which willeth not the death of a synner but rather that he be conuerted lyue we toke vpon vs to correct him and sought all other wayes possyble to bryng him agayne to the churches vnyte declarynge vnto him what the holye and vnyuersall churche of Rome hath sayd holden determyned and taught in that behalfe And though we founde him in the catholyque fayth farre wyde and so styffnecked that he wolde not coÌ„fesse his errour nor pourge himselfe nor yet repent him therof Vve yet pyteynge him of fatherlye compassyon and inteyrlye desyerynge the helthe of his sowle appoynted him a competent tyme of delyberacyon to se yf he wolde repent and seke to be reformed And sens we haue founde him worse and worse Consyderynge therfore that he is incorrygyble we are dryuen to the verye extremyte of the lawe and with great heuynesse of hart we now procede to the fynall publycacyon of the sentence diffynytyue agaynst him Than brought he forth an other byll contaynynge the seyd sentence that he redde also in his Bauger Latyne Christi nomine inuocato ipsumâ—z solumpre oculie habentes Quia peracta inactitata and so forth Vvhich I haue also translated into Englyshe that meÌ„ne maye vnderstande yt Christ we take vnto wytnesse that nothynge els we seke in this oure whole enterpryse but his onlye glorye For as moche as we haue founde by diuerse actes done brought forth and exhybyted by sordrye euydences sygnes and tokens and also by manye most manyfest proues the seyd syr Iohan Oldecastell knyght and lorde Cobham not onlye an euydent heretyque in his owne persone but also a myghtye maynteneâ— of other heretyques agaynst the faythe and relygyon of the holye and vnyuersall churche of Rome namelye abought the two sacramentes of the aultre and of penaunce besydes the Popes power and pylgrymages And that he as the chylde of iniquyte and darkenesse hath so hardened his hart that he will in no case attende vnto the voyce of his pastour Neyther will he be assured by strayght admonyshmentes nor yet bâ— brought in by fauorable wordes The worthynesse of the cause fyrst wayed on the one syde and his vnworthynesse agayne consydered on the othe syde his fawtes also aggrauated or made double through his damnable obstynacye Vve beynge lothe that he which is nought shuld be woase and so with his contagyousnesse infect the multytude By the sage counsell and assent of the verye dyscrete fathers oure honorable bretherne and lorde Bysshoppes here present Rycharde of London Henrye of Vvynchestre and Benet of Bangor and of other great lerned and wyse meÌ„ne here both doctours of diuynyte and of the lawes canon and ciuyle seculars and relygyouse with dyuerse other expert menne assystynge vs we sentencyallye and dyffynytyuelye by this present wrytynge iudge declare and condemne the seyd syr Iohan Olde castell knyght and lorde Cobham for a most pernycyouse and detestable heretyque conuicted vpon the same and refusynge vtterlye to obeye the Churche agayne commyttynge him here from hens forth as a condemned heretyque to the secular
☞ An abiuracyon counterfeted of the Bysshoppes IN Deinomine Amen I Iohan Oldecastell denounced detected and conuicted of and vpon dyuerse artycles sauerynge both heresye and errour before the reuerende father in Christ and my good Lorde Thomas by the permyssyon of God lorde Archebysshop of Caunterburye and my lawfull and ryghtfull iudge in that behalfe expreslye graunt and confesse That as concernyng the estate and power of the most holye father the Pope of Rome of his Archebysshoppes his Bysshoppes and his other Prelates the degrees of the churche and the holye sacrameÌ„tes of the same specyallye of the sacrameÌ„tes of the aultre and of penaunce and other obseruaunces besydes of oure mother holye Churche as pylgrymages and pardons I afferme I saye before the seyd reuerende father Archebysshop and els where that I beynge yll seduced by dyuerse sedycyouse preachers haue greuouslye erred and herety calâ—ye persysted blasphemouslye answered and obstynatlye rebelled And therfore I am by the seyd reuerende father before the reuerende fathers in Christ also the Bysshoppes of London Vvynchestre and Bangor lawfullye condemned for an heretyque Neuer the lesse yet I now rememberynge my selfe and couetynge by this meane to auoyde that temporall peyne which I am worthye to suffre as an heretyque at the assygnacyon of my most excellent Christen prince and lyege lorde kynge Henrye the fyft now by the grace of God most worthye kynge both of Englande and of Fraunce myndynge also to preferre the wholsom determynacyon senteÌ„ce and doctryne of the holye and vnyuersall churche of Rome before the vnwholsom opynyons of myselfe my teachers and my folowers I frelye willynglye delyberatlye and throughlye confesse graunt and afferme the most holye fathers in Christ saynct Peter the Apostle and his successours Bysshoppes of Rome specyallye now at this tyme my most blessed lorde Pope Iohan by the permyssyon of God the .xxiii. Pope of that name which now holdeth Peters seate and yche of them in theyr successyon in full strengthe and power to be Christes vycar in earthe and the head of the churche mylytaunt And that by the strengthe of his offyce what though he be a great synner and afore knowen of God to be damned he hath full auctoryte and power to rewle and gouerne bynde and lose saue and destroye a curse and assoyle all other Christen menne And agreably styll vnto this I confesse graunt and afferme all other Archebysshoppes Bysshoppes and Prelates in theyr prouinces dyoceses and parryshes appoynted by the seyd Pope of Rome to assyst him in his doynges or busynesse by his decreed canons or vertu of his offyce to haue had in tymes past to haue now at this tyme and that they ought to haue in tyme to come auctoryte and power to rewle and to gouerne bynde and lose a curse and assoyle the subiectes or peoples of theyr afore seyd prouinces dyoceses parryshes and that theyr seyd subâ—ectes or peoples ought of ryght in all thynges to obeye them Forthermore I confesse graunt and afferme that the seyd spirituall fathers as oure most holye father the Pope Archebysshoppes Bysshoppes and Prelates haue had haue now ought to haue here after auctoryte and power for the estate ordre and gouernaunce of theyr subiectes or peoples to make lawes decrees statutes and constytucyons yca and to publysshe commaunde and compell theyr seyd subiectes peoples to the obseruacyon of them More ouer I confesse graunt and afferme that all these forseyd lawes decrees statutes and constitucyons made pubyshed and commaunded accordynge to the fourme of spirituall lawe all Christen people and euerye manne in himselfe is strayghtlye bounde to obserue and mekelye to obeye accordynge to the dyuerfyte of the forseyd powers As the lawes statutes canons and coÌ„stytucyons of oure most holye father the Pope incorporated in his Decrees Decretals Clementynes Codes Chartes Rescriptes Sextyles Extrauagantes the worlde ouer all And as the prouincyall statutes of Archebysshoppes in theyr prouinces the synodall actes of Bysshoppes in theyr dyoceses and the commendable rewles and customes of Prelates in theyr colleges curates in theyr parryshes all Christen people are both bounde to obserue and also most mekelye to obeye Ouer and besydes all this I Iohan Oldecastell vtterlye forsakynge and renouncynge all the afore seyd errours and heresyes and all other errours and heresyes lyke vnto them laye my hande here vpon this boke or holye Euangelye of God and sweare that I shall neuer more from hens forth holde these forseyd heresyes nor yet anye other lyke vnto them wetynglye Neyther shall I geue counsell ayde helpe nor faâ—er at anye tyme to them that shall holde teache afferme or maynteyne the same as God shall helpe me and these holye Euangelyes And that I shall from hens forth faythfullye obeye and inuiolablye obserue all the holye lawes Statutes Canons and Constitucyons of all the Popes of Rome Archebisshoppes Bisshoppes and Prelates as are contayned and determyned in theyr holye Decrees Decretals Clementyâ—â—s Codes Charters Rescriptes Sextyles Summes Papall Extrauagantes Statutes prouincyall Actes synodall and other ordynarye râ—wles and customes constytuted by them or that shall chaunce herafter dyrectlye to be determyned or made To these and all soche other will I my selfe with all power possyble applye Besydes all this the penaunce which yt shall please my seyd reuerende Father the lorde Archebysshop of Caunterburye hereafter to enioyne me for my synnes I will mekelye obeye and faythfullye fulfyll Fynallye all my seducers and false teachers and all other besydes whom I shall hereafter knowe suspected of heresye or errours I shall effectually present or cause to bâ— presented vnto my seyd reuerende father lorde Archebysshop or to them which hath his auctoryte so sone as I can conuenyeÌ„tlye do it and se that they be corrected to my vttermost power AMEN ☞ The cruell complaynt of the clergye and tyrannouse acte thervpon made NEuer came this abiuracyon to the handes of the lorde Cobham neyther was yt compyled of them for that purpose but onlye therwith to bleare the eyes of the vnlerned multytude And whan they perfeyued that polycye wolde not helpe but made more more agaynst them than sought they out an otherfalse practyse They went vnto the kynge with a most greuouse complaynt lyke as they ded afore in his fathers tyme that in euerye quarter of y e realme by reason of Vvycleues opinyoÌ„s and the seyd lorde Cobham were wonderfull contencyons rumours tumultes vprours confederacyons dyssencyons diuysyons dyfferences dyscordes harmes slaunders scysmes secâ—es sedycyons perturbacyons parels vnlawfull assemblyes varyauÌ„ces stryfes fyghtynges rebellyouse ruffelynges daylye insurreccyons The churche they saydâ— was hated The dyocesanes were not obeyed The ordynaryes were not regarded The spirituall offycers as Suffraganes Archedeacons chauncellers doctours commyssaryes offycyals deanes lawers serybes and sommeners were euery where despysed The lawes and lybertees of holye churche were
appoynted he was brought out of the Tower with his armes bounde behynde him hauyng a verye cherefull countenaunce Than was he layed vpon an hardle as though he had bene a most heynouse traytour to the crowne and so drawne forth into saynct Gyles felde where as they had set vp a new payre of Galowes As he was comen to the place of execucyon and was taken from the hardle he fell downed enoughtlye vpon his knees desyerynge almyghtye God to forgeue his enemyes Than stode he vp and behelde the multytude exhortynge them in most godlye maner to folowe the lawes of God wrytten in the scripturs and in anye wyse to be ware of soche teachers as they se contrarye to Christ in theyr conuersacyn and lyuynge with manye other specyall counsels Than was he hanged vp there by the myddle in cheanes of yron and so consumed a lyue in the fyre praysynge the name of God so longe as his lyfe lasted In the ende he commended his sowle into the handes of God and so departed hens most Christenlye his bodye resolued into ashes And this was done in the yeare of our Lorde a. M. cccc and .xviii. which was the sixt yeare of the regne of kyng Henrye the fyft the people there present shewynge great dolour How the Prestes that tyme fared blasphemed and cursed requyrynge the people not to praye for him but to iudge him damned in hell for that he departed not in the obedyeÌ„ce of theyr Pope yt were to longe to wryte This terryble kynde of death with galowes cheanes and fyre apereth not verye precyouse in the eyes of menne that be carnall nomore than ded the death of Christ whan he was hanged vp amonge theues The ryghtuouse semeth to dye sayth the wyse manne in the syght of them which are vnwyse and theyr ende is taken for verye destruccyon Vngodlye foles thynketh theyr lyues verye madnesse and theyr passage hens without all honour But though they suffre payne before menne sayth he yet is theyr expectacyon full of immortalyte They are accounted for the chyldren of God haue theyr iust porcyon amonge the faynctes As golden in the fornace doth God trye his electes as a most plesaunt brent offerynge receyueth he them to rest The more harde the passage be the more gloryouse shall they apere in the lattre resurreccyon Not that the affliccyons of this lyfe are worthye of soche a glorye but that yt is Gods heauenlye pleasure so to rewarde them Neuer are the iudgementes and wayes of menne lyke vnto the iudgementes and wayes of God but coÌ„trarye euermore vnlesse they be taught of him In the latter tyme sayth the Lorde vnto Daniel shall manye be chosen proued and puryfyed by frye yet shall the vngodlye lyue wyckedlye styll and haue no vnderstandynge that is of fayth By an angell from heuen was Iohan ernestlye coÌ„maunded to wryte that blessed are y e dead which hence departeth in y e Lorde Ryght dere sayth Dauid in the syght of God is the death of his true seruauÌ„tes Thus resteth this valeaunt Christen knyght syr Iohan Oldecastell vndre the aultre of God which is Iesus Christ amonge that godlye companye which in the kyngedome of pacyeÌ„ce suffred great tribulacyon with y e death of theyr bodyes for his faythfull worde and testimonye abydynge there with them the fulfyllynge of theyr whole nombre the full restauricyon of his electes The which he graunt in effect at his tyme appoynted which is one God eternall Amen ☞ The conclusyon BEsydes the cause rehersed afore in the preface concernynge the dreadfull death of this most Christen knyght syr Iohan Olde castell the lorde Cobham this is also rekened for one In the ende of the fyrst boke which he put vp into the ParlemeÌ„t how se agaynst the abusyons of the clergyâ— in the yeare of oure Lordâ— a. M.CCC xcv which was also the .xviii. yeare of kynge Rycharde the seconde were these .vi. verses wrytten as a brefe conclusyon sommarye of the vnyuersall coÌ„tentes therof Plangunt Anglorum Gentes crimen Sodomorum Paulus fert horum sunt Idola causa malorum Surgunt ingrati Giezite Symone nati Nomine prelati hoc defensare parati Qui râ—ges estis populis quicunque preestis Qualiter 〈◊〉 gestis gladios prohibere potestis Though the verses be grosse and vnperfyght accordynge to the tyme than wherin all freshe lytterature was clerelye extynguyshed yet is the sentence of them lyuelye and of a freshe faythfull sprete euen in the zele of Helias and Phinees for rebuke of synne And thus are they in the Englyshe Bewayle maye Englande the synne of Sodomytes For Idolles and they are grounde of all theyr wo. Of Symon Magus a secte of hypocrytes Surnamed prelates are vp with them to go And to vpholde them in all that they maye do yow that be rewlers peculyarlye selected How can ye suffre soche myscheues vncorrected Vvhan this boke wolde not helpe towardes anye reformacyon but was law hed to scorne of the Bysshoppes than were these verses copyed out by dyuerse menne set vpon theyr wyndowes gates and dores which were than knoweÌ„ for obstynate hypocrytes and fleshlye lyuers which made y e prelates madde And this is y e great insurreccyon that Vvalden complayneth of vnto Pope Martyne the fyft after him Polydotus the Popes collectour with other papistes more wherin neuer a one manne was hurt I wolde maruele moche more of the doublenesse of Thomas Vvalden beynge than the kynges confessour yf I ded not knowe the vnshamefast nature of that lyenge generacyon In his fyrst Epistle vnto Pope Martyue in the fyrst Preface of his fourth boke contra Vvicleuistas he sayth that syr Iohan Olde castell with a great nombre of heretyques conspyred agaynst kynge Henrye the fyft in the fyrst yeare of his regne that he offered him for euerye monke chanon fryre and Popyshe Prestes head within his realme a golde noble And cleane contrarye vnto this he testyfyeth in his boke called Fasciculus zizaniorum Vvicleui that he was the same selfe tyme yeare moneth weke and daye a presoner within the Tower of London How wele these two wrytynges agre I report me But thus commonlye are innocent menne lyed vpon amonge these blasphemouse bessygoddes But he that is essencyallye true of himselfe hath promysed at one tyme or other to clere his true seruaunt not by lyes and fables but by his owne pure worde No secrete sayth he is so close but ones shall be opened neyther is anye thynge so hydde that shall not at the last be knowen clerelye Thus hath syr Iohan Oldecastell a tryumphauÌ„t victorye ouer his enemyes by the veryte which he defended all coÌ„trarye to the blynde worldes expectacyon they haue a fowle ouerthrowe beynge proued manyfest murtherers blynde beastes hypocrytes lyars by the same Soche a swete Lorde is God alwayes