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
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
set downe in the processe of the Archbishop directed forth against the same persons whereof some whole housholds both men and women were driuen to forsake their houses townes for danger of persecution yea so cruelly was the Romish Clergy bent against them and so grieued to see the poore flocke of Christ to multiply that Henry Chichely stirred vp the Pope against them alledging that there were so many infected with the doctrine of Wickliffe and Husse here in England that without force of an army they could not be suppressed 1422. Henry 5. being dead his Sonne Henry 6. a child of nine moneths old succeeded In the first yeere of whose raigne was W. Taylor accused conuicted condemned afterward in Smithfield with Christian constancy after long imprisonment did consummate his martyrdome Others there were that professed the same truth but for feare durst not be so bold so that it appeareth by the Registers of Norwich in that Diocesse within the space of 3. yeeres viz. from 1428. to 1431. about the number of 120. men and women were examined and much vexed for the profession of the Christian faith of whom three suffered death viz. Father Abraham of Colchester W. White and I. Waddon Priests the rest sustained such cruell penance as pleased the Bishop his Chancellor to lay vpon them which howsoeuer through the hard dealing of the times they were constrained to recant and many of them to abiure their opinions yet their good will to the truth is manifest and it is fit to preserue the memory of their names if it be but to stop the mouth of such malignant aduersaries who following blind affection rather then true knowledge of times and antiquities through ignorance blame they know not what accusing the true doctrine of the Gospell to be nouelty and the Preachers thereof to bee Nouelists whereas this doctrine lacking none antiquity hath from time to time burst forth and preuailed in many places though in the most through tyranny it hath beene suppressed as by these good men of Norfolk Suffolk may appeare who if they had had the liberty which we haue and authority to back them it would haue well appeared how old this doctrine is so that all men would haue acknowledged that this our Church was long before Luther 1430. Shortly after the solemne Coronation of Hen. 6. which was in the 8. yeere of his raigne was Richard Houedon a Londoner crowned with martyrdome The next yeere Th. Bagly a Priest and Paul Craw a Bohemian both valiant defenders of Wickliffes doctrine were condemned and burned Not long after about the yeere 1439. which was the 18. of Henry 6. was Ri. Wiche burned for heresie as then they counted it So much the more famous was his martyrdome because the fame was that before his death he spake as prophesying that the Posterne of the Tower should sinke which came to passe vpon which hee was counted an holy man Many came to the place where he was burnt and there made their oblations till by the commandement of the King they were forbid and some punished After Chichely in the See of Canterbury succeeded Stafford Kempe and then Burscher in whose time fell out the trouble of Reynold Peacock Bishop of Chichester who after the death of Humfrey Duke of Gloucester his Patron was molested by the Archbishop in the yeere 1457. because he taught against the reall presence the infallibility of the Councels the locall dissention into hell That the Church may erre in matter of faith That the literall sence of the Scripture is onely to be held He was at length inforced to giue way for what with blustering threats to terrifie him as also with faire promises to allure him they left no stone vnrolled till they brought him to recantation at Pauls crosse where also his bookes were burnt yet for all this himselfe belike he was suspected was kept in his own house during his naturall life 1473. King Henry 6. being deposed Edward 4. got the Crowne In the time of whose raigne a godly and constant seruant of Christ named Iohn Goose alias Husse was vniustly condemned and burnt at the Tower hill 1485. Henry 7. comming to the Crowne mention is made in the Registers of Couentry and Lichfield of 9. persons persecuted in that Diocesse whose names are set downe to be I. Blomston Rich. Hegham Robert Crowther I. Smith Rob. Browne Th. Butler I. Falkes R. Hilman The heresies of which they were accused were for opposing Pilgrimages Images Merits Purgatory Shrift Transubstantiation and the like After these in the ninth yeere of Henry 7. was burned an old woman of 80. yeeres loane Boughton by name who held eight of Wickliffes opinions so stiffely that all the Doctours in London could not turne her she was burned in Smithfield shortly after in Anno 1497. Some for feare recanted at Pauls Crosse and in the next yeere an old man and a Priest and one Babram were burned 1506. William Tilsworth was burned for his Religion in Amersham at which time Ioane Clarke the said Tilsworths daughter was constrained to put fire to her Father at whose burning about 60. other were enioyned to beare fagots of whom diuers were commanded to beare and weare fagots at Lincolne the space of 7. yeeres after some at one time some at another A little after was Father Roberts a Miller of Missenden burned at Buckingham and 20. other bare fagots and did penance About 2. or 3. yeres after at Amersham was burned Th. Barnard la. Mordon in one fire and Father Rogers and Father Reeue was burned in the cheeke So also was W. Littlepage and 30. more were burned in the right cheeke and bare fagots at the same time The manner of their burning in the cheeke was this Their neckes being tyed fast to a poste with towels and their hands holden that they might not stirre they were marked with a hot iron The cause of those mens trouble was because they talked against superstition and idolatry and were desirous to heare and reade the holy Scriptures Thomas Chase condemned by the Bishop of Lincolne William Smith and cast into prison was there murthered and after slandered to haue made away himselfe Thomas Norrice for the profession of Christs Gospel was burned at Norwich 1507. Elizabeth Samson accused to speake against Pilgrimages adoration of Images and against the Sacrament of the Altar was compelled to abiure before William Horsey Chancellor at London 1508. Laurence Ghest two yeeres in prison at Salisbury was afterward put to death for his religion so also was there martyred another poore woman whose death so greedily sought by the Chancellor Whittington was presently reuenged by the enraged Bul which running through the prease of people came to the Chancellor and gored him thorow with his hornes carrying his guts along the streets to the great admiration and wonder of all them that saw it 1509. H. 7. hauing finished his course after him followed H. 8. in whose dayes hapned much stir