godlye wyse Polydorus Vergilius a collectour somtyme in Englande of the Popes Peter Pens and afterwarde Archedeacon of Vvellys hath in this poynt deformed his wrytynges greatlye polutynge oure Englyshe chronycles most shamefullye with his Romyshe lyes and other Italyshe beggerye â–ª Battels hath he described there at large â—o no small discommendynges of some Princes w t were godlye but the preuye packynge of Prelates and craftye coÌ„ueyauÌ„ce of the spiritualte hath he in euery place almost full properly passed ouer He was to famylyar with the Bysshoppes and toke to moche of theyr counsell whan he compyled the .xxvi. bokes of his Englyshe hystorye And not greatly is the lande beholden vnto him in that worke for anye large prayse of erudicyon that he hath geuen it there A syngular bewtye is it to a Christen regyon whan theyr auncyent monumeÌ„tes are garnyshed amonge others with meÌ„ne of freshe lytterature which therin hath small remembrauÌ„ce or non Vnlesse it be Gildas Bedas Alcuinus Ioannes Scotus Aldelmus Neuburgus and one or two more non are in that whole worke mencyoned coÌ„cernyng that as though Englande had alwayes bene most barren of menne lerned This do I not wryte in dysprayse of his lernynge which I knowe to be verye excellent but for the abuse therof beynge a most syngular gyft of God I wolde wyshe some lerned Englyshe maÌ„ne as there are now most excellent fresh wyttes to set forth the Englyshe chronycles in theyr ryght shappe as certen other landes hath done afore them all affeccyoÌ„s set a part I can not thynke a more necessarye thynge to be laboured to the honour of God bewtye of the realme â—rudicyon of the people and commodite of other landes next the sacred scripture of the Byble than that worke wolde be For truly in those they haue there yet is vyce more anauÌ„ced than vertâ— Romyshe blasphemye than godlynesse As it maye full wele apere vnto eyes of ryght iudgement in y â— lamentable hystorye here folowynge and soche other which hath bene longe hydde in thâ— darke Marke dilygentlye the sentence of the seyd Polydorus concernynge this good lorde Cobham and there vpon consydre his good workemanshyp in other matters In the counsell of Constaunce sayth he was the heresye of Iohan Vvycleue condemned and two at the same tyme burned in that cyte which were y e chefe heades of that secte All this is true though the fâ—ate handelynge therof be altogyther Italyshe But where as he sayth after that whan this was ones knowen to theyr companyons in Englande they conspyred in theyr madnesse agaynst the whole clergye and fynallye agaynst the kynge also for that he was than a fawter of Christen relygyon hauynge to theyr great captaynes syr Iohan Oldecastell and syr Roger Acton he maketh a most shamefull lye For how coude syr Roger Acton with his coÌ„panye conspyre vpon that occasyon beynge dead more than iiii years afore and syr Iohan Oldecastell remaynyng all that season in Vvalys Iohan Hus suffred death at Constaunce the yeare of oure Lorde a M. CCCC.xv in Iulye Hierome of Prage in the yeare of oure Lorde a M. cccc.xvi in Maye which were the two heades he speaketh of Syr Rogeâ— ActoÌ„ was brent with his companye in the yeare of oure Lorde a M. CCCC.xiii in Ianuarye as wytnesseth Vvalden Fabiane and Iohan Maior in theyr chronycles and wrytynges Now recken these nombers and years and marke the propre conueyaunce of this Romyshe gentylman the popes collectour to clought vp that croked kyngedom of theyrs He can by soche legerdemayne both please his fryndes in Englande and also at Rome After that he foloweth with lye vpon lye as that they came than to London to destroye the kynge that he in his owne persone mett with them there in armes that they cowardlye fledde that some were taken there and brent out of hande and that the lorde Cobham and syr Roger Acâ—on were cast into y e tower of London vpon that occasyon Semeth it not a matter somwhat lyke to the purpose thynke you that menne shulde be there burned for makynge soche an insurreccyon or tumult I trowe he hath cobled here somwhat workemanlye And where as he sayth in the ende that the kynge thervpon made an acte that they from thens forth shuld be taken as traytours agaynste his owne persone w c were proued to folowe that secte he maketh an abhomynable lye For that â—cte was made onlye at the Bisshoppes complaynte and false sute in the fyrst yeare of his regne and by force of that acte those innoceÌ„t menne than suffred More than .iiii. hondreth of soche manyfestlyes coude I gather out of his chronycles moche more than myght more eyes and iudgementes do Now lete vs expende what the true cause shuld be of this godlye mannys condemnacyon and death all dreames of Papistes sett a part The truthe of it is that after he had ones throughlye tasted the Christen doctryne of Iohan Vvycleue and of his disciples and perseyued theyr lyuynges aggreable to the same He abhorred all the supersticyouse sorceryes ceremonyes I shuld saye of the proude Romyshe churche Fâ—oâ— thens forth he brought all thynges to the towche stone of Gods worde He tryed all matters by the scripturs and so proued theyr spretes whether they were of God or naye He maynteyned soche preachers in the dyoceses of CauÌ„terburye London Rochestre and Herforde as the Bysshoppes were sore offended with He exhorted theyr prestes to a better waye by the Gospell and whan that wolde not helpe he gaue theÌ„ sharpe rebukes He admonyshed thâ— kynges as Rycharde the seconde Henrye the fourth and Henrye the fyft of the clergyes manyfolde abuses put into the parlement house certen bokes concernynge theyr iust reformacyon both in the yeare of oure Lorde a M.ccc xcv and in the yeare a M. CCCC.x of the fyrst boke this is the begynnyng Prima conclusio Quando ecclesia Anglie c. which I haue here left out least this treatyse shuld be to great The other boke was made by one Iohan Puruey a mastre of art of Oxforde Besyde the .xviii. conclusions that mastre Iohan Vvycleue had put in longe afore that In the yeare of oure Lorde a M.ccc â—â—i this noble lorde Cobham with certen other more mocyoned the kynge at Vvestmynsâ—re in the tyme of his parlement that it were verye commodyouse to Englande yf the Romyshe Bysshoppes auctorite extended no forther than the Occeane see or hauen of Calys coÌ„syderynge the charges and vnquyetnesse of sutes there and that mennys causes condâ— not be throughlye knowen so farre of Vvher vpon the kynge made this acte by consent of his lordes that no manne from thens forth shuld sue to the Pope in anye matter nor publyshe anye excommunicacyon of his vndrepeyne of losynge theyr goodes with perpetuall inpresonmeÌ„t This and the afore named boke had cost him with syr Iohan Chenye and other
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
☞ 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
troden vndre fote The Christen fayth was ruyuouslye decayed Gods seruyce was lawhed to scorne The spirituall iurisdiccyon auctoryte honour power polycye lawes rytes ceremonyes curses keyes censures and canonycall sanccyons of the churche were had in an vttre contemt So that all in a maner was come to nought And the cause of this was that the heretyques and lolâ—ars of Vvycleues opynyon were suffered to preache abrode so boldelye to gather conuentycles vnto them to hepe scoles in meÌ„nys houses to make bokes compyle treatyses and wryte balettes to teache pryuatlye in angles and corners as in wodes feldes medowes pastours groues and in caues of the grounde This wolde be they sayd a destruccyon to the commen welthe a subuersyon to the lande and an vttre decaye of the kynges estate ryall yf remedye were not sought in tyme. And this was theyr polycye to cople the kynges auctoryte with that they had done in theyr former counsell of craft and so to make yt therby the strongar For they perseyued themselues verye farre to weake els to folowe against theyr enemyes that they had so largelye enterprysed Vpon this complaynt the kydge immedyatlye called a Parlament at Leycestre It myght not in those dayes be holden at Vvestmynstre for the great fauer that the lorde Cobham had both in London and abought the cyte yet were they deceyued That they doubted most lyghted there sonest vpon them A byll was put in there agayne by y e commons agaynst theyr coÌ„tynuall wastynge of the temporaltees lyke as yt had bene twyse afore by procurement of the seyd lorde Cobham both in y e dayes of kynge Rycharde the seconde anno 1395. and also of kynge Henrye the .iiii. annadomini 1410 whervpon was growne all this malyce afore specyfyed but this was than workemanlye defeated by an other propre practyse of theyrs They put the kynge in remembraunce to clayme his ryght in Fraunce grauÌ„ted him thervnto a dyme with other great subsydye of moneye Thus were Christes people betrayed euerye waye and theyr lyues bought and solde by these most cruell theues For in the seyd Parlament the kynge made this most blasphemouse and cruell acte to be as a lawe for euer That what so euer they were that shulde reade the scripturs in the mother tonge which was than called Vvycleues lernyng they shuld forfet lande cattell bodye lyfe and goodes from theyr heyres for euer and so be condemned for heretyques to God enemyes to the crowne and most errande trayters to the lande Besydes this yt was enacted that neuer a sanyctwarye nor pryuyleged grounde within the realme shuld holde them though they were styll permytted both to theues and mourtherers And yf in case they wolde not geue ouer or were after theyr pardon relapsed they shuld suffre death in two maner of kyndes That is They shuld fyrst be hanged for treason agaynst the kynge and than be burned for heresye agaynst God and yet neyther of both commytted The begynnynge of that acte is this Pro eo quod magni rumores c. Anon after was yt proclamed through out the realme and than had the Bysshoppes Prestes Monkes and fryers a worlde somwhat to theyr myndes For than were manye taken in dyuerse quarters and suffred most cruell death And manye fledde out of the lande into Germanye Boheme Fraunce Spayne Portyngale and into the welde of Scotlande Vvalys and Irelande workynge there manye marueyls agaynst theyr false kyngedome to longe to wryte In the Christmas folowynge was syr Roger Acton knyght mastre Iohan Browne esquyre syr Iohan Beuerlaye a letned preacher dyuerse other more attached for quarellynge with certen prestes and so inpresoned For all menne at that tyme coude not pacyentlye suffre theyr blasphemouse bragges The complaynt was made vnto the kynge of them that they had made a great assemblye in saynet Gyles felde at London purposynge the destruccyon of the lande and the subuersyon of the coÌ„mon welthe As the kynge was thus infourmed he erected a banner sayth Vvalden with a crosse thervpon as y e Pope doth commonlye by his Legates whan he pretendeth to warre agaynst the Turke and with a great nombre of menne entred the same felde where as he founde no soche companye yet was the complaynt iudged true bycause the Bysshoppes had spoken yt at the infourmacyon of theyr Prestes All this hath Thomas Vvalden in dyuerse of his workes which was at the same tyme a Vvhyght or Carmelyte fryre and the kynges confessour partlye yt is towched both by Robert Fabyane and by Polydorus Vergilius in theyr Englyshe chronycles but not in all poyntes â—yghtlye as is to be sâ—ane in the preface asore In the meane season syr Iohan Oldecastell the lorde Cobham escaped out of the tower of London in the nyght and so fledde into Vvalys where as he contynued more than .iiii. yeares after Some wryters haue thought this escape to come by the seyd syr Roger Acton and other gentylmenne in dyspleasure of the Prestes and that to be the chefe occasyon of theyr deathes which myght wele be but Vvalden doth not so vttre yt which regned the same selfe tyme. In Ianuarye next folowynge was the afore named syr Roger Acton mastre Iohan Browne syr Iohan Beuerlaye and .xxxvi. more of whom y e more part were gentyll menne of byrthe conuicted of heresye by the Byshoppes and condemned of treason by the temporalte and accordynge to the acte were fyrst hanged and than brent in the seyd saynct Gyles felde In the same yeare also was one Iohan Claydon a skynner and one Rycharde Turmyne a baker both hanged and brent in Smyth felde by that vertuouse acte besydes that was done in all other quarters of Englande which was no small nombre yf yt were now througlye knowen ☞ The latter enpresonynge and death of the lorde Cobham IN the yeare of oure Lorde a. M. CCCC and .xv. dyed Thomas Arundell which had bene Archebysshop of Caunterburye more than xxxii yeares to the great destruccyon of Christen beleue yet dyed not his prodygyouse tyrannye with him but suceeded with his offyce in Henrye Chycheleye and in a great sort more of that spyghtfull spiritualte For theyr malyce was not yet satled agaynst the good lorde Cobham But they confedered with the lorde Powys which was at that tyme a great gouernor in Vvalys fedynge him with lordelye gyftes and promyses to accomplysshe theyr desyre He at the last thus monyed with Iudas and outwardlye pretendynge him great amyte fauour most cowardlye and wretchedlye toke him and in conclusyon so sent him vp to London where as he remayned a moneth or two inprysoned agayne in the Tower And after longe processe they condemned him agayne of heresye and treason by force of the afore named a 〈◊〉 renderynge thankes â–ª vnto God that he had so appoynted him to suffre for his names sake And vpon the daye
which laye longe dead by the lyuynge sprete of his Gospell for that he was a mynystre therof Vvhich is a most euydent token that he will here after with his other mystycall members rayse him vp in perfyght glorye Vvhan the Gospell laye dead gloryouse Thomas Becket was a saynct Iohan Oldecastell a forgotten heretyque But now that the lyght therof shyneth we are lyke to se yt farre otherwyse For proude Becket hath alredye hydden his face and poore Oldecastell begynneth now to apere verye notable Not all vnryghtlye ded saynct Augustyn speake yt and other olde doctours besydes that manye were worshypped here in earth for saynctes whose wretched sowles are greuouslye crucyate in hell Soche tyme as oure most worthye souerayne kynge Henrye the .viii. now lyuyng after the most godlye example of kynge Iosias vysyted the temples of his realme he perseyued the synnefull shryne of this Becket to be vnto his people a most pernycyouse euyll and therfore in the worde of the lorde he vtterlye amonge other destroyed yt If he had vpon that and soche other abhomynable shrynes brent those ydolatrouse prestes which were are yet theyr chefe maynteners he had fulfylled that godlye historye through out But that which was not than perfourmed in hope of theyr amendement maye by chauÌ„ce lyght vpon them herafter whan no gentyll warnynge will seme to be regarded I doubt yt not at all but his most noble dyscressyon perseyueth moche more that wycked generacyon of the Popes norryshynge vp which alwayes hath maynteyned and yet do soche manyfest errours than he euer in his lyfe yet vttered The eternall father rewarde his grace for that clere lyght of helthe which we poore creaturs haue receyued at his onlye hande vndre God though yt be not all without the greuouse ponnyshment of oure bodyes By the processe which we haue afore here vttered of syr Iohan Oldecastell ye maye euydentlye se that great is the treasure which the Lorde hath layed vp for the behoue of theÌ„ that hath trusted in him Vvherwith now he maketh duÌ„me the lyenge lyppes of them that dysdaynouslye reported the ryghtuouse to the honour and prayse of his most gloryouse name AMEN ☞ Thus endeth the brefe chronycle coÌ„cernynge the Examynacyon death of y e blessed martyr of Christ syr Iohan Oldecastell the lorde Cobham not canonysed of the Pope but in the precyouse bloude of his Lorde Iesus Christ. Collected by Iohan Bale and imprynted anno Domini 1544. vi die Augusti ☞ Prophecyes of Ioachim Abbas IN the latter dayes shall apere a lawe of lyberte The Gospell of the kyngedome of Christ shall be taught and the churche shall be pourged as wheate is from chaffe and tares More clerelye shall menne than be lerned The kyngedome of the fleshe shall be done awaye and these thynges shall be fulfylled towarde the ende of the worlde The holye ghost shall more perfyghtlye exercyse his domynyon in conuertynge peoples by the preachers of the laâ—ter tyme than by the Apostles The churche of Rome is the fleshlye synagoge of sathan The churche of Rome shall be destroyed in the thyrde state as the synagoge of the Iewes was destroyed in the seconde state And a spirituall churche shall from thens forth succede to the ende of the worlde The departynge of the Grekes from the churche of Rome was godlye For yt was ordayned of God and wrought by the holye ghost ☞ Ex compendiario Guidonis Perpiniani de heresibus Fol. 2 Plutarch Properc Cicero Catustus Horatius â—ucanuâ— Staciuâ— â–ª Exo. 14. Eccle. 4â— Iudicâ—â— 1. Reg. 17 〈◊〉 6. Sigeberrnâ— GeÌ„bâ—acensis Petrus Equilinus Vvicelius Vincentius Leander Volateranus Aâ—â—cas IoaÌ„ Ec. Heb. 11. Acto â— Apoc. 6 IoaÌ„ 8. Syr Iohan olde castell the bishoppes Ioan. 3. Apoc. 6. Luc. 21. Mat. 10. Mar. 13. Luc. 12. Christes disciple The examinacyon of the lorde CobhaÌ„ the great processe of Thomas Arundell Thomas Vvalden in fasciculo zizanio â—um Vvicleni FroÌ„wheÌ„s this treatyse cometh Vvalden coÌ„t Vvicleuistas in prologo doctri 7. li. 2. ca. 66 The christen manhode of sir Iohan oldecastell Cowardes iÌ„ christes battels Flatterers of great menne Parasites Polydorê° Anglice historie libro 4. No tales maye be tolde out of scole No menne are lerned with him but Italianes A worthy worke were that afore God manne Blaspâ—â—mouse tryfles are â— Englyshe chronycles Polydorê° anglice historie li. 22 He vpholdeth holy churche with lyes Fabianê° Acta consilii Constantiensis â—udge y â— yll tre by his frute They were enemyes to holy churche Burnyng was not than for trayâ—ours Vvhaldenus in sermone de funâ—re regis Vvell stored with lyes The causes of syr Iohan olde castels condemnacyon Iohan. 5. 1. Thes. 5. Mat. 7. 1. IohaÌ„ 4. Vvalden â–ª in fascicuso zizaniorum Vvicleui Fabianê° Vvalden â–ª Polydorê° in hisâ—oria angloruÌ„ lib. 20. Treuisa in addicoÌ„nibus Cestrensis Polydorê° Fabianê° Polydorê° Vvhalden coÌ„t Vvicleui li. â— Cap. â—0 Arâ—a conâ—â—lii Constariciensis HermaÌ„â—ê° Shedel Heb. â— Esa. 10. Nahâ— â— Vvaldenusi sermone de funere regis kynge Henry y e vi a babe Esa. 3. A plage Esa. 3. The yeares of that plage Prelateâ— what the now apere Fryers darkened all with theyr sophistrye Apoc. â—â— Vvalden 〈◊〉 vtroque apere Esa. 5. Englande for vnthankefulnesse ponnyshed Vvhat y e lorde Cobham apereth now 1. IohÌ„ 5 1. Cor. â—5 Phil. 1. Apoc. 1. The deuyll slepeth not Act. 8. Hester 5. A godlye gouernor Iosue 6. Lawde God for him Mat. 26. Ioan. 18. Vvalden in â—ermoÌ„e Praye for his grace Ex operibus scriptis Thome Vvaldeni IohaÌ„ Vvicleue a maÌ„ of god his disciples Thomas Arundell in magno processu IonaÌ„ 11. Psal. 1. Psal. 2. Vvalden in fasciculo zizanio rum Vvicleui A practyse coÌ„monlye vsed of that generacyon A luke practyse sought now of late but yt toke not Accused for maynteynynge the Gospell of Christ. Accused for his Ehristen beleue Processe agaynst him A spirituall practyse A woluyshe generacyon The kynge speaketh for him His gentyll promes His admonyshmeÌ„t Rom. 13. 1. Pet. 2. A most Christen obedieÌ„ce 2. Thes. 2. Mat. 24. Ex vetusto exemplari CondinensiuÌ„ Cayphas seketh Christ. Iudas is sent forth An other Iudas yet is hyered Iudas kisseth and betrayeth The malyce of the serpent Marke this relygyon of y e papistes The cytacyons takeÌ„ downe Cayphas sytteth in consystorye False accusacyoÌ„s agaynst him The serpent doth his nature Se here how spirituall they be A myrror of ChristeÌ„ knyght hode He confesseth his God before menne The Apostles fayth The common crede of Christyanes This fayth was not regarded A declaracyon of his beleue 1. Ioan. 9. Gal. 4. Ioan. 1. Luc. 2. Christ is the onlye head of his churche The churche diuyded in .iii. partis CoÌ„trarye wrote he Ad parliamentum Ex Vvhaldeno The chuâ—che mylytaunt diuided in .iii. Vvhat â— Prestes shuld be knyghthode what it shuld do Marke here a most Christen hart The clergye wherfor