that which iustice should perswade And the sayd William appeared neither by himselfe nor by proctor but onely by a seruaunt whose name we know not he sent a certayn schedule of paper made like an indenture vnto vs to excuse him After which schedule sene read and with ripe deliberatioÌ„ wayed and in any wise notwithstaÌ„ding we adiudged the sayd William after he was ofteÌ„ called long euen to the due hour taried for by no meanes appering worthely for his obstinacy for his stubbernnes assigned vnto him the 29. day of Iuly in the Church of Ponsley to appeare before vs with the foresayd sauegard to aunswere more fully to suche articles and otherwise to heare receiue and do as before is noted ¶ The second dayes act Upon Saterday being the 29. of Iuly and in the yeare of the Lord aforesayd we Iohn by Gods permission the fore remembred Bishop in the Church of Pontesbury of our Dioces at sixe of the clock or there about sitting in iudgement made the sayd WilliaÌ„ of Swinderby to be opeÌ„ly called that as was to him appointed aud assigned he should appere before vs to answere to the foresayd articles more fully and to declare the sayd articles as the darknes of his aunsweres did worthely require And that the sayd William being called long for a due time looked for did make no meanes to appere and so we pronounced him to be obstinate and for his obstinatnes to ouercome his malice of our exceeding fauor thought good to appoynt and dyd appoynt the 8. of August theÌ„ next following at Cleobury Mortemere of the same our dioces vnto the sayd William for the same thing ¶ The third dayes act Upon Tewsday the 8. of August the yeare aforesayd I Iohn by Gods permission Bishop of Hereford aforesayd in the Church of Cleobury Morâ—emere about 6. of the clocke sitting in iudgement caused the foresayd WilliaÌ„ Swinderby to be called many times openly to do and receiue about the premisses according to the appoyntment of the same day that iustice should aduise which William did not appeare at all WherupoÌ„ we after that the sayd WilliaÌ„ was called and often proclaymed and long looked for but not appering at all did iudge him worthely as of right apperteined obstinate and for his obstinatnes assigned him the 16. day of the same moneth of August next folowing in the parish Church of Whithorne of the same our dioces to bring forth or to see brought forth all lawes muniments and other kinds of proofes to see also witnesses brought forth admitted and sworne by whom and which thinges we intend to proue the foresayde articles or at least wyse some of the same ¶ The fourth dayes act UpoÌ„ wednesday the 16. day of the moneth of august the yeare aforesaid we Iohn the bishop in the parish Church of Whithorn aforesayd of our dioces sitting in iudgement caused the sayd William Swinderby often times to be called who as is aforesayd appeared not at all whom after that hee was so called proclaymed long looked for yet by no means appering we pronouÌ„ced to be obstinate We receiued also by certayne faithfull Christians and zealous men for the catholicke fayth of our dioces a certayne proces made and had at an other time agaynst the same William before the reuerend father in God and Lord Lord Iohn by the grace of God Bishop of Lincolne confirmed by the hanging on of the seale of the same reuerend father the Lord Bishop of Lincolne The tenor wherof word for word is contayned before And these faythfull Christians moreouer agaynst the obstinatenes of the sayd William Swynderby brought forth discreet meÌ„ M. William Leuiet parson of the parish Churche of Kyuersâ—y and also Edmunde Waterdon parish Chaplaine of the Chappell of N. Roger Newton and Hugh Sheppert lay men of the dioces of Lincolne asking instantly that they might be receiued for witnesses to proue some of the foresayd articles who agaynst the obstinatenes of the sayd William Swinderby we thought good to receiue and did receiue and their othes to the holy Gospels of God being layd handes on corporally in our hand And did diligeÌ„tly â—ramine them in proper person seuerally in forme or law whose sayinges depositions are afterward brought in at the instance of the same faythfull Christians we assigned the second day of SepteÌ„ber then next folowing to the sayd William Swinderby to say and alledge agaynst the sayd proces witnesses and their sayinges in the sayd Church of Whythorne decreeing that a copy should be made for him of these thinges that were brought forth and of the depositions of the witnesses Here we fayle in our copy till the Register come to our handes agayne by the dore but wendith vpon an other halfe he is a night theefe and a day theefe And there he relieth how he that â—ieth from theyr flock is not the shepheard but an hired maÌ„ and it pertayneth not to him of the sheepe ☞ To the second conclusion that he saien is errour or heresy that toucheth taking away of the temporalties and of Lordships of priests that bene euill liuers I say me seemeth that the conclusion is true is thys that it were medefull and leefull to secular Lords by way of charity and by power geuen to them of God in default of Prelates that amend naught by Gods law cursed Curates that openly misuse the goodes of the holye Church that ben poore mens goods and customably ayens the law of God the which poore men Lords ben holden to mayntayne and defend to take away and to draw from such curates poore mens goodes in helpe of the poore and theyr owne wilfull offeringes and theyr bodely almose deedes of worldly goodes and geue them to such as duely seruen God in the Churche and bene ready in vpbearing of the charge that prelats shoulden do and done it not And as anences taking away of temporalties I say thus that it is leefull to Kinges to Princes to Dukes and to Lords of the world to take away from Popes from Cardinals froÌ„ Bishops Prelates and possessioners in the Church theyr temporalties and theyr almes that they haue geueÌ„ theÌ„ vpon conditioÌ„ that they shoulden serue God the better wheÌ„ they verely seen that theyr geuing taking bene coÌ„trary to the law of God contrary to Christes liuing and his Apostles and namely in that that they takeÌ„ vpon theÌ„ that they shouldeÌ„ be next folowers of Christ his apostles in poorenes and meeknes to be secular Lords against the teaching of Christ and of S. Peter Truely me semeth that all Christen men and namely Priestes shoulden take keepe that their doing were according with the law of god either the old law either the new The Priestes of the olde law wern forbidden to haue Lordshippes among theyr brethren for God sayd that he would be theyr part and theyr heritage And Christ that was the highest Priest of the new
Vrbanus 6. 11. 8. Clement 11 Bonifacius 9. 14. 9. Benedictus 13. 26. Innocentius 8. 2. 0.   Gregorius 12. 2. 7   Alexander 5. 0. 11.   Iohannes 13. 5. 10   As touching thys pestilent most miserable schisme it would require heere an other Ileade to comprehend in order all the circumstaunces and tragicall partes thereof what trouble in the whole Church what partes taking in euery Countrey what apprehending and imprysoning of priests prelates takē by land and sea what sheddyng of bloud did folow therof How Ottho duke of Brunsewyke Prince of Tarentum was taken and murthered Howe Ioane Queene of Hierusalem and Sicilia his wife who before had sent to Pope Urbane beside other gifts at hys coronation xl M. Duckets in pure gold after by the sayd Urbane was committed to prison and in the same pryson strangled What Cardinalles were racked and miserably wythout all mercy tormented on gibbettes to death what slaughter of men what battails were fought betwene the two Popes whereof 5000. on the one side were slaine beside the number of them which were taken prisoners Of the beheading of 5. cardinals together after long tormēts and how the bishop Aquilonensis being suspected of pope Urbane for not riding faster with the Pope his horse being not good was there slaine by the Popes commaundement sending his soldiours vnto him to slay him and cut hym in peeces All whych things with other diuers moe acts of horrible cruelty happening in the time of thys abhominable schisme because they are aboundantly discoursed at full by Theodorike Niem who was neare to the sayde Pope Urbane and present at all his doings therefore as a thing needlesse I here pretermit referring them who couet to be certified more amply herein vnto the 3. bookes of the sayd Theodorike aboue mentioned About the same time also about 3. yeres after there fel a cruell dissention in England betwene the common people and the nobilitie the which did not a little disturbe and trouble the common wealth In thys tumult Symon of Sudbury Archbyshop of Canterbury was taken by the rustical rude people and was beheaded In whose place after succeeded William Courtney which was no lesse diligent then his predecessor had ben before him in doing his diligence to roote out heretickes Notwithstanding in the meane season Wickleffes secte increased priuely and daily grewe to greater force vntill the time that William Barton Uicechancellor of Oxford about the yeare of our Lord 1380. had the whole rule of that vniuersitie who callyng together 8. monastical doctors and 4. other with the consent of the rest of hys affinitie putting the common seale of the vniuersitie vnto certaine wrytings he set foorth an Edict declaring vnto euery man and threatning them vnder a greeuous penaltie that no men should be so hardie hereafter to associate thēselues wyth any of Wickliffs fautors or fauourers and vnto Wickliffe himselfe he threatned the greater excommunication and farther imprisonment and to all his fautors vnles that they after 3. dayes canonical admonitiō or warning or as they cal it peremptory did repent amend The which thing whē Wickliffe vnderstood forsaking the pope all the clergy he thought to appeale vnto the kings maiestie but the Duke of Lancaster comming betweene forbad hym that he shoulde not heereafter attempt or begin any such matters but rather submit himselfe vnto the censure and iudgement of his ordinary Whereby Wickliffe being beset wyth troubles and vexations as it were in the middest of the waues he was forced once againe to make cōfession of his doctrine in the whych his confession to auoid the rigor of things he aunswered as is aforesaide making his declaration and qualifying his assertions after such a sorte that he did mitigate and asswage the rigor of hys enemies The next yere after whych was 1382. by the commandement of William Arch. of Cant. there was a conuocation holden at London where as Iohn Wickliffe was also commanded to be present But whether he there appeared personally or not I find it not in story certainly affirmed The mandate of the Archb. Wil. Courtney sent abrode for the conuenting together of this councell heere followeth vnder wrytten truely copied out of his owne registers Memorandum that where as well amongest the nobles as commons of this realme of England there hath a certain brute ben spread of diuers cōclusions both erroneous also repugnant to the determination of the Church which tend to the subuersion of the whole Church and to our prouince of Canterburie and also to the subuersion of the whole realme being preached in diuers sundry places of our sayd prouince generally commonly publikely We William by Gods permission Archbishop of Canterbury Primate of all England and Legate of the sea Apostolicall beeing minded to execute our office and duetie heerein haue conuocated or called together certaine our fellow brethren others a great many as well Doctours and Bachelers of diuinitie as doctours of the Canon and ciuil law and those whome we thought to be the most famous men skilfullest men and men of soundest iudgemēt in religion that were in all the realme whose names here vnder ensue And the same being the 17. day of the month of May in the yere of our Lord 1382. in a certaine chamber within the territories of the priory of the friers preachers of London before vs and our foresayd fellow brethren assembled then and there personally present After that the sayd conclusions the tenour whereof here vnder ensueth were opēly proponed and distinctly and plainly read We burdened our foresayd fellow brethren doctours and bachelers in the faith wherin they stode bound to our Lorde Iesus Christ and as they would aunswer before the hygh iudge in the day of iudgement that they shuld speake their opinions touching the sayde conclusions and what euery of them thinketh therein And at length after good deliberation had vppon the premisses the foresaid our brethren the bishops doctours Bachelers reassembled before vs the 21. day of the same moneth in the foresayd chamber the foresayde conclusions being againe and againe repeated and plainly read by vs and by the common consents of vs all it remaineth published and declared that some of the said conclusions are hereticall and other some erroneous and contrary to the determination of the Church as heereafter most manifestly shall appeare And for as much as by sufficient information we finde perceiue that the sayd conclusions in many places of our sayde prouince haue bene as is sayde bothe taught preached and that diuers other persons do hold and maintaine the same and be of heresie vehemently and notoriously suspected haue thought good as wel generally as specially to send out thys processe vnder wrytten ¶ The names of the Iurers were these IN primis viij Bishops Canterbury Winchester Durram Exeter Herforde Sarum Rochester and Fryer Botlesham B. Item 3.
Item in the same Parliament was put vp by publike petion that the popes collector should be commaunded to auoyd the Realme within 40. dayes or els to be taken as the kinges enemy and that euery such collector from henceforth may be an Englishman and sworn to execute the statutes made in this Parliament Moreouer in the sayd Parliament the yere abouesayd of the king the 26. of Ianuary M. Iohn Mandour Clark was charged openly in the parliament that he should not passe ne send ouer to Rome ne attempt or doe any thinge there touching the Archdeaconry of Durham in preiudice of the king or of hys lawes or of the party presented thereto by the king on perill that might ensue The next yeare following whiche was the 14. of thys kinges raigne it was enacted first touching the staplers that after the feast of the Epiphany next ensuing that the staple should be remoued from Calice into England in suche places as are contayned in the statute made in 27. Edw. 3. the which statute should be fully executed and further that euery Alien that bringeth merchaundise into the Realme should finde sufficient surety to buy and cary awaye commodities of the Realme to halfe the value of his sayd merchaundise Item in the same parliament petition was made that agaynst the horrible vice of vsury then termed shifts practised as well by the clergie as laitie the order made by Iohn Notte late Mayor of Londō might be executed throughout the Realme Moreouer in the 15. yeare of the raigne of the foresayde king it was accorded for that syr W. Brian knight had purchased from Rome a Bull directed from the Archbshop of Cant and Yorke to excommunicate suche as had broken vp his house and had taken away diuers letters priuilegies and charters The same Bull being red in the parliament house was adiudged preiudicial to the kings crown and in derogation of the lawes for the whiche hee was by the king and assent of the Lordes committed to the Tower there to remayne at the kinges will and pleasure In the sayd Parliament also W. Archb. of Canterbury maketh his protestation in the open parliament saying that the pope ought not to excommunicate any bishop or to entermeddle for or touching anye presentment to anye ecclesiasticall dignitie recorded in any the kinges courtes He further protested that the pope ought to make no translation to any Byshopricke within the realme against the kinges will for that the same was to the destruction of the realme and crowne of England whiche hath alway bene so free as the same hath had none earthly soueraigne but onely subiecte to God in all thinges touching regalties and to none other The which protestation he prayd might be entred In the 17. yeare of the raygne of the king aforesayd it was desired that remedy might be had agaynst suche religious persons as caused their villains or vnderlinges to mary free women inheritable wherby the lands came to those religious mens handes by collusion Item that sufficient persons might be presented to benefices who may dwell on the same so as theyr stocke for want therof do not perish Item that remedy might be had agaynst the Abbotes of Colchester and Abinton who in the townes of Colchester and Colnham clayme to haue sanctuary To come to the parliament holden in the 20. yeare of this kinges raigne we finde moreouer in the sayd rolles how that the Archb. of Cant. and York for themselues and the clergy of their prouinces declared to the king in open parliamēt that forasmuch as they were sworn to the pope and see of Rome if any thing were in the parliament attempted in restraynt of the same they woulde in no wise assent therto but verily withstand the same the which theyr protestation they require to be enrolled Upon the petition of the begging Friers there at large it was enacted that none of that order shoulde passe ouer the seas without licence of his soueraigne nor that he shoulde take vppon him no order of M. of Diuinitie vnlesse he were first apposed in his Chapter prouinciall on payne to be put out of the kinges protection Item that the kings officers for making arests or attachementes in Churchyardes are therefore excommunicated wherof remedy was required In the yeare of the same kinges raygne 21. the Parliment being holden at Westminster we find how the commons in full Parliament accused Thomas Arundell archbishop of Caunterbury for that he as Chauncellor procured and as chiefe doer executed the same commission made trayterously in the tenth yeare of the king And also that he the sayd Archbishop procured the Duke of Gloucester and the Earles of Arundell and Warwicke to encroth to themselues royall power and to iudge to death Simon de Burley and sir Iohn Berners without the kings assent Wheron the Commons required that the same archbish might rest vnder safe keeping wherunto for that the same impeachementes touched so great a person they would be aduised Item the 25. day of September the Commons prayed the king to geue iudgement agaynst the sayd Archbishop according to his desertes The king aunswered that priuately the sayd Archbishop had confessed to him howe he mistooke himselfe in the sayd Commission and therefore submitted himselfe to the kings mercy Wherfore the king Lordes and sir Thomas Percy proctor for the clergie adiudged the facte of the sayd Archbishop to be treason and hymselfe a traytour and therfore it was ordered that the sayd Archbishoppe shoulde be banished his temporalties seased his landes and goodes forfeyted as well in vse as in possession The king further prescribed that the sayd Archbishop shoulde take hys passing on Friday within 6. weekes of Michaelmas at Douer towardes the parts of Fraunce Thus hauing hitherto sufficiently touched and comprehended such thinges as haue happened in the raygne of this king necessary for the Church to knowe by course of story we come nowe to the 22. yeare of King Richardes raygne which is the yeare of our Lord 1399. In the which yeare happened the strange and also lamentable deposing of this king Richard the second aforesayd from hys kingly scepter Straunge for that the like example hathe not often bene seene in seates royall Lamentable for that it cannot be but grieuous to any good mans hart to see him eyther so to deserue if he were iustly deposed or if he were vuiustly depriued to see the kingly title there not able to hold his right wher by force it is compelled to geue place to might As concerning the order and processe of whose deposing for that it neither is greatly pertinent to my argument and is sufficiently contayned in Robert Fabian and in the kinges recordes in the Chronicle of S. Albons and in other histories at large it were here tedious and superfluous to entermedle with repeting therof What were the conditions and properties of this king partly before hath bene
king and to put him beside his cusshion And although for a time he dissembled his wrathfull mood till he might spye a time conuenient and a world to set forwarde his purpose at last finding occasion somewhat seruing to his mind he breaketh his hart to his two brethren to witte the Marques Mountacute the Archbishop of Yorke conspiring with them how to bring hys purpose about Then thought he also to proue a farre of the mind of the duke of Clarence king Edwards brother likewise obteined him geuing also to him his daughter in Mariage This matter being thus prepared agaynst the kyng the first flame of this cōspiracy began to appeare in the north country Where the Northrenmen in short space gathering thēselues in an open rebellion finding certaines of their wicked purpose came down from Yorke toward London Against whom was appoynted by the king W. lord Harbert Earle of Penbroke with the Lord Stafford and certayne other Captaynes to encounter The Yorkeshyre mē geuing the ouerthrow first to the lord Stafford thē to the Earle of Penbrok and his company of Welchmē at Banbery fielde at last ioyning together with the army of the Earle of Warwicke and Duke of Clarence in the dead of the night secretly stealing one the kinges field at Wolney by Warwick killed the watch and tooke the king prisoner who first being in the castle of Warwicke then was conueyed by night to Midleham Castle in Yorkeshyre vnder the custody of the Archbishop of Yorke where he hauinge loose keeping and liberty to go on hunting meeting wyth syr William Standley syr Thomas of Brough and other his frendes was to good for his keepers and escaped the hands of his enemies and so came to York where he was well receiued from thēce to Lankester where he met with the Lord Hastinges his Chamberlayne well accompanied by whose helpe he came safe to London After this tumult when reconciliation could not come to a perfect peace vnity although much labor was made by the nobility the Earle of Warwick raiseth vp a new war in Lincolnshyre the captaine wherof was Sir Rob. wels knight who shortly after being taken in battell wyth hys father and sir Thomas Dunocke were beheaded the residue casting away their coates ran away and fled geuing the name of the field called Losecoat field The erle of Warwicke after this put out of comfort and hope to preuayle at home fled out of England An. 1470. first to Calice then to Lewes the French king accompanyed with the Duke of Clarence The fame of the Earle of Warwicke and of his famous actes was at that time in great admiration aboue measure and so highly fauoured that both in England Fraunce all men were glad to behold his personage Wherfore the comming of this Earle of the Duke of Clarence was not a litle gratefull to the French king and no lesse oportune to Queene Margaret King Henryes wife and Prince Edward her sonne who also came to the Frenche Courte to meete and conferre together touching their affayres where a league betwene thē was cōcluded moreouer a mariage betwene Edward prince of Wales Anne the secōd daughter of the Erle of Warwick was wrought Thus all things fasting luckely vpō the Erles part beside the large offers and great promises made by the Frenche king on the best maner to set forwarde their purpose the Earle hauing also intelligence by letters that the harts almost of all men went with him and lōged sore for his presence so that there lacked now but onely hast with al speed possible to returne he with the duke of Clarence wel fortified with the French nauy set forward toward England For so was it betwene them before decreed that they two should proue the first venture and then Queen Margaret with Prince Edward her sonne should folow after The ariuall of the Earle was not so soone heard of at Dartmouth in Deuonshyre but great cōcourse of people by thousands went to him from all quarters to receiue welcome hym who immediatly made proclamation in the name of kyng Henry the sixt charging all men able to beare armour to prepare themselues to fight agaynst Edwarde Duke of Yorke vsurper of the Crowne Here lacked no freendes strength of men furniture nor pollicy conuenient for such a matter When king Edwarde who before not passing for the matter nor seking how either to haue stopped his iāding or els straight wayes to haue encountred with him before the gathering of his frendes but passing forth the time in hunting in hauking in all pleasure daliance had knowledge what great resort of multitudes incessantly repaired more and more dayly about the Erle and the Duke began now to prouide for remedy when it was to late Who trusting to much to his friendes and fortune before dyd nowe right well perceiue what a variable and inconstant thyng the people is especially here of Englād whose nature is neuer to be contēt long with the present state but alwayes delighting in newes seketh new variety of chaunges eyther enuying that which stādeth or els pitying that which is fallen Which inconstant mutability of the light people chaunging with the winde and wauering with the reede did well appeare in the course of this kinges story For he through the people when he was down was exalted now being exalted of the same was forsaken Wherby this is to be noted of all princes that as there is nothing in this mutable world firme and stable so is there no trust nor assurance to be made but onely in the fauor of God and in the promises of his word onely in Christ his sonne whose only kingdome shall neuer haue ende nor is subiecte to anye mutation These thinges thus passing in England on the Earles side agaynst king Edward he accompanyed with the Duke of Glocester his brother and the Lord Hastings who had maried the erle of Warwicks sister and yet was neuer vntrue to the king his maister and the Lord Seales brother to the Queene sent abroad to all his trusty frendes for furniture of able souldiors for defence of his person to wtstand his enemies Whē litle rescue few in effect would come the king himselfe so destitute departed to Lincolneshyre where he perceiuing his enemyes dayly to encrease vpon him all the countryes about to be in a tore making fiers singing songs crying king Henry king Henry a Warwicke a Warwicke and hearing moreouer his enemyes the Lancastrians to be within halfe a dayes iourney of him was aduised by his frendes to flie ouer the Sea to the Duke of Burgoyne which not long before had maryed king Edwardes sister ¶ Here might be thought by the common iudgement and pollicy of man peraduētnre that king Edward as he had in his handes the life of king Henry of his Queene and Prince so if hee had dispatched them out of the way
and condemned by any person or persons let the indifferent Reader iudge simply As touching the decretal epistles which be intituled vnder the name of these foresaide bishops who so well aduiseth them and with iudgement will examine the stile the time the argument the hanging togither of the matter the constitutions in them contained little seruing to anye purpose and nothing seruing for those troublous dayes then present may easely discerne them either in no part to be theirs or much of the same to be clouted and patched by the doings of other which liued in other times speciallye seing al the constitutions in them for the most part tend to the setting vp and to exalt the sea of Rome aboue al other Bishops and churches and to reduce all cames appeals to the said sea of Rome So the epistle of Caius beginnyng with the commendation of the authoritie of his sea endeth after the same tenor willing and cōmaunding all difficult questions in al prouinces whatsoeuer emerging to be referred to the sea Apostolicall Moreouer the greatest part of the said epistle from this place Quicunque illi sunt ita obcaecati c. to the ende of this periode Quoniam sicut ait B. Apostolus Magnum est pietatis c. is conteyned in the epistle of Leo vnto Leo the Emperour so rightly agreeth in al poynts with the stile of Leo that euidēt it is the same to be borrowed out of Leo out of the epistle of Caius or to bee patched into the epistle of Caius taken out of Leo. Likewise the epistle of Marcellinus to get more authoritie with the reader is admixed with a great part of S. Paules epistle to the ephesians worde for worde And howe is it like that Marcellinus which died in the 20. yeare of Dioclesian coulde write of consubstantialitie of the diuine persons when that controuersie and terme of Consubstantialitie was not heard of in the Church before Nicene councell which was 23. yeares after him But especially the two epistles of Marcellus bewray themselues so that for the confuting therof needeth no other probation more then onely the reading of the same Such a glorious stile of ambition therein doth appeere as it is easie to be vnderstoode not to proceede either frō such an humble Martir or to sauour any thing of the misery of such a time His wordes of hys first epistle written to the brethren of Antioche and alleaged in the popes decrees by Gratianus are these We desire you brethren that ye doe not teach nor conceiue any other thing but as yee haue receiued of the blessed Apostle S. Peter and of other Apostles fathers For of him ye were first of all instructed wherefore you must not forsake your owne father and followe others For hee is the head of the whole Church to whom the Lord sayd Thou art Peter and vpon this rocke I will build my church c. whose seate was first with you in Antioche which afterward by the commaundement of the Lord was trāslated frō thence to Rome of the which church of Rome I am this day placed by the grace of god to be the gouernour Frō the which church of Rome neither ought you to separate your selues seeing to the same church all maner causes ecclesiasticall being of any importance Gods grace so disposing are commonded to be referred by the same to be ordered regularly from whence they tooke their first beginning c. And followeth consequently vpon the same And if your Church of Antioche which was once the 1. wil now yeld her self vnto the sea of Rome ther is no other Church els which will not subiect it selfe to our dominion to whom all other Byshops who so euer listeth and as they must needes do according to the decrees of the the Apostles and of their successors ought to flee vnto as to their head and must appeale to the same there to haue their redresse and their protection from whence they tooke their first instruction and consecration c. Whether this be like matter to proceed from the spirit of Marcellus that blessed martyr in those so dreadfull dayes I say no more but onely desire thee gētle reader to iudge In hys second Epistle moreouer the sayd Marcellus writing to Maxentius the bloudy tyraunt first reprehendeth him for his crueltie sharpely admonishing him howe what to do to learne and seeke the true religion of God to mayntayne hys Churche to honor and reuerence the Priestes of God and specially exhorteth him to charitie and that he would cease from persecution c. All this is possible and like to be true but now marke good reader what blanched stuffe here followed withall as where hee alledging the statutes and sanctions of hys predecessors declareth and discusseth that no byshop nor minister ought to be persecuted or depriued of hys goodes And if they be then ought the to haue their possessions and places againe restored by the law before they were bound by the law to aunswere to their accusations layd in agaynst thē And so after that in conuenient tyme to be called to a councell The which councell notwithstanding without the authoritie of the holy sea cannot proceede regularly albeit it remayne in hys power to assemble certayne Byshops together Neyther can he regularly condemne any Byshop appealing to this hys Apostolicall sea before the sentence diffinite do proceede from the foresayd sea c. And it followeth after and therefore sayth he let no Byshop of what crime soeuer he be attached come to hys accusation or be heard but in hys owne ordinary Synode at hys conuenient time the regular and Apostolicalll authoritie beyng ioyned withall Moreouer in the sayd Epistle writing to Maxentius hee decreeth that no lay men or any suspected Byshop ought to accuse Prelates of the Church so that if they be either laye men or men of euill conuersation or proued manyfest enimies or incensed with anye hatred their accusations against any Byshops ought not to stande Wyth other such matters moe concerning the disposition of iudiciall court Which matter if Pope Gregory the seuenth had written to Henrye the third Emperour or if Pope Alexander the third had written to the Emperour Predericus the first it might haue stand with some reason and opportunity of time But nowe for Marcellus to write these decrees in such persecution of the Churche to Maxentius the Heathen and most cruell Emperour howe vnlyke it is to bee true and howe it serued then to purpose the Reader may soone discerne And yet these be the epistles and constitutions decretal whereby vnder the pretensed title of the fathers al churches of late time al ecclesiastical causes haue beene yet are in this realme of england to this day gouerned directed and disposed The like discussion examination I might also make of the other epistles that followe of Eusebius and Miltiades which al tende to the same scope
Margaret the daughter of our progenitour Henry the third at our Citty of Yorke in the feast of Christmas at whiche tyme the sayd Alexander dyd hys homage to our sayd progenitour who reigned in this Realme 56. yeares And thereford betweene the homage made by the sayd Alexander king of Scotland and the homage done by Alexander sonne to the sayd king of Scots to vs at our coronation at Westminster there was about 50. yeares At which tyme the said Alexander kyng of Scottes repayred to the sayd feast of our coronation and there did he his duety as is aforesayd ¶ Besides these letters of the king the Lordes temporall also in the name of the whole communaltie and Parliment wrote an other letter to the pope answering to that where as the pope arrogated to hym to be iudge for the title of the realme of Scotland whiche the king of England claymed to hymselfe whiche letter I thought also here to annexe contayning as in the wordes of the same here foloweth to be read and seene * The Lordes temporall and the whole Baronie of England to the Pope THe holy mother Churche by whose ministery the Catholicke fee is gouerned in her deedes as we throughly beleeue and holde proceedeth with that ripenes in iudgement that she will be hurtfull to none but like a mother would euery mans right to be kept vnbroken as well in other as in her selfe Whereas therefore in a generall Parliament called at Lincoln of late by our most dread Lord Edward by the grace of God the noble kyng of England the same our Lorde caused certayne letters receaued from you to be read openly and to be declared seriously afore vs about certayne businesses touching the condition state of the realme of Scotland We did not a little muse and maruaile with our selues hearing the meaninges concerning the same so wondrous and straunge as the like we haue not heard at any time before For we know most holy father and it is well knowne as well in this realm of England as also not vnknowne to other persons besides that from the first beginning of the Realme of England the certayne and direct gouernement of the Realme of Scotland in all temporall causes from tyme to tyme belonged to the kynges of the same Realme of England and Realme of Scotland as well in the times both of the Brittaines as also of Englishmen Yea rather the same Realme of Scotland of olde tyme was in see to the Auncetours of our foresayd Lordes Kynges of England yea and to hymselfe Furthermore the Kynges of Scottes and the Realme haue not bene vnder any other then the kynges of England and the Kinges of England haue answered or ought to aunswere for theyr rightes in the foresayd Realme or for any hys temporalities afore anye Iudge Ecclesiasticall or secular by reason of free preheminence of the state of hys royall dignitie and custome kept without breach at all tymes Wherefore after treatie had and dilligent deliberation of the contentes in your foresayd letters this was the common agreeing and consent with one mynde and shall be without fayle in tyme to come by Gods grace that our foresayd Lord the Kyng ought by no meanes to aunswere in iudgement in any case or shoulde bring hys foresayd rightes into doubt nor ought not to send any proctors or messengers to your presence specially seeing that the premisses tend manifestly to the disheriting of the right of the Crowne of Englande and the playne ouerthrow of the state of the sayd Realme and also hurt of the liberties customes and lawes of our fathers For the keeping and defence of whiche we are bounde by the duety of the othe made And we will mayntayne them with all power and will defend them by Gods helpe with all strength And farther we will not suffer our foresayd Lord the king to doe or by anye meanes to attempt the premisses being so unacustomed vnwont and not heard of afore Wherefore we reuerently and humbly beseech your holines that ye would suffer the same our Lord king of Englande who among other Princes of the worlde sheweth himselfe Catholicke and deuour to the Romishe Churche quietly to enioye hys rightes liberties ' customes and lawes aforesayde without all empayring and trouble and let them continue vntouched In witnesse whereof we haue set our seales to these presentes aswell for vs as for the whole communaltie of the foresayd Réalme of England Dated at Lincolne in the yeare of our Sauiour 1031. anno Edwardi primi 28. The yeare following which was from Christ an 1303. the sayd Pope Boniface the eight of that name taking displeasure with Phillip the Frenche king did excite king Edward of Englad to warre against him promising hun great ayd thereunto But he as mine author sayth little trusting the Popes false vnstable affection toward him well proued before put him of with delayes Ex Rob. Auesb. wherupon the French king fearing the power of king Edward whom the Pope had set agaynst hys friendship restored vnto him agayn Wascone which he wrongfully had in his hands deteined Concerning this variaunce here mentioned between the Pope and the French kyng how it begā first and to what end it fell out the sequell hereof Christ willing shall declare after that first I haue finished the discourse begon betweene England and Scotland In the yeare 1303. the foresayd Willa Waleys which had done so many displeasures to the king before continuing still in his rebellion gathered great multitudes of the Scottes to wtstand the king til at length the yeare following he was taken and sent vp to Londō and there executed for the same After which thinges done the king thē held his Parliament at Westminster whether came out of Scotland the Bishop of S. Andrewes Robert Bruse aboue mentioned Earle of Dunbarre Earle of Acles and Syr Iohn comming with diuers other The which volūtarily were sworne to be true to the king of England and to keep the land of Scotland to his vse agaynst at persons But shortly after the sayd Robert Bruse who as is sayd maried the second daughter of Earle Dauid forgetting his othe before made vnto the king within a yeare or two after this by the counsell of the Abbot of Stone and Bishop of S. Andrewes sent vp vnto Pope Clement the 5. for a dispensation of his othe made unsinuating to him that King Edward vexed and greued the realme of Scotland wrōgfully Whereupon the pope wrote vnto the king to leaue of such doinges Notwithstanding whiche inhibition of the Pope the king prosecuting hys owne right after he had the vnderstanding of the doings of the Scots of the mischiefe of Robert Bruys who had slayne with hys owne handes Syr Iohn Comyng for not consenting with him and other Lordes at hys Parliament areared his power strength of men preparing himselfe toward Scotlād where he ioyning with the said Syr Robert and all the power of Scotland in a
litle to nothing at all Let the Barons also consider how that there is but few which beleeue not in yâ— church For the church is one as in the 6. of CanticuÌ„ My Doue derling is one Wherfore without great perill of trasgression can they not perswade and counsell such liberties of the church to be abrogated and taken away That therfore your Maiesties conscience may remain pure and immaculate pleseth it your highnes by your anthority to seale confirme this good auncient canonicall priuiledge and contrary attempts if any be made by way of proclamation or otherwise to reuoke and call them in And further to keepe your mother the church of FrauÌ„ce in her auncient franck choyse liberty and customes And theÌ„ by you in al thinges God shal be glorified and honored to whom be honor and glory for euer and euer Amen Who then will honor you as is sayd 1. Reg. 21. whosoeuer shall honour me I will crowne him with that glory in which consisteth the true honor and is grauÌ„ted to none vnworthy Wherunto also none is admitted but worthy as blessed S. Austen saith which honor graunt he vnto you vs who is blessed world without end Amen And because a bill of many articles was exhibited wherof part did infringe the whole ecclesiastical iurisdictioÌ„ to the defeÌ„ce therof we wil according to the 4. cha of Ecclesiasticus stand eueÌ„ to the death where it is sayd for the truth striue thou vnto the death and God shall fight for thee agaynst thine enemies Some other of theÌ„ contayne onely abuse which we beleue none such to be But if there be we will see redresse therin Therfore for the honor of God for the vnburdening of our consciences for the kings maiesties reuerence for yâ— peoples profit and peace All we here assembled haue concluded to see remedy that the aforesayd abuses if any such be shal be left to the quietnes of the people and prayse of almighty God To whom be honor and glory world without end Amen * Another sitting in the Parliament The next Friday following being the 29. of December the prelates assembled themselues agayne together at the kings palace in Paris Where the reuerend father the L. Peter Bertrand by Gods permissioÌ„ bishop of Eduen spake openly there before the king sitting with his Counsellors and Barons about him taking to his theame the which is written in the 18. of Genesis O Lord be not angry that I speake yet more c. The which he applyed to this end that for the maiesty of the king the prudency of his counsell and insufficiency of himselfe considering the waightinesse of the cause he trembled and was afrayde to speake yet neuertheles trusting vpon his accustomed clemency tooke to him audacity presumed that which was appoynted to him by the prelates Beginning with the 89 psalme Lord thou art our refuge c. Which he prosecuted in extolling the king his persoÌ„ and his miraculous atteining to the crowne of Fraunce preaching further how he ought to be the champion defender of the faith all which he proued in few words by many reasoÌ„s and authorityes Afterward he touched those propositioÌ„s which were propounded by the foresaid Lord Peter of Cugner and for no other onely cause as he protested but to informe the coÌ„science of his soueraign Lord and king to aduise his grace concerning the same Not going about to make any finall iudgement determination or answer wherby either sentence Order Statute right to any man or other processe might thereof ensue or be grouÌ„ded And namely he first beginning with the Theame of the Lord Peter first affirmed render vnto the Emperour which is the Emperors and vnto God which is hys Marke 12. By whych woordes was signified the obedience and subiectioÌ„ to the king with the differeÌ„ce of the spiritualty from the temporalty wherof the first meÌ„ber is proued by the 1. Pet. 2. Where is sayde be yee subiect to euery humaine creature c. Also by the Cap. solite extra de maio ob And by the c. nouit extra de iudicijs cap. de sacerdotibê° 10. q. 1. with the notes about the same Moreouer as touching the distinction of both iurisdictions whereof the Lord Peter prooued the temporall iurisdiction to pertaine to seculare men the spiritual to the clergie by the wordes of our Sauiour Christ. Luke 22. where hee sayde Beholde two swordes Also for that Christ did pay tribute Teaching thereby how that the temporalties were to be reserued to the temporall men Math. 17. 11. q. ca. Si tribut ca. Magnum In like maner by the law of Iustinian where it is written that 2. great giftes were ordained graunted of God a Byshoprike and a kingdom The first to beare rule ouer Gods matters the other ouer worldly thinges c. And sayde moreouer that these 2. be the cases which in no wyse could be altered or changed Prou. 20. de TioÌ„ mo lib. 1. vlt. And affirmed also that oâ— suche Princely right the Kynge coulde not abrogate and depriue hymselfe For that it was unprescriptible appertaining to the crowne and his regal seat considering howe he tooke his othe at time of hys coronation not onely not to break or alienate the lawes of his realme but also to restore and reuoke such as were broken and alienated To which these his reasons it was answered that the iurisdiction and determination of ciuill causes whereabout the controuersie now standeth belongeth to the Church both by Gods law and mans law By Gods lawe it prooued was euen from Adams time to Christes comming per Innoc. ca. licet extra de foro compe And from Christes comming to Peters time and hys successors 22. di câ—omnes patriarchae Math. cap. 16. But how the Churche in the Realmes of Catholike Princes attained vnto thys right and interest which at this presence it doth enioy the law proueth 2. q. ca. 5. Si quis Praesbyter 11. q. 1. Relatum 25. dist Ecce Whych also is confirmed by the Emperors in the body of the lawe ff 3. ¶ Si causam col 9 23. q. vlt c. his a quibus The Canon furthermore teacheth how that S. Peter commaunded all the Princes of the earth and others to obey and giue place to the Byshops c omnes extra de maior ob 16. dist duo sunt Wherefore it was concluded that in no wise this right is to be separated and taken away from the Church And albeit in the realmes of tyrannous Princes this state of the Church is violated and not kept yet in this blessed realme of Fraunce it hath bene alwayes euen to these dayes duely obserued c. nouit extra de iudicijs This iurisdiction the lawes of Theodosius the Emperor and Carolus the great hathe also confirmed extra de iudicijs c. nonne all 11. q. 1. quaecunque c. fe iurisdictio c. expresse Where it is mentioned that the same Carolus Kynge of Fraunce
are to be worshipped with procession bowing of knees offring of frankincense kissinges oblations lighting of candels and pilgrimages and with all other kind of ceremonyes and manners that hath bene vsed in the time of our predecessoures And that geuing of othes in cases expressed in the law and vsed of all men to whome it belongeth in both common places ought to be done vpon the booke of the Gospell of Christ. Contrarye vnto this who so euer doth preache teache or obstinately affirme except he recant in manner and forme aforesayd shall forthwith incurre the penaltie of heresie and shal be pronounced an heretique in all effect of law Item we doe decree and ordaine that no chaplayne be admitted to celebrate in any dioces within our prouince of Caunterbury where he was not borne or not receaued orders except hee bring with him hys letters of orders letters commendatory from his ordinary and also from other Bishops in whose dioces of a long lyme he hath ben conuersaunt whereby his conuersation and maners may appeare So that it may be knowne whether he hath bene detained with any new opinioÌ„s touching that catholick faith or whether he be free from the same otherwise as well he that celebrateth as he that suffereth him to celebrate shal be sharpely punished at the discretion of the Ordinary Finally because those things which newly and vnaccustomably excepeth vp standeth need of new and speedy helpe and where more daunger is there ought to be more mary circumspection and stronger resistance and not â—â—out good cause that lesse noble ought discretly to be cut away that the more noble may the more perfectly be nourished Considering therefore and in lamentable wife shewing vnto you how the auncient Uniuersitie of Oxford which as a fruitful vine was wont to exteÌ„d forth her fruitful braÌ„ches to the honour of God the great perfection and defeÌ„ce of the Church now partly being become wilde bringeth forth bitter grapes which being vndiscreetly eaten of auncient fathers that thought themselues skilfull in the law of God hath set on edge yâ— teeth of their childreÌ„ and our prouince is infected with diuers and vnfruitfull doctrines and defiled with a new damnable name of Lollardie to the great reproofe and offence of the sayd Uniuersitie being known in forren countryes to the great irkesomnes of the studentes there and to the great damnage and losse of the Church of England which in times past by her vertue as with a strong wall was wont to be defended and now like to runne in ruine not to be recouered At the supplication therfore of that whole clergie of our prouince of CaÌ„ terbury and by the consent and assent of all our brethren suffragans and other the prelates in this conuocation assembled and the proctors of them that are absent least the riuer being clensed the fountayne should remayne corrupt and so the water comming from thence should not be pure entending most holesomly to prouide for the honour and vtilitie of our holy mother the Church and the vniuersitie moresayd We do ordeine and decree that euery warden Prouost or maister of euery College or principall of euery hall wtin the vniuersitie aforesayd shall once euery moneth at yâ— least diligently enquire in the sayd College hall or other place where he hath authoritie whether anye scholler or inhabitant in such colledge or hall c. haue holdeÌ„ alleaged or defended or by any meanes proponed any conclusion proposition oâ— opinion concerning the catholick faith or sounding coÌ„trary to good maners or contrary to the determination of the Church otherwise then appertayneth to necessary doctrine And if hee shall finde anye suspected or diffamed herein he shall according to his office admonish him to desiste And if after such monition geuen the sayde partye offende agayne in the same or suche like hee shall incurre ipso facto besides the penalties aforesayd the sentence of greater excommunication And neuerthelesse if it be a scholier that so offendeth the second tyme whatsoeuer he shall afterward doe in the sayd vniuersitie shall not stand in effect And if he be a doctour a maister or bacheller he shall sorth with be suspended froÌ„ euery schollers act and in both cases shal lose the right that he hath in the said College or hall wherof he is Ipso facto and by the warde Prouost Maister principall or other to whoÌ„ it appertayneth he shal be expelled a Catholique by lawful meanes forth with placed in his place And if the sayd wardens Prouostes or Maisters of Colledges or principalles of halles shal be negligent concerning the inquisition and execution of such persons suspected and diffamed by that space of x. dayes froÌ„ the time of the true or supposed knowledge of that publication of these presentes that then they shal incurre that sentence of greater excommunication and neuerthelesse shal be depriued ipso facto of all the right which they preteÌ„d to haue in yâ— colledges halles c. and the sayd Colledges halles c. to be effectually vacant And after lawfull declaration hereof made by them to whom it shall appertayne new wardens Prouostes Maisters or principals shal be placed in they places as hath ben accustomed in colledges and halles being vacant in the sayd vniuersitie But if the wardens themselues Prouostes Maisters or principals aforesayd be suspected and diffamed of and concerning the sayd conclusions or propositions or be fauourers defenders of such as doe therein offend and doe not cease beyng therof warned by vs or by our authoritie or by yâ— ordinary of the place that then by law they be depriued as well of all priuiledge scholasticall within the vniuersitie aforesayd as also of their right and authoritie in such Colledge hall c. Besides other penalties afore mentioned and that they incurre the sayd sentence of greater excommunication But if any man in any case of this present coÌ„stitution or any other aboue expressed do rashly and wilfully presume to violate these our statues in any part thereof although there be an other penalty expressely there limitted yee shal he be made altogether vnable and vnworthy by the spare of three yeares after without hope of pardon to obtayn any ecclesiasticall benefice within our prouince of Caunterbury and neuertheles according to all hys demerites and the quallitie of hys excesse at the discretion of his superiour he shal be lawfully punished And further that yâ— maner of proceeding herein be not thought vncertayne considering with ourselues that although there be a kinde of equallitie in the crime of heresie and offending the prince as is auouched in diuers lawes yet the fault is much vnlike and to offend the deuine maiestie requireth greater punishment then to oftend yâ— Princes maiesty And where it is sufficient for feare of daunger that might ensue by delayes to conuince by iudgement the offender of the Princes maiesties proceeding agaynst hym fully wholy with a
citation sent by messenger by letters or edict not admitting proofe by witnesses and sentēce definitiue to be we do ordeine will and declare for the easier punishment of the offēders in the premisses and for the better reformation of the church deuided and hurt that all such as are diffamed openly knowne or vehemētly suspected in any of the cases aforesayd or in anye article of the catholicke fayth sounding contrary to good manners by authoritie of the ordinary of the place or other superior be cited personally to appeare cyther by letters publique messenger being sworne or by edicte openly set at that place where the sayd offender commonly remayneth or in hys parish Church if he hath any certayne dwelling house Otherwise in y◠Cathedrall church of the place where he was borne and in the parish churche of the same place where he so preached and taught And afterwardes certificate beyng geuen that the citation was formally executed agaynst the party cited being absent and neglecting hys appearannce it shal be proceeded agaynst him fully and playnly without sound or shew of iudgement and without admitting proofe by witnesses and other canonicall probations And also after lawful informatiō had the sayd ordinary al delayes set apert shall signifie declare and punishe the sayd offender according to the quallitie of his offence and in forme aforesayd and further shall doe according to iustice the absence of the offender notwithstanding Geuen at Oxford ¶ Who would haue thought by these lawes and constitutions so substantially founded so circumspectly prouided so dilligently executed but that the name and memory of this persecuted sort should vtterly haue bene rooted vp neuer could haue stand And yet such be the works of th◠lord passing all mēs admiratiō all this notwithstanding so far was it of that the number and courage of these good men was vanquished that rather they multiplied dayly encreased For so I finde in Registers recorded that these foresayd persons whome the king and the Catholique fathers did so greatly deteste for heretickes were in diuers countries of this realme dispersed and increased especially at London in Lincolnshire in Northfolk in Herefordshyre in Shreusbury in Callice and diuers other quarters mo with whom the Archb. of Caunterbury Thomas Arundell the same time had much ado as by hys own registers doth appeare Albeit some there were that dyd shrinke many did reuolt and renounce for daunger of the law Among whom was Iohn Puruey whiche recanted at Paules Crosse of whom more foloweth the Lord willing to be said in the yeare 1421. Also Iohn Edward priest of the dioces of Lincolne who reuoked in the greene yard at Norwich Richard Herbert and Emmot Willy of Lōdon also Iohn Becket who recanted at London Item Iohn Seynons of Lincolneshyre who was caused to reuoke at Caunterbury The articles of whom which commonly they did hold and which they were constrayned to abiure most specially were these as follow Their Articles First that the office of the holy Crosse ordayned by the whole Church celebrated doth contayne idolatry Item they sayd and affirmed that all they which doe reuerence and worship the signe of the crosse do commit idolatry and are reputed as Idolaters Item they sayd and affirmed that the true fleshe and bloud of our Lord Iesus Christ is not in the sacrament of the aulter after the words spoken by the priest truely pronounced Item they sayd and affirmed the sacrament of the aultar to be sacramentall bread not hauing life but onely instituted for a memoriall of Christes passion Item they sayd and affirmed that the body of Christe which is taken on the aulter is a figure of that body of christ as long as we see the bread and wyne Item they sayd and affirmed that the decree of the prelates and clergie in the prouince of Caunterbury in theyr last conuocation with the consent of the king and the nobles in the last Parliament agaynst him that was brent lately in the citty of London was not sufficient to chaunge the purpose of the sayd Iohn when the substance of materiall bread is euen as before in the sacrament of the aultar it was no change being made in the nature of bread * Item that any lay man may preach the Gospel in euery place and may teach it by his owne authoritie without the licence of his Ordinary Itē that it is sinne to geue any thing to the preaching friers to the Minorites to the Augustines to the Carmelites Item that we ought not to offer at the funerals of the dead Item that the confession of sins to the people is vnneedefull Item that euery good man though he be vnlearned is a priest Item that the infant though he dye vnbaptised shal be saued Item that neither the pope nor the prelate neither any ordinary can compell any man to sweare by anye creature of God or by the bible booke Item that as well the Bishop the simple man the priest and the lay man be of like authoritie as lōg as they liue well Item that no man is bound to geue bodily reuerence to any prelate ¶ William Thorpe THus much briefly being signified by the way touching these which haue bene forced in time of this king to open abiuration Next commeth to our handes the worthy history of maister William Thorpe a warriour valiaunt vnder the triumphant banner of Christ with the processe of his examinations before the foresayd Thomas Arundell Archbishop of Caunterb written by the sayd Thorpe and storyed by his owne pen at the request of hys frendes as by hys own words in the processe here of may appeare In whole examination whiche seemeth first to begin an 1407. thou shalt haue good reader both to learne and to merueile To learne in that thou shalt beare truth discoursed and discussed with the contrary reasons of the aduersary dissolued To marueile for that thou shalt beholde here in this man the merueilous force and strength of the Lordes might spirite and grace working and fighting in his souldiors also speaking in theyr mouthes according to the word of hys promise Luke xxi To the rest of the story we haue neither added nor diminished but as we haue receiued it copied out corrected by maister Williā Tindall who had his own handwriting so we haue here sent it and set it out abroad Althoughe for the more credite of the matter I rather wished it in his own naturall speach wherein it was first written Notwithstanding to put away all doubt and scrouple herein this I thought before to premonishe and testifie to the Reader touching the certaintie hereof that they be yet aliue whiche haue seene the selfe same copy in his own old English resembling y◠true antiquitie both of the speach and of the time The name of whom as for recorde of the same to auouche is M. Whithead who as he hath seene the true ancient copy in the hādes of George Constantine so hath he