brethren Soone after a Sonne of wicked Edricus by the minde as appeared afterward of his father espied when king Edmond was at the draught with a speare some say with a long knife thrust him into the fundameÌ„t wherof the sayd Edmond shortlye after dyed after that he had raigned two yeres He left behinde him two sonnes Edmond and Edward whom Edricke the wicked Duke after the death of their father tooke from theyr mother not knowing yet of the death of Edmond her husband preseÌ„ted them to king Canutus saluting him in these words Aue Rex solus Thus Canutus after the death of Edmond Irenside was king alone of the whole realme of englaÌ„d And afterward by the aduise of his counsayle he sent the foresayd sonnes of Edmond IroÌ„side to his brother Suanus king of Sueueland to be slayne who abhorring that deed sent them to Salomon king of HuÌ„gary where Edmond being maried to the kings daughter dyed Edward was maried to Agatha daughter of his brother Henry the 4. Emperour When Canutus was stablished in the kingdom he called a parliamentat London where among other things there debated it was propounded to the bishops BaroÌ„s and Lordes of the parliament there present whether that in the compositioÌ„ made betwene Edmund and Canutus any speciall remembraunce was made for the children or brethren of Edmund for any partition of any part of the land Wherunto the english Lordes falsly â—latteryng with the foraine kyng and speaking against their own mynds as also against their natiue countrey aunswered and sayd nay Affirming moreouer with an oth for the kings pleasure that they to the vttermost of their powers would put of the bloud of Edmund in all that they might By reason of which answer and promise they thought many of theÌ„ to haue purchased with the king great fauour But by the iust retribution of God it chaunced farre otherwise For many of them or the most part such especially as Canutus did perceiue to be sworne before tyme to Edmund his heyres and also considering that they were natiue englishmen he mistrusted and disdained euer after In so much that some he exiled a great sort he beheaded some by Gods punishment died sodainly Among whom wicked Edricke also the traytour although with hys sugred wordes he continued a while in the kings fauour at leÌ„gth escaped not condigne reward for his deceiuable dealyng For as the history of IornaleÌ„sis recordeth as the king was in his palace beyond Thames this Edricke beyng belike accused or els suspected of the king before comming vnto him began to reckon vp his benefites labours bestowed for his sake First in forsaking and betraying Egelred then in slaying king Edmund his sonne with many such other deedes moe which all for his sake he had done Well saith the king thou hast here rightly iudged thy selfe and worthily thou shalt dye for slaying thy naturall Prince my sworne brother And so commaunded him to be bound immediately hand and foote to be thrown into Thames Some stories say that when he had saluted the king with Aue rex solus and shewed him the slaying of Edmund Canutus promising that he would make him therfore higher then all the lordes of the realme commaunded his head to be striken off to be set vpon London bridge and hys body to be cast in the towne ditche And thus with shame ended he his wretched life as al they commonly do which with like dissimulatioÌ„ seeke the destruction of their Prince and of their countrey This Canutus shortlye after the death of king Edmond by the counsayle of Edricke exiled Edmond being brother to King Edmund called Rex rusticorum the king of Choorâ—es But afterward he was reconciled agayne to the kinges fauour and lastly slayne by certayne of the Kinges Secretaryes or Seruauntes Also through the counsayle of the sayd Edricke and of Emma his wife he sent the two Sonnes of Edmond Ironside Edmond and Edward to his brother Suanus king of Denmark to be slaine as is aboue sayd In this meane time Suanus king of Denmarke brother to Canutus died Wherfore that land fel to Canutus which anon after sailed thether and tooke thereof possession And after he had set it in an order he retourned into England and maried Emma late wife before of Egelred and by her had a soÌ„ne called Herdeknight or Hardeknoutus Moreouer this Canutus assembled a Parliament at Oxford where it was agreed that Englishmen Danes should holde the lawes made by king Edgar because they were thought so good resonable aboue any other lawes Thus the Danes being in England began by little little to be Christen men And Canutus went to Rome so returning againe to England gouerned that lande the space of 20. yeares leauing after him two sonnes Harold Hardeknoutus which Hardeknoutus was made king of Denmarke in his fathers time Harold called Harefoote for his deliuernes and swiftnes sonne to Canutus by Elgina his first wife began his raigne ouer England an 1039. Of him is little left in memory for he raigned but 4. yeres saue that he banished his stepmother Emma tooke her goods iewels from her Hardeknoutus being king of Denmarke and second sonne to Canutus by his last wife Emma was next King of England In the time of these Danish kings there was one Godwyn an earle in England which had bene before in great fauour with Canutus for his actes done in Denmarke against the Northwegians and afterward maryed yâ— sister some say the daughter of Canutus This Godwyn was of a cruell and subtill wit as he declared no lesse by the two sonnes of king Egelred For when these two aforesaid whose names were Alfride and Edward came from NormaÌ„die into England to visit their mother Emma and brought with them a great company of Normands this Godwine hauing a daughter called Godith whome he thought to marry to Edward set him vp to be King to bring his purpose about vsed this practise that is to perswade king Hardeknoue the Lordes not to suffer those Normandes to be within the realme for ieoperdie but rather to punish them for example By which meanes he gat authoritie to order the matter himselfe wherefore he 〈◊〉 them on Guild downe and there most wretchedly murthered or rather Martyred the most number of the Normandes and that innocently For as Swanus before had tithed the Monkes of Canterburie so heâ— with the cruell coÌ„pany of english soldiors slew ix of the saide Normands and saued the x. And yet passing the furie of Swanus as not contented with that tiranny he tithed againe the sayde tithe and slew euery x. knight and that by cruel tormeÌ„t as winding their guts out of their bodies as writeth Ranulphus And among other put out the eyes of the elder brother Alfridus and sent him to an Abbey of Elie where he being fed wyth breade and water endured not
touched In whome as some good vertues may be noted so also some vices may seeme to be mixed withall But especially this that he starting out of the steps of hys progenitors ceased to take part with them whiche tooke part with the gospell Wherupon it so fell not by the blind wheele of fortune but by the secret hand of him which directeth all estates that as he first began to forsake that mayntayning of the Gospell of God so the Lord began to forsake him And where the protection of God beginneth to fayle there can lack no causes to be charged withall whom God once giueth ouer to mans punishmeÌ„t So that to me considering the whole life and trade of this prince among all other causes alledged in storyes agaynst him none seemeth so much to be wayed of vs or more hurtfull to hym then this forsaking of the Lord and his word Although to such as list more to be certified in other causes concurring withall many and sondry defectes in that king may appeare in storyes to the number of 33. articles alledged or forced rather agaynst him In whiche as I cannot deny but that he was worthy of much blame so to be displaced therefore from his regall seate and rightfull state of the crowne it may be thought perhaps the causes not to be so rare so material in a prince which either could or els would haue serued had not he geuen ouer before to serue the Lord and hys word chusing rather to serue the humour of the Pope and bloudy Prelates theÌ„ to further the Lords proceedings in preaching of hys word And theÌ„ as I sayd how can enemies lack wher God standeth not to friend or what cause can be so little whiche is not able inough to cast downe where the Lords arme is shortned to sustayne Wherefore it is a poynt of principall wisedome in a Prince not to forget that as he standeth alwayes in neede of God hys helping hand so alwayes he haue the discipline and feare of him before hys eyes according to the counsayle of the godly King Dauid Psal. 2. And thus much touching the time and race of this K. Richard with the tragical story of his deposing The order and maner whereof purposely I pretermit onely contented briefly to lay together a fewe speciall thinges done before his fall suche as may be sufficient in a briefe somme both to satisfie the Reader inquisitiue of suche storyes and also to forwarne other Princes to beware the lyke daungers In suche as wryte the life and Actes of this Prince thus I read of him reported that he was much inclined to the fauouring and aduancing of certayne persons about him ruled all by theyr counsell whiche were theÌ„ greatly abhorred and hated in the realme The names of whome were Rob. Ueer Erle of Oxford whoÌ„ the king had made Duke of Ireland Alexander Neuile Archbishop of York Michiel Delapoole Earle of Suffolke Robert Trisiliam Lord chiefe Iustice Nicholas Brembre with other These men being hated and disdayned of diuers of the nobles and of the commons the king also by fauouring them was lesse fauoured hymselfe In so much that the Duke of Gloucester named Thomas Woodstock the kings Uncle with the Erle of Warwicke and Earle of Darby stoode vp in armes against those counsaylors and abusers as they named them of the king In so much that the king for feare was constrayned agaynst hys minde to remoue out of his court Alexander Neuile Archb. of Yorke Iohn Foorde Byshop of Duresme Fryer Thomas Rushoke Bishop of Chichester the kinges confessor with the Lord Haringworth Lord Burnell and Bemond Lord Ueer and diuers other And furthermore in the Parliament the same yeare following Robert Trisilian the Iustice was hanged and drawne Also Nicholas Brembre Knight Iames Salisbury also and Iames Barnese both Knights Ioh. Bewchampe the kinges Steward and Iohn Blake Esquire in like maner All these by the counsayle of the Lordes beyng cast in the parliament agaynst the kyngs mind did suffer which was in the 11 of his raign he being yet vnder gouernours but consequently after the same the king clayming his own liberty being come to the age of 20. began to take more vpon him And this was one thinge that stirred vp the kinges stomacke agaynst the Nobles Ex Chron. Alban 2. An other thing that styred hym vp as much against the Londiners was this for that he would haue borowed of them a M. pound and they denied him to their double triple disauantage as after ensued vpon it Ibidem An other occasion besides this betwene the king and the Londoners happened thus by reason of one of the Byshop of Salisburies seruauntes named Roman and a Bakers man who then carying a basket of horsebread in Fletstreet the foresayd Roman tooke a horselose out of the basket The Baker asking why he did so the Byshops lusty yeomcu turned backe agayne and brake his head whereupon the neighbors came out and would haue arested this Roman but he escaped away vnto the Byshops house Then the Constable would haue had him out but the Bishops men shut fast the gates that they shoulde not approche Thus much people gathered together threatning to brust open the gates and fire the house vnlesse they had the foresayd party to them brought out Wherby much adoe there was till at length the Mayor and Sheriffes came and quieted the rage of the commons sent euery man home to his house charging theÌ„ to keepe peace Here as yet was no great harme done but if the bishoppe for his part had beene quyet and had not styrred the coles of debate which were well slaked already all had bene ended without further perturbation But thâ— stomacke of the Byshop not yet digested although hys mâ—n had done the wrong hauing no great cause so to do whose name was Iohn Waltam being then Treasourer of England went to Thomas Arundell archbish the same time of Yorke and Lord Chauncellour of England to complayne of the Londoners Where is to be noted or rather reueled by the way a priuy mistery which although be not in this story touched of the writers yet it touched the hartes of the bishops not a little For the Londoners at that time were notoriously knowne to be fauourers of wickliffes side as partly before this is to be seene and in the story of S. Albones more playnly doth appeare where the author of the sayd history writing vpon the 15. yeare of King Richardes raygne reporteth in these wordes of the Londoners that they were Male creduli in deum traditiones auitas Lollardorum sustentatores religiosoruÌ„ detractores de cimaruÌ„ deteÌ„tores coÌ„munis vulgi depauperatores c. that is not right beleuers in God nor in the traditions of their forefathers susteyters of the Lollardes deprauers of religious men withholders of tythes and impouerishers of the common people c. Thus the Londoners being noted and
Barbarossa an 1269. furthermore how mightely almighty God hath stand agaynst them how their warres neuer prospered agaynst the Turke how the iudgementes of the godly learned froÌ„ time to time haue euer repugned agaynst theyr errours c. of these and a thousand other mo not one word hath bene touched but all kept as vnder Benedicite in Auriculer confession This partiall dealing and corrupt handling of Historyes when I considered I thought with my self nothing more lacking in the church then a ful a complet history which being faythfully collected out of all our Monastical writers writteÌ„ Monuments should conteine neither euery vain written fable for that would be to much nor yet leaue out any thing necessary for that would be to little but with a moderate discretion taking the best of euery one should both ease the labor of the reader from turning ouer such a number of writers and also should open the plaine truth of times lying long hid in obscure darcknes of antiquity Wherby all studious Readers beholding as in a glasse the state course and alteration of Religion decay of doctrine and the controuersies of the church might discerne the better betwene antiquity and nouelty For if the things which be first after the rule of Tertullian are to be preferred before those that be latter then is the reading of histories much necessary in the church to know what went before and what folowed after And therfore not without cause Historia in old authors is called the witnesse of times the light of verity the life of memory teacher of life shewer of antiquitie c. Without the knowledge wherof mans life is blind and soone may fall into any kind of errour as by manifest experience we haue to see in these desolate latter times of the Church when as the Byshops of Rome vnder colour of antiquity haue turned truth into heresy and brought such new found deuises of straunge doctrine and ReligioÌ„ as in the former age of the church were neuer heard of before and all through the ignorance of times and for lacke of true history For to say the truth if times had bene well searched or if they which wrote Hystories had without partiality gone vpright betwene God and Baall halting on neither side it might well haue bene fouÌ„d the most part of all this catholicke corruptioÌ„ intruded into the church by the bishops of Rome as Transubstantiation leuation and adoration of the sacrament auriculer confession forced vowes of Priestes not to mary veneration of Images priuate and satisfactory Masses the order of Gregories Masse now vsed the vsurped authoritie Summa potestas of the sea of Rome with all the route of their ceremonies and wiedes of superstition ouergrowing nowe the Churche all these I say to bee new nothinges lately coyned in the minte of Rome without any stampe of antiquitie as by readyng of this present history shall sufficiently I trust appeare Whiche history therefore I haue here taken in hand that as other story writers heretofore haue employed their trauayle to magnifie the Church of Rome so in this history might appeare to all Christian readers the Image of both Churches as well of the one as of the other especially of the poore oppressed and persecuted Churche of Christ. Which persecuted Church though it hath bene of long season troden vnder foote by enemyes neglected in the world nor regarded in histories and almost scarse visible or knowne to worldly eyes yet hath it bene the true Church only of God wherin he hath mightely wrought hetherto in preseruing the same in all extreeme distresses continually stirring vp froÌ„ time to tyme faythful ministers by whoÌ„ alwayes hath bene kept some sparkes of hys true doctrine and Religion Now for asmuch as the true Church of God goeth not lightly alone but is accompanyed wyth some other Church or Chappel of the deuill to deface and maligne the same necessary it is therfore the difference betweene them to be sene and the descent of the right Churche to be described from the Apostles tyme. Which hetherto in most part of histories hath bene lacking partly for feare that men durst not partly for ignoraunce that men could not discerne rightly betweene the one and the other Who beholding the Church of Rome to be so visible and glorious in the eyes of the worlde so shining in outward beauty to beare suche a porte to cary suche a trayne and multitude and to stand in such hye authoritie upposed the same to be only the right Catholike mother The other because it was not so visibly known in the world they thought therfore it could not be the true church of Christ. Wherin they were far deceaued For although the right church of God be not so inuisible in the world that none can see it yet neyther is it so visible agayne that euery worldly eye may perceiue it For like as is the nature of truth so is the proper condition of the true Churche that commonly none seeth it but such onely as be the members and partakers thereof And therefore they which require that Gods holy Church should be euident and visible to the whole world seeme to define the great sinagogue of the world rather then the true spirituall Church of God In Christes time who would haue thought but the congregations and Councelles of the Pharisies had ben the right church and yet had Christ an other Church in earth besides that which albeit it was not so manifest in the sight of the world yet was it the onely true Church in the sight of God Of this Church ment Christ speaking of the Temple whiche he woulde rayse agayne the thyrd day And yet after that the Lord was risen he shewed not himselfe to the worlde but onely to his electe which were but few The same Churche after that encreased and multiplied mightely amonge the Iewes yet had not the Iewes eyes to see Gods Churche but did persecute it till at length all their whole nation was destroyed After the Iewes then came the heathen Emperours of Rome who hauing the whole power of the world in their hands did what the world could do to extinguish the name and church of christ Whose violence coÌ„tinued the space of 3. hundreth yeares All which while the true church of christ was not greatly in sight of the world but rather was abhorred euery where and yet notwithstanding the same small â—elly flocke so despised in the worlde the Lorde highly regarded and mightely preserued For although many then of the Christians did suffer death yet was their death neither losse to them nor detriment to the Church but the more they suffered the more of theyr bloud encreased In the time of these Emperours God raysed vp then in this Realme of Britaine diuers worthy teachers and witnesses as Elnanus meduinus Meltiuianus Amphibolus Albanus Aaron Iulius and other moe In whose time the doctrine of fayth without mens traditions was sincerely
case we our selues had bene in those times of theirs so troubled and distressed as they were spoiled of goods hated of the world cited in consistories pinched in prisons sequestred from wife house and children loking for nothing but death What would we say what would we thinke what would we do Much otherwise doubtlesse then we do now God graunt we may do better for worse I thinke we caÌ„not if we would Ioh Wickliffe W. Swinderby Thorpe Sawtrie with a nuÌ„ber of godly men moe beyng theÌ„ glad in friese gownes goyng barefoote to preach where they could If they were now alyue how glad would they be of these dayes what paines would they take yea what pains would they not take in preaching the gospell not for lucre nor for mony nor passing for promotions or dignities of the church Sir I. Oldcastle L. Cobham sir Rog. Acton with diuers worshipful gentlemen a great nuÌ„ber If they being in our state might enioy with vs their houses and lands with the good fauour of their Prince as then they could not how gladly would they haue contented themselues though they neuer raised their rentes and fines to the vndoyng of their poore tenants Likewise in the tyme of Ioh. Hus and Hierome of Prage the Nobilitie and gentlemen of Bohemia if they might haue had halfe this tranquillitie which we haue to enioy the liberty of Gods word and true vse of the sacraments without molestatioÌ„ of Romish prelates what would they haue cared how simply they walked in their attire without any such monstrous pomp in pranckyng vp themselues as we Englishmen in these reformed dayes walke now more like plaiers in a stage then gods children in his Church ¶ The fourth consideration WHerfore welbeloued these thinges being so let vs call our selues to mind considering the times that haue bene the times that be and times that may come how we stand and by whom we stand If it be the fauor of God onely that doth support vs in the midst of so many enemies let vs beware in no wise we prouoke his indignation If it be his trueth and Gospell that we professe let vs walke in the light of his truth and keepe our selues within the compasse of his Gospell what the Gospel requireth and what it abhorreth who knoweth not And yet who foloweth that he knoweth If S. Paule willeth euery one to depart from iniquity which nameth the Lord Iesus And if the Lord Iesus himselfe testifieth playnely his kingdome not to be of this worlde how will then the nature of that kingdome so spirituall and our conditions so worldly match well together To rippe vp all our deformities in particular I minde not here neither need I the same being so euident to all mens eyes that who cannot see our excessiue outrage in pompous apparrell our carnall desires and vnchast demeanors without feare of God our careles security with out conscience as though there were no iudgement to come our studyes so vpon this world as though there were no other heauen what pride and idlenes of life double dissembling in word deed with out simplicity auarice vnsatiable litle regard to heare Gods word lesse to read it least of all to folow it euery man aspiring to worldly wealth and promotion litle or no mercye to the poore racking of rentes fines bribing and taking vnmeasurable What should I speake of the contentions and vnbrotherly diuision amongest vs most lamentable to see but more lamentable if all were seene which may or is like to folow vpon the same Such were the times once of the Churh before the horrible persecution of Dioclesian for so we read such hatred and disdayne through much peace and prosperity of the Church to creepe in amongest the Church men Read pag. 77. Wherefore let vs be exhorted dearely beloued to reclayme our selues whyle time doth serue If we finde the Lord so gracious in sparing vs as he doth let that not make vs worse but better It is a lewd childe which will not learne without beating A well minding man will be good not forced by coaction but of voluntary office induced As aduersity if it come ought not to dismay vs so neither prosperity now present ought not to puffe vs vp in security consideâ—ing what commonly is wont to folow As Plato well writeth Summae atque effrenatae libertatis seruituteÌ„ plaerumque affeclam esse Of immoderate liberty and to much security foloweth most commonly extreme seruitude And as Hippocrates sayth dispositions of bodyes when the are come to the highest perfection of health then are they most subiect to daunger of sickenes c. Let vs therfore hauing light geuen vs walke like children of light Otherwise if we walke like children of disobedience God hath his roddes to scourge vs if we will needes be Rebelles he hath his Pharaos and Nabuchodonosors to plague vs. Or if we will be so vnordinate and with reuerence be it spokeÌ„ without offence to God or man so doggish and currish one to another the Lorde lacketh not his Doggestrikers to whippe vs. And would God our liues were such that the destruction and ruine here of late seene amongest vs may portend nothing agaynst vs as I trust there is no cause for vs to feare but rather to feare the Lord and walke in his obedience amend that is amisse amongest vs. Amen ¶ The Grace of our Lord Iesus blesse thee gentle reader that long mayst thou read and much mayst thou profite Amen ¶ Pax Pradicantibus Gratia Audientibus Gloriae Iesu Christo. Amen In Martyrologium Ioan. Foxi Laurentius Humfredus TRistes Iliadas docti miramur Homeri Quas scite studuit texere 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Deflentur tragico multorum fata cothurno Haec madidis spectant maesta theatra genis Multa dolenda quidem sed vatum somnia multa Fictis intexunt vera probata nothis Sunt quos delectant vanae commenta Legendae Quam stabulum Augeae rite vocare queas Dum vitam mortem Sanctorum naerrat vt errat Vt pingit fingit Plumbeus ille liber Aurea nunc tandem prodit noua vera Legenda Egregium Chronicon lugubris historia Authorem commendat opus sic rursus adornat Author opus simul haec vtraque felle carent Authorem specta pius est tersus amplus Iudicio clarus dexteritate fide Si rem consideras casus caedesque bonorum Tractat immeritae stigmata saeua crucis Illudant alij carpant at Zoilus olim Dum perijt quid sit rodere iam docuit Hic discas Lector quam sit furiosa tyrannis Romanae caulae cornigerique gregis Vt lupus innocuos semper grassetur in agnos Vt fremat atque auidis faucibus ossa voret Nonne satis fuerat Christi pia membra cremare Et viuos flammis perdere nonne satis Nonne satis damnasse senes puerosque virosque Faemellas omni ex ordine nonne satis Cur iuuat heu Manesscriptis lacerare iacentes
and innumerable multitudes and congregations assembling together in euery citie and the notable coÌ„curses of such as dayly â—locked to the common Oratoures to pray For the which cause they beyng not able to be conteined in their old houses had large and great churches new builded from the foundation for them to frequent togither In such increasement saith Eusebius by processe of tyme did the church of christ grow and shout vp daily more and more profiting and spreading through all quarters which neithâ—r enuie of men coulde infringe nor any deuill could inchaunte neither the craftie policie of mans wit coulde supplant so long as the protection of God his Heauenlye arme went with his people keeping them in good order according to the rule of christian life But as commonly the nature of al men being of it selfe vnruly and vntowarde alwaies secketh desireth prosperity and yet can neuer wel vse prosperitie alwaies would haue peace and yet hauing peace alwaies abuseth the same so here likewise it happened with these meÌ„ which through this so great libertie prosperitie of life began to degenerate languishe vnto idlenes delycacy one to worke spite and coÌ„tumely against an other striuing and contending among theÌ„selues for euery occasioÌ„ with railing wordes after most despitefull maner bishops against bishops and people against people mouing hatred and seditioÌ„ one against an other besides also cursed hipocrisie and simulation with all extremity encreasing more and more by reason wherof the iudgemeÌ„t of god after his wonted maner whilist yet the congregatioÌ„ began to multiply began by a litle and litle to visite our men with persecution fallyng first vpon our brethreÌ„ which were abroad in warfare but wheÌ„ that toucht the other nothing or very litle neither did they seeke to appease gods wrath call for his mercy but wickedly thinking with ourselues that god neither regarded nor would visit our transgressions we heaped our iniquities daily more and more one vpon an other they which semed to be our pastors refusing the rule of piety were inflamed with mutual contentions on against an other and thus whilest they were giuen onely to the studye of contentions threatnings emulations mutual hatred dyscord euery man seeking his owne ambition and persecuting one another after the maner of tirany Then then I say the Lord according to the voice of Ieremy tooke awaye the beauty of the daughter of Sion the glory of Israell fell downe from heauen neither did he remember the footstoole of his feete in the day of his wrath And the Lorde ouerturned all the comely ornaments of Israell destroyed all her gorgeous buildings and according to the saying of the Psalme subuerted and extinguished the Testament of his seruaunt and prophaned his sanctuary in destruction of his churches and in laying wast the buildinges thereof so that all passingers spoiling the multitude of the people they were made an obloquie to al the dwellers about For he hath exalted the strength of his enimies and turned away the helpe of his sword from her nor ayded her in the battayle but ceased from the purging of her and her seate He stroke downe to the ground and deminished her daies and ouer all this poured vppon her confusion All these things were fulfilled vpon vs when we saw the temples rased from the top to the ground and the sacred scriptures to be burnt in the open market place and the Pastours of the church to hide themselues some here some there some other taken prisoners with great shame were mocked of their enimies wheÌ„ also according to the saying of the prophet in an other place Contempt was poured out vpon the Princes and they caused to goe out of the waye and not to keepe the straite pathe The x. Persecution BY reason whereof the wrath of God being kindled against his church ensued the tenth and last persecucion against the christians so horrible and greeuous that maketh the pen almost to tremble to writ vpon it so tedious that neuer was any persecution before or since comparable to it for the time it continued lasting the space of tenne yeares together This persecution although it passed thorow the handes of diuers tyrantes and workers moe then one or two yet principally it beareth the name of DioclesiaÌ„ who was Emperour as is aboue noted next after Carus Numerianus Thys Dioclesian euer hauyng an ambitious minde aspired greatly to be Emperour To whom Druas his Concubine sayd that first he should kill a wilde Boore before he should be Emperour Hee taking effect at these wordes vsed much with handes to kill wylde Boores but seeing no successe to come thereof vsed this prouerbe Ego Apros occido alius pulpamento fruitur that is I kill the Boores but other doe eate the fleshe At length the sayde Dioclesian beyng nominate to be Emperour and seeyng Aper who had killed Numerianus the Emperour standing thereby sware to the souldiers that Numerianus was wrongfully killed and forthwith runing vpon Aper with his sworde slew him Vopisc After this he being stablished in the Empire and seeing on euery side diuers and sundrie coÌ„motions rising vp against him which he was not well able himselfe to sustaine in the first beginning of his raign he chuseth for his Colleage Maximianus surnamed Herculius Father of Maxentius Which two Emperours because of diuers warres that rose in manye prouinces choose to theÌ„ two other noble men Galerius Constantinus whome they called Caesars Of whome Galerius was sent into the East partes against the Persians Constantinus was sent ouer to Britannie to this our country of England to recouer the tribute Where he toke to wife Helena the daughter of king Coil which was a maiden excelling in beautye and no lesse famously brought vp in the study of learning of whome was borne Constantinus the great All this while hitherto no persecution was yet stirred of these 4. princes against the church of Christ but quietlye and moderatly they gouerned the common wealth wherfore accordingly God prospered their doings and affaires and gaue them great victories Dioclesian in Egipt Maximinian in Aphricke and in Fraunce Galerius in Persia Constantinus in England and in Fraunce also By reason of which victories Dioclesian and Maximian puâ—te vppe in pride ordeyned a solemne triumph at Rome after which triumph Dioclesian gaue commaundement that he woulde be worshipped as God saying that he was brother to the Sunne and Moone and adourning his shooes with golde and precious stones commaunded the people to kysse hys feete And not long after by the iudgement of God for certaine enormities vsed in the church aboue touched began the great and greuous persecution of the Christians moued by the ragious cruelty of Dioclesian which was about the nyneteenth yeare of his rayne who in the Moneth of Marche when the feast of Easter was nye at hande commaunded all the churches
and diuers other I credibly heare of certayne olde Irish Bibles translated long since into the Irish toung which if it be true it is not other like but to be the doing of this Armachanus And thus much of this learned prelate and Archbishop of Ireland a man worthy for his christian zeale of immortall cōmendation After the death of this Innocent next was poped in that sea of Rome pope Urbane the fift who by the fathers side was an englishman This Urbane had bene a long wayter in the court of Rome and when he saw no promotion would light vpon him complayning to a certayn frend of his made to him his mone saying That he thought veryly if all the Churches of the world should fall yet none would fall in his mouth The which frend after seing him to be Pope and inthronised in his threefold crowne commeth to him putting him in remembrance of his words to him before sayth that where his holynesse had moned his fortune to him that if all the Churches in the world would fall none would fall vpō his head Now sayth he god hath otherwise so disposed that all the churches in the world are fallen vpon your head c. This Pope mayntayned and kindled great wars in Italy sending Egidius his Cardinall and Legate and after him Arduinus a Burgundian his legate and Abbot with great puissaunce and much mony agaynst sundry cities in Italy By whose meanes the townes and Cittyes which before had broken frō the bishop of Rome were oppressed also Bernabes Baleaceus princes of Millam vanquished By whose example other being sore feared submitted themselues to the Church of Rome And thus came vp that wicked church to her great possessiōs which her patrons would needes father vpon Constantine the godly Emperor In the time of this Pope Urbane the 5. and in the second yeare of his raign about the beginning of the yere of our Lord. 1364. I finde a certayne Sermon of one Nicolas Drem made before the Pope and his Cardinalies on Christmas euen In the which Sermon the learned man doth worthely rebuke the prelates and priests of his time declaring their destruction not to be farre of by certayne signes taken of their wicked and corrupt life All the sayings of the Prophets spoken agaynst the wicked priestes of the Iewes he doth aptly apply against the clergy of his time comparing the Church then present to the spirituall strumpet spoken of in the 16. of the Prophet Ezechiel And proueth in conclusion the clergy of the church then to be so much worse then the old Synagoge of the Iewes by how much it is worse to sell that church Sacraments thē to suffer doues to be solde in the church with no lesse iugement also and learning he answereth to the old and false obiection of the papists who albeit they be neuer so wicked yet thinke themselues to be the church which the Lord cannot forsake All which thinges to that entent they may the better appeare in his owne words I haue thought here to translate and exhibite the Sermon as it was spoken before the Pope ¶ A copy of a Sermon made before Pope Vrbane 5. the fourth sonday in Aduent 1364. by Nicholas Orem IVxta est salus mea vt veniat iustitia c. That is My sauing health is neare at hand to come and my righteousnes to be reuealed c. Esay 56. After the sentence of S. Paule Rom. 2. and in diuers other places before the Natiuity of Christ the whole world was deuided into two sorts of men the Iewes and Gentils The Iewes who wayted for the opening of the dore of Paradise by the bloud of the Sauior to come The Gentiles who yet sitting in darckenesse were to be called to light and to be iustified by fayth as is written Rom. 5. This saluation perteining both to the Iew and Gentile God promised before time to the Fathers by the Prophets to stirre vp the desire thereof in their hartes the more and to encrease theyr firme hope and fayth in the same As first in Mich. 6. the voyce of the Lord cryeth Health and saluation shall be to all men which feare my name And Esay 46. I will geue in Sion saluation and in Ierusalem my glory c. with diuers such other places like And forsomuch as hope in many times which is deferred doth afflict the soule and conceiueth wearinesse of long deferring He therefore prophesying of the nearenesse of the commyng thereof sayeth moreouer Esay 14. his time is neare at hande to come Also Abacuc 2. He will come and will not tary with many such other places mo◠So then the holy Fathers being in Limbo looked hoped that he should bring out them that sate bound and which in the house of prison sat in darckenesse as is read Esay 41. Then the time drew on in which came the fulnesse of the Gentiles and in which the Lord would declare the riches of this mistery being hidden from the world and from generations Col. 1. Wherefore the Lord in this text doth both certifye our fathers of the comming of our Sauior and doth comfort them touching the nearenesse thereof and also teacheth the iustification of the Gentils by fayth approching now neare at hand according to the words of my text Iuxta est salus mea c. Which words were fulfilled thē what time the Lord did manifest his saluation and did reueale his righteousnes in the sight of all the Gentiles And is deuided in 3. partes Of which the first speaketh of the nearenesse of his comming where is sayd Iuxta est salus c. The second concerneth the mistery of the Aduent of Christ and his incarnation where he sayth Vt veniat c. Thirdly is considered the seuerity of God his terrible reuenging iudgement to be reuealed where he sayth Vt reueletur c. which is to be expounded of his primitiue iustice whereof speaketh Amos the 5. saying And iudgement shall be reuealed like a sloud and righteousnesse like a strong stream Wherfore for our contēplation let vs receiue with ioy the solemnities of his holy vigile the word I say of God the father that is Christ. To whom it is sayd Esay 49. I haue geuen thee to be a light to the Gentiles and to be my saluation through the ends of the world Agayne Esay 46. My saluation shall not slacke c. As touching the nearenes thereof it is in these dayes opened to vs by the gospell where we read in S. Math. When the virgine Mary was dispoused vnto Ioseph before they did come together she was found with childe by the holy Ghost By this it was euident to vnderstand that our sauior ought shortly to proceed out of the chaste wombe of the virgin according as the Prophet dyd foretell saying Behold a virgine shall conceiue and bring forth a sonne c. For like as
the law and words which the Lord of hostes sent in his holy spirite by the Prophetes aforetime Also Esay witnessing after the same effect cap. 30. sayth For it is an obstinate people lying children and vnfaythfull children that will not heare the law of the Lord which say to the Prophetes meddle with nothing and tell vs nothing that is true and right but speake frendly wordes to vs. c. All this shall be verified when the Prelates begin to hate thē that tell them trueth and haue knowledge like vnto such of whō Amos speaketh chapter 5. They beare him euil wil that reproueth them openly and who so telleth them the playne trueth they abhorre him And therefore sayth the Lord to the Church of Ierusalem Ose 4. Seing thou hast refused vnderstanding I haue refused thee also that thou shalt no more be my priest And for so muche as thou hast forgotten the law of thy God I will also forget thy children and chaunge theyr honor into shame And so shall it be like priest like people c. And many other sayinges there be in the prophets speaking of the deiecting and casting downe of the priestly honor Besides these foresayde signes and tokens hitherto recited there be also diuers other As the backsliding from righteousnes the lacke of discreete and learned Priestes promoting of childrē into the Church with such other like But these being alreadye well noted and marked you may easely iudge and vnderstand whether these times now present of ours be safe and cleare from tribulation to be looked for and whether the word of the Lord be true according to my theame Iuxta est iustitia mea vt reueletur my righteousnes is neare at hande to bee reuealed c. And thus muche of the second part Now to the third part or member of my subdeuision which is concerning the false and perilous opinions of some vpon thys word of my theame vt veniat c. which opinions principally be 4. repugning all agaynst the truth of the canonicall Scripture The first opinion is of such men who hauing to much confifidence in thēselues do think and perswade with themselues that the Prelates be the Church which the Lord will alwayes keepe and neuer forsake as he hath promised in the persons of the Apostles Mathew 28. saying And I will be with you to the end of the world c But this is to be vnderstanced of fayth whereof Christ speaketh Luke 21. I haue prayd for thee that thy fayth shall not fayle Whereof we read Ecclesiast 40. fayth shall stand for euer c. And albeit Charity waxe neuer so colde yet fayth notwithstanding shall remayne in few and in all distresses of the world of the which distresses our Sauiour doth prophecy in many places to come And least peraduenture some shoulde thinke themselues to be safe from tribulation because they be of the church this opinion the Lord himselfe doth contrary in Ieremy the 7. Trust not sayth he in false lying wordes saying the temple of the Lord the temple of the Lord and a litle after but you trust in wordes and lying counselles which deceiue you and doe you no good The second opinion is of them which deferre tyme for thys they well graunt that the Church shall abide trouble but not so shortly thinking thus with thēselues that these causes tokens afore recited haue bene before at other times as well in the churche For both by Gregory and Bernard holy doctors in time past the Prelates haue bene in like fort reprehended both for theyr bribinges for theyr Pompe and pride for the promoting of persons and children vnfitte vnto ecclesiasticall functions and other vyces moe which haue reigned before this in the Church of God more then now and yet by God his grace the Churche hath prospered and stand Doe ye not see that if an house haue stand and continued ruinous a long season it is neuer more neare the fall thereby but rather to be trusted the better Moreouer many times it commeth so to passe in Realmes and Kingdomes that the posterity is punished for the sinnes of the predecessors Whereof speaketh the booke of Lamentations the 5. chapter Our fathers haue sinned and are now gone and we must beare their wickednesse c. Agaynst this cogitation or opinion well doth the Lord aunswere by the Prophet Ezechiel chapter 12 saying Beholde thou sonne of man the house of Israel sayeth in this maner Tush as for the vision that he hath seene it will bee many a day or it come to passe It is farre of yet the thing that he prophecieth Therefore say vnto them thus sayth the Lord God The wordes that I haue spoken shall be deferred no longer looke what I haue sayd shall come to passe sayth the Lord. c. We haue seene in our dayes thinges to happen which seemed before incredible And the like hath bene seene in other times also as we read written in the booke of Lamentations chapter 4. The kinges of the earth nor all the inhabitaunce of the worlde would not haue beleeued that the enemy and aduersary shoulde haue come in at the gates of the Citty for the sinnes of her priestes and for the wickenesse of her Elders that haue shedde Innocentes bloud within her c. by Hierusalem as is sayd is ment thē Church The third opinion or error is very perilous and peruerse of all such as say veniat let come that will come Let vs conforme out selues to this world and take our time with those Temporifers which say in the booke of wisedome Sap. 2. Come let vs enioy our goodes and pleasures that be present and let vs vse the creature as in youth quickly c. Such as these be are in daungerous case and be greatly preiudicial to good men in the Church And if the heades and rulers of the Church were so vile to haue any such detestable cogitation in them there were no place in hell to deepe for them This Church founded by the Apostles in Christ consecrated with the bloud of so many Martyrs enlarged and increased with the vertues and merites of so many Sayntes and indued so richly with the deuosion of so many secular princes and so long prospered hetherto If it now should come into the hands of such persons it should fall in great daunger of ruine and they for theyr negligence and wickednes well deserued of God to be cursed yea here also in this present world to incurre temporall tribulation and destruction which they feare more by the sentence of the Lord saying to them in the booke of Prouerbes cap. 1. All my counsels ye haue despised and set my correctiō at nought Therefore shall I also laugh in your destruction when tribulation and anguish shall fall vpon you Fourthly an other opinion or errour is of such as being vnfaythfull beleue not any such thing to come And this errour
by no tribulation could they be compelled to forsake the faith Wherfore of them this seemeth to me to be vnderstanded Thē I wil bring vpon thee some of the most strongest people they shal draw their naked swordes c. By these things it may plainly apeare why at this time rather then in time past thys matter is stirred vp and why in this kingdome rather then in other kingdomes the calling of the Gentiles is intreated of to the verifying of the Gospell through the disclosing of Antichrist But forasmuch as many tales and fables are tolde of Antichrist and his comming and many things whych doe rather seduce then instruct the hearers are applied to hym out of the scriptures of the prophets we will briefly wryte those things which are spoken of hym and we will shewe that the same fable sprang from the error of people imagining from no truth of the scriptures prophesying Now then they do say that Antichrist shall be borne in Babylon of the tribe of Dan conceiued of the mixture of man and woman in sinne because that Christe was borne of a virgin and conceiued of the holy ghost They say that he shall be an ill fauoured personage because that it is wrytten of Christ comely and beautifull is he beyonde the sonnes of men They say that he shall preach three yeres and an halfe where Christ preached that he shall circumcise himselfe and say that he is Christ and the Messias sent for the saluation of the Iewes And they say that he shal 3. maner of waies seduce the people by false miracles giftes and torments So that whom he shall not be able to ouercome with myracles nor with gifts those shall he goe about to ouercome with diuers kinds of tormēts And those that he shal seduce will he marke with hys tokens in their forehead or hands He shal sit in the temple of God and cause himselfe to be worshipped as God He shall fight as they say with the 2. witnesses of Christ Enoch Hely and shal kill thē and he himselfe shall finally be slaine with lightening To this imagined man of their own imagination but of none of the prophets foreshewed at least in no such wyse as this is do they apply the Prophets as this of Daniel When y◠cotinual sacrifice shal be taken away abhomination shall be placed to desolation That is say they when the worshipping of God shal be taken away desolation to wit Antichrist shall abhominably shewe foorth hymselfe to be worshipped then shall there be 1290. dayes that is to say 3. yeres and a halfe And this time doe they say is the time times and halfe a time And when it is sayde in Daniell Blessed is hee that looketh for and cōmeth to a 1335. dayes This do they say is thus to be vnderstanded 45. dayes of repentance to such as haue worshipped Antichrist whych 45. dayes added to the 1290. make 1335. daies Which dayes they that shall reach vnto shal be called blessed They apply also to thys Antichrist this saying of the Apocalips I saw a beast rising vp out of the Sea hauing 7. heads and 10. horns who had power geuē him to make 42. moneths Which moneths as they say do make 3. yere a halfe in which Antichrist shall raigne And many other things there are told and applied vnfitly to this imagined Antichrist that are not truly grounded vpon the scriptures Now let vs shew the errors of this fable First of al if there shall come such one saying expresly that he is Christ what Christian would be seduced by him though he shuld do neuer so many miracles neither shall he come after the maner of a seducer which shal shew himself an expresse aduersary Neither is it likely that the Iewes can be seduced by such a one seeing that Christ is not promised vnto them of the stocke of Dan by any of the Prophets but of the stocke of Iuda nor yet is he promised to thē to be a king warlike but peaceable taking warre away not making warre For of Christ sayeth Esay And in the last dayes shall there be prepared the mountaine of the house of the Lorde in the toppe of the mountaines and it shal bee exalted aboue the hilles and to it shall all the nations haue great recourse and manye people shal goe and say Come let vs go vp to the mountaine of the Lord and to the house of the God of Iacob and hee shall teache vs his wayes and wee shall walke in his pathes For out of Sion shall there goe a lawe and the word of the Lord from Ierusalem and he shall iudge the nations reproue much people And they shall turne their swordes into plowshares and their speares into sithes There shall not a nation lift vp it selfe against an other nation nor yet shall they bee any more exercised to warre And againe A litle babe is borne to vs and a sonne is geuen to vs and his Imperiall kingdome vpon his shoulder and his name shall bee called The great counsailour The mighty God The father of the world to come The Prince of peace His Empire shall be multiplied and there shal be no ende of his peace He shall sit vpon the seat of Dauid and vpon his kingdom that he may make it stedfast and strong in iudgement and in iustice from hencefoorth for euermore Zachary doeth say of Christ Reioyce thou greatly O thou daughter Sion be thou exceeding merye O daughter Ierusalem Beholde thy king shall come a righteous person and a Sauior vnto thee and yet he a poore man and getting vp vpon an asse euen vpon a yong colt of the she asse And I wil scatter abroad the chariot of Ephraim and the horse of Ierusalem And the bow of warre shal be dispersed and he shall speake peace to the nations and hys power shall be from the sea to the sea and from the floud vnto the borders of the earth By which thinges it is manifest that the wise Iewes knewe well inough Christ to be promised to them of the stocke of Iuda and not of the stocke of Dan that he was geuen all to peace not to warre Therfore it is not likely that they cā be seduced by such a one But if there should haue beene in time to come some such singular Antichrist then would Christ seing he loued his haue sayd somwhat vnto thē of him Now of one singularly doth he not speak but of many saying Many shall come in my name say I am Christ and they shal seduce many persons But now let vs see how the prophecies in Daniell the Apocalips aforesayd be falsly and erroneously applied to the same imagined Antichrist For in Daniel the ix chapter thus it is written And after 72. weekes shall Christ be slaine and they which will deny him shall not be his people And the Citie
geuen credible relation of yâ— sonne both to the printer to me Furthermore the sayd maister Tindall albeit he did somewhat alter amend the English therof and frame it after our manner yet not fully in al words but that something doth remain fauouring of the old speach of that time What the causes were why this good man seruaunt of Christ W. Thorp did write itâ— and pen it out himselfe it is sufficiently declared in hys owne preface set before his booke whiche here is prefixed in maner as followeth ¶ The preface of William Thorpe THe Lord God that knoweth all thinges woreth well that I am right sorrowful for to write to make known this sentence beneath written whereby of mine eueÌ„ christeÌ„ set in high state dignitie so great blindnes malice may be knowne that they which doe presume of themselues to destroy vices and to plant in men vertues neither dreade to offend God nor lust to please him as their workes doe shew For certes the bidding of God and hys law whiche in the praysing of his most holy name he commaundeth to be known kept of all men and women yong and old after the cunning power that he hath geuen to them The Prelates of this lande and their ministers with the couent of priests chiefly consenting to them enforce them most busily to withstand and destroy the holy ordinaunce of God And there through God is greatly wroth and moued to take hard vengeance not onely vpon them that do the euil but also on them that consent to these Antichristes limnes which know or might know their malice and falshoode dresse them not to withstand their mallice and theyr great pride Neuertheles 4. things moueth me to write this seÌ„tence beneath The first thing that moueth me hereto is this that where as it was knowne to certayn frendes that I came from that prison of Shrewsbury and as it befell in deed that I shold to the prison of Caunterbury theÌ„ diuers friends in diuers places spake to me full hartily and full tenderly and commaunded me then if it so were that I should be examined before the Archb. of Cant. that if I might in any wife I should write mine apposing and mine aunswering And I promised to my special frendes that if I might I wold gladly doe their bidding as I might The second thing that moueth me to write this senteÌ„ce is this diuers frendes which haue heard that I haue bene examined before the Archbyshop haue come to me in prison and counsayled mee busily and coueted greatly that I should doe the same thing And other brethren haue sent to me and required on Gods behalfe that I should write out and make knowne both mine apposing mine aunswering for the profite that as they say vppon my knowledging may come thereof But this they had me that I should be busie in all my wits to go as neare the sentence and the wordes as I could both that were spoken to me that I spake UpaueÌ„ture this writing may come an other time before the archbishop and hys counsaile And of thys counselling I was right glad for in my conscience I was moued to doe this thing to aske hitherto the speciall help of God And so then I considering the great desire of dyuers frendes of sondry places according all in one I occupyed all my minde my wits so busily that through gods grace I perceaued by theyr meaning and their charitable desire some profite might come there through For southfastnes and trueth hath these conditions where euer it is impugned it hath asweete smell and thereof commeth a sweet fauour And the more violently the enemies dresse themselues to oppresse and to withstand the trueth the greater and the sweeter smell commeth therof And therefore this heauenly find of Gods word wil not as a smoke passe away with the winde but it will descende and rest in some cleane soule that thirsteth thereafter And thus some deale by this writing may be perceaued thorough Gods grace how that the enemies of the trueth standing boldly in their malice inforce them to withstand the fredome of Christes Gospell for which freedome Christ became man shed his hart bloud And therefore it is great pitty sorrow that many men women do their own weyward will nor busy theÌ„ not to know nor to do that pleasant wil of God The men women that heare the truth and southfastnes and heare or know of this perceauing what is nowe in yâ— churche ought here through to be the more moued in all their wits to able them to grace to set lesser price by themselues that they without taâ—ieng forsake wilfully bodely all the wrethednes of this life since they know not how soon nor wheÌ„ nor where nor by whoÌ„ God wil teach them assay their pacience For no doubt who that euer will liue pittiously that is charitably in Christ Iesu shall suffer now here in this life persecution in one wife or an other That is if we shal be saued it behoueth vs to imagin ful busily the vility and soulnes of sinne and how yâ— Lord God is displeased therfore so of this vility of bidiousnes of sinne it behoueth vs to busy vs in al our wits for to abhorre and hold in our mind a great shame of sinne euer so then we owe to sorrow hartely therfore and euer fleing all occasion therof And then behoueth vs to take vpon vs sharpe penaÌ„ce continuing therin for to obtayne of that Lord forgeuenes of our foredone sinnes and grace to abstain vs hereafter from sinne And but if we enforce vs to do thys wilfully and in conuenieÌ„t time the Lord if he will not vtterly destroy and cast vs awaye will in diuers manners moue tyrantes agaynst vs for to constrayne vs violentlye to do penance which we would not do wilfully And trust that this doing is a special grace of the Lord a great token of life mercy And no doubt who euer will not apply him selfe as is sayd before to punish himself wilfully neither wil suffer paciently meekely and gladly the rod of the Lord howsoeuer that he will punish him their wayward willes and their impacience are vnto them earnest of euelasting damnation But because there are but few in number that do able them thus faythfully to grace for to liue here so simply and purely and without gall of malice and of grudging herefore the louers of this worlde hate pursue them that they knowe patient meek chaste wilfully poore hating and fleing all worldly vanities fleshly lusts For surely their verteous conditions are euen coÌ„trary to the manners of this world The third thing that moueth me to wryte this senteÌ„ce is this I thought I shall busie me in my selfe to do faythfully that all men and women occupying all their busines in knowing and in keeping of Gods commaundements able them so