to my charge malycyouslye but also verye vntrulye by his lettre and seale written agaynst me in most slaunderouse wyse that I shuld otherwyse fele and teache of the sacrameÌ„tes of the churche assygnynge specyallye the sacrament of the aultre the sacrament of penaunce the worshyppynge of ymages and the goynge of pylgrymage vnto them farre other wyse than eyther beleueth or teacheth the vnyuersall holye churche I take almyghtye God vnto wytnesse that yt hath bene and now is and euermore with the helpe of God yt shall be my full intent and will to beleue faythfullye and whollye all the sacramentes that euer God ordeyned to be mynystred in the holye churche And more ouer for to declare me in these .iiii. poyntes afore rehersed I beleue that in the most worshypfull sacrament of the aultre is Christes verye bodye in fourme of breade the same bodye that was borne of the blssed virgyne Marye done on the crosse dead and buryed and that the thyrde daye arose from death to lyfe the which bodye is now gloryfyed with the father in heauen And as for the sacrament of penaunce I beleue that yt is nedefull to all them that shall be saued to forsake theyr synne and to do penaunce for yt with true contrycyon to God confessyon of theyr fawtes and dewe satisfaccyon in Christ lyke as Gods lawes lymyteth and teacheth els can they haue no saluacyon This penaunce I desyre all menne to do And as for ymages I vnderstande that they perteyne nothynge to oure Christen beleue but were permytted longe sens the fayth was geueÌ„ vs of Christ by sufferauÌ„ce of the churche for to be as kalenders vnto laye menne to represent or brynge to mynde the passyon of oure Lorde Iesus Christ with the martyrdome and good lyuynge of the saynctes I thynke also that what so ouer he be which doth that worshyp to dead ymages that is dewlye belongynge vnto God or that putteth his fayth hope or confydence in the helpe of them as he shuld do onlye in his eternall lyuynge God or that hath affeccyon in one more than in an other he perpetrateth in so doyng â—â— abhomynable synne of ydolatrye Moreouer in this am I fullye persuaded that euerye manne dwellynge on this earth is a pylgryme eyther towardes blesse or els towardes payne And that he which knoweth not nor will noâ— knowe nor yet kepe the holye coÌ„maundementes of God in his lyuynge here all be yt that he goth on pylgrymage into all quarters of the worlde yf he departeth so he shall surelye be dampned Agayne he that knoweth the holye commaundementes of God and so perfourmeth them to the ende of his lyfe to his power shall without fayle be saued in Christ though he neuer in his lyfe go on pylgrymage as menne vse now a dayes to CauÌ„terburye Vvalsyngham Compostell and Rome or to anye other place els This answere to his artycles thus ended and redde he delyuered yt to the Bysshoppes as is sayd afore Than couÌ„fessed the Archebysshop with the other two Bysshoppes and with dyuerse of y e doctours what was to be done in thismaâ—ter commaundynge him for the tyme to stande a syde In conclusyon by theyr assent and infourmacyon he sayd thus vnto him Come hydre syr Iohan. In this your writynge are manye good thynges contayned and ryght catholyck also we denye yt not But ye must consydre that this daye was appoynted you to answere to other poyntes concernynge those artycles wherof as yet no mencyon is made in this your byll And therfore ye must yet declare vs youre mynde more playnelye As thus whether that ye holde afferme and beleue that in the sacrameÌ„t of the aultre after the consecracyon ryghtlye done by a prest remayneth materyall breade or not Moreouer whether ye do holde afferme and beleue that as concernynge the sacrament of penaunce where as a competent nombre of Prestes are euerye Christen manne is necessarylye bouÌ„de to be confessed of his synnes to a prest ordayned by the churche or not After certen other communycacyon this was the answere of the good lorde Cobham That non otherwyse wolde he declare his mynde nor yet answere vnto his artycles than was expreslye in his wrytynge there coÌ„tayned Than sayd the Archebyshop agayne vnto him Syr Iohan beware what ye do For yf ye answere not clerelye to those thynges that are here obiected agaynst you specyallye at the tyme appoynted you onlye for that purpose the lawe of holye churche is that compelled ones by a iudge we maye openlye proclame ye an heretyque Vnto whom he gaue this answere Do as ye shall thynke yt best for I am at a poynt Vvhat so euer he and the other Bysshoppes ded aske him after that he bad them resort to his byll for therby wolde he stande to the verye death Other answere wolde he not geue that daye wherwith the Byshoppes and Prelates were in a maner amased and wonderfullye dysquyeted At the last the Archebysshop counselled agayne with his other Bysshoppes and doctours And in the ende therof declared vnto him what the holye churche of Rome folowynge the sayinges of saynt Austyn saynt Hierom saynt Ambrose and of other holye doctours had determyned in those matters no maner of mencyon ones made of Christ. Vvhich determynacyon sayth he ought all Christen menne both to beleue and to folowe Than sayd the lorde Cobham vnto him that he wolde gladlye both beleue and obserue what so euer the holy churche of Christes institucyon had determyned or yet what so euer God had willed him eyther to beleue or to do But that the Pope of Rome with his Cardynals Archebysshoppes Bysshoppes and other Prelates of that churche had lawfull power to determyne soche matters as stode not with his worde throughlye that wolde he not he sayd at that tyme afferme Vvith this the Archebyshop bad him to take good abuysement tyll the Monedaye next folowynge which was the .xxv. daye of Septembre and than iustlye to answere specyallye vnto this poynt whether there remayned materyall breade in y e sacrament of the aultre after the wordes of consecracyon or not He promysed him also to sende vnto him in wrytynge those matters clerelye determyned that he myght than be the more perfyght in his answere makynge And all this was not els but to blynde the multytude with somwhat The next daye folowynge accordynge to his promes the Archebysshop sent vnto him in to the tower this folyshe and blasphemouse wrytynge made by him and by his vnlerned clergye ☞ The determynacyon of the Archebysshop and clergye THe fayth and determynacyon of holye Churche towchynge the blesfull sacrament of the aultre is this That after the sacramentall wordes be ones spoken by a Prest in his Masse the materyall breade that was before breade is turned into Christes verye bodye And the materyall wyne that was afore wyne is turned into Christes verye bloude And so there
concernynge the .iiii. artycles wherof he was accused specyallye for the sacrament of the aultre how he beleued therin Vvherunto the lorde Cobham sayd that with that byll he had nothynge to do But this was his beleue he sayd concernynge the sacrament That his lorde and sauer Iesus Christ syttynge at his last supper with his most dere disciples the nyght before he shulde suffre toke breade in his hande And geâ—ynge thankes to his eternall father blessed yt brake yt and so gaue yt vnto them sayinge Take yt vnto ye and eate therof all This is my bodye which shall be betrayed for you Do this here after in my remembraunce This do I throughlye beleue sayth he for this faythe am I taught of the Gospell in Matthew in Marke and in Luke and also in the fyrst Epistle of saynct Paule to the Corintheanes Than asked the Archebysshop yf he beleued that yt were breade after the consecracyon or sacramentall wordes spoken â—uer yt The lorde Cobham sayd I beleue that in the sacrament of the aultre is Christes verye bodye in fourme of breade the same that was borne of the virgyne Marye done on the crosse dead and buryed and that the thyrde daye arose from death to lyfe which now is gloryfyed in heauen Than sayd one of the doctours of lawe After the sacramentall wordes be vttered there remayneth no breade but the onlye bodye of Christ. The lorde Cobham sayd than to one mastre Iohan Vvhyght head you sayd ones vnto me in the castell of Cowlynge that the sacred oost was not Christes bodye But I helde than agaynst you and proued that therin was his bodye though the seculars and fryers coude not therin agre but helde yche one agaynst other in that opynyon These were my wordes thaÌ„ yf ye remembre it Than showted a sort of them togyther and cryed with great noyse Vve saye all that yt is Gods bodye And dyuerse of them asked him in great angre whether it were materyall breade after the consecracyon or not Than loked the lorde Cobham ernestlye vpon the Archebysshop sayd I beleue surelye that yt is Christes bodye in fourme of breade Syr beleue not you thus And the Archebysshop sayd yes marry do I. Than asked him the doctours whether yt were onlye Christes bodye after the consecracyon of a Prest and no bread or not And he sayd vnto them It is both Christes bodye and breade I shall proue yt as thus For lyke as Christ dwellynge here vpon the earth had in him both Godhede and manhede And had the inuisyble â—odhede couered vndre that manhede which was onlye visyble and seane in him So in the sacrament of the aultre is Christes verye bodye and verye breade also as I beleue The breade is the thynge that we se with oure eyes The bodye of Christ which is his fleshe and his bloude is there vndre hydde and not seane but in fayth Than smyled they yche one vpon other that the people shuld iudge him taken in a great heresye And with a great bragge dyuerse of them sayd It is a fowle heresye ThaÌ„ asked the archebysshopp what breade yt was And the doctours also inquyred of hym whether it were materyall or not The lorde Cobham sayd vnto them The scripturs maketh no mencyon of thys worde materyall and therfor my faythe hath nothynge to do therwith But thys I saye and beleue yt that yt ys Christes bodye breade For Christ sayd in the sixt of IohaÌ„s gospell Ego sum panis viuâ—s qui de celo descendi I whych came downe from heauen am the lyuynge and not the dead breade Therfor I saye now ageyne lyke as I sayd afore As our lorde Iesus Christ is verye god and verye manne so in the most blessed sacrament of the aultre is Christes verye bodye and breade Than sayd they all with one voyce It is an heresye One of the bysshoppes stode vp by by and sayd Vvhat yt is an heresye manyfest to saye that yt is breade after the sacrameÌ„tall wordes be ones spokeÌ„ but Christes bodye onlye The lorde Cobham sayd Saynt paule y e apostle was I am sure as wyse as yow be now and more godlye lerned And he callâ—â— yt breade writynge to the Corintheanes The breade that we breake sayth he is yt not the partakynge of the body of Christ Lo he casteth yt breade and not Christes bodye but a menne wherby we receyue Christes bodye Than sayd they ageyne Paule must be otherwyse vnderstanded For yt is surelye an heresye to saye that yt is breade after the consecration but onlye Christes bodye The lorde Cobham asked how they coude make Good that senteÌ„ce of thers They answered hym thus For yt is ageynst the determynacyon of holye churche Than sayd the Archebysshopp vnto hym Sir Iohan we sent yow a writynge concernynge the faythe of thys blessed sacrament clerelye determyned by the churche of Rome our mother and by the holye doctours Than sayd he ageyne vnto hym I knowe non holyar than is Christ and hys Apostle And as for that determynacyoÌ„ I woteâ— yt is non of thers for yt staÌ„deth not with the scripturs but manyfestlye ageynst theÌ„ If yt be the churches as ye saye it is it hath bene hers onlye sens she receyued the great poyson of worldlye possessyons not afore Than asked they him to stoppe his mouthe therewith If he beleued not in the determynacyon of the churche And he sayd vnto them No forsoth for yt is no God In all oure crede is in but thryse mencyoned concernynge beleue In God the father in God the sonne in God the holy ghost The byrthe the death the buryall the resurreccyon and ascensyon of Christ hath non in for beleue but in him Neyther yet hath the churche the sacramentes the forgeuenesse of synne the latter resurreccyon nor yet the lyfe euerlastynge anye other in than in the holye ghost Than sayd one of the lawers Tushe that was but a worde of offyce But what is youre beleue concernynge holye churche The lorde Cobham answered My beleue is as I sayd afore that all the scripturs of the sacred Byble are true All that is grounded vpon them I beleue throughlye For I knowe yt is Gods pleasure that I shuld so do But in your lordelye lawes and ydell determynacyons haue I no beleue For ye be no part of Christes holye churche as youre open dedes doth shewe But ye are verye Antichristes obstynatlye set agaynst his holye lawe and will The lawes that you haue made are nothynge to his glorye but onlye for youre vayne glorye and abhomynable couetuousnesse This they sayd was an exceadynge heresye and that in a grâ—aâ— fâ—â—me not to beleue the determynacyon of holye churche Than the Archebysshop asked him what he thought holye churche He sayd vnto him My beleue is that holye Churche is the nombre of them which shall be saued of
he coÌ„sent to those most deuylyshe practyses of the Prestes As they had infourmed y e Archebysshop of that answere that yt was mete for no manne pryuatelye to cyte him after that without parell of lyfe he decreed by and by to haue him cyted by publyque processe or open commaundement And in all the hast possyble vpon the wedynsdaye before the Natiuite of oure Ladye in Septembre he commaunded letters cytatorye to be set vpon the great gates of the cathedrall churche of Rochestre which was but iii. Englyshe myles from thens chargynge him to apere personallye before him at Ledys in the .xi. daye of the same moneth and yeare all excuses to the coÌ„trarye set a part Those letters were taken downe anon after by soche as bare fauer vnto the lorde Cobham and so conueyed a syde After that caused the Archebyshop newe letters to be set vp on the Natyuyte daye of oure Ladye which also were rent downe and vtterlye consumed Than for so moche as he ded not apere at the daye appoynted at Ledys where as he fate in consystorye as cruell as euer was Cayphas with his court of hypocrytes about him he iudge him denounced him and condempned him of most depe contumacye After that whan he had bene falselye infourmed by his hyred spyes and other glosynge glauerers that the seyde lorde Cobham had law hed him to scorne dysdayned all his doynges maynteyned his olde opynyoÌ„s contemned the churches power the dignyte of a Bysshop the ordre of presthode for of all these was he than accufed in his modye madnesse without iust profe ded he openlye excommunicate him yet was he not with all this ferce tyrannye qualyfyed but commaunded him to be cyted a freshe to apere afore him the Saturdaye before the feast of saynct Matthew the Apostle with these cruell threttenynges added theruÌ„to That yf he ded not obeye at that daye he wolde more extremelye handle him And to make himselfe more stronge towardes the perfourmaunce therof he compelled the laye power by most terryble manacynges of curses and interdiccyons to assyst him agaynst that sedycyouse apostata that scysmatyque that heretyque that troubler of the publyque peace that enemye of the realme and great aduersarye of all holye churche for all these hatefull names ded he geue him This most constaunt seruaunt of the lorde and worthye knyght syr Iohan Oldecastell the lorde Cobham beholdynge the vnpacable furye of Antichrist thus kyndled agaynst him perscyuynge himselfe also compased on euerye syde with deadlye daungers he toke paper and penne in hande so wrote a Christen confessyon or rekenyng of his fayth which foloweth here after and both sygned and sealed it with his owne hande Vvherin he also answereth to the iiii chefest artycles that the Archebysshop layed agaynst him That done he toke the copye with him went therwith to the kynge trustynge to fynde mercye and fauer at his hande Non other was that confessyon of his than the coÌ„mon beleue or somme of the churches fayth called the Apostles crede of all Christen menne than vsed As thus ☞ The Christen beleue of the lorde Cobham I Beleue in God the father almyghtye maker of heauen and earth And in Iesu Christ his onlye sonne oure Lorde which was coÌ„câ—yued of the holye ghost borne of the virgine Marye suffred death vndre Ponce Pylate crucyfyed dead and buryed went downe to helles the thyrde daye rose agayne from death ascended vp to heauens he sytteth on the ryght hande of God the father almyghtye and from thens shall come agayne to iudge the quycke and the dead I beleue in the holye ghost the vnyuersall holye churche the communyon of saynctes the forgeuenesse of sâ—nnes the vprysynge of the fleshe and euerlastynge lyfe Amen And for a more large declaracyon sayth he of this my fayth in the catholyck churche I stedefastlye beleue that there is but one God almyghty in and of whose Godhede are these .iii. persones the father the sonne and the holye ghost and that those .iii. persones are the same selfe God almyghtye I beleue also that the seconde personne of this most blessed Trinite in most coÌ„uenyent tyme appoynted therunto afore toke fleshe and bloude of the most blessed virgyne Marye for the sauegarde and redempcyon of the vnyuersall kynde of manne which was afore lost in Adams offence More ouer I beleue that the same Iesus Christ ouer Lorde thus beynge both God manne is the only head of y e whole Christen churche and that all those that hath bene or shall be saued be members of this most holy churche And this holye churche I thynke to be dyâ—â—ded into .iii. sortes or companyes Vvherof the fyrst sort be now in heauen and they are the saynctes from hens departed These as they were here conuersaunt conformed alwayes ther lynes to the most holye lawes and pure examples of Christ renouncynge sathan the worlde and the fleshe with all theyr concupyscences and cuyls The seconde sort are in purgatorye yf anye soche he by the scripturs abydynge the mercye of God and a full delyueraunce of payne â— The thyrde sort are here vpon the earthe and be called the churche mylytaunt For daye nyghe they comende agaynst the craftye assaultes of the deuyll the flatterynge prosperytees of this worlde and the rebellyouse fylthynesse of the fleshe This latter congregacyon by the iust ordynaunce of God is also seuered into iii. dyuerse estates that is to saye into presthode knyghthode and the coÌ„mons Amonge whom the will of God is that the one shuld ayde the other but not destroye the other The Prestes fyrst of all secluded from all worldlynesse shulde conforme theyr lyues vtterlye to the examples of Christ and his Apostles Euermore shulde they be occupyed in preachynge and teachyng the scripturs purelye and in genynge wholsom counsels of good lyuynge to the other two degrees of menne More modest also more louynge gentyll and lowlye in sprete shuld they be than anye other sortes of people In knyghthode are all they which beare swerde by lawe of offyce These shuld defende Gods lawes and se that the Gospell were purelye taught conformynge theyr lyues to the same and secludynge all false preachers yea these ought rather to hasarde theyr lyues than to suffre soche â—â—ycked decrees as eyther blemysheth the eternall testament of God or yet letteth the fre passage therof wherby her syes and scysmes myght sprynge in the churche For of non other aryse they as I suppose than of soche erronyouse constitucyoÌ„s craftelye fyrst crepynge in vndre hypocrytes lyes for auauntage They ought also to preserue Gods people from oppressers tyrauntes and theues and to se the clergye supported so longe as they teache purelye praye ryghtlye and mynystre the sacramentes frelye And yf they se them do other wyse they are bounde by lawe of offyce to compell them to change theyr
doynges and to se all thynges perfourmed accordynge to Gods prescript ordynaunce The latter felyshyp of this churche are the common people whose dewtye is to beare theyr good myndes and true obedyence to the aforeseyd mynysters of God theyr kynges cyuyle gouernours and Prestes The ryght offyce of these is iustlye to occupye euerye maÌ„ne in his facultè be yt merchandyce handye crafte or the tylthe of the grouÌ„de And so one of them to be as an helper to an other â—olowynge alwayes in theyr sortes the iust commaundemeÌ„tes of theyr Lorde God Ouer and besydes all this I most faythfullye beleue that the sacrameÌ„tes of Christes churche are necessarye to all Christen beleuers this alwayes sene to that they be trulye mynystred accordynge to Christes fyrst instytucyon and ordynaunce And for so moche as I am malycyoulye and most falselye accused of a mysbeleue in the sacrament of the aultre to the hurtfull slaundre of manye I sygnyfye here vnto all menne that this is my fayth coÌ„cernynge that I beleue in that sacrament to be contayned verye Christes bodye and bloude vndre the symylytudes of breade and wyne yea the same bodye that was conceyued of the holye ghost borne of Marye y e virgyne done on the crosse dyed that was buryed arose the thyrde daye from the death and is now gloryfyed in heauen I also beleue the vnyuersall lawe of God to be most true and perfyght and that they which do not so folowe it in theyr fayth and workes at one tyme or other can neuer be saued Vvhere as he that seketh yt in fayth accepteth yt lerneth yt delyghteth therin and perfourmeth yt in loue shall tast for yt the felycyte of euerlastynge innocencye Fynallye this is my fayth also that God will axe nomore of a Christen beleuer in this lyfe but onlye to obeye the preceptes of that most blessed lawe If anye Prelate of the churche requyreth more or els anye other kynde of obedyence than this to be vsed he contemneth Christ exaltynge himselfe aboue God so becometh an open Antichrist All these premysses I beleue partycularlye generallye all that God hath left in his holye scripturs that I shuld beleue Instauntlye desyerynge you my lyege lorde and most worthye kynge that this confessyon of myne maye be iustlye examyned by the most godlye wyse and lerned menne of your realme And yf yt be founde in all poyntes agreynge to the veryte than lete yt be so allowed and I thervpon holden for non other them a true Christyane If yt be proued otherwyse than lete yt be vtterlye condemned prouyded alwayes that I be taught a better beleue by the worde of God and I shall most reuerentlye at all tymes obeye therunto This brefe confessyon of his fayth the lorde Cobham wrote as is mencyoned afore and so toke yt with him to the court offerynge yt with all mekenesse vnto the kynge to reade yt ouer The kynge wolde in no case receyue yt but commaunded yt to be delyuered vnto them that shuld be his iudges Than desyred he in the kynges presens that an hondred knyghtes and esquyres myght be suffered to come in vpon his purgacyon which he knewe wolde clere him of all heresyes Moreouer he offered himselfe after the lawe of armes to fyght for lyfe or death with anye maÌ„ne lyuynge Christen or Heythen in the quarell of his fayth the kynge and the lordes of his counsell excepted Fynallye with all gentylnesse he protested before all that were present that he wolde refuse no maner of correccyon that shuld after the lawes of God be mynystred vnto him but that he wolde at all tymes with all mekenesse obeye yt Not withstandynge all this the kynge suffered him to be sommoued personallye in his owne preuye chambre Than sayd the lorde Cobham to the kynge that he had appeled from the Archebysshop to the Pope of Rome therfore he ought he sayd in no case to be his iudge And hauynge his appele there at hande redye written he shewed yt with all reuerence to the kynge Vvherwith the kynge was than moche more dyspleased than afore and sayd angerlye vnto him that he shuld not pursue his appele But rather he shuld tarrye in holde tyll soche tyme as yt were of the Pope allowed And than wolde he or nylde he the Archebysshop shuld be his iudge Thus was there nothynge allowed that the good lorde Cobham had lawfullye afore requyred But for so moche as he wolde not be sworne in all thynges to submyt himselfe to the churche and so to take what penaunce the Archebysshop wolde enioyne him he was arested agayne at the kynges commaundement and so ledde forth to the towre of London to kepe his daye so was yt than spoken that the Archebysshop had appoynted him afore in the kynges chambre Than caused he the aforeseyd confessyon of his fayth to be copyed agayne and the answere also which he had made to the .iiii. articles proponed agaynst him to be written in maner of an indenture in two shetes of paper That whaÌ„ he shuld come to his answere he myght geue the one copye vnto the Archebysshop and reserue the other to himselfe As the daye of examynacyon was comen which was the .xxiii daye of Septembre or the saturdaye before the feast of saynct Matthew Thomas Arundell the Archebysshop syttynge in Cayphas rome in the chaptre howse of Paules with Rycharde Clyfforde Bysshop of London and Henrye Bolyng broke Bysshop of Vvynchestre syr Robert Morleye knyght and Lefâ—tenaunt of the towre brought personallye before him the seyd lorde Cobham and there left him for the tyme Vnto whom the Archebysshop sayd these wordes ☞ The fyrst examynacyon of the lorde Cobham SIr Iohan in y e last generall coÌ„nocacyon of the clergye of this oure prouince ye were detected of certâ—n heresyes by suffycyeÌ„t wytnesses founde culpable Vvhervpon ye were by forme of spirituall lawe cyted wolde in no case apere In coÌ„clusyon vpon youre rebellyouse contumacye ye were both pryuatelye and openlye excommunycated Notwithstandynge we neuer yet shewed ouresâ—lfe vnredye to haue geueÌ„ you youre absolucyon nor yet do not to this houre wolde ye haue mekely a yed yt Vnto this the lorde Cobham shewed as though he had geuen noÌ„ eare hauynge his mynde otherwyse occupyed so desyred non absolucyon But he sayd he wolde gladlye before him and his bretherne make rehersall of that faythe which he helde and entended alwayes to stande to yf yt wolde please them to lycens him therunto And than he toke out of his bosome a certen wrytynge endented concernynge the artycles wherof he was accused and so openlye redde yt before them geuynge yt vnto the Archebyshop as he had made therof an ende Vvherof this is the copye I Iohan Oldecastell knyght and lorde Cobham will all Christen menne to vnderstande that Thomas Arundell Archebysshop of CauÌ„terburye hath not onlye layed yt
as hath not bene yet sens the worldes begynnyng And this prophecye is partlye fulfylled in youre dayes and doynges For manye haue ye slayne alredye and more will ye slee here after yf God fulfyll not his promes Christ sayth also yf those dayes of yours were not shortened scarslye shuld anye fleshe be saued Therfore loke for yt iustlye for God will shorten youre dayes Moreouer though Prestes and Deacons for preachynge of Gods worde and for mynystrynge the sacramentes with prouysyon for the poore be grounded in Gods lawe yet haue these other sectes no maner of grounde therof so farre as I haue redde Than a doctour of lawe called mastre Iohan hempe plucked out of his bosome a copye of that byll which they had afore sent him into the tower by y e Archebysshoppes counsell thynkynge therby to make shorter worke with him For they were so amased with his answers not all vnlyke to them which dysputed with Steuen that they knewe not wele how to occupye y e tyme theyr wyttes and sophistrye as God wolde so fayled them that daye My lorde Cobham sayth this doctor we must breuelye knowe youre mynde concernynge these .iiii. poyntes here folowynge The fyrst of them is this And than he redde vpon the byll The fayth and the determynacyon of holye churche towchynge the blessed sacrament of the aultre is this That after the sacramentall wordes be ones spoken by a Prest in his masse the materyall breade that was before breade is turned into Christes verye bodye And y e materyall wyne that was before wyne is turned into Christes verye bloude And so there remayneth in the sacrament of the aultre from thens forth no materyall breade nor materyall wyne which were there before the sacramentall wordes were spoken Syr beleue ye not this The lorde Cobham sayd This is not my beleue But my fayth is as I sayd to yow afore that in the worshypfull sacrament of the aultre is verye Christes bodye in fourme of breade Than sayd the Archebysshop Syr Iohan ye must saye otherwyse The lorde Cobham sayd Naye that I shall not yf God be vpon my syde as I trust he is but that there is Christes bodye in fourme of breade as the common beleue is ▪ Than redde the Doctour agayne The seconde poynt is this Holye churche hath determyned that euery Christen manne lyuynge here bodylye vpon earth ought to be shryuen to a Prest ordayned by the churche yf he maye come to him Syr what saye ye to this The lorde Cobham answered sayd A dyseased or sore wounded manne had nede to haue a sure wyse surgeon and a true knowynge both the grounde and the daunger of the same Most necessarye were yt therfore to be fyrst shryuen vnto God which onlye knoweth oure dyseases and can helpe vs. I denye not in this the goynge to a Prest yf he be a manne of good lyfe and lernynge For the lawes of God are to be requyred of the prest which is godlye lerned But yf he be an ydyote or a manne of vicyouse lyuynge that is my curate I ought rather to flee from him than to seke vnto him For sonner myght I catche yll of him that is nought than anye goodnesse towardes my sowle helthe Than redde the doctour agayne The thyrde poynt is this Christ ordayned saynct Peter the Apostle to be his vycar here in earth whose see is y e churche of Rome And he graunted that the same power which he gaue vnto Peter shuld succede to all Peters successours which we call now Popes of Rome By whose specyall power in churches partycular be ordayned Prelates as Archebyshoppes Persones Curates and other degrees more Vnto whom Christen menne ought to obeye after the lawes of the churche of Rome This is the determynacyon of holye Churche Syr beleue ye not this To this he answered and sayd He that foloweth Peter most nyghest in pure lyuynge is next vnto him in successyon But youre lordelye ordre estemeth not greatlye the lowlye behauer of poore Peter what so euer ye prate of him Neyther care ye greatlye for the humble maners of them that succeded him ▪ tyll the tyme of Syluestre which for the more part were martyrs as I tolde ye afore ye can lete all theyr good condycyōs go by you and not hurt your selues with them at all All the worlde knoweth this wele ynough by you and yet ye canne make boast of Peter Vvith that one of the other doctours axed him Than what do ye saye of the Pope The lorde Cobham answered As I sayd before He and yow togyther maketh whole the great Antichrist Of whom he is the great head yow Bysshoppes Prestes Prelates and monkes are the bodye and the beggynge fryers are the tayle for they couer the fylthynesse of you both with theyr subtyle sophistrye Neuer will I in consciēce obeye anye of yow all tyll I se yow w t Peter folowe Christ in cōuersacyon Than redde the doctour agayne The forth poynt is this Holye churche hath determyned that yt is merytoryouse to a Christen manne to go on pylgrymage to holye places And there specyallye to worshyp holye relyques and ymages of saynctes Apostles Martyrs Confessours and all other saynctes besydes approued by the churche of Rome Syr what saye ye to this Vvherunto he answered I owe them no seruyce by anye commaundement of God and therfore I mynde not to seke them for youre couetuousnesse It were best ye swept them fayre from copwebbes and dust and so layed them vp for catchynge of scathe Or els to burye them fayre in y e grounde as ye do other aged people which are Gods ymages It is a wonderfull thynge that sayntes now beynge dead shuld become so couetuouse and nedye and thervpon so bytterlye begge which all theyr lyfe tyme hated all couetuousnesse and beggynge But this I saye vnto you and I wolde all the worlde shuld marke yt That w t youre shryues and ydols youre fayned absolucyons and pardons ye drawe vnto yow the substaunce welthe and chefe pleasure of all Christen realmes Vvhye syr sayd one of the clarkes will ye not worshyp good ymages Vvhat worshyp shulde I geue vnto them sayd the lorde Cobham Than sayd fryre Palmer vnto him Syr ye will worshyp y e crosse of Christ that he dyed vpon Vvhere is yt sayd the lorde Cobham The fryre sayd I put ye the case syr that yit were here euen now before you The lorde Cobham answered This is a great wyse manne to put me an ernest questyon of a thyng and yet he his selfe knoweth not were the thynge selfe is yet ones agayne aske I you what worshyp I shuld do vnto yt A clarke sayd vnto him Soche worshyp as Paule speaketh of and that is this God forbydde that I shulde ioye but onlye in the crosse of Iesus Christ. Than sayd the lorde Cobham and spredde
his armes a brode This is a verye crosse yea and so moche better than youre crosse of wode in that yt was created of God yet will not I seke to haue yt worshypped Than sayd the Bysshop of London Syr ye wote wele that he dyed on a materyall crosse The lorde Cobham sayd yea and I wote also that oure saluacyon came not in by that materyall crosse but alone by him which dyed thervpon And wele I wote that holye saynct Paule reioysed in non other crosse but in Christes passyon and death onlye and in his owne sufferynges of lyke persecucyon with him for the same selfe veryte that he had suffred for afore An other clarke yet asked him Vvill ye than do non honour to the holye crosse He answered him â–ª yes yf he were myne I wolde saye him vp honestlye and se vnto him that he shulde take no more scathes a broode nor be robbed of his goodes as he is now a dayes Than sayd the Archebysshop vnto him Syr Iohan ye haue spoken here manye wonderfull wordes to the slaunderouse rebuke of all the whole spiritualte geuynge a greatyâ—â— example vnto the common sort here to haue vs in the more dysdayne Moche tyme haue we spent here abought yow and all in vayne so farre as I can se. Vvell we must be now at this short poynt with you for the daye passeth awaye ye must eyther submytt youre selfe to the ordynaunce of holye churche or els throwe youre selfe no remedye into most depe daunger Se to yt in tyme for anon yt will be els to late The lorde Cobham sayd I knowe not to what purpose I shuld otherwyse submytme Moche more haue you offended me than euer I offended yow in thus troublynge me before this multytude Than sayd the Archebysshop agayne vnto him Vve ones agayne requyre you to remembre youre selfe wele and to haue non other opynyon in these matters than the vnyuersall fayth and beleue of the holye Churche of Rome is And so lyke an obedyent chylde to returne to y e vnyte of youre mother Se to yt I saye in tyme for yet ye maye haue remedye where as anon yt will be to late The lorde Cobham sayd expreslye before them all I will non otherwyse beleue in these poyntes than I haue tolde ye hereafore Do with me what ye will Fynallye than the Archebysshop sayd Vvell than I se non other but we must neades do the lawe we must procede forth to the sentence diffynytyue and both iudge ye and condemne ye for an heretyque And with that the Archebysshop stode vp and redde there a byll of his condemnacyon all the clergye and layte auaylynge theyr bonettes And this was therof the tenour ☞ The diffynytyue sentence of his condemnacyon IN Deâ—nomine Amen Nos Thomas permissione diuina Cantuariensis ecclesie Archiepiscopus metropolitanus totius Anglie primas Apostolice fedis legatus so fourth in Barberouse Latyne which I haue here translated into Englyshe for a more playne vnderstandynge to y e reader â— In the name of God So be yt Vve Thomas by the sufferaunce of God Archebysshop of Caunterburye metropolytane and prymate of all Englande and legate from the Apostolyque seate of Rome willeth this to be knowen vnto all menne In a certen cause of heresye and vpon dyuerse artycles wherevpon syr Iohan Oldecastell knyght and lorde Cobham after a dilygent inquysycyon made for the same was detected accused and presented before vs in oure last conuocacyon of all oure whole clergye of oure prouince of Caunterburye holden in the cathedrall churche of Paules at london At the lawfull denouncement request of oure vnyuersall clergye in the seyd conuocacyon we proceded agaynst him accordyng to the lawe God to wytnesse with all the fauer possyble And folowynge Christes example in all that we myght which willeth not the death of a synner but rather that he be conuerted lyue we toke vpon vs to correct him and sought all other wayes possyble to bryng him agayne to the churches vnyte declarynge vnto him what the holye and vnyuersall churche of Rome hath sayd holden determyned and taught in that behalfe And though we founde him in the catholyque fayth farre wyde and so styffnecked that he wolde not coÌ„fesse his errour nor pourge himselfe nor yet repent him therof Vve yet pyteynge him of fatherlye compassyon and inteyrlye desyerynge the helthe of his sowle appoynted him a competent tyme of delyberacyon to se yf he wolde repent and seke to be reformed And sens we haue founde him worse and worse Consyderynge therfore that he is incorrygyble we are dryuen to the verye extremyte of the lawe and with great heuynesse of hart we now procede to the fynall publycacyon of the sentence diffynytyue agaynst him Than brought he forth an other byll contaynynge the seyd sentence that he redde also in his Bauger Latyne Christi nomine inuocato ipsumâ—z solumpre oculie habentes Quia peracta inactitata and so forth Vvhich I haue also translated into Englyshe that meÌ„ne maye vnderstande yt Christ we take vnto wytnesse that nothynge els we seke in this oure whole enterpryse but his onlye glorye For as moche as we haue founde by diuerse actes done brought forth and exhybyted by sordrye euydences sygnes and tokens and also by manye most manyfest proues the seyd syr Iohan Oldecastell knyght and lorde Cobham not onlye an euydent heretyque in his owne persone but also a myghtye maynteneâ— of other heretyques agaynst the faythe and relygyon of the holye and vnyuersall churche of Rome namelye abought the two sacramentes of the aultre and of penaunce besydes the Popes power and pylgrymages And that he as the chylde of iniquyte and darkenesse hath so hardened his hart that he will in no case attende vnto the voyce of his pastour Neyther will he be assured by strayght admonyshmentes nor yet bâ— brought in by fauorable wordes The worthynesse of the cause fyrst wayed on the one syde and his vnworthynesse agayne consydered on the othe syde his fawtes also aggrauated or made double through his damnable obstynacye Vve beynge lothe that he which is nought shuld be woase and so with his contagyousnesse infect the multytude By the sage counsell and assent of the verye dyscrete fathers oure honorable bretherne and lorde Bysshoppes here present Rycharde of London Henrye of Vvynchestre and Benet of Bangor and of other great lerned and wyse meÌ„ne here both doctours of diuynyte and of the lawes canon and ciuyle seculars and relygyouse with dyuerse other expert menne assystynge vs we sentencyallye and dyffynytyuelye by this present wrytynge iudge declare and condemne the seyd syr Iohan Olde castell knyght and lorde Cobham for a most pernycyouse and detestable heretyque conuicted vpon the same and refusynge vtterlye to obeye the Churche agayne commyttynge him here from hens forth as a condemned heretyque to the secular
A brefe Chronycle concernynge the Examinacyon and death of the blessed martyr of Christ syr Iohan Oldecastell the lorde Codham collected togyther by Iohan Bale ☞ Syr. Iohan. Oldecastel the. worthy ☜ lorde Cobham and â–ª moste valyaunt ☞ warryoure of Iesus Christ. ☜ suffred death at London Anno. 1418. ☞ In the latter tyme shall manye be chosen proued and puryfyed by 〈◊〉 yet shall the vngodly lyue wyckedly 〈◊〉 and haue no vnderstandynge Dan. 〈◊〉 A brefe Chronycle concernynge the Examinacyon and death of the blessed martyr of Christ syr Iohan Oldecastell the lorde Cobham collected togyther by Iohan Bale out of the bokes and writtynges of those Popyshe Prelates which were present both at his condempnacyon and iudgement ¶ The Preface IN the prophane historyes of olde Oratours and poetes both Grekes and Latynes are they moche coÌ„mended and thought worthy of eternall memorye which haue eyther dyed for theyr naturall contreye or daungered theyr lyues for a common welthe As we reade of Codrus that was kynge of Athens of Quintus Curcius the Romane of Ancurus the Phrygiane Olysses Hermas Theseus Menecius Scipio Aphricanus Mucius Scenoâ—a Valerius Cocles the two bretheren of Cartago which were both called Philenus and the thre noble Decyanes with other diuerse In the sacred scripturs of the Byble hath Moses Iosue Gedeon Iepthe Delbora Iudith Dauid Helias Iosias zorobabel Mathathias Eleazarus and the Machabees theyr iust prayses for theyr myghtye zele and manyfolde enterpryses concernynge the chyldren of Israel Amonge the Papistes also which are a most prodygyouse kynde of menne are they most hyghlye anaunced by lyenge sygnes false myracles erronyouse writtynges shrynes rellyques lyghtes tabernacles aulters sensynges songes holye dayes which haue bene slayne for the lybertees priuileges auctorite honour ryches proude mayntenaunce of theyr holye whorysse churche As were Antidius Bonifacius Benno Thomas Becket Iohan the Cardinall Petrê° de Castronoâ—o Peter of Millayne Paganus of Bergom Stanislaus of Cracouâ—a Steuen Colyer of Tholose Bonauenture of Padua Iulianus the Cardinall of saynt Angel And in oure tyme Iohan Fysher Thomas More Fryre Forest Reynoldes the Charterhouse monkes which suffred here in Englande with an infynite nombre more Vvhat is than to be thought of those godlye and valeaunt warryours which hath noth spared to bestowe theyr most dere lyues for the veryte of Iesus Christ agaynst the malygnauÌ„t mustre of that execrable Antichrist of Rome the deuyls owne vycar Of whose gracyouse nombre a verye specyall membre and a vessell of Gods eleccyon was that vertuouse knyght syr Iohan Oldecastell the good lorde Cobham as will plentuously apere in this processe folowynge He that hath iudgemeÌ„t in the sprete shall easelye perseyue by this treatyse what beastlye blockeheades these bloudye bellyegoddes were in theyr vnsauerye interrogacyoÌ„s and agayne what influence of grace this manne of God had from aboue coÌ„cernynge his answers specyallye in that most blynde and ignoraunt tyme wherin all was but darkenesse the sunne aperynge sacke clothe as saynct Iohan hath in the Apocalyps Most surelye fulfylled Christ that promes in him which he made to his Apostles Cast not in youre myndes afore hande sayth he what answere ye shall make whan these spirituall tyrauntes shall examine you in theyr synagoges and so delyuer you vp vnto kynges and debytees For I will geue you soche vtteraunce and wysdome in that houre as all your ennemyes shall neuer be able to resyst This onlye sentence of Christ adioyned to his godly answere is ynough to proue him his true disciple and them in theyr folyshe questyons the manyfest members of sathan I remembre that .xiiii. yeares ago the true seruaunt of God Vvillyam Tyndale put into the prent a certen brefe examinacyon of the seyd lorde Cobham The which examinacyon was wrytten in the tyme of the seyd lordes troble by a certen frynde of his and so reserued in copyes vnto this our age But sens that tyme I haue fouÌ„de it in theyr owne wrytynges which were than his vttre enemyes in a moche more ample fourme than there Specyallye in the great processe which Thomas Arundell the Archebysshop of Caunterburye made than agaynst him wrytten by his owne notaryes and clarâ—â—â— tokened also with his owne sygne and scale and so dyrected vnto Rycharde Clyfforde than Bysshop of London with a generall coÌ„maundement to haue it than publyshed by him by the other Bysshoppes the whole realme ouer Forthermore I haue seane it in a copye of that wrytynge which the seyd Rycharde Clyfforde sent vnto Robert Mascall a Carmelyte fryre and Bysshop of Herforde vndre his sygne and seale and in a copye of his also dyrected to the Archedeacons of Herforde and Shrewesburye The yeare moneth and daye of theyr date with the beginnynges of theyr wrytynges shall here after folowe in the boke as occasyon shall requyre it Besydes all this Thomas Vvalden beynge in those dayes the kynges confessour and present at his examinacyon condempnacyon execracyon regestred it amonge other processes more in his boke called Fasciculus zizaniorum Vvicleui He maketh mencyon of it also in his fyrst Epistle to Pope Martyne the fyft and in his solempne sermon de funere regis Onlye soche reasons haue I added therunto as the afore named Thomas Vvalden proponed to him in the tyme of that examinacyon as he meÌ„cyoneth in his fyrst and seconde bokes aduersus Vhiâ—â—uâ—stas with the maner of his godlye departynge out of this frayle lyfe which I founde in other wrytynges and chronicles His youthe was full of wanton wildenesse before he knew y e scripturs as he reporteth in his answere and for the more part vnknowen vnto me and therfore I wryte it not here His father the lorde Regnolde of Cobham Iohan Frosyart nombereth alwayes amongest the most worthye warryours of Englande In all adueÌ„terouse actes of wordlye manhode was he euer bolde stronge fortunate doughtye noble valcauÌ„t But neuer so worthye a conquerour as in this his present conflyct with the cruell and furyouse frantyck kyngedome of Antichrist Farre is this Christen knyght more prayse worthye for that he had so noble a stomake in defence of Christes verite agaynst those Romyshe superticyons than for anye temporall nobylnesse eyther of bloude byrthe landes or of marcyall feates For manye thousandes hath had in that great corrage which in the other haue bene most faynt harted cowardes and verye desperate dastardes where as he perseuered most faythfullye constaunt to the ende Manye Popyshe parasytes menne pleasynge flatterers haue written large commendacyoÌ„s and encomyes of those but of soche noble menne as this was verye fewe or in a maner non at all Vvan I somtyme reade the workes of some menne lerned I maruele not a lytle to se them so abundaunt in vayne flatterynge prayses for matters of no value yea for thynges to be dyspraysed rather than praysed of menne that were
more his lyfe in the sixt yeare after at the craftye accusement of certen Prelates though it hath in the chronycles an other colour had not God than most gracyously preserued him An other cause of his death yet besydes all that hath bene sayd afore was this He caused all the workes of Iohan Vvycleue to be written at the instaunce of Iohan huss and so to be sent into Boheme Fraunce Spayne Portyngale and other landes Vvherof Subinco Lepus the Archebysshop of Prage caused more than two hondreth volumes fayre wrytten openlye to be brent afterwarde as wytnesseth Aeneas Siluius de origine Bohemorum These causes knowen with other more that I coude reherse consydre whether the worlde that is alwayes so wycked was worthye to holde soche a noble christen warryour as this was or naye Consydre also the iust ponnyshment of the lorde for wycked lawes that were than made with the exceadynge myscheues that the spiritualte than vsed And waye the myserable estate that the realme was in sone after for contempt of his eternall worde And there vpon lawde his ryghtousnesse and beware of lyke coÌ„tempt and plage in these dayes In the yeare of oure Lorde a M. cccc xxii departed kynge Henry the fyft in his most floryshynge tyme euen in the begynnyng of the .xxxvii. yeare of his age which was abought .iiii. years after the death of this lorde Cobham His sonne Henry the sixt succeded in his rome and had the gouernaunce of this whole realme beynge but a babe of viiâ— monethes olde and odde dayes Vvhat a doloure was this vnto menne of rype difcressyon naturally louynge theyr coÌ„tre and regardynge the common welthe therof yea what a plage of God was it after the scripturs to haue a yonge chylde to theyr kynge And that it shuld the more manyfestlye apere to come that waye or of the stroke of God he was a chyldyshe thynge all y e dayes of his lyfe I shall geue you sayth the lorde in his hygh dyspleasure chyldren to be youre princes yonge infauntes with out wysdome shall haue the gouernaunce of you Wvhat wretched calamytees the realme suffred afterwarde for the space of more than .iii. score years and thre tyll the dayes of kynge Henry the seuenth yt is vnspeakable Sens the preachynge of Iohan Vvycleue hath the lorde suffred the pompouse Popyshe Prelates to shewe themselues forth in theyr owne ryght colours that they myght now in the lyght of his Gospell apere as they are in dede euen spyghtfull murtherers ydolaters and Sodomytes Afore his tyme they lurked vndre the glytterynge shyne of hypocrefye and coude not be seane in theyr mastryes The fryers with theyr charmynge sophysirye threwe soche a darke myst ouer the vniuersall worlde that superstycyon coude not be knowen for superstycyon nor ydolatrye for ydolatrye Vnspeakable fylthynesse of all fleshlye occupyenge was than called Prestes chastyte as yt is yet and will be tyll yt come to the hyghest that God maye take full vengeaunce Than was whoredome worshypped in Prelates of the churche and sacred wedlock rekened soche a detestable vyce as was worthye in a prest most cruell death As was seane for example in syr Vvillyam Vvyghe which was brent for the same at Norwych in the yeare of oure Lorde 14.28 Thus was Vvhyght iudged blacke and lyght darkenesse so ylâ— was meÌ„ a syght in those dayes By soche meanes sayth the Prophete they drewe wyckednesse vnto them as yt were with a corde and all kyndes of synne as yt were with a cart rope If Englande at that tyme had not bene vnthankefull for the syngular benefyght that God than sent them by those good meÌ„ne the dayes of Antichrist and his beastlye broode had bene shortened there longe a go as yt is euen now here after lyke to be more largelye A most oryent fresshe myrrour of Christen manhode apereth this worthye lorde Cobham in our age the veryte now open which was in herabsens a lampe of contempt before wordlye wyse menne In him maye noble menne beholde here playnelye a wolâ— noble stomake and precyouse fayth in the myddes of great Antichristes modye mustre His corage was of soche vaâ—â—e that yt gaue him the victorye ouer them by the clere iudgement of the scripturs what though the worldes iudgementes be farre otherwyse And as for the cruell death which he most contumelyouslye suffred yt is now vnto him a most plentuouse wynnynge for in the iust quarell was yt of his Lorde Iesus Christ. Myght those bloudye blusterers haue had theyr full swaye now of late they wolde haue made more Oldecastels Actons Brownes Beuerlayes yea they wolde haue made there a greatter hauocke vpon Christes congregacyon than euer ded Saul in his ragynge furye They ment more than they vttered whan they approched so nygh as ded cruell Haman to the presence of noble Assuerus But blessed be the eternall father which hath geuen soche wysdome godlye vnto oure most worthye kynge that he perseyuynge theyr slayghtes so abated theyr tyraÌ„nouse fercenes Praye noble menne praye yea with the true clergye and commons that lyke as he hath now with duke Iosue the ouerhande of wycked Hierico by his onlye gyft and is through that becomen an whole perfyght kynge within his ownâ— realme farre aboue all his predecessours so that he maye in conclusyon ouerthrowe her clerelye For as yet the dredefull damsell tyrannye that was Cayphas dorekeper dwelleth in the howses of Byshoppes and dalye compelleth poore Peter to denye his mastre As manye eyes as euer had vygylaunt Argus had he nede to haue that is compassed with soche a sort as are that broode of the wylye serpent Consydre what heauenlye thynges ye haue receyued of the scripturs vndre his permyssyon and yet praye ones agayne for his gracyouse contynuaunce to the more increase of knowledge Amen O Babylon thy merchauÌ„tes were princes of the earth And with thyne inchauÌ„tementes were all nacyons deceyued Apocal. xviii ☞ The great processe of Thomas Arundell the Archebysshop of Caunterburye and of the Papisticall clergye w t him agaynst the most noble knyght syr Iohan Oldecastell the lorde Cobham in the yeare of oure Lorde a. M. cccc and .xlii. wherin is coÌ„tayned his examinacyon impresonmeÌ„t and excommunycacyon The processe before his examinacyon AFter that y e true seruauÌ„t of Iesus Christ Iohan Vvycleue a maÌ„ne of verye excellent lyfe lernynge had for the space of more than .xxvi. years most valeauntlye batteled with the great Antichrist of Europa or Pope of Rome his dyuerslye dysgysed host of anoynted hypocrytes to restore the churche agayne to the pure estate that Christ left her in at his ascensyon he departed hens most Christenlye into the handes of God the yeare of oure Lorde a M.CCC.lxxxvii and was buryed in his owne parryshe churche at Lutterworth in Lyncolne shere No small nombre of
remayneth in the sacrament of the aultre from thens forth no materyall breade nor materyall wyne which were there before the sacramentall wordes were spoken How beleue ye this artycle Holye churche hath determyned that euerye Christen manne lyuynge here bodylye vpon earth ought to be shryuen to a prest ordayned by y e churche yf he maye come to him How fâ—le ye this artycle Christ ordayned saynct Peter y e Apostle to be his vycar here in earth Vvhose see is the holye churche of Rome And he grauÌ„ted that the same power which he gaue vnto Peter shulde succede to all Peters successours which we call now Popes of Rome By whose specyall power in churches partycular be ordayned Prelates as Archâ—bysshoppes Bysshoppes persones curates other degrees more Vnto whom Christen menne ought to obeye after the lawes of the churche of Rome This is the determynacyon of holye churche How feleye this artycle Holye churche hath determyned that yt is merytoryouse to a Christen manne to go on pylgrymage to holye places And there specyallye to worshyp holye relyques and ymages of saynctes Apostles Martyrs Confessours and all other saynctes besydes approued by the churche of Rome How fele ye this artycle And as the good lorde Cobham had redde ouer this wretched wrytynge he marueled greatlye of theyr madde ignoraunce But that he consydered agayne that God had geuen them ouer for theyr vnbeleues sake into most depe errours and blyndnesse of soule Agayne he perseyued therby that theyr vttermost malyce was purposed agaynst him how so euer he shuld answere And therfore he put his lyfe into the handes of God defyerynge his onlye sprete to assyst him in his next answere Vvhan the seyd xxv daye of Septembre was come which was also the Monedaye afore Myhelmesse in the seyd yeare of oure lorde a M. CCCC and .xiii. Thomas Arundell the Archebysshop of Caunter burye commaunded his iudycyall scate to be remoued from y e chaptre house of Paules to the Domynyck fryers within Ludgate at London And as he was there set with Rycharde y e Bysshop of London Henrye the Bysshop of Vvynchestre and Benet the Byshop of Bangor he called in vnto him his counsell and his offycers with dyuerse other Doctours and fryers Of whom these are the names here folowynge Mastre Henrye Vvare the Offycyall of Caunterburye Phylip Morgan doctor of both lawes Howest kyffyn doctor of the canoÌ„ lawe Iohan kempe doctour of the canoÌ„ lawe Vvistyam Carleton doctour of the canon lawe Iohan Vvytnam of the newe college in Oxforde IohaÌ„ Vvhyght head a doctour of Oxforde also Robert Vvombewell vycar of saynct Laurence in the Iewrye Thomas Palmer the wardene of the Mynors Robert Chamberlayne prior of the Domynyckes Rycharde Dodyngton prior of the Augustynes Thomas Vvalden prior of the Carmelytes all doctours of diuinyte Iohan Steuens also and Iames Cole both notaryes appoynted there purposelye to wryte all that shuld be eyther sayd or done All these with a great sort more of Prestes Monkes ChanoÌ„s fryers parryshe clarkes Bell ryngers and pardoners dysdayned him with innumerable mockes and scornes rekenynge him to be an horryble heretyque and a manne acursed afore God Anon the Archebysshop called for a masseboke and caused all those Prelates and doctours to sweare therevpon that euerye manne shuld faythfullye do his offyce and dewtye that daye And that neyther for fauer nor feare loue nor hate of the one partye nor the other anye thynge shuld there be wytnessed spoken or done but accordynge to the truthe as they wolde answere before God and all the worlde at the daye of Dome Than were the two forseyd notaryes sworne also to wryte and to wytnesse the wordes and processe that there shuld be vttered on both partyes to saye theyr myndes yf they otherwyse knewe yt before they shuld regestre yt And all this dissymulacyon was but to colour theyr myscheues before the ignoraunt multytude Consydre herin gentyll reader what this wycked generacyon is and how farre wyde from the iust feare of God for as they were thaÌ„ so are they yet to this daye After that came forth before them syr Robert Morleye knyght and Lyeftenaunt of the tower he brought with him the good lorde Cobham there leauynge him amonge them as a lambe amonge wolues to his examynacyon and answere The latter examynacyon of the lorde Cobham THan sayd the Archebysshop vnto him lorde Cobham ye be aduysed I am sure of the wordes and processe which we had vnto you vpon saturdaye last past in the chaptre howse of Paules Vvhich processe were now no longe to be rehersed agayne I sayd vnto you than that ye were a cursed for youre contumacye and dysobedyence to holye Churche thynkynge that ye shuld with mekenesse haue desyred youre absolucyon Than spake the lorde Cobham with a most cherefull countenaunce sayd God sayth by his holye Prophete Maledicam benedictionê° vestris which is as moche to saye as I shall curse where as you blesse The Archebysshop made than as though he had contynued forth his tale and not hearde him sayinge Syr at that tyme I gentyllye profered to haue assoyled yow yf ye wolde haue asked yt And yet I do the same yf ye will humblye desyre yt in dewe forme and maner as holye churche hath ordayned Than sayd the lorde Cobham Naye forsoth will I not for I neuer yet trespased agaynst you therfore I will not do yt And with that he kneled downe on the pauement holdynge vp his handes towardes heauen sayd I shryue me here vnto the my eternall lyuynge God that in my frayle youthe I offended the lorde most greuouslye in pryde wrathe and glottonye in couetousnesse and in lechere Manye menne haue I hurt in myne anger and done manye other horryble synnes good Lorde I aske the mercye And therwith wepynglye he stode vp agayne and sayd with a myghtye voyce Lo good people lo. For the breakynge of Gods lawe and his great commaundementes they neuer yet cursed me But for theyr owne lawes and tradycyons most cruellye do they handle both me and other menne And therfore both they and theyr lawes by the promes of God shall vtterlye be destroyed At this the Archebysshop and his coÌ„panye were not a lytle blemyshed Notwithstandynge he toke stomake vnto him agayne after certen wordes had in excuse of theyr tyrannye and examyned the lorde Cobham of his Christen beleue Vvher vnto the lorde Cobham made this godly answere I beleue sayth he fullye and faythfullye the vniuersall lawes of God I beleue that all is true w c is contayned in y e holye sacred scripturs of the Byble fynallye I beleue all that my lorde God wolde I shuld beleue Than demaunded the Archebisshop an answere of the byll which he and the clergye had sent him into the tower the daye afore in maner of a determinacyon of the churche
whom Christ is the head Of this churche one part is in heauen with Christ an other in purgatorye you saye and the thyrde is here in earthe This latter part standeth in thre degrees in kynghthode prest hode and the commynnalte as I sayd afore playnelye in the confessyon of my beleue Than sayd the archebisshop vnto him Can ye tell me who is of this churche The lorde Cobham answered yea trulye can I. Than sayd doctor Vvalden the prior of the Carmelytes It is doubt vnto you who is therof For Christ sayth in Math. Nolite iudicare Presinne to iudge no maÌ„ne If ye here beforbyddeÌ„ y e iudgement of youre neyber or brother moche more y e iudgemeÌ„t of your superyour The lorde Cobham made him this answere Christ sayth also in the same selfe chaptre of Matthew That lyke as the ysâ—'tre is knowen by his yll frute so is a false Prophete by his workes aâ—ere they neuer so gloryouse But that ye left behynde ye And in Iohan he hath this text Operibus credite Beleue you the outwarde doynges And in an other place of Iohan. Iustum iudicium indicate Vvhan we knowe the thynge to be true we maye so iudge yt and not offende For Dauid sayth also Recte iudicate filii hominum Iudge ryghtlye alwayes ye chyldren of menne And as for youre superyorte Vvere ye of Christ ye shuld be meke mynysters and no proude superyours Than sayd doctor Vvalden vnto him ye make here no difference of iudgemeÌ„tes ye put no diuerfyte betwyne the yll iudgemeÌ„tes which Christ hath forbydden and the good iudgementes which he hath cuÌ„maunded vs to haue Rashe iudgement and ryght iudgement all is one with you So is iudgemeÌ„t presumed and iudgement of offyce So swyst iudges alwayes are the lerned scolers of Vvycleue Vnto whom the lorde Cobham thus answered It is wele sophistryed of you forsoth Preposterouse are youre iudgementes euermore For as the Prophete Esaye sayth ye iudge yll good and good yll And therfore the same Prophete coÌ„cludeth that youre wayes are not gods wayes nor Gods wayes youre wayes And as for that vertuouse manne Vvyclene whose iudgemeÌ„tes ye so hyghlye dysdayne I shall saye here for my part both before God and manne That before I knewe that despysed doctryne of his I neuer abstayned from synne But sens I lerned therin to feare my Lorde God yt hath otherwyse I trust bene with me So moch grace coude I neuer fynde in all your gloryouse instruccyoÌ„s Than sayd doctour Vvalden agayne yet vnto him It were not wele with me so manye vertuouse menne lyuyng and so manye lerned menne teachyng the scripturs beynge also so open the examples of fathers so plentuouse yf I than had no grace to amende my lyfe tyll I hearde the deuyll preache Saynt Hierom sayth that he which seketh soche suspected masters shall not fynde the myd daye lyght but the myd daye deuyll The lorde Cobham sayd youre fathers the olde Pharysees ascrybed Christes myracles to Belzebub and his doctryne to the deuyll And you as theyr naturall chyldren haue styll the same selfe iudgement concernynge his faythfull folowers They that rebuke youre vicyouse lyuynge must neades be heretyques and that must youre doctours proue whan ye haue no scripturs to do yt Than sayd he to them all To iudge you as ye be we nede no farder go than youre owne propre actes Vvhere do ye fynde in all Gods lawe that ye shulde thus syt in iudgement of anye Christen man or yet sentens anye other manne vnto death as ye do here daylye No grounde haue ye in all the scripturs so lordelye to take yt vpon ye but in Annas and in Cayphas which sate thus vpon Christ and vpon his Apostels after his ascencyon Of them onlye haue ye taken yt to iudge Christes members as ye do neyther of Peter nor Iohan. Than sayd some of the lawers yes forsoth syr for Christ iudged Iudas The lorde Cobham sayd No Christ iudged him not But he iudged himselfe and thervpon went forth and so ded hange himselfe But in dede Christ sayd wo vnto him for that couetuouse acte of his as he doth yet styll vnto manye of you For sens the venyme was shedde into y e churche ye neuer folowed Christ neyther yet haue ye stande in the perfeccyon of Gods lawe Than asked him the Archebysshop what he ment by that venyme The lorde Cobham sayd youre possessyons and lordeshyppes For than cryed an angell in the ayre as youre owne chronycles mencyoneth wo wo wo this daye is venyme shedde into y e churche of God Before that tyme all the Bysshoppes of Rome were martyrs in a maner And sens that tyme we reade of verye fewe But in dede sens that same tyme one hath put downe an other one hath poysened an other one hath cursed an other and one hath slayne an other and done moche more myschefe besydes as all the chronycles telleth And lete all menne consydre wele this That Christ was meke and mercyfull The Pope is proude a tyraunt Christ was poore and forgaue The Pope is ryche and a most cruell manslayer as his daylye actes doth proue him Rome is the verye nest of Antichrist And out of that nest cometh all his disciples Of whom Prelates Prestes and Monkes are the bodye and these pylde fryers are the â—ayle which couereth his most fylthye part Than sayd the prior of the fryre Anguilynes â—lac syr whye do ye saye so That is vncharytablye spoken And the lorde Cobham sayd Not onlye is yt my sayinge but also the Prophete Esayes longe afore my tyme. The Prophete sayth he which preacheth lyes is the tayle behynde As you fryers and monkes be lyke Pharysees dyuyded in youre outwarde aparell and vsages so make ye dyuysyon amonge the people And thus yow with soche other are the verye naturall members of Antichrist Than sayd he vnto them all Christ sayth in his Gospell Vvo to you Scribes and Pharysees hypocrytes Foâ—â—e close vp the kyngedom of heauen beforâ— menne Nether entre ye in your selues nor yet suffre anye other that wolde entre into yt But ye stoppe vp the wayes thervnto with youre owne tradicyons and therfore are ye the howsholde of Antichrist ye will not permytt Gods veryte to haue passage nor yet to be taught of his true mynysters fearynge to haue youre wyckednesse reproued But by soche vayne flatterers as vpholde ye in youre myscheues ye suffre the common people most myserablye to be seduced Than sayd the Archebysshop By oure ladye syr there shall no soche preache within my dyocese and God will nor yet in my iurisdiccyon yf I maye knowe yt as eyther maketh dyuysyon or yet dyssensyon amonge the poore coÌ„mons The lorde Cobham sayd Both Christ and his Apostles were accused of sedycyon makynge yet were they most peceable menne Both Daniel and Christ prophecyed that soche a troublouse tyme shulde come
iurisdiccyon power and iudgemeÌ„t to do him thervpon to death Forthermore we excommunycate and denounce acursed not onlye this heretyque here present but so manye els besydes as shall here after in fauer of his errour â—yther receyue him or defende him couÌ„sell him or helpe him or anye other waye maynteyne him as verye fawters receyuerâ— defenders counsellers ayders and maynteners of condemned heretyques And that these premysses maye be the better knowen to all faythfull Christen menne we coÌ„myt yt here vnto your charges and geue ye streyght commauÌ„dement thervpon by this wrytynge also that ye cause this condemnacyon and diffynytyue sentence of excommunycacyon concernynge both this heretyque and his fawtours to be publyshed through out all youre dyoceses in cytees townes and vyllages by youre curates and parryshe Prestes soche tyme as they shall haue most recourse of people And se that yt be done after this sort As the people are thus gathered deuoutlye togyther lete the curate euerye where go into the pulpet and there open declare and expounde this processe in the mother tonge in an audyble and intellygyble voyce that yt maye wele be perseyued of all meÌ„ne and that vpon the feare of this declaracyon also the people maye fall from theyr yll opynyons conceyued now of late by sedycyouse preachers More ouer we will that after we haue delyuered vnto yche one of yow Bysshoppes which are here present a copye herof that ye cause the same to be written out agayne into dyuerse copyes and so to be sent vnto the other Bysshoppes and Prelates of oure whole prouince that they maye also se the contentes therof solempnelye publyshed within theyr dyoceses and cures Fynallye we will that both yow and they signyfye agayne vnto vs seryouslye and dystynctlye by youre wrytynges as the matter is without fayned colour in euerye poynt perfourmed the daye wher vpon ye receyued this processe the tyme whan yt was of yow executed and after what sort yt was done in euerye condycyon accordynge to the tenour herof that we maye knowe yt to be iustlye the same A copye of this wrytynge sent Thomas Arundell the Archebysshop of CauÌ„terburye after warde from Maydeston the .x. daye of Octobre within the same yeare of oure Lorde a M. cccc and .xiii. vnto Rycharde Clyfforde the Bysshop of LondoÌ„ which thus beginneth Thomas permissione diuina c. The seyd Rycharde Clyfforde sent an other copye therof enclosed within his owne letters vnto Robert Mascall a Carmelyte fryre which was than Bisshop of Herforde in Vvalis wrytten from Hadham the .xxiii. daye of Octobre in the same yeare and the beginnynge therof is this Reuerende in Christo pater c. The seyd Robert Mascall directed an other copye therof from London the xxvii daye of Nouembre in the same yeare enclosed in his owne coÌ„missyon also vnto his Archedeacons and Deanes in Herfforde and Shrewesburye And this is therof the begynnynge Venerabilibus discretis viris c. In lyke maner ded the other Bysshoppes within theyr dyoceses After that the Archebysshop had thus redde the byll of his condempnacyon with most extremyte before the whole multytude the lorde CobhaÌ„ sayd with a most cherefull couÌ„tenaunce Though ye iudge my bodye which is but a wretched thynge yet am I certayne and sure that ye can do no harme to my sowle nomore than coude Sathan vpon the sowle of Iob. He that created that will of his infynyte mercye and promes saue yt I haue therin no maner of doubt And as concernynge these artycles before rehersed I will stande to them eueÌ„ to the verye death by the grace of my eternall God And therwith he turned him vnto y e people castynge his handes a broode and sayenge with a verye lowde voyce Good Christen peple for Gods loue bewele ware of these meÌ„ne For they will els begyle yow and leade yow blyndelynges into hell with themselues For Christ sayth playnelye vnto you If one blynde manne leadeth an other they are lyke both to fall into the dytche After this he fell downe there vpon his knees and thus before them all prayed for his enemyes holdynge vp both his handes and his eyes towardes heauen and sayenge Lorde God eternall I besyche the for thy great mercyes sake to forgeue my persuers yf yt be thy blyssed will And than he was delyuered to syr Robert Morleye and so ledde forth agayne to the tower of London And thus was there an ende of that dayes worke Vvhyle the lorde Cobham was thus in the tower he sent out preuylye vnto his fryndes And they at his â—esyre wrote this lytle byll here folowynge causynge yt to be set vp in dyuerse quarters of London that the people shuld not beleue the slaunders and lyes that his enemyes the Bysshoppes seruauntes and Prestes had made on him a brode And this was the lettre For as moche as syr Iohan Oldecastell knyght and lorde Cobham is vntruely conuicted and inprosoned falselye reported and slaundered amonge y e comon people by his aduersaryes that he shuld otherwyse both fele and speake of the sacramentes of the churche and specyallye of the blessed sacrament of the aultre than was written in the confessyon of his beleue which was indented and taken to the clergye and so set vp in dyuerse open places in the cyte of London knowen be yt here to all the worlde that he neuer sens varyed in anye poynt therfro but this is playnelye his beleue that all the sacramentes of the churche be profytable and expedyent also to all them that shall be saued takynge them after the intent that Christ and his true churche hath ordayned Forthermore he beleueth that in the blessed sacrameÌ„t of the aultre is veâ—â—lye and truelye Christes bodye in fourme of breade After this the Bysshoppes and Prestes were in moche obloquye both of the nobylyte and commoÌ„s partlye for that they had so cruellye handeled the good lorde Cobham and partlye agayne bycause his opynyon as they thought at that tyme was perfyght concernynge the sacrament As they feared this to growe to forther inconuenyence towardes them both wayes they drewe theyr heades togyther and at the last consented to vse an other practyse somwhat coÌ„trarye to that they had done afore They caused yt by and by to be blowne a brode by theyr feed seruauntes fryndes hablynge syr Iohanes that the seyd lorde Cobham was becomeÌ„ a good manne and had lowlye submytted him selfe in all thynges vnto holye churche vtterlye changynge his opynyon concernynge the sacrament And thervpon they counterfeted an abiuracyon in his name that the people shuld take no holde of that opynyon by anye thynge they had hearde of him before and to stande so in the more awe of them consyderynge him so great a manne by them subdued This is the abiuracyon saye they of syr Iohan Oldecastell knyght somtyme the lorde Cobham
troden vndre fote The Christen fayth was ruyuouslye decayed Gods seruyce was lawhed to scorne The spirituall iurisdiccyon auctoryte honour power polycye lawes rytes ceremonyes curses keyes censures and canonycall sanccyons of the churche were had in an vttre contemt So that all in a maner was come to nought And the cause of this was that the heretyques and lolâ—ars of Vvycleues opynyon were suffered to preache abrode so boldelye to gather conuentycles vnto them to hepe scoles in meÌ„nys houses to make bokes compyle treatyses and wryte balettes to teache pryuatlye in angles and corners as in wodes feldes medowes pastours groues and in caues of the grounde This wolde be they sayd a destruccyon to the commen welthe a subuersyon to the lande and an vttre decaye of the kynges estate ryall yf remedye were not sought in tyme. And this was theyr polycye to cople the kynges auctoryte with that they had done in theyr former counsell of craft and so to make yt therby the strongar For they perseyued themselues verye farre to weake els to folowe against theyr enemyes that they had so largelye enterprysed Vpon this complaynt the kydge immedyatlye called a Parlament at Leycestre It myght not in those dayes be holden at Vvestmynstre for the great fauer that the lorde Cobham had both in London and abought the cyte yet were they deceyued That they doubted most lyghted there sonest vpon them A byll was put in there agayne by y e commons agaynst theyr coÌ„tynuall wastynge of the temporaltees lyke as yt had bene twyse afore by procurement of the seyd lorde Cobham both in y e dayes of kynge Rycharde the seconde anno 1395. and also of kynge Henrye the .iiii. annadomini 1410 whervpon was growne all this malyce afore specyfyed but this was than workemanlye defeated by an other propre practyse of theyrs They put the kynge in remembraunce to clayme his ryght in Fraunce grauÌ„ted him thervnto a dyme with other great subsydye of moneye Thus were Christes people betrayed euerye waye and theyr lyues bought and solde by these most cruell theues For in the seyd Parlament the kynge made this most blasphemouse and cruell acte to be as a lawe for euer That what so euer they were that shulde reade the scripturs in the mother tonge which was than called Vvycleues lernyng they shuld forfet lande cattell bodye lyfe and goodes from theyr heyres for euer and so be condemned for heretyques to God enemyes to the crowne and most errande trayters to the lande Besydes this yt was enacted that neuer a sanyctwarye nor pryuyleged grounde within the realme shuld holde them though they were styll permytted both to theues and mourtherers And yf in case they wolde not geue ouer or were after theyr pardon relapsed they shuld suffre death in two maner of kyndes That is They shuld fyrst be hanged for treason agaynst the kynge and than be burned for heresye agaynst God and yet neyther of both commytted The begynnynge of that acte is this Pro eo quod magni rumores c. Anon after was yt proclamed through out the realme and than had the Bysshoppes Prestes Monkes and fryers a worlde somwhat to theyr myndes For than were manye taken in dyuerse quarters and suffred most cruell death And manye fledde out of the lande into Germanye Boheme Fraunce Spayne Portyngale and into the welde of Scotlande Vvalys and Irelande workynge there manye marueyls agaynst theyr false kyngedome to longe to wryte In the Christmas folowynge was syr Roger Acton knyght mastre Iohan Browne esquyre syr Iohan Beuerlaye a letned preacher dyuerse other more attached for quarellynge with certen prestes and so inpresoned For all menne at that tyme coude not pacyentlye suffre theyr blasphemouse bragges The complaynt was made vnto the kynge of them that they had made a great assemblye in saynet Gyles felde at London purposynge the destruccyon of the lande and the subuersyon of the coÌ„mon welthe As the kynge was thus infourmed he erected a banner sayth Vvalden with a crosse thervpon as y e Pope doth commonlye by his Legates whan he pretendeth to warre agaynst the Turke and with a great nombre of menne entred the same felde where as he founde no soche companye yet was the complaynt iudged true bycause the Bysshoppes had spoken yt at the infourmacyon of theyr Prestes All this hath Thomas Vvalden in dyuerse of his workes which was at the same tyme a Vvhyght or Carmelyte fryre and the kynges confessour partlye yt is towched both by Robert Fabyane and by Polydorus Vergilius in theyr Englyshe chronycles but not in all poyntes â—yghtlye as is to be sâ—ane in the preface asore In the meane season syr Iohan Oldecastell the lorde Cobham escaped out of the tower of London in the nyght and so fledde into Vvalys where as he contynued more than .iiii. yeares after Some wryters haue thought this escape to come by the seyd syr Roger Acton and other gentylmenne in dyspleasure of the Prestes and that to be the chefe occasyon of theyr deathes which myght wele be but Vvalden doth not so vttre yt which regned the same selfe tyme. In Ianuarye next folowynge was the afore named syr Roger Acton mastre Iohan Browne syr Iohan Beuerlaye and .xxxvi. more of whom y e more part were gentyll menne of byrthe conuicted of heresye by the Byshoppes and condemned of treason by the temporalte and accordynge to the acte were fyrst hanged and than brent in the seyd saynct Gyles felde In the same yeare also was one Iohan Claydon a skynner and one Rycharde Turmyne a baker both hanged and brent in Smyth felde by that vertuouse acte besydes that was done in all other quarters of Englande which was no small nombre yf yt were now througlye knowen ☞ The latter enpresonynge and death of the lorde Cobham IN the yeare of oure Lorde a. M. CCCC and .xv. dyed Thomas Arundell which had bene Archebysshop of Caunterburye more than xxxii yeares to the great destruccyon of Christen beleue yet dyed not his prodygyouse tyrannye with him but suceeded with his offyce in Henrye Chycheleye and in a great sort more of that spyghtfull spiritualte For theyr malyce was not yet satled agaynst the good lorde Cobham But they confedered with the lorde Powys which was at that tyme a great gouernor in Vvalys fedynge him with lordelye gyftes and promyses to accomplysshe theyr desyre He at the last thus monyed with Iudas and outwardlye pretendynge him great amyte fauour most cowardlye and wretchedlye toke him and in conclusyon so sent him vp to London where as he remayned a moneth or two inprysoned agayne in the Tower And after longe processe they condemned him agayne of heresye and treason by force of the afore named a 〈◊〉 renderynge thankes â–ª vnto God that he had so appoynted him to suffre for his names sake And vpon the daye
appoynted he was brought out of the Tower with his armes bounde behynde him hauyng a verye cherefull countenaunce Than was he layed vpon an hardle as though he had bene a most heynouse traytour to the crowne and so drawne forth into saynct Gyles felde where as they had set vp a new payre of Galowes As he was comen to the place of execucyon and was taken from the hardle he fell downed enoughtlye vpon his knees desyerynge almyghtye God to forgeue his enemyes Than stode he vp and behelde the multytude exhortynge them in most godlye maner to folowe the lawes of God wrytten in the scripturs and in anye wyse to be ware of soche teachers as they se contrarye to Christ in theyr conuersacyn and lyuynge with manye other specyall counsels Than was he hanged vp there by the myddle in cheanes of yron and so consumed a lyue in the fyre praysynge the name of God so longe as his lyfe lasted In the ende he commended his sowle into the handes of God and so departed hens most Christenlye his bodye resolued into ashes And this was done in the yeare of our Lorde a. M. cccc and .xviii. which was the sixt yeare of the regne of kyng Henrye the fyft the people there present shewynge great dolour How the Prestes that tyme fared blasphemed and cursed requyrynge the people not to praye for him but to iudge him damned in hell for that he departed not in the obedyeÌ„ce of theyr Pope yt were to longe to wryte This terryble kynde of death with galowes cheanes and fyre apereth not verye precyouse in the eyes of menne that be carnall nomore than ded the death of Christ whan he was hanged vp amonge theues The ryghtuouse semeth to dye sayth the wyse manne in the syght of them which are vnwyse and theyr ende is taken for verye destruccyon Vngodlye foles thynketh theyr lyues verye madnesse and theyr passage hens without all honour But though they suffre payne before menne sayth he yet is theyr expectacyon full of immortalyte They are accounted for the chyldren of God haue theyr iust porcyon amonge the faynctes As golden in the fornace doth God trye his electes as a most plesaunt brent offerynge receyueth he them to rest The more harde the passage be the more gloryouse shall they apere in the lattre resurreccyon Not that the affliccyons of this lyfe are worthye of soche a glorye but that yt is Gods heauenlye pleasure so to rewarde them Neuer are the iudgementes and wayes of menne lyke vnto the iudgementes and wayes of God but coÌ„trarye euermore vnlesse they be taught of him In the latter tyme sayth the Lorde vnto Daniel shall manye be chosen proued and puryfyed by frye yet shall the vngodlye lyue wyckedlye styll and haue no vnderstandynge that is of fayth By an angell from heuen was Iohan ernestlye coÌ„maunded to wryte that blessed are y e dead which hence departeth in y e Lorde Ryght dere sayth Dauid in the syght of God is the death of his true seruauÌ„tes Thus resteth this valeaunt Christen knyght syr Iohan Oldecastell vndre the aultre of God which is Iesus Christ amonge that godlye companye which in the kyngedome of pacyeÌ„ce suffred great tribulacyon with y e death of theyr bodyes for his faythfull worde and testimonye abydynge there with them the fulfyllynge of theyr whole nombre the full restauricyon of his electes The which he graunt in effect at his tyme appoynted which is one God eternall Amen ☞ The conclusyon BEsydes the cause rehersed afore in the preface concernynge the dreadfull death of this most Christen knyght syr Iohan Olde castell the lorde Cobham this is also rekened for one In the ende of the fyrst boke which he put vp into the ParlemeÌ„t how se agaynst the abusyons of the clergyâ— in the yeare of oure Lordâ— a. M.CCC xcv which was also the .xviii. yeare of kynge Rycharde the seconde were these .vi. verses wrytten as a brefe conclusyon sommarye of the vnyuersall coÌ„tentes therof Plangunt Anglorum Gentes crimen Sodomorum Paulus fert horum sunt Idola causa malorum Surgunt ingrati Giezite Symone nati Nomine prelati hoc defensare parati Qui râ—ges estis populis quicunque preestis Qualiter 〈◊〉 gestis gladios prohibere potestis Though the verses be grosse and vnperfyght accordynge to the tyme than wherin all freshe lytterature was clerelye extynguyshed yet is the sentence of them lyuelye and of a freshe faythfull sprete euen in the zele of Helias and Phinees for rebuke of synne And thus are they in the Englyshe Bewayle maye Englande the synne of Sodomytes For Idolles and they are grounde of all theyr wo. Of Symon Magus a secte of hypocrytes Surnamed prelates are vp with them to go And to vpholde them in all that they maye do yow that be rewlers peculyarlye selected How can ye suffre soche myscheues vncorrected Vvhan this boke wolde not helpe towardes anye reformacyon but was law hed to scorne of the Bysshoppes than were these verses copyed out by dyuerse menne set vpon theyr wyndowes gates and dores which were than knoweÌ„ for obstynate hypocrytes and fleshlye lyuers which made y e prelates madde And this is y e great insurreccyon that Vvalden complayneth of vnto Pope Martyne the fyft after him Polydotus the Popes collectour with other papistes more wherin neuer a one manne was hurt I wolde maruele moche more of the doublenesse of Thomas Vvalden beynge than the kynges confessour yf I ded not knowe the vnshamefast nature of that lyenge generacyon In his fyrst Epistle vnto Pope Martyue in the fyrst Preface of his fourth boke contra Vvicleuistas he sayth that syr Iohan Olde castell with a great nombre of heretyques conspyred agaynst kynge Henrye the fyft in the fyrst yeare of his regne that he offered him for euerye monke chanon fryre and Popyshe Prestes head within his realme a golde noble And cleane contrarye vnto this he testyfyeth in his boke called Fasciculus zizaniorum Vvicleui that he was the same selfe tyme yeare moneth weke and daye a presoner within the Tower of London How wele these two wrytynges agre I report me But thus commonlye are innocent menne lyed vpon amonge these blasphemouse bessygoddes But he that is essencyallye true of himselfe hath promysed at one tyme or other to clere his true seruaunt not by lyes and fables but by his owne pure worde No secrete sayth he is so close but ones shall be opened neyther is anye thynge so hydde that shall not at the last be knowen clerelye Thus hath syr Iohan Oldecastell a tryumphauÌ„t victorye ouer his enemyes by the veryte which he defended all coÌ„trarye to the blynde worldes expectacyon they haue a fowle ouerthrowe beynge proued manyfest murtherers blynde beastes hypocrytes lyars by the same Soche a swete Lorde is God alwayes
to those that be his true seruauÌ„tes blessed be his holye name therfore Conferre the causes of this godlye maÌ„nys death with the poyntes that Thomas Becket dyed for and other Popishe martyrs besydes ye shall fynde them farre dyfferent and vnlyke Thomas Becket was slayne at Caunterburye in his Prelates aparell in the head churche before the hygh aultre amonge relygyouse Monkes and Prestes and in the holye tyme of Christmas by his owne sekynge And all this is gloryouse vnto worldlye iudgementes Syr Iohan Oldecastell was brent in cheanes at London in saynct Gyles felde vndre the galowes amonge the saye people vpon the prophane workynge daye at the Bysshoppes procurement And all this is vngloryouse yea verye despyscable vnto those worldlye eyes what though Iesus Christ his mastre afore him were handeled after a verye lyke sort For he was crucyfyed at Hierusalem without the cyte without the holye synagoge a cursed out of churche amonge the prophane multytude in the myddest of theues in y e place where as theues were coÌ„monlye hanged and not vpon the feastfull daye but afore yt by the Bysshoppes procuremeÌ„t also Now let vs consydre the causes of both theyr deathes trye them both by the manyfest scripturs of the Gospell which of them shuld seme most to the glorye of menne Thomas Becket dyed vpon his owne sekynge onlye for maynteynynge the wanton lybertees and superfluouse possessyons of the Romyshe churche here within Englande which are both forbydden of Christ and also condemned by the same scripturs He that forsaketh not all that he hath sayth he can not be my disciple And whan a contencyon befell amonge the Apostles for the superyoryte he sayd also vnto them The kynges of the worlde haue the worldes domynyon with all pompe and rytches belongynge to the same But yow shall not so Syr Iohan Oldecastell dyed at the importune sute of the clergye for callynge vpon a Christen reformacyon in that Romyshe churche of theyrs for manfullye standynge by the faythfull testymonyes of Iesu as all the afore seyd processe declareth And this is both allowed in the Gospell and also requyred of euerye Christen beleuer He that confesseth me and my worde before menne sayth Christ him will I confesse for myne before my eternall father And he that shall denye me my veryte before menne him will I also denye for myne before my euerlastynge father which is in heauen Thomas Becket in the tyme of his death coÌ„mended himselfe to the patrones of his churche which were two gylded ymages of saynct Sauer and saynct Marye the cause of his churche vnto saynct Denys had no more but his Prestes crowne cut of which is the Popes lyuerye marke euen by the verye shauynge as his storye mencyoneth Syr Iohan Oldecastell in the tyme of his death coÌ„mended his sowle with Dauid Christ Steuen into the handes of God the eternall father and his cause to the ryghtâ—ull iudgement of his sonne Iesus Christ with desyre of mercyfull forgeuenesse coÌ„cernynge his enemyes as became a faythfull Christyane had his whole bodye consumed in the fyre Now plucke from youre eyes the corrupted spectacles of carnall or popyshe iudgementes do vpon them that clere syght which ye haue by the sprete of Christ. And that faythfullye done tell me which of these two semeth rather to be the martyr of Christ and which the Popes martyr The wayes of God sayth Esaye are not y e wayes of menne But so farre as the heauens are aboue the vyle earth so farre do his iudgementes excede theyrs That w c semeth hygh and gloryouse vnto menne sayth Christ is verye abhominacyon afore God By this maye ye se that the precyouse spowse or immaculate churche of Christ is no gorgyouslye paynted gentyll woman nor gloryouse glytterynge madane but all hydden and vnknowen to the worldlye infydels which dysdayneth to seke her in the scripturs Nothynge is precyouse vnto them that shyneth not vnto the eye A most fyt membre for Christes mystycall bodye is he that suffreth with the head therof As this good syr Iohan Oldecastell ded whan he was with Christ examyned of the proude Bysshoppes scorned of the Prestes dysdayned of the worlde yll reported mocked hated reâ—yled acursed and so commytted vnto the laye iudgemeÌ„t to be condemned by them vnto most shamefull and cruell deathe yea so extremely malycyouse was that spyghtfull spiritualte agaynst him that they wolde not suffre his bodye to be buryed in theyr great cyte or holye Churche which is spirituallye called Sodoma and Egyptus to make the prophecye of saynct Iohans Apocalyps trulye to be verefyed vpon him to proue him Christes membre all togyther They both resolued his bodye into ashes also made the ryuer to carrye them awaye lyke as they ded also with the bones of Iohan Vvycleue least anye thynge therof shulde remayne bycause they wolde also shewe them selues lyke in tyraÌ„nye to Iulianus apostata that so vsed the bodye of holye Iohan Baptist afore them I shuld make a comparyson betwixt this blessyd martyr of Christ syr Iohan Oldecastell and Peter of Myllayne with other of the Popes martyrs which dyed for the Popes power pardone pylgrymages eare confessyon and other popyshe matters more establysshed in the generall counsell of laterane but yt wolde axe to moche tyme. And as concernynge the kynde of his coÌ„temtuouse death or martyrdome More vyle was not his hangynge vndre y e galowes in an yron cheane than was the hangynge of his lorde Iesus Christ vpon the crosse in the tyme of his death Nor than was the hangynge of Peter Andrew and Phylyp his holye Apostles Bysshop Symeon Dorotheus Gorgonius Alexander Epipodius Claudius Asterius Menon Nemesius Nestor Agricola Iulia zoc the wyfe of Nicostratus with manye other holye martyr â— more More odyouse was not his burnynge in the fyre than was the cruell burnynge of Barnabas the Apostle Polycarpus y e good Bysshop of Smyrna Amancius Agathon Tyburciuâ— Getulius Symphronins Sosthenes Victor Dioscorus Eulogius Fructuosus Castus Aemilius Fideneius Hero â—yreneus Aphra Hyplaria Apolonia Anastasia manye hondrethes more Vvhan this stronge wytnesse of the lorde was amoÌ„ge the fatte bulles of Basan and most cruellye assaulted of them he was throughlye assertayned in his conscience for that conflyct of fayth to tast his eternall goodnesse in the lastynge lande of the lyuynge yea soche tyme as he was reproued of his enemyes and forsaken of his fryndes in maner of a broken vessell he toke a stronge stomacke vnto him as ded the myghtye Machadees and thought thus in this mynde That though those vngracyouse tyrauntes shulde put him vnto death yet wolde the eternall kynge which is both resurreccyon and lyfe rayse him vp agayne in the resurreccyon of lyfe euerlastynge amonge them that hath dyed for his pure lawes All redye hath he raysed his fame
which laye longe dead by the lyuynge sprete of his Gospell for that he was a mynystre therof Vvhich is a most euydent token that he will here after with his other mystycall members rayse him vp in perfyght glorye Vvhan the Gospell laye dead gloryouse Thomas Becket was a saynct Iohan Oldecastell a forgotten heretyque But now that the lyght therof shyneth we are lyke to se yt farre otherwyse For proude Becket hath alredye hydden his face and poore Oldecastell begynneth now to apere verye notable Not all vnryghtlye ded saynct Augustyn speake yt and other olde doctours besydes that manye were worshypped here in earth for saynctes whose wretched sowles are greuouslye crucyate in hell Soche tyme as oure most worthye souerayne kynge Henrye the .viii. now lyuyng after the most godlye example of kynge Iosias vysyted the temples of his realme he perseyued the synnefull shryne of this Becket to be vnto his people a most pernycyouse euyll and therfore in the worde of the lorde he vtterlye amonge other destroyed yt If he had vpon that and soche other abhomynable shrynes brent those ydolatrouse prestes which were are yet theyr chefe maynteners he had fulfylled that godlye historye through out But that which was not than perfourmed in hope of theyr amendement maye by chauÌ„ce lyght vpon them herafter whan no gentyll warnynge will seme to be regarded I doubt yt not at all but his most noble dyscressyon perseyueth moche more that wycked generacyon of the Popes norryshynge vp which alwayes hath maynteyned and yet do soche manyfest errours than he euer in his lyfe yet vttered The eternall father rewarde his grace for that clere lyght of helthe which we poore creaturs haue receyued at his onlye hande vndre God though yt be not all without the greuouse ponnyshment of oure bodyes By the processe which we haue afore here vttered of syr Iohan Oldecastell ye maye euydentlye se that great is the treasure which the Lorde hath layed vp for the behoue of theÌ„ that hath trusted in him Vvherwith now he maketh duÌ„me the lyenge lyppes of them that dysdaynouslye reported the ryghtuouse to the honour and prayse of his most gloryouse name AMEN ☞ Thus endeth the brefe chronycle coÌ„cernynge the Examynacyon death of y e blessed martyr of Christ syr Iohan Oldecastell the lorde Cobham not canonysed of the Pope but in the precyouse bloude of his Lorde Iesus Christ. Collected by Iohan Bale and imprynted anno Domini 1544. vi die Augusti ☞ Prophecyes of Ioachim Abbas IN the latter dayes shall apere a lawe of lyberte The Gospell of the kyngedome of Christ shall be taught and the churche shall be pourged as wheate is from chaffe and tares More clerelye shall menne than be lerned The kyngedome of the fleshe shall be done awaye and these thynges shall be fulfylled towarde the ende of the worlde The holye ghost shall more perfyghtlye exercyse his domynyon in conuertynge peoples by the preachers of the laâ—ter tyme than by the Apostles The churche of Rome is the fleshlye synagoge of sathan The churche of Rome shall be destroyed in the thyrde state as the synagoge of the Iewes was destroyed in the seconde state And a spirituall churche shall from thens forth succede to the ende of the worlde The departynge of the Grekes from the churche of Rome was godlye For yt was ordayned of God and wrought by the holye ghost ☞ Ex compendiario Guidonis Perpiniani de heresibus Fol. 2 Plutarch Properc Cicero Catustus Horatius â—ucanuâ— Staciuâ— â–ª Exo. 14. Eccle. 4â— Iudicâ—â— 1. Reg. 17 〈◊〉 6. Sigeberrnâ— GeÌ„bâ—acensis Petrus Equilinus Vvicelius Vincentius Leander Volateranus Aâ—â—cas IoaÌ„ Ec. Heb. 11. Acto â— Apoc. 6 IoaÌ„ 8. Syr Iohan olde castell the bishoppes Ioan. 3. Apoc. 6. Luc. 21. Mat. 10. Mar. 13. Luc. 12. Christes disciple The examinacyon of the lorde CobhaÌ„ the great processe of Thomas Arundell Thomas Vvalden in fasciculo zizanio â—um Vvicleni FroÌ„wheÌ„s this treatyse cometh Vvalden coÌ„t Vvicleuistas in prologo doctri 7. li. 2. ca. 66 The christen manhode of sir Iohan oldecastell Cowardes iÌ„ christes battels Flatterers of great menne Parasites Polydorê° Anglice historie libro 4. No tales maye be tolde out of scole No menne are lerned with him but Italianes A worthy worke were that afore God manne Blaspâ—â—mouse tryfles are â— Englyshe chronycles Polydorê° anglice historie li. 22 He vpholdeth holy churche with lyes Fabianê° Acta consilii Constantiensis â—udge y â— yll tre by his frute They were enemyes to holy churche Burnyng was not than for trayâ—ours Vvhaldenus in sermone de funâ—re regis Vvell stored with lyes The causes of syr Iohan olde castels condemnacyon Iohan. 5. 1. Thes. 5. Mat. 7. 1. IohaÌ„ 4. Vvalden â–ª in fascicuso zizaniorum Vvicleui Fabianê° Vvalden â–ª Polydorê° in hisâ—oria angloruÌ„ lib. 20. Treuisa in addicoÌ„nibus Cestrensis Polydorê° Fabianê° Polydorê° Vvhalden coÌ„t Vvicleui li. â— Cap. â—0 Arâ—a conâ—â—lii Constariciensis HermaÌ„â—ê° Shedel Heb. â— Esa. 10. Nahâ— â— Vvaldenusi sermone de funere regis kynge Henry y e vi a babe Esa. 3. A plage Esa. 3. The yeares of that plage Prelateâ— what the now apere Fryers darkened all with theyr sophistrye Apoc. â—â— Vvalden 〈◊〉 vtroque apere Esa. 5. Englande for vnthankefulnesse ponnyshed Vvhat y e lorde Cobham apereth now 1. IohÌ„ 5 1. Cor. â—5 Phil. 1. Apoc. 1. The deuyll slepeth not Act. 8. Hester 5. A godlye gouernor Iosue 6. Lawde God for him Mat. 26. Ioan. 18. Vvalden in â—ermoÌ„e Praye for his grace Ex operibus scriptis Thome Vvaldeni IohaÌ„ Vvicleue a maÌ„ of god his disciples Thomas Arundell in magno processu IonaÌ„ 11. Psal. 1. Psal. 2. Vvalden in fasciculo zizanio rum Vvicleui A practyse coÌ„monlye vsed of that generacyon A luke practyse sought now of late but yt toke not Accused for maynteynynge the Gospell of Christ. Accused for his Ehristen beleue Processe agaynst him A spirituall practyse A woluyshe generacyon The kynge speaketh for him His gentyll promes His admonyshmeÌ„t Rom. 13. 1. Pet. 2. A most Christen obedieÌ„ce 2. Thes. 2. Mat. 24. Ex vetusto exemplari CondinensiuÌ„ Cayphas seketh Christ. Iudas is sent forth An other Iudas yet is hyered Iudas kisseth and betrayeth The malyce of the serpent Marke this relygyon of y e papistes The cytacyons takeÌ„ downe Cayphas sytteth in consystorye False accusacyoÌ„s agaynst him The serpent doth his nature Se here how spirituall they be A myrror of ChristeÌ„ knyght hode He confesseth his God before menne The Apostles fayth The common crede of Christyanes This fayth was not regarded A declaracyon of his beleue 1. Ioan. 9. Gal. 4. Ioan. 1. Luc. 2. Christ is the onlye head of his churche The churche diuyded in .iii. partis CoÌ„trarye wrote he Ad parliamentum Ex Vvhaldeno The chuâ—che mylytaunt diuided in .iii. Vvhat â— Prestes shuld be knyghthode what it shuld do Marke here a most Christen hart The clergye wherfor
supported Vvhat y e coÌ„mon peple ought to do Beleue coÌ„cernynge the sacramentes The sacrameÌ„t of the aultre Beleue coÌ„cernynge Gods lawes what god â— xeth of a Christiane A Christe desyre of y e lorde Cobham This request was lawfull ObedieÌ„ce vnto his kynge His Christen stomake manhode No reasonable offre wolde serue His appele from y e Archebisshop The kynge hâ—re worshyppeth the bâ—ast Cobham wolde not obeye Antichrist His confessyon answere newly copyed Cayphas sytteth in consystorye antichrist was here in full power antichrist manyfesteth himselfe A signe of gods true seruaunt Ex viroque exemplari The artycles layed agaynst y e lorde Cob O most Christen knyght His beleue concernynge the sacramentes Consydre him here before bisshoppes Permytted to brige in ydolatrye Vvho coÌ„mytreth ydolatrye ☞ Marke Gen. 23. Psal. 2. Saued w tout pylgrymage His answere examyned Vvhat is this els than quarellynge Theyr bellyes onlye ded those belly goddes seke His ChristeÌ„ answere vnto theyr quaâ—ellynges A tyrannouse whoâ—e is that mother His answere not to theyr myndes antichrist setteth meÌ„ aboue God The lord CobhaÌ„ resorteth vs to Christ. A delaye of these deuyls to destroye A doctryne of deuyls to blynde y e symple Ex magno processu Thome Arundelis The fyrst artycle The secoÌ„de artycle The thyrde artycle The sede of the serpent The .iiii. artycle He se ther ignoraunce malyce He putt his lyfe in Gods haÌ„des Ex vtroque exemplari The couÌ„sell of Layphas The Pharysees scrybes A rable of Antichristes Blasphemouse dissymulacyon of papistes For a false coloure sweare they All done to deceyue the ignoraunt Here cometh he before them Ex vetusto exemplari â—on dinensium The curse of Antichrist Malac. 2. A woluyshe offre of gentylnesse He confesseth himselfe vnto God O ChristeÌ„knyght Hiere 51. Apoc. 1â— The christeÌ„ beleue of CobhaÌ„ A blasphemouse determynacyon of antichrist Mat. 26. Mar. 14. Luc. 22. 1. Cor. 11. antichrist alloweth not this fayth The sacrameÌ„t of y e aultre A membre of sathan All this wolde not helpe A blasphemouse brode That is not ynough Neyther will scripture nor reason serue This opynyon hath saynct Augustyn The poâ—â—s diuynyte Materyall Ioan. 6. ☞ Marke An heresye after the papystes 1. Co. 10 O ignoraunt beastes Blynde babylonyanes A most Christen answere Poyson In but thryse in all the crede Confounded in theyr owne lernynge He beleueth not in the Pope An heresye after the Papystes Consydre him to be than in shrewed handelynge Vvalden coÌ„tr Vvicleuistas lib. 2. ar 3. Cap. 67. Mat. 7. Ioan. 10. Ioan. 7. Deut. 1. Psal. 56. Diuersyte of iudâ—emeÌ„tes A perfyght answere Esa. 5. Esa. 55. Vvhalden â–ª in prefatione doctrina 7. A most ranke papist Hierony 〈…〉 ario minori Luc. II. Ioan. 10. Doctours whan the scripturs fayle folowers of Cayphas O most blynde beastes Geraldê° Cambrensis dist 1. cap. 17. Ranulphê° Cestrensis in Poâ—ychro li. 4. cap. 26. Antithesis of Christ and the Pope Rome is antichristes nest Esa. 9. Antichristes tayle Mat. 23. The relygyon of Bysshoppes A wyse Prelate Luc. 25. Ioan. 16. Danie 12. Mat. 24. Prophecye Prophecye Prestes Deacons Marke this workynge of sathaÌ„ Act. 6. The fyrst artycle O beastlye beggerye O ChristeÌ„ knyght His constauncy The second artycle Confessyon of synne to God onlye Mala. â— Prestes The .iii. artycle Antichristes kyngedome Vvho is next vnto Peter No successyon here Doctour deuyll Antichristes bodye The .iiii. artycle Abhomynable knaues Vvhat is to be done w t ymages Sayntes are couetouse beggers A whelpe of sathan Hypocresye for his part Idyotysh beggerye Gal. 6. A christen knyght A brntysh Bysshop A very manne of God O deuyls incarnate Slaundered with y e truthe The serpent sheweth his nature Non offence done A woluish offre of geÌ„tylnesse O conâ—â—aunt Christyane Abhomynable theues and mourtherers Ex magno processu Thome Arundeli Suffered of god as a plage An heretyque for confessynge Christ. Ezec. 18. Ezec. 33. The wolfe wolde apere charytable Se yf they shewe not themselues Idyotes knaues bâ—astes Ex magno processu Thome Arundeli That churche is an whore A these is that pastour A colour of deceyt is this A sort of vnlerned beastes As Cayphas ded Christ. Christ is comdeÌ„ned iÌ„ his faythfull membre How spirituall these holy fathers are antichrist sendeth forth his souldyers No soche voyce for y e Gospell Non off yce left vndone perteynynge to Antichrist A craftye knaue in that poynt Thomas Vvalden in fasciculo zizaniorum Vvicleui Rycharde Clyfforde Robert Mascall Ex vtroque exemplari Mat. 10. Iob. 1. Mat. 10. Iob. 1. A worthye warryour Christenlye warned Mat. 15. He prayeth for his enemyes Ex vetusto exemplari LondinensiuÌ„ Enemyes A testimonyall made by his fryndes To stoppe lyenge lyppes A rehersall of his beleue The clergye in hate of the peoplâ— A practyse of false prestes These are ther common feares Vvalden in fasciculo zizanio rum Vvicleui Marke from whens this gere cometh Fyne workemanshyp I trowe Alas good man thou art slaundered A tyraÌ„nouse whore is that churche â—e poyseâ—â—â— his predecessour to be Pope ye sye false knaues ye lye antichrist auauÌ„ceth himselfe here How proue ye that by the scripturs Is not this knauâ—rye thynke you No scriptures haue they to shewe what beggerly baggage is this Intolleraâ—â— yokes laye they Neuer made he soche an othe This knauerye maynteyne they styll The blasphemouse byble of papistes Marke this handelynge This charge geue they coÌ„monlye The deuyll hath not more wayes to myschefe Ex statutâ— parliamenti regis Henrici .v. The clamoure of papistes They crye aâ—â—ce for theyr bellyes Christ alwayes too bleth theÌ„ An olde practyse of theyrs yet vsed A parlament at Leycestre Robertus Fabianê° in chromâ—â—is Vvalden in fasciculo Fabianê° iÌ„ chronicis A practyse 〈…〉 Vvalden ad Martinum papaÌ„ li. 2. ca. 46 in sydone Polydorê° Christ hath lesse fauer thaÌ„ theues Neuer tyrauÌ„t more cruell Vvalden ad Marti num papaÌ„ li. 2. ca. 50. De sacramentalibus ca. 53. Vvalden Fabianê° Io. maior Polydorê° A greatlye Vvalden ad Martinum in prologo de sacrameÌ„tis Vvhat Thomas Vvalden was Fabianê° Polydorê° â–ª inchronicis A coÌ„iecture of wryters Iohan maior lib. vi cap. ix historie Scotorum Robertus Fabianê° in chronicis Thomas Arundell dyed The lorde Cobham is betrayed Mat. 26. Condemned is gods true seruaunt He is ledde forth to his death He prayeth for his enemyes Brâ—t waâ— he in cheanes Vvhat y e people prestes ded Not y e Popes seruaunt but Christes Ioan. 1â— SapieÌ„ 5. SapieÌ„ 5. Ioan. 1. â—apieÌ„ 3. Heb. 11. Rom. 8. Esa. 55. Hiere 32. Dan. 12. Apoc. 14. Psal. 115. Apoc. 6. Apoc. 1. Apoc. 7. Apoc. 20. An other cause of his death Agaynst y e clergye Verses in Latyne A tyme of ignorauÌ„ce The verses are here Englyshed By nothynge will they amende The insurreccyoÌ„ complayned of Ad Martinum papaÌ„ Et in prefatioÌ„e 4. libri coÌ„tra Vvicleuistas Fasciculê° zizanioruÌ„ Vvicleui Lyars Iohan. 8. Mat. 10. Luc. 12. Cobham ouercometh Psal. 33. Luc. 1. Stephanê° LangtoÌ„ in vita Thome li. 3. ca. 19. Vvalden Io. maior Fabianê° Iesus Christ. Heb. 1â— Iohan. 9. Mat. 27. Ioha â—9 Act. 3. Herybertus Hoscham in vita Thome Luc. 14. Luc. 23. 1. Pet. 5. Vvherfore the forde CobhaÌ„ dyed Mat. 10. Mar. 8. â—uc 9. Luc. 12. Benâ—dic â–ª de Burgo Petri. Ioannes capgraue Stephanê° Langton li. 3. ca. 18. How the lorde Cobham ham dyed No popisshe martyr is Cobham Esa. 55. Luc. 16. Psal. 44. Vvho is a ryght meÌ„lye of Christ. The tyraÌ„nye of bisshops and prestes Apoc. 11. De sacramentalibê° ca. 09. 1137 Fasciculê° zizantoruÌ„ The Popes martyrs IohaÌ„ 19. Petrus Equilinê° Ioannes textor BreÌ„t was he with Christes martyre Psal. 21. Amos. 4. IohaÌ„ 12. Psal. 26. Psal. 30. 2. Mach 7 IohaÌ„ 11. IohaÌ„ 6. Apoc. 20. The Gospell vnsaynteth Becket The Gospell canonâ—seth CobhaÌ„ 4. Reg. 23.2 〈◊〉 Prestes suffered vpon amendement They dauÌ„ce but in a net The lorde conserue his grace Psal. 30. 〈◊〉 4. Sapâ—â— 5.