Abdias and other although they doe not all precisely agree in the tyme. The wordes of Hierome be these Simon Peter the sonne of Iona of the prouince of Galile and of the Towne of Bethsaida the brother of Andrew c. After hee had bene Byshop of the Church of Antioch and had preached to the dispersion of them that beleued of the Circumcision in Pontus Galacia Capadocia Asia and Bithinia in the second yeare of Claudius the Emperour whiche was about the yeare of our Lord. 44. came to Rome to withstand Simon Magus and there kept the priestly chayre the space of 25. yeares vntill the last yeare of the foresayd Nero which was the 14. yeare of hys raygne of whome he was crucified hys head being downe and his feete vpward himselfe so requiring because he was he sayd vnworthy to be crucified after the same forme and maner as the Lord was c. Egesippus prosecuting this matter something more at large and Abdias also if any authoritie is to be geuen to hys booke who following not onely the sense but also the very forme of wordes of Egesippus in this Hystory seemeth to be extracted out of him and of other authors sayth that Simon Magus being then a great man with Nero and his president and keeper of hys life was required vppon a tyme to be present at the raysing vp of a certayne noble young man in Rome of Neros kindred lately departed Wheras Peter also was desired to come to the reuiuing of the sayd personage But when Magus in the presence of Peter could not doe it Then Peter calling vpon the name of the Lord Iesus dyd rayse him vp and restored him to hys mother wherby the estimation of Simon Magus began greatly to decay and to be detested in Rome Not long after the sayd Magus threatned the Romaynes that he would leaue the Citie and in their light flye away from them into heauen So the day being appoynted Magus taking hys winges in the Mounte Capitolinus began to flye in the ayre But Peter by the power of the Lord Iesus brought him downe with his winges headlong to the ground by the whiche fall hys legges and ioyntes were broken and he thereupon dyed Then Nero sorrowing for the death of him sought matter agaynst Peter to put hym to death Which when the people perceiued they entreated Peter with much a doe that he would flye the Citie Peter through their importunitie at length perswaded prepared himselfe to auoyd But comming to the gate he sawe the Lord Christ come to meete him to whom he worshipping sayd Lord whether doest thou goe To whome he aunswered and sayd I come agayne to be crucified By this Peter perceauing hys suffering to be vnderstanded returned backe into the Citty agayne And so was he crucified in maner as is before declared And this out of Egesippus Eusebius moreouer writing of the death not onely of Peter but also of his wife affirmeth that Peter seeing his wife goyng to her Martyrdom belike as he was yet hanging vpon the crosse was greatly ioyous and glad thereof who crying vnto her with a loud voyce and calling her by her name bade her remember the Lord Iesus Such was then saith Eusebius the blessed bonde of Mariage among the Saintes of God And thus much of Peter Paule the Apostle which before was called Saule after his great trauail and vnspeakable labours in promooting the Gospell of Christ suffred also in this first persecution vnder Nero and was beheaded Of whom thus writeth Hierome in his Booke De viris illustr Paule otherwise called Saule one of the Apostles yet out of the number of xij was of the tribe of Beniamin and of a towne of Iewrie called Gisealis which towne beyng taken of the Romains he with his parents fled to Tharsus a town of Cilicia Afterward was sent vp by his parents to Hierusalē and there brought vp in the knowledge of the law at the feete of Gamaliel and was at the death of Stephen a doer And when he had receiued letters from the high Priest to persecute the Christians by the way going to Damascus was stroken downe of the Lordes glory and of a persecutor was made a professor an Apostle a Martyr a witnesse of the Gospell and a vessell of election Among his other manifold labors trauails in spreading the doctrine of Christ he wan Sergius Paulus the Proconsul of Cyprus to the faith of Christ whereupon he tooke his name as some suppose turned from Saulus to Paulus After he had passed through diuers places and countries in his laborious peregrinations he tooke to him Barnabas and went vp to Hierusalem to Peter Iames and Iohn where he was ordained and sent out with Barnabas to preach vnto the Gentils And because it is in the Actes of the Apostles sufficiently comprehended concerning the admirable conuersion conuersation of this most worthy Apostle that which remaineth of the rest of his history I will here adde how the sayd Apostle Paule the 25. yere after the passion of the lord in the second yeare of Nero what tyme Festus ruled in Iewrie was sent vp in bondes to Rome where he remaining in his free hosterie two yeares together disputed daily against the Iewes proouing Christ to be come And here is to be noted that after his first answer or purgation there made at Rome the Emperor Nero not yet fully confirmed in his Empire yet not bursting out into those mischiefs which histories report of him he was at that tyme by Nero discharged and dismissed to preach the Gospell in the West partes and about the coastes of Italy as he himselfe writing vnto Timothie afterward in his second apprehension in his second Epistle witnesseth saying In my first purgation no man stoode with me but did all forsake me the Lord lay it not to their charge But the Lord stood with me did comfort me that the preaching of his word might proceed by me that all the Gentiles might heare and be taught and I was deliuered out of the Lions mouth c. In which place by the Lion he plainly meaneth Nero. And afterward likewise saith I was deliuered from the mouth of the Lion c. And againe the Lord hath deliuered me out from all euill workes and hath saued me vnto his heauenly kingdom c. speaking this because he perceiued thē the tyme of his Martyrdome to be nere at hand For in the same Epistle before he saith I am now offred vp and the tyme of my dissolution draweth on Thus then this worthy preacher and messenger of the Lord in the 14. yeare of Nero and the same day in which Peter was crucified although not in the same yeare as some write but in the next yeare following was beheaded at Rome for the testimonie of Christ and was buried in the way of Ostia The yeare after the passion of the Lord 37. He wrote ix Epistles to seuen
come in with you or els if you tary out I will likewise tary out together with you c. As touching the actes and deedes of Gregory aboue mentioned how he withstood the ambitious pryd of Iohn Patriarche of Constantinople which woulde be the vnyuersall Priest and onely chiefe Byshop of all other declaring him to be no lesse then the forerunner of Antichrist that woulde take that name vppon him howe and wyth what reasons he aunswered againe the letters of the Emperor Mauritius in that behalfe sufficient relation is made thereof in the first entry and beginning of this booke This Gregory among manye other thinges induced into the Churche the specialties whereof hereafter shall followe Christ willing more at large fyrst beganne and brought in thys title among the Romaine Bishoppes to be called Seruus seruorum Dei putting them in remembraunce therby both of their humblenes and also of their duetie in the Churche of Chryst. Moreouer as concerning his acte for the sole lyfe of Pryestes fyrst begonne and then broken againe Also concerning the order of Gregoryes Masse boke to be receaued in all churches hereof who so lifteth to read more shall fynde the same in other places hereafter namelye when wee come to the tyme of Pope Adrian the first After the death of Gregory aboue mentioned first came Sabinianus who as he was a malicious detractor of Gregory of his works so he continued not long scarse the space of two yeares After whom succeded next Bonifacius the 3. which albeit he reigned but one yeare yet in the one yeare he did more hurt then Gregory with so great labours and in so many yeres could do good before for that which Gregorye kept out he brought in obtaining of Phocas the wicked Emperour for him and his successours after him that the sea of Rome aboue al other churches should haue the preeminence and that the Bishop of Rome should be the vniuersall head through all Churches of Christ in Christedome alleadging for him this friuolous reason that S Peter had and left to his successours in Rome the keyes of byndyng and loosing c. And thus began first Rome to take an head aboue all other Churches by the meanes of Boniface the 3. who as he lacked no boldnes nor ambitioÌ„ to seeke it so neither lacked he an Emperour fit and meete to gyue such a gift Thys Emperours name was Phocas a man of such wickednes and ambitioÌ„ most like to his owne Bishop Boniface that to aspire to the Empire he murthered his owne maister and Emperour Mauritius his children Thus Phocas coming vp to be Emperour after this detestable vilanie done thinking to establish his Empire with friendship and fauour of his people especially with the byshop of Rome quickly condescended to al hys petitions so graunted him as it is sayd to be that he would the vniuersall and heade Bishop ouer all Christen Churches But as bloud commonly requireth bloud againe so it came to passe on the said Phocas For as he had crueltye slayne the Lorde and Emperour Mauritius before so he in lyke maner of Heraclius the Emperour succeedyng hym had his hands and seete cut of so was cast into the Sea And this wicked Phocas which gaue the first supremacy to Rome lost his owne But Rome would not so soone loose his supremacy once giuen as the gyner lost his life for euer since froÌ„ that day it hath holden defended and maintained the same still and yet doth to this present day by al force policy possible And thus much concerning Boniface whoÌ„ by the words of Gregory we may well call the runner before Antichryst For as Gregory brought into their stile Seruus seruorum Dei so this Boniface brought into theyr heades first Volumus ac mandamus Statuimus ac praecipimus That is We will and commaunde we enioyne and charg you c. Mention was made a little before of Ethelbert kyng of Kent and also of Ethelfride king of Northsaxone or Northumbria This Ethelbert hauing vnder his subiection al the other Saxon kinges vnto Number after he had fyrst receaued himselfe and caused to be receaued of other the Christian faith by the preaching of Austen being coÌ„firmed afterward in the same faith amoÌ„g other costly dedes with the helpe of Sigebert kyng of Essex his nephew then reigning vnder him began the foundation of Paules Church within the Citie of London ordained it for the Bishops sea of LondoÌ„ For the Archbishops sea which before tyme had bene at London was by Austen and this Ethelbert at the praier of the Citizens of Dorobernia translated to the said Citie MalmesberieÌ„sis Lib. de pontific Wherfore such authors as say that Paules was diuided by Sigebert say not amisse which Sigebert was the king oâ— Essex â—n which prouince standeth the Citie of London This Ethelbert also founded the Church of Saint Andrewe in the Citie of Dorubres in Kent nowe called Rochester of one Rot distaunt from Dorobernia 24. miles Of this citie Iustus was bishop ordained before by Austen Moreouer the â—orenamed Ethelbert styrred vp a dweller or Citizen of London to make a Chappell or church of Saint Peter in the west end of LoÌ„don then called Thorny nowe the Towne of Westminster which Church or Chappell was after by Edward the confessour inlarged or newe builded lastly of Henry the 3. it was newly agayne reedified and made as it is nowe a large Monasterye c. After these Christian and worthye actes this Ethelbert when he had reigned the course of lvj yeares chaunged thys mortall life about the yeare of our Lorde 616. whome some stories say to be slaine in a fyghte betweene him and Ethelfride king of Northsaxons In the meane time the foresaid Ethelfride king of Northumberland after the cruell murther of the Monkes of Bangor escaped not long vnpaied his hire for after he had raigned 24. yeares he was slaine in the fielde of Edwine who succeded in Northumberland after him This Edwyne being the sonne not of Ethelfride as Galfridus Monumetensis saith but rather of Alla as Giraldus Gambrensis 〈◊〉 to witnes more truely was first a Panim or 〈◊〉 afterward by Paulinus was Christned and the first 〈◊〉 king in NorthoÌ„berland The occasion of which his calling or conuersion as is in sundry stories contained was this Edwine being yet a Pagane maryed the daughter of Ethelbert king of kent called Edelburge a Christian womaÌ„ otherwise called Tace But before this mariage Edwyne beyng yet young Ethelfride the king conceyuing enuy agaynst him persecuted him so sore that he was forced to flee to Redwaldus king of Eastangles as in the table of the kings is expressed The which Redwaldus what for feare what with bribes being corrupted of Ethelfride at length priuily had inteÌ„ded to haue betrayed Edwyne But as gods will was Edwyne hauing warning thereof by a secrete frynde of his was mooued to flee and
Barons as Lord Iohn Fitze Iohn L. Hastings L. Geoffrey Lucie Lorde Iohn Uescy L. William Segraue Hugh Spencer L. Roberte Uespoynt with diuers and many mo whose aunswere to y◠king againe was this That the prouisions made at the counsaile of Oxforde whereunto they were sworne they would hold defend and maintaine to their liues end forso much as they did sound and also were agreed vpō both to the honor of God to the profit of the prince stable wealth of the Realme c. And thus partes on both sides discording among themselues would so haue departed had not certaine of the Bishops comming betwene both laboured betwene thē to take vp the matter By whose meane saith Gualt Gisburn and procurement the determination of the cause was brought in comprimis and referred to Ludouick y◠French king to iudge betwene them who hearing both the allegations sayth he like no equal iudge but a partial frende inclined wholy and fully to the kings sentence and condemned the nobles But the author of Flores Hist. sayth that by the mediation of certaine discrete men two were chosen one for one side the other for the other To whome the thirde also was adnexed who hearing as well what was brought of the kings part as also what was aunswered of the other should define betweene them both And so peace was betwene them cōcluded til the comming of Edward Al this while as yet the Popes absolution for the king although it was graūted and obtained at Rome yet was it not brought downe in solēne wryting neither was prince Edward as yet returned out of Fraunce to England At length the wryting of the kings absolution being brought from Rome the king eftsoones commaunded the same to be published throughout the Realme and sendeth to the French king and other straungers for helpe Moreouer sesseth all his Castels into his owne hand reiecting the counsaile of the Lords to whose custody they were before committed Also remoouing the former officers as instices and the Chancelour with other placed afore by the Lordes he appoynted new in their stead To this foresald absolution procured frō Rome for the king and his sonne Edward returning out of Fraunce at that time did not geue his consent but held with the Lordes Who then putting themselues in armes with a great power repaired vp to London keping there in the suburbes and places about while the king kept wtin the tower causing the citie gates to be watched and lockt and all within the said citie being aboue the age of 12. yeares to be sworne vnto him But at length through the meanes of certaine comming betweene this tumultuous perturbation was somwhat appeased at least some hope of peace appeared so that the matter was takē vp for that time without war or bloudshed Notwtstanding some false pretensed dissemblers there were which secretly disclosing all the counsails and doings of the Lords vnto the king did all they coulde to hinder concord and to kindle debate By the meanes of whom the purpose of the Lords came not to so good effect as otherwise it might Ex Flor. Hist. In this present yere as affirmeth that forenamed author it was rumored abroade that all the Bishops of England went about to recouer againe out of that handes of religious men all such churches and benefices which were to them improperated or appropriated and y◠they for the expeditiō of the same had sent vp to Rome both messengers mony nothing misdoubting to obteine their purpose But as a litle good fruite in those daies vsed to spring out of that sea so I do not finde that godly sute and labour of the bishops to take any fruitfull effect The same yere died Pope Alexander after whom succeeded Pope Urban the fourth Of the which Pope Urbane the king also obtained or rather reuiued a new releasemēt from hys oth made to the prouisiōs and statutes of Oxford Which being graunted he commaundeth incontinent all the foresaid lawes prouisions through England to be dissolued and brokē This done the King with the Queene taketh hys voiage into Fraunce where he fell into great infirmitie of sicknes and the most part of his familie taken with the fener quartane of which many died In the number of whome beside other died Richard the worthy Earle of Glocester and Heriord after whom succeeded Gilbert Clare his sonne The Welshmen this yere breaking into the borders of England did much annoyance in the lands of Roger lord Mortimer but mightely again by him were expulsed not without great slaughter of the inuaders About which time the king through some discrete counsaile about hym inclined to peace and concorde with his nobles graunting of his mere voluntarie will the constitutions and prouisions of Oxforde to take place in the Realme directing his commaundement to euery shire All be it the Realme yet was not altogether pacified for all that In the latter end of this yere the kings palace at westminster was brent and for the most part was al consumed with fire which seemed to many an euill prognosticate against the king Ex Flor. Hist. In some English Chronicles it is also recorded that the same yeare 500. Iewes at London were slaine for taking vsurie more then 2.d a weeke for 20. s. being before forbid by the king to take aboue that rate by the weeke After this foloweth the yeare 1263. in which the Barons of England confederating themselues together for maintaining the statutes and lawes of Oxford and partly moued with the old grudge conceiued against the straungers maintayned by the King and the Queene and Edward their sonne in the realme of England ioyned powers in all forceable wise and first inuaded the sayd straungers namely thē which were about the king Their goods and manors they wasted and spoyled whether they were persons ecclesiasticall or temporall Among whom besides other was Peter a Burgundian Bishop of Hereford a rich prelate with al his treasure apprehended and spoiled also his coūtreymen whom he had placed to be Canons of the same church With like order of handling other alienes also to whom was cōmitted the custody of diuers castels as of Gloucester of Worcester of Brignorth were spoiled imprisoned and sent away Briefly whatsoeuer he was in all the land that could not vtter the English toung was of euery rascall disdained and happy if he might so escape By reason where of it so came to passe that a great number as wel of other foreners as especially religious men and rich Priestes which here had gathered much substance were vrged to that extremitie that they were glad to flee the lande In the catalogue of whō was one most principally named Iohn Maunsel a priest notoriously growen in riches and treasures not to be told hauing in his hand so many rich benefices that neare no bishop of this realme might compare with him in riches Who notwtstanding
persecutour in Rome fighting against Constantinus was drowned wyth his souldiours like as Pharao was drowned persecuting the children of Israel in the red sea Unto the which xlij moneths or Sabbothes of yeares if yee adde the other sixe yeares wherein Licinius persecuted in the East ye shal finde iust three hundred yeres as is specified before in the first booke of thys volume pag. 97. After the which fortie and two monethes being expired manyfest it is that the furie of Sathan that is hys violent malice and power ouer the Saints of Christ was diminished and restrained vniuersally through the whole world Thus then the matter standing euident that Sathan after 300. yeares counting from the passion of Christ began to be chayned vp at what time the persecution of the primitiue Church began to cease Nowe let vs see howe long thys binding vp of Sathan shoulde continue which was promised in the booke of the Reuelation to be a thousand yeares Which thousand yeares if yee adde to the xlij monethes of yeares that is to 294. yeares they make 1294. yeares after the passion of the Lord. To these moreouer adde the 30. yeares of the age of Christ and it commeth to the yeare of our Lord 1324. which was the yeare of the letting out of Sathan according to the prophesie of the Apocalips A Table containing the time of the persecution both of the primitiue and of the latter Church with the count of yeares from the first binding vp of Sathan to his loosing againe after the minde of the Apocalips The first persecution of the primitiue Churche beginning at the 30. yeares of Christ was prophecied to continue 42. monthes that is An. 294. The ceasing of the laste persecution of the primitiue Churche by the death of Licinius the last persecutour began An. 324. from the natiuitie of Christ which was from the 30. yeare of hys age 294. 294. The binding vp of Sathan after peace geuen to the church counting from the 30. yeares of Christ began An. 294. And lasted a thousand yeres that is counting from the thirtie yeare of Christe to the yeare 1294. About which yeare Pope Boniface the 8. was Pope and made the 6. booke of the decretals confirmed the orders of Friers and priuileged them with great fredomes as appeareth by his constitution Super cathedram An. 1294. Unto the which count of yeares doeth not much disagree that I founde in a certaine olde Chronicle prophesied and wrytten in the latter ende of a booke which booke was wrytten as it seemeth by a monke of Douer remayneth yet in the custodye of William Cary a Citizen of London alledging the Prophesie of one Hayncardus a gray Frier grounded vppon the authoritie of Ioachim the Abbot prophesying that Antichrist shoulde be borne the yeare from the Natiuitie of Christ. 1260. Which is counting after the Lordes passion the very same yere and time when the orders of Friers both Dominickes and Franciscans began first to be sette vp by Pope Honorius the 3. and by Pope Gregorius 9. which was the yere of our Lord counting after his passion 1226. And counting after the Natiuitye of the Lord was the yeare 1260. Wherof these verses in the author was wrytten Cum fuerint anni completi mille ducenti Et decies seni post partum virginis almae Tunc Antichristus nascetur daemone plenus And these verses were wrytten as appeareth by the sayd author An. 1285. These thyngs thus premised for the loosing out of Satan according to the prophesie of the Apocal. nowe let vs enter Christe willing to the declaration of these latter times which folowed after the letting out of Sathan into the worlde Describing the wondrous perturbations and cruell tiranny stirred vp by him against Christes Church Also the valiant resistance of the Church of Christ against him and Antichrist as in these our bookes heere vnder following may appeare The argument of which booke consisteth in 2. partes first to entreate of the raging furie of Satan nowe loosed and of Antichrist Against the saints of Christ fighting and traueiling for the maintenance of the truth reformation of the Church Secondly to declare the decay and ruine of the said Antichrist through the power of the word of God being at length eyther in a greate parte of the worlde ouerthrowen or at least vniuersally in the whole world detected Thus then to begin wyth the yeare of our Lord. 1360. wherin I haue a litle as is aforesayd transgressed the stint of the first loosing out of Sathan we are come now to the time wherin the Lord after long darknes beginneth some reformation of hys Churche by the diligent industrie of sondry hys faithful and learned seruauntes of whome diuers already we haue foretouched in the former booke before as namely Guliel de Sancto Amore Marsilius Patauinus Ockam Robertus Gallus Robertus Grosted Petrus de Cugnerijs Ioannes Rupescissanus Conradus Hager Ioannos de Poliaco Cesenas wyth other moe whych withstoode the corrupt errours and intollerable enormities of the Byshop of Rome Beside them which about these times were put to death by the saide bishop of Rome as Chastilion Franciscus de Arcatara in the booke before recorded also the two Franciscanes Martyrs which were burned at Auinion mentioned pag. 391. Now to these the Lord willing we will adde such other holy Martyrs and confessors who following after in the course of yeares with like zeale and strength of Gods worde and also with like daunger of their liues gaue the like resistance against the enemie of Christes religion and suffered at hys handes the like persecutions First begynning wyth that godly man whosoeuer he was the author of the Booke hys name I haue not intituled the prayer and complaint of the Ploughman wrytten as it appeareth about thys present time Which booke as it was faithfully set foorth by William Tindall so I haue truely distributed the same abroade to the Readers handes neyther chaunging any thyng of the matter neyther altering many woordes of the phrase thereof Although the oldnesse and age of hys speache and termes be almost growne nowe out of vse yet thought I it so best both for the vtilitie of the booke to reserue it from obliuion as also in his owne language to let it go abroad for the more credite and testimonie of the true antiquity of the same Adding withal in the margent for the better vnderstanding of the reader some interpretation of certaine difficult termes and speches as otherwise might perhaps hinder or stay the reader The matter of this complaining prayer of the ploughman thus proceedeth An olde auncient wryting intitled The prayer and complaint of the Ploughman IESV CHRIST that was ybore of the maid Marie haue on thy poore seruauntes mercie and pitie and helpe them in their great nede to fight against sinne and against the deuill that is author of sinne and more nede nes there neuer to cry to
lying neuer to be clawed of while the world standeth yet shal the posterity to come iudge betwene you me whether shall appeare more honest and true my defence for that worthy lord then your vncourteous and viperuns wrangling against him mooued with no other cause but onely with the peuish spirite of Poperie whych can abide nothing but that sauereth of your owne secte For els how many loud lying legends yea what legion of lies are daily vsed and receiued in the popish church What doltish dreames what fained myracles what blasphemous tales and frierly fables and idle inueÌ„tions fighting against the sincere religion doctrine and crosse of Christ And coulde you holde your penne from al these and finde nothing els to set your idlenesse on worke but onely to wryte agaynst the Lorde Cobham Syr Roger Acton Browne Onley Cowbrige with a fewe other whome wyth much a doe at length you haue sought out not so much for any true zeale to rebuke iniquitye as craftely seeking matter by these to deface and blemish the booke of Actes and Monumentes Which seemeth belike to make you scratche there where it itcheth not And if I shoulde after the like dealing take in hand your Popish portues and with like diligence excusse euery Popish martyr and Saint there canonised thinke you maister Cope I coulde not make you out halfe dosen as ranke traitours and rebels to their kings and princes as euer were any of these of your picking out What pope almost hath there bene these last 500. yeares whych hathe not bene a traitour to his Emperor and Prince and to his countrey either openly rebelling against them or priuely conspiring their destruction or proudly setting theyr feete vpon their necks or spurning their crownes of from their heads or making the sonne to fight against the father How many haue they deposed and set vp other in theyr seates how many Emperours and kings haue they wrongfully cursed What Consulles of Rome haue they resisted deposed and put to death What warres haue they raised vp against theyr owne countrey of Rome Yea the continuall holding of the City of Rome from hys lawfull Emperor what is it but a continuall poynt of treason What will you answere mee M. Cope to the Pope which conspired to let fall downe a stone vpon the Emperours head kneeling at his prayers pag. 177. And though this treachery being as big as a milstone seemed but a smal mote in your eye that it could not be espied yet what will you say by the Monke of Swinstede that poysoned king Iohn who was both absolued by his abbot before his treason committed and after hys treason had a perpetuall Masse songe for him to helpe hym out of Purgatorie And what thinke ye in your conscience is to be sayde of Thomas Becket who did inough and more then became him to set the French king and the king of Englande together by the eares Of Anselme likewise and of Stephen Langhton who departed both out of the Realme to complaine of their princes soueraines The like may be said also of Iohn Peckham Iohn Stradford Archbyshop of the same sea notoriously resisted the Kinges commaundement being sent for by king Edward 3. to come to the parliament at Yorke through the default of whose comming the present oportunitie of getting Scotland was the same time lost Richard Scrope Archb. of Yorke was opeÌ„ly in armes to rebell fight against K. Henry 4. for the which he was condemned put to death And yet notwtstanding Commission was sent downe from the pope shortly after to excoÌ„municate them which put him to death his treason notwtstanding Read that story sincerely of pope Benedict 12. and of pope Clement 6. And see howe the traiterous rebellion of these two popes against Ludouicus their rightful Emperor can be defended Which Emperor at last was also empoysoned that not without the practise of Pope Clement as doth Hieronimus Marius credibly witnesse In the raigne of K. Edward the 2. mention was made before of Thomas Earle of Lancaster Who with a great number of other nobles and Barons of the realme rose in armour against their prince and therefore at lengthe were put to death as traitours And yet notwythstanding thys treason committed M. Cope if you be so ignorant in our stories that you know it not set your setters on to search and you shall finde it true that certaine Noble men went vp to Rome for the canonising of the sayde Thomas of Lancaster to be made a Saint and obtained the same In so much that in a certayne olde Calendare the name of the sayd S. Thomas of Lancaster is yet extant to be seene In the former booke of these Actes and Monumentes aboue about the pag. 353. or 354. mention was made of Edmund of Abbenden Archb. of Cant. whom although I do not disproue but rather commend in my history for his bold and sage counsail geuen vnto K. Henry the 3. and also for offering the censure of excommunication against the king in so necessary a cause yet notwithstanding the same Edmund afterward about his latter end went vp wyth a rebelling minde to complaine of his king vnto the Pope and in his iourney died before his return who afterward for the same was canonised by the Pope and now shineth among the Saints in the popes Calender Let vs come more neare to these dayes and times and consider the doings of Tho. Arundell Archb. of Canterb. Who being first deposed and exiled for hys contemptuous deserts against the king and afterward comming in wyth Henry Bolynbroke Duke of Herford in open armes and with main force rose against his natural and lawful king thinke you M. Cope thys is not as greate a poynte of treason as that which was done in Thiâ—kets fields And though he be not placed among the portuous Sainctâ— yet I thinke nothing contrary but in your heart you will not greatly sticke to say Sancte Thoma ora pro nobis All these thinges well considered tell me M. Cope I pray you is treason suche a straunge and vnketh thyng in your pope catholike churche that your burning zeale of obedience to kings and princes can not read the story of the L. Cobham sir Roger Acton but your pen must needes be inflamed to wryte against them and yet so many traytors in your owne Calenders neither seene nor once spoken of And if the traiterous conspiracy and rebellion of so many your Calender Saintes committed against Emperours Kings and Princes can not stirre your zeale nor moue your pen Nor if the treason of pope Gregory 9. raising warre against his owne city of Rome and causing 30. thousande citizens in one battaile to be slaine pag. 281. deserueth not to be espied and accused as much as this treason of the Lorde Cobham yet what will you or can you answer to me M. Cope as touching the horrible treason of pope Gregory the 7. committed not against
and bondes for the worde of God ¶ Another letter of Iohn Hus. IOhn Husse in hope the seruant of God to all the faithfull at Boheme which loue the Lord wisheth to stand and die in the grace of God and at last to attaine to eternall life Amen Ye that beare rule ouer other and be rich and ye also that be poore well be loued and faithfull in God I beseeche you and admonish you all that ye will be obedient vnto God make muche of his worde and gladly hearing the same will humbly perfourme that which yee heare I beseeche you sticke fast to the veritie of Gods worde which I haue written and preached vnto you out of his lawe and the Sermons of his Saintes Also I desire you if any man either in publicke Sermon or in priuate talke heard of me any thing or haue read any thing written by me which is againste the verity of God that he do not follow the same Albeit I do not finde my conscience guiltie that I euer haue spoken or wrytten any such thing amongst you I desire you moreouer if any man at any time haue noted any leuitie either in my talke or in my conditions that he doe not follow the same but pray to God for me to pardon me that sinne of lightnes I pray you that ye wil loue your priests and ministers which be of honest behauiour to prefer and honor them before others namely such priests as trauaile in the worde of God I pray you take hede to your selues and beware of malitious and deceitful men and especially of these wicked priests of whom our Sauiour doth speake that they are vnder shepes clothing inwardly are rauening wolues I pray suche as be rulers superiors to behaue them selues gently towardes their poore inferiours and to rule them iustly I beseche the citizens that they will walke euery man in his degree and vocation with an vpright conscience The Artificers also I beseeche that they will exercise their occupations diligently and vse them with the feare of God I beseeche the seruauntes that they wil serue their maisters faithfully And likewise the scholemaisters I beseeche that they liuing honestly will bryng vp their Scholers vertuously and to teach them faythfully First to learne to feare GOD then for the glory of GOD and the publicke vtilitie of the common wealth and their owne health and not for auarice or for worldly honor to employ their myndes to honest Artes. I beseech the Studentes of the Vniuersitie and all Scholes in all honest thynges to obey their Maisters and to follow them and that with all diligence they will study to be profitable both to the settyng foorth of the glory of God and to the soules health as well of themselues as of other men Together I beseech and pray you all that you will yeld most harty thankes to the right honorable Lordes the Lord Wencelaus de Duba Lord Iohn de Clum Lord Henry Lumlouio Lord Vilem Zagecio Lord Nicholas and other Lordes of Boheme of Morauia and Polony that their diligence towardes me may bee gratefull to all good men because that they like valiaunt champions of Gods trueth haue oftentymes set themselues agaynst the whole Councell for my deliueraunce contendyng and standyng agaynst the same to the vttermost of their power but especially Lord Wencelaus de Duba and Lord Iohn de Clum What so euer they shall report vnto you geue credite vnto them for they were in the Councell when I there aunswered many They know who they were of Bohemia and how many false and slaunderous thynges they brought in agaynst me and that Councell cryed out agaynst me and how I also aunswered to all thynges wherof I was demaunded I beseech you also that ye will pray for the kyng of Romaines and for your kyng and for his wife your Queene that God of his mercy would abide with thē and with you both now and henceforth in euerlastyng life Amen This Epistle I haue writtē to you out of prison and in bandes lookyng the next day after the writyng hereof for the sentence of the Councell vpon my death hauyng a full trust that he will not leaue me neither suffer me to deny his truth and to reuoke the errours whiche false witnesses maliciously haue deuised agaynst me How mercyfully the Lord GOD hath dealt with me and was with me in maruailous temptations ye shall know when as hereafter by the helpe of Christ we shall all meete together in the ioye of the world to come As concernyng M. Hierome my dearely beloued brother and fellow I heare no other but that he is remayning in straight bandes lookyng for death as I doe and that for the fayth which he valiauntly mainteyned amongest the Bohemians our cruell enemies of Boheme haue geuen vs into the power and handes of other enemies and into bandes I beseech you pray to God for them Moreouer I beseech you namely you of Prage that we will loue the temple of Bethleem and prouide so long as God shall permit that the word of God may be preached in the same For because of that place the Deuill is angry and agaynst the same place he hath stirred vp Priestes and Canons perceiuyng that in that place his kyngdome should be disturbed and diminished I trust in GOD that he will keepe that holy Church so long as it shall please him and in the same shall geue greater encrease of his worde by other then he hath done by me a weake vessell I beseech you also that ye will loue together and withholdyng no man from the hearyng of Gods word ye will prouide and take care that good men be not oppressed by any force and violence Written at Constance the yeare of our Lord. 1415. ¶ An other right godly letter of Iohn Hus to a certaine priest admonishing him of his office and exhorting him to be faithfull worthy to be red of all Ministers THe peace of our Lorde Iesus Christ. c. My deare brother be diligent in preaching the Gospel and do the worke of a good Euangelist neglect not your vocation labour like a blessed souldiour of Christ. First liue godly and holily Secondly teach faithfully and truely Thirdly be an example to other in well doing that you be not reprehended in your sayings correct vice and set foorth vertue To euill liuers threaten eternall punishmēt but to those that be faithfull and godly set forth the comforts of eternall ioy Preach cōtinually but be short and fruitfull prudētly vnderstanding discretly dispēsing the holy Scriptures Neuer affirme or maintaine those things that be vncertaine and doubtfull least that your aduersaries take holde vpon you which reioyce in deprauing their brethren whereby they may bring the ministers of God into contempt Exhort men to the confession of their faith and to the communion of both kindes both of the body bloud of Christ wherby such as do repent earnestly of their sinnes may the more often come to
Wherupō by the helpe of certeine learned men he begā to seek reformatiō in hys own order Which thyng the pope perceauing and fearing that the sayde Hierome which was now in great reputation amōgst al men shold diminish or ouerthrow his authoritie he ordained his vicar or prouinciall to see reformatiō of these matters which vicare with great superstition began to reforme thinges but the sayd Hierome did alwayes withstand hym wherupon he was complayned of to the Pope and because that contrary vnto the popes commaundement he did wtstand hys vicare he was accursed But for all that Hieronimus lefte not of preaching but threatned Italy with the wrath and in dignation of God and prophecied before vnto them that the land should be ouerthrowne for the pride and wickednes of the people and for the vntruth hipocrisie and falshood of that clergy which God would not leaue vncenēged as ofterward it came to passe when as king Charles came into Italy and to Rome and so straitly beset the pope Alexander that he was forced to make composition with the king Now for somuch as the said Hierom would not leaue of preaching he was commaunded to appeare before the pope to geue accompt of his new learning for so thē they called the truth of the Gospell but by meanes of the manifold perilles he made his excuse that he could not come Then was he againe forbidden by the pope to preach and his learning pronounced and condemned as pernicious false and sedicious This Hieronimus as a man wordly wise foreseeing the great perils and daungers that might come vnto him for feare left of preaching But when as the people which fore hungred and longed for Gods word were instant vpon him that he would preach agayne he began agayne to preach in the yeare of our Lord. 1496. in the Cittie of Florence and albeit that many counsailed him that he should not so do without the Popes commaundement yet did he not regard it but went forward freely of his owne good will When as the Pope and his shauelinges heard newes of this they were greuously incensed and inflamed agaynst him and now againe cursed him as an obstinate and stifnecked hereticke But for all that Hieronimus proceeded in teaching and instructing the people saying that men ought not to regard such curses whiche are agaynst the true doctrine and the cōmon profite whereby the people shold be learned and amended Christ kingdome enlarged and the kindome of the deuill vtterly ouerthrowne In all his preaching he desired to teach no other thing then the onely pure and simple word of God making often protestation that al men should certifie him if they had heard him teach or preach anye thing contrary thereunto for vpon his owne conscience he knew not that he had taught anye thing but the pure word of God What his doctrine was all mē may easely iudge by his books that he had writtē After this in the yeare of our Lord. 1498. he was takē and brought out of S. Markes cloyster two other Fryers with hym named Dominicke and Siluester whiche fauoured hys learning and was caried into prison wheras he wrote a godly meditation vpon that most comfortable 31. psalme In te Domine speraui non confundar in aeternūsed in iusticia tua libera me Wherein he doth excellently describe and set forth the continuall strife betweene the flesh and the spirite After this the Popes Legates came to Florence called forth these three good men threatning thē marueilously but they continued still constant Then came the chief coūsailers of the citty with the popes commissioners whiche had gathered out certain Articles against these men wherupon they were condemned to death the tenour of which Articles hereafter ensue 1. The first article was as touching our free iustification through fayth in Christ. 2. That the communion ought to be ministred vnder both kyndes 3. That the indulgences and pardons of the pope were of no effect 4. For preaching against the filthy and wicked liuing of the Cardinals and spiritualtie 5. For denying the popes supremacie 6. Also that he had affirmed that the keyes were not geuen vnto Peter alone but vnto the vniuersal Church 7. Also that the pope did neither follow the life nor doctrine of Christ for that he did attribute more to his owne pardons and traditions then to Christes merits and therfor he was Antichrist 8. Also that the popes excommunications are not to be feared and that he which doth feare or flye them is excommunicate of God 9. Item that auriculer confession is not necessary 10. Item that he had moued the Cittizens to vprore and sedition 11. Item that he had neglected and contemned the popes Citation 12. Item that he had shamefully spoken agaynst slandered the pope 13. Itē that he had taken Christ to witnes of his naughtines and heresie 14. Also that Italy must be clensed through Gods scourge for the manifold wickednes of the princes and clergy The Martyrdome of Hierome and his two companions Thus was the worthy witnesse of Christ with the other two aforesaid first hanged vp openly in the market place and afterward burnt to ashes and the ashes gathered vp cast into the Riuer of Arum the 24. day of May in the yeare of our Lord 1499. Ex Catal. testium Illyrici This man foreshewed many thinges to come as the destruction of Florence and Rome and the renuing of the Church which three things haue happened in these times within our remembraunce Also he foreshewed that the Turkes and Mores in the latter dayes should be conuerted vnto Christ. He also declared that one should passe the Alpes into Italy like vnto Cirus which should subuert and destroy all Italy Whereupon Iohannes Franciscus Picus Erle of Mirandula called him a holy prophet and defended him by his writings against the pope Many other learned men also defend the innocencie of the saide Sauonarola Marsilius Ficinus also in a certayne Epistle doth attribute vnto him the spirit of prophecie greatly commending and praysing him In the like maner Philippus Comineas a French historiographer which had conference with him witnesseth that he was a holy man and full of the spirit of prophecie for so muche as he had foreshewed vnto hym so many thinges which in euent had proued true There were besides these many other not to be passed ouer or forgotten as Phillip Norice an Irishman professour at Oxford who albeit he was not burned yet as it is sayd he was long time vexed and troubled by the religious route But would to God that such as haue occupied themselues in writing of histories and haue so dilligently committed vnto memory all other thinges done in foreign common wealthes had bestowed the lyke dilligence labour in noting and writing those thinges which pertayn vnto the affayres of the Churche whereby the posteritie might haue had fuller and more perfecte vnderstanding knowledge of
working of some of whome Ioannes Auentinus shall tel vs in his own words shew vs who they be Quibus inquit audiendi quae fecerint pudor est nullus faciendi quae audire erubescunt Illic vbi opus nihil verentur hic vbi nihil opus est ibi verentur c. Who beyng ashamed belike to heare their worthy stratagemes lyke to come to light sought by what meanes they might the stopping of the same And because they could not worke it per brachium seculare by publike authoritie the Lord of heauen long preserue your noble Maiestie they renewed again an old wonted practise of theirs doyng in like sort herein as they did sometymes with the holy Bible in the dayes of your renowmed father of famous memory king Henry the viij who when they neither by manifest reason could gainstand the matter contained in the booke nor yet abide the comming out thereof then sought they by a subtile deuised traine to depraue the translation notes and Prologues thereof bearing the king in hand and all the people that there was in it a thousand lies and I cannot tell how many mo Not that there were such lies in it in very deede but because the comming of that booke should not bewray their lying falshood therefore they thought best to begin first to make exceptions themselues against it playing in their stage like as Phormio did in the old Comedie who beyng in all the fault himselfe began first to quarell with Demipho when Demipho rather had good right to lay Phormio by the heeles With like facing brags these Catholike Phormiones thinke now to dash out all good bookes and amongst others also these Monuments of Martyrs Which godly Martyrs as they could not abide beyng aliue so neither can they now suffer their memories to lyue after their death least the acts of them beyng knowne might bring perhaps their wicked acts and cruell murthers to detestation and therfore spurne they so vehemently against this booke of histories with all kind of contumelies and vprores railing and wondering vpon it much like as I haue heard of a company of thieues who in robbing a certaine true man by the high wayes side when they had found a piece of gold or two about him more then he would be acknown of they cried out of the falshood of the world meruailing and complaining what little truth was to be found in men Euen so these men deale also with me for when they themselues altogether delight in vntruths and haue replenished the whole Church of Christ with fained fables lying miracles false visions miserable errors contained in their Missals and Portuses Breuiars and Summaries and almost no true tale in all their Saintes lyues and Festiuals as now also no great truthes in our Louanian bookes c. Yet notwithstanding as though they were a people of much truth and that the world did not perceiue them they pretend a face and zeale of great veritie And as though there were no histories els in all the world corrupted but onely this history of Actes and Monumentes with tragicall voyces they exclaime and wonder vpon it sparing no cost of Hyperbolicall phrases to make it appeare as full of lies as lines c. much after the like sort of impudencie as Sophisters vse sometymes in their Sophismes to doe and sometimes is vsed also in Rhetorike that when an Argument commeth against them which they cannot well resolue in deed they haue a rule to shift of the matter with stoute wordes and tragicall admiration whereby to dash the Opponent out of countenance bearing the hearers in hand the same to be the weakest slenderest argument that euer was heard not worthy to be answered but vtterly to be hissed out of the Schooles With like sophistication these also fare with me who when they neither can abide to heare their owne doings declared nor yet deny the same which they heare to be true for three or foure escapes in the booke committed and yet some of them in the said Booke amended they neither reading the whole nor rightly vnderstanding that they read inueigh and maligne so peruersly the setting out therof as though neither any word in al that story were true nor any other story false in al the world besides And yet in accusing these my accusers I do not so excuse my self nor defeÌ„d my book as though nothing in it were to be sponged or amended Therfore I haue taken these paines reiterated my labours in trauailing out the story again doyng herein as Penelope did with her web vntwisting that she had done before Or as builders do sometimes which build and take down againe either to transpose the fashion or to make the foundation larger So in recognising this history I haue emploied a little more labour partly to enlarge the argument which I tooke in hand partly also to assay whether by any paynes taking I might pacifie the stomacks or satisfie the iudgments of these importune quarellers which neuerthelesse I feare I shall not do when I haue done all I can For well I know that all the heads of this hissing Hidra will neuer be cut of though I were as strong as Hercules And if Apelles the skilfull Painter when he had bestowed all his cunning vpon a piece of worke which no good artificer would or could greatly reprooue yet was not without some controlling Sutor which tooke vpon him Vltra crepidam much more may I looke for the like in these controlling dayes Neuerthelesse committing the successe thereof vnto the Lord I haue aduentured againe vpon this story of the Church and haue spent not onely my paines but also almost my health therein to bring it to this Which now beyng finished like as before I did so againe I exhibite and present the same vnto your Princely Maiestie blessing my Lord my God with all my heart first for this libertie of peace and tyme which through your peaceable gouernement he hath lent vnto vs for the gathering both of this and other like bookes tractations and monuments requisite to the behoofe of his Church which hitherto by iniquitie of tyme could not be contriued in any Kinges raigne since the Conquest before these Alcion dayes of yours Secondly as we are all bound with publicke voyces to magnify our God for this happy preseruation of your royall estate so priuately for mine owne part I also acknowledge my selfe bound to my God and to my Sauiour who so graciously in such weake health hath lent me time both to finish this worke and also to offer the second dedication thereof to your Maiesty desiring the same to accept in worth tâ—â— donation thereof if not for the worthinesse of the thing geuen yet as a testification of the bounden seruice and good will of one which by this he here presenteth declareth what he would if he had better to geue And though the story being written in the popular tongue serueth not so greatly for your own peculiar
reading nor for such as be learned yet I shall desire both you and them to consider in it the necessity of the ignoraunt flocke of Christ committed to your gouernement in this Realme of England Who as they haue bene long led in ignoraunce and wrapt in blindenesse for lacke specially of Gods word and partly also for wanting the light of history pity I thought but that such should be helped their ignoraunce relieued and simplicity instructed I considered they were the flocke of Christ and your subiectes belonging to your account and charge bought with the same price and hauing as deare soules to the Lord as other And though they be but simple and vnlearned yet not vnapt to be taught if they were applyed Furthermore what inconuenience groweth of ignoraunce where knowledge lacketh both I considered and experience dayly teacheth And therefore hearing of the vertuous inclination of your Maiesty what a prouident care Zeale full of solicitude you haue minding speedely I trust to furnish all quarters countryes of this your realme with the voice of Christes Gospel faythful preaching of his word I thought also not vnprofitable to adioyne vnto this your godly proceedinges and to the office of the ministery the knowledge also of Ecclesiasticall history which in my minde ought not to be separate from the same that like as by the one the people may learne the rules and preceptes of doctrine so by the other they may haue examples of Gods mighty working in his Church to the confirmation of their fayth and the edification of Christian life For as we see what light and profite commeth to the Church by histories in olde times set forth of the Iudges Kinges Machabees the Actes of the Apostles after Christes time so likewise may it redound to no small vse in the Church to knowe the Actes of Christes Martirs now since the time of the Apostles Besides other manifolde examples and experimentes of Gods great mercies and iudgementes in preseruing his Church in ouerthrowing tyrauntes in confounding pride in altering states kingdomes in conseruing Religion against errours and dissentions in relieuing the godly in brideling the wicked in losing and tying vp againe of Sathan the disturber of common weales in punishing transgressions as well against the first table as the second wherin is to be seene Idolatry punished blasphemy plagued contempt of Gods holy name and religion reuenged murder with murder rewarded Adulterers Wedlockbreakers destroied periuries extortions couetous oppressions and fraudulent councels come to nought with other excellent workes of the Lord the obseruing and noting whereof in histories minister to the readers therof wholesome admonitions of life with experience and wisedome both to know God in his workes and to worke the thing that is godly especially to seeke vnto the sonne of God for their saluation in his fayth onely to finde that they seeke for and in no other meanes The continuance and constancy of which fayth the Lord of his grace and goodnes graunt to your noble Maiesty and to his whole beloued Church and all the members of the same to euerlasting life Amen Ad doctum Lectorem Ioh. Foxus COgitanti mihi versantique mecum in animo quà m periâ—ulosa res aleae sit emittere nunc aliquid in publicum quod in manâ—s oculósque multoruÌ„ subeat his praesertim tam exulceratis moribus temporibúsque vbi tot hominum dissidijs tot studijs partium tot morosis capitibus tam rigidis censuris Criticorum sannis feruent ferè omnia vt difficillimum sit quicquaÌ„ tam circumspectè scribere quod non in aliquam calumniandi materiam rapiatur perbeati profectò foelicésque videnturij quibus eum vitae cursuÌ„ tenere liceat vt in otio viuentes cum dignitate sic alienis frui queant laboribus velut in theatro ociosi sedentes spectatores vt nullum interim ipsis uel ex actione taedium vel ex labore periculum metuendum sit Me vero nescio quo pacto longe diuersa quidem hactenus exercuit vitae ratio quippe cui nec fortunae illam foelicitatem in cuius complexibus tam multos suauiter foueri video nec otij amoenitatem experiri vix etiam per omnem vitam degustare in continuo laborum ac negotiorum feruore ac contentione contigerit Quanquam de fortuna parum queror quam semper contempsi quin neque de laboribus multum dicturus si modo lobores ij tantum vel prodesse vel placere caeteris possent hominibus quantum me priuatim atterunt incommodántque Nuncad meae infoelicitatis cumulum accedit in super quod in eo argumenti genere laborandum fuit quod praeter lugubrem rerum ipsarum materiam praeter linguae inamoenitatem praeter tractandi difficultatem quae vix nitorem recipiat orationis eo porro autorem ipsum redigit angustiae vt neque falsa narrare sine iniuria historiae nec verum dicere sine magna sua inuidia odiâ— que multorum liceat Nam cum in eo historiae argumento mihi versandum fuit quod non ad superiorum modo temporuÌ„ res gestas altéque repetitas pertineat sed hanc ipsam aetatem nostram nostraeque gentis nunc homines etiamnum praesentes viuôsque sic attingat sic perfricet sic designet quemadmodum in hoc materiae genere necessario faciundum fuit quaeso quid hîc mihi aliud expectandum sit nisi postquaÌ„ frustrà me defatigando valetudinem attriuerim oculos perdiderim senium acciuerim corpus exhauserim demum vt post haec omnia multorum me hominum odijs sibilis inuidiae ac calumniae exponam In tot istis asperitatibus cum nihil me tutum praestare poterit non Caesar non Monarchae non Rex non Regina non vlla huius mundi praesidia preter solam diuini numinis potentem deteram principiò igitur atque ante omnia huc ceu ad tutissimum asylum me recepi huic me librúmque commendaui commendo Tum vero insuper in eodem domino tuum illum candorem docte piéque Lector eaÌ„que tuam humanitatem appellare volâ—i qua ex humanioribus literis studijsque te scio praeditum quo nostris his fudoribus tuae approbation â—â—â—cedat calculus aut si approbationem non mereamur saltem ne fauoris desit benignitas cui si approâ—atum iri hanc historiae nostrae farraginem senserimus caeterorum iudicia obtrectatorum leuius feremus Nam alioquì non defuturos sat scio qui varijs modis nobis facessent molestiam Habebit hic momus suos morsus sycophanta suos sibilos nec deerit Calumniatori sua lingua aculeus quem infigat Hic fidem detrahet historiae Ille artificium in tractando alter diligentiam vel in excutiendis rebus iudicium desiderabit Illi forsan operis displicebit moles vel minus disposita seruatâque temporum ratio Et si nihil horum fuerit attamen in tanta
remissioÌ„ where no earnest repentaunce is sene before to number remission by dayes yeares to dispense with thynges expressely in the word forbiddeÌ„ or to restrayne that which the word maketh free to deuide Religion into Religions to binde and burthen consciences with constitutions of men to excommunicate for worldly matters as for breakyng of parkes for not ringyng bels at the Byshops commyng for not bringyng litter for their horse for not paying their fees and reÌ„tes for withholding the church goods for holding on their princes side in princely cases for not going at the Popes commaundement for not agreeyng to the Popes electioÌ„ in an other princes Realme with other such thyngs mo more vayne then these c. Agayne although the Scripture geueth leaue and authoritie to the Byshop and Churche of Rome to minister Sacraments yet it geueth no authoritie to make Sacramentes much lesse to worshyp Sacraments And though their authoritie serueth to baptise meÌ„ yet it extendeth not to Christen bels neither haue they authoritie by any word of God to adde to the word of God or take from the same to set vp vnwritten verities vnder payne of damnation to make other articles of belief to institute straunge worship otherwise theÌ„ he hath prescribed which hath told vs how he would be worshipped c. The third abuse of the Popes iurisdiction standeth in this that as in spirituall iurisdiction they haue vehemeÌ„tly exceeded the bouÌ„des of Scripture so they haue impudeÌ„tly intermedled them selues in temporall iurisdictioÌ„ wherein they haue nothing to do In so much that they haue traÌ„slated the Empire they haue deposed Emperours Kyngs Princes rulers Senatours of Rome set vp other or the same agayne at their pleasure they haue proclaymed warres haue warred them selues And where as Emperours in auÌ„cient tyme haue dignified theÌ„ in titles haue enlarged theÌ„ with donations they receauyng their confirmation by the Emperours haue like ingratfull clients to such benefactors afterward stampte vpon their neckes haue made theÌ„ to hold their sâ—urrup some to hold the bridle of their horse haue caused them to seeke their confirmation at their hand yea haue bene Emperours theÌ„selues Sede vacante in discordia electionis and also haue bene Senators of the Citie Moreouer haue extorted into their owne handes the plenary fulnes of power iurisdiction of both the swordes especially since the tyme of Pope Hildebrand which Hildebrand deposing Henricus the iiij Emperour made him geue attendance at his Citie gate And after him Pope Bonifacius the viij shewed him selfe vnto the people on the first day like a Byshop with his keyes before him the next day in his robes Imperiall hauyng a naked sword borne before him like an Emperour an 1298. And for so much as this inordinate iurisdiction hath not onely bene vsed of theÌ„ but also to this day is mainteined in Rome let vs therefore now compare the vsage hereof to the old maner in tymes past meanyng the primitiue and first age of the Church of the Romaines Wherein the old Byshops of Rome in those dayes as they were then subiect to their Emperours so were other Byshops in like maner of other nations subiect euery one to his Kyng Prince acknowledgyng them for their Lordes were ordered by their authoritie obeyed their lawes and that not onely in causes ciuile but also in regiment Ecclesiasticall as appeareth Dist. 10. cap. 1. 2. Dist. 97. cap. De illicita Also 24. q. 3. So was Gregorius surnamed Magnus subiect to Maâ—â—itius and to Phocas although a wicked Emperour So also both Pope people of Rome tooke their lawes of the Emperours of Constantinople were submitted to theÌ„ not onely in the time of Honorius an huÌ„dreth yeares after Constantine the great but also in the tyme of Martianus an 1451. so further vnto the tyme of Iustinian of Carolus Magnus and also after the dayes of them In all which coÌ„tinuance of tyme it is manifest that the Emperiall law of Martiane did rule bynde in Rome both in the days of Iustinian an 150. yeres after til the tyme of the Empire beyng translated from Grece vnto FrauÌ„ce Whereby it may appeare false that the Citie of Rome was geueÌ„ by Constantine the first vnto the bishop of Rome to gouerne for that Pope 〈◊〉 the first writyng to the Emperour Honorius câ—â—â—eth in the same place Rome the Emperours Citie Dist. 97. cap. 1. And Lotharius also Emperour appointed Magistrates and lawes in Rome as is aboue mentioned Moreouer for further probation hereof that both the Byshop of Rome all other Ecclesiasticall persons were in former tyme and ought to be subiect to their Emperours and lawfull Magistrates in causes as well spirituall as ciuile by many euidences may appeare takeÌ„ out both of Gods law and mans law And first by Gods law we haue exaÌ„ple of godly kyng Dauid who numbred all the Priestes and Leuites disposed theÌ„ into xxiiij orders or courses appointyng theÌ„ coÌ„tinually to serue in the ministery euery one in his proper order turne as came about which institution of the Clergy also good king Ezechias afterward renued of whoÌ„ it is written he did that was right in the sight of the Lord accordyng to all things as his father Dauid had done before he tooke away the high groues and brake downe Images c. 4. Reg. 8. The sayd Ezechias also reduced the Priests Leuites into their orders prescribed by Dauid before to serue euery one in his office of ministratioÌ„ .2 Paralip 30.31 And this order froÌ„ Dauid still continued till the time of Zachary at the coÌ„myng of Christ our Lord beyng of Abias course which was the viij order of the Priestes appointed to serue in the tabernacle Luc. 1. To passe ouer other lighter offices translated from the Priestes to the Kyngs authoritie as coÌ„cernyng the orderyng of oblations in the Temple and reparations of the Lordes house kyng Salomon displaced Abiathar the high Priest by his kyngly power and placed Sadoch in his stede 3. Reg. cap. 6 Also dedicatyng the temple of the Lord with all the people blessed the whole congregation of Israell 3. Reg. 8. Iudas Machabeus also elected Priestes such as beyng without spot had a zeale to the law of the Lord to purge the Temple which the Idolatrous Gentiles had before prophaned 1. Machab. 4. Also kyng Alexander writyng to Ionathas appointed him chief Priest in his couÌ„trey 1. Mac. 10. Demetrius ordeined Simon Alchinus in the like office of Priesthood Iosaphat likewise as in the whole laÌ„d did set Iudges so also in Hierusalem he appointed Leuites Priestes and heades of families to haue the hearyng of causes and to minister Iudgement ouer the people 2 Paral. 19. By these many other is to be sene the Kynges Princes in the old tyme as well when Priestes were borne Priestes as wheÌ„ they were made by election had the dealyng also
constitutionis Unto this Lotharius French kyng and Emperour Pope Leo the 4. writeth that Romana lex that is the Romane law meanyng the law of the Frēch Emperours as it hath hetherto stode in force Ita nunc suum robur propriúmque vigorem obtineat that is so now it may continue still in his vigour and strength Ino Carnotensis lib. 11. Decretorum about the yeare of the Lord .848 After this Lotharius succeeded his sonne Ludouicus the second in the kyngdome Empire of Fraunce before whō the foresayd Pope Leo was brought into iudgement pleaded his cause of treason and there was before the Emperour quyte and released Which declareth that Popes and Byshops all this while were in subiection vnder their Kynges and Emperours Moreouer descendyng yet to lower tymes an 1228. Ludouicus 9. called holy Ludouike made a law agaynst the pestiferous simonie in the Church also for the maintenaūce of the libertie of the Church of Fraūce established a law or decree agaynst the new inuētions reseruations preuētions exactions of the court of Rome called Pragmatica sanctio S. Ludouici the which Sāction was also practised lōg after in the kyngdome of Fraūce agaynst the popes collectors vndercollectors as appeareth by the Arestum of the coūsaile of Paris an 1463. ex Molinaeo in Cōmētarijs Furthermore king Philip le Bel. 1303. set forth a law called Philippina wherein was forbid any exactiō of new tithes and first fruites other vncustomed collections to be put vpon the Church of Fraūce Carolus the v. named Sapiens an 1369. by a law cōmaūded that no Byshops nor Prelates or their Officials within his kyngdome of Fraūce should execute any censure of suspense or excommunicatiō at the Popes cōmaundemēt ouer or vpō the Cities or townes corporations or cōmons of his Realme ex regist antiquarū const chart 62. Itē Carolus vi an 1388. agaynst the Cardinals other Officials collectors of the Pope reuoking againe the power which he had geuē to thē before prouided by a law that the fruites rentes of benefices with other pensions Byshops goodes that departed should no more be exported by the Cardinals the Popes collectours vnto Rome but should be brought to the king and so restored to them to whō they rightly did appertaine The like also may be inferred proued by the stories exāples of our kyngs here in Englād as kyng Offa kyng Egbertus Edgarus Aluredus Athelwoldus Canutus Edwardus William Conquerour Wilhel Rufus Henricus the first Henricus the second till the tyme of kyng Iohn and after Whose dealyng as well in Ecclesiasticall cases as in tēporall is a sufficient demonstration to proue what iniury the Popes in these latter dayes haue done vnto the Emperours their lawfull gouernours Magistrates in vsurpyng such fulnes of power iurisdictiō ouer them to whō properly they owe subiection cōtrary to the steps example of the old Romaine Byshops their aunciters therfore haue incurred the daūger of a Premunire worthy to be depriued Although it is not to be denyed but that Ecclesiasticall ministers and seruitures haue their power also committed vnto thē after their sort of the Lord yet it becommeth euery man to know his owne place standyng there to keepe him wherein his owne precinct doth pale him not rashly to breake out into other mēs walkes As it is not lawfull for a ciuile Magistrate to intermedle with a Byshops or a Preachers function so vnseemely vnorderly it is agayne that Boniface the viij should haue borne before him the tēporall male the naked sword of the Emperour or that any Pope should beare a triple crowne or take vpon him like a Lord and Kyng Wherfore let euery man consider the compasse limitation of his charge exceede no farther The office of a Bishop or seruiture Ecclesiasticall was in the old law to offer sacrifice to burne incense to pray for the people to expounde the law to minister in the tabernacle with which office it was not lawfull for any Prince or mā els to intermedle as we read how Ozias was punished for offering incense an other for touchyng the Arke so now the office of Christian Ministers is to preach the word to minister Sacramēts to pray to binde and loose where cause vrgently requireth to iudge in spirituall cases to publishe denounce free reconciliation remissiō in the name of Christ to erect comfort troubled consciences with the rich grace of the Gospell to teach the people the true differēce betwixt the law and the Gospell whereof the one belongeth to such as be not in Christ and come not to him the other pertaineth to the true beleuers in the sonne of God to admonish also the Magistrates erryng or transgressing in their office c. And as these properly belong to the functiō of the Ecclesiasticall sort so hath the ciuile gouernour or Magistrate agayne his proper charge office to him assigned whiche is to see the administratiō of iustice iudgement to defend with power the right of the weake that suffer wrōg to defend from oppression the poore oppressed to minister with equalitie that which is right and equall to euery man to prouide lawes good godly to see the execution of the same as cause moueth especially to see the law of God mainteined to promote Christes glory Gospell in settyng vp sendyng out good Preachers in mainteinyng the same in prouidyng Byshops to be elected that be faythfull in remouyng or els correctyng the same beyng faulty or negligēt in congregatyng the Clergy whē neede is of any coūsell or electiō to heare their learning in causes propoūded according to the truth learned to direct his iudgemēt in disposing such rites ordinaunces for the church as make to edification not to the destruction therof in conseruyng the discipline of the Churche and settyng all thynges in a congrue order Briefly the office of the ciuile ruler Magistrate extendeth to minister iustice and iudgement in all Courtes as well temporall as Ecclesiasticall to haue correction ouer all trāsgressours whether they be laymen or persons Ecclesiasticall And finally all such thyngs as belong to the mouyng of the sword whatsoeuer that is to say all outward punishment is referred to the iurisdiction of the secular Magistrate vnder whose subiection the ordinaunce of God hath subiected all orders and states of mē Here we haue the witnesse also of Hormisda Byshop of Rome which being well weyed maketh the matter plaine that Princes haue to deale in spirituall causes also not onely in temporall where the sayd Hormisda writeth to Epiphanius Patriarche of Constant. in this sort Clara coelestis misericordiae demonstratio procedit quando regés seculi causas de fide cum gubernatione politiae coniungunt c. ex Act. v. vniuers concil Constantini secundi an 528. And thus much and to much peraduenture concernyng the matter of
Tyber which Getulus with Cerealis Amantius and Primitiuus by the commaundement of Adria were condemned to the fire wherein they were Martyred and put to death The names moreour of the seuen sonnes of this Symphorosa I finde to be Crescens Iulianus Nemesius Primitiuus Iustinus Statteus and Eugenius whom the Chronicle of Ado declareth to be put to death at the commaundement of Hadrian being fastened to vij stakes and so racked vp wyth a pulley and at last were thrust through Crescens in the necke Iulianus in the brest Nemesius in the hart Primitiuus about the nauell Iustinus cut in euery ioynte of his bodye Stateus run through with speares Eugenius cut a sonder frō the brest to the lower partes and then cast into a deepe pyt hauyng the name by the Idolatrous Priestes intituled Ad septem Biothanatos After the martirdome of whō also Symphorosa the mother did likewise suffer as is before declared Under the sayd Antoninus Verus and in the same persecution which raged not in Rome and Asia onely but in other countryes also suffered the glorious most cōstant Martirs of Lyons and Uienna two Cities in Fraunce gyuing to Christ a glorious testimony to all Christian men a spectacle or example of singular constancie and fortitude in Christ our sauiour The history of whom because it is written and set forth by their owne Churches where they did suffer mentioned in Euseb. Lib. 5. cap. 2. I thought here to expresse the same in the forme and effecte of their owne wordes as there is to be seene The title of which their Epistle written to the brethren of Asia and Phrigia thus beginneth * The seruauntes of Christ inhabiting the Cities of Vienna and Lyons to the brethren in Asia and Phrigia hauing the same faith and hope of redemption with vs peace and grace and glory from God the father and from Iesus Christ our Lorde THe greatnes of this our tribulation the furious rage of the Gentiles against vs the tormentes which the blessed martyrs suffered neither can we in wordes nor yet in writing exactly as they deserue set forth For the aduersary with all his force gaue his endeuor to the working of such preparatiues as he himselfe listed against his tyrannous comming in euery place practised he and instructed his ministers how in most spitefull maner to set them against the seruauntes of God so that not onely in our houses shoppes and markets we were restrained but also were vniuersally cōmaunded that none so hardy should be sene in any place But God hath alwaies mercy in store and tooke out of their hands such as were weake amongst them and other some did he set vp as firme and immoueable pillers which by sufferance were able to abide all violent force and valiantly to withstand the enimie induring all their opprobrious punishment they could deuise to cōclude they fought this battell for that intent to come vnto Christ esteming their great troubles but as light therby shewing that al that may be suffered in this present life is not able to counteruayle the great glorye which shall be shewed vpō vs after this life And first they patiently suffered whatsouer the multitude of frantike people running vpon head did vnto them as railings scourgings drawynges and hailings flynging of stones imprisoninges what other thing soeuer the rage of the multitude are wōt to vse and practise against their professed enimies Then afterwarde they being led into the marked place and there iudged of the Captayne and rest of the Potentates of the Citie after their confession made openly before the multitude were commaunded againe to prisō vntil the returne of their chiefe gouernor After this they being brought before him and he vsing all extremity that possibly he might against them One Vetius Epagathus one of the brethren replenished with feruent zeale both towards god and his brethren whose conuersation although he were a young man was counted as perfect as was the life of Zachary the Priest for he walked diligently in al the commaundements and iustifications of the Lord and in all obedience towards his brethren blamles he hauing within him the feruent zeale of loue and spirit of god could not suffer that wicked iudgement which was giuen vpon the Christians but being vehemently displeased desired that the Iudge woulde heare the excuse which he was minded to make in the behalfe of the christians in whom saith he is no impietie founde But the people cryed againe to those that were assistentes with the chiefe Iustice that it might not be so for indede he was a noble man borne neither did the Iustice graunt him his lawfull request but onely asked him whether he himselfe were a Christian or not And he immediatly with a loude and boulde voice aunswered and sayde I am a Christian. And thus was he receiued into the felowship of the martirs and called the aduocate of the Christians And he hauing the spirite of God more plentifully in time then had Zachary the abundaunce thereof he declared in that he gaue his life in the defence of his brethren being a true disciple of Christ following the Lamb whersoeuer he goeth By this mans example the rest of the Martirs were the more animated to martirdome and made more ioious with al courage of mind to accomplish the same Some other there were vnready and not so well prepared and as yet weak not well able to beare the vehemency of so great conflict of whom x. there were in number that faynted ministring to vs much heauines lamentation Who by their example caused the rest which were not yet apprehēded to be lesse willing thereunto Then were we all for the variablenes of confession not a litle astonied not that we feared the punishment intended against vs but rather as hauing respect to the ende and fearing least any shoulde fal Euery day there were apprehended such as were worthy to fulful the number of them which were fallen In so much that of two churches such as were chiefest which were the principall gouernors of our Churches were apprehended With these also certeine of the Ethnicks being our men seruaunts were apprehended for so the gouernour commaunded that all of vs ingenerall without any respect should be taken which seruants being ouercome by Sathan and fearing the torments which they saw the Saintes doe suffer being also compelled thereunto by the meanes of the souldiers fained against vs that we kept the feastinges of Thiestes and incest of Oedipus and many such other crimes which are neither to be remembred nor named of vs nor yet to bee thought that euer any man would commit the like These things being now bruted abroad euery man began to shewe crueltie against vs insomuch that those which before for familiarities sake were more gentle toward vs now vehemently disdained vs and waxed mad against vs. And thus was now fulfilled that which was spoken by Christ saying the time will come
the house together men of one accord c. And so by the occasion hereof he writeth vnto them in the foresayd Epistle and moueth them to prayer and mutuall agreement For sayth he if it be promised in the Gospell to be graunted whatsoeuer any two consenting together shall aske what shall then the whole Churche do agreeing together or what if this vnanimitie were among the whole fraternitie which vnanimitie sayeth Cyprian if it had bene then among the brethren non venissent fraetribus haec mala si in vnum fraternitas fuisset animata that is these euiles had not happened to the brethren if the brethren had ioyned together in brotherly vnanimitie c. After the causes thus declared of this or other persecutions the sayd S. Cyprian moreouer in the forenamed Epistle worthy to be read of al men describeth likewise a certayne vision wherin was shewed vnto them by the Lord before the persecutiō came what should happen The vision was this There was a certayne aged father sitting at whose right hand set a young man very sad and pensiue as one with an indignation sorrowfull holding hys hand vpon hys brest hys countenaunce heauy and vnchearefull On the left hand sate an other person hauing in hys hand a net whiche he threatned to lay to catch the people that stode about And as he was marueiling that saw the sight thereof it was sayd vnto him The young man whō thou seest sit on the tight hand is sad and sory that hys preceptes be not obserued But he on the left hand daunceth and is merry for that occasion is geuen him to haue power of the aged Father geuen him to afflict men And this vision was seene long before this tempest of persecution happened Wherein is declared the same that before is sayd the sinnes of the people to be the cause why Sathan in this persecution and all other hath had and hath still such power with hys net of destruction to rage agaynst the bloud of Christen men and all because sayth Cyprian we forslacke our praying or be not so vigilant therein as wee shoulde wherefore the Lord because he loueth vs correcteth vs correcteth vs to amend vs amendeth vs to saue vs. c. Cyprian Furthermore the same Cyprian and in the same Epistle wrtting of his own reuelation or message sent to him thus sayth And to hys least seruaunt both sinfull and vnworthy meaning by himselfe God of his tender goodnes hath vouched safe to direct this word Tell him sayth he that hee be quiet and of good comfort for peace will come Albeit a litle stay there is for a while for that some remain yet to be proued and tryed c. And sheweth also in the same place of an other reuelation of his wherein he was admonished to be spare in hys feeding and sober in hys drinke least hys minde geuen to heauenly meditation might be caryed away with worldly allurements or oppressed with to much surfet of meates and drinkes should be lesse apt or able to prayer and spirituall exercise Finally in the latter end of the foresayd Epistle mention also followeth of other reuelations or shewinges wherein the Lord sayth Cyprian doth vouchsafe in many of hys seruantes to foreshew to come the restauring of hys Church the stable quiet of our health and safegard after rayne fayre weather after darcknes light after stormy tempest peaceable calme the fatherly helpe of his loue the wont old glory of hys diuine maiesty whereby both the blasphemy of the persecutors shall be repressed and the repentance of such as haue fallen be reformed and the strong and stable confidence of them that stand shall reioyce and glory Thus much hath S. Cyprian writing of these thinges to the Clergy Lib. 4. Epist. 4. As touching now the crymes and accusations in this persecution layd to the charge of the Christians thys was the principall first because they refused to doe worship to their Idols and to the Emperours then for that they professed the name of Christ. Besides all the calamities and euils that happened in the world as warres famine and pestilence were onely imputed to the Christians Agaynst all which quarreling accusations Cyprian doth eloquently defend the Christians in his booke Contra Demetrianum Like as Tertulian had done before writing Contra Scapulam page 55. And first touching the obiection for not worshipping Idoles he cleareth the Christians both in his booke Contra Demeir also De vanitate idol prouing those Idols to be no true Gods but Images of certayne dead kinges which neyther could saue themselues from death nor such as worship them The true God to be but one and that by the testimony of Sosthenes Plato and Trismegistus the which God the Christians doe truely worship And as concerning that the Christians were thought to be causes of publique calamities because they worshipped not the Gentiles Idoles he purgeth the Christians thereof prouing that if there be any defect in increase of thinges it is not to be ascribed to them but rather to the decrease of nature languishing now toward her age and latter end Agayne for that it hath bene so foresayd and prophecied that toward the end of the worlde should come warres famine and pestilence Moreouer if there be anye cause therof more proper then other it is most like to be imputed to their vaine Idolatry and to the contempt of the true God Also that such euils be increased by the wickednes of the people so that to speake in his owne words famem maiorem facia◠rapacites quam siccitas i. famine cometh more by auarice of men then by drought of the aire but especially the cause therof to procede of the cruell shedding of the innocent bloud of the Christians c. Thus with many other mo probations doth Cyprian defend the Christians against the barbarous exclamatiōs of the heathē Gentiles Of which Cyprian forsomuch as he suffered in the time of his persecution I mynde Christ wylling to recapitulate here in ample discourse the ful summe first of his life and bringing vp then of his death Martyrdome as the worthines of that man deserueth to be remembred Of this Cyprian therfore otherwise named Statius thus writeth Nicephorus Nazianzenns Iacobus de Voragine Henricus de Erfordia Volateranus Hieronymus and other that he being an Aphrican and borne in Carthage first was an Idolater and Gentill altogether giuen to the study and practise of the Magicall Artes of whose parentage and education in letters from his youth no mention is made but that he was a worthy Rethorician in Aphrica Of whose conuersion and baptisme he himselfe in his first booke second Epistle writeth a florishing and eloquent Hystory Which his conuersion vnto the christian fayth as Hieronimus affirmeth in his commentary vpon Ionas was through the grace of God and the meanes of Cecilius a Priest whose name after he bare and through the occasion of
in this persecution by the names of Martyrs within the space of 30. days 17. thousand persons beside an other great number and multitude that were condemned to the mettall mines and quaries with like crueltie At Alexandria with Peter the Bishop of whom I haue made mention before were slayne with axes 300. aboue as Sabellicus declareth Gereon was beheaded at Colonia Agrippina with 300. of his fellowes as saith Henricus de Erfordia Mauritius the Captaine of Christian religion with his fellowes 6666. Victor in the citie of Troy now called Xanthus with his fellowes 360. were slayne as sayth Otto Phrinsigensis Lib. 2. cap 45. Reginus reciteth the names of many other Martyrs to the number of 120. And for as much as mention here hath bene made of Mauritius and Victor the perticular description of the same history I thought here to insert taken out of Ado other story writers as insueth Mauritius came out of Syria into Fraunce and Italy beyng Captaine of the bande of the Theban souldiours to the number of 6660. beyng sent for of Maximianus to goe agaynst the rebellious Bangandes but rather as it should seeme by the treason of the â—irant which thought he might better in these quarters vse his tiranny vpon the Christians then in the East part These Thebans with Mauritius the Captaine after that they had entred into Rome who were there of Marcellus the blessed bishop confirmed in the fayth promising by othe that they would rather be slayne of their enemies then forsake that faith which they had receaued who followed the Emperours hoste through the Alpes euen into Fraunce At that tyme the Caesarians were incamped not farre from the towne called Ottodor where Maximianus offred sacrifice to his deuils and called all the souldiours both of the East and West to the same straightly charging them by the aultars of his Gods that they would fight against those rebels the Bangandes and persecute the christian enemies of the Emperors Gods which his commaundement was shewed to the Thebanes hoste which were also incamped about the riuer of Rode and in a place that was named Agawne but to Ottodor they wold in no wise come for that euery man did certainly appointe and perswade with themselues rather in that place to dye then either to sacrifice to the gods or beare armour against the Christians Which thing in deede very stoutly and valiantly they affirmed vpon their othe befor taken to Maximianus when he sent for them Wherwith the tyrant beyng wrathfull and all mooued commaunded euery tenth man of that whole band to be put to the sworde whereto striuingly and with great reioysing they committed theyr neckes To which notable thing and great force of fayth Mauritius himselfe was a great incourager who by by with a most graue Oration exhorted animated his souldiours both to fortitude coÌ„stancie Which beyng again called of the Emperor answered in this wise saying We are O Emperour your souldiours but yet also to speake freely the seruants of god We owe to thee seruice of war to him innoceÌ„cie of thee we receaue for our trauell wages of hym the beginning of lyfe But in this we may in no wayes obey thee O Emperour to deny God our author and Lord and not onely ours but your Lord likewise will ye nill ye If we be not so extreemely enforced that we offend him doubtles as we haue hitherto before we will yet obey you but otherwise we will rather obey hym then you We offer here our handes agaynst any other enemies but to defile our handes with the bloud of innocentes that we may not doe These right hands of ours haue skill to fight agaynst the wicked and true enemies but to spoyle and murder the godly and Citizens they haue no skill at all We haue in remembraunce how we tooke armour in hand for the defence of the Citizens and not agaynst them We fought alwayes for iustice sake pietie and for the health of innocentes These haue bene alwayes the rewardes of our perils and trauell We haue fought in the quarrell of fayth whiche in no wife we can keepe to you if we doe not shewe the same to our God We first sware vpon the Sacramentes of our God then afterward to the king and doe you thinke the second will aduaile vs if we breake the first By vs you would plague the Christians to doe which feate we are onely commaunded by you We are here ready to confesse God the author of all thinges and beleue in hys sonne Iesus Christ our Lord. We see before our eyes our fellowes and partakers of our labours and trauailes to be put to the sword and we sprinkled with their bloud of which our most blessed companions and brethreÌ„ their end and death we haue not bewayled nor mourned but rather haue bene glad and haue reioyced thereat for that they haue bene counted worthy to suffer for the Lord their God The extreeme necessitie of death cannot moue vs agaynst your maiesty neyther yet any despiratioÌ„ O Emperour which is wont in ventrous affayres to do much shal 〈◊〉 vs agaynst you Behold here we cast downe our weapons and resist not for that we had rather to be killed then kill and guiltles to dye then gilty to liue What soeuer more ye will commauÌ„d appoynt and inioyne vs we are here ready to suffer yea both fire sword and whatsoeuer other tormentes We confesse our selues to be Christians we cannot persecute Christians nor will do sacrifice to your deuilish Idols With which their aunswer the kyng beyng altogether incensed and mooued commaunded the second tyme the tenth man of them that were left to be in like case murdered That crueltie also beyng accomplished at length wheÌ„ the christian souldiours would in no wise condescend vnto his mynde he set vpon them with his whole host both footemen and also horsemen and charged them to kil them all Who with all force set vpon them they making no resistance but throwyng downe their armour yelded theyr lyues to the persecutors and offered to them theyr naked bodies Victor at the same tyme was not of that bande nor yet then any souldiour but one beyng an old souldior and dismissed for his age At which tyme he comming sodainly vpon them as they were haketting and making mery with the spoyles of the holy Martyrs was bidden to sit downe with them and first asking the cause of that their so great reioysing and vnderstanding the truth therof detested the guestes and refused to eate with them And then being demaunded of them whether happily he were a Christian or no openly confessed and denied not but that he was â— christian and euer would be And therupon they rushing vpoÌ„ him killed him and made him partner of the like Martyrdome and honour Beda in his history writeth that this persecution beyng vnder Dioclesian endured vnto the seuenth yere of Constantinus and Euseb Lib 8. cap. 6 sayth that is lasted vntill the
the beginning or Prologue of the Booke the sayde writer maketh mention of the ruinous walles of the towne of Verolamium containing the storye of Albanus and of his bitter punishments which walles were then falling downe for age at the wryting of the sayde booke as he saith Therby it seemeth this story to be written a great while after the martyrdome of Alban either by a Britaine or by an English mā If he were a Britaine how then did the Latin translation take it out of the English tounge as in the Prologue hee him selfe doeth testifie If hee were an Englishmā how then did he go vp to Rome for baptisme being a Pagan when he myght haue bene baptised amōg the Christian Britaines more neare at home But among al other euidences and declarations sufficient to disproue this Legendary story of S. Alban nothing maketh more against it then the very storie it selfe as where he bringeth in the head of the holy martyr to speake vnto the people after it was smitten of from the body Also where he bringeth in the Angels going vp comming downe in a piller of fire singing al the night long Item in the riuer which he sayth S Alban made drie such as were drowned in the same before in the bottome were founde aliue With other such like Monkish miracles and grosse fables wherewith these Abbey Monkes were wont in time past to deceaue the Church of God and to beguile the whole world for their owne aduātage Notwithstanding this I write not to any derogatiō of the blessed and faithful martyr of God who was the first that I did euer finde in this Realme to suffer Martyrdome for the testimonie of Christ. And worthy no doubt of condigne commendation especially of vs here in this land whose Christian faith in the Lorde and charitie toward his neighbour I pray God all we may followe As also I wishe moreouer that the stories both of him and of al other Christian Martyrs might haue bene deliuered to vs simply as they were wtout the admixture of all these Abbey like additiōs of Monkish miracles wherwith they were wont to paint out the glory of such saintes to the moste by whose offerings they were accustomed to receaue most aduauntage As touching the name of the Clearke mētioned in this story whome Alban receaued into his house I finde in the Englishe stories to be Amphibalus although the latine authors name him not who the same time flying into Wales was also set from thence againe to the same towne of Uerolamium otherwise called Uerlancaster where hee was martyred hauing his bellie opened and made to runne about a stake while all his bowels were drawen out then thrust in with swordes and daggers and at last was stoned to death as the foresaid legend declareth Moreouer the same time with Alban suffered also ij citizens of the foresaide Citie of Uerlancaster whose names were Aaron and Iulius beside other whereof a great number the same time no doubt did suffer although our Chronicles of their names doe make no rehearsall The time of the Martyrdom of this blessed Alban and the other seemeth to be about the second or thirde yeare of this tenth persecution vnder the tyrāny of Dioclesian and Maximinianus Herculius bearing then the rule in England about the yeare of our Lorde 301. before the comming of Constantius to his gouernement Where by the way is to be noted that this realme of Britaine being so christened before yet neuer was touched with any other of the nine persecutions before this tenth persecution of Dioclesian Maximinian In which persecution our stories and Polichronicon doe recorde that all Christianitie almost in the whole Ilelande was destroyed the Churches subuerted all bookes of the Scripture burned many of the faithfull both men women were slaine Among whome the first and chiefe ringleader as hath bene sayde was Albanus And thus much touching the martyrs of Britaine Nowe from Englande to returne againe vnto other countries where this persecution did more vehemētly rage we will adde hereunto the Lorde willing the stories of other although not of all that suffered in this persecution which were impossible but of certaine most principal whose singular constancie in their strong torments are chiefly renowmed in latter histories beginning first with Romanus the notable and admirable souldiour and true seruaunt of Christ whose historie set forth in Prudentius doth thus proceede so lamentably by him described that it will be harde for any man almost with dry cheekes to heare it Pitiles Galerius with his graunde captaine Asclepiades violently inuaded the citie of Antioche entending by force of armes to driue all Christians to renounce vtterly their pure religion The Christians as god would were at that time cōgregated together to whom Romanus hastely ran declaring that the Wolues were at hande which woulde deuour the christian flocke but feare not sayde he neither let this imminēt perill disturbe you my brethren brought was it to passe by the great grace of God working in Romanus that olde men and matrones fathers and mothers young men and maidens were all of one will and minde most ready to shed their bloud in defence of their Christian profession Word was brought to the captaine that the band of armed souldiors was not able to wrest the staffe of faith out of the hand of the armed congregation and all by reason that one Romanus so mightely did encourage them that they sticke not to offer their naked throtes wishing gloriously to die for the name of their Christ. Seeke out that rebell quod the captaine and bring him to me that he may aunswer for the whole sect Apprehended he was bound as a sheepe appoynted to the slaughter house was presented to the Emperor who with wrathfull countenance beholding him sayde What Art thou the author of this sedition art thou the cause why so many shall loose their liues By the gods I sweare thou shalt smart for it and first in thy flesh shalt thou suffer the paines whereunto thou hast encouraged the hearts of thy felowes Romanus answered Thy sentence O Emperour I ioyfully embrace I refuse not to be sacrificed for my brethren and that by as cruell meanes as thou mayest inuent and whereas thy soldiors were repelled from the christian cōgregation that so happened because it lay not in Idolaters and worshippers of Deuils to enter into the holy house of God and to pollute the place of true prayer Then Asclepiades wholy enflamed with this stoute answere commaunded him to be trussed vp and his bowels drawne out The executioners themselues more pitiful in hart then the captaine said not so sir this man is of noble parentage vnlawful is it to put a noble man to so vnnoble a death scourge him then with whips quod the captaine with knaps o◠lead at the ends In stede of teares sighs grones Romanus song psalmes al the time of his whipping requiring
griefes waxe great what gronest thou now Sayd some of them againe In schoole aduised well art thou Whom there thou puâ—st to payne 35 Behold we pay and now make good as many thousande stripes As when with weeping eyes we stoode In daunger of thy gripes 36 Art thou now angry at thy bande that alwayes cried writâ— write And neuer wouldst that our right hand Should rest in quiet plyte 37 We had forgot our playing times Thou churle deniedst vs of We now but pricke and point our lines And thus they grinne and scof 38 Correct good sir your viewed verse If ought amisse there be Now vse thy power and then rehearse that haue not marked thee 39 Christ pittying this groaning man With tormments torne and tyred Commaundes his hart to breake euen then And life that was then hyered 40 He yeeldes againe to him that gaue And thus he makes exchaunge Immortall for mortall to haue That in such payne did â—aunge 41 This is saith he that this plesure Thou so beholdst Oh gâ—â—t Of Cassianus Martir pure Doth preach I doe protest 42 If thou Prudence haue ought in store In pietie to deale In hope of iust reward therefore Now shew thy louing zeale 43 I could not but consent I weepe Hys tombe I doe embrace Home I returne and after sleepe This pittifull preface 44 I write as a memoriall For euer to endure Of Cassianus scolemaster All others to allure 45 To constancy vnder the crosse Of their profession Accompting gaine what euer losse For Christ they take vpon No lesse admirable then wonderfull was the constancy also of woemen and maidens who in the same persecution gaue their bodyes to the tormentes their liues for the testimony of Christ with no lesse boldnes of spirite theÌ„ did the men themselues aboue specified to whome howe much more inferiour they were in bodely streÌ„gth so much more worthy of prayse they be for their constant standing Of whom some examples here we minde Christ willing to inferre such as in our stories and Chronicles seem most notable first beginning with Eulalia whose story we haue taken out of the foresayd Prudentius as followeth In the West part of Spaine called Portingall is a City great and popâ—lous named Emerita wherein dwelt and was brought vp a virgine borne of noble parentage whose name was Eulalia which Emerita although for the apte situation therof was both rich famous yet more adourned and famous was the renowne therof by the martyrdome bloud and sepulture of this blessed virgine Eulalia Twelue yeares of age was shee and not much aboue when she refused great and honourable offers in mariage as one not skilfull nor yet delighting in courtly daliaunce neyther yet taking pleasure in purple and gorgeous apparell or els in precious balmes or costly ornamentes and iuels But forsaking and despising all these and such lyke pompeous allurements then shewed she her self most busie in preparing her iourney to her hoped inheritance and heauenly patronage Which Eulalia as she was modest and descrete in behauiour sage and sober in conditions so was she also witty and sharp in aunswering her enemies But when the 〈◊〉 rage of persecution inforced her to ioyne her self amongest Gods Children in the houshold of faith and when the Christians were commaunded to offer incense and sacrifice to deuils or dead Gods Then began the blessed spirite of Eulalia to kindle and being of a proâ—tipt ready wit thought forthwith as a couragious captayne to geue a charge vpon this so great and disordered a battayle and so she silly woeman pouring out the bowels of her innocent hart before God more prouoketh therby the â—orce and rage of her enemies agaynst her But the godly care of her parentes fearing least the willing minde of the Damsel so ready to dye for Christes cause might make her gilty of her owne death hid her and kept her close at their house in the countrey being a great way out of the Citty She yet misliking that quiet life as also detesting to make such delay softly stealeth out of the doores no man knowing therof in the night and in great hast leauing the common waye openeth the hedge gappes and with werye feete god knoweth passed through the thorny bryery places accompanied yet with spirituall garde although darke dreadfull was the silent night yet had shee with her the Lord guider of light And as the children of Israel comming out of Egipt had by the mightye power of God a cloudy piller for their guide in the day a flame of fire in the night so had this godly virgine traueling in this darke night when she fleing forsaking the place where al filthy idolatry abounded hastened her heauenly iourney was not oppressed with the dreadfull darknes of the night But yet she before the day appeared in this her speedy iourney with her selfe considered mused on a thousand matters more In the morning betime with a bould courage she goeth vnto the tribunall or iudgement seat in the midst of them all with a loud voice crying out sayde I praye you what a shame is it for you thus rashely and without aduisement to destroy and kill mens soules and to throwe their bodies aliue against the rocks and cause them to deny the omnipotent god Would you know O you vnfortunate who I am behold I am one of the Christians an enimie to your deuilish sacrifices I spurne your idols vnder my feete I confesse God omnipotent with my hart and mouth Isis Apollo and Uenus what are they Maximinus himselfe what is he The one a thing of naught for that they be the workes of mens hands the other but a cast away bicause he worshippeth the same worke Therfore friuolous are they both and both not worthy to be set by Maximinus is a Lorde of substaunce and yet he himselfe falleth downe before a stone and voweth the honor of hys dignitie vnto those that are much inferior to his vassals Why then doth he oppresse so tirannically more worthye stomacks and courages then himselfe He must neds be a good guid and an vpright iudge which fedeth vpon innocent bloud and breathing in the bodies of godly men doth rent and teare their bowels and that more is hath his delight in destroying and subuerting the faith Go to therfore thou hangman burne cut and mangle thou these earthly meÌ„bers It is an easie matter to breake a britle substance but the inward mind shalt not thou hurt for any thing thou canst do The pretor theÌ„ or iudge wyth these words of hers set in a great rage saith hangmaÌ„ take her and pull her out by the heare of her head torment her to the vttermost Let her feele the power of our countrey gods and let her know what the Imperiall gouernement of a Prince is But yet O thou sturdy girle faine woulde I haue thee if it were possible before thou dye to
Then was the great Dragon the deuill to witte the fierce rage power of his malicious persecuting tied short for a thousand yeres after this so that he could not preuaile in any such sort but that the power and glory of the gospel by little and litle encreasing and spreading with great ioy and libertie so preuailed that at length it got the vpperhand replenished the whole earth rightly verifiyng therein the water of Ezechiel which issuing out of the right side of the aulter the farther it ran the deeper it grew till at length it replenished the whole Ocean Sea healed all the fishes therin No otherwise the course of the Gospell proceeding of small hard beginnings kept still his streame the more it was stopped the swifter it ranne by bloud it seeded by death it quickned by cutting it multiplied through violence it sprong till at last out of thraldome and oppressioÌ„ it brast forth into perfect libertie florished in al prosperitie had it so bene that the christians wisely moderatly could haue vsed this rest libertie not abused the same forgetting their former estate to their own pride pomp worldly ease as it came afterward to passe wherof more is to be seene said the Lord willing in place time conuenient And thus much touching the propheticall numbers in the Apocalips Wherein is to be noted and magnified the eternall wisdome and hie prouidence of almighty God so disposing and gouerning his church that no aduersitie or perturbation hapneth at any time vnto it which his prouident wisedome doth not foresee before preordaine neither doth he preordaine or determine any thing which he doth not most truly perform both foreseing the beginning of such persecutions and limiting the end therof how long to continue and when to cease In much like sort we reade in the bookes of Genesis how the stocke of Israell was 400. yeares in the lande of Egipte During the space of which 400. yeares after the death of Ioseph who beareth a playne figure of Christ they were hardly intreated and cruelly afflicted of the Egiptians about the space of 300. yeares reckning from after the death of Ioseph to their deliuerance out of the boÌ„dage of Egipt semblably as these Christians after Christes time suffered the like bondage vnder the Romane tyrauntes Thus much by the way I thought to insinuate least any should â—â—se or take any offeÌ„ce in himself to see or read of the Church so long so many yeares to be vnder so miserable extreme afflictions Wherin neither chaunce nor fortune nor dispositioÌ„ of man hath had any place but onely the forecounsaile determination of the Lord so gouerned and desposed the same Who not only did suffer theÌ„ to fall and foresee those persecutions before they fell but also appointed the times and yeares how long they should last when to haue an ende As by the foresaide 42. monethes in the 13. and 11. chap. of S. Iohns Apocalips haue beene declared Which monethes conteyning 294. yeares if they be rightly gathered make the full time betweene the first yeare of the persecution of Christ vnder the Iewes Herode till the last yeare of persecution vnder Licinius which was from the natiuitie of Christ an 324. from the fyrst persecution of Christ an 294. as is aforesaide After the which yeare according to the preordinate counsel of God when his seueritie had bene sufficiently declared vpon his own house it pleased him to shew mercy againe to bind vp Sathan the old serpent according to the xx chap. of the Reuelation for the space of a thousand yeares that is froÌ„ this time of Licinius to the time of Iohn Wickleffe and Iohn Husse During all which time albeit certaine conflicts and tumults haue bene among Christian byshops themselues in the church yet no vniuersal murdering persecutioÌ„ was stirring before the preaching of Iohn Wickleffe of Husse and such other as in the further processe of this history Christ willing and aiding vs shall more appeare hereafter Thus hauing at large discoursed these horrible persecutions past and heauy afflictions of Christian Martyrs now by the grace of God coÌ„ming out of this redde sea of bloudy persecution leauing Pharao and his host behynde let vs sing gloriously to the worthy name of our god who through the bloud of the lambe after long tedious afflictioÌ„s at length hath visited his people with comfort hath tide vp Sathan shorte hath sent his meeke Moses gentle Constantine I meane by whom it hath so pleased the Lord to worke deliueraunce to his captiue people to see his seruants at liberty to turne their morning into ioy to magnifie the church of his sonne to destroy the Idoles of al the world to graunt life and liberty and would God also not so much riches vnto them which before were the abiectes of all the world and all by the meanes of godly Constantinus the meeke and most christian Emperour of whose diuine victories against so many tyraunts and Emperours persecutors of Christes people and lastly against Licinius an 324. of whose other noble actes prowesses of whose blessed vertues and his happy birth and progeny part we haue comprehended before part now remaineth Christ willing to be declared This Constantine was the sonne of Constantius the Emperour a good and vertuous childe of a good and vertuous father borne in Britaine as saith Eutropius whose Moother was named Helena daughter in deede of King Coilus although Ambrosius in his funerall Oration of the death of Theodosius sayth was an Inhoulders daughter He was a most bountifull and gracious Prince hauyng a desire to nourishe learning and good artes and did oftentimes vse to read write and study himselfe He had marueilous good successe prosperous atchieuing of al things he tooke in hand which then was and truely supposed to proceede of this for that he was so great a fauourer of the Christian fayth Which faith when he had once embraced he did euer after most deuoutly and religiously reuerence and commaunded by especiall commission and proclamations that euery man shoulde professe the same Religion throughout al the Romaine Monarchy The worshipping of Idoles whereunto he was addict by the allurement of Fausta his wife in so much that he did sacrifice vnto them after the discomfite of Maxentius in battaile he vtterly abiured But Baptisme he deferred euen vnto his olde age because hee had determined a iourneye into Persia and thought in Iordan to haue beene baptised Eusebius lib. 4. de vita Constantini As touching his naturall disposition and wit he was very eloquent a good philosopher in disputation sharp and ingenious He was accustomed to say that an Emperour ought to refuse no labor for the vtilitie of the common weale yea that to aduenture the mangling of hys body for the remedy thereof but if otherwaies it maye bee holpen to cherish the same This Aurelius Victor
laide the first foundation of Christian faith amōg the Britayne people Whereupon other preachers and teachers comming afterward confirmed the same and increased it 2. The secōd reason is out of Tertullian who liuing neare about or rather somewhat before the time of this Eleutherius in hys booke Contra Iudaeos manifestly importeth the same where the sayde Tertullian testifying how the Gospel was dispersed abroad by the sound of the Apostles there reckening vp the Medes Persians Parthiās and dwellers in Mesopotamia Iewry Cappadocia Pōtus Asia Phrigia Egypt Pamphilia with many mo at length cōmeth to the coasts of the Moorrians and al the borders of Spayne with diuers natiōs of Fraunce there amongst all other reciteth also the partes of Britayne whyche the Romaines could neuer attaine to and reporteth the same now to be subiect to Christ as also reckeneth vp the places of Sarmatia of the Danes the Germanes the Scithiās with many other prouinces and Iles to him vnknowen in all which places sayth he raigneth the name of Christ which now beginneth to be commō This hath Tertullian Note here how amōg other diuers beleuing nations he mentioneth also the wildest places of Britaine to be of the same number And these in his time were Christened who was in the same Eleutherius time as is aboue sayd Then was not Pope Eleutherius the first whych sent the Christian fayth into this Realme but the Gospell was heere receiued before hys time eyther by Ioseph of Arimathia as some Chronicles recorde or by some of the Apostles or of their scholers which had bene heere preaching Christ before Eleutherius wrote to Lucius 3. My thirde probation I deduct out of Origen Home 4. in Ezechielem whose words be these Britāniam in Christianam consentire religionem Whereby it appeareth that the faith of Christ was sparsed here in England before the daies of Eleutherius 4. For my fourth probation I take the testimony of Bede where he affirmeth that in his time and almost a thousand yeare after Christ here in Britayne Easter was kept after the maner of the East Church in the full moone what day in the weeke soeuer it fell on and not on the Sonday as we do now Wherby it is to be collected that the first preachers in this land haue come out from the East part of the world where it was so vsed rather then from Rome 5. Fiftly I may alledge the woordes of Nicephorus Lib. 2. cap 40. where hee sayeth that Symon Zelotes did spreade the gospel of Christ to the West Oceane and brought the same vnto the Iles of Britayne 6. Sixtly may be added here also the words of Petrus Cluniacensis who wryting to Bernard affirmeth that the Scots in his time did celebrate their Easter not after the Romane maner but after the Greekes c. And as the said Britains were not vnder the Romane order in the time of this Abbot of Cluniake so neither were they nor woulde be vnder the Romane legate in the time of Gregory nor would admit any primacy of the bishop of Rome to be aboue thē 7. For the seuenth argument moreouer I may make my probation by the plaine woordes of Eleutherius by whose Epistle wrytten to king Lucius we may vnderstande that Lucius had receaued the faith of Christ in his lande before the king sent to Eleutherius for the Romane lawes for so the expresse wordes of the letter do manifestly purport as hereafter followeth to be seene By all which coniectures it may stand probably to be thought that the Britaynes were taught first by the Grecians of the East Church rather then by the Romaines Peraduenture Eleutherius might helpe something eyther to conuert the king or else to encrease the Faith then newly sprong among the people but that he precisely was the first that cannot be proued But graunt he were as in deede the most part of our English stories confesse neither will I greatly sticke with them therin yet what haue they got thereby when they haue cast all their gaine In fewe wordes to conclude this matter if so be that the Christian faith and religiō was first deriued from Rome to this our nation by Eleutherius then let them but graunt to vs the same faith and religion which then was taught at Rome and from thence deriued hether by the sayd Eleutherius and we wil desire no more For then neither was any vniuersal Pope aboue all Churches and Councels whych came not in before Bonifacius time whych was 400. yeres after neither any name or vse of the Masse the partes whereof how and by whom they were compiled here after in this booke following appeareth to be seene Neither any sacrifice propiciatorie for the scouring of Purgatory was then offered vpon halowed altars but onely the Communion frequented at Christian tables where oblations and gifts were offered as well of the people as of the Priestes to God because they should appeare neither emptie nor vnkinde before the Lord as we may vnderstand by the time of Cyprian Neither was then any transubstātiation heard of which was not brought in before a thousand yere after Neither were then any images of Saints departed set vp in Churches yea a great number of the Saints worshypped in this our time were not as yet borne nor the Churches wherein they were worshipped were yet set vp but came in long after especially in the time of Irene Constans the Emperour Likewise neyther Reliques nor peregrinations were then in vse Priestes Mariage was then as lawfull and no lesse receiued as now neither was it condemned before the dayes of Hildebrand almost a thousande yeares after that Their seruice was then in the vulgare toung as witnesseth Hierome The Sacrament ministred in both kindes as wel to lay men as to Priestes the witnes wherof is Cyprian Yea and that temporal men which would not then communicate at Easter Whitsontide and Christenmasse were not coūted for Catholiks the Popes owne distinction can testifie In funeralles Priestes then flocked not together selling trentals and diriges for sweping of Purgatorie but onely a funeral cōcion was vsed with Psalmes of praises songs of theyr worthy deedes and Alleluya sounding on high which did shake the gilded seelings of the temple as witnesseth Nazianzene Ambrose and Hierome c. In the Supper of the Lord at Baptisme no such ceremonies were vsed as now of late hath bene intruded in so much that as in this story is shewed hereafter both Austen and Paulinus Baptised then in Riuers not in halowed fountes as wytnesseth Fabianus The Portuis of Sarum of Yorke of Bangor with Mattens and Euensong of the day againe neither the orders and religions of Monks Friers were not yet dreamed of to the space almost of a thousand yeares after c. So that as I sayde if the Papistes woulde needes deriue the faith religion of this Realme from Rome then let them set
Oswyne either being not able or not willing to ioyne with him in Battaile caused hym traiterously to be slaine And so Oswy with his sonne Egfride raigned in Northumberland alone In the time also in the house of this Oswy king of NorthuÌ„berland was a certaine man named Benedict who was the bringer vp of Bede from his youth tooke him to his institution wheÌ„ he was but seuen yere old so taught him during his life This Benedict or Benet descending of a noble stocke and rich kinne in good fauour with Oswy forsoke seruice house and al his kindred to serue Christ weÌ„t to Rome where he had bene in his life time v. times and brought from thence bookes into Monasteries wyth other things which he thought then to serue for deuotion Thys Bennedict surnamed Byshop was the fyrst that brought in the arte and vse of glasing into this lande For before that glasse windowes were not knowen either in churches or in houses In the raigne of the foresaid Oswye and Egfride hys sonne was Botulphus Abbot which builded in the East part of Lincolne an Abbey Also Aidanus Finianus Colmannus with iii. Scottish Bishops of Northumberlande holy men held with the Britaines against the Romish order for the keeping of Easter daye Moreouer Cutbertus Iarumannus Cedda and Wilfridus liued the same time who as I iudge to be Byshops of an holy conuersation so I thought it sufficient here only to name them As touching their miracles wherefore they were made Saintes in the Popes calender seing they are not written in the Gospel nor in my Crede but in certaine old chronicles of that age so they are no matter of my faith notwithstanding as touching there conuersation this I read and also do credite that the Clergy both of Britaine Englande at that time plied nothing that was worldly but gaue theÌ„ to preching and teaching the word of our Sauiour and followed the life that they preached by giuing of good ensample And ouer that as our histories accord they were so voyd of couetousnes that they receiued no possessions or territories as was forced vpon them About this season or not much before vnder the raigne of Oswy Oswyne kynges of Northumberlande an other Synode or Councell was holden against the Brytaines and the Scottish bishops for the ryght obseruyng of Easter at Sternehalt At what time Agilbertus Byshop of westsaxons came to Northumberlande to instyture Wilfride Abbot of Rypon where this question for Easter day began to be moued For Colmannus then Byshop of NorthuÌ„berland followed not the custome of Rome nor of the Saxons but followed the Brytaynes and the Scottish Bishops his predecessors in the same sea before Thus on the on side was Colmannus the Archbyshop of Yorke and Hilda the Abbes of Sternhalt which alleaged for them the doinges and examples of their predecessours both godly and reuerend byshops as Aidanus Finianus Archbishops of that sea of Yorke before them and diuers moe Who had vsed alwaies to celebrate the Easter from the xiiij day of the first moneth till the xxviij of the same And specially for that S. Iohn yâ— Euangelist at Ephesus kept and obserued that day c. On the otherside was Agilbert bishop of westsaxons Iames the Deacon of Paulinus aboue mentioned Wilfride Abbot of Ripon and King Alfride Oswyes sonne with his Queene holding on the same side The full contentes of which disputation here followeth according as in the story of Beda at large is described with their reasons and argumentes on both sydes as insueth c. The question of Easter and of shauing and other Ecclesiasticall maters being moued it was determined that in the Abbey which is called Streneshalch of the which Hilda a deuout woman was Abbes a conuocation should be had and this question there determined To the which place came both the kinges the father and the sonne Byshop Colman with his clergy of Scotland Aigelbert wyth Agathon and Wilfride Priestes Iames and Roman were on their sides Hilda the Abbes with her company was on the Scottish part And the reuerend Byshop Cedda was appointed Prolocutor for both parties in that Parliament King Oswye begaÌ„ first with an Oration declaring that it was necessary for such as serued one God to liue in one vniforme order and that such as loked for one kingdome in heauen should not differ in celebration of the heauenly sacraments but should rather seeke for the true tradition follow the same This said he commaunded his Byshop Colman to declare what the rite and custome was in thys behalfe that he vsed and from whence it had the originall Then Colman obeying his princes coÌ„maundement sayd the Easter which I obserue I receaued of my auncestors that sent me hether a Bishop The which all our forefathers being men of God did celebrate in like maner left it should be couteÌ„ned or despised of any man it is manifestly aparant to be the very same which the holy Euangelist S. Iohn a disciple especially beloued of the Lord did customably vse in al churches and congregations where he had authoritie When Colman had spoken manye thinges to this effect the king coÌ„maunded Aigelbert to declare his opinion in this behalfe and to shew the order that he then vsed from whence it came by what authoritie he obserued the same Aigelbert requested the king that his scooler Wilfride a Priest might speake for him in as much as they both with the rest of hâ—â— clergy were of one opinion herein and that the said Wilfride coulde vttey his minde better and more plainely in the Englishe toung then he himselfe could Then Wilfride at the kings coÌ„maundements began on this sort and sayd The Easter which we keepe wee haue seene at Rome whereas the holye Apostles Peter Paule did liue and teach did suffer and were buried The same also is vsed in Italy and in Fraunce the which couÌ„tries we haue traueled for learning and haue noted it to be celebrated of them all In Asia also and in Aphricke in Egipt and in Greece and finally in all the world the same maner of Easter is obserued that we vse saue onelye by these here present with their accomplice the Pictes the Britanes with the which two yet not altogither agreing they condescend striue foolishly in this order against the vniuersal world To whom Colman replied saying I maruel you wil cal this order folish that so great an Apostle as was worthy to lie in the Lordes lap did vse whom all the world doth wel know to haue liued most wisely and Wilfride aunswered god forbid that I should reprooue S. Iohn of folye who kept the rites of Moses law according to the letter the Churche being yet Iewishe in manye pointes and the Apostles not as yet able to abdicate al the obseruations of the law before ordained as for example yâ— could not reiect
the porte of Southhampton But as Polydorus sayeth and Fabian affirmeth the same that it was by Thames side at London When his flatterers comming about him began to exalt him vp with high wordes calling him a king of all kings most mighty who had vnder his subiection both the people the land and also the sea Canutus reuoluing this matter in his minde whether for pride of his heart exalted or whether to trâ—e and refell their flattering words coÌ„maunded his chaire of estate to be brought to the sea side at what time it should begin to flowe Polydore sayth that no seate was brought but sitting vpon his garments being folded together vnder him there charged and commaunded the floudes arising comming toward his feete that they shoulde not touch neither him nor his clothes But the water keeping his ordinary course came nearer and nerer First to his feete and so growing higher began to wash him welfauoredly Wherewith the king abashed partly also afeard starte backe and looking to his Lordes Loe sayth he ye call me such a mighty king yet can I not commaunde backe this litle water to stay at my worde but it is ready to drowne me Wherfore all earthly kings may know that all their powers be but vaine and that none is worthy to haue the name of a king but he alone which hath all things subiect to the power authoritie of his word which is the Lord of heauen earth the creatour aboue of all thinges the father of our Christ and Lorde who with him for euer is to be glorified him let vs worship and extoll for our king for euer After this as histories witnes he neuer suffred the crowne to come vpon his head but went to Winchester or as some say to Canterbury but both those may be true for his going to CaÌ„terbury was to acknowledge that there was a Lorde much higher of more power then he himselfe was and therewithal to render vp his crowne for euer With that Egelnothes Archbyshop of Canterbury informed him of the image of the Crucifix before meÌ„tioned which dissolued the matter betweene maried Priests and life of Monkes and did many other myracles moe being then at Winchester Wherewith the King prouoked to go to Winchester to the roode there resigned vp hys regall Crowne and made the roode king ouer all the land Here is also to be noted in this Canutus that although as is said he coÌ„descended in the beginning of his raigne vpon king Edgares lawes yet after in proces of time hee set forth peculiar lawes of his own Among which diuers there be that concerne as well causes Ecclesiasticall as also temporal Whereby it may appeare that the gouernmeÌ„t of spirituall matters not to depende then of the Bishop of Rome but to appertaine to the lawfull authoritie of the temporall Prince no lesse then of matters and causes temporall As for example by these ordinaunces of the foresayd Canutus may be well considered as here folowe Pecunia sepulturae iustum est vt aperta terra reddatur Si aliquod corpus a sua parochia deferatur in aliam pecunia sepulturae c. In English It is mete and right that in funerals money be geuen for opening the earth If anybody or corse be caried from his owne Parishe into an other the money of the buriall shal pertaine by the law to his owne Parish Church All ordinaunces and ceremonies of God let them be obserued as neede in all things requireth Uppon the Sonday we forbid all publique â—ayres or markets all Synodes or conuenticles huntinges or any such seculare actions to be exercised vnlesse vrgent necessitie compell therunto Let euery ChristeÌ„ man prepare himself thrise a yere to approche to the receauing of the Lords body so to eate the same as not to his iudgemeÌ„t but to his wholsome remedy If a minister of the altare doe kill any man or haue intangled himselfe in any notorious crime let him be depriued both from his order and dignitie If any maried woman her husband being aliue haue committed adultery be proued with the same to her opeÌ„ shame in the world let her haue her nose and eares cut of Let euery widow after the death of her husband so remaine sole xij monethes or if shee marrye let her loose her ioynter And heere an ende of the Danish kyngs Nowe to the English kings againe whose right line coÌ„meth in againe in Edward here following King Edward called the Confessor FOr so much as God of his mercye and prouidence who is onely the maker of heires thought it so good after the wofull captiuitie of this Englishe nation to graunt now some respite of deliuerance in taking away the Danish kings without any issue left behind them who reigning here in EnglaÌ„d kept the english people in miserable subiection about the space of xxviij yeares and that from their firste landing in the time of King Brightricus wasting and vexing this land the terme of cc. â—v yeres Now their tiranny here comming to an ende the next election right of the crowne fell as appertained to Edwarde the yonger sonne of king Egelred and Emma a meere Englishman who had bene now long banished in Normandy as is aboue declared A man of gentle and soft spirite more appliable to other mens couÌ„sailes then able to trust to his owne of nature condition so geuen from al warre and bloudshed that being in his banishment he wished rather so to continue all his life long in that priuate estate then by warre or bloudshed to aspire to any kingdome This Edward after the death of Canutus the seconde or Hardecanute being sent for of the Lordes into NormaÌ„die to take possession of the Realme although he something mistrusted the vnconstant and fickle heads of EnglishmeÌ„ yet hauing sufficient pledges laid for him in Normandie came ouer with a few Normands accompanied and not long after was crowned at Winchester an 1043. by Edsius then Archbishop of Cant. And not long after that he maried Goditha or Editha daughter of Earle Godwyne whome he entreated after such sort that he neither put her from his bed nor yet delt with her fleshly Whether it 〈◊〉 for hate of her kin as most like it was or for loue of chastitie it remaineth vncertaine But most writers agree that he continued his lyfe without offence with women â—or the which he is highly exalted among our story writers and called holy king Edwarde After he had thus taken vpon him the gouernement of the realme he guided the same with much wisedome and iustice the space of 24. yeres lacking two monethes from whome issued as out of a fountaine much godlinesse mercy pitie and liberalitie towarde the poore gentlenes and iustice toward all men and in all honest life he gaue a vertuous example to his people He discharged the Englishmen of the great tribute called Dane gelt which before
our homage But I do maruell if at the least there remaine in you any one drop of bloud that you are not ashawed to call the Lord Henry a king or to allow him any ordinarie place Is this a seemely order thinke you to geue place to wickednes and to make a generall confusion in mixing good and euill Gods and mans deuises together Either do you thinke this good order for man to sinne against his owne body as Oh shamefull wickednes to make his owne wife a common harlot a mischiefe not heard of at any time since the beginning of the world before now or do you alow this for good order when as the Lord sayth defend the widowes especially such as require equitie of Iustice and then them to send away most filthely defiled Madde Orestes doth protest him to be out of his wit that will say these things to be orderly or well done Vntill this most miserable time nature hath euer loued secrecie but your king geueÌ„ vp into a reprobate sense hath vncouered the priuities of nature who hath not let to lay abroade all shamefastnesse we wil not speake of other thinges which cannot be numbred that is to say burning of Churches robberies fiering of houses manslaughters murders such like the number whereof he knoweth and not we for let vs speake chiefly of those things which most greue the Church of God Harken therfore to true not fained things Hearken I say to matters of earnest and to no trifles Euery one that doth tell spirituall dignities is an hereticke But the Lord Harry whom they cal a king doth sell both Byshoprikes and Abbathies for truely he solde for money the Byshoprikes of Constance Babemberge Mens many others The Byshopprikes of Ratisbone Augusta and Strafebrough he sold for a sword and the Abbey of Fulda for adulterie And for filthy sodomitry he sold the byshopprike of Mon. A wickednes it is to speake or heare of such a fact The which things if without shame ye wil deny he is to be condemned by the witnes of heauen and earth yea and of the selie poore idiotes that come from the smithes forge Wherfore the Lord Harry is an hereticke For the which most wicked euils he is excommunicate from the sea Apostolike so that he may not exercise either kingdome or power ouer vs which be Catholicke And whereas you burden vs with hatred of our brethren knowe you that we purpose not to hate any of affection but of a godly zeale God forbidde that we should thinke Harry worthy to be accompted amongst our christian brethren who in deede is reputed for an Ethnike and Publicane in that he refused to heare the Church which so oft hath reproued him The hatred of whome we offer vnto God for a great sacrifice saying with the Psalmist Lord shall not I hate them that hate thee and shall not I triumph ouer thine enemies I hate them with an inward hatred that be ennemies to me for thy sake The truth it selfe commending the worthines of this hatred doth say If any do not hate father and mother brethren and sisters for my sake he cannot be my disciple We are not therefore iustly to be reproued of hatred which doe geue ouer our owne soule to be in the way of God who in deede are commanded to hate father and mother and euery affection which doth withstaÌ„d vs for walking in the path of God Hereof it commeth that we labor withall our studie and endeuour to beware of the enemies of the church and them to hate Not for that they be our enemies but gods Father where you doe perswade peace to be had with all men you must remember what the Apostle doth put before if it may be But if it can be that we can haue peace with them who can be contrary to God who doth not know the Lord our Sauiour to commend not onely peace when as he sayth my peâ—ce I geue vnto you my peace I leaue vnto you but that he is the peace as sayeth the Apostle he is the peace which made of both one For he calleth him our peace speaking in commendation of the peace Thincke not sayeth hee that I came to sende peace For I came not to send peace but the sworde What is meant by this Why is peace called a sword Or doth peace bid battel Yea truely to destroy the peace of the deuill For the deuil hath his peace whereof the Lord speaketh When as the strong man keepeth his house he doth possesse all his substance in peace Oh howe mightely doeth the deuil kepe his souldiours and his house in this time who with the shield of falshood and the helmet of vntruth so doth defend him that he will not suffer either arrow or dart of truth to pearse him Neuertheles our Lord being more strongly armed fiercely comming vpon your Giaunt is able to ouercome him and to take away his weapons wherein he putteth his trust We are not therfore to be blamed if we do detest that peace more cruel then any warre The which the truth it selfe did reproue weeping ouer Hierusalem and saying Truely it grieueth me this day to see sinners in peace being like vnto that peace wherat the Psalmist was offended Whereas you condemne Pope Gregory king Rodolphus and Marques Eggerbertus as men that haue died of an vnhappy death do magnifie your Lord because he doth ouerliue them it doth plainly forsoth appeare that you remaine voide of all spiritual consideration Is it not better to die well then to liue ill They be truely happy who suffer persecution for righteousnes sake by the same reason may you esteme Nero Herod and Pilate happy in that they ouerliued Peter Paul Iames Apostles Iesus Christ. What can be said more foolish and wicked then this opinion Wherfore refraine your babling toung from this blasphemie least that you place your selfe in the number of them which seeing the end of the iust to be glorious themselues doing late vnfruitfull penance bewailing in the anguish of the spirite shall say These be they whom sometime we had in derision laughed to scorne we being out of our wits thought their liues madnes and their end to be without honor Behold howe they be allowed to be amongst the children of God and their portion is amongst the Saints Wherfore we haue erred from the way of truth the brightnes of righteousnesse did not shine vpon vs. What did out pride auaile vs And what profit did the boasting of our richesse bring vnto vs They are all vanished away like a shadowe The which wordes we haue registred vp into perpetual memorie we do despise euery atteÌ„pt that shal lift vp it self against the truth of God And reioycing in troubles we may be reprooued put to shame and rebuked yea and finally be slaine and killed but we wil neither yeeld nor be ouercome And with great triumph will we reioyce in our fathers
an example to the flocke and when the chiefe Pastor shall appeare you shall receiue an incorruptible crowne of eternall glory c. And this is the doctrine of Peter as they shal se which do not obey it As for vs the other part of the sayd Epistle is sufficient Wherein he willeth thē to reioice which are in heauines through manifolde temptations that the triall of theyr sayth being much more precious thē gold that perisheth and is tryed in fire may be theyr laud honour and glory at the appearing of the Lord Iesu. c. But beare with me I pray you O holy Father and of all your Predecessors most meekest and suffer my wordes though the seme something sharpe for they be sighings of a sorrowfull hart Wherefore gird about your loynes with fortitude and light vp the candle of your descretion and seeke the groat that is lost of the vnity I meane of sayth And we will also with like compassion ioyne with your holynesse and will not spare this weake body of mine in pretending any excuse either of age or lēgth of the way For the more laborous the trauell is the moe crownes it bringeth And S. Paule sayth Euery man shall receiue reward according to his trauell c. Neither are we ignoraunt if it please your holinesse that like as we Grecians for our partes do labour in all respectes to keepe and obserue the sincerity of true sayth and doctrine not to erre ne swerue in any part or poynt from the statutes of the blessed Apostles and auncient fathers so the Church likewise of old Rome doth for her part labour also we know well to follow the sincere verity of Christian doctrine and thinketh her selfe to erre in nothing nor to neede any remedye or reformation And this we know is the iudgement and saying of both the Churches aswell of the Greekes as of the Latines For no man can see any spot in his owne face without he stoope downe to the glasse or els be admonished by some other whether his face be blotted or no. Euen so haue we many great sayre glasses set before vs first the cleare Gospell of Christ the Epistles of the Apostles and diuinitie bookes of auncient writers Let vs therefore looke in them well They will shew euery mans minde and iudgement whether he go right or wrong The God of peace tread downe Sathan speedely vnder our feet The author of peace confound the sower of discord He that is the cause of all goodnes destroy the hater of that which is good and which geueth cause of offence and slaunder And he which is God of all ioy and peace send to vs whiche are the shepheardes of his sheepe reasonable the aungell of peace and messenger of great glad tidings as he did in the Natiuitye of Christ to the shepheardes of brute sheepe and vnreasonable and make vs worthy to sing that ioyfull song of Gods prayse Gloria in excelsis Deo in terra pax hominibus bona voluntas and to receiue one an other with an holy kisse The grace of our Lord Iesus Christ and the peace of God the Father and the communion of the holy spirit be with you alwayes Amen ¶ An other Epistle of the sayd Germanus Patriarch of Constantinople and Primate of the Greek Church to the Cardinals of Rome AN other letter the sayd Germanus Patriarch of Constantinople wrote also the same time to the Popes Cardinals wherin he first commending them for theyr wisedome and counsell and shewing what vtility commeth by good counsell geuing for so much as God sayth he many times that he hydeth from one inspireth to an other so that that good thing which by the almighty God is sonderly dispensed to diuers through common counsell and conference spreadeth to the publicke vtility of many c. After this eftsoones he beginneth to exhort them that they like charitable ministers and discrete counsellors will take in hand the spirituall armour of God to cast downe the stoppe partition walle of the olde discord betweene the Greekes and Latine Church that they will be a meanes to the Bishop of Rome that they which so long haue bene disseuered by dissention may now be conioyned in vnity of peace in brotherly charity and communion of fayth Concerning which matter I haue sayth he already written to his holynesse And now I beseech the king of heauen whiche tooke the shape of a seruaunt to helpe his miserable seruauntes and was exalted vpon the crosse to raise them vp which were fallen into the profundity of desolation that he will vouchsafe to put from your hartes all elation of minde extolling it selfe ouer and aboue the vnity of your brethren and fellow seruauntes and to lighten your consciences with the true light of vnderstanding that we may altogether agree in one that there be no schisme amongst vs. Let vs therefore as we are instructed so abide in one minde that it be not sayd of vs as it was of the Corinthians before vs I hold of Paule I of Apollo I of Coephas and I of Christ but that all we as we holde the name of Christ and are all called Christians so may also abide in that wherein we are instructed in one minde that is to follow loue and charity in Christ Iesus hauing alwayes in our hartes the wordes of the Apostle saying One Lord one Fayth one Baptisme And now to be playne with you in that I haue to say I shal desire you not to be offended with me in vttering the trueth as a frend vnto you The wordes sayth Salomon of a wise man telling trueth be like to nayles which be driuen in deepe And truth for the moste parte breedeth enemies And therefore though I am partly afrayd yet will I simply confesse the trueth vnto you Certes this diuision of Christian vnity amongst vs proceedeth of no other cause but onely of the tiranny oppression and exactiōs of the Church of Rome which of a mother is become a stepdame and hath put her children from her whome long time she nourished after the maner of a rauening bird which driueth her yong from her which children how much the more humble and obedient they are to her the lesse she esteemeth them and treadeth them vnder foot not regarding the saying of the Gospel Who so humbleth himselfe shal be exalted Let modesty therefore something temper you and let the auarice of the Court of Rome although it can not well out of the flesh which is bred in the bone yet surcease a while and let vs together condescend to the triall of the trueth which trueth being found out on both sides let vs constantly embrace the same For why we haue bene altogether some times both Italians and Grecians in one fayth and vnder the same Canons hauing peace each with other and defending one an other and confounding the enemies of the Church At what tyme many flying out of the west
suffered this patiently Glossa The euils which these false Prophetes ioyned together by seculare power doe bryng in Are not the doinges of true Apostles but false Prophets The 34. signe is that true Apostles go not to preach to those which are coÌ„uerted already by other men but rather doe conuert those which are not yet conuerted least that they should build vpon an other mans foundation as S. Paule Rom. 15 sayth I haue laboured so that from Ierusalem to Iliricus I haue replenished the Gospell in euery place Glose That is I haue preached the same abouÌ„dantly in whom the great vertue of the holy ghost appeareth because so many nations that is the Gentiles haue receiued the Gospell by my preaching But I haue preached the Gospell there where Christ was not preached before least I should build vpon an other mans foundatioÌ„ Glose I should not preach to those that were conuerted by an other man Also 2. Corinth 10. we are not such as boast and glory in other mens labours Glose where an other man layd the foundation for that should be to boast inordinately Also in the same place not thinking to boast wher an other man hath gouernmeÌ„t but in those things which are put in experience Glose Of other preachers Because the Apostle did preach vnto those to whoÌ„ the Gospell was neuer preached that he might get prayse by his owne proper labour Therefore those Preachers which goe not to that people which haue neede to be conuerted but to those which are conuerted already which haue apostles of their own that is to say Bishops and Priests and yet do boast ouer an other mans flocke are not true Apostles but false Prophets The 35. signe is because true Apostles when they are sent go to their own dioces not to an other maÌ„s dioces euen as Paule being sent went to the Gentiles when he purposed to preach Actes 13. Seperate Paule and Barnabas for the businesse whiche I haue chosen them vnto Glose According to the appoyntmeÌ„t and decree of Iames Cephas and Iohn went he forth to be a teacher vnto the Gentiles But those preachers that stand vpon theyr feet That is to saye those Preachers whiche haue but small worldly substaunce for which cause they are more readier to goe which way so euer it shall please the Lord to send them I say the Lord hath sent them to preache not to those which be sufficiently learned but to those that are infidels as we read in Ezech. 2. After that the spirit of the Lord set Ezechiel vpon his feet in qua spem situs vnus tangitur and he sayd vnto him O sonne of man beholde I send thee to the nations which haue â—art â—acke from their profession which haue gone from me that is to the Iewish heretickes and to those nations which sometime haue bene Christians as the Egyptians the Babilonians and all those that obserue the law of Mahomet Therefore if such go to those that are already instructed hauing both Apostles bishops and priests of their owne they goe not into their own dioces but into an other mans dioces and are not true Apostles but false preachers And it is greatly to be feared least the Church be in hazard and daunger by such vnlesse they be thrust oâ—t of the same betime EueÌ„ as Ionas which wheÌ„ he was sent to â—iâ—iuy of the Lord which is interpreted large or wide and leadeth to the hill that is to the Infidels we speake of before They go not to those Infidelles according to the commaundement of the Lord but they turne an other way take their iourny into â—harsis which is interpreted â—oâ—king after ioy and pleasure That is they goe vnto thosâ— which receiue theÌ„ with ioy and gladnes do well prouide for them that is to say to godly and deuout Christians And therefore it is to be feared least the ship in which they be that is the Church be in great perill vnlesse they be thrown forth And therefore the Apostle spake of such false Prophets not without good cause 2. Timo. 2. And shonne thou those Glose That is such men as those be The 36. signe is because true Apostles doe not boast neither do they attribute vnto theÌ„selues any other thing but in that God hath wrought the same by them Paule Romaines 15. sayth I dare not say any thing but that which Christ hath wrought and accomplished by me Glo. That is I speake onely those thinges which by me that is by my ministery Christ hath wrought They therefore that boast of many things do attribute much vnto theÌ„selues which they neuer did are not true Apostles but false Prophets The 37. signe is that true Apostles do not apply them selues or leane to Logicall or Philosophicall reasons Therfore those preachers which do indeuour themselues to such kinde of reasons are not true Apostles but false Prophets The 38. signe is that true Apostles doe not loue carnally or after the flesh but hate what thing soeuer doth resist them in the seruice of God as Luke 14. He that doth not hate his father and mother his sonne and sister and also himselfe he cannot be my disciple Glose That is he that doth not hate whatsoeuer doth resist or let him in the seruice of God is not worthy to be a Disciple neither can he abide in that office Therefore for as much as true preachers are the true Disciples of the Lord it must needes follow that those Preachers which do promote their nephewes and kinsfolks how vnworthy soeuer they be to Ecclesiasticall promotions and liuinges contrary to the will of God or do any other thing that letteth or hindreth them in the seruice of God are not true Apostles but false Prophets The 39. signe is that true Apostles do not hunt for the frendship of this world for he that is the frend of this world is the enemy of God Therefore those preachers which purchase the frendship of this world are not true apostles but false prophetes Therefore for as much as the Scripture is infallible as in the 24. chapter of Mathew saying Heauen and earth shall perish but my words shal endure for euer And the holy ghost which spake in the Apostle cannot lie for prophecy for the most part is not spoken by the will of man but the holy men of God spake by the inspiration of the holy Ghost as it is red in the first epistle of Peter the 5. chapter It remayneth that all men which are bound to defend the Church may rise vp in the defence of the same according to that in the 24. chapter of the Prouerbs Deliuer those that are led to death and cease thou not to rescue those which are drawne to destruction Neither may he alleadge vayne accusations because it is sayd in the same place If he say he is not able or strong enough he that beholdeth the thoughtes of mens hartes shall know it c. what so euer
him agayn with great successe felicitie and long raigne In so much the he beyng yong as he was playing at Chesse with a certayne souldior of his sodainly hauing no occasion geuen rose vp and went his way who was not so soon voyded the place but incontinent fel down a mighty stone from the vawt aboue directly vpon that place where he sate able to haue quashed him in peeces if he had caried neuer so little more In the proseruation of whome as I see the present hand and mighty prouidence of the huing God so in the kinges order agayne I note a fault or error worthy of reprehension For that he receiuing such a liuely benefite at the hand of the liuing Lord going therefore on pilgrimage to walsingham gaue thanks not only to our Lady but rather to a rotten blacke Ibidem Of the gentle nature of this couragious prince sufficient proofe is geuen by this one example that what time he being in hys desport of hauking chaunced sharpoly to rebuke the negligence of one of his gentlemen for what fault I cannot tell about his hauke the gentleman being on the other side of the riuer hearing his manassing wordes was glad as he sayd that the riuer was between them with this answer the couragious bloud of this Prince being moued vppon present hear he leaped straight into the floud both a swift streame and of a dangerous deepnesse and no lesse hard in getting out Notwithstanding either forgetting his owne life or neglecting the daunger present but hauing a good horse ventreth his own death to haue the death of his maÌ„ At length with much difficultie recouering the bank with his sword drawn pursueth his prouoker Who hauing not so good an horse and seeing himselfe in daunger of taking reineth hys horse submitteth his necke vnder hys hande to strike The prince whose feruent stomack the water of the whole riuer could not quench a little submission of his man did so extinct that the quarrel fell his anger ceased and his sword put vp without any stroke geuen And so both returned to theyr game good friendes agayne Auesb. Nich. Triuet In the first beginning of his raigâ—e this Kyng had much adoe in Wales where he had diuers conflictes wyth the welshmen whom at last he subdued cut down theyr woodes suppressed rebellions vanquishing theyr kings Lewline and his brother ordeined his eldest sonne Edward borne in the same Countrey to be Prince of Wales This Lewline Captayne of the welshmen here mentioned rebelling agaynst king Edward asked counsayle by way of coniuration what euent should come vpon his attempt To whom it was tolde that he should goe forward boldly for doubtlesse he should ryde thorough Chepeside at London with a crowne on his head Whiche so came to passe For he being slayne hys head was caried through Chepe with a Crowne of siluer to London bridge whereby men may learne not to seeke nor stick to these vayne prophesies which though they fall true yet are but the traynes of the deuill to deceyue men About this time was a great earthquake and suche a rotte that consumed a great multitude of sheep in the land through the occasion as they say of one scabbed shepe that came out of Spayne The king returning from Wales to England ordred certayne new lawes for the wealth of the realme Among many other this was one that authoritie was geuen to all Maiors Bailiâ—es other officers to see execution and punishment of all Bakers making bread vnder the sise with pillory Of Milners stealing corn with the tumbrel c. And within two yeares after the statute of Mortinayne was first enacted which is to meane that no man should geue vnto the Churche any landes or rentes without a speciall licence of the king About which tyme also being the 7. yeare of his raigne 297. Iewes for mony clipping were put to execution In whiche same yeare began first the foundation of the blacke Friers by Ludgate And the towne of Bosten was greatly wasted the same yeare with fyre The halfepeny and farthinges began first to be coyned the selfe tyme which was the 8. yeare of hys raygne The great conduit in Chepe began the fourth yeare after to be made anno 1248. And the yeare next following the newe worke of the Churche of Westminster begon as is afore premonished in the thyrd yeare of Henry 3. was finished whiche was 66. yeares in edifiyng the Iewes were vtterly banished this Realme of England the same tyme for whiche the commons gaue to the kyng a fifteene anno 1291. After that the country of Wales was brought in a full order and quiet by the hewing downe of the woodes and casting down the old holdes and building of new whiche all was brought to perfect end about the 24. yeare of thys kings reigne then ensued an other broile as great or greater with Scotland to the great disquiet of the king and the realme of England many yeares after This trouble first began by the death of Alexander king of Scots who dyed without issue left aliue behinde him Although Fabiane in that 7. booke of hys Chronicle affirmeth that he left 3. daughters the eldest maryed to sir John Bailol the secoÌ„d to Robert Bruce the thyrd to one Hastinges But this in Fabian is to be corrected as which neyther standeth with it selfe is clearely conuinced by the witnes and history of Rob. Auel bury and also 〈◊〉 Giâ—burne For first if king Alexander had left his eldest daughter marked to Syr Iohn Bailol then what coÌ„trouersie might rule among the Lords about succession needing so diligent and anxious deciding by the king of England Secondly what clayme or title could the king of Norway haue to the crowne of Scotland which was one of the chalengers claiming the sayd crowne in the behalfe of Margaret the nece of the forsayd king Alexander her graunfather if the eldest daughter of the father had heue left aliued Thirdly what can be more playn when by the affirmance of the foresaid story is testified that K. Alexander had 2. wiues Of the second whereof he had no issue Of the first had two Children Alexader which died before his father and Margaret maried to the kyng of Norway whiche died also before her Father of whom came Margaret the â—ece of Alexander and daughter to the king of Norway afore mentioned And the also dyed in the iourny betweene Norway and Scotland the fourth yeare after the decease of her grandfather Wherfore as this matter standeth most cleare so let vs now returning froÌ„ whence we digressed prosecute the rest that foloweth After that AlexaÌ„der thus as is said departed without issue also Margaret his â—iece in Norway was deceased the matter came in a great doubt among the nobles of Scotland especially 12. by name to whome the right of the crowne should next pertayne After much variaunce among parties at length the election
it is manifest that he defiled by adultery her first husband yet liuing she beyng worthy to haue the promise of mariage kept vnto her Therefore because that whiche is done agaynst the Lord turneth to the wrong of all men and specially in so great a mischiefe by reason of the consequence by which she is iudged of the people both a woman adultres or defamed I like a bridle Asse by the power of the Lord and not by the voyce of a perfect mā being not able to bear so great a burdé take in hand to rebuke the madnes of the sayd false Prophet Balaam whiche at the instaunce of kyng Balaac 1. of the Prince of deuils whom he serueth and ready to cursie the people blessed of the Lord I beseeche you most excellent Prince and Lord Phillip by the grace of God king of Fraunce that like as the Aungell of God in tyme past mette in the way with a sword drawne the prophet Balaam goyng to curse Gods people so you whiche are vnwilling to execute iustice and therefore like the Aungell of the Lorde and minister of power and office woulde meete with a naked sworde this sayde wicked man whiche is farre worse then Balaam that he performe not that euill whiche he intendeth to the people First I propound that the foresayd man that nameth himselfe Boniface is no Pope but wrongfully keepeth the fear which he hath in deede to the great damage of all the soules of Gods holy Church I say also that his entring was many waies faulty and he entred not in at the doore but otherwaies and therfore is to be iudged a theefe a robber 2. I propound also that the sayde Boniface is a manifest hereticke and vtterly cut off from the body of the holy Church because of many kindes of heresies whiche are to be declared in conuenient tyme and place 3. I propound also that the sayde Boniface is an horrible simoniacall such a one as hath not bin sithens the beginning of the world and the mischiefe of this sinne in him is so notorious to all the world whiche thing is manifest to all that will playnly vnderstand in so much that he beyng openly slaūdered said openly that he could not commit simony 4. I propound also that the sayd Boniface being wrapt in infinite manifest haynous sinnes is so hardened in thē that he is vtterly not possible to be corrected and lying in doungeon of mischiefe so deepe that he may not be suffered any longer without the ouerthrow of the state of the church His mouth is full of cursing his feete and steps are swift to shed bloud He vtterly teareth in peeces the Churches which he ought to cherishe wasting wickedly the goodes of the poore making much of wicked men that geue hym rewardes persecuting the righteous and among the people not gathering but scattering bringing in new sectes of destruction that haue not bene heard of Blaspheming the way of truth and by robbery thinking himselfe equall to that Lord Iesus Christ which is blessed for euer And he beyng most couetous thirsteth for gold couereth gold by some deuise getteth gold of euery people vtterly not regardig the worshipping of God with sayned wordes sometimes by flattering sometimes by threatning sometime by false teaching and all to get mony withall he maketh marchādise of vs all enuying all thinges but hys owne louing no man nourishing warre persecuting hating the peace of his subiectes He is rooted in all vnspeakeable sinnes contrarying and striuing against all the wayes doctrines of the Lord. He is truly the abhomination of the people which Daniel the Lordes Prophet described Therfore I answere that lawes weapons and all the elemēts ought to rise against him which thus ouerthroweth the state of the Church for whose sinnes God plagueth the whole world And finally nothing remaineth to hym being so vnsatiable to satisfie him wtall but onely the vnsatiable mouth of hell and the fire that cannot be quenched continuing for euer Therfore seing that in a generall coūcel it so becommeth and I see this wicked man to be damned which offendeth both God and al men I aske and require as instantly as I can and beseech you my Lord and King aforesaid that ye would declare to the prelates doctours people princes your brethren in Christ chiefly to the Cardinals and all Prelates and call a Councell In the which when this foresaid wicked man is condemned by the worshipfull Cardinals the church may be prouided of a shephearde for that Councell I offer my selfe ready lawfully to pursue the foresaide things And where as the saide man being in highest dignity in the meane time cannot be suspended of hys superiour therefore he ought to be taken suspended in deede for the things aforesaid seing his state is called into iudgement by the meanes aforesaid I beseech and require the said Cardinals by you and I presently require them the church of God that this wicked man being put in prison the Church of Rome may be prouided of a Vicar which may minister those things that shall appertaine vntil the Church of God be prouided of a bishop vtterly to take away all occasion of a schisme And least the saide wicked man should let and hinder the prosecuting therof I require these things of you my Lord king aforesaid affirming you to be bounde to doe this for many causes First for faithes sake Secondly for your kingly dignitie to whose office it belongeth to roote out such wicked men Thirdly for your oth sake which ye made for the defence of the Churches of your Realme which the foresaid rauener vtterly teareth in peeces Fourthly because ye be the patron of the Churches therfore ye are not bound onely to the defence of them but to the calling for againe of their goodes which the foresaide man hath wasted Fiftly ye following the footesteps of your auncetors ought to deliuer your mother the Romish church from so wicked a hand wherein by oppression shee is tied bound I require that a publike instrument may be made of these requestes by the notaries here present vnder the witnes of the worshipfull men that be here present These things were done and spoken as is aforesayd at Paris in the Kings hous◠of Lupara After this protestation of master Nagareta immediatly insued the appeale of the king pronoūced and published against the sayd Boniface in forme as foloweth The appeale made by the king and the louers of the Realme against Boniface IN the name of God Amen In the yeare of our Lorde 1303 Indictione prima 13. day of Iune and the 9 yeare of the Popedom of Boniface Pope the 8. By the tenour of this publique instrumēt be it vnto all men knowen that the most noble prince and Lorde Philip by the grace of God king of Fraunce the famous and reuerend fathers in Christ Archbishops Bishops religious men Abbots and Priors here vndernamed in
the presence of vs common Notaries here vnder written especially called and required for this purpose as it is contained in the subscriptions heere vnder the famous noble men the Lord Lewes sonne of the French king Guido of S. Paule and Iohn Drocem Earles and William of Plesiano Lord of Vitenob knight Moued as they saide with a feruent faith with affection of sincere loue and zeale of charitie to be shewed to the holy Romish church and hauing pitie from their heart on their mother the vniuersall church which as they sayde is oppressed daungerously vnder the rule of the saide Lord Boniface and suffereth outragious defacing and losse and pitying the right faith as they say in which standes the saluation of soules which alas for pitie in their times miserably pineth away perisheth for the lacke of wholesome gouernment of the Churche through all Christendome and earnestly taking paines as they said for the repairing and enhaunsing of the Catholicke faith specially seeing it was necessary for the same church for the foundation of the faith and health of the soules that none shoulde rule the fold of the Lordes flocke but the true and lawfull shepheard and also because the same Churche was the spouse of Christ that hath no spot nor wrincle all errour offence wickednes wrong shoulde be put away and saluation peace and quietnesse through Gods mercy might be procured to the whole worlde which they say lieth in warres and darkenesse by the wicked deedes cursed workes and hurtful examples of the sayd Boniface They said and laid against the said Boniface heresie and other diuers horrible cursed faultes wherein they affirmed him to be tangled and commonly and notoriously reported the king himselfe being present with Archbishops Bishops and other Prelates and Churchmen which were assembled for to entreat of their owne matters and matters of their Churches beside Barons Earles and other noble men whose names are vnder written The said William propounded obiected against him swearing by the holy Gospell of God which hee corporally touched that he coulde prooue all and euery the premisses to be true And the sayd William of Plesiano sware further this othe that he beleued he could prooue the premisses and that he woulde pursue to the full ende against the saide Boniface in the generall Councell where when and afore whomsoeuer of right it ought to be done requiring earnestly the sayd Lord king as a champion of the faith and defender of the Church that for declaring of this truth to the praise of Gods name to the increase promoting of the Catholike faith to the honour and wealth of the vniuersall Church and of all Christen people and the congregation of the sayd generall councel that he woulde helpe and bestowe his profitable labour with souldiors and other like for the loue of men and zeale to iustice because his kingly house was euer a ruler of the trueth and that he wold earnestly require the Archbishops Bishops other Prelates and that he woulde be effectually instant with them The Earles knights themselues besought earnestly many of the same prelates as they were pillers of the Church the faith that they would helpe and effectually bestowe their labour to the calling and assembling of the said councell by all waies and meanes lawful according to the ordinances of the holy fathers and decrees of the canons But when the prelates heard fully vnderstode such obiections oppositions and requests as is aforesaid and considered that such a matter not onely was most hard but needed wise counsell they departed out of the same place But on the Friday next following i. the 14. day of the same moneth of Iune the foresaid Lord king being present and also the Lords Archbishops Bishops Abbots Priors and many witnesses here vnder written the same time being present and in the presence of vs common Notaries heere subscribed and being specially called and required for this purpose the foresayd William of Plesiano Knight sayde propounded affirmed obiected and read as was contained more fully in a certaine paper which he held in his hand whose tenor was after this sort I William of Plesiano Knight say propound and affirme that Boniface which now ruleth the Apostolical sea is a rancke hereticke in heresies and by heresies outragious dedes and wicked doctrines hereafter to be declared which things to be true I beleeue I am able to prooue or els such things as these shall be sufficient to prooue hym a full hereticke in a cōuenient place time and afore whom of right this can or ought to be done This thing I sweare on the holy Gospel of God presently touched of me First that he beleueth not the immortalitie of men and of christen soules but thinking much like as the Saducies did beleeue that there is no euerlasting life and the men can not get at the length ioy but all the lot and part of comfort and gladnes to be in this world and by this meanes he affirmeth that it is no sinne for the body to liue daintely in al dainties And out of the aboundance of this leuen he was not ashamed to say and opēly to cōfesse that he had rather be an asse or a dogge or any other brute beast rather than a Frenchman which thing he would not haue said if he beleued a Frenchmā had a soule that could enioy euerlasting life This thing he taught many men which knowledged this at the point of death and the common report goeth on him thus in these things 2. Also he beleeueth not faithfully that by the wordes ordained of Christ spoken ouer the hoste after the fashion of the Church by a faithfull priest that is lawfully ordered the body of Christ to be there and therefore it commeth to passe that he geneth no reuerence to it no not a litle when it is lifted up of the priest yea he rises not to it but turneth his backe to it and makes himselfe his seat to be honoured where he sitteth rather then the altare where the hoste is consecrate and he is commonly reported to doe this 3. Also he is reported to say that whoredome is no sinne no more than rubbing of the hands together thus commonly runnes the voice and brute 4. Also he saide often that to thrust downe the King and Frenchmen if it coulde not be otherwaies done he would ouerthrow himselfe the whole world the whole Church And when he had sayd so some that stode by said God forbid he answered God graunt And when good men that heard the wordes replied against him that hee should not say so because the church of God all Christen men should suffer great slaunder so he answered I care not what slaunders soeuer come so that the Frenchmen and their pride be destroied for it is necessary that slaunders offences come 5. Item he called againe allowed a booke made by M. Arnold of Newton conteining and smelling of heresie
priest haddeÌ„ their part of sacrifices and the first bygeten beastes and other things as the lawe telleth And Lorde S. Paul thy seruant sayth that the order of the priesthode of Aaron ceased in Christes comming and the lawe of that priesthode For Christ was end of sacrifices yoffered vpoÌ„ the crosse to the father of heauen to bring man out of sinne and become himself a priest of Melchisedeks order For he was both king priest without beginning and end and both the priesthoode of Aaron and also the law of that priesthode ben ychaunged in the comming of Christ. And S. Paul sayth it is reproued for it broghâ— no man to perfection For bloude of gotes ne of other beastes ne might done away sinne for to that Christ shad his bloud A Lord Iesu wether thou ordenest an order of priests to offreÌ„ in the auter thy flesh and thy bloude to bringen men out of sinne and also out of peine And whether thou geue them alonelych a power to eat thy flesh and thy bloud and wether none other man may eate thy flesh and thy bloud with outen leue of priestes Lord we beleeuen that thy flesh is verey meate and thy bloude verey drinke and who eateth thy flesh and drinketh thy bloud dwelleth in thee and thou in him and who that eateth this bread shall liue without end But Lord thine disciples sayd this is an hard worde but thou answerest them and seidest When yee seeth mans soone stiuen vp there hee was rather the spirite is that maketh you liue the wordes that yche haue spoken to you ben spirite life Lord yblessed more thou be for in this worde thou teachest vs that hee that kepeth thy wordes and doth after them eateth thy fleshe and drinketh thy bloude and hath an euerlasting life in thee And for we shoulden haue minde of thys liuing thou gauest vs the sacrament of thy flesh and bloud in forme of bred and wine at thy supper before that thou shouldest suffer thy death and tooke bread in thine hand and saidest take ye this and eate it for it is my body and thou tookest wine and blessedest it and sayde thys is the bloud of a new and an euerlasting testament that shall be shed for many men in forgeuenes of sinnes as oft as ye haue done doo ye this in minde of me A Lord thou ne bede not thine disciples makeÌ„ this a sacrifice to bring men out of paines gif a priest offred thy body in the alter but thou bede them go and fullen all the folke in the name of the father the sonne and the holy ghost in forgeuenes of their sinnes and teache ye them to keepe those thynges that ych haue coÌ„manded you And Lord thine disciples ne ordeined not priests principallich to make thy body in sacrament but for to teach the people and good husbandmen that well gouern their housholds both wiues children their meiny they ordeind to be priests to teachen other men the law of Christ both in worde in dede they liuedein as true Christen men euery day they eaten Christes body and drinken his bloude to the sustenance of liuing of theyr soules and otherwhiles they tooken the sacrament of his body in forme of bread and wine in mind of our Lord Iesu Christ. But all this is turned vpse downe for now who so will liuen as thou taughtest he shal ben holden a foole And gif he speake thy teaching he shal ben holden an heretick accursed Lord yhaue no lâ—nger wonder hereof for so they seiden to thee wheÌ„ thou wer here some time And therefore wee moten take in pacience theyr wordes of blasphemy as thou didest thy selfe or els we weren to blame And truelych Lord I trowe that if thou were nowe in the world and taughtest as thou diddest some time thou shuldest ben done to death For thy teaching is damned for heresy of wise men of the world and then moten they nedes ben heretickes that teachen thy lore and all they also that trauelen to liue thereafter And therfore Lord gif it be thy wil helpe thine vnkunning lewde seruaunts that wolen by their power and their kunning helpe to destroy sinne Leue Lorde sithe thou madest woman in helpe of man in a more fraile degree then man is to be gouerned by mans reason What perfection of charity is in these priests and in men of religion that haue forsaken spoushod that thou ordeinedst in Paradise betwixt man and woman for perfection to forsaken traueile and liuen in ease by other mens traueile For they mow not do bodilich workes for defouling of their handes with whom they touchen thy precious body in the aulter Leue Lorde gif good men forsaken the company of woman nedes they moten haue the gouernaile of man then moteÌ„ they ben ycoupled with shrewes and therfore thy spoushode that thou madest in clennes from sinne it is nowe ychaunged into liking of the flesh And Lord this is a great mischiefe vnto thy people And young priestes and men of religion for defaulte of wiues maken many women horen and drawen through their euell ensample many other men to sinne and the ease that they liuen in and their welfare is a great cause of this mischiefe And Lord me thinketh that these ben quaint orders of religion and none of thy sect that wolen taken horen whilke God forfendes and forsaken wiues that God ne forfendeth not And forsaKen trauail that God commaunds and geuen their selfe to idlenes that is the mother of all noughtines And Lorde Mary thy blessed mother and Ioseph touched oftentimes thy body and wroughten with their honds and liueden in as much clennes of soule as our priestes done nowe and touched thy body and thou touchedest them in their soules And Lorde our hope is that thou goen not out of a poore mans soule that traueileth for his liuelode with his handes For Lord our beliefe is that thine house is mans soul that thou madest after thine owne likenes But Lord God men maketh nowe great stonen houses full of glasen windowes and clepeth thilke thine houses and Churches And they setten in these houses Mawmets of stockes and stones and to fore them they knelen priuilich apert and maken their prayers and all this they sayen is thy woorship and a great herieng to thee A Lorde thou forbiddest sometime to make suche Mawmetes and who that had yworshipped such had be woorthy to be deeade Lorde in the Gospell thou sayst that true heriers of God ne herieth him not in that hil beside Samarie ne in Hierusalem neyther but true heriers of God herieth him in spirite and in trueth And Lord God what herying is it to bilden thee a church of dead stones and robben thy quicke Churches of their body liche lyueloode Lord God what heryeng is it to cloth mawmets of stockes and of stones in siluer and in golde and
of the kings protection whereunto was aunswered by the kyng that the statutes and ordinaunces therefore made should be obserued In these rolles and recordes of such Parliamentes as was in thys kings time continued diuers other thynges are to be noted muche worthy to be marked and not to be suppressed in silence Wherein the Reader may learne and vnderstand the state of the kings iurisdiction here wythin this realme not to be straightned in those daies although the Pope then seemed to be in his chief ruffe as afterward since in other kings dayes was seene As may appeare in the parliament of the 15. yeare of thys king Edward the 3. and in the 24. article of the sayde Parliament where it is to be read that the kings officers and temporall Iustices did then both punish vsurers an◠impeached the officers of the Church for bribery and for taking mony for temporall paine probate of willes solemnitie of Mariage c. al the pretensed liberties of the popish church to the contrary notwythstanding Furthermore in the Parliament of the 25. yeare appeareth that the liberties of the clergie and their exemptions in claiming the deliuerance of men by their booke vnder th◠name of Clerks stode then in litle force as appeared by one Hauketyne Honby knight who for imprisonning one of the kings subiectes till hee made fine of 20. li. was therefore executed notwithstanding the liberty of the Clergie whych by his booke would haue saued hym but could not The like also appeared by iudgement geuen agaynst a priest at Notingham for killing of hys maister And likewise by hanging certaine monks of Combe Ex Parliam An. 23. Ed. 3. Item in the Parliament of the 15. yeare by apprehending of I. Stratford Archbishop of Canterbury and hys arrainment concerning which his arrainment all things were committed to sir William of Kildisby Besides these truthes and notes of the kings Parliaments wherin may appeare y◠toward procedings of this king of all his commons against the pretensed church of Rome Thys is moreouer to be added to the commendation of the king how in the volumes of the actes rolles of the king appeareth That the sayd king Edward the 3. sent also Iohn Wickleffe reader then of the Diuinitie lector in Oxford wyth certaine other Lords Ambassadors ouer into the parts of Italy to treat wyth the Popes Legates concerning affaires betwixt the King and the Pope with ful cōmission the tenor whereof here foloweth expressed REX vniuersis ad quorum notitiam presentes literae peruenerint c. In English thus The King to all and singuler to whome these presentes shall come greeting Know ye that we reposing assured confidence in the fidelitie and wisdome of the reuerend father Iohn Bishoppe of Bangor and other our louing and faithful subiects M. Iohn Wickliffe reader of the diuinitie lecture M. Iohn Gunter Deane of Segobyen and M. Symon Moulton doctor of the lawe Syr William Burton Knight M Iohn Belknappe M. Iohn Honnington haue directed them as our Ambassadors and special Commissioners to the partes beyond the seas Geuing to the sayde our Ambassadors and Commissioners to sixe or fiue of them of whome I will that the sayde Bishop shal be one full power and aucthoritie wyth commaundement speciall to treat and consult mildely and charitably with the Legates and Ambassadors of the L. Pope touching certaine affaires Where upon of late we sent heretofore the sayd Bishop and M. William Vghtred monke of Duresme and M. Iohn Shepie to the see Apostolicall And hereof to make ful relation of all things done and past in the sayd assembly that all such things which may tend to the honor of holy Church and the aduauncement of our crowne and this our realme may by the assistaunce of God and the wisedome of the see Apostolicall bee brought to good effect and accomplished accordingly Witnes our selues c. at London dated the 26. day of Iuly in the 48. yeare of our raigne By the which it is to be noted what good wil the king then bare to the sayd Wickleffe and what smal regarde he had to the sinfull sea of Rome Of the whych Iohn wickleff because we are now approched to his time remaineth consequently for our story to entreat of so as we haue heere to fore done of other lyke valiant souldiours of Christes Church before him ¶ Iohn Wickliffe AFter all these heretofore recited by whome as ye haue heard it pleased the Lord something to worke against the Byshop of Rome to weaken the pernitious superstition of the Friers Nowe remayneth consequently following the course of yeares orderly to enter into the story and tractation of Iohn Wickleffe our countreyman and other moe of his time and same countrey whom the Lord wyth the like zeale and power of spirit raysed vp here in England to detect more fully and amply the poison of the Popes doctrine false religion set vp by the Fryers In whose opinions and assertiōs albeit some blemishes perhaps may be noted yet such blemishes they be whych rather declare him to be a mā that might erre then which directly did fight against Christ our Sauiour as the Popes procedings and the friers did And what doctor or learned man hath ben from the prime age of the church so perfect so absolutely sure in whome no opinyon hath sometyme swarued awry And yet be the sayd articles of hys neither in number so many nor yet so grosse in themselues and so cardinall as those Cardinal ennemies of Christ perchance doe geue them out to be if his bookes whō they abolished were remaining to be conferred with those blemishes which they haue wrasted to the worste as euill will neuer sayde the best This is certaine and can not be denied but that he being the publike Reader of Diuinitie in the Universitie of Oxford was for the rude time wherein he liued famously reputed for a great clerke a deepe scholeman no lesse expert in all kinde of philosophie The which doth not onely appeare by his owne most famous and learned wrytings and monuments but also by the confession of Walden hys most cruel bitter enemy Who in a certain Epistle wrytten vnto pope Martin the fift sayth that he was wonderfully astonyshed at his most strong arguments wyth the places of authority whych hee had gathered wyth the vehemency and force of hys reasons c. And thus much out of Walden It appeareth by such as haue obserued the order and course of tunes that this wickleffe florished about the yeare of our Lord. 1371. Edward the third raigning in England for thus we doe finde in the Chronicles of Caxton In the yere of our Lord 1371. sayeth he Edward the third king of England in his Parliamēt was against the Popes clergy He willingly harkned and gaue eare to the voices and tales of heretickes wyth certaine of his counsel conceiuing and folowing sinister opinions against the Clergy
in like maner they were disapoynted of their cruell purpose In that meane while as this was doyng coÌ„meth one of the Dukes men ruÌ„ning post hast to that Duke to the Lord Percy declaring what was done The Duke being then at his oysters without anye further tarying and also breaking both his shinnes at the forme for haste tooke boate with the Lord Percy and by water went to Kingstone where then the princesse with Richard the yong Prince did lye Who there declared vnto the Princesse all the whole matter coÌ„cerning the outrage of the Londiners as it was To whom she promised againe such an order to be taken in the matter as shoulde be to his contentation At what time the commons of London thus as is sayd were about the Dukes house at Sauoy meâ—teth with theÌ„ a certain priest who marueling at the sodain rage concourse asked what they sought To whome aunswere was geuen agayne of some that they sought for the Duke and Lorde Marshall to haue of them the Lord Peter de la Mare whom they wrongfully had deteined in prison To this the Priest aunswered agayne more boldly then oportunely That Peter sayd he is a false traytour to the king and worthy long since to be hanged At the hearing of these words the furious people with a terrible shoute cryed out vpon him that he was a traytour and one that tooke the Dukes part and so falling vpon him with theyr weapons striued who might first strike at him Who after they had wounded him very sore so being wounded they had him into prison where within few dayes vpon the sorenes of his wounds he dyed Neither would the rage of the people thus haue ceased had not the bishop of London leauing his dinner come to them at Sauoy and putting them in remembraunce of the blessed tyme as they terme it of Leut had perswaded them to cease and to be quyet The Londiners seeing that they could get no vantage against the Duke who was without theyr reach To bewreke theyr anger they tooke hys armes whiche in most despitefull wise they hanged vp in the open places of the city in signe of reproch as for a traitour In so much that when one of his gentlemen came through the Citty with a plate conteyning the Dukes armes hanging by a lace about his necke the cittizens not abiding the sight therof cast him froÌ„ his horse and pluckt his scutchine from him had were about to work the extremitie against him and not the mayor rescued him out of theyr handes and sent him home safe vnto the Duke his mayster In such hatred was then the Duke among the vulgar people of London After thys the princesse vnderstanding the hartes and broyle of the Londiners set against the foresaid Duke sent vnto London 3. Knightes syr Albred Lewer sir Symon Burle and sir Lewes Cliffort to entreat the citizens to be reconciled with the Duke The Londiners answered that they for the honour of the princesse would obey and do with all reuereÌ„ce what she would require But this they required enioyned the messeÌ„gers to say to the Duke by word of mouth that he should suffer the byshop of Winchester afore mentioned and also the Lord Peter de la Mare to come to their aunswere to be iudged by theyr pieres Wherby eyther they might be quite if they were giltles or otherwise if they be found culpable they might receaue occording to theyr desertes after the lawes of the realme What griefe and displeasure the Duke conceiued and reteyned in his minde hereof Agayne what meanes sute the Londiners for their part made to the old king for their liberties What rymes and songes in London were made agaynst the Duke Howe the Bishops at the Dukes request were mooued to excoÌ„municate those malicious slaunderers And moreouer howe the Duke at last was reuenged of those contumelies iniuries How he caused them to be brought before the king How sharply they were rebuked for their misdemeanour by the worthy oration of the Lord Chamberlayne Robert Aston in the presence of the king Archbishops Byshops with diuers other states the Kinges children and other nobilities of the realme In conclusion how the Londiners were compelled to this at length by the common assent and publike charges of that citty to make a great taper of waxe whiche with the Dukes armes set vpon it shoulde be brought with solemne procession to the church of S. Paule there to burne continually before the Image of our Lady And at last how both the sayd Duke and the Londiners were reconciled together in the beginning of the new king with the kisse of peace in the same reconcilement publikely denounced in the church of Westminster and what ioy was in the whole citty therof These because they are impertinent and make to long a digressioÌ„ from the matter of Wickliffe I cut off with breuitie referring the reader to other historyes namely of S. Albones where they are to be found at large As these aforesayd for breuitie sake I passe ouer so will I not be long and yet cannot omitte that which happened the same tyme and yeare to the Bishop of Norwich to the intent that this posteritie now may see to what pryde the clergy then of the Popes Church was growne to The same time as this broyle was at LoÌ„don the Bish. of Norwich a litle after the time af Easter comming to the towne of Lennam belonging to his Lordship being not contented with the olde accustomed honour due vnto him vsed of his predecessours before in the same town required moreouer with a nue and vnused kind of magnificence to be exalted In so much that when he saw the chiefe Magistrate or Mayor of that towne to go in the streetes with his officer going before him holding a certayne wand in his hand tipped at both endes with black horne as the maner was He reputing himselfe to be Lord of that towne as he was and thinking to be higher then the highest commaunded the honour of that staffe due to the Mayor to be yelded born before his Lordly personage The Mayor or Bailiffe with other the townesmen courtuously answered to him again that they were right willing and contented with all theyr hartes to exhibite that reuerence vnto him and woulde to do if he first of the king and counsaile coulde obtayne the iustome and if the same might be induced after any peaceable way with the good willes of the commons and body of the town Other els sayd they as the matter was dangerous so they durst not take in hand any such newe alteration of ancient customes and liberties least the people whiche is alwayes inclinable and prone to euill do fall vpon them with stones driue them out of the towne Wherefore kneeling on theyr knees before hym and humbly they besought him that he would require no such thing of them that he would saue his owne
and vnmoueable Awake ye quickely and sleepe nought and stond now strongly for Gods law For Saynt Iohn in the Apocalips sayes blesset be he that awakes for nought to sleepers but to wakers God has behite the crowne of life For the hower is nowe as Paule sayth to vs from sleepe for to arise for he that earelye awakes to me he shall finde me sayth Christ himseluen This waking gostly is good liuing out of sinne this sleepe betokens that which cowardeth a mans hart from gostlye comfort and to stand in the same through a deceaueable sleepe is this that lets a man of the blisse of heauen the fende makes men bold in sinne and ferd to do worship to God death is a likening to a theefe that preuely steales vpon a man that now is riche and full of we le an one he makes him a needy wrech therfore sayd God by S. Iohn in the Apocalips in this wise Be thou waking for if thou wake nought I shall come to thee as a theefe and thou shalt not wit what houre And if the husbandman sayes Christ wist what houre the theefe should come he shoulde wake and suffer him not to vndermine his house Saynt Peter therefore warneth and sayth wake and be ye ware suffer ye no man he sayes as a theefe but wilfullye for Gods loue for it is time as Peter saies that dome begin from the house of God Ye bene the body of Christ sayes Poule that needes must suffer with the head or els your bodyes bene but deade and departed from Christ that is the head And therefore curset be he sayes Poule that loues not Iesu Christ. And who it is that loues him Christe himselfe telles in the Gospell he that has my hestes and keepes them he it is that loues me Cursed he be therfore sayes Poule that doth Christes workes deceiueably Be ye not therefore sayes Poule ashamed of the true witnesse of Iesu Christ for Christ our God sayes in his Gospell he that shames me and my wordes him shall mans sonne ashame when he shal come for to set in the siege of hys Maiesty And each man he sayes that knowes me and my wordes before men in this sinnefull generation and whorish mans sonne shall knowledge him before my father sayes Christ himselfe when he shall come with hys Aungels in the glory of his Father Sithe ye therefore bene Christenmen that is to say Christes men shew in deede that ye bene suche as ye daren shew you the kings men for hit hâ—d bene as Peter saies better not to haue knowen the way of trueth then after the knowing thereof to be conuerted backeward there from We knowen Christ that is trought we sain all through our beliefe if we turne from him for dred truely wee deny the troth And therefore sith our time is short how short no man knowes but God do we the good that we may to Gods worship when we haue time Be true sayes God to the death and you shall haue the crowne of life And thinke on Iudas Machabeus that was Gods true knight that comforted hartelye Gods true people to be the folowers of his law And geue ye he sayd your liues for the Testament of your fathers And ye shulen winne he sayd great ioy and a name for euermore Was not Abraham he sayd in temptation founden true and was arectet vnto him euermore to righteousnesse Ioseph in time of his anguish he kept truely Gods hest he was made by Gods prouidence Lord of Egypt for his trouth Phinees our fadure louing he sayth the zeale of God tooke the testament of euerlasting Priesthoode Iosue for he fulfillet the worde of God was domes man in Israell Caleph that witnessed in the Church he tooke therefore the heretage he sayth Dauid in his mercy hee gat the siege of the kingdome in worldes Hely for that he loued the zeale of Gods lawe was taken vppe into heauen Ananie Azary and Misaell he sayes weren deliuerer thoore through true beliefe out of the hoat flame of fire True Daniel in his simplenes was deliueret from the Lyons mouthe Bethinke ye therfore he sayes by generation and generation and thou shalt neuer finde that he sayled that man that truely trusted in him And therefore dread you nought he sayes of the wordes of a sinnefull man hys glory is he sayes but wormes and tordes he is to day he sayth y made hye to morow he sayes he is not foundeÌ„ for he is turned he sayes into his earth agayn the minde of him is perisher Sonnes therefore he sayes be ye comforter and dye manly in the lawe for when ye han done that that Gods commaundes you to doe ye shulen be glorious in him And Dauid the king sayes also on this wise in the Psalter booke blesset be they Lord that keepen thy law in worldes of worldes they shall prayse thee And in Leuiticus sayes God thus gif that ye wenden in mine hestes keepen my commaundementes and done hem I shall I shall bring forth theyt fruit and trees shall be fulfilled with apples And ye shallen eat your bread in fulnes ye shoulen dwell in your lande without drede I shall geue peace in your costes ye shall sleep and no man shall feare you Euill beastes I shall done away from you and sword shall not passe your termes ye shuln pursue your enemies and they shall fall before you fifty of yours shulne pursue an hundreth of heren an hundret of yours a thousand of theyrs your enemies hee saieth shulen fal through sword and your sute I shall he sayes behold you and make you to waxe and ye shall be multiplier And I shall strength with you my couenaunt ye shall eat the aldest and the new shull come in theron And ye shuln cast forth the old I shall dwell in the midst of you And I shall wend amonges you and shal be your God and ye shulne be my people If that ye heare me not ne done nought all my hestes but dispiseÌ„ my law and my domes and that ye done not tho thinges that of me bene ordener and breken my commaundements and my couenant I shall do these thinges to you I shall visite you surely in nede and brenning which shall dimme your eghenen and shall wast your liues about nought Ye shulne sow your sede for hit shal be deuouret of enemies I shall put my face agaynst you and ye shall fall before your enemies And ye shulen be vnderlings to them that han hatet you ye shall flee no man pursuing And if ye will not be buxome to me I shall adde thereunto thornes and seuen folde blame And I shall all to brast the hardnes of you I shall geue the heauen aboue you as yron the earth as brasse About nought shall your labour be for the earth shall bring you forth no fruit ne tree shall geue none apples to you If that ye wenden agaynst me and will not heare me I
rooted out or otherwise punished by any that hath authoritie and the feare and loue of God And also they are not afrayd openlye to write the same articles and so being written to deliuer thē to your kinglye parliament and obstinately to affirme the same The venemous and disdainfull recitall of which articles vpon good aduisement at this present we passe ouer lest the sufferaunce of such sensualitie might fortune to renue the woūd that reason may heale Yet notwithstanding least so great and contagious an euil should escape vnpunished and that without deserued vexation and also that it might not get more hart and waxe stronger we therefore according to that our office and duetie is where such neglygence and sluggishnes of our prelates being present where this thing is do commit and geue in commaundemēt to our reuerend brethren Canterbury and Yorke Archbishops by other oure letters that they stand vp in the power of God agaynst this pestilent and cōtagious sect and that they liuely persecute the same in forme of lawe roote out and destroy those that aduisedly and obstinately refuse to withdraw their foote frō the same stumbling block any restraint to the contrary notwithstanding But because the assistance counsaile fauour and ayde of your kingly estate highnes are requisite to the execution of the premisses we require exhort and beseech the same your princely highnes by the bowels of the mercy of Iesus Christ by his holy fayth by your owne saluation by the benefit that to all men is common and by the prosperitie assured to euery man and woman that not onelye your kingly seueritie may readily shewe and cause to bee shewed vnto our Archbishops and their Commissaries in this behalfe requyring the foresayd due execution conuenient ayd and fauour as otherwise also to cause them to be assisted But that also you wil enioyne your Magistrates and Iustices of assise and peace more straightly that of their owne good wils they execute the authoritie committed vnto thē with al seueritie against such damned men according as they are boūd by the office which they are put in trust with Against those I mene which haue determyned obstinatly to defile thēselues in their malice and sinnes those to expell banish and imprison and there so long to keepe them til cōdigne sentence shall pronounce them worthye to suffer punyshment For your kingly wisedome seeth that such as they be do not only deceiue poore simple souls or at the least do what they can to deceiue thē but also bring their bodies to destructiō and further prepare confusion and ruinous fall vnto their temporall Lordes Go to therefore my sweete sonne and indeuour your self to worke so in this matter as vndoubtedly we trust you will that as this firebrand burning and flaming ouer sore beganne vnder your president or gouernment so vnder your seuere iudgement and vertuous diligence might fauour and ayde not one sparke remaine hid vnder the ashes but that it be vtterlye extinguyshed and spedely put out ¶ Geuen at our palace of S. Peter at Rome the xv Calendes of October in the sixt yere of our pontificalitie ¶ The Kynges Commission RIchard by the grace of God kyng of Englande Fraunce and Lorde of Irelande To all those vnto whom these present letters shall come greeting Know ye that where as lately at the instance of the reuerend father William Archbishop of Caunterbury Metropolitane of all England and Legate of the Apostolycal seate we for the redresse and amendement of all those whych would obstinately preach or maintaine publiquely or priuely any conclusions of the holy scripture repugnant to the determynatiō of our holy mother the church notoriously redounding to the subuersion of the Catholique faith or cōtaining any heresie or errour within the prouince or bishopricke of Cāterburie Haue by our special letters patents in the zeale of the fayth geuē authoritie and licence vnto the foresayd Archbishop to all and singular his suffraganes to arest all and euerye of them that will preach or maintaine any such cōclusions wheresoeuer they may be found and to cōmit them either to their owne prisons or any others at their owne pleasure and to kepe thē in the same vntill they repēt them of the errours prauities of those heresies or til that of such maner of arests by vs or by our counsayle it shoulde be otherwise determined that is to say to euery one of them and their ministers throughout their cities and dioces And nowe the reuerēd father in god Iohn B. of Herford hath for a certaintie informed vs that although the same B. hath accordinge to iustyce cōuinced a certain felow named W. Swinderby pretending himself to be a chaplaine one Stephē Bell a learned man and hath pronounced thē heretikes and excōmunicate false informers among the cōmon people and hath declared the same by the definitiue sentence of the aforesaid bishop for that they haue presumed to affirme and preach openly in diuers places within the dioces of Herford many conclusions or naughty opinions notoriously redounding to the subuersion of the Catholike sound faith and tranquilitie of our kingdome The same Bishop notwithstandinge neyther by the ecclesiasticall censures neyther yet by the force and strength of our cōmission was able to reuoke the foresaid William and Stephen nor yet to bridle the malice and indurate contumacie of them For that they after that they were vpon such heretical prauitie conuict by the same bishop to the intent they might delude his iudgement and iustice conueyed thēselues by and by vnto the borders of Wales with suche as were their factours and accomplices in keping themselues close vnto whō the force of our said letters doth in no wise extende Whereupon the sayde Bishop hath made supplycation vnto vs that wee will vouchsafe to prouide a sufficient remedye in that behalfe Wee therfore which alwayes by the helpe of almightie God are defēdours of the fayth willing to withstand suche presumptuous and peruerse enterprises by the most safest way and meanes we maye geue and cōmit full power and authoritie to the foresayd bishop and to his ministers by the tenour of these presents to arrest or take or cause to be arrested or taken the foresayde William and Sthephen in any place within the citie dioces of Hereford and our dominiō of Wales with al the speede that may be and to cōmit thē either to our prison or els to the prison of the same bishop or any other prison at their pleasure if such neede bee and there to keepe thē safe And afterwards vnles they will obey the commaundements of the Church with dilygence to bring them before vs and our coūsel or els cause them to be brought That we may determine for their further punishment as we shall thinke it requisite conuenient to be done by the aduise of our coūsell for the defence and preseruation of the Catholike faith And
and conuicted of and vpon that that thou hast taught and openly affirmed as hetherto thou doest teach boldly affirme and defend that the Sacrament of the body of Christ consecrated vpon the aulter by the Priest is not the true body of Christ But after the Sacramental words to make the body of Christ by vertue of the said Sacramentall words pronounced to haue bin in the crime of heresie and we do pronounce thee both to haue bene and to be an heretike and do declare it finallie by these writings These things were done accordingly as is aboue written and are recited in the yeare indiction popedome moneth day and place aforesaid being present the same time Iohn Malune Prior of the Cathedrall Church of Worcester Iohn Dudle Mōke and Iohn Haule the supprior of the said Church Thomas Penings of the order of the Carmelites Thomas Fekenham of the order of the preaching Friers William Pomfret of the order of the Minorites being professors and maisters in diuinitie William Hailes Gualter of London Iohn Swippedew beeing publique Notaries and William Beuchampe and Thomas Gerbris being Knights Richard wish of Tredington Thomas Wil be of Dentbury Iohn Weston of Yewley being parsons of Churches and Thomas Baleinges the maister of Saint Wolstone in Worcester and also Henry Haggely Iohn Penerell Thomas Trogmorton and William Wasseborne Esquiers of the Dioces of Worcester and Norwich and many other worshipfull and honest men being witnesses and called speciallye to the things aforesaid And I Iohn Chew Clerke of the Dioces of Bath and Welles and by the authoritie apostolicall publique Notarie of the said Bishop haue in testimonie of the premisses put my hand seale to the examination interrogatiō monition and aunswere of the same Iohn Badby and to his obstinacie also to the procedings of al and singular other doings as is aforesaid which against him before the sayd bishop were handled done in the yeare indiction popedome moneth day and place aforesaid which with the forenamed witnesses was personally present and y◠same euen as I heard them and saw them to be done being occupied with other matters caused them to be written and published and into this publique forme haue compiled the same I the foresayd Notary am also priuie vnto the words and examinations interlined betweene seauen or eight lines of y◠beginning of this instrument which lines I also the foresaide Notary doe approoue and make good And I Walter London Clerke of the Dioces of Worcester and by the authoritie Apostolicall publique Notarie to all and singular the foresaid things as afore by the foresaid Notary is recited in the yeare indiction popedome moneth day and place aforesaid were handled and done being with other the fore recited witnesses personally present and to all euery of the same as I saw heard them to be done being thereunto faithfully desired and required In testimony of the premisses haue signed subscribed according to the accustomed maner Haec ex Reg. Cant. And when the articles in the foresaid instrument contained were by the Archbishop of Canterbury publiquely and vulgarly read and approued he publiquely cōfessed affirmed that he had both said and mainteined the same And then the Archbishop to conuince the cōstant purpose of the said Iohn Badby commanded the same articles againe to be read often instructing him both by words and examples informing and exhorting him that thereby he might be brought the sooner to the Religion that he was of And furthermore the said Archbyshop sayd and affirmed there openly to the same Iohn that he would if he would liue according to the doctrine of Christ gage his soule for him at the iudgement day And after that againe he caused those articles in the said instrument expressed to be read by the foresaid Phillip Morgan the said Archbyshop himselfe expounded the same in English as before wherunto Iohn Badby aunswered As touching the first article concerning the body of Christ he expresly sayd that after the consecration at the aulter there remaineth materiall bread the same bread which was before notwithstāding said he it is a signe or sacrament of the liuing God Also wen the second article was expounded vnto him that it is impossible for anie Priest c. To this article he answered and said that it could not sinke into his minde that the words are to be taken as they litterallie lie vnles he should denie the incarnation of Christ. Also being examined of the third Article concerning Iacke Raker he said That if Iacke Raker were a man of good liuing and did loue and feare God that he hath as much power so to do as hath the Priest and said further that he hath heard it spoken of some doctors of diuinitie that if he should receiue any such consecrated bread he were worthy to be damned were damned in so doing Furthermore he sayd that he would beleue the omnipotent God in trusitie and said moreouer that if euery hoste being consecrated at the aulter were the Lords body that then there be 20000. gods in England But he beleeued he said in one God omnipotent which thing the foresaid Archb. of Cant. denied not And when the other conclusion was expounded That Christ sitting with his Disciples at supper c. To this he answered and said that he would greatly maruell that if anie man had a loafe of bread and should breake the same and giue to euery man a mouthfull that the same loafe should afterwards be whole When all these things were thus finished and that all the said conclusions were often red in the vulgar tong the foresaid Archb. demaunded of him whether he would renounce and forsake his opiniōs and such like conclusions or not and adhere to the doctrine of Christ and Catholike faith He answered that according to that he had sayd before he would adhere and stand to those words which before he had made answere vnto Then the Archb. oftentimes required the said Iohn in the bowels of Iesu Christ that he would forsake those opinions and conclusions and that hencefoorth he would cleane to the christian faith which thing to do in the audience of all the lords and others that were present he expresly denied and refused After all this when the foresayd Archbishop of Cant. the Bishop of London had consulted together to what safe keping the said Iohn Badby vntill the wednesdaie next might be committed It was cōcluded that he shold be put in a certaine chamber or safe house within the Mansion of the Frier preachers and so he was and then the Archbishop of Caunterbury sayd that he himselfe would kepe the key therof in the meane time And when the foresayd wednesday was expired being the 15. day of March and that the foresayd Archbishop of Canterbury with hys fellow brethren and Suffraganes were assembled in the Church of S. Paule in London The Archbish. of Canterbury taking the Episcopall seate
to grace that they might vnderstaÌ„d truely the truth and haue and vse vertue and prudeÌ„ce and so deserue to be lightned from aboue with heauenly wisedom so that all their words their workes may be hereby made pleasant sacrifice vnto the Lord God and not onely for helpe of their own soules but also for edification of holy Church For I doubt not but all they that will apply them to haue this foresayd busines shall profite ful me kill both to freds foes For some enemies of the truth through the grace of God shall through charitable folkes be made astonied in their conscience and peraduenture conuerted from vices to vertues and also they that labour to know and to keep faythfully the biddinges of God and to suffer paciently all aduersities shall hereby comfort many frendes And the fourth thing that moueth me to write this seÌ„teÌ„ce is this I knowe by my sodein vnwarned apposing and aunswering that all they that will of good hart wtout faining able themselues wilfully gladly after theyr cunning and their power to follow christ paciently traueling busily priuily and apertly in worke and in word to withdraw whom soeuer that they may from vices planting in them if the may vertues comforting them furtheryng them that stand in grace so that therwith they be not born vp in vaine glory through presumption of theyr wisdome nor inflamed with any worldly prosperitie but euer meek and pacient purposing to abide stedfastly in that wil of God suffering wilfully and gladly without any grutching what soeuer rod the Lord wil chastise them with that then thys good Lord will not forget to comfort al such men and women in all their tribulations at euery poynt of temptation that any enemy purposed for to doe agaynst them To such faithfull louers specially pacient followers of christ the Lord sendeth by his wisedome froÌ„ aboue them which the aduersaries of the truth may not know nor vnderstand But through their old and new vnshamefast sinnes those tyrantes and enemies of southfastnes shal be so blinded obstinate in eâ—ill that they shall weene themselues to doe pleasant sacrifices vnto the Lorde God in their malicious and wrongfull pursuing and destroying of innocent mens and womens bodyes which men women for theyr vertuous liuing and for their true knowledging of the trueth and theyr pacient wilfull and glad suffering of persecution for righteousnes deserue through the grace of God to be heyres of the endlesse blesse of heauen And for the feruent desire and the great loue that these men haue as to stand in southfastnes and witnes of it though they be sodeinly vnwarnedly brought foorth to be aposed of their aduersaries the holy Ghost yet that moueth and ruleth them thorough his charitie will in that houre of theyr aunswering speake in them and shewe hys wisedome that all theyr enemies shall not agayn say nor agaynst stand lawfully And therfore al they that are stedfast in yâ— fayth of God yea which through diligent keeping of his commaundementes for theyr pacient suffering of whatsoeuer aduersitie that commeth to them hope surely in his mercy purposing to stand coÌ„tinually in perfect charitie For those meÌ„ and womeÌ„ dred not so the aduersities of this life that they wil feare after their cunning and their power to knoweledge prudently the truth of gods word when where and to whom they thinke their knowledging may profite Yea and though therfore persecution come to them in one wise or an other certes they paciently take it knowing theyr conuersation to be in heauen It is an high rewarde and a speciall grace of God for to haue and enioy the euerlasting inheritance of heauen for the suffering of one persecution in so short time as is the terme of this life For loe this heuenly heritage endles reward is the Lord God hymselfe which is the best thing that may be This seÌ„tence witnesseth the Lord God himselfe where as he sayd to AbrahaÌ„ I am thy meede And as the Lord sayd he was and is the meede of Abraham so he is of all his other saynts This most blessed and best meede he graunt to vs all for his holy name that made vs of naught and sent his onely most deare worthy sonne our Lorde Iesu Christ for to redeeme vs with his most precious hart bloud Amen The examination of William Thorpe penned with hys owne hand KNowne be it to al men that read or heare this writing that on the sonday next after the feast of S. Peter that we call Lammesse in the yeare of our Lord. 1407. I william Thorpe being in prison in the Castle of Saltwoode was brought before Tho. Arundel Archbishop of Canterbury and Chauncellor then of Englande And when that I came to him he stode in a great chamber and much people about him and when that he saw me he went fast into a closit bidding all seculer men that followed hym to go foorth from him soone so that no man was left than in that closet but the Archbishop himselfe and a Phisitian that was called Malueren person of S. Dunstanes in London other two persons vnknowne to me which were ministers of yâ— law And I standing before them by and by the Archbish. sayd to me William I know well that thou hast this xx winters more trauelled about busily in the north couÌ„try and in other diuers countryes of England sowing about false doctrine hauing great businesse if thou might with thine vntrue teaching and shrewd will for to infect poysoÌ„ all this land But through the grace of God thou art now withstanded brought into my ward so that I shall now sequester thee from thine euill purpose and let thee to enuenime the sheep of my prouince Neuertheles S. Paul sayth If it may be as much as in vs is we ought to haue peace with all men Therfore William if yâ— wilt now meckly and of good hart without any feyning kneele downe and lay thy hand vpoÌ„ a booke and kisse it promising faythfully as I shall here charge thee that thou wilt submit thee to my correction staÌ„d to myne ordinaunce fulfill it duely by all thy cuÌ„ning and power thou shalt yet find me gracious vnto thee Then sayd I to the archbishop Syr since ye deme me an hereticke out of beleue will ye geue me here audience to tell my beleue And he sayd yea tell on And I sayde I beleue that there is not but one God almighty and in this Godhead and of this Godhead are three persons that is the father the sonne and the sothfast holye Ghost And I beleue that all these three persons are euen in power and in cunning and in might full of grace and of all goodnes For what soeuer that the father doth or can or will that thing also the sonne doth and can and will and in all theyr power cunning and will the holy Ghost is equall to the
vitious this soueraygne herein is to blame but the subiect for his obedience deserueth meede of God For obedience pleaseth more to God than any sacrifice ☞ And I sayd Samuell the Prophet sayd to Saule the wicked king that God was more pleased with that obediēce of his commaundement then with any sacrifice of beastes But Dauid saieth and S. Paule and S. Gregory accordingly together that not onely they that do euill are worthy of death and damnation but also they that cōsent to euill doers And sir the law of holy Church teacheth in the decrees that no seruant to his Lord nor childe to the father or mother nor wife to her husband nor monke to his Abbot ought to obey except in lefull things and lawfull ¶ And the Archbishop said to me All these alledgings that thou bringest forth are not els but proude presumptuousnesse For hereby thou inforcest thee to proue that thou and such other are so iust that ye ought not to obey to Prelats And thus against the learnyng of S. Paule that teacheth you not to preach but if ye were sent of your owne authoritie ye will go forth and preach and do what ye lift ☞ And I saide Syr presenteth not euery Priest the office of the Apostles or the office of the disciples of Christ And the Archbishop sayd yea And I sayde Syr as the x. chapt of Mathew and the last chapter of Marke witnesseth Christ sent his Apostles for to preach And the x. chapter of Luke witnesseth that Christ sent his two and seuēty disciples for to preach in euery place that Christ was to come to And S. Gregorie in the cōmon law saith that euery man that goeth to priest hoode taketh vpon him the office of preaching For as hee sayth that Priest stirreth God to great wrath of whose mouth is not heard the voyce of preaching And as other more gloses vpon Ezechiell witnesse that the Prieste that preacheth not busilye to the people shall be partaker of their damnation that perish through his default And though the people be saued by other speciall grace of God then by the Priestes preaching yet the Priests in that they are ordeined to preach and preach not as before God they are manslears For as farre as in them is such Priests as preach not busily and truely sleyeth all the people ghostly in that they withholde from them the word of God that is life and sustenaunce of mens soules And Saynt Hydore sayd Priestes shall be damned for wickednesse of the people if they teach not them that are ignoraunt or blame not them that are sinners For all the worke or businesse of Priestes standeth in preaching and teaching that they edify all men as well by cunning of fayth as by discipline of workes that is vertuous teaching And as the Gospell witnesseth Christ sayd in his teaching I am borne comē into this world to beare witnesse to the truth and he that is of the truth heareth my voyce Then Sir since by the word of Christ specially that is his voyce Priestes are commaunded to preache whatsoeuer priest that it be that hath not good wil and full purpose to doe thus and ableth not himselfe after his cunning and power to doe his office by the example of Christ and of hys Apostles whatsoeuer other thing that he doth displeaseth God For loe S. Gregory sayth that thing left that a man is bound chiefly to do whatsoeuer other thing that a man doth it is vnthankfull to the holy ghost and therfore sayth Lincolne The Priest that preacheth not the word of God though he be seene to haue none other defaulte he is Antichrist and Sathanas a night theefe and a day theefe a sleyer of foules and an aungel of light turned into darckenes Wherefore Syr these authorityes and other well considered I deme my selfe damnable if I either for pleasure or displeasure of any creature apply me not diligētly to prech the word of God And in the same damnation I deeme all those Priestes which of good purpose and will enforce thē not busily to do thus also all them that haue purpose or will to let any Priest of this busines ¶ And the Archbishop sayde to those 3. Clerkes that stoode before him Lo Syrs this is the maner and busines of this Losell and such other to picke out such sharpe sentences of holy Scripture and Doctours to mayntayne theyr sect lore agaynst the ordinaunce of holy Church And therefore Losell it is thou that couetest to haue agayne the Psalter that I made to be taken frō thee at Caunterbury to record sharpe verses agaynst vs. But thou shalt neuer haue that Psalter nor none other booke till that I know that thy hart thy mouth accordfully to be gouerned by holy Church ☞ And I sayd Syr all my will and power is euer shal be I trust to God to be gouerned by holy Church ¶ And the Archbishop asked me what was holy Church ☞ And I sayd Syr I tolde you before what was holye Church But since ye aske me this demaund I call Christ and his Saintes holy Church ¶ And the Archbishoppe sayd vnto me I wore well that Christ and his Saintes are holy Churche in heauen but what is holy Church in earth ☞ And I sayd Syr though holy Churche be euery one in charity yet it hath two partes The first and pricipall part hath ouercomen perfectly all the wretchednesse of this life and raigneth ioyfully in heauen with Christ. And the other part is here yet in earth busily continually fighting day and night agaynst temptations of the fiend forsaking and hating the prosperity of this world dispising and withstāding theyr fleshly lustes which onely are the pilgrimes of Christ wandring toward heauen by stedfast fayth groūded hope and by perfect charity For these heauenly pilgrimes may not nor will not be letted of their good purpose by the reasō of any doctors discording from holy scripture nor by the floudes of any tribulation temporall nor by the wind of any pride of boast or of manasing of any creature For they are all fast grounded vpon the sure stone Christ hearing his word and louing it exercising them faithfully and continually in all their wittes to do therafter And the Archbishop sayd to his Clerkes See ye not how his hart is indurate and how he is trauelled with the deuill occupying him thus busily to alledgr suth sentences to mayntaine his errours and heresies Certayne thus he would occupy vs here all day if we would suffer him One of the clerkes aunswered Sir he sayd right now that this certification that came to you from Shrewsbury is vntruely forged agaynst him Therefore sir appose you him nowe heare in all that points which are certified against him so we shall heare of his own mouth his answeres and witnesse them And the Archb. took the certification in his hand looked theron a while and then
in them from argument to argument with pro contra till that they wot not where they are vnderstand not theÌ„selues But the shame that these proude Sophisters haue to yelde them to men and before men maketh theÌ„ oft fooles and to be concluded shamefully before God ¶ And the archb said to me I purpose not to oblige thee to the subtle arguments of clerks since thou art vnable therto but I purpose to make thee obey to the determination of holy Church ☞ And I sayd sir by open euidence and great witnesse a M. yeare after the incarnation of Christ the determination which I haue here before you rehearsed was accept of holy Church as sufficient to the saluation of all them that would beleue it faythfully and work thereafter charitably But Sir the determination of this matter whiche was brought in since the fiend was loosed by Frier Thomas agayne specially calling the most worshipfull SacrameÌ„t of Christes owne body an accident without subiect whiche terme since I know not that Gods lawe approueth it in this matter I dare not grauÌ„t but vtterly I deny to make this Friers sentence or any such other my beliefe do with me God what thou wilt ¶ And the Archb. sayd to me Wel wel thou shalt say otherwise or that I leaue thee But what sayest thou to this second point that is recorded agaynst thee by worthy men of Shrewsbury saying that thou preachedst there that Images ought not to be worshipped in any wise ☞ And I sayd Syr I preached neuer thus nor through gods grace I wil not any time consent to think nor to say thus neyther priuily nor apertly For lo the Lord witnesseth by Moses that the thinges which he made were right good and so then they were and yet they are shal be good and worshipfull in theyr kind And therfore to the end that God made them to they are al praisable and worshipful specially man that was made after the image likenesse of God is full worshipfull in hys kinde yea this holy image that is man God worshippeth And herefore euery man should worship other in kinde and also for heauenly vertues that meÌ„ vse charitably And also I say wood tin gold siluer or any other matter that images are made of al these creatures are worshipful in their kinde and to the end that God made them for But the caruing casting payntyng of an imagery made within mans haÌ„d albeit that this doyng be accept of man of highest state and dignitie ordayned of them to be a Calender to lend men that neyther can nor will be learned to know God in hys word neyther by his creatures nor by hys wonderfull diuers workings Yet this imagery ought not to be worshipped in fourme nor in the likenes of mans craft Neuerthelesse that euery matter the paynters paynt with since it is Gods creature ought to be worshipped in the kinde and to the ende that God made and ordayned it to serue man ¶ Then the Archbishop sayd to me I graunt well that no body ought to doe worship to any suche images for themselues But a crucifixe ought to be worshipped for the passion of Christ that is paynted therein and so brought there through to mans mind and thus the images of the blessed Trinitie and of the Virgine Mary Christes mother and other images of sayntes ought to be worshipped For loe earthly kinges and Lordes which vse to send theyr letters ensealed with their armes or with theyr priuy signet to them that are with them are worshipped of these men For when these men receiue theyr Lordes letters in whiche they see and know the willes and biddinges of the Lords in worship of theyr Lordes they doe off theyr caps to these letters Why not them since in Images made wyth mans hande we may read and knowe many diuers thinges of GOD and of hys Sayntes shall we not worship their images ☞ And I sayd within my foresaid protestation I say that these worldly vsages of temporal lawes that ye speak now of may be done in case without sinne But this is no similitude to worshippe Images made by mans hande since that Moyses Dauid Solomon Baruch and other saints in the Bible forbid so playnely the worshipping of suche Images ¶ Then the archbishop sayd to me Leud losell in the olde law before that Christ tooke mankinde was no likenes of any person of the trinitie neither shewed to man nor known of man But nowe since Christ became man it is lefull to haue Images to shew hys manhoode Yea though many men which are right great Clerkes other also held it an errour to paynt the Trinitie I say it is well done to make and to paynt the Trinitie in images For it is great moouing of deuotion to men to haue and to behold the Trinitie and other images of saints carued cast paynted For beyond the sea are the best paynters that euer I saw And sirs I tell you this is their maner and it is a good maner WheÌ„ that an Image maker shall carue cast in molde or paint any Images he shall go to a Priest shriue him as clean as if he should then dye and take penance and make some certayne vowe of fasting or of praying or pilgrimages doing praying the Priest specially to pray for him that he may haue grace to make a fayre and a deuout Image ☞ And I sayd Sir I doubt not if these paynters that ye speake of or any other painters vnderstoode truly the text of Moyses of Dauid of yâ— wise man of Baruch and of other saints and doctors These painters should be moued to shrine theÌ„ to God with ful inward sorowe of hart taking vpon them to do right sharpe penaÌ„ce for the sinful vaine craâ—t of painting caruing or casting they had vsed Promising God faithfully neuer to do so after knowledging openly before al men their reprouable learning And also sir these priests that shrine as you do say painters enioine theÌ„ to do penance pray for their speede promisyng to theÌ„ helpe of their prayers for to be curious in their sinful crafts sinne herein more greuously then the painters For these priests do comfort and geue them counsail to do that thing which of great pain yea vnder yâ— pain of gods curse they should vtterly forbid them For certes sir if the wonderful working of God the holy liuing teachyng of Christ and of his Apostles and Prophetes were made knowen to the people by holy liuing true and busy reaching of priests these thinges sir were sufficient bookes and Kalenders to know God by his Saynts without any images made with mans hand But certes the vicious liuing of priests and their couetousnes are chiefe cause of this errour and all other viciousnes that raygneth amoÌ„g the people ¶ Then the Archbish. sayd vnto me I hold thee a vicious Priest and a curst
body need to be afrayde though death did folow by one wise or other for to dye out of this world without taking of any Sacrament of these foresayd Christes enemyes since Christ will not fayle for to minister himselfe all Iefull healfull Sacramentes and necessary at all time and specially at end to all them that are in true fayth in stedfast hope and in perfect charity But yet some mad fooles say for to eschew slaunder they wil be shriuen once in the yeare and communed of theyr proper Priestes though they knowe them defouled with slaunderous vyces No doubt but all they that thus do or consent priuely or apertly to such doing are culpable of great sinne since S. Paul witnesseth that not onely they that do euill are worthy of death and damnation but also they that consent to euill doers Also as their slaūderous workes witnesse these aforesayd vicious Priestes despise and cast from them heauenly cunning that is geuen of the holye ghost Wherefore the Lord throweth all such despisers from him that they vse nor do any Priesthood to him No doubt than all they that wittingly or wilfully take or cōsent that any other body should take any Sacrament of any suche named Priest sinneth openly and damnably agaynst all the Trinity and are vnable to any Sacrament of health And that this foresayd sentēce is altogether true into remission of all my sinnefull liuing trusting stedfastly in the mercye of God I offer to him my soule And to proue also the foresayde sentence true with the helpe of God I purposefully for to suffer meekely and gladly my most wretched bodye to bee tormented where God will of whom he will and when he will and as long as he will and what temporall payne he will and death to the praysing of his name and to the edification of his Church And I that am most vnworthy and wretched caytife shall now through the speciall grace of God make to him pleasaunt sacrifice with my most sinnefull and vnworthy body Beseechyng hartely all folke that read or heare this end of my purposed Testament that through the grace of GOD they dispose verely and vertuously all their wittes and able in lyke maner all their members for to vnderstand truely and to keepe faythfully charitably and continually all the commaundementes of God and so than to pray deuoutly to all the blessed Trinitie that I may haue grace with wisedome and prudence from aboue to end my lyfe here in this foresayd truth and for this cause in true fayth and stedfast hope and perfect charitie Amen What was the ende of this good man and blessed seruant of God Williā Thorpe I finde as yet in no story specified By all coniectures it is to be thought that the archbishop Thomas Arundull being so hard an aduersarye agaynst those men would not let him goe Much lesse it is to be supposed that he would euer retract his sentence and opinion which he so valiantly mayntayned before the byshop neither doth it seeme that he had any such recanting spirite Agayne neyther is it founde that he was burned Wherfore it remayneth most like to be true that he beyng committed to some straight prison according as the Archbyshop in his examination before dyd threaten him there as Thorpe confesseth himselfe was so straightly kept that eyther he was secretly made away or els there he dyed by sicknesse The like end also I finde to happen to Iohn Aston an other good folower of Wickliffe who for the same doctrine of the sacrament was condemned by the Bishops And because he would not recant he was committed to perpetuall prison wherein the good man continued till his death An. 1382. ¶ Iohn Puruey FUrthermore in the sayd examinatiō of Williā Thorpe mention was made as ye heard of Iohn Puruey of whom also something we touched before promising of the sayd Iohn Puruey more particularly to entreate in order and processe of time Of this Puruey Tho. Walden writeth thus in his second tome Iohn Puruey sayth he was the Library of Lollordes and gloser vpon Wickliffe He sayde that the worshipping of Abrahā was but a salutatiō And in his third Tome he sayth this Iohn Puruey with Harford a doctour of diuinity were greuously tormented and punished in the prison of Saltwood and at the length recanted at Paules crosse at London Tho. Arundel being then Archb. of Canterbury Afterward agayne he was emprisoned vnder Henry Chicheley Archb. of Canterbury in the yeare of our Lord 1421. Thus muche writeth Walden The workes of this man which he wrote were gathered by Richard Lauingame his aduersarye whiche I thinke worthy to be remēbred First as touching the Sacrament of the last supper the Sacrament of penaunce the Sacrament of orders the power of the keyes the preaching of the Gospell of Mariages of Uowes of possessiōs of the punishing and correcting of the Clergy of the lawes and decrees of the Church of the state and condition of the Pope and the clergy Of all these generally he left diuers monuments grauely and exactly written part whereof here in the end of his story we thought to exhibite being translated out of Latine into English The articles which he taught and afterward was forced to recant at Paules crosse were these hereafter folowing 1. That in the Sacrament of the aultar after the consecration there is not neither can be any accident without the subiect But there verely remaineth the same substaūce and the very visible and incorruptible bread likewise the very same wine the which before the consecration were set vpon the aultar to be consecrate of the Priest likewise as when a Pagan or infidell is baptised he is spiritually conuerted into a member of Christ through grace and yet remayneth the very same man whiche he before was in his proper nature and substaunce 2. Auricular confession or priuate penaunce is a certeyne whispering destroying the libertye of the Gospell newly brought in by the Pope and the Clergye to intangle the consciences of mē in sinne to draw their soules into hel 3. Euery lay man being holy and predestinate vnto euer lasting life albeit he be a lay man yet is he a true Priest before God 4. That diuers Prelates and other of the Clergy do liue wickedly contrary to the doctrine and example of Christ his Apostles Therefore they whiche so liue haue not the keyes neyther of the kingdome of heauen neither yet of hell neither ought any christian to esteme his cēsure any more then as a thing of no force Yea albeit the pope should peraduenture interdite the realme yet could he not hurt but rather profite vs for so much as thereby we should be dismissed from the obseruation of his lawes and from saying of seruice according to the custome of the Church 5. If any man do make an othe or vow to keepe perpetuall chastity or do any thing els whereunto God hath not appoynted him geuing him
passion Sonday which was an exceding stormy day and so tēpestuous that many did wonder at the portent thereof not long after the same a parliament began to be called to be holden after the feast of Easter at Westminster An. 1413. At whych time Thomas Arundel the Archbishop of Canterburie collected in Paules church at London an vniuersal Synode of all the bishops and clergie of England In that Synode among other weighty matters and ponderous was determined that the day of S. George and also of S. Dunstane should be double feast called Duplex Festum in holy kitching in holy Church I would say And because the order and maner of those Pope holy feastes either yet is not sufficiently knowen to some rude and grosse capacities or may peraduenture growe out of vse and to be straunge vnknowen to our posteritie hereafter Therfore to geue a litle memorandum therof by the way for eruditiō of times hereafter to come touching this misticall science of the Popes deepe and secreate diuinitie here is to be noted that the feastes of the Popes holy mother Catholique churche be deuided in sondry members Like as a plentifull roote in a fruitfull fielde riseth vp and burgeneth into manifold armes and the armes againe do multiply into diuers and sondry brāches out of the which moreouer although no frute do come yet both leaues and flowers doe bud and blossome in most copious wise right beautifull to beholde Euen so thys Festum conteinyng a large matter of great variety of dayes and feasts groweth to it selfe and multiplieth being thus deuided first into Festum duplex and into Festum simplex that is into feast double and to feast simple Againe thys Festum duplex brauncheth foure folde wise to wit into Festum principale duplex into Maius duplex into Minus duplex and infernis duplex that is in principal double in greater double in lesser double and inferior or lower double Unto these seneual sorts of feasts what daies were peculiarly assigned it were to long to recite For this present purpose it shall suffice to vnderstand that as vnto the principall double feast onely belonged 8. daies in the yere so the Maius duplex festum had geuen vnto him by thys conuocation the day of S. George and of S. Dunstane as is afore remembred albeit by constitution it was so decreed yet by custome it was not so vsed Item to be noted that these two feastes to witte Principale duplex and Maius duplex did differ and were knowen from all other by foure notes by seruice in the kitching and by seruice in the Church which was both double by ringing in the steple which was with double peale by copes in the quier and by thurifyeng or censing the aultares For in these two principall and greater double feasts the vii viii and ix lesson must be read wyth silken copes Also at the said feasts in the time of the lessons the altars in the church must be thurified that is smoked with incēse c. And likewise the Minus duplex and Inferius duplex had also their peculiar seruice to them belonging Secondly the Simplex festum whych is the seconde arme springing of this diuision is thus diuided Eyther hauing a triple inuitorie or a double or els a single inuitorie Of the which moreouer some haue 3. lessons some haue 9. c. And thus much by occasion for Popish feasts not that I doe so much deride them as I lament that so much and manifest idolatry in them is committed to the great dishonor of our Lord our God whych is onely to be honoured ¶ The trouble and persecution of the Lord Cobham BUt to lette this by matter passe againe to returne to the foresayde vniuersal Synode assembled by Thomas Arundel at S. Paules churche in London as is before remembred the chiefe and principall cause of the assembling thereof as recordeth the Chronicle of S. Albones was to represse the growing and spreading of the Gospell and especially to withstand the noble worthy Lorde Cobham Who was then noted to be a principall fauourer receiuer and maintainer of them whome the Byshop misnamed to be Lollards especially in the diocesses of London Rochester and Hereforde setting them vp to preache whome the byshops had not licensed and sending thē about to preach which was against the constitution prouinciall before remembred pag. 5 24. holding also and teaching opinions of the sacraments of images of pilgrimage of the keyes and church of Rome contrary and repugnant to the receiued determination of the Romish church c. In the meane time as these were in talke amōgst them concerning the good Lord Cobham resorted vnto them the 12. Inquisitors of heresies whom they had appoynted at Oxford the yeare afore to searche out heretickes wyth all Wickleffes bookes who brought 200. and 46. conclusions which they had collected as heresies out of the sayd bookes The names of the sayd Inquisitors were these 1. Iohn Witnam a maister in the now Colledge 2. Iohn Langedon Monke of Christ church in Cant. 3. William Vfford regent of the Carmelites 4. Thomas Claxton regent of the Dominickes 5. Robert Gilbert 6. Richard Earthisdale 7. Iohn Lucke 8. Richard Snedisham 9. Richard Flemming 10. Thomas Rotborne 11. Robert Ronbery 12. Richard Grafdale These things thus done the Articles being brought in further they proceded in their communication concluding among themselues that it was not possible for them to make whole Christes coat wtout seame meaning therby their patched Popish synagoge vnlesse certaine great men were brought out of the way which seemed to be the chiefe maintainers of the sayde Disciples of Wickleffe Among whō thys noble knight sir Iohn Didcastle the Lord Cobham was complained of by the generall proctors to be the chiefe principall Him they accused first for a mighty maintainer of suspected preachers in the dioces of London Rochester and Hereford contrary to the mindes of their ordinaries Not only they affirmed him to haue sēt thether the saide preachers but also to haue assisted them there by force of armes notwithstanding their Synodall constitution made afore to the contrary Last of al they accused him that he was farre otherwise in beliefe of the sacrament of the altar of penaunce of pilgrimage of image worshipping and of the Ecclesiastical power then the holy Church of Rome had taught many yeares before In the ende it was concluded among them that wtout any further delay processe shoulde be awarded out against him as against a most pernitious hereticke Some of that felowship which were of more crafty experience then the other thought it not best to haue that matter so rashly handled but by some preparation made therunto before Considering the sayde Lorde Cobham was a man of great birth and in fauour at that time with the K. their counsaile was to know first the kings minde to saue all things vpright This counsaile was well
accepted and thereupon the Archbyshop thomas Arundell wyth hys other bishops and a great part of the clergye went straight waies vnto the king then remaining at Keningston And there laid forth most greuous complaints against the sayd Lorde Cobham to his great infamy and blemish being a man right godly The king gently heard those bloud thirsty Prelates and farre otherwise then became his princely dignitie notwythstanding requiring and instantly desiring them that in respect of hys noble stocke and knighthode they should yet fauourably deale with him And that they would if it were possible without all rigor or extreme handling reduce him againe to the Churches vnitie Hee promised them also that in case they were contented to take some deliberation hys selfe would seriously common the matter wyth him Anone after the king sent for the saide Lorde Cobham And as he was come he called him secretely admonishing him betwixt him and him to submit himself to his mother the holy church and as an obedient child to acknowledge himselfe culpable Unto whome the Christen knight made this aunswer You most worthy Prince saith he I am alwaies prompt willing to obey for somuch as I knowe you a christen king the appoynted minister of God bearing the sworde to the punishment of euil doers for safegard of them that be vertuous Unto you next my eternal God owe I my whole obedience submit thereunto as I haue done euer all that I haue eyther of fortune or nature ready at all times to fulfil whatsoeuer ye shall in the Lord commaund inc But as touching the Pope and hys spiritually I owe them neither sure nor seruice forsomuch as I knowe him by the Scriptures to be the great Antichrist the sonne of perdition the open aduersary of God the abhomination standing in the holy place When the king had heard thys with such like sentences more he would talke no longer with hym but left him so vtterly And as the Archbyshop resorted againe vnto hym for an answere he gaue him his full authority to cite him examin him punish him according to their deuilish decrees which they called the lawes of holy church Then the sayde Archb. by the counsaile of his other Byshops and Clergy appoynted to cal before him Sir Iohn Didcastle the Lord Cobham and to cause hym personally to appeare to aunswere to such suspect Articles as they shoulde lay agaynst hym So he sent forth hys chiefe Sommoner wyth a very sharpe citation vnto the castle of Cowling where as he at that time dwelt for his solace And as the sayd Sommoner was come thether hee durst in no case enter the gates of so noble a man wythout his licence and therfore he returned home againe hys message not done Then called the Archbish. one Iohn Butler vnto him which was then the doore keper of the kings priuy chamber and wyth him he couenaunted through promyses and rewards to haue this matter craftly brought to passe vnder the kings name Whereuppon the sayde Iohn Butler tooke the Archbyshops Somner with him and went vnto the saide Lord Cobham shewing him that it was the kings pleasure that he should obey that citation and so cited him fraudulently Then saide he to them in few words that he in no case would consent to those most deuilish practises of the Priestes As they had informed the Archbyshop of that aunswere and that it was for no man priuately to cite him after that without pearil of life he decreed by by to haue him cited by publique processe or open cōmandement And in all the hast possible vpon the Wednesday before the Natiuity of our Lady in September he commaunded letters citatorir to be set vppon the great gates of the Cathedrall church of Rochester whych was but 3. English miles frō thence charging hym to appeare personally before him at Ledis the 11. day of the same moneth and yeare all excuses to the contrary set apart Those letters were taken down anone after by such as bare fauor vnto the Lord Cobham and so conueyed aside After that caused the Archbish. new letters to be set vp on the natiuity day of our Lady whych also were rent downe and vtterly consumed Then for somuch as he dyd not appeare at the day appoynted at Ledys where her sate in Consistorie as cruell as euer was Cayphas with his court of hypocrites about him he iudged him denounced him and condemned him of most depe contumacy After that whē he had bene falsly informed by his hired spies and other glosing glauerers that the sayd Lord Cobh. had laughed him to scorn disdained al his doings maintained his old opinions contemned the churches power the dignity of a Bishop the order of priesthood for all these was he than accused of in his mody madnes wtout iust profe did he openly excommunicate him Yet was not withal this his fierce tiranny satisfied but commanded him to be cited a fresh to appeare afore him the Saterday before the feast of S. Mathewe the Apostle with these cruel threatnings added thereunto that if he did not obey at the day he wold more extremely handle him And to make himselfe more strong towardes the performāce thereof he compelled the lay power by most terrible manasings of curses and interdictions to assist hym against that seditious apostata schismaticke and hereticke the troubler of the publike peace that enemy of the realme and great aduersary of all holy Church for al these hateful names did he geue him Thys most constant seruant of the Lorde and worthy Knight sir Iohn Didcastle the Lorde Cobham beholding the vnpeaceable furie of Antichrist thus kindled agaynst him perceiuing himself also compassed on euery side wyth deadly daungers He tooke paper and pen in hand and so wrote a Christen cōfession or rekening of his faith whych followeth heereafter both signing and sealing it wyth his owne hand Wherein he also answered to the 4. chiefest articles that the Archbyshop laid against him That done he tooke the copie with him and went therewith to the king trusting to finde mercy fauour at his hande None other was that confession of his then the common beleue or summe of the Churches faith called the Apostles Creede of all Christen men than vsed with a brief declaration vpon the same as here vnder ensueth ¶ The Christen beliefe of the Lorde Cobham I Beleue in God the father almighty maker of heauen and earth And in Iesu Christ hys onely sonne our Lorde which was cōceiued by the holy ghost borne of the virgin Mary suffred vnder Ponce Pilate crucified dead and buried went downe to hell the thirde day rose agayne from death ascended vp to heauen sitteth on the ryght hande of God the father almighty and from thence shal come again to iudge the quicke the dead I beleeue in the holy ghost the vniuersal holy Church the communion of Saints the forgeuenesse
be it here to all the worlde that he neuer since varied in any poynt therefro but this is playnly his beliefe that all the sacramentes of the churche be profitable and expedient also to al them that shall be saued taking them after the intent that Christ and hys true church hath ordayned Furthermore he beleeueth that the blessed sacrament of the aulter is verily and truely Christes body in forme of bread After this the bishops and priests were in much great discredite both with the nobilitie and commons partly for that they had so cruelly handled the good Lorde Cobham partly agayn because hys opinion as they thought at that tyme was parfect concerning the sacrament The Prelates feared this to grow to further incōueniēce towards thē both wayes wherfore they drew theyr heads together at the last consented to vse an other practise somewhat cōtrary to that they had done afore They caused it by and by to be blowne abroad by theyr feed seruauntes frends and babling sir Iohns that the sayd Lord Cobham was becomen a good man and had lowly submitted himselfe in all thinges vnto holy Church vtterly 〈◊〉 his opinion concerning the sacrament And thereupon they counterfayted an abiuration in hys name that the people shoulde take no hold of that opinion by any thing they had hearde of him before and to stand so the more in awe of them Cōsidering hym so great a man and by them subdued This is the abiuration say they of sir Iohn Oldcastle knight sometime the Lord Cobham * An Abiuration counterfaited of the Byshoppes IN Deinomiue Amon. I Iohn Oldcastle denounced detected and conuinced of and vpon diuers articles sauoring both heresye and error before the reuerend father in Christ my good Lord Thomas by the permission of God Lord Archbishop of Caunterbury and my lawfull and rightfull iudge in that behalfe expresly graunt and confesse that as cōcerning the estate and power of the most holy father the Pope of Rome of his Archbishops his Bishops and hys other prelates the degrees of the church and the holy Sacramentes of the same specially of the Sacramentes of the aultar of penaunce and other obseruaunces besides of our mother holy Church as Pilgrimages and pardons I affirme I say before the sayd reuerend father Archbishop els where that I being euill seduced by diuers sedicious preachers haue grieuously erred and heretically persisted blasphemously aunswered and obstinately rebelled And therfore I am by the sayd reuerend father before the reuerend fathers in Christ also the bishops of London Winchester and Bangor lawfully condemned for an hereticke Neuertheles yet I now remembring my selfe and coueting by this meane to auoyd that temporall payn which I am worthy to suffer as an hereticke at the assigned 〈◊〉 of my most excellent Christen prince and siege Lord King Henry the 5. now by the grace of God most worthy Kyng both of England and of Fraunce Minding also to prefere the wholesome determination sentence and doctrine of the holy vniuersall Church of Rome before the vnwholesom opinions of my selfe my teachers and my followers I freely willingly deliberately and throughly cōfesse graūt and affirme that the most holy fathers in Christ S. Peter the Apostle and his successors byshops of Rome specially now at this time my most blessed Lord Pope Iohn by the permission of God the xxiii Pope of that name which now haldeth Peters seat and each of them in theyr succession hath full strength and power to be Christes Vicar in earth and the head of the church militant And that by the strēgth of his office what though he be a great sinner and afore knowne of God to be damned he hath full authority and power to rule and gouerne bynde and loose saue and destroy accurse and assoyle all other Christen men And agreeably still vnto this I confesse graunt and affirme all other Archbishops Byshops and Prelates in their prouinces Dioces and Parishes appoynted by the sayd Pope of Rome to assiste him in his doinges or busines by his Decrees Canons or vertue of his office to haue had in times past to haue now at this time and that they ought to haue in time to come authoritye and power to rule and to gouerne binde and loose accurse and assoyle the subiects or people of theyr aforesaid prouinces dioces parishes and that their said subiectes or people ought of right in all things to obey them Furthermore I confesse graunt and affirme that the sayd spirituall fathers as our most holy father the Pope Archbishops Bishops Prelates haue had haue now and ought to haue hereafter authority and power for the estate order and gouernaunce of their subiectes or people to make lawes decrees statutes and constitutions yea and to publishe commaund and compell their sayde subiectes and peoyle to the obseruation of them Moreouer I confesse graunt and affirme that all these foresayd lawes decrees statutes and constitutions made published and commaunded according to the forme of spirituall law all christen people and euery man in himself is straightly bound to obserue meekely to obey according to the diuersity of the foresayd powers As the lawes statuts canons and constitutions of our most holy father the Pope incorporated in his Decrees Decretals Clementines Codes Chartes Rescriptes Sextiles and Extrauagants ouer all the world and as the prouinciall statuts of Archbishopps in their prouinces the Sinodall actes of Bishops in their dioces and the commendable rules customes of prelates in their colledges and Curates in their parishes all Christen people are both bound to obserue also most meekly to obey Ouer besides all thys I Iohn Oldcastle vtterly forsaking and renouncing all the aforesayd errors and heresies and all other errors and heresies like vnto them lay my hand here vpon this booke or holye Euangely of God sweare that I shall neuer more from henceforth holde these aforesayd heresies nor yet any other like vnto them wittinglye Neither shall I geue counsell ayde helpe nor fauor at any time to them that shall holde teach affirme or maintayne the same as God shall helpe me and these holy Euangelies And that I shall from henceforth faythfully obey and inuiolably obserue all the holy lawes statutes Canons and constitutions of all the Popes of Rome Archbishops Bishops and Prelates as are conteyned and determined in their holy Decrees Decretalles Clementines Codes Chartes Rescriptes Sextiles Sumnies papall Extrauagantes statutes prouinciall actes synodall and other ordinary regules and customes cōstituted by them or that shall chaunce hereafter directly to be determined ormade To these and all such other will I my selfe with all power possibly apply Besides all this the penaunce whiche it shall please my sayd reuerend father the Lord Archbishop of Caunterbury hereafter to enioyne me for my sinnes I will meekely obey and faythfully fulfill Finally all my seducers and false teachers and all other besides
place to place and specially about the ministration of the sick Also I declared not of my selfe but I hearde it to be declared by others both great and credible persons that there was a certaine woman a folower of that secte the which taking by violence the body of Christe out of a priests handes did communicate vnto her selfe and affirmed that all men oughte to doe so if the Priests would denye them the Communion And the same woman amongst many other errours of the whych shee was conuicted did affirme that a good lay woman myght better consecrate and geue absolution then an euill priest affirming that an euill priest can neyther consecrate nor absolue But I know that neyther I neither any of my assistance in this matter haue broughte thys at any time into your cares that coblers in the sayde kingdome doe heare confession or minister the sacrament of the body of Christ as is alleaged by the sayde Peter in the behalfe of the sayde supplicantes Notwythstanding that we did feare if meanes were not founde to recounter or stoppe the offences before named that thys would immediatly folow vpon it Wherfore most reuerend fathers least that the kingdome mighte hee defamed any more by such pestiferous sectes and that the Christian faith myght happen to be indaungered with all reuerence and charity I do desire you euen by the bowels of mercy of our Lord Iesus Christe that thys most sacred Councel would prouide some speedy remedy for this kingdome as touchyng the premisses Moreouer whether be they backbiters and slanderers or wicked and false enuiers of the kingdome of Boheme the which do let the errors aforesaid many others more which are sowen by the Wicleuists in the sayd kingdome and also els where whych also both do labor and haue laboured for the extirpation and roting out of those errours out of the kingdome aforesayd and as catholicke men for the zeale of their faith haue manfully put forth themselues against the maintainers of the sayd errours or such as doe maintaine and defend the teachers of those errours This answere I haue here presented before your reuerences alwaies wholy submitting my self and assistance vnto your iudgement and to the definition of this most sacred councell of Constance ¶ The answere of the nobles of Boheme THe day before whitsontide the nobles of Boheme dyd confute this theyr aunswer made 2. dayes before in the Councel to their former wryting as here foloweth Most reuerend fathers and Lordes for so much as vpon thursday it was answered in the behalfe of your reuerences to the requests of the nobles and Lords of Boheme that the sayde Lordes were misinformed of diuers poynts contained in the declaration of their said vil therfore the foresayd Lords haue now determined and decreed to declare their former propounded requests more at large vnto your reuerences not mineding hereby to argue or reprooue your fatherly wisedomes and circumspections but that youre reuerences theyr desires being partly on thys behalf fulfilled might the more effectuously distinctly discerne and iudge as touching thys matter And first of all where as the Lordes alleaged and sayd how that maister Iohn Hus was come hether vnto Constance freely of his owne good will vnder the safe conduct of the Lorde the king and the protection of the sacred Empire It is aunswered on the behalfe of your reuerences how that the said Lords are misinformed as touching the safe conduict and that you haue vnderstand by such as are worthy credit that the frends and fauorers of the sayd M. Iohn Hus did first procure and get his safe conduicte 15. dayes after hys imprisonment The Lords of Boheme and specially the Lorde Iohn de Clum heere present whome thys matter doeth chiefely touche doeth aunswere that not onely the 15. day after but euen the very same day that Iohn Hus was apprehended and taken when as our reuerende father the Pope in the presence of all his Cardinals demaunded of M. Iohn de Clum whether M. Iohn Hus had any safeconduict from the king hys sonne he answered most holy father Cardinals knowe ye that he hath a safe conduict and when he was asked the question againe the second time he answered in like maner Yet notwithstāding none of them required to haue the safeconduict shewed vnto them and againe the thirde day following the Lord Iohn de Clum complained vnto our Lord the Pope how notwythstanding the safe conduict of oure soueraigne Lorde the king he detained and kept M. Iohn Hus as prisoner shewing the said safeconduict vnto many And for a further truth herein he referreth hymself vnto the testimonies and witnesses of diuers Earles Byshops knightes gentlemen and famous Citizens of the city of Constance the whych altogether at this present did see the said safe conduict and heard it read whereupon the sayde Iohn de Clum is ready to binde hymselfe vnder what penalty shal be required euidently to proue and cōfirme that which hee hath promised who soeuer say to the contrary Moreouer the Lordes of Boheme referre themselues vnto the knowledge of certaine Princes electors other Princes Byshops many other noblemen which were present before the kings maiestie where and when as the said safe conduct was graunted and geuen out by the speciall commaundement of our sayd Lord the king Hereby your fatherly reuerences may vnderstand and perceiue that the sayd Lordes of Boheme are not euill informed as touching the saide safe conducit But rather they which by such reportes haue falsly and vntruely informed your reuerēces And first of al they haue offended agaynst the Lord our king and hys chauncellours Secondarely against the Lords and nobles of Boheme as thoughe we had priuely by stealth purchased the sayde safe conduict Wherefore the Lords aforesaid most humbly require desire your reuerēces that you wil not so lightly beleue such as be not worthy of credit but rather hearing the contrary part to labour and discusse that the trueth may the more euidently appeare Secondly where as the Lordes aforesayde alleaging how M. Iohn Hus cōming vnto Constance of his owne free will being neither condemned nor heard was imprisoned your reuerences haue made aunswer therunto that he the sayd M. Iohn Hus in the time of Alexander 5. was infamed and slandered vppon certaine heresies and thereupon cited personally to apeare in the court of Rome and there was heard by hys procurers And for somuch as he refused obstinatly to appeare he was excommunicated in the which excommunication he continued as you affirme by the space of fiue yeares for the whych he was iudged and counted not onely a simple and plaine hereticke but an heresiarke that is to say an inuenter and sower of newe and straunge heresies and that he comming towarde Constance did preache by the way openly To this the Lordes aforesayd do aunswere that as touching hys slaunder and citation they can affirme nothing but by report But as touching
euery man which would beholde and looke vpon the same the forme and tenour wherof here followeth and is such ¶ The protestation of Iohn Hus. FOr so much as aboue all things I doe desire the honor of God the profite of the holy Churche and that I my selfe may be a faithfull member of our Lorde Iesu Christ which is the heade and husband of the holy Church whych hee hath redemed Therefore as heretofore oftentimes I haue done euen so now againe I make this protestation that I neuer obstinately sayd or heereafter will say any thing that shall be contrary vnto the truth and verity and moreouer that I haue alwayes holden do hold and firmely desire for to holde the very true and infallible trueth and veritie so that before that I would defende and maintaine any erroure contrary therunto I would rather chuse by the hope and help of the Lorde to suffer extreeme punishment euen vnto death yea and thorowe the helpe of God I am ready euen to offer this my miserable lyfe vnto death for the law of Christ the which I do beleue euery part and parcell thereof to be geuen and promulgate for the saluation of mankinde by the counsaile and determination of the most holy Trinitie and the saintes of God c. By the whiche his protestation and also other protestations by the sayde M. Iohn Hus being well obserued and noted it may be easily gathered and known that his whole intent and purpose was and is that hee neither would nor will haue spoken or written any thing in hys bookes treatises doctrines or publike sermones or els to haue affirmed any articles the whyche willingly and wittingly he did vnderstand or know to be either erroneous offensiue seditious hereticall or offending the godly eare All beit that these and suche like things are falsely imputed vnto hym by hys enemies But it hath alwayes bene his chiefe intent and purpose and so is that euery poynt conclusion or article contained in his bookes or articles to haue put and affirmed them to thys ende according to the truth of the Gospell the holy Doctors and wryters vppon the holy Scriptures and to that end and purpose as is before expressed in his protestations and if in any poynt he shoulde be founde to varie or goe astray or that he were not well vnderstanded of others by like information to be informed vnderstanded corrected and amended and that he wil by no meanes sustaine or defend any maner of article against the holy Churche of Rome or the Catholicke faith Wherefore most reuerende fathers the premisses notwythstanding his ennemies through the extreeme hatred whych they beare vnto him hath picked and taken out by piece meale certain articles out of the booke of M. Iohn Hus reiecting and not looking vppon the allegations and reasons neither hauing any relation vnto the distinction of their equiuocations haue compounded and made thereof certaine false and fained articles againste him to thys ende that all charitie and loue being sette aparte they might the better ouerthrow hym and bryng hym vnto death contrary vnto the safe conducte vppon good and iust occasion openly assigned and geuen vnto the sayde maister Iohn Hus by the most noble Prince the Lorde Sigismund king of the Romanes and of Hungarie for his iust defence against all the friuolous accusations and assaultes of the ennemies not onely of the sayd M. Iohn Hus but also of the famous kingdome of Boheme and for the quiete appeasing of all such tumultes and rumours rising and springing in the sayde kingdome of Boheme or else where the auoiding of which most perillous vprours the saide king of Romaines doth greatly desire and wish as the right heire and successour of the sayd kingdome Whereuppon the Barons and Nobles aforesayde most humbly desire and require the premisses being considered and respect had vnto the great infamie and slaunder which may happen by the premisses vnto the sayde kingdome and inhabitants thereof that you will put to your handes and take some order meane that maister Iohn Hus may be distinctly hearde by some famous men deuines already deputed or otherwise to be appoynted vpon all and singulare such articles as shall be laide vnto him to declare his owne minde and intent and also the minde of the doctours alleadged for his purpose with the manifolde distinctions and equiuocations in the which the drawers out of the most part of his articles haue also made equiuocations that so according vnto the disposition of witnesses of the which a great number of them are and haue a long time bene his mortall ennemies that at the friuolous instigation of his enemies when hee was miserably deteined prisoner that he should not be condemned vnheard For so muche as by the sayde declarations your fatherly reuerences might be the more better informed of the trueth hee hymselfe is ready alwaies to submit himselfe vnder the determination of thys most sacred councell For your reuerences by the craftie and fained perswasions of his ennemies are thus informed that M Iohn Hus hath bene vncurably obstinate by a long time in most perillous articles the which your reuerences may nowe plainely perceiue to be vntrue and for the more euidence heerein to be shewed there is presented vnto your reuerences an instrumente of publike recognition of the moste reuerend father in Christe the Lorde Nicholas Bishop of Nazareth and Inquisitour of heresies specially appoynted by the Apostolike sea in the dioces of Prage the which by your reuerences is more diligently to be hearkened vnto Wherefore it may please your fatherly reuerences to commaund the sayd M Iohn Hus neither conuicted nor condemned to be taken and brought out of his bondes and chaines in the which he is nowe most greeuously deteined and kept and to put him into the hands of some reuerend Lordes Byshops or commissioners appoynted or to be appoynted by this present councell That the sayd M. Iohn Husse may somewhat be releued and recouer againe his health and be the more diligently and commodiouslye examined by the Commissioners and for the more assurance the Barons and Nobles aforesayd of the kingdome of Boheme will prouide most sure and good sureties the which wil not breake their fidelity and faith for any thing in the worlde Which also shall promise in his behalfe that hee shall not flee or departe out of their handes vntill suche time as the matter be fully determined by the sayd Commissioners In the execution of the which promises wee haue determined to prouide and foresee vnto the fame and honour of the said kingdome of Boheme and also to the safeconducte of the moste worthy Prince the king of Romaines least that the enemies and detractours of the honoure and fame of the kingdome aforesayd might not a little slander and reproue the said Lordes pretending and shewing forth hereafter that they had made vnreasonable or vnlawfull requests for the withstāding of which mischiefe we require your fatherly
offer this my appeale vnto my Lord Iesu Christ my iust iudge who knoweth defendeth and iustly iudgeth euery mans iust and true cause The 22. Article A vicious and naughty man liueth viciously and naughtely but a vertuous and godly man lyueth vertuously and godly I answer my words are these That the deuision of all humaine works is in two parties that is that they be eyther vertuous or vicious For somuch as it doth appeare that if any man be vertuous and godly and that he do any thing he doth it then vertuously and godly And contrariwise if a man be vicious naught that whiche hee doth is vicious and naught For as vice which is called crime or offence and thereby vnderstande deadly sinne doth vniuersally infect or depraue all the acts and doinges of the subiect that is of the man whiche doth them so likewise vertue and godlines doth quicken all the actes and doyngs of the vertuous godly man in somuch that he being in the state of grace is layd to praye and doe good works euen sleping as it were by a certayn meanes working As S. Augustine S. Gregory and diuers other affirme And it appeareth in the sixt chapter of Luke If thine eye that is to say the minde or intention be simple not depraued with the peruersenes of any sinne or offence all the whole body that is to say all the actes and doinges shall be cleare and shyning that is acceptable and grateful vnto God But if thine eye be euil the whole body is darkned And in the second to the Corin. x. Chapter All thinges that you do do them to the glory of God And lykewise in the first Epistle to the Corinthians and last chapter it is sayd Let all your doinges be done with charitie Wherfore all kinde of lyfe and liuing according vnto charitie is vertuous and godly and if it be without charitie it is vicious and euill This saying may well be prooued out of the 23. chapter of Deuteronomy where God speaketh vnto the people that hee that keepeth hys commaundementes is blessed in the house and in the field out goyng and in comming sleeping and waking but he that doth not keepe his commaundementes is accursed in the house and in the fields in goyng out and comming in sleeping and waking c. The same also is euident by S. Augustine vpon the Psal. where he writeth that a good man in all hys doinges doth prayse the Lord. And Gregory saith that the sleep of saints and holy men doth not lack their merite How much more then hys doinges which proceede of good zeale be not weout reward and consequently be vertuous and good And contrariwise it is vnderstanded of hym which is in deadly sinne of whome it is spoken in the law that whatsoeuer the vncleane man doth touch is made vncleane To this end doth that also appertayne which is before repeated out of the first of Malachie And Gregorie in the first booke and first question sayth we doe defile the bread which is the body of Christ when as we come vnworthely to the table and when we being defiled doe drinke hys bloud And S. Augustine vpon the 146. Psalme sayth if thou doest exceed the due measure of nature doest not abstayne from glottony but gorge thy selfe vp wâ— dronkennes whatsoeuer laude or prayse thy tongue doth speake of the grace and fauour of God thy life doth blaspheme the same when he had made an end of this article the Cardinall of Cambray sayd The scripture sayth that we be all sinners And agayne if we say we haue nosinne we deceiue our selues and so we should alwayes liue in deadly sinne Iohn Hus aunswered the Scripture speaketh in that place of veniall sinnes the whiche doe not rtterly expell or put away the habite of vertue from a man but do associate theÌ„selues together And a certayne English man whose name was w. sayd but those sinnes do nor associate themselues with anye acte morally good Iohn Hus alledged agayne S. Augustines place vpon 146. Psalme the whiche when he rehearsed they all with one mouth sayd what makes this to the purpose The 13. article The minister of Christ liuing according to his law and hauing the knowledge and vnderstanding of the scriptures and an earnest desire to edifie the people ought to preach notwithstanding the pretended excommunication of the pope And moreouer if the pope or anye other ruler doe forbid any priestes or minister so disposed not to preach that he ought not to obey him I aunswere that these were my wordes That albeit the excommunication were eyther threatned or come out agaynst hym in such sort that a Christian ought not to doe the commandementes of Christ it appeareth by the wordes of S. Peter and the other Apostles that we ought rather to obey God then man whereupon it followeth that the minister of Christ lyuing according vnto this lawe c. ought to preach notwithstanding any pretended excommunication For it is euident that it is commanded vnto the ministers of the Church to preach the word of God Actes 5. GOD hath commaunded vs to preach and testifie vnto the people as by diuers other places of the scripture and the holy fathers rehearsed in my treatise it doth appeare more at large The second part of this article foloweth in my treatise in this maner By this it appeareth that for a minister to preache and a rich man to geue almes are not indifferent workes but duties and commaundementes Wherby it is further euident that if the pope or any other ruler of the Church do commaund any minister disposed for to preach not to preach or a rich man disposed for to geue almes not to geue that they ought not to obey hym And he added moreouer to the intent that you may vnderstand me the better I call that a pretended excommunication the whiche is vâ—iustly disordered and geuen forth contrary to the order of the law and Gods commaundements For the which the meere Minister appointed therunto ought not to cease from preaching neyther yet to feare damnation Then they obiected vnto him that he had sayd that suche kinde of excommunications were rather blessinges Uerely said Hus eueÌ„ so do I now say again that euery excommunication by the whiche a man is vniustly excommunicate is vnto him a blessing afore God according to that saying of the Prophet I will curse where as you blesse and contrariwise they shal curse but thou O Lord shalt blesse Then the Cardinal of florence which had alwayes a Notary ready at his hand to write such thinges as he coÌ„manded him said The law is that euery excommunication be it neuer so vniust ought to be feared It is true sayd Iohn Hus for I do remember eight causes for the whiche excoÌ„munication ought to be feared Then sayd the Cardinall is there no more but eight It may be said Iohn Hus that there be more The
hys booke De sacerdotum Monachorum abhominatione desolationis pag. 84. c. I beseech the reader to note Nam ista scribens fateor ê™ nihil aliud me in illis perurget nisi dilectio Dom. Nostri Iesu crusifixi c. That is For in writing these things I confesse nothinge els to haue moued me hereunto but onely the loue of our Lorde Iesus crucified whose printes and stripes according to the measure of my weakenes and vilenes I couet to beare in my selfe beseeching hym so to geue me grace that I neuer seek to glory in my selfe or in any thing els but onely in his crosse and in the inestimable ignominy of his passion which he suffered for me And therefore I write and speake these thinges which I do not doubt will like all such as vnsaynedly do loue the Lord Christ crucified and contrary will mislike not a little all suche as be of Antichrist Also agayne I confesse before the most merciful Lord Iesus Christ crucified that these thinges which I do now write and those that I haue written before neither I could haue writteÌ„ nor knew how nor durst so haue written vnlesse he by hys inward vnction had so commaunded me Neither yet do I write these thinges as of authority to get me fame and name For as S. Augustine Hierome do say that is onely to be geuen to the scriptures and writinges of the Apostles Euangelistes and Prophetes and to the Canonicall Scriptures which doe abounde in the fulnes of the spirite of Iesus And whatsoeuer is there sayd is full of veritie and wholesome vtilitie c. And here place also would require something to say to Aeneas Siluius to Antoninus and to Laziardus which falsly impute articles to him whiche he neuer mayntayned But because tyme suffereth not I wil proceed to the story of maister Hierom of Prage The Tragicall and lamentable history of the famous learned man and godly Martyr of Christ maister Hierome of Prage burned at Constance for like cause and quarrell as Maister Iohn Hus was 1416. THese thinges hetherto being discoursed touching the lyfe Actes and Constant martyrdom of M. Iohn Hus with part also of his letters adioyned to the same whose death was on the 6. of Iuly an 1416. now remayneth coÌ„sequently to describe the like Tragedy and cruell handeling of his Christian companion and fellow in bandes M. Hierome of Prage Who grieuously sorrowing the slaunderous reproch and diffamation of his couÌ„try of Boheme and also hearing tell of the manifest iniuries done vnto that man of worthy memory M. Iohn Hus freely and of hys own accord came vnto Constance the 4. day of Iprill an 1415. Who there perceiuing that Iohn Hus was denyed to be heard and that watche and wayte was layd for hym on euery side he departed to Iberling a Citty of the Empire vntill the next day the which Citty was a myle of froÌ„ Constance and from thence he wrote hys letters by me vnto Sigismund kyng of Hungry and hys Barons and also vnto the Councell most earnestly requiring that the kyng and the Councell would geue him a safe conduct frely to come and go and that he woulde then come in open audience to aunswere vnto euery man if there were any of the Councell that would lay any cryme vnto hym as by the tenour of his intimation shall more at large appeare When as the sayd king of Hungary was required therunto as is aforesayd being in the house of the Lord Cardinall of Cambray he denyed to geue M. Hierome anye safe conducte excusing himselfe for the euil speede he had with the safe conduct of Iohn Hus before and alleadging also certayne other causes The deputies also of the foure nations of the Councell being moued thereunto by the Lords of the kingdome of Boheme aunswered wee say they will geue hym a safeconduct to come but not to depart Whose aunsweres when they were reported vnto maister Hierome he the next day after wrote certaine intimations according to the tenour here vnder written which he sent vnto Constance to be set vpon the gates of the Citty and vpon the gates of the Churches and Monasteries and of the houses of the Cardinals and other nobles and prelates The tenour wherof here followeth word for word in thys maner Unto the most noble Prince and Lord the Lord Sigismund by the grace of God king of the Romanes alwaies Augustus and of Hungary c. I Hierome of Prage maister of Arte of the generall vniuersities of Paris Colleyn Heldeberg Prage by these my present letters do notifie vnto the king together with the whole reuerend Councell and as much as in me lyeth do all men to vnderstand and know that because of the crafty slaunderers backbiters accusers I am ready freely of myne owne will to come vnto CoÌ„stance there to declare openly before the Councell the puritie and sinceritie of my true fayth and myne innocencie and not secretly in corners before any priuate or particulate person Wherfore if there be any of my slauÌ„derers of what natioÌ„ or estate soeuer they be which will obiect agaynst me anye crime of errour or heresie let them come forth openly before me in the presence of the whole Councell and in theyr owne names obiect agaynst me and I will be ready as I haue written to aunswere openly and publikely before the whole Councell of myne innocencie and to declare the puretie and sinceritie of my true fayth And if so be that I shal be fouÌ„d culpable in errour or heresie then I will not refuse openly to suffer such punishment as shall be meete and worthy for an erroneous person or an hereticke Wherefore I most humbly beseech my Lord the King and the whole sacred CouÌ„cell that I may haue to this end and purpose aforesayd safe and sure accesse And if it happeÌ„ that I offering suche equitie and right as I do before any fault be proued agaynst me be arested imprisoned or haue any violence done vnto me that theÌ„ it may be manifest vnto the whole worlde that this generall Councell doth not proceede according to equitie and iustice if they woulde by any meanes put me backe from this profouÌ„d and straight iustice being come hether freely and of myne owne minde and accorde The whiche thing I suppose to be farre from so sacred and holy Councell of wise men WHen as yet he through such intimations copied out in the Bohemian Latine and Germayne tongue being set vp as is aforesayd could not get any safeconduct theÌ„ the Nobles Lords and Knightes specially of the Bohemian nation present in Constance gaue vnto maister Hiâ—rome their letters patentes coÌ„firmed with their seales for a testimony and witnesse of the premisses With the which letters the sayd M. Hierome returned agayne vnto Boheme but by the treason and conspiracy of his enemies was taken in Hirsaw by the officers of Duke Iohn and in Zultzbach was brought backe agayne to
to be sente to the King whome the Byshops had sente out as yee heard before to fight in Fraunce The records of which Parliament do thus say that on Twesday the xiiij day of December and the xxix day of the sayd Parliament Sir Iohn Oldcastle of Cowling in the Countie of Kent Knight being outlawed as is afore minded in the Kings bench and excommunicated before by the Archbishop of Canterbury for heresie was brought before the Lords and hauing heard his said conuictions aunswered not thereto in his excuse Upon which record and processe it was adiudged that he should be taken as a traytour to the King and the Realme that he should be carried to the Tower of London and from thence drawne thorough London vnto the new gallowes in S. Gyles without Temple barre and there to bee hanged and burned hanging ¶ The description of the cruell Martyrdome of Sir Iohn Oldcastle Lorde Cobham As touching the pretenced treason of this Lord Cobham falsely ascribed vnto him in his inditement rising vpon wrong suggestion and false surmise and aggrauated by rigour of words rather then vpon any ground of due probation sufficiently hath bene discoursed before in my defence of the saide Lorde Cobham against Alanus Copus page 575. where againe is to be noted as I saide before how by this appeareth that the Lorde Cobham was neuer executed by force of the inditement or outlawry because if he had he should then haue bene brought to the barre in the Kings bench and there the Iudges shoulde haue demaunded of him what he could haue said why hee shoulde not haue died and then not shewing sufficiente cause for the discharge or delay of execution the Iudges should haue awarded and geuen the iudgemente of treason which being not so it is cleare he was not executed vpon the Inditement Besides to proue that he was not executed vpon the Inditement and the outlawry the maner of the execution proueth it because it was neither the execution of a Traitour nor was the whole punishment thereof pronounced by the Iudge as by due order of lawe was requisite Finally as I said before heere I repeate againe that albeit the sayd Lord Cobham was attained of treason by the Act and that the King the Lords and the commons assented to the Act yet all that bindeth not in such sorte as if in deede he were no traytour that any man may not by search of the truth vtter and set forth sincerely and iustly the very true and certaine cause whereupon his execution did follow Which seemeth by all circumstances and firme arguments to rise principally of his Religion which first brought him in hatred of the Bishops the Bishops brought him in hatred of the King the hatred of the King brought him to his death and Martirdome And thus much for the death and execution of this worthy seruaunt of Christ Lord Cobham Moreouer in the records aboue mentioned it followeth how in the sayd Parliament after the Martirdome of this valiant Knight motion then was made that the Lord Powes might be thanked and rewarded according to the Proclamation made for his great trauaile taken in the apprehension of Sir Iohn Oldcastle Knight hereticke Thus stand the wordes of the recorde Where two things are to be noted First how Sir Iohn heere in the record is called not traitour but hereticke only Secondly marke how this brother of Iudas heere craueth hys reward for betraieng the innocent bloud Wherein it is not to be doubted but that his light fee and quid vultis mihi dare in this world will haue an heauie reward hereafter in the world to come vnlesse he repented c. Furthermore in the sayde Parliament Act. 17. it was enacted that the Church and all estates should enioy all their liberties which were not repealed or repealeable by the common lawe meaning belike the excluding of the iurisdiction of the Popes foreine power which hath alwaies by the common lawe bene excluded out of thys Realme In the same Parliament also a greeuous complainte was made by the Bishops no doubt against insurrections In the ende they suspected that they were the Lollards hereticks and traitours with a request that commissions might at all times be graunted to inquire of them Whereunto aunswere was made that the statutes therefore made should be executed c. Thus the Cleargy Tanquam leones rugientes ceased not to roare after Christian bloud And whosoeuer was else in fault still the Clergy cried crucifie Christ and deliuer vs Barrabas For then all horrible facts and mischieues if anye were done were imputed to the poore Lollards And now from our English matters to returne againe to the story of the Bohemians from whence wee haue a little digressed when as the newes of the barbarous cruelty exercised at Constance against Iohn Hus Hierome of Prage were noised in Boheme the nobles and gentlemen of Morauia and Boheme such as fauoured the cause of Iohn Hus gathering themselues together in the zeale of Christ first sent their letter vnto the Councell expostulating with them for the iniurie done to those godly men as is before expressed page 602. for the which letter they were all cited vp to the Councell Unto this letter Sigismund the Emperour maketh aunswere againe in the name of the whole Councell first excusing himselfe of Husses death which he saide was against his safeconduict and against his will Insomuch that he rose in anger from the Councell and departed out of Constance as is before remembred Secondly he requireth them to be quiet and to conforme themselues peaceably vnto the order of the Catholicke Church of Rome c. Also the Councell hearing or fearing some stirre to rise among the Bohemians did make lawes and Articles whereby to bridle them to the number of xxiiij FIrst that the King of Bohemia shall be sworne to giue obedience and to defend the liberties of the Churche of Rome That all Maisters Doctours and Priestes shall bee sworne to abiure the doctrine of Wickleffe and Husse in that Councell condemned That all they which being cited would not appeare should also be sworne to abiure and they whiche woulde not appeare contemning the censure of the keyes should haue processe against them and be punished That all such lay men as had defended the causes of Iohn Wickleffe and Iohn Husse should sweare to defend them no more and to approoue the doings of that Councell and the condemnation of Iohn Husse That all such seculare men as had spoiled the Cleargie should be sworne to restitution That Priestes being expelled from their benefices should be restored againe That all prophaners of Churches should bee punished after the Canonicall sanctions That such as had bene promoters in the Councell against Iohn Husse should be permitted safely to returne into Boheme againe and to enioy their benefices That the reliques and treasure taken out of the Church of Prage should be restored fully againe That the
thinges are worthy of euerlasting death And if yewill not determine to do any other thing then to fight against vs then will we take the Lord to our helpe and his trueth we will defend it to the death we will not be afraid for the excommunicatioÌ„ or curse of the Pope or his cardinals or of the bishops because we know that yâ— Pope is not god as he maketh himselfe that he can curse and excommunicate when he will or blesse when he will who hath now these many yeares cursed and excoÌ„munited vs yet notwithstanding God and his gratious blessing hath bene our helpe But peradueÌ„ture ye wil say that though we see that bishops and priests be euill wicked yet we caÌ„not lacke them for who should baptise our children who should heare confessions minister the holy sacraments and then also we should be wtin the excommunication of the pope of his bishops Welbeloued ye nede to take no care for these matters The excoÌ„municating of the Pope hurteth you nothing Feare ye the excommunicating of God and the Lorde wil prouide for those things wel enough If ye would banish euil bishops and priests ye shuld haue good priestes which shuld baptise your children heare coÌ„fessions and minister the holy mysteries bicause when the deuill is banished then place is made for the holy ghost So when yll bishops and priestes shall be banished then place shal be made for good priestes bishops Also your bishops and priests say that we are miscreants and hereticks that we beleue not on purgatory vpoÌ„ the virgine Mary nor vpon the sayntes wherein they say ill for we will proue by the holy scripture that we know better by Gods grace how we ought to beleue vpon Purgatory vpon Mary the mother of our Lord vppon hys welbeloued saints theÌ„ they can tell vs. Also they say that we wil not be obedieÌ„t vnto the P. Truly when he shal be come holy and iust then we know well that we ought to be obedient to him in al things and not before They say also that we destroy Gods holy seruice in that we destroy monasteries banishing thence the wicked Monkes and Nunnes Truely we dyd it thinking once that they were holy that they did the reuerend seruice of god but after that we well perceiued and considered their lyfe works then we perceiued that they were false lowly hipocrites and wicked builders on high and sellers of pardoÌ„s and masses for the dead and such as deuoured in themselues the sinnes of the people And where as they sayd that they rise at midnight when other men slâ—epe and pray for the sins of the people forasmuch as their selling of their praiers and masses for the dead for gifts is no better then hipocrisie and heresie therfore if we do speake agaynst them and destroy their monasteries we do not therin destroy the seruice of God but rather the seruice of the deuill and the schooles of heretickes And if ye knew them as we know them ye would as diligently destroy them as we do For Christ our Lord did not ordayn anysuch order therfore it must needs come to pas that shortly it shal be destroyd as our lord saith in the Gospel of S. Mathew the 15. chapter Euery plant whiche my father hath not planted shal be rooted vp We desire you also that ye woulde dilligently consider the articleâ— here written wherein your bishops and priestes are guilty The 1. article is that when your bishops will ordaine priests they do it not except he yâ— is to be made priest haue sufficient liuing eyther inheritance left him of hys parents or of benefices wheras notwithstanding Christ wold that priestes should be poore forasmuch as it is enough for the scholar to be as his maister is and for the seruaunt to be as his Lord is and the bishops wil that they should be rich v vpon earth which is vniust before the Lord. The 2. article is that bishops take mony of such as are to be ordained but S. Peter did therfore sharply rebuke Simon Magus when he would haue geuen him mony as it is written in the 8. of the actes The 3. article is that they that come to be priestes enter into priesthoode not for gods seruice sake because they mean to preach and encrease it among the ChristiaÌ„ people so as the people may be edified and made better but rather for an idle life and that they may eate well and drinke wel and that they may be honoured and reuereÌ„ced vpon earth For euery one wayteth vpon hys priest as a theefe and a robber as Iohn writeth in his x. thap The 4. article is of excommunication which the Pope and all his priestes take to themselues and therwith fetter bind all Christian people as they will and they thinke that whosoeuer they excommunicate or curse hee is accursed and excommunicate before God And we wil proue by the holy Scripture that they themselues are excommunicate accursed before God because they kepe not the commaundement of the loue of God wherof the Apostle writeth in that 1. to the Cor. the 16. chap. If any man loueth not our Lorde Iesus Christ he is excommunicate in the day of the comming of the Lord. For they cannot excommunicate you who are already bound and excommunicate before God hys saintes and therefore why feare ye their excommunication The 5 Article is that they take gifts for to pray for the dead and to say masse for theyr soules This is a wickednes and heresie before the Lord all they that contribute to them to this end do wickedly for that hereby priests become merchantes of prayers and of masses and herewyth is all the church of Rome poysoned and defiled For if they would pray for the dead and say masse for their soules yet no man ought to hire theÌ„ thereto forasmuch as they ought to take no giftes neither little nor great And euery one that taketh rewardes to this end to redeeme soules out of purgatory do therwithal cast their own soules down into hel And they that geue any thing to that end doe altogether lose yâ— which they geue And with such deuilishe subâ—lety yâ— Pope with all his priestes hath deceiued spoyled and disherited kinges princes Lordes and knights good housholders and many other of their lawful inheritaunces because their ancestors progenitours gaue it to Colledges monasteries churches that they might make memorials of theÌ„ to sing or say prayers or masses for their soules that they might be redeemed out of Purgatorye And wyth such goodes Byshops Canons and Monasteries haue made themselues so riche that now they fall at variaunce with cities princes wheras they should procure peace betwixt cities and rulers there they are the first that begin warre and as long as they haue such goodes they wil neuer cease to be at strife
againe Thys booke being in Latine and Printed beareth thys title Rosacea Augustissimae Christiferae Mariae Corona and in the front it sheweth the name of Iodocus Bisselaius a noble manne of Aquine And this by the occasion of Pope Sixtus Which Sixtus what a maintainer of blind superstition hee was partly by that aforespoken partly by the ende following it may be seene For we reade in certaine wryters yâ— after thys Pope had vnderstanding that Hercules Estensis Duke of Ferraria had ioyned peace wyth the Uenetians against hys will he was so greeued therewith that for rancour of minde wythin 5. dayes after hee died whereunto hys Epitaph following geueth sufficient record About whose time also died Platina a man not vnlearned but yet a shamefull flatterer and bearer wyth the wicked liues of the Popes The Epitaph of Pope Sixtus is this Non potuit saenum vis vlla extinguere Sixtum Audito tandem nomine pacis obit An other Epitaphe of the same Pope Sixte iaces tandem nostri discordia secli Saeuisti in superos nunc Acheronta moue Sixte iaces tandem deflent tua busta cinaedi Scortaque lenones alea vina venus An other Gaude prisce Nero vincit te crimine Sixtus Hic scelus omne simul clauditur vitium But leauing here pope Sixtus with hys verses vices let vs nowe proccede as we before promised to enter the story of Maximilian keeping notwithstanding the order of our kinges here in England For a little before the reigne of Maximilian king Edward the fourth ceased his life an 1483. after he had raigned 22. yeares In the tyme of which K. Edward this also is not to be forgotten that one Burdet a marchant dwelling in Cheapside at the signe of the crowne whiche is the signe nowe of the flower de luce merely speaking to his sonne sayd that he wold make him inheritour of the crown meaning in deed his own house For the which words when K. Edward caused to be misconstred interpreted as though he had ment the crowne of the Realme wtin lesse space then 4. houres he was apprehended iudged drawne and quartered in Chepeside King Edward the 5. THis king Edwarde left behinde hym by hys wife Elizabeth 2. sonnes Edward Richard 2. daughters Elizabeth and Cicilie Which 2. sonnes Edward Richard for somuche as they were vnder age and not ripe to gouern a consultation was called among the pieres to debate whether the foresayd yong prince king shold be vnder the gouernment of his mother or els that Rich. Duke of Glocester brother to K. Edward the 4. vncle to the child should be gouernor of the K. and protector of the realme there hath bene and is an old adage the wordes whereof rather then the true meaning is wrasted out of Salomon Vae regno cuius Rex est puer 1. Wo to the kingdom the king whereof is a child c. But if I may finde leaue herein to thrust in a glose I would this adde and say Vae illi puero qui fui regni Rex non est 1. Wo to that childe whiche is a king in a kingdome vnruly and ambitious There was the same season among other noble peeres of the realm the Duke of Buckingham a man of great authoritie who had maryed King Edwards wifes sister Because the duke being so neare alliaunt to the K. had bene vnkindely as he thought of the king entreated hauing by him no anauncement nor anye great frendship shewed according to his expectation took part therfore with Richard Duke of Glocester both against the Queene her children to make the foresayd Duke the chiefe gouernour and protector The whiche thinge being broughe to passe by the ayde assistaunce and workinge of the Duke of Buckingham the Queene tooke sanctuarye with her yoÌ„ger sonne the elder brother which was the king remayned in the custody of the Duke of Glocester his vncle Who being now in a good towardnes to obtayne that which he loÌ„g loked for sought all the means soone compassed the matter by false collour of dissembled words by periurie and labour of friendes namely of the Duke of Buckingham and the Cardinall Archbishop of Caunterburye that the other brother also shoulde bee committed to his credite Thus the ambitious protector and vnnaturall vncle hauing the possession of his two nephewes and and innocent babes thought himselfe almost vp the whele where he woulde climeâ— Although he could not walke in such mistes and cloudes but his deuised purposes began to be espyed which caused him more couertly to goe about to remoue from him all suspicion and to blinde the peoples eyes But before he could accomplish hys execrable enterprise some there were whom he thought first must be ridd out of his way as namely the Lorde Hastinges and the Lord Stanley who as they were sitting together in counsaile within the tower the protectour the matter beyng so appoynted before sodaynly rushed in among them and after a few words there commoned he sodainly hasted out agayne his minde belike being full of mischiefe and furye was not quiet Who within the space of an houre returned agayn into the chamber with a sterne countenance and a frowning look and so there set him downe in hys place When the Lordes were in great meruell and muse at the meaning hereof then he out of a cankered hart thus begaÌ„ to bray asking them what are they worthy to haue which go about to imagine the destruction of him being so neare to the kings bloud and protectour of the Realme At the which question as the other Lords sate musing the Lord Hastinges because he had bene more familiare wyth him thus aunswered that they were worthy of punishement whatsoeuer they were Which when the other Lordes also had affirmed that is quoth the protectour yonder sorceresse my brothers wife meaning the Queene and other with her adding moreouer and saying that sorcereâ—â— other of her counsayle as Shores wife with her affinitie haue by their witchcraft thus wasted my body and therewith shewed forth his left arme a wearish withered thing as it was neuer otherwise as was well knowne This Shores wife had bene before a Concubine to K. Edward afterward was kept by the same Lorde Hastinges Moreouer here is to be noted that by the consent of the said Lord Hastinges the cruell protectour had deuised about the same time the kindred of the Queene innocently to be headed at Pomfret of mere despite and hatred Wherfore this punishment not vndeseruedly by the iust hand of God fell vpon the said Lord Hastinges It followeth then more in the storye that when the L. Hastinges had heard these false accusations of the tyraunt which he knew to be vntrue certaynly my Lord sayd he if they haue so done they be worthye of haynous punishement Why quoth the protector doest thou serue me with if and with and I tel thee they haue
to hassarde and proue the vttermost for theyr defence but in conclusiō in their desperate venture they were enclosed about by our men on euery side and there put to the sword and slayne a few only excepted who escaping out very hardly by secret passages shifted after the rest of their fellowes as well as they could Their carriage and other furniture lefte behind them in their tentes was distributed amongst the souldiers onely such thinges reserued as might serue for the publike vse and commoditie of the Cittie Thus through the mercifull protection and benefite of almighty God Austria was deliuered from the fierce and barbarous hostilitie of the cruell Turkes notwithstāding that neither Ferdinandus the king nor the Emperour his brother were there present but only the power of God thorough the valiauntnes of the worthy Germaines defēded that cittie in defence wherof consisted the safety deliuerāce no doubt of all these west partes of Christendome For the which immortall prayse and thankes be vnto our immortall God in Christ our Lord according as he hath of vs most graciously and worthely deserued Wherin by the way take this for a note gentle reader how after what maner Gods blessing goeth with the true reformers of his religion and so much the more is it to be noted for that the Turkes in so many battailes sieges heretofore were neuer so repulsed foyled as at this present time in incountring with the protestantes defenders of sincere Religion This citty of Uienna was besieged deliuered the yeare of our Lord. 1529. The assaultes of the Turke against y◠City are numbred to be 20. and his repulses as many The nūber of his army which he first brought was 25000. Wherof were reckened to be slayne 80. thousand and aboue During the time of his siege he led away out of the country about many captiues virgins and Matrones he quelled cast them out naked the children hee stucke vpon stakes Solymannus thus put from the hope of victorye of Uienna after he had breathed himselfe a while at home the second yere after which was an 1531. repayring his host returned agayne into Hungarye with no lesse multitude then before where first he got the towne called Gunza being but slenderly kept with a small garrison By reason whereof the townsmen and souldiours yelding thēselues vnto the Turke were constrayned to agree vpon vnreasonable conditions Ex Ioan. Ramo Melchior Soiterus in his second booke writing De bello Pannonico touching the foresaid Towne of Gunza or Gunzium differeth herein something from Ramus declaring how this Gunza being a small town in Hungary and hauing in it but onely a 100. souldiours or as Wolfegangus Drechslerus in his chronicle reporteth at the most but 200. souldiours vnder the valiaunt captayne Nicholas Iureschitz defended themselues so manfully and wonderfully through the notable power of God against the whole puissance of 200. thousand Turkes that they beyng notwithstanding distressed with lacke and penury of purueiance and sodenly of the Turkes inuaded yet with pure courage and promptnes of hart susteined the vttermost force and violence of xiij assaultes of that great multitude for the space of 25. dayes together Although the narration of the authour may seeme to some incredible yet thus he writeth that what tyme the great ordinance and battering peeces of the Turkes were planted vpon two mountaynes much higher then that town whereby they within the towne were oppressed both before and behinde in so much that 8 ensignes of the Turks were already within the towne yet by the reason of women and children and other impotent persons who in the middle of the towne were congregate in an house together such a noyse and clamour went vp to heauen praying and crying to God for helpe that the turkes within the walles supposing a new army of fresh souldiours to be sent into the towne for sodayn feare voyded the towne leaped down from the walles agayn which before they had got whom no man eyther pursued or resisted for neuer a souldiour almost was left on the walles which was not eyther slayne or els wounded with the Turks ordinance At what time through the Lordes prouidence it so happened that one Ibrahimus Bassa neare about the Turke seeing bothe the town to be small and the great destruction of the Turkes in the siege thereof and that the captayn in no case woulde yeld perswaded so the Turke declaring howe the Towne being so little was not worth the losse of so many men in the winning wherof there was no glory if he were repulsed great dishonour might follow wherby the Turke being perswaded did follow hys counsaile which was thys that Nicholaus the Christen captaine beyng called vnto him vnder pledges and safe conduict should receaue the town as of his hand and gift with condition that he shold do no violence to hys souldiours left behinde and wounded but should procure such meanes as he could for the recuring of them and so he raysing his siege departed An other cause might be also whiche moued him so sodaynly to rayse hys siege for that he heard the Palatine not to be far of in pursuing after him and therfore taking his flight by that mountaines of the Noricians he returned with muche spoyle of Christian mens goods into Constantinople Ex Melchiore Soit lib 2. de bello Panno For so it was prouided the same time in Germany after the counsaile or August and of Ratilboon at what time the controuersie of Religion betweene the Protestantes the papistes was differred and set of to the next generall Councel that Charles the 5. and Ferdinandus his brother hauing vnderstanding of the Turke thus raunging in Hungary should collect of the Germanynes Hungarians and Spanyards and others an able army of 80. thousand footmen and 30000. horsemen to repulse the inuasious of the Turke But Solymanus hauing intelligence of thys preparation of the Christian power comming toward him whether for feare or whether to espy further oportunitie of tyme for hys more aduauntage and our detriment refused at that time to tary theyr comming and so speeding hys returne vnto Constantinople retired with much spoyle and pray sent before him as is aboue premised Whiche was in the yeare of our Lord. 1532. Not long after being the yeare of our saluation 1534. Solymannus intending ij warres at once first sent Corradinus Barbarossa the admiral of his nauies into Afrike to war against the kyng of Tunece Whō the Barbarossa also dispossessed depriued of his kingdome but Charles the Emperour the next yeare following an 1535. restored the said king agayne into hys kingdome and deliuered in the same viage 20. thousand captiues out of seruitude The same tyme the Turke also sent an other captayne into Hungary to warre agaynst Uaiuoda while he hym selfe taking hys course to Persia planted his siege agaynst the Citty Taurus which he in short
Hemeaneth Panormitan which did conclude without the examination of the 12. meÌ„ Paul would geue to Peter no respite when he swarned awry Marke the great Constancie and Christian zeale of this man An exortation to constancie The Bishop of Burgen seeketh concorde How men be readie to heaâ—â— newes Note the godly policye of the Cardinall The conclusion of the councell The holy Ghost working against the Pope The sorow of Panormitane for impugning the trueth The Bishop of Lyons Bargé The iust aunswer of the Councell The aunswere of them both The forme of the decree is written and approued The policie of the Cardinall Arelatensis The Bishop of Tournon The Bishop of Cócen speaketh Marke what the truth must suffer O maruelous despight and contumely in a Bishop for it Arelatensis had kept whoores or concubines he would haue praysed him but to maintaine learned meÌ„ was a great offence The fathers of the councells slaunde tred by Panormitane 4. signes to know the good from the badde Looke if it benot spoké of them in the Gospel where mention is made of the beast which is fallen into the ditche What is it that ambition will not doe Abbot Virgiliacensis Lodouicus the prothonotarie in labouring to seeme learned forgot to be good The Apostles principally gathered the Crâ—de The oration of Cardinal Arelatensis To the imperiall Ambassadonâ—s To the Ambassadours of Fraunce To the Bishop of Coâ—cen To Lodouicus the prothonotary Nicolas Picenius an Italian Articles of the Creede not all put in by the Apostles but some by the couÌ„cels The Article of the holy Ghost put in by the councell of Lyons Panormitan wounded with his owne darts Arelatensis concluded not but at the request of the proctours These 4. deputations were 4. sortes of chosen 〈◊〉 which did disâ—â—â—e and determine those thinges which the fathers did conclude vpon Verely this is no Babilonical Cardinal but of the immaculate spouse Iesus Christ. He speaketh to the whole couÌ„cell Euery man may determine in matters of faith hauing the scripture on his part Contention in the councell abâ—ut reading of the protesâ—ation How God worketh by occasioÌ„ Albiganensis readeth the protestation but none could hear him The affaires of the councell are read Eneas Syluius being present collected this Arelatensis coÌ„cludeth here as he did also before not without the consent of the deputies according to the order of the Councel * Eneas you dyd not so praise this councell after you were byshop your selfe The Byshop of Lubecke Conrade Winsperge a Baron Panormitaâ— the Achilles of the Eugenians and Arelatensis the Hector of the councell The Papists extoll that which maketh for their purpose but the contrary they contemne whether it be scripture or prophane Arelatensis answere to Panormitan This deputation of faith was that coÌ„pany of chose meÌ„ which dyd determine matters of faith Saint Hierome vnto Nepotianusi de vita clericals Marke how politickly and sincerely he doth confute hys aduersaries No man hath heretofore more then Panormitane published the errours of Eugenius whom he now so greatly deseÌ„deth The Session proclaymed In all Italy there were scarsly two prelates found which sought the commoditie of the vniuersall church in Spaine there was none Prayers made with teares Amongest 400. doctors that were present ther was not one yll worde The 33. Session The Embassadours consent to the former Session Two kindes of iniustice O Aeneas you should haue vsed such sinceritie when you were Pope Beholde the princes Ambassadours declare Eugenius an enemy vnto the truth Arelatensis commendeth the Ambassadours This Councel was gathered to take away the ambition of the Bishoppes of Rome that they shuld not think they might do all things according to theyr own pleasure and further so reuoke them â—â—o the care of temporal things vnto spirituall things which now they regarded not The councell doth deliberate vpon the popes election I.x. dayes must be delayd after the sea is voyde Note the Christian zeale of tâ—â—fe meÌ„ which would refuse no daunger for Gods cause Iohn Segouius Dangerous honestie preferred before secure vtilitie A great pestilence in Basil. Lodouicus the prothonotary dyed of the plague The exhortation of those which dyed The Byshop of CoÌ„stance dyeth The Abbot Dona a true Abbot Eneas the author hereof escaped death hardlye The inuincible constancie and fortitude of the Cardinall Arelatensis The commendation of ArelateÌ„sis The councel of Marcus The godly â—he of Arelatensis The other Electours take their othe A scrutinie is a priuie election by voyces Amedeus Duke of Sauoy Prayer for vnitie and concord Let lying Pogius be ashamed of his false inuectiue against Amedeus Commendation of Amedeus Pope elect To haue a wife is no let for a good man to be elected Pope Popes haue ben maried Read the 5 Epistle of Ignatius and you shal see that the Apostles had wyues Baptista Mantuanus maketh mention how that Hilarius Byshop of Pictauia had a wife Eccle. 4. Schisme in the Church Good it were that temporall dominions were deuided from the Church Amedeus Duke of Sauoy chosen Pope Pope Felix 5. The numbâ— of people aâ— the coronation of P. Felix The popes two sonnes seruing at the coronation The valuation of the popes crown The Popes dinner and seruice Volat. lib. 3. A note for our gentlemeÌ„ lords to learne how to huÌ„t and what dogges to keepe The death of SigismuÌ„d the Emperour Albertus 2. Emperour Anno 1438. The death of Albertus 2. The plague at Basill in time of the councell Aeneas Siluius sick of the plague at Basil. The coÌ„stant zeale of Arelatensis to the truth Aeneas Sil. epist. 183. The welthy prelats slide away from the councel Welthie prelates afrayde of truth â—ide quam plebe carere malunt Promotions choke the clergie 60. thousand crownes offred by pope â—ugenius for the betraying of Arelatensis Arelatensis taken and rescued Gods defeÌ„ce toward hys seruantes Ex paraelip Abb. Vrsper The story of the Bohemians prosecutâ—d The Bohemians inuited to come to the councell The Bohemians laboureâ— to come to the Councell The Ambassadours of the Bohemians and of the councell meete together at Egra The Bohemians require pledges Princes bound to the Bohemians The Bohemians require the Emperour to be â—â—â—sent at the â—â—â—cell The Bohemians send two ambassadours to the councel Good iustice vpon a slaunderous rayler The gentlenes of the Bohemians Ambassadours The Bmbassadours of the Bohemians turn home The Bohemians 〈◊〉 vp to the councell other solemne Ambassadours The oration of the Cardinall Iulian to the Bohemians Vide supra pag. 675. The first article of the Bohemians by the first Ambass The second article of the Bohe. by the secoÌ„d Ambass The third article of the Bohe. by the third Ambassadour The fourth article of the Bohe by the 4. Ambass The oration of the Abbot of Sistertia offeÌ„siue to the Bohemians Iohn Ragusinus replyeth against the first article The Bohemians displeased with Ragusinus Egidius Carlerius answereth against the second Article
Barbarossa an 1269. furthermore how mightely almighty God hath stand agaynst them how their warres neuer prospered agaynst the Turke how the iudgementes of the godly learned froÌ„ time to time haue euer repugned agaynst theyr errours c. of these and a thousand other mo not one word hath bene touched but all kept as vnder Benedicite in Auriculer confession This partiall dealing and corrupt handling of Historyes when I considered I thought with my self nothing more lacking in the church then a ful a complet history which being faythfully collected out of all our Monastical writers writteÌ„ Monuments should conteine neither euery vain written fable for that would be to much nor yet leaue out any thing necessary for that would be to little but with a moderate discretion taking the best of euery one should both ease the labor of the reader from turning ouer such a number of writers and also should open the plaine truth of times lying long hid in obscure darcknes of antiquity Wherby all studious Readers beholding as in a glasse the state course and alteration of Religion decay of doctrine and the controuersies of the church might discerne the better betwene antiquity and nouelty For if the things which be first after the rule of Tertullian are to be preferred before those that be latter then is the reading of histories much necessary in the church to know what went before and what folowed after And therfore not without cause Historia in old authors is called the witnesse of times the light of verity the life of memory teacher of life shewer of antiquitie c. Without the knowledge wherof mans life is blind and soone may fall into any kind of errour as by manifest experience we haue to see in these desolate latter times of the Church when as the Byshops of Rome vnder colour of antiquity haue turned truth into heresy and brought such new found deuises of straunge doctrine and ReligioÌ„ as in the former age of the church were neuer heard of before and all through the ignorance of times and for lacke of true history For to say the truth if times had bene well searched or if they which wrote Hystories had without partiality gone vpright betwene God and Baall halting on neither side it might well haue bene fouÌ„d the most part of all this catholicke corruptioÌ„ intruded into the church by the bishops of Rome as Transubstantiation leuation and adoration of the sacrament auriculer confession forced vowes of Priestes not to mary veneration of Images priuate and satisfactory Masses the order of Gregories Masse now vsed the vsurped authoritie Summa potestas of the sea of Rome with all the route of their ceremonies and wiedes of superstition ouergrowing nowe the Churche all these I say to bee new nothinges lately coyned in the minte of Rome without any stampe of antiquitie as by readyng of this present history shall sufficiently I trust appeare Whiche history therefore I haue here taken in hand that as other story writers heretofore haue employed their trauayle to magnifie the Church of Rome so in this history might appeare to all Christian readers the Image of both Churches as well of the one as of the other especially of the poore oppressed and persecuted Churche of Christ. Which persecuted Church though it hath bene of long season troden vnder foote by enemyes neglected in the world nor regarded in histories and almost scarse visible or knowne to worldly eyes yet hath it bene the true Church only of God wherin he hath mightely wrought hetherto in preseruing the same in all extreeme distresses continually stirring vp froÌ„ time to tyme faythful ministers by whoÌ„ alwayes hath bene kept some sparkes of hys true doctrine and Religion Now for asmuch as the true Church of God goeth not lightly alone but is accompanyed wyth some other Church or Chappel of the deuill to deface and maligne the same necessary it is therfore the difference betweene them to be sene and the descent of the right Churche to be described from the Apostles tyme. Which hetherto in most part of histories hath bene lacking partly for feare that men durst not partly for ignoraunce that men could not discerne rightly betweene the one and the other Who beholding the Church of Rome to be so visible and glorious in the eyes of the worlde so shining in outward beauty to beare suche a porte to cary suche a trayne and multitude and to stand in such hye authoritie upposed the same to be only the right Catholike mother The other because it was not so visibly known in the world they thought therfore it could not be the true church of Christ. Wherin they were far deceaued For although the right church of God be not so inuisible in the world that none can see it yet neyther is it so visible agayne that euery worldly eye may perceiue it For like as is the nature of truth so is the proper condition of the true Churche that commonly none seeth it but such onely as be the members and partakers thereof And therefore they which require that Gods holy Church should be euident and visible to the whole world seeme to define the great sinagogue of the world rather then the true spirituall Church of God In Christes time who would haue thought but the congregations and Councelles of the Pharisies had ben the right church and yet had Christ an other Church in earth besides that which albeit it was not so manifest in the sight of the world yet was it the onely true Church in the sight of God Of this Church ment Christ speaking of the Temple whiche he woulde rayse agayne the thyrd day And yet after that the Lord was risen he shewed not himselfe to the worlde but onely to his electe which were but few The same Churche after that encreased and multiplied mightely amonge the Iewes yet had not the Iewes eyes to see Gods Churche but did persecute it till at length all their whole nation was destroyed After the Iewes then came the heathen Emperours of Rome who hauing the whole power of the world in their hands did what the world could do to extinguish the name and church of christ Whose violence coÌ„tinued the space of 3. hundreth yeares All which while the true church of christ was not greatly in sight of the world but rather was abhorred euery where and yet notwithstanding the same small â—elly flocke so despised in the worlde the Lorde highly regarded and mightely preserued For although many then of the Christians did suffer death yet was their death neither losse to them nor detriment to the Church but the more they suffered the more of theyr bloud encreased In the time of these Emperours God raysed vp then in this Realme of Britaine diuers worthy teachers and witnesses as Elnanus meduinus Meltiuianus Amphibolus Albanus Aaron Iulius and other moe In whose time the doctrine of fayth without mens traditions was sincerely
preached After theyr death and Martyrdom it pleased the Lord to prouide a generall quietnes to his Church wherby the number of hys flocke began more to encrease In this age then followed here in the sayd land of Britayne Fastidius Niuianus Patricius Bacchiarius Dubricius Congellus Kentigernus Helmotus Dauid Daniell Sampson Elnodugue Asaphus Cildas Heulanus Elbodus Dinothus Samuell Niuius and a great sort moe whiche gouerned the Churche of Britayne by Christen doctrine a long season albeit the ciuil gouernours for the tyme were then dissolute careles as Gildas very sharply doth lay to theyr charge and so at length were subdued by the Saxons All this while about the space of foure hundred yeares Religion remayned in Britayne vncorrupt and the word of Christ truely preached till about the comming of Austen and of hys companions from Rome many of the sayd Britayne preachers were slayne by the Saxons After that began Christen fayth to enter spring among the Saxons after a certayne romish sort yet notwithstanding some what more tollerable thē were the times which after folowed through the dilligent industry of some godly teachers which then liued amongest them as Aidanus Finianus Coleman Archbishop of Yorke Beda Iohn of Beuerlay Alcuinus Noetus Hucharius Serlo Achardus Ealredus Alexander Neckam Negellus Fenallus Alfricus Sygeferthus such other who though they erred in some few thinges yet neither so grossely nor so greatly to be complayned of in respect of the abuses that followed For as yet all thys while the error of Transubstantiation and leuation with auriculer confession was not crept in for a publicke doctrine in Christes Church as by theyr owne Saxon Sermon made by Aelfricus set out in the second Volume of this present history may appeare pag. 1114. During the which meane time although the Bishops of Rome wer had here in some reuerēce with the Clergy yet had they nothing as yet to do in setting lawes touching matters of the Church of England but that only appertayned to the kings and gouernours of the land as is in this story to be seene pag. 754. And thus the Church of Rome albeit it began then to decline a pace frō God yet during all this while it remayned hitherto in some reasonable order till at length after that the sayd Bishops began to shout vp in the world through the liberalitie of good Princes and especially by Mathilda a noble Duches of Italy Who at her death made the Pope heyre of all her landes and indued his sea with great reuenewes Then riches begot ambition Ambition destroyed Religion so that all came to ruine Out of this corruption sprang forth here in Englād as did in other places more an other romish kind of Monkery worse then the other before being much more drowned in superstition and ceremonies which was about the yeare of our Lord. 980. Of this swarme was Egbertus Aigelbert Egwine Boniface Wilfrede Agathon Iames Romayne Cedda Dunstane Oswold Athelwold Athelwine Duke of Eastangles Lanfrancke Anselme and such other And yet in this tyme also through Gods prouidence the Churche lacked not some of better knowledge and iudgement to weigh with the darcknes of those dayes For although king Edgar with Edward his base sonne being seduced by Dunstane Oswold and other Monkish Clerkes was thē a great author and fautor of much superstition erecting as many Monasteries as were Sondayes in the yeare yet notwithstanding this continued not long For eftsoones after the death of Edgar came king Ethelrede and Queene Elfthred his mother with Alferus Duke of merceland and other peeres and nobles of the Realme who displaced the Monkes againe and restored the maryed Priests to their old possessions and liuings Moreouer after that followed also the Danes whiche ouerthrew those Monkish foundations as fast as king Edgar had set them vp before And thus hetherto stode the condition of the true Church of Christ albeit not without some repugnance and difficultie yet in some meane state of the truth veritie till time of pope Hildebrand called Gregory 7. which was nere about the yeare 1080. And of Pope Innocentius 3. in the yeare 1215. By whome altogether was turned vpside downe all order broken dissipline dissolued true doctrine defaced Christian faith extinguished Instead whereof was set vp preaching of mens decrees dreames and idle traditions And whereas before truth was free to be disputed amongest learned men now libertie was turned into law Argument into Authoritie Whatsoeuer the Byshoppe of Rome denounced that stode for an oracle of all men to be receaued without opposition or contradiction whatsoeuer was contrary ibso facto it was heresie to be punished with fagot and flaming fire Then began the sincere fayth of this English Church which held out so long to quayle Then was the clerre sunne shine of Gods word ouershadowed with mistes and darcknes appearing like sacke-cloth to the people which neither could vnderstand that they read nor yet permitted to read that they could vnderstand In these miserable dayes as the true visible Church beganne now to shrinke and keep in for feare so vpstart a new sort of players to furnish the stage as schole Doctours Canonistes and foure orders of Friers Besides other Monasticall sectes and fraternities of infinite variety Which euer since haue kept such a stirre in the Church that none for them almost durst rout neyther Caesar king nor subiect What they defined stode What they approued was Catholicke What they condemned was heresie whom soeuer they accused none almost could saue And thus haue these hetherto continued or raigned rather in the Church the space now of foure hundreth yeares and odde During which space the true Church of Christ although it durst not openly appeare in the face of the world oppressed by tyranny yet neyther was it so inuisible or vnknown but by the prouidence of the Lord some remnaunt alwayes remayned from tyme to time which not onely shewed secret good affection to sincere doctrine but also stode in open defence of truth agaynst the disordered Churche of Rome In which Catalogue first to pretermit Barthramus and Barengarius which were before Pope Innocent 3. a learned multitude of sufficient witnesses here might be produced whose names neyther are obscure nor doctrine vnknowne as Ioachim Abbot of Calabria Almericus a learned Byshop who was iudged an hereticke for holding agaynst Images in the time of the sayd Innocentius Besides the Martirs of Alsatia of whome we read an hundred to be burned by the sayd Innocentius in one day as writeth Hermanus Mutius Adde likewise to these Waldenses or Albigenses which to a great number segregated themselues from the Church of Rome To this number also belonged Reymundus Earle of Tholose Marsilius Patiuius Gulielmus de S. Amore Simon Tornacensis Arnoldus de noua villa Ioannes Semeca besides diuers other preachers in Sueuia standing agaynst the Pope Anno. 1240. Ex Cranz Laurentius Anglicus a Mayster of
haue compassion on the miseries of men Of whom was declared before that he being elected Archbishop of Canterbury would not get one halfe peny to theyr expenses by the way to geue his election coÌ„firmed by the Pope and afterward by the sayd Pope was defeited and frustrated of his election as relation was made before pag. 274. And thus through Gods prouideÌ„ce by the meanes of the kings letters the army returned and Huberts life contrary to hys expectation was preserued After this the Archbishop of Dubline with much labour and great fute intreated and obteined of the king to graunt vnto the sayd Hubert respite till the twelfe day of Ianuary to prouide himself of his answere to such things as were commensed agaynst him Then Hubert trusting to enioy some safety by the kings permission to him grauÌ„ted to breath himselfe a litle and to walke abroad took his iourny towardes S. EdmuÌ„desbury where his wife was And passing through the countrey of Essex was Inned there in a certaine towne belonging to the bishop of Norwich Wherof when the king was certified fearing lest he would raise vp some commotion in the Realme seÌ„deth in hasty anger after him Syr Godfred Cranecombe knight with 300. men commaunding vnder payne of hanging that they should apprehend him bring him to the tower of London Which commaundement to accomplish there lacked no haste Hubert hauing intelligence of their comming rising out of his bed naked as he was ranne to the chappel standing nere to the Inne where he holdeth with the one hand the crosse with the other hand the SacrameÌ„t of the Lordes body Then Godfride with his foresayd armed souldiours entring into the Chappell willed him to come out Which when he would not with violent hands he drew him out of the Chappell and taking the Crosse Sacrament out of his hands fast bound him with fetters and giues vnder the horse belly and brought him as they were commaunded to the Tower And so certifying the king what they had done who then taried vp waking for them he reioyced not a little thereat and went mery to his bed The next morrow following after Roger Byshop of London had knowledge how and in what order he was taken violently out of the Chappell he commeth to the king blaming him boldely for violating the peace of holy church and protested that vnlesse the partye were loosed agayne sent to the Chappel from whence he was drawn he would enter sentente of excommunication agaynst all the deed doers The king as he did not deny his transgression herein so sendeth him albeit agaynst his will out of the Tower to the said Chappell agayn by the same souldiors which brought him out before Which done he geueth in straight charge and commaundement vnder payne of hanging to the Shiriffes of Herforde and of Essex that they in theyr owne persons with the strength of both Shyres shoulde watch and compasse about the Chappell and see that the sayd Hubert no wayes might escape Which commaundement of the king was accoÌ„plished with all diligence But Hubert took all this patiently and continued in the chappell praying both night and day commending his cause vnto the Lord whom he desired so to deliuer him from that instant daunger as he alwayes sought the kings honor by his faythfull and trusty seruice And as he continued in his prayer so the king continuing in his rage commaunded that no man should intreat for him or make any mention of him in his presence Notwithstanding yet Lucas Archbishop of Dubline his true and almost onely friend ceased not to pray and weepe to the king for hym desiring the king at least to intimate to him what he purposed should be done with Hubert Whereunâ—â— the King answering sayd that of three things one he should choose whether he woulde abiure the Realme of England for euer or be condemned to perpetuall prison or els confesse himselfe openly to be a Traytour But Hubert hereunto sayde that he woulde choose none of these Articles as who knew himselfe neither guiltye nor worthye of anye suche confusion but to satisfye somewhat the minde of the Kyng he woulde be content to departe the Realme for a season but to abiure the Realme he woulde not so doe In this meane time it befel that Ranulphus Earle of Chester and of Lincoln one of his sorest enemies died Hubertus all this while remayned in the Chappell inclosed garded about with the power as is sayd of two shires so continued til at length by the coÌ„mauÌ„dement of the king his two seruitours whiche ministred to him within the Chappell were taken from him Then Hubert seeing no other remedy but there to sterue for famine offered hymselfe of his owne accorde to the Shiriffes saying that he would put himselfe rather in the kinges mercy then there desperately to perish for hunger And so was he takeÌ„ and being fast bound in fetters was brought agayne clapped by the Kinges commaundement in the Tower of London Not long after this word was brought to the king by certaine that the said Hubert had muche treasure lying in the house of the new Templaries in London Wherupon the king to try out the trueth thereof sendeth for the Prior or maister of that house who not daring to deny confessed that there was in deed treasure brought into the house but the quantity and number thereof he could not tell The King desirous to season vpoÌ„ the treasure required and charged the maister with his brethren with threatning wordes to bring forth the treasure to him saying that it was taken and stolne out of his treasury But they answered againe that the treasure was committed with trust and sayth vnto theyr hands and therfore they would nor ought to let it go out of theyr hands being trusted withall without the assent of him which committed the same vnto them When the king could get no other answere at their hands neither durst shew any further violeÌ„ce against theÌ„ he sendeth to Hubert in the Tower requiring of him the foresaid treasures To whom he aunswering agayne mildely yelded both himselfe his treasures all that euer he had vnto the kings will pleasure so sending word to the maister brethren of the Temple willeth them to take al the keyes and deliuer the goods with all that there was to the king who receiuing the same and taking an Inuentory of that which was receiued caused it to be brought to his treasure wherof the number both of the plate of coyne and of the iewels was of price vnknown The enemies of Hub. supposing thereby to take aduauÌ„tage against him to bring him to his end came with open complaynt to the king criyng out against Hubert that he was a thief a traitor and a robber of the kings treasure and therefore by right was worthy to be hanged and thus cried his accusers dayly in the kinges eare
But the hartes of kinges sayth the wise man are in the handes of the Lord to be ruled not after mans will but as it pleaseth God to direct them And so this king hauing now his will fill vpon poore Hubert somwhat cōming more vnto himselfe answered againe in this wise that there was no such need to deale so straitly with him who from the time of his youth first serued mine vncle King Richard then my father king Iohn in whose seruice as I heard say beyond the Seas he was driuen to eat his horse Parisies pag. 81. and in my time hath stand so constantly in defence of the Realme agaynst forreine nations who kept the castle of Douer agaynst king Lewes and vanquished the Frenchmen vpon the Seas also at Bedford and at Lincolne hath done suche seruice And though agaynst me he hath dealt any thing vntruely which yet is not euidentlye proued yet he shall neuer be put by me to so villanous death I had rather be counted a king foolish and simple then to be iudged a tyraunt or a seeker of bloude especiallye of such as haue serued me and mine auncesters in many perils so daūgerously weying more the few euilles which yet be not proued then so many good desertes of his euident manifest seruice done both to me and to the whole realm c. And thus the king somewhat relenting to poore Hubert his olde seruaunt graunted vnto him all such landes as he had geuen by K. Iohn his father and whatsoeuer els he had by his owne purchase Thus Hubert after long trouble a little chered wyth some peece of comfort set Laurence his trustye friend that neuer left him one that belonged to S. Albons to be hys Stuard and ouerseer of those possessions graunted to him by the king And shorely vpon the same after the kinges minde was seene thus something to relent the enuy also of the nobles being now partly satisfied began to turne to mercy In so much that 4. Earles to witt Earle Richard the kinges brother William Earle of Warrtine Richard Earle Marshall and William Earle of Ferrys became sureties to the king for him Upon whose surety he was transferred to the Castle of Deuizis where he was vnder the keeping of 4. souldiours by them appoynted hauing the liberty of the Castle But the Byshopp of Winchester who alwayes hunted after the life of Hubert craftely cōmeth to the king and desireth the custodye of that Castle making no mention of Hubert to the intent that by the keeping thereof he might the sooner dispatch him Hubert hauing therof some inkling breaketh the matter to two of his seruants who with compassion tendering his misery watched their time the kepers being a sleep and conueied by might vpon theyr backes fettered as he was into the parish Church of the Towne and there remayned wyth him The keepers when they mist theyr prisoner were in great perplexity and after diligent searche finding hym at length where he was in the Churche with violent force drew him from thence to the Castle againe For the which iniury to the Church the Bishop of Sarum vnderstanding the order of the matter commeth to the Castle where the keepers were and required that Hubert shoulde be brought againe into the Church from whence he was taken Which whē the keepers denied to do saying that they would rather he should hang then they then the Byshop gaue sentence agaynst them of excommunication Which done he with the Bishop of London and other Byshops goeth immediately to the king complayning of the iniury done to Hubert and especially of the contiunely agaynst holye Churche neither woulde they leaue the King before they had obtayned that hee shoulde bee reduced agayne into the Churche and so he was It was not long after but the king in great displeasure sendeth to the Sheriffe of the shyre to keepe him well watched in the Churche till either he came forth or there perished wyth famine It befel in the meane season that great dissention rose betwene the king and the nobles of the Realme by reason whereof Hubert was taken and caried away by Richard Earle Marshall into Wales and there remayned till the king at length was reconciled with his nobles and so receiued with the rest the sayd Hubert agayne into hys fauour Ex Math. Parisiens Ex Flor. Historiarum Of the which dissention more shall be shewed Christ willing hereafter As the beginning of this trouble of Hubert first sprang of vexing the Hopes barnes so likewise Roger bishop of London suspected for the same cause was enforced to trauell vp to Rome there to purge himselfe before the Pope Where after much money consumed robbed also by the way he gat nothing els but lost his labour and so came home agayne Who then doing the part of a good Bishop after his returne from Rome attempted to expell and exclude out of his Dioces all these Italian vsurers called as is before sayd Caursini These Caursinites comming with the Popes Legats into England and lending their money to Religious houses to Colleges and Churches had their debters to them boūd in such sort as was much vntageable to them much iniurious vnto the other as in the forme of theyr obligations in the storyes of Mathew Parisiens is largely expressed fol. 65. Against these Caursinites the Bishoppe of London being worthely inflamed with zeale of iustice first with louing admonition went about to reclayme them for the wealth of theyr soules afterward with sharpe wordes began to charge them But they neither regarding Christian councell and despising the Bishops threatnings would not leaue the sweetnesse of their occupation Wherfore the Bishop proceding to the sentence of excommunication precisely and districtly charged them to depart his Dioces But they agayne being confident emboldned vpon the popes defence not onely set at light his excommunication but also wrought such wayes with the Pope that they caused the sayd B. of Lōdon being both aged and sickely to be cited peremptoryly to appeare beyond the Seas there to answere to such obiections as they should inferre agaynst him And thus the Byshop minding rather to couer then to open the faults of the Church and partly being let with infirmitye age was compelled to let the cause fall And thus much of the popes marchants here in England which were not so busye here for theyr part but the Pope the great maister of these marchaunt vsurers was as busy for hys And although his barnes here in England were destroyed and his banke something decayed yet he thought to winne it vp an other way for he proclaimed the same yere a generall visitation through all the religious houses exempt or not exempt vniuersally perteyning to his iurisdiction where by the cruell dealing of the visitours many were compelled to appeale and to trauell vp to Rome to the great expenses of their mony and