held his peace as dombe speachles The boy ranne it was then night vnto the minister who at the same time being sicke could not come with the messenger but sayde for somuch as he willed herretofore as he sayde that such as lay a dying if they couet to be receaued reconciled and especially if they required it earnestly should be admitted wherby with the better hope confidence they may depart hence therefore he gaue to the boy a litle of the Eucharist willing him to crumble it into the cup so to drop it into the mouth of the olde man With this the boy returned bringing with him the holy Eucharist As he was now nere at hād before he had entred in Serapiō the old mā speaking againe cōmest thou sayd he my sonne The Priest quoth the messenger is sicke can not come but do as he willeth you let me go And the boy immixed the Eucharist dropt it in softly into the mouth of the old mā Who after he had tasted a litle immediatly gaue vp the Ghost c. Haec Dionys. ex Eus. In the Citie of Troade as the Proconsul was grieuously tormenting one Nicomachus he cried out that he was no Christian and so was let downe againe And when after he had sacrificed he was taken eftsoones with a wicked spirite and so throwen downe vpon the ground where he byting of his toung with his teeth so departed Henr. de Erfordia Dionysius in his Epistles also writyng to Fabius and lamentyng the great terrour of this persecution declareth how that many woorthy and notable Christians for feare and horror of the great tiranny therof did shew themselues feeble and weake men Of whome some for dread some of their owne accord other after great torments suffered yet after reuolted from the constancy of their profession Also S. Cyprian in his treatise De lapsis reciteth with great sorrow and testifieth how that a great number at the first threatnyng of the aduersary neither beyng cōpelled nor thrown downe with any violence of the enemy but of their volūtary weakenes fell downe themselues Neither sayth he tarying while the iudge should put incense in their hands but before any stroke stroken in the fielde turned their backes played the cowards not only commyng to their sacrifices but preuētyng the same and pretending to come without compulsion bringing moreouer theyr infantes children eyther put into their hands or taking them with them of their owne accord and exhortyng moreouer other to do the lyke after their example Of this weaknesse and falling the said author sheweth two causes either loue of their goodes and patrimonie or feare of torments And addeth moreouer examples of the punishmentes of them which so reuolted affirmyng that many of them were taken and vexed with wicked sprites And of one man among other which after his voluntary deniall sodainly was stroken dombe Agayn an other after his abiuration as he should communicate with other in stead of bread receiued ashes in his hād Itē of a certayn mayden who beyng taken vexed with a sprite did teare her owne toung with her teeth and tormented with paine in her bellie and inward partes so deceased Among other of this sort S. Cyprian Lib. 2 cap. 8. maketh also mention of one Euaristus a Bishop in Aphrica who leauing his charge and making a shipwracke of his faith went wandering about in other countreys forsakyng his owne flocke In like maner he maketh also mention of Nicostratus a Deacon who forsakyng his Deaconship and takyng the goods of the Church with him fled away into other countreys c. Albeit Bergomensis geueth that this Nicostratus the Deacon afterward dyed a Martyr Thus then although some did relent yet a very great nūber saith he there was whom neither feare could remoue nor pain could ouerthrow to cause them to betray their confession but that they stoode like glorious Martyrs vnto the ende Cyprian The same Cyprianus also in an other booke De mortalitate reciteth a notable story of one of his owne Colleges and fellow Priest who beyng oppressed with weaknesse and greatly afrayd with death drawyng at hand desired leaue to depart and to be discharged As he was thus entreating and almost now dying there appeared by him a yong man of an honorable and of reuerend maiestie of a tall stature and comely behauior so bright cleare to behold that scarce mans carnall eyes was able to beare the beholding of him but that he was able so to do which was now redy to depart this world To whom this yong man speaking with a certaine indignation of mynd and voyce thus said Pati timetis exire non vultis quid faciam vobis To suffer ye dare not to goe out ye will not what would ye me to do vnto you Upon the occasion of these and such other which were a great number that fell and did renounce as is aforesaid in this persecution of Decius rose vp first the quarell heresie of Nouatus who in these dayes made a great disturbance in the church holding this opinion that they which once renounced the faith and for feare of torments had offred incense to the idols although they repented therefore yet could not afterward be reconciled nor admitted to the Church of Christ. This Nouatus beyng first Priest vnder Cyprian at Carthage afterward by stirring vp discord and factions began to disturbe the Bishopricke of Cyprian to appoint there a Deacon called Felicissimus agaynst the bishops mynd or knowledge also to allure and separate certayne of the brethren from the Bishop all which Cyprian Lib. 2. Epist. 8. doth well declare After this the sayd Nouatus goyng to Rome kept there the like stirre with Cornelius as the same Cornelius in Eusebius Lib. 6. cap. 43. doth testifie settyng himselfe vp as Bishop of Rome against Cornelius which was the lawfull Bishop of Rome before The which to bring to passe he vsed this practise first he had allured to him to be his adherents thre or foure of good men and holy confessours which had suffered before great tormentes for their confession whose names were Maximus Vrbanus Sydonius and Celerinus After this he entised three simple bishops about the coastes of Italy to repayre to Rome vnder pretence to make an end of certain cōtrouersies then in hand This done he caused the same whether by making them dronke or by other craftye counsell to lay theyr handes vpon him and to make him Bishop so did Wherefore the one of those three Byshops hardly was receiued to the communion by the great intercession of his people the other two by discipline of the church were displaced from their Byshoprickes other possessed with their roomes Thus then were there two Byshops together in one church of Rome Nouatus and Cornelius which was vnsemely contrary to the discipline of the Church And hereupon riseth the true cause and meaning of S.
doth the white colour to the wall Item that neyther the Pope nor any other Prelate of the church ought to haue prisons wherin to punish transgressours Beside these articles diuers other conclusions afterward were gathered out of hys writings and preachings by the byshops of England which they sent diligently to Pope Gregory at Rome where the sayde articles being red and perused were condemned for hereticall and erroneous by 23. Cardinals In the meane time the Archb. of Cant. sending foorth hys citations as is aforesayd called before hym the sayde Iohn wickliffe in the presence of the Duke of Lancaster and Lord Percy who vpon the declaration of the Popes letters made bound him to silence forbidding him not to entreat any more of those matters But then through the disturbaunce of the Bishop of London and the Duke and lord Percy that matter was soone dispatched as hath bene aboue recorded pag. 427. And all thys was done in the daies last yere of king Edward the 3. and pope Gregory the eleuenth The next yeare folowing which was the yeare of our Lord 1378. being the first yere of king Richard the second The sayd Pope Gregory taking hys time after the death of king Edward sendeth his bull by the hands meanes peraduenture of one master Edmund Stafford directed vnto the vniuersity of Oxford rebuking theÌ„ sharply imperiously and like a Pope for suffring so long the doctrine of Iohn Wickliffe to take roote and not pluckyng it vppe wyth the crooked cicle of their Catholike doctrine Whych Bull when it came to be exhibite vnto their handes by the Popes messenger aforesayd the proctors and maysters of the Uniuersitie ioyning together in consultation stood loÌ„g in doubt deliberating with themselues whether to receiue the Popes Bull with honour or to refuse and reiect it wyth shame I cannot here but laugh in my minde to behold the authours of this story whom I follow what exclamations what wondrings and maruels they make at these Oxford men for so doubting at a matter so playne so manifest of it selfe as they say whether the popes Bull sent to them froÌ„ Rome was to be receaued or coÌ„trary Which thing to our monkish writers seemed then suche a prodigious wonder that they with blushing cheekes are feyne to cut of the matter in the middest with silence The copy of this wilde Bull sent to them from the Pope was this Gregory the Bishop the seruant of Gods seruaunts to his welbeloued sonnes the Chauncellour and Vniuersitie of Oxford in the diocesse of Lincolne greeting and Apostolical benediction WE are compelled not onely to meruell but also to lament that you considering the Apostolicall seate hath geuen vnto your vniuersitie of Oxford so great fauour and priueledge and also for that you flow as in a large sea in the knowledge of the holy Scriptures and ought to be champions and defenders of the ancient and Catholicke fayth without the which there is no saluation by your great negligence and slouthe will suffer wylde cockle not onely to grow vp among the pure wheate of the florishing field of your Vniuersitie but also to wake more strong and choke the corne Neither haue ye anye care as we are enformed to extirpe and plucke the same vp by the rootes to the great bleblemishing of your renowmed name the perill of your soules the contempt of the Church of Rome and to the great decay of the auncient fayth And further which greueth vs the encrease of that filthy weed was more sharpely rebuked iudged of in Rome then in England where it sprang Wherefore let there be meanes sought by the help of the faithful to roote out the same Greuously it is come to our eares that one Iohn Wickliffe parson of Lutterworth in Lincolne dioces a professour of diuinitie would god he were not rather a maister of errours is runne into a kinde of detestable wickednes not onely and openly publishing but also vomiting out of the filthy dungeon of his brest diuers professions false and erroneous conclusions and most wicked and damnable heresies Whereby he might defile the faythfull sorte and bring them from the the right path headlong into the way of perdition ouerthrow the state of the Churche and vtterly subuert the secular policy Of which his mischieuous heresies some seem to agree onely certayne names and termes chaunged with the peruersâ—â—â— opinions and vnlearned doctrine of Marcelius of Padua Iohn of Gandune of vnworthy memory whose bookes were vtterly abolished in the realme of England by our predecessour of happy memory Iohn 22. Which kingdome doth notonely florishe in power and aboundance of faculties but is much more glorious and shyning in purenes of fayth Accustomed alwayes to bring forth men excellentlye learned in the true knowledge of the holye scriptures ripe in grauitie of manners men notable in deuotion and defenders of the Catholicke fayth Wherefore wee will and commaunde you by our writing Apostolicall in the name of your obedience and vpon payne of priuation of our fauour indulgences and priueledges graunted vnto you and your vniuersitie from the sayd see Apostolicall that hereafter ye suffer not those pestilent heresies that those subtile and false conclusions and propositions misconstruing the right senses of fayth and good workes how soeuer they terme it or what curious implication of wordes soeuer they vse any longer to be disputed of or brought in question Least if it be not withstoood at the first and plucked vp by the rootes it might perhaps be to late hereafter to prepare medicins when a greater number is infected with the coÌ„tagion And further that ye apprehend immediately or cause to be apprehended the sayd Iohn Wickliffe and deliuer him to be deteyned in the safe custodie of our well beloued brethren the Archbishop of Caunterbury and the byshop of London or eyther of them And if you shall finde any gaynesayers corrupted wyth the sayde doctrine whiche God forbid in your sayd vniuersitie wythin your iurisdiction that shall obstinately stand in the sayd errours that then in lyke manner ye apprehend them and committe them to safe custodie and otherwise to doe in this case as it shall appertayne vnto you So as by your carefull proceedynges herein your negligence past concernying the premisses may now fully be supplyed and recompensed with present diligence Whereby you shall not onely purchase vnto you the fauour and beneuolence of the seate Apostolicall but also great reward and merite of almightie God Yeuen at Rome at S. Maries the greater xi Kalend. of Iune and in the seuenth yeare of our consecration ¶ Beside this Bull sent to the Uniuersitie of Oxford the sayd Pope Gregory directed moreouer his letters the same tyme to the Archbyshoppe of Canterbury Symon Sudbury to the Byshoppe of London named William Courtney with the conclusions of Iohn Wickliffe therein inclosed commauÌ„dyng them by vertue of those his letters Apostolicall and straitly enioyning them to cause
the sayd Iohn Wickliffe to be apprehended and cast in prison And that the king and the nobles of England should be admonished by them not to geue any credite to the saide Iohn Wickliffe or to his doctrine in any wise c. ¶ Beside this Bill or Bull of the Pope sent vnto the Archbyshop of CaÌ„terbury and to the Byshop of London bearyng the date 11. Kalend. Iuni. and the 7. yeare of the raigne of the Pope I finde moreouer in the sayd story two other letters of the Pope concernyng the same matter but differyng in forme sent vnto the same Byshops and all hearyng the same date both of the day yeare and moneth of the raigne of the sayd Pope Gregory Whereby it is be supposed that the Pope either was very exquisite and solicitous aboue the matter to haue Wickliffe to be appreheÌ„ded which wrote three diuers letters to one person and all in one day about one businesse or els that he did suspect the bearers thereof the scruple wherof I leaue to the iudgement of the Reader Furthermore beside these letters writteÌ„ to the Uniuersitie and to the Byshops he directeth also an other Epistle bearyng the same date vnto kyng Edward as one of my stories sayth but as an other sayth to the kyng Richard whiche soundeth more neare to the truth forasmuch as in the 7. yeare of Pope Gregory the xi which was the yeare of our Lord. 1â—78 Kyng Edward was not aliue The copy of his letters to the kyng here followeth The copy of the Epistle sent by the Byshop of Rome to Richard kyng of England to persecute Iohn Wickliffe VNto his welbeloued sonne in Christ Richard the most noble kyng of England health c. The kyngdome of England which the most highest hath put vnder your power and gouernaunce beyng so famous and renowmed in valiancy and strength so aboundaunt and flowyng in all kynde of wealth and riches but much more glorious resplendent and shynyng through the brightnesse and clearenesse of all godlynesse and fayth hath accustomed alwayes to bryng forth men endued with the true knowledge and vnderstandyng of the holy Scriptures graue in yeares feruent in deuotion and defenders of the Catholicke fayth The which haue onely directed and instructed their own people through their holesome doctrine and preceptes into the true path of Gods commaundementes but also as we haue heard by the report and information of many credible persons to our great grief hart sorow that Iohn Wickliffe Parson of Lutterworth in the Dioces of Lincolne professor of diuinitie I would to God he were no author of heresie to be fallen into such a detestable and abhominable madnes that he hath propounded and set forth diuers and sundry conclusions full of errours and coÌ„teinyng most manifest heresie the which do tende vtterly to subuert and ouerthrow the state of the whole Churche Of the whiche some of them albeit vnder coloured phrase and speache seeme to smell and sauour of peruerse opinions and the foolishe doctrine of condemned memory of Marsilius of Padua and Iohn of Ganduno whose bookes were by Pope Iohn the 22. our predecessour a man of most happy memorye reproued and condemned c. ¶ Hetherto gentle reader thou hast heard how Wickliffe was accused by the Byshop Now you shall also heare the Popes mighty reasons and argumentes by the which he did confute him to the kyng It followeth Therefore for so much as our Reuerend brethren the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Byshop of London haue receiued a speciall commaundement from vs by our authoritie to apprehend and committe the forenamed Iohn Wickliffe vnto prison and to transporte his confession vnto vs If they shall seeme in the prosecution of this their businesse to locke your fauour or helpe we require and most earnestly desire your maiestie euen as your most noble predecessors haue alwayes bene most earnest louers of the Catholicke fayth whose case or quarell in this matter is chiefly handled that you woulde vouchsafe euen for the reuerence of God and the fayth aforesayd and also of the Apostolicke seat and and of our person that you will with your helpe and fauour assist the sayd archbishop and all other that shall goe about to execute the sayd busines Wherby besides the prayse of men you shall obtayne a heauenly rewarde and great fauour and good will at our hand and of the sea aforesaid Dated at Rome at S. Mary the greater the 11. Kal. of Iune in the 7. yeare of our Byshoprick an 1378. The Articles included in the popes letters whiche he sent to the Bishoppes and to the king against Wickliffe were these as in order do follow The conclusions of Iohn Wickliffe exhibited in the conuocation of certayne Bishops at Lambeth ALl the whole race of mankinde here on earth besides Christ hath no power simply to ordayne that Peter and all his ofspring should politickely rule ouer the world for euer 2. God cannot geue to any man for him and hys heyres anye ciuill dominion for euer 3. All writinges inuented by men as touching perpetuall heritage are impossible 4. Euery man being in grace iustifiyng hath not onely right vnto the thing but also for his time hath right in deede aboue all the good thinges of God 5. A man cannot onely ministratoriously geue any temporal or continuall gift eyther as well to his naturall sonne as to his sonne by imitation 6 If God be the temporall Lordes may lawfully and meritoriously take away the riches from the Church when they do offend habitualiter 7. We know that Christes Vicar cannot neyther is able by hys Bulles neyther by his owne will and consent neither by the consent for his colledge eyther make able or disable any man 8. A man cannot be excommunicated to his hurt or vndoyng except he be first and principally excommunicate by himselfe 9. No man ought but in Gods cause alone to excommunicate suspend or forbid or otherwise to proceede to reuenge by anye ecclesiasticall censure 10. A curse or excommunication doth not simply binde but in case it be pronounced and geuen out agaynst the aduersarye of Gods law 11. There is no power geuen by any example eyther by Christ or by his Apostle to excommunicate any subiect specially for the denying of any temporalties but rather contrariwise 12. The disciples of Christ haue no power to exact by anye ciuill authoritie temporalties by censures 13. It is not possible by the absolute power of God that if the Pope or any other Christian doe pretend by any meanes to bynd or to lose that thereby he doth so bynde and loose 14. We ought to beleue that the Vicar of Christ doth at suche tymes onely bynde and loose when as he worketh conformably by the law and ordinaunce of Christ. 15. This ought vniuersally to be beleued that euery priest righly and duely ordered according vnto the law of grace hath power according to his vocation whereby he may minister the sacramentes and
touching the Church because he kepeth not the institutions inuestitures therof but holdeth opinion that euery man hath authority to inuest appoint any man to the cure of soules This is euident by his owne doings For so much as many in the kingdome of Boheme by their defenders and fauourers or rather by himselfe were appoynted and put into parish churches the which they haue long ruled and kept not being appoynted by the Apostolike sea neither yet by the ordiuarie of the citie of Prage Eightly he erreth as touching the Churche in that he holdeth opinion that a man being once ordained a Priest or a deacon cannot be forbidden or kept backe from the office of preaching this is likewise manifest by his own doings for somuch as he himselfe could neuer be letted from preaching neither by the Apostolick sea neither yet by the Archbishop of Prage And to the intent that the sayd Iohn Hus who is dothed in sheepes clothing inwardly a rauing wolfe may be the better knowen by his fruits for the better information of you most reuerend fathers I say that from the first time that he tooke in hand or went about to sow hys errours and heresies yâ— which afterward he did in deede he vnderstanding and perceiuing himself to be â—standed and gainsayde by the Germaines which were in the vniuersitie of Prage for somuch as he coulde conclude nothing because they had 3. voyces and he on hys parre had but one onely voyce he went about and brought to passe and that by the secular power that the Germaines shoulde haue but one voyce and he and his partes 3. voyces the which thing when the Germanes once perceiued rather then they wold loose or forsake any parte of their right whych they had in voyces or be in danger in theyr persons the which would then haue ensued vppon it to saue themselues they wholy with one consent agreed together to depart out of Prage and by this meanes this solemne famous vniuersitie of Prage was made desolate that had brought forth so many notable meÌ„ in diuers sciences Beholde this his first fruits which deuided that so famous vniuersitie for so muche as grapes are not gathered of thornes neyther figs of brambles Moreouer when there were questioÌ„s moned amongst the deuines of the vniuersitie of Prage vppon the 45. articles of Iohn Wickliffe and that they had called a conuocation and all the deuines of Boheme for the Germaines were all ready departed they concluded that euery one of those Articles were either heretical seditious or els erroneous He alone held the coÌ„trary opinion the none of those articles were either hereticall seditious or erroneous as afterward he did dispute holde and teache in the common schooles of Prage where by it is euideÌ„tly inough foresene that he doeth affirme those articles of Wickliffe the whych are not onely condemned in England but also by the whole church because they were first inuented and set forth by the members of Antichrist Moreouer he being complained of to the Archbyshop of Prage the he preached set foorth certaine articles which were heretical false and seditious he was forbidden by the sayd Archbishop to preach any more and proceded against him according to the canonicall sanctions the whych processe is confirmed by the Apostolike sea and published as well in the courte of Rome as wythout the whych Iohn Hus and his adherents haue diuers and manifold wayes violate prophanate And whosoeuer did speake against him they were depriued of their benefices and others placed in which haue ruled and yet do rule the said churches the flockes pertaining to the same not hauing any cure or charge of the soules coÌ„mitted vnto them neyther by the Apostolike sea neither yet by the ordinary of the place Also as many as well priests as lay men in the citie of Prage kingdom of Boheme which haue spoken against the doctrine of Hus and the prophanation of the processe aforesaid or at the least not alowing the same haue suffred most mortall hatred and persecutions and yet to thys day do suffer But that at this present it is dissimuled vntil the ende of the processe against Iohn Hus. Wherefore if he be nowe let goe againe without doubt they shall suffer great persecution both in body and goodes and throughout all the realm of Boheme house shal be against house and this mischiefe will creepe yea sodeinly spring vp throughout al Germany and innumerable soules shal be infected so that there shall be such persecution of the cleargie and faithfull as hath not bene since the time of the Emperor Constantine to this present day for he ceaseth not to mooue and stir vp the laity against the clergy and faithfull christians And when any of the clergie would draw him away or cal him from his heresie for that cause doth forbid him to preach that he doe not teach no heresies Then sayeth he and teacheth that the clergie doth that of enuie and malice because he rebuketh their vices and faultes that is to say their simonie and pride and conetousnesse Moreouer hee stirreth vp the seculare princes against the prelates of churches monasteries vniuersities and generally against the whole clergy Going about by thys meanes he preacheth and teacheth that prelates and other men of the church ought not to haue any temporal goodes or possessions but only to liue vppon almes And by thys meanes he hath done already very much hurt and anoied diuers and many Prelates clearkes and Churches in the kingdome of Boheme and citie of Prage For so muche as thereby they are already spoiled and robbed of their possessions Yea hee teacheth also that it is lawfull for the lay people wythout sinne to wythholde and keepe backe the tithes and oblations or to geue the Church goodes to any other minister all the seculare princes are greatly inclined hereunto but specially the laitie who foloweth euery maÌ„ his owne will He hath generally to lay for himself all those heretikes which do but very finally regard the ecclesiastical censures and hate the authority of the Romaine church yea doe vtterly detest abhorre the same the which thing will more and more encrease except it be effectually and manfully wtstand and if he do by any meanes escape from the councel he and his fauourers wil say that hys doctrine is iust and true and that it is allowed by the authority of the vniuersall sacred Councell and that all hys aduersaries are wicked and noughty men so that he would do more mischief then euer any hereticke did since the tyme of Constantinus Magnus Wherefore most holy fathers prouide and take heede to your selues and to the whole flocke amongst whome the holy Ghost hath placed you to rule the Churche of Christ the whych he hathe purchased wyth his owne bloude and whilest the disease is new and fresh helpe and remedye it as well touching him which doth so
definitiue condemned him to perpetuall prison After whose condemnation the sonday next folowing the recantation of Tho. Granter and of Richard Monke Priestes aboue mentioned were openly read at Paules crosse the Byshop of Rochester the same time preached at the sayd crosse The tenour of whose recantation with his Articles in the same expressed here vnder foloweth IN the name of God Before you my Lord of Canterbury and all you my Lords here being present afore you all here gathered at this time I Thomas Granter priest vnworthy dwelling in this City of LondoÌ„ feeling vnderstanding that afore this time I affirmed open errours and heresies saying beleuing and affirming within thys City that he that Christian men callen Pope is not verye Pope ner Gods vicary in earth but I sayd he was Antichrist Also I sayd beleued and affirmed that after the sacramentall wordes sayd by a Priest in the Masse there remayneth materiall bread and wine and is not turned into Christes body and his bloud Also I said and affirmed that it was not for to doe in no wise to goe on pilgrimage but it was better I sayd to abide at home and beate the stooles with theyr heeles for it was I sayde but tree stone that they soughten Also I sayde and affirmed that I held no Scripture catholicke ner holy but onely that is conteyned in the Bible For the Legendes and liues of Sayntes I held hem nought and the miracles written of hem I helde vntrue Because of which errours and heresies I was tofore M. Dauy Price Uicar generall of my Lord of London and since tofore you my Lord of Caunterbury your brethren in your councell prouinciall by you fully informed which so sayd mine affirming beleuing teaching bene open errors and heresies and contrarious to the determination of the chirch of Rome Wherfore I willing to follow and sewe the doctrine of holy chirch and depart fro all maner errors and heresye and turne with good will hart to the onehead of the chirch coÌ„sidering that holye chirch shitteth ner closeth not her bosome to him that will turne agayne ne God will not the death of a sinner but rather he ben turned liue With a pure hart I confesse detest despise my sayd errours and heresies and the sayd opinions I confesse as heresies and errours to the fayth of the Chirch of Rome to all vniuersally holy Chirch repugnaunt And therfore these sayd opinions in speciall and all other errours and heresies doctrines and opinioÌ„s â—yen the fayth of the Church and the determination of the Churche of Rome I abiure and forsweare here tofore you all and sweare by these holy Gospels by me bodily touched that from henceforth I shall neuer hold teach ne preach errour errours heresie ne heresies nor false doctrine agaynst the faith of holy chirch determination of the chirch of Rome ner none such thing I shall obstinately defend ne any man holding or teaching such maner thinges by me or an other person openly or priuily I shal defend I shall neuer after thys tyme be receitor fautor councellor or defendor of hereticks or of any person suspect of heresie ner I shal trow to him ner wittingly fellaship with him ner yeue him counseil fauour yiftes ne coÌ„fort And if I know any heretickes or of heresie or of such false opinions anye person suspect or anye man or woman making or holding priuy conuenticles or assemblies or any diuers or singular opinions from the common doctrine of the Church of Rome or if I may know any of their fautors comforters councelours or defensers or any that haue suspect bookes or quiers of such erroures and heresies I shall let you my Lord of Canterbury or your officers in your absence or the Diocesans and Ordinaries of such men haue soone and ready knowing so help me God and holydeme and these holy Euangelies by me bodely touched ¶ After this recantation at the Crosse thus published and his submission made ' the sayd Granter then was by the aduise of the Prelates put to 7. yeares prisonment vnder the custody and charge of the bishop of London After this followed in like maner the recantation of Richard Monke Also of Edmund Frith which was before Butler so sir Iohn Oldcastle Beside these aboue remembred many and diners there be in the sayd register recorded who likewise for their faith and religion were greatly vexed and troubled especially in the Dioces of Kent in the townes of Romney Tenterden Wodcherche Cranbroke Staphelherst Beninden Halden Roluenyden and others where as whole housholdes both man and wife were driuen to forsake theyr houses and townes for daunger of persecution as sufficiently appeareth in the processe of the Archb. Chichesley agaynst the sayd persons and in the certificat of Burbath his officiall wherein are named these persons following 1. W. White Priest 2. Tho. Grenested Priest 3. Bartho Cronmonger 4. Iohn Wadnon 5. Ioan his wife 6. Tho. Euerden 7. William Euerden 8. Steuen Robin 9. W. Chiueling 10. Iohn Tame 11. Iohn Fowlin 12. Will. Somer 13. Marion his wife 14. Iohn Abraham 15. Rob. Munden 16. Laurence Coke These being cited vp together by the bishop would not appere Wherupon great inquisition being made for them by his officers they were constrained to flie their houses townes shift for themselues as couertly as they might When Burbath and other officers had sent worde to the Archbishop that they coulde not be founde then he directed downe order that Citations should be set vp for them on euery Church dore through all townes where they did inhabite appointing them a day terme wheÌ„ to appeare But not withstanding when as they yet could not be taken neither would appeare the Archbishop sitting in hys tribunall seate proceedeth to the sentence of excommunication against them What afterward happened to them in the register doth not appeare but like it is at length they were forced to submit themselues Concerning sir Iohn Oldcastle the Lord Cobham and of his first apprehension with his whole story life sufficiently hath bene expressed before pag. 575. how he being committed to the Tower and condeÌ„ned falsely of heresie escaped afterward out of the Tower and was in Wales about the space of four yeares In the which meane time a great summe of money was proclaimed by the King to hym that could take the sayde sir Iohn Oldcastle eyther quicke or dead About the ende of which foure yeares beeing expired the Lord Powes whether for loue and greedines of the money or whether for hatred of true and sincere doctrine of Christ seking all maner of wayes how to play the parte of Iudas at length obteined his bloudie purpose and brought the Lorde Cobham bound vp to London which was about the yeare of our Lord. 1417. and about the moneth of December At which time there was a Parliament assembled at London for the reliefe of money the same time
thys Epistle in diuers places of the decrerals as most true and therfore it shal be nothing from the purpose to rehearse other sayings out of the same Epistle where he sayth that he which liueth rebelliously and refuseth both to learne and to doe good is rather a member of the deuill then of Christ and doth shew himselfe rather to be an infidel then a faithful Christian. Vpō which words the glose which Panormitane calleth singular is muche allowed sayeth that if the crime or offence of the bishop of Rome be notorious wherby the Church is offended if he be incorrigible he may be accused therof If then he may be accused Ergo also he may be punished and according to the exigent of the fault deposed Otherwise he should be accused in vaine Now is there no more any place of defence left for our aduersaries but that the Pope may be deposed Notwithstanding it is not yet euident whether hee may be deposed by that councel or no which we now take in hād to discours And first of all the aduersaries will graunt thys vnto vs that the Bishop of Rome may be deposed by the Church for somuch as the Pope being the vicare of the Church no man doubteth but that a Lorde may put out his vicare at his wil pleasure neither is to be douted but that the Pope is more truly called the vicare of the church then of christ But if the church may depose the pope Ergo the coūcel also may do the same Also the glose which Panormitane in his wryting doth so greatly commend hath this sentence that the general coūcel is iudge ouer the pope in al cases Likewise the most sacred Synode of Constantinople whych is allowed of all men doth appoynt the bishops of Rome to be vnder the iudgement of the councel and the councell to iudge and determine of euery doutfull matter or question that doeth arise concerning the bishop of Rome Neither let any mā doubt hereof because this worde deposition is not mentioned for it is sayde of euery doutfull matter or question For if the Synode do iudge of euery doubt Ergo it shall also iudge whether the pope shal be deposed or no for that may also come in doute And because we will not seeke examples farre of Iohn 23. Whom all the world dyd reuerence was deposed of his Papacie by the Councell of Constance Neither yet was he cōdemned for any heresy but because he did offend the Church by his manifolde crimes the sacred Synode thought good to depose him and euer since continually the church hath proceded by like example that their opinion might cease which affirme that the Pope cannot be deposed but onely for heresy But heere is yet one thing not to be omitted that certaine men do affirme the general Councels to be of no effect except the Pope do cal and appoynt them and his authoritie remaine with them Wherupon they said that Dioscorus did rebuke Paschasius the bishop of Cicili and legate of Pope Leo because that hee did enterprise wythout the authoritie of the Apostolicke Sea to call a Councell at Ephesus They also alledge an other testimony of the Sinode of Chalcedone wheras when mention was made of the Councel of Ephesus al the Bishops cried out saying we ought not to call it a Councell because it was neyther gathered by the apostolike authority neither rightly kept By the which authorities they which say that the Councels cannot be holden without the consent of the Pope do thinke themselues marueilously armed Whose sentence opinion if it take place and preuaile as they desire it shall bring with it the great ruine and decay of the Church For what remedy shall we finde if that a wicked Pope doe disturbe the whole Church destroy soules seduce the people by his euil examples if finally he preach contrary vnto the faith and fill the people full of heresies shal we prouide no stay or stoppe for him Shall we suffer all things to runne to ruine and decay with him Who woulde thinke that the bishop of Rome would cōgregate a councell for hys owne correction or deposition for as men are prone vnto sinne so would they also sinne wythout punishment But when as I do peruse ancient hystories and the Acts of the Apostles I do not finde this order that councels should be gathered only at the will of the Pope for the first Councel of all after that Mathias was substitute in the place of Iudas was not congregate at the commandement of Peter but at the commandement of Christ who commanded the Apostles that they should not depart from Ierusalem but looke for the promise of the father The seconde Councell as touching the election of the deacons Peter alone did not congregate but the 12. Apostles for it is wrytten The 12. Apostles calling together the multitude c. The thirde Councell whych was holden as touching the taking away of circumcision other ceremonies of the lawe was gathered together by a generall inspiration for it is written The Apostles and Elders came together c. The fourth Councell whereas certaine thyngs contained in the law are permitted seemeth to be gathered by Iames so discoursing throughout all there can nothing be founde in the primatiue Church whereby it should appeare that the authority of congregating of Councels should pertaine onely vnto Bishoppes of Rome Neither alterwards in the time of Constantinus Magnus and other Emperours was the consent of the bishops of Rome greatly required to the congregating of Councels and therefore it is wrytten thus of the Synode of Chalcedon The sacred and vniuersall Synode gathered together at Chalcedone the chiefe Citie of the prouince of Berthunia according vnto the grace of God the sanctions of the most godly and Christian Emperours Valentinian and Martian doeth not make any mention of the Byshop of Rome although hys consent were there Wherfore if the pope would resist and would haue no Councell congregate yet if the greater part of the Church do iudge it necessary to haue a Councel the Councell may be congregate whether the Pope wil or no. The Councel holden at Pisa was not congregate by the authoritie and consent of any Pope when as Gregorie did condemne it and Benedict cursed it The same also may be sayde of the Coūcel of Constance whych was assembled by the authority of Pope Iohn who in respect of the Spaniardes was no true Pope And if the Councell of Pisa were no true Councell Pope Iohn was no true Pope wherupon his consent to the congregating of the Councel of Constance was of no effect Moreouer it is more then folly to affirme that when the pope hath once geuen his consent if it shuld be called backe that the Councel should then cease for then it is no more in his power to reuoke his cōsent And of necessity he must be obedient vnto the Councel wherof he
Parris anno 1260. Petrus Ioannis a Minorite who was burned after hys death anno 1290. Robertus Gallas a Dominicke Frier anno 1291. Robert Grosthead Byshoppe of Lincolne which was called Malleus Romanorum anno 1250. Lord Peter de Cugnerijs anno 1329. To these we may adde more our Gulielmus Ockam Bongratius Bergomensis Luitpoldus Andraeas Laudensis Vlricus Hangenor Treasurer to the Emperour Ioannes de Ganduno anno 1330. mentioned in the Extrauagantes Andraeas de Castro Buridianus Euda Duke of Burgundy who counselled the french king not to receiue the new found constitutions and extrauagantes of the Pope into his realme Dante 's Alligerius an Italian who wrote agaynst the Pope Monkes and Fryers and agaynst the donation of Constantine anno 1330. Taulerus a Germayne preacher Conradus Hager imprisoned for preaching agaynst the Masse an 1339. The author of the booke called Poenitentiarius Asini compiled about the yeare 1343. Michael Cesenas a gray Fryer Petrus de Corbaria with Ioannes de Poliaco mentioned in the Extrauantes and condemned by the Pope Ioannes de Castilione with Franciscus de Arcatara who were burned about the yeare of our Lord. 1322. Ioannas Rochtaylada otherwise called Haybalus with an other Frier martyred about the yeare 1346. Franciscus Petrarcha who called Rome the whore of Babilon c. an 1350. Georgius Ariminensis an 1350 Ioannes de Rupe Scissa emprisoned for certayne prophesies against the Pope an 1340. Gerhardus Ridder who also wrote against Monks and Friers a book called Lacryma Ecclesiae an 1350. Godfridus de Fontanis Gulielmus de Landuno Ioannes Monachus Cardini Armachanus Nicholaus Orem preacher an 1364. Militzius a Bohemian which then preached that Antichrist was come and was excommunicate for the same an 1366. Iacobus Misnensis Mathias Parisiensis a Bohemian borne and a writer against the Pope an 1370. Ioannes Mountziger Rector of the Vniuersitie of Vlme anno 1384. Nilus Arch. of Thessalonica Henricus de â—ota Henricus de Hassia c. I do but recite the principall writers and preachers in those dayes Howe many thousandes there were which neuer bowed their knees to Baall that is knowne to God alone Of whome wee finde in the writings of one Brushius that xxxvi Citizens of Maguntia were burned an 1390. Who following the doctrine of the Waldenses affirmed the Pope to be the great Antichrist Also Massaeus recordeth of one hundred and fourty which in the prouince of Narbon were put to the fire for not receiuing the decretalles of Rome besides them that suffered at Paris to the number of xxiiij at one time anno 1210. and the next yeare after were foure hundred brent vnder the names of Heretiques Besides also a certayne good Heremite an Englishman of whome mention is made in Iohn Bacon Dist. 2. Quest. 1. who was committed for disputing in Paules Church agaynst certaine Sacramentes of the Church of Rome an 1306. To discend now somewhat lower in drawing out the discent of the Churche What a multitude here commeth of faythfull witnesses in the time of Iohn Wickleffe as Ocliffe Wickliffe an 1376. W. Thorp White Puruey Patshall Payne Gower Chaucer Gascoyne WilliaÌ„ Swinderby Walter Brute Roger Dexter William Sautry about the yeare 1400. Iohn Badby an 1410. Nicholaus Tayler Rich. Wagstaffe Mich. Scriuener William Smith Iohn Henry W. Parchmenar Roger Goldsmith with an Ancresse called Mathilde in the Citie of Leicester Lord Cobham Syr Roger Acton knight Iohn Beuerley preacher Iohn Husse Hierome of Prage Scholemaister with a number of faithfull Bohemians and Thaborites not to be told with whoÌ„ I might also adioyne Laurentius Valla and Ioannes Picus the learned Earle of Mirandula But what do I stand vpon recitall of names which almost are infinite Wherfore if any be so farre beguiled in his opinion to thinke the doctrine of the church of Rome as it now standeth to be of such antiquitie that the same was neuer impugned before the time of Luther and Zuinglius now of late let him read these histories or if he thinke the sayd historie not to be of sufficient credite to alter his perswasion let him peruse the Actes and Statutes of Parliamentes passed in this realme of auncient time and therein consider and conferre the course of times where he may finde and read An. 5. Regis Richardi 2. in the yeare of our Lord. 1380. of a great nuÌ„ber which there be called euill persons goyng about from town to town in freese gownes preaching vnto the people c. which preachers although the wordes of the Statute do terme there to be dissembling persons preaching dyuers Sermons contayning heresies notorious errours to the emblemishment of Christen faith of holy Church c. as the words do there pretend yet notwithstanding euery true Christian reader may conceaue of those Preachers to teache no other doctrine then nowe they heare theyr owne Preachers in Pulpits Preache agaynst the Bishoppe of Rome and the corrupte heresies of his Churche Furthermore he shall finde likewise in Statut. An. 2. Henr. 4. Cap. 15. in the yeare of our Lord. 1402. another lyke company of good Preachers and faythful defenders of true doctrine agaynst blynd heresie and errour Whom albeit the wordes of the Statute there through corruption of that time do falsely terme to be false and peruerse Preachers vnder dissembled holines teaching in those dayes openly and priuely new doctrines and hereticall opinions contrary to the faythe and determination of holy Churche c. yet notwithstanding whosoeuer readeth histories and conferreth the order and discent of times shall vnderstand these to be no false teachers but saythfull witnesses of the truth not teaching any newe doctrines contrary to the determination of holy Church But rather shall finde that Churche to be vnholy which they Preached agaynst teaching rather it selfe hereticall opinions contrary both to antiquitie and veritie of Christes true Catholicke Churche Of the lyke number also or greater of lyke true faythfull fauourers and followers of Gods holy worde we find in the yeare of our Lord. 14â—2 specified in a letter sent from Henry Chichesley Archbishop of Canterbury to Pope Martin 5. in the fift yeare of his Popedome where mention is made of so many here in Engand infected as he sayde with the heresies of Wickleffe and Husse that without force of any army they could not be suppressed c. Whereupon the Pope sent two Cardinals to the Archbishop to cause a tenth to be gathered of all spirituall and Religious men and the money to be layde in the chamber Apostolicke and if that were not sufficient the residue to bee made vppe of Chalices Candlestickes and other implementes of the Churche c. What shall neede then any more witnes to proue this matter when you see so many yeares agoe whole armyes and multitudes thus standing agaynst the Pope who thoughe they bee termed here for heretickes and schismatickes yet in that which they call heresie serued they the
cities which cause being outward carnall was neither then cause sufficient and now ceasing importeth not to vs the like effect according as they say Sublata causa tollitur effectus So that by the reason therof the foresaid principallitie of the church of Rome did not hold then iure diuino sed humano And as it holdeth by mans law so by mans law may be repealed againe Wherfore be it admitted that both the Pope sitteth and succedeth in the chaire of Peter and also that he is the Bishop of the greatest citie in the world yet it followeth not therby that he should haue rule and lordship ouer all other bishops and churches of the world For first touching the succession of Peter many things are to be considered First whether Peter sate and had his chaire in Rome or not Secondly whether he sate there as an Apostle or as a Bishop Thirdly whether the sitting in the outward seate of Peter maketh successour of Peter Fourthly whether he sitteth in the chaire seat of Peter which sitteth not in the doctrine of Peter Fiftly whether the succession of Peter maketh rather an Apostle then a Bishop so should we call the Pope the Apostle of Rome and not the bishop of Rome Sixtly whether Ecclesiasticall functions ought to be esteemed by ordinarie succession of place or by Gods secret calling or sending Seuenthly and lastly whether it stand by Scripture any succession at all to be pointed in Christes Church or why more from Peter then from other Apostles All which Interrogatories being wel discussed which would aske a long proces it should wel appeare what litle hold the Pope hath to take this state vpon him aboue all other Churches as he doth In the meane tyme this one argument by the way may suffice in stead of many for our aduersaries to answer to at their conuenient leisure Which argument thus I forme and frame in Camestres Ca All the true successors of Peter sit in the chaire of the doctrine of Peter and other Apostles vniformly me No Popes of this latter Church of Rome sitte in the chaire of Saint Peters and other Apostles doctrine vniformely stres Ergo no Popes of this latter church of Rome be the true successors of Peter And when they haue well perused the Minor of this argument and haue well conferred together the doctrine taught them of S. Peter with the doctrine taught now by the Popes of iustification of a Christen man of the office of the law of the strength and largenes of sinne of mens merites of free will of works of supererogation of setting vp images of vij Sacramentes of auricular confession of satisfaction of sacrifice of the Masse of communicating vnder one kinde of eleuating and adoring the Sacramentall elements of Latine seruice of inuocation of prohibitiō of meates and mariage of vowing chastitie of sectes rules of diuers religions of indulgences and pardōs also with their doctrine taught now of magistrates of the fulnes of power and regalitie of the sea of Rome with many other like to these c. then will I be glad to heare what they wil say to the premisses Secondly if they would proue by the allegation of the Doctours Irenaeus Ambrose Augustine Theodoritus aforesaid the Bishop of Rome to bee the chiefe of all Bishops therfore because the citie wherof he is bishop is the chiefe and principall aboue all other Churches that consequent is to be denied For it followeth not taking as I said the principallitie of that church to stand 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is vpon the principal dominion of that citie no more then this consequent followeth London is the chiefe Citie in all England Ergo the bishop of London is the chiefest of all bishops in the Realme Which argument were derogatory to the bishop both of Canterbury and of Yorke Yea to graunt yet more to but aduersaries which is all they can require the minde of the foresaid Doctours Irenaeus Ambrose Augustine and Theodoritus in giuing principallitie vnto Rome to haue respect vnto the vertue of inscession from Peter and not vnto the greatnes of the Citie yet notwithstanding for all this their argument holdeth not if it be rightly considered to say The Apostolicall Sea of Rome hauing successiō from Peter with the bishops therof was chief then of all other churches in the primitiue tyme of these Doctours Ergo the Apostolicall sea of Rome with the Bishops therof hauing successiō from Peter ought now to be chiefe of all other churches in these our dayes This consequent might well follow if the tymes were like or if succession which gaue them the cause of principallitie were the same now which was then But now the time and succession is not correspondent for then succession in the time of these Doctours was as well in doctrine Apostolicall as in place Apostolicall Now the succession of doctrine Apostolicall hath not long ceased in the sea Apostolicall and nothing remaineth but onely place which is the lest matter of true spirituall and Apostolical succession And thus much to the authoritie and testimonie of these forenamed Doctors Besides these obiections heretofore recited out of Irenaeus Ambrose Augustine and Theodoritus our aduersaries yet obiect and heape vp against vs moreouer examples of the primitiue time of the church testimonies of generall Councels and opinions of auncient writers taken out of the booke of Councels Epistles decretall wherby their intent is to prooue the foresayd termes of the head of the church ruler of the church chiefe of all other Priestes to bee applied not onely to Peter but also to the Bishop of Rome within the compasse of the primitiue time And here commeth in the testimonie cited of Vincentius Lirinensis Of the Epistle of Paschasius and his fellowes writing to Leo from the Councel of Chalcedon The testimonie also of Iustinian the Emperour in his Codex where Ioannes then Pope was called caput omnium Ecclesiarum Epist. inter claras cap. De summa Trinit fide Cath. The testimonie also of Athanasius with his fellow bishops of Egypt of Thebaida and Libia in their Epistles to Pope Marcius Liberius Felix Likewise the testimonie of Hierome In praef in 4. Euang. Item Epist. 42. Tom. 1. Item Epist. 41. Tom. 2. Of S. Ambrose 1. Tim 3. Of S. Augustina to Boniface Ad Bonifac. contra duas Epist Pelagian Lib. 1. cap. 1. Item Lib. 2. De Baptism cap. 1. Of Theodoritus in his Epistle to Pope Leo. Epist Commentar in Pauli Epist. praefixa Of Chrysostome Epist ad Innocentium Tom. 5. c. By which testimonies our aduersaries would prooue S. Peter and after him the Bishop of Rome to be called and taken for head of the church chiefe bishop prince and ruler of the whole Clergy To all which obiections fully and exactly to aunswer in order would require a whole volume by it selfe In the meane time leauing the rest vnto them vnto whom it doth more
wherein they haue made manifest defection from the old faith of Rome as in depriuing the Church of one kinde of the Sacrament in taking from the people the knowledge and reading of Gods word in praying and speaking to the people and administring sacramentes in a tongue vnknowne in mistaking the authoritie of the keyes in their vnwritten verities in making the authority of scripture insufficient in vntrue iudgement of the Churche and the wrong notes of the same in the supremacy of the sea of Rome in their wrong opinion of Antichrist But because these with all other partes of doctryne are more copiously and at large comprehended in other bookes both in Latine and Englishe set foorth in these our dayes I shall not need further herein to trauell especially seeing the contrariety betweene the Popes Church and the Church of Christ betweene the doctrine of the one and doctrine of the other is so euident that he is blind that seeth it not and hath no handes almost that feeleth it not For briefely in one note to comprehende which may suffice for all where as the doctrine of Christ is altogether spirituall consisting wholy in spirite and veritie and requireth no outwarde thing to make a true Christen man but onely Baptisme which is the outwarde profession of fayth and receauing the Lordes supper let vs now examine the whole religion of this latter Church of Rome and we shall finde it wholy from toppe to toe to consist in nothing els but altogether in outwarde and ceremoniall exercises as outward confession absolution at the Priests hand outward sacrifice of the Masse buying of pardons purchasing of obites externe worshipping of Images and reliques pilgrimage of this place or that building of Churches founding of Monasteries outward workes of the law outwarde gestures garments colours choise of meates difference of times and places peculiar rytes and obseruauncies set prayers and number of prayers prescribed fasting of vigiles keeping of holidayes comming to Church hearing of seruice externe succession of Bishops and of Peters sea externe forme and notes of the Church c. so that by this religion to make a true Christian and a good Catholike there is no working of the holy Ghost almost required As by example to make this matter more demonstrable let vs here define a Christen man after the Popes making whereby we may see the better what is to be iudged of the scope of his doctrine A Christen man after the Popes making defined AFter the Popes Catholike Religion a true Christen man is thus defined first to be baptised in the Latine tongue where the Godfathers professe they can not tell what then confirmed by the Byshop the Mother of the childe to be purified After he be growen in yeares then to come to the Church to keepe his fasting dayes to fast the Lent to come vnder benedicite that is to be confessed of the Priest to doe his penance at Easter to take his rites to heare Masse and diuine seruice to set vppe candels before Images to creepe to the Crosse to take holy bread and holy water to go on processiō to cary his palmes candle and to take ashes to fast the Ember daies Rogation daies vigiles to keepe the holy dayes to pay his tithes and offeringe daies to go on pilgrimage to buy pardons to worship his maker ouer the Priestes head to receaue the Pope for his supreame head and to obey his lawes to receaue S. Nicolas Clerks to haue his beades to giue to the high altar to take orders if he will be Priest to saye his Mattens to sing his Masse to lift vp fayre to keepe his vow and not to marry When he is sicke to be anneeld and take the rites of holy Church to be buried in the church yard to be rong for to be song for to be buried in a Fryers coule to finde a soule Priest c. All which pointes being obserued who can denie but this is a deuoute man and a perfecte Christian Catholike and sure to be saued as a true faithfull childe of the holye mother Church Now looke vpon this definition and tell me good reader what faith or spirite or what working of the holye Ghost in all this doctrine is to be required The grace of our Lord Iesus giue the true light of his Gospell to shine in our hartes Amen 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ¶ The first booke contayning the 300. yeares next after Christ. THese things before premised hauing thus hitherto prepared the way vnto our story let vs nowe by the grace and speede of Christ our Lord enter into the matter that as we haue heretofore set forth in a generall descriptiō the whole state as wel of the primitiue as of the latter times of this Church of Rome so now consequently to discourse in particular sort the Actes and doings of euery age by it selfe in such order as is afore prefixed First to declare of the suffering time of the Church which conteineth about the time of three hundreth yeares after Christ. Secondly the florishing growing time of the same conteyning other 300. yeares Thirdly the declining time of the Church and of true Religion other 300. yeares Fourthly of the time of Antichrist raigning raging in the Church since the loosing of Sathan Lastly of the reforming time of Christes Church in these latter 300. yeares In the tractation of all which things our chiefe purpose and indenor shal be so neare as the Lord will giue vs grace not so much to intermedle with outward affaires of Princes or matters ciuile except somtime for example of life as specially minding by the helpe of the Lorde to prosecute such thinges which to the Ecclesiasticall state of the Church are appertaining as first to entreat of the stablishing of Christian faith then of the persecutions of tyraunts the constancy and patience of Gods Saintes the first conuersion of Christen Realmes to the faith of Christ namely of this Realme of England Scotland first beginning with king Lucius and so forwarde following the order of our English kings here in this land to declare the maintenaunce of true doctrine the false practise of Prelates the creping in of superstition and hipocrisie the manifold assaultes warres and tumults of the princes of this world against the people of God Wherein may appeare the wonderfull operation of Christes mightie hand euer working in his church neuer ceasing to defend the same against his enimies according to the verity of his owne word promising to be with his Church while the worlde shal stand so as by the proces of this story may welbe proued and be testified in the sequell thereof In the traction of all which things 2. especiall pointes I chiefly commend to the reader as most requisite and nenessary of euery Christen man to obserue to note for his owne experience and profite as first the disposition nature of this worlde secondly the nature
Philadelphia suffered Martyrdome at Smyrna which Policarpus specially aboue the rest is had in memory so that hee in all places among the Gentiles is most famous And this was the ende of this worthy disciple of the Apostles Whose hystory the brethren of the congregation at Smyrna haue wrytten in this their Epistle as is aboue recited Iraeneus in his 3. booke against heresies the 3 chap. and Eusaebius in his 4. booke and 14. chap. of his Ecclesiasticall history reporteth this worthy saying of Poticarpus This Policarpus sayth hee meeting at a certeine time Martion the heretick who said vnto him doest thou not know me made answere I know that thou art the first begotten of Sathan So great feare what euil might ensue therof had the Disciples of the Apostles that they would not speake to them whom they knew to be the deprauers of the verytie euen as Paule saith The hereticke after the first and second admonition shonne and auoyd Knowing that he which is such one is peruerse or frowarde and damneth himselfe This most holy confessour and Martyr of Christ Policarpus suffered death in the fourth persecution after Nero when Marcus Antonius and Lucius Aurelius Commodus raigned an Dom. 167. as Vrsperg affirmeth an 170. as Eusebius witnesseth in his Chronicles the 7. before the Calendes of Februarie Of Germanicus mention is made aboue in the storye of Policarpus of whome writeth Eusebius Lib. 4. cap. 15. notyng him to be a younge man and most constantly to perseuere in the profession of Christes doctrine whom wheÌ„ the Proconsul went about to perswade to remember his age and to fauor him selfe being in the floure of his age he woulde nor be allured but constaÌ„tly and boldly and of his owne accorde incited and prouoked the wild beast to come vpon him and to deuour him to be deliuerd more spedely out of this wretched life Haec Eusebius an 170. Thus haue you heard out of the Epistle of the brethren of Smyrna the whole order and liâ—e of Policarpus wherby it may appeare that he was a very aged maÌ„ who had serued Christ lxxxvj yeares since the first knowledge of him and serued also in the ministery about the space of 70. yeares This Policarpus was the schooler and hearer of Iohn the Euangelist and was placed by the sayde Iohn in Smyrna Of him also Ignatius maketh mention in his Epistle which he wrote in his iourney to Rome going toward his martyrdome and commended to him the gouernement of hys Church at Antioch whereby it appeareth that Policarpus then was in yâ— ministery Likewise Iraeneus writeth of the sayd Policarpus after this maner He alwaies taught sayd he those things which he learned of the Apostles leauing them to the Church and are onely true Wherevnto also at the Churches that be in Asia and all they which succeeded after Policarpus to this day beareth witnes And the same Irenaeus witnesseth also that the sayd Policarpus wrote an Epistle to the Phillipians which whether it be the same that is now extant and read in the name of Policarpus it is doubted of some notwithstanding in the sayd Epistle diuers things are founde very holesome and Apostolicke as where he teacheth of Christ of iudgement and of the resurrection Also he writeth of faith very worthily thus declaryng that by grace we are saued and not by works but in the will of God by Iesus Christ. In Eusebius we reade in like maner a part of an Epistle written by Irenaeus to Florinus wherin is declared how that the said Irenaeus being yet yong was with Policarpus in Asia at what time he saw well remembred what Policarpus did and the place where he sat teaching his whoâ—e order of life and proportion of his body with the sermons wordes which he said to the people And furthermore he perfectly remembred howe that the saide Policarpus often times reported vnto him those thinges which hee learned and heard them speake of the Lord his dooinges power and doctrine who heard the worde of life with their owne eares all which were more consonant and agreable to the holy Scripture Thus with much more hath Irenaeus concerning Policarpus Hierome also writing of the same Policarpus hath howe he was in great estimation throughout all Asia for that he was scholer to the Apostles and to them which did see and were conuersant with Christ himselfe whereby it is to be coniectured his authority to be much not onely with them of his owne Church but wyth all other Churches about him Ouer and besides it is witnessed by the sayd Irenaeus that Policarpus came to Rome in the time of Anicetus Byshop of Rome about the yere of our Lord. 157. in yâ— raigne of Antoninus Pius whose cause of his comming thether appeareth to be about the controuersie of Easterday wherin the Asians and the Romanes somthing disagreed amonge theÌ„selues And therfore the said Policarpus in the behalfe of the brethren and Church of Asia tooke his long iourneye thether to come and conferre with Anicetus Wherof wryteth also Nicephorus Lib. 4. declaring that Policarpus and Anicetus something varied in opinions and iudgement about that mater And that notwithstanding yet both freÌ„dly communicated either with the other insomuch that Anicetus in his Church gaue place to Policarpus to minister the Communion and Sacrament of the Lordes Supper for honour sake which may be a notable testimony now to vs that the doctrine concerning the free vse and liberty of ceremonies was at that time retained in the church without any offence of stomacke or breach of Christian peace in the Church This Policarpus as is aboue mentioned suffered his Martyrdome euen in his owne Church at Smyrna where he had laboured so many yeares in planting of the Gospel of Christ which was about the yeare of our Lorde 170. as Eusebius rekoneth in his Chronicle and in the 7. yeare of Antoninus Verus his raigne wherby it appeareth that Socrates in Historia tripartita was much deceaued saying that Policarpus suffered in the time of Gordianus In this fourth persecution beside Policarpus and other mentioned before we read also in Eusebius of diuers other who at the same time likewise did suffer at Smyrna Ouer and besides in the said persecution suffered moreouer Metrodorus a ministrr who was giuen to the fier so consumed An other was worthy Pionius which after much boldnes of speeche with his Apologies exhibited his sermons made to the people in the defence of christian sayth and after much reheuyng and comforting of such as were in prisons and otherwise discoÌ„forted at last was put to cruell torments and afflictions then giuen likewise to the fire so finished his blessed martyrdome After these also suffered Carpus Papylus and Agathonyca a woman who after their most constaunt and worthye confessions were put to death at Pergamopolis in Asia witnessing Eusebius Lib. 4 cap 7.
whereof the occasion beyng taken onely of the Iewes the slaunder therof therfore he prooueth to be falsly and wroÌ„gfully laid to the charge of the Christians And likewise against all other lies and slaunders obiected of the Heathen against the Christians the sayd Tertullian purgeth the Christians declaring them falsly to be belied wrongfully persecuted not for any defect of theirs but only for the hatred of their name And yet notwithstaÌ„ding by the same persecutions he prooueth in the same Apologie the religion of the christians nothing to be empaired but rather encreased The more saith he we are mowen doune of you the moe rise vp The bloud of Christians is seede For what man sayth he in beholding the painfull torments and the perfect patience of them will not search and inquire what is in the cause And when he hath found it out who will not agree vnto it And when he agreeth to it who will not desire to suffer for it Thus faith he this sect will neuer die which the more it is cutdoune the more it groweth For euery man seing and wondring at the sufferance of the Saints is mooued the more therby to search the cause in searching he findeth it and in finding he followeth it Tertul in eodem Apolog. Thus Tertullian in this daungerous tyme of persecution being stirred vp of God defended the innoceÌ„cie of the Christians against the blasphemy of the aduersaries and moreouer for the instruction of the church compiled many fruitfull workes whereof some are extant some are not to be found Notwithstanding the great learning famous vertues of this worthy maÌ„ certaine errors and blemishes are noted in his doctrine as were before both of Origine Irenaeus and likewise of them were they neuer so excellent that followed them Which errors all here in order to note and comprehend were too long a matter for this story to prosecute This by the way shall be sufficient to admonish the Reader neuer to looke for any such perfection of any man in this world how singular so euer he be Christ onely excepted but some blemishe or other ioyneth himselfe withall whereof more perchaunce shall be sayd when we come to Cyprian And now to returne agayne to the order of bishops of Rome intermitted after Eleutherius afore mentioned next in the bishoprike of Rome succeded Victor who as Platina sayth died quietly in the dayes of Seuerus But Damasus Supplementum Lib. 8. and such as folow the common Chronicles affirme that he died a Martyr after he had sitten x. or as some say xij yeares This Victor was a great styrreâ— as partly before is signified in the controuersie and contention of Easterday For the which he would haue proceded in excommunication against the churches of Asia had not Irenaeus then bishop of Lions with the counsaile of other his brethren there asseÌ„bled repressed his intended violence As touching that coÌ„trouersie of Easter in those dais of the primitiue Church the originall thereof was this as Eusebius Socrates Platina and other record First certain it is that the Apostles onely being intentiue and attendaunt to the doctrine of saluation gaue no heed nor regard to the obseruation of dayes times neither bound the Church to any ceremoniâ—s and rites except those things necessary mentioned in the Actes of the Apostles as strangled and bloud which was ordayned then of the holy Ghost notwithout a most vrgent and necessary cause touched partly in the history before For when the murdering and bloud of Infants was commonly obiected by the Heathen perseâ—utors agaynst the Christians they had no other argumeÌ„t to help theÌ„selues nor to refell the aduersarie but only their own law by the which they were commauÌ„ded to abstaine not onely from all mens bloud but also from the bloud of all coÌ„mon beastes And therefore that law seemeth by the holy Ghost to be geuen also to the same end continued in the Church so long as the cause that is the persecutions of the Heathen Gentiles continued Beside these we read of no other ceremonies or rites which the Apostles greatly regarded but left such things free to the libertie of Christians euery man to vse therein his own discretion for the vsing or not vsing thereof Whereupon as concerning all the ceremoniall obseruations of dayes tymes places meates drinks vestures and such other of all these things neither was the diuersitie among men greatly noted nor any vniformitie greatly required In so much that Irenaeus writing to Victor of the tradition of dayes and of fastings and of the diuersitie of these things then vsed among the primitiue fathers saith Nihilo tamen minus omnes Illi pacem inter se retinuerunt retinemus etiamnuÌ„ leiunij dissonantia fidei concordiam commendat c. That is Notwithstanding all this varietie all they kept peace among themselues yet we keepe it still and this difference of fasting among vs commendeth more the concord of faith And so long did the doctrine of Christian libertie remaine whole sounde in the Church till the tyme of Victor which was about the yeare of our Lord 200. Although the diuersitie of these vsages began something before also in the dayes of Pius and Anicetus about the yere of our Lord 163. to be misliked yet restraint hereof was not so much vrged before as in the tune of Victor And yet neither did the violeÌ„ce of Victor take such place but that the doctrine of Christian libertie was defended and maintained by meanes of Irenaeus and other and so continued in the Church till after the Councell of Nice And thus much concerning the doctrine of Christian libertie of the differences of rites and ceremonies Now to returne to Victor agayne to shew what diuersitie there was in obseruing the day of Easter and how it came thus is the story First in the tyme of Pius and Anicetus an 163. the questioÌ„ of Easter day began first to be moued at what tyme Pius by the reuelation of Hermes decreed the obseruatioÌ„ of that day to be chaunged from the wonted maner of the 14. day of the moone in the first moneth vnto the next Sonday after After him came Anicetus Soter and Eleutherius Bishops of Rome which also determined the same Agaynst these stode Melito Bishop of Sardis Polycarpus and as some thinke Egesippus with other learned men of Asia which Polycarpus being sent by the brethren of Asia came to Rome as is aforesayd to coÌ„ferre with Anicetus in that matter wherin when they could not agree after long debating yet notwithstanding they did both coÌ„municate together with reuereÌ„ce departed in peace And so the celebration of Easterday remained Adiaphoron as a thing indifferent in the Church till the time of Victor Who folowing after Anicetus and hys fellowes and chiefly stirring in this matter endeuoured by all meanes and might to draw or rather subdue the Churches of Asia vnto hys opinion thinking moreouer to
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
sunne beames Item in making whole the altarstone of Marble brought from Rome Ite in drawing a length one of the timber peces which wente to the building of the temple in Malmesbery Item in sauing the Mariners at douer c. As concerning these and such other myracles which William Malmesbery to hym attributeth I can not consent to him therein but thynke rather the same to be Monkishe deuises forged vpon their Patrons to maintaine the dignitie of their Houses And as the Authour was deceaued no doubt in beleuing such fables himselfe so maye he likewise deceaue vs through the dexteritie of his style and fyne handling of the matter but that father experience hath taught the worlde nowe a dayes more wisedome in not beleuing such practises this Aldelmus was Byshoppe of Schyrborne which sea after was vnited to the sea of Winton In which Church of Winchester the like miracles also are to be read of Byshop Adelwod and S. Swithune whom they haue canonized likewise for a Saint Moreuer neare about the xxv yeare of Iue by the report of Bede S. Iohn of Beuerley which was then Byshop of Yorke died and was buried at the porche of the Minster of Deirwod or Beuerley In the which portch it is recorded in some Chronicles that as the said Iohn vpon a time was praying being in the portch of S. Michaell in Yorke the holy Ghost in the similitude of a Doue sat before him vpon the altar in brightnes shining aboue the sunne This brightnes being sene of other first commeth one of his Deacons running vnto the portche who beholding the Bishop their standing in his praiers and all the place replenished with the holy ghost was strokeÌ„ with the light therof hauing al his face burnt as it were with hote burning fire Notwithstanding the Bishop by and by cured the face of his Deacon againe charging him as the storye saith not to publishe what hee had seene duryng hys lyfe time c. which tale semeth as true as that we read about the same time done of S. Egwyne in Polychron Abbot of Eusham and Byshop of Worcester then called Wyctes who vpon a time when he had fettered both his feete Inyrons fast locked for certaine sinnes done in his youth and had cast the key therof in the sea afterward a fish brought the key againe into the ship as he was saying homeward from Rome But to leaue these Monkishe phantasies and returne into the right course againe of the story In the time of this foresaide Iue began first the right obseruing of the Easter day to be kept of the Pictes and of the Britaines In the obseruation of which day as is largely set foorth in Bede and Polychron Lib. 5. cap. 17. and 22. three thinges are necessary to be obserued the full Moone of the first Moneth that is of the month of March Secondly the Dominical Letter Thirdly the Equinoctiall day which Equinoctiall was wont to be counted in the East church and especially among the Egiptians to bee about the 17. daye of Marche So that the full Moone either vppon the Equinoctiall day or after the Equinoctiall day being obserued the next dominicall day following that full moone is to be taken for Easter day Wherin is diligeÌ„tly to be noted two thinges First the fulnes of the Moone must be perfectly ful so that it be the beginning of the third weke of the mooue which is the 14. or 15. day of the moone Secondly is to be noted that the said perfect fulnes of the moone beginnyng the thirde weeke must happen either in the very euening of the Equinoctial day or after the Equinoctial day For els if it happen either on the Equinoctiall day before the euening or before the Equinoctial day then it belongeth to the last moneth of the last yeare and not to the first moneth of the first yeare and so serueth not to be obserued This rite and vsage in keping Easter day being receiued in the Latin church began now to take place amoÌ„g the Pictes Britaines through the busie trauaile of Theodorus Cuthlacus but namelye of Elbert the holy Monke as they terme him and of Colfrid Abbot of Sirwin in Northumberlande which wrote to Narcanus or Naitonus the King of Pictes concerning the same who also among other thinges writeth of the shauen crownes of Priestes saying that it was as necessary for the vow of a MoÌ„ke or degre of a Priest to haue a shauen crowne for restrainte of their lustes as for any Christen man to blesse him against spirits when they come vpon him Bede Lib. 5. The coppy of which letter as it is in Bede I haue here annexed not for any great reason therin conteined but only to delite the Reader with some pastime in seing the fond ignorance of that Monkish age the copy of the letter thus proceedeth ¶ Of the shauing of Priestes out of the fift booke of Beda the xxi chap. COncerning the shauing of Priests wherof you wryte also vnto me I exhort you that it be decently obserued according to the Christian faith We are not ignorant that the Apostles were not al shauen after one maner neither doth the Catholicke Church at this day agree in one vniforme maner of shauing as they do in faith hope and charity Let vs consider the former time of the Patriarches and we shall finde that Iob an example of patience euen in the very point of his afflictions did shaue his head and he proueth also that in the time of his prosperitye he vsed to let his heare grow And Ioseph an excellent Doctour executor of chastity humilitie pietie and other vertues wheÌ„ he was deliuered out of prison seruitude was shauen wherby it appeareth that whilst he abode in prisoÌ„ he was vnshauen Behold doth these being men of god did vse an order in the habite of their body one contrary to the other whose consciences notwithstanding within did wel agree in the like grace of vertues But to speake truely and â—rely the difference of shauing hurteth not such as haue a pure faith in the Lord sincere charity towardes their neighbor especially for that there was neuer any controuersie amongst the Catholike fathers about the diuersitie thereof as there hath beene of the difference of the celebration of Easter and of faith But of all these shauinges that wee fynde either in the Churche or els where there is none in mine opinion so much to be followed embraced as that which he vsed on his head to whoÌ„ the Lord said thou art Peter and vpon this rocke I will builde my Church and the gates of hel shall not preuaile against it I will gyue thee the keyes of the kingdome of heauen And contrarywise there is no shauing so much to be abhorred and detested as that which he vsed to whom the same S. Peter said thy money bee with thee to thy destruction because thou
and Antoninus who in playne termes likewyse report the same Nowe hauing sayd the foundation for the truth and ground of this matter let vs come to examine how truely our latter writers do say which write that Editha and not Edward was the child for whom Dunstane enioined to the king 7. yeares penaunce and also how truely they report Edward to be a lawfull heyre and Elflede to bee a lawfull wyfe to king Edgar For first touching Editha this is confessed by the sayd writers themselues that she was of good yeares at what tyme Edgar her father was enioyned his penaunce After the which seuen yeares of his penaunce expyred he lyued at the most but in yeares and a halfe Which seuen yeares and 3. yeares and a halfe make in all but x. yeres a halfe But now the said authors themselues do graunt that she was made Abbas by her father he beyng then alyue And how can this then stand with her Legend which sayth that she was not lesse then 15. yeares of age By which account it must needes fall out that she could not be so little as v. yeres old before the birth of that chyld for whom the kyng did penaunce And thus much touching Editha Now in like maner to consider of the tyme of Edward First this by all writers is graunted that he was slayne in the 15. yeare of his age Which yeares do well agree to that chyld which king Edgar begate in bastardy for the which he did hys penance For the more euidence whereof let vs come to the supputation of yeares in this sort First the penaunce of the king after the byrth of this child lasted 7. yeres Then the king after the same lyued 3. yeres a halfe After whose death Edward raigned other 3. yeres and a half which in all make the full summe of 14. yeres About the count of which age the said Edward goyng on his 15. yeres by their owne reckoning was slaine And thus haue ye by manifest demonstration prooued by the right casting of the yeres after their owne graunt rekoning that Editha daughter of Wlfride in no case can be the child which was borne after Edward for whom the king was enioyned penance but that Edward rather was borne after Editha and was the childe for whom the penance was enioined contrary to the opinion commōly receiued in the church which for ignorance of the story hath hetherto holden Edward to be an holy Martyr and right heyre vnto the crowne Which error and opinion how it first sprang and by whom albeit it pertaine not to my story to discusse yet were it no hard matter to coniecture First after that Dunstane and Oswolde wyth other Bishops Abbots and certayne Lordes Dukes of that faction for the maintenaunce of Monkery had aduaunced Edward to be king against Queene Alfrith mother of Ethelred Alferus duke of Mercia and certaine other Nobles which held with the contrary side of the Priestes agaynst the Monkes In processe of tyme the monkes that came after to write stories perceiuing Dunstane to be reputed in the Church of Rome for an holy Saint and the sayd king Edward for an holy Martyr and partly also to bolster vp their owne religion of Monkery so muche as they could to the intent therfore they would saue the credite both of Dunstane and of the kyng and especially bearing fauour to their owne religion and partly that the reputation of the church of Rome should not be disteined by opening the truth of this matter either did not see or would not confesse herein what they knew but rather thought best to blanch the story and colourably to hide the simple truth therof making the people falsly beleue that Elfleda the mother of Edward was wife to king Edgar and Edward to be lawfully borne and also that Editha was born after Edward to be the child for which the king was enioyned penance All which is false and cōtrary both to the order of tyme aboue declared and also to the plaine words of Malmesbury which speaking of king Edgars last concubine sayth in plaine wordes Dilexit vnicè integram lecto vni deferens sidem quoad legitimam vxorem accepit Elfthride filiam Ordgari That is he had a concubine whom he loued entirely keping true faith of his bed to her alone vntil the tyme he maried for his lawfull wife Elfride the daughter of duke Ordgare c. Wherby we haue to vnderstand that whatsoeuer concubine this was which Malmesbury speaketh off certaine it is that Edgar liued in whoredome till tyme he maried his lawfull wyfe Furthermore and finally to conclude beside these arguments and allegations aboue recited let this also be perpended how the said Dunstan with his complices after the killing of king Edward leauing the right heyre of the crowne which was Ethelred went about as Capgraue and their owne Legend cōfesseth to set vp Editha the other bastarde to possesse the crowne but that she more wise then her brother Edward refused the same Wherby what is to be thought of the doyngs of Dunstane and what should be the cause why hee preferred both Edward and Editha to the crowne rather then the lawfull heyre I leaue to all indifferent Readers therof to iudge After that Dunstane and his fellowes had thus set vp Edward for their king they were now where they would be supposing all to be sure on their side and that they had established the kingdom of Monkery for euer through the helpe of the young king and the Duke of Eastangles and certaine other nobles whom they had drawn to their part Howbeit this matter passed not so wel with them as they hoped For shortly after the coronation of this yong king Alferus duke of Mercia who folowed much the deedes of the Queene with other great men stoutly standing on the contrary side droue out the Monkes from the Cathedrall churches which king Edgar before had set in and restored agayne the Priests as Ranulphus sayth with their concubines but in the historie of the Librarie of Iornall I find it plainly expressed with their wiues The wordes of the very author be these Alferus princeps Merciorum caeterique plures eiectis monachis de magnis monasterijs quos rex Edgarus nuper instituerat clericos cum vxoribus reduxerunt That is Alterus duke of Mercia with other great men mo droue out the Monkes from the great monasteries whom king Edgar had there set in before restored againe the priests with their wyues Wherby it doth euidently appeare that priests in those dayes were maried and had their lawfull wiues The like before that in king Inas tyme is plaine that Bishops then had wiues and children as appeareth by the words of the lawe then set forth extant in the history of the said Iornalensis which be these Si quis filiolum alterius occidat vel patrinum sit simile cognationi
they tell vs what ye would vs to do or els we will fall vpon you if ye retaine vs longer Then spake one of the yong men to them bidding thē go and plucke downe yonder walles pointing to certayne high wals there nigh to Rome which they did in a moment The yong men crossing them for feare of the spirites scarse recouering thē selues at length came to their maister And it followeth moreouer in the epistle of the sayd Benno to the Cardinals We haue made mention to you before of diuers colledges of the church of Rome which refused to communicate with him As Leo then Archpriest of the Cardinals Benno Vgobaldus Iohannes the Cardinal Peter Chauncellor and Cardinall beyng all instituted before this Hildebrand These three also beyng consecrated by him that is Natro Innocentius and Leo forsoke him cursing the detestable errours which he held In like case Theodinus whom he constituted Archdeacon and other Cardinals mo Ioannes surnamed Primicerius Petrus oblationarius with all that appertayned vnto them sauing one onely man And now when this Hildebrand saw that the bishops also would forsake him he called vnto him the lay men and made them priuy of his counsail thinking thereby to separate the bishops that they should haue no cōference with the Cardinals After that he called together those bishops and beyng garded with bandes of lay men he enforced the bishops partly for feare and partly for his manacing wordes to sweare vnto him that they should neuer disagre vnto that which he would haue done that they should neuer defend the Kynges quarell and that they should neuer fauour or obey the Pope that should in his stead be instituted Which thing beyng done he sent them by meanes of the Prince of Salernites into Campania and thus did he separate them from the company of the Cardinals from the citie of Rome And not onely the bishops but also the Priests of the citie and clarkes of inferior orders as also the laye men he bound by their othes that at no tyme nor for any cause they should condiscend vnto the king As soone as Pope Alexander was dead which dyed somwhat before night the same day contrary to the Canons he was chosen Pope of the laymen But the Cardinals subscribed not to his election For the Canons prescribe vnder payne of cursing that none should be chosen Pope before the third day after the burial of his predecessours But he by sinister meane thus clyming to the seat remoued the Cardinals of the sayd seat from being of the counsail But with what persons he consulted night day Rome well heard and saw And he now puttyng the Cardinals from hys counsaile his lyfe fayth and doctrine no man could accuse or beare witnesse off where as in the Canons is commaunded that in euery place where so euer the Pope is should be with him iij. Cardinals beyng priests ij Deacons because of his Ecclesiasticall testimony and stile of veritie of whiche Canonical decree looke gentle Reader before He violently wrested the sacred scriptures to couer his falshood which kynd of Idolatry how great it is manifestly throughout all the Scripture it appeareth Contrary to the myndes and counsaile of the Cardinals and besides the determinate order of pronouncing iudgement by the Canons he rashly did excommunicate the Emperour beyng in no Synode solemnly accused before The sentence of which excommunication after rehersal of these presents shal also be manifested Christ willing to the which excommunication saith Benno none of the Cardinals would subscribe As soone as he arose out of hys seate papall to excommunicate the Emperour the same seate beyng made but a little before with big tymber sodainly by the appointment of God was rent and shiuered in pieces so that all men might plainly vnderstand what and how great and terrible schismes that lubber had sowne against the Church of Christ agaynst the seat of S. Peter and how cruelly he had dispersed the chayre of Christ in defilyng the lawes of the Church ruling by might and austeritie in that hys so perillous and presumptuous excommunication In the description of the same excommunication he inserteth those things wherin he himselfe erred when he absolued the Emperour being vniustly excommunicate and the bishops also communicating with him to the vttermost thus cutting mangling the vnitie of the Church and those that communicated with them did as much as in him lay to make two churches Also the same bold merchaunt commaunded that the Cardinals should fast to the intent that God would reueale whose opinion was better eyther of the Church of Rome or of Berengarius touching the controuersie of the Lordes body in the Sacrament And hereby he prooued himselfe to be a manifest Infidell for that in the Nicene Councell it is written he that doubteth is an Infidell Further he sought after a signe to establish his fayth concerning the Article of the Lordes body as did Gregory to confirme the womans fayth when the consecrated bread was transubstantiated into the forme of a fleshly finger He also sent two Cardinals Attones and Cunones vnto Anastasie that with the◠Archpriest of the same Church they should begin a fast of three dayes space And that euery of them euery day during those iij. dayes should say ouer the Psalter sing Masses that Christ would shew vnto them some such like signe of his body as he did to the foresayd Gregory which thing they could not see The Emperour was oftentymes woont to goe to S. Maries church in the mount Auentine to pray Hildebrand when he had by his espials searched out and knew all the doyngs of the Emperour caused the place where the Emperour was accustomed eyther standing or prostrate on his face to pray to be marked and for money he hired a naughty pact like himselfe to gather and lay together a heape of great stones directly ouer the place in the vault of the Church where the Emperour would stande that in throwyng the same downe vpon his head he should slay the Emperour About which purpose as the hireling hasted and was busie remouing to the place a stone of great hugenes waight it broke the planke whereon it lay and the hirelyng standyng thereupon both together fell downe from the roofe to the pauement of the church and with the same stone was dasht all in pieces And after the Romaines had vnderstanding of the handlyng of this matter they fastened a rope to one of the feete of this hire lyng and caused him to bee drawen through the streetes of the Citie three dayes together in example of others The Emperour notwithstanding according to his woonted clemencie caused hym to be buried Iohannes the bishop of Portua beyng one of the secret coūsail of Hildebrand came vp into the pulpit of S. Peter amongst other things in the hearing both of the Clergy and people sayd Hildebrand and we haue committed such a fact and so
not long after the messengers being nowe returned from Rome but the king as he had promised sped him into Normādy wher he warring against his brother Robert brought both him the Countrey of Normandie at last vnder his subiection But first meting with Anselmus at the Abbey of Becke he cōuented agreed with him in al such poyntes as the Archb. required As first that all hys Churches which before were made tributarie vnto King William his brother now should remaine free from al tribute Item that he should require nothing of the sayd Churches or Prouinces in the time of the seate being vacant Moreouer concerning such Priestes Ministers as had geuē money to the king for their company w e their wiues it was agreed that they shoulde surcease from all Ecclesiastical function the space of 3. yeeres and the the king shoulde take no more after such maner Item that all such goodes feuitēs and possessions as had bene taken away before frō the Archbyshoppricke should be restored at his comming againe into England c. This Anselmus the stout champion of Poperie superstition after this victorie gotten vpon the King for the which he so long fought with ioy and triumph faileth into England hauing al his Popish requests obtained Where first he flieth like a Lion vpon the maried Priests contrary to the woorde of God diuorsing and punishing that by mans authority which the eternal and almighty God had coupled Next he looketh to them which did holde any Church by farme vnder the king Against Simonie likewise and against them that married within the 7. degree he proceedeth with his full pontificall authoritie Shortly after as king Henry had finished his warre in Normandy with victory returned againe into England about the 6. yere of his raigne Anselme Archbishop of Canterbury by the permission of the king assembled a great Councell at Westminster in London of the Clergie and Prelates of England In the which by the Byshop of Romes authoritie he so wrought with the king that at length albeit as the storie sayth not without great difficultie it was newly cōfirmed and enacted that no temporall man after that day shoulde make inuesture with crosse or with ring or wyth pastoral hoke In this Councel sondry and diuers iniunetions were geuen forth to priests and Deacons as diuers other sinodall acts also by the same Anselme had bene concluded in other Councels before And because heere falleth in mention of the actes Synodall concluded in the time of this Anselme I thought here good to packe them al in one general heape together as I finde them in Malmesburie and in other sondry authors scatteringly recited The first thing decreed by this Anselme in his synodal Councels was touching the fault of Simonic whereby diuers both Byshops and Abbotes as is aforesayd were at the same time deposed And lay men forbidden to coufer any Ecclesiastical promotion Also it was decreed that no Byshop should beare any office in secular mens businesse or meetings And that such should not go apparelled as the lay mē did but shuld haue their vestures decent and mete for religious persons And that in all places they shoulde neuer goe without some to beare witnes of their conuersation Item that no Archdeaconries should be let out to ferme Item that no Archdeacon should be vnder the degree of a Deacon Item that no archdeacon priest deacon subdeacon colligener nor Chanon should from thence forth mary a wife nor yet keepe her if he had bene maried to one before Item that euery subdeacon being vnder the degree of achanon after the profession of chastitie marrying a wife should be subiect to the same rule They ordeined also that a Priest keeping cōpany with his wife shuld be reputed vnlawful and that he shuld say no Masse and if he said Masse it should not be heard They charged that none were admitted to orders from that time forward from the degree of a subdeacon vnlesse he did professe chastitie That Priestes sonnes shoulde not claime by heritage the benefices of their fathers as the custome had alwaies bene before Item that no spiritual person should sit in any secular office as to be procurators or iudges of bloud Item that Priestes shoulde not resort to tauernes or banquets nor sit drinking by the fire side That the garmentes of Priestes shoulde be of one colour and that their shoes should be decent Item that Monkes or any other of the Clergy if they forsooke their order eyther to come againe or to be excommunicate Itē that mē of the clergy should weare broad crownes Item that no tythes should be geuen but to the church Item that no Churches or prebends shold be bought That no new Chapels shoulde be made without consent of the Byshop That no Church should be hallowed before the necessary prouision were made for the priest and for the Church to be mayntayned That Abbots should set forth no men to warre that they must both sleepe eate in the same house with their monkes vnlesse some great necessitie do let Item that Monkes do inioyne no penaunce to anye man without the knowledge of hys Abbot And that their Abbots may geue no licence therein but onely for suche persons whose charge they haue of soule That no monkes should be Godfathers Nor Nūnes Godmothers That Monkes should haue no Lordships to ferme Item that Monkes should take no Churches but by the Byshop neyther should so spoyle and oppresse the churches geuen to them with their rentes that sufficient were not left for the ministers of the same That priuy contract betwene man and women without witnes should not stand but be frustrate if each party doe goe from the contract Item that such as were long heare of the clergy be so roūded that part of their eare appeare and that their eyes be not couered Item that there be no matrimoniall copulation wtin the vij degree of kindered nor so to cōtinue if they be maryed but the maryage to be broken And if any being priuy to that incest doe not detect the same he to be giltye of the same cryme Item that no funerall or buryenges be without theyr owne Parishe Church so that the priest therof do lose that which to him is due Item that no man vpon any new fangled rashnes do attribute any reuerence or opiniō of holines to dead mens bodyes to fountaynes or to any other thing as the vse hath bene in tyme past without authoritie of the Bishop Item that no buying and selling be vsed hereafter in England of men as of other cartell Item after the restreint of Priests mariage when filthy Sodomitry begā to come in the place therof then were they forced also to make an act for that which was this With a greuous curse we condemne both them that occupy the vngratious vice of sodomitry and
his dignities honours titles prerogatiues kingdomes whole Empire And that he had no occasion hereunto as well Pandolphus Colonutius as the letters of the Emperour himselfe do both right well declare For it may appear he dedicated as it were himself to his vtter ruine and destruction when he did sollicitate agaynst Fridericus Iacobus Tewpolus the Uenetian Duke Whom for the displeasure he took with y◠Emperor in the imprisoning of his sonne was in good hope he should allure vnto him he being in so troublous a time such a comforter ayder vnto him that as Blondus writeth in a certein Epistle gratulatory he calleth him Lord of the fourth part of Croatia and Dalmatia and Lord of the halfe of the Romane Empire And calling vnto him the Uenetian and Benwetian Legates made a peace betwixt them whiche for certeine causes about their sea costes were at variaunce and couenaunted with them vpon this condition that at their publique charges they should rig and man 35 gallyes which should spoyle and burne all alongst the Sea coastes of the kingdomes and dominions of Fredericke But the Pope when he saw the good will and fidelitie which the Duke of Uenice bare vnto the Emperour and saw also what ayd the Emperour had of him neyther that he was like to wynne him to hys purpose then had he recourse agayne to his old crafty practises subtleties And further deuised to put forth an Edict at Rome to the vniuersal Church and people the beginning whereof is Ascēdit de mari bellica bestia wherein he declareth the causes wherfore he curseth and geueth the Emperour to y◠deuill of hell hath deiect him from all his princely dignitie He in the same accuseth him of so many so huge a heape of mischiefes as to nominate thē my hart detesteth And besides that he restrayneth his soueraigne Lord Emperor of the appellatiō which euery priuat man by law may haue He slaundereth him of treason periury cruelty sacrilege killing of his kinde and all impietie he accuseth him for an hereticke a schismatike and a miscreant And to be briefe what mischiefe so euer the Pope can deuise with that doth he charge him and burden him All this doth he sayth the Pope that when he hath brought our holines and all the Ecclesiasticall estate to beggary he might scoffe at and deride the Religion of Christ which as a miscreant he detesteth And nowe for that the Pope had a great and speciall trust in Albertus Behauus of the noble house called Equestri as crafty apostle as the best as one whom he saw ready to leane to his lust To him the Pope deliuered two othe◠mandates in seueral letters sealed in which he commaundeth al Bishops Prelates other of the Clergy that they should solempnly recite the same in their churches insteed of their sermon that by his decree he had excommunicate Fridericke out of the fellowship of Christen men put hym from the procuratiō or gouernment of the Empire that he had released al his subiectes of their allegeāce fidelitie towardes him And farthermore chargeth thē all other Christen men vnder the payne of cursing dānation that neither they succour the Emperour nor yet so much as wish him well Thus he being the Popes speciall trusty seruiture made to his hand caused a most horrible confusiō and Chaos of publique quietnes as shall after appeare Amongst al other noble men of Germany at that time towardes the Emperour was Otho the gouernour of Rhenus and Duke of Boiora both most seruiceable and also a Prince of great honour riches and estimatiō This prince both with fayre promises also rewards he entised from hym for that being made by him to beleue that Ludouicus his father of whō we spake before was by the Emperour murthered and slaine And the same Otho againe caused 3. other Princes Dukes to reuolte from the Emperour to the Pope which were neighbours neare adioyning vnto him as Uuenceslaus and Belus princes of the Ungarians and Henry Duke of Polonia To whom came also Fridericus Austriacus hys sonne who because he was proscript or outlawed of hys father and had hys dukedome wasted and brent as you heard was easly won vnto the pope These gathering a Councell whē they had thought to haue translated the Empiere vnto the Kyngs sonne of Denmarke desired to haue the popes Legates to be sent from hym to the effect of that election The Emperour was at Patauium when these newes were brought vnto him what the pope had done at Rome Therefore he commaunded Peter to Uineis hys Secretary vpon Easter day to make a Narration to the people of his great liberall munificence to the byshops and church of Rome again of the iniuries of them towards hym in recompence thereof of hys innocencye also in that whereof he had accused hym and of the vnseemelines of such an act or deede of the right vse of the ecclesiastical censure of the errours and abuse of the church of Rome By which Oratiō of hys he so remoued the cloud from many mens hartes of blynde superstition and the conceaued opinion of holines of the church of Rome and Byshops of the same and also of theyr vsurped power and subtill perswasion that both they playnely sawe and perceaued the vices and filthynes of the Church of Rome and Byshops of that sea as also theyr fraudulent deceites and flagitious doynges most vehemently lamenting and complaynyng of the same Albertus maketh mention of certayne Uerses whiche were sent and written betweene the Byshop of Rome and the Emperour The which verses in the latter of this present history of Fridericke you shall finde The Emperour moreouer both by hys letters Legates geueth intelligence to all Christen kynges to the Princes of hys owne Empire to the Colledge of Cardinals and people of Rome as well of the fayned crymes wherewith he was charged as also of the cruelty of the Byshop of Rome agaynst hym The copy of whiche letter or epistle followeth here vnder inserted The Emperour to the Prelates of the worlde IN the beginning and creation of the world the ineffable foreknowledge and prouidence of God who asketh councell of none created in the firmament of Heauen two lightes a greater and a lesse the greater he created to gouerne the day and the les to gouerne the night which two so do their proper offices and dueties in the Zodiake that although oftentimes the one be in an oblique respect vnto the other yet the one is not enemy to the other but rather doth the superior cōmunicate his light with the inferior Euē so the same eternal foreknowledge hath appointed vpon the earth two regimentes that is to witte Priesthoode and kingly power the one for knowledge and wisdome the other for defence That man which was made of two partes ouer wanton and dissolute might haue two raignes to gouerne
of our auncestors which doubted not to shedde their owne bloud for the encrease and defence of the Churches liberty and the faith and coueting to prouide for the puritie of faith and the state of the Church as also to auoid the hurt of the generall slaunder being not able to passe ouer any longer the premisses with wincking and dissembling and my conscience driuing to the same seeing this estimate opinion of him in these matters is not rashly of vs conceiued but vehemently and plainly increased by many and continuall cryings of credible men and great authoritie oft and oftentimes beaten vnto vs fearing moreouer the destruction of the faith both of vs and of al other subiects and specially of kings and princes of the world which ought to reproue negligence which acknowledge that we haue receiued power geuen vs from the Lord to the promoting and increasement of it we agree to your requestes in this behalfe and to the calling and assembling a councell for the glory of God sauing the honour and reuerence that is due to the holy Romish church in all thinges whereby the trueth may appeare in the premisses and all errour auoided that the state of the vniuersall Church and all Christianitie and the matters of faith and the holy land may be prouided for the slauÌ„ders ieoperdies haÌ„ging ouer vs may be withstanded we be ready offer our selues gladly as much as in vs is to bestowe our labour and diligent paine therabouts Earnestly requiring and beseeching in the mercifull bowels of Iesu Christ you Archbishops and other Prelates here present as children of the Church and pillers of faith called of the Lorde to the promoting encrease and preseruing thereof to care for the same that with all diligence ye wold geue heede as becommeth you and effectually you would labor by al wayes and fit meanes to the calling and assembling of this councel in which we intend to be personally present And left the said Boniface which hath boldly and wrongfully many times threatned to proceede against vs stopping and hindring our purposes and intent â—â—ast any of his workes of darkenesse if there be any should come to light directly or indirectly hindering the calling and gathering of this councel or least any state being in the same realme that wil in dede procede against vs or our state churches Prelates Barons other faithfull vassals our subiects our lands or our realme and the state of the realme by abusing any spirituall sworde in excommunicating suspending or otherwais by any meanes for vs and our welwillers and them that will followe vs we prouoke appeale in wryting to the foresayd general councell which we instantly desire to be called and to one lawâ—ull chiefe Bishop that shall be or to any other to whome we shoulde appeale and yet not going from the appellation made by M. William of Nagareta to whom we sticked then and also yet sticke requiring earnestly a witnes of our appellation of you Prelates Notaries expressedly to renue such prouocation and appellation when and afore whome it shal be thought meete to you Then the Archbishops within wrytten byshops Abbots and Priors aunswered the premisses as it is founde in the actes prouoked and appealed agreed to and protested and made prouocation and appellation agreement and protestation as is contained more fully in a certaine paper there openly and plainely red whose tenor followeth with these wordes We Archbishoppes of Nicosen Remen Senoren Narbonen Turonen and bishops of Landuiren Belnacen Catolacen Antisiodorem Meldimen Nurmen Carnotem Aurelianen Ambiauen Morinen Silanen Andeganen Abricen Constant Ebroicen Lexonicen Sagien Caloromont Lemonicen Auicen Masticoren And we Abbots of Cluniac promostraten of the greater monasterie of the court of S. Dionise in Fraunce Camped S. Victors S. Genoueue S. Marten Landmoen Figiacem Bellicem in Lemociuio and Frier Hugh visiter of the houses of the order of knights of S. Iohn in Ierusalem in Fraunce and the father Priour of S. Martine in the fieldes hearing these things which were sayd propounded and obiected yesterday to day by you the Lords Earles and William aforesaide against the Lorde Boniface the 8. and Pope being mooued with suche sayings purposes assertations and your othes your request and other lawfull causes and were compelled by need considering that the matter of our faith which is Christes is handled in the premisses Wee that be called to part of this care to the defence and maintenaunce of the faith of soules of the realme although vnworthy yet coueting to with stande the ieoperdies that hang ouer vs by reason of the premisses and other causes thinking the calling gathering of the sayd Councell profitable necessary that the innocencie of the Lord Boniface himself may clearely be discussed as we desire our coÌ„sciences bearing witnesse that it may be determined on him by the Councell touching such things as are laide against him and that may be done which they decree according to the Canons We aunswere you our Lord king and you our Lordes Earles and William that the honor reuerence of the holy Romish church salued in all poyntes wee agree to your due requestes in this behalfe for the calling of the Councell and are ready to geue helpe and diligent labour to the calling and gathering of the said CouÌ„cell according to the decrees of the holy fathers and to the lawfull orders of the Canons not intending by any meanes to make parties of this matter nor to sticke to any that maketh parties Yet least the sayde Boniface being mooued or prouoked by these things as wee feare by likely coniectures and threatnings made against vs for the foresayde things that he will proceede against our parish Churches and our subiectes by some meanes or cause to proceede against vs by some authoritie of his owne or others by excommunication suspension interditing deposing depriuing or by some other meanes and colour sought to some impeachment or trouble of the sayd Councell and that we may sitte in the same Councell to iudge and do al other things that belong to the office of Prelates that our frends that sticke to vs would sticke to vs in all thinges may remaine safe for our selues our parish Churches our subiectes and them that sticke to vs or would sticke to vs in this behalfe we prouoke and appeale in wryting to the foresayde Councell that is to be gathered and to him that shall be the true and lawfull highest Bishop and to him or them to whome of right we shoulde appeale too and earnestly require our appellations committing vs our parish churches our subiectes friendes and them that sticke to vs our state and theirs our right goodes to the godly defence of the foresaide councell and of him that shall be the true and lawfull highest bishop and we protest to renewe this appellation where when and afore whome it shal be thought meete This was done at Paris at Lupara in the chamber of the sayd Lord
for that we had left so long vncorrected the insolencie of the byshops and other officers that if remedy in these cases were not had with spede they wold withdrawe themselues from our allegeance and the couenaunt which they had sworne vnto to the vtter subuersion of our kingdome our perpetuall ignominie and the euerlasting shame of our English nation which God our most mercifull father forbid shoulde come to passe in our daies in whom is fixed immoueably the anchor of our hope Whereuppon entending the due correction of our officers we remoued from offices as semed good to our wisdome diuers persons whom we suspected in causes euidēt of euil administration of iustice of subuersion and oppressiō of our subiects of corruption of bribes and other hainous offences Others also of inferiour degree offending in the premisses we caused to be deteined in safe custody least by their liberty iustice might be troden vnder foote and the inquisition of the trueth concerning the premisses not to come to light Forasmuche therefore as the knowledge of the trueth in these cases might of none more certainly be knowen then from the secrete brest of our sayd Archbishop for that nothing pertaining to our information ought to lie hid from him vnto whome of so long a time had bene committed the administration of our whole common weale and summe of our businesse Wee sent vnto him our faithfull subiect Nicholas de Cantilupe with special commandement from vs all delayes set a part that he should forthwith make his personall appearance before vs at our City of London But he as one alwaies timerous as wel in prosperity as in aduersity and fearing where no feare was vntruely alleageth that some of our assistents had threatned hym and laid wait for his life if at any time he departed frō the Church of Cant. which God wee take to witnesse and a pure conscience wee neuer meant nor any of our assistents Wee suppose he touched thereby our Cousin although to all other aswell of the cleargy as comminalty through his malicious misdemeanors he was become odious Wherfore intending the safegarde of our subiects by letters or otherwise called before vs we appoynted our trustie and welbeloued Rasse Stafforde our Harbynger to offer vnto hym safeconducte and moreouer to present vnto him our letters patentes vnder our seale willing and commanding him therby againe personally to come before vs that we might be enformed what of so long a time hee had done touching the affaires of the kyngdome Wherunto contemning our commanndement gentle request he answereth that neither he wold in person appeare neither yet in any matter conferre wyth vs except it were in a full Parliament which for diuers reasonable causes coulde not then be called Thus may you see this archb whom our royal benignity had amplified wyth large honours admitted into all familiarity receiued into the bonde of vnnimitie and frendship vpon whome as on a father our whole hope did consist who so long as wee accomplished his will in all things pretended towardes vs a face of counterfet loue cloaked wyth dissembling beneuolence euen as though he had bene a louing father howe cruelly against reason he hath now forsaken vs requiting benefits with ingratitude oppressing his benefactour wyth the arrogancie of feare and finally according to the vulgare prouerbe rewarded vs as a horse in a satchell a Snake in a mannes bosome and fire cherished next the skinne rewardeth their receiuers When we were first exalted vnto the throne of our kingdome descended vnto vs by right of inheritaunce Gods diuine prouidence so working we thought and alwayes thinke it a detestable thyng to abuse so high authoritie but rather desire to gouerne wyth clemencie leuitie and moderation of iustice that peace of all men desired might firmely take place Neuerthelesse our sayde Archbyshop hath gone about to defame our innocencie and the fidelitie and diligence our faithfull counsailers prosecutours of true iustice openly declaring in hys letters patent and publishing abroade in diuers places that hee was oppressed by the kings power contrary to iustice the Clergy and comminaltie confounded and the church ouer charged wyth diuers grieuous taxes exactions He subtilly vsurped the name of a good pastour when in deede he was nothing lesse but rather as it should seeme by his owne cōfession and the common opinion had of him a very hireling He cloked his craftie subtilnesse with the zeale of defending the Churche although he hymselfe in very deede was the onely cause by his euill counsaile and craftie deuises of the tribulations of the same Hee also fained that not long agoe certaine wrytings were brought vnto him to be sealed containing in effect the defence and excusation of all such in generall that were violaters of the liberties of the Churche hoping thereby to defame the opinion had of vs and our faythfull counsailours to stirre vp sedition amongst the people and finally to withdrawe from vs the hearts of our nobilitie Hee gaue commaundement by hys letters that these things shoulde be proclaimed in all places of great resorte by diuers speciall articles contrary to his former order in his prouinciall Councel Wherefore respecting the integritie of our fame entending to preuent the malice of the sayde Archbishoppe and also to decline from vs the snares prepared for vs and ours wee haue thought good at thys present ouer besides those which before are rehersed amongst so many which wee omitte to declare vnto you some of hys peruerse and wicked actes When in our minoritie wee were constituted ouer our dominions hee caused vs through hys vnaduised counsaile and rash perswasion therby to winne excesiue fauour to geue away so many wastfull giftes and so many vnlawfull alienations that nowe by meanes thereof our treasury is cleane consumed the reuenewes of our Exchequer without all order dimished and he corrupted with bribes innumerable Oftentimes also without cause why when neither necessitie nor vtilitie so required onely through his perswasion wee forgaue diuers men great summes of money due vnto vs yea and the rents and reuenewes which ought to haue bene conserued for our necessitie and profite we applied to the vse of his frendes largely bestowing vppon such as euill deserued it Moreouer accepting aswell persones as money contrary to our minde and hys othe of fidelitie made vnto vs he admitted vnto publique offices throughout our dominions persones vnworthy neglecting those that had well deserued Many other things he rashly tooke in hand to the detrimēt of our state the hurt of our dignitie royall and no smal dammage of our subiectes by abusing his authoritie office committed vnto him But if he persist in his proude obstinacie and stout rebellion wee shall heereafter in conuenient time and place cause it to be more openly knowen willing and commaunding you to publish and cause to be published all and singular the premisses openly and distinctly in places where you shall thinke it
places of the Canon law 25. q. 1. Quae ad per. petuam Those thinges which be generally ordeyned for publique vtilitye ought not to be altered by any chaunge c. Item the decrees of the sacrat Canons none ought to keepe more then the Bishop Apostolicall c. Ibidem Item to alter or to ordeine any thing agaynst the decrees of the fathers is not in the authoritye or power uo not of the Apostolicall sea Ibidem The fourth opinion was that the Friers by the licēce of the Pope and of the Bishops might lawfully heare cōfessions and the people might be of them confessed and absolued But yet notwithstanding it was reason cōueniēt honest and profitable that once in the yeare they should be confessed to theyr curats although being cōfessed before to the friers because for the administration of Sacraments especially at Easter Of which opinion was Gulielinus de monte Landuno Henricus de Gandauo also held not onely to be conuenient but also that they were bound so to doe The fift opinion was that albeit the Friers might at all times and at Easter also heare confessions as the Curates did yet it was better and more safe at the time of Easter to confesse to the curates thē to the Friers And of this opiniō was this our Armachanus of whom we presently now entreat ¶ And thus haue ye as in a briefe summe opened vnto you what was the matter of contention betweene the friers and the Church men What Popes made with the friers and what Popes made against thē Moreouer what learned mē disputed against them in Paris and other places and what were theyr opinions The matter of contention about the Friers stoode in foure pointes First preaching without licence of Curats Second in hearing cōfessions Thyrd in burying Fourth in begging and taking of the people ¶ Popes that mainteined the Friers were Honorius 3 were Gregorius 9 were Alexande 4 were Clemens 4 were Boniface 8 were Clemens 5 ¶ Popes that mainteiued Curates were Innocentius 9 were Innocentius 4 were Martinus 4 were Benedictus 11 ¶ The learned men that disputed agaynst the Friers were Guilielmus de S. Amore. All these were cōdemned by the Popes or els caused to recant were Barnardus super capitulum Omnis vtriusque sexus All these were cōdemned by the Popes or els caused to recant were Godfridus de Fontibus All these were cōdemned by the Popes or els caused to recant were Henricus de Gandauo All these were cōdemned by the Popes or els caused to recant were Guilielmus de Landuno All these were cōdemned by the Popes or els caused to recant were Ioannes Monachus Cardini All these were cōdemned by the Popes or els caused to recant were Ioannes de Poliaco All these were cōdemned by the Popes or els caused to recant were Armachanus All these were cōdemned by the Popes or els caused to recant These considerations and circūstaunces hetherto premised for the more opening of this present cause of Armachanus susteined agaynst the idle beggerly sects of friers in whom the reader may well perceiue Antechrist plainly reigning and fighting against the Church Now remayneth that as I haue before declared the trauelles troubles of diuers godly learned mē in the Church striuing agaynst the sayd friers continually from the time of Guliel de Amore hetherto So now it remaineth that for so much as this our Armachanus labouring and in the same cause susteined the like conflict with the same Antechrist we likewise collect and open his reasons and arguments vttered in the consistorye and in the audience of the Pope himselfe wherwith he maynteyneth the true doctrine and cause of the Church agaynst the pestiferous canker creeping in by these friers after subtle wayes of hypocrisy to corrupt the sincere simplicity of Christes holy fayth perfect Testament The which reasons and argumentes of his with the whole processe of his doinges I thought good and expedient for the vtility of the Church more amply and largely to discourse and prosecute for that I note in the sects institutions and doctrine of these friers such subtle poyson to lurke more pernitious hurtfull to the religion of Christ and soules of Christians then all men peraduenture do consider Thus Armachanus ioyning with the clergy of England disputed and contended with the friers here of England an 1358. about a double matter Wherof the one was concerning confessiō and other exchetes which the friers encroched in parish Churches agaynst the Curates and publicke pastors of Churches The other was concerning wilfull beggery and pouerty which the Friers then tooke vpon them not vpon any necessity being otherwise strōg inough to worke for their liuing but onely vpon a wilfull and affected profession For the which cause the Friers appealed him vp to the court of Rome The occasion wherof thus did rise ¶ It befell that Armachanus vpon certayne busines comming vp to London found there certayne Doctours disputing and contending about the begging of Christ our Sauior Wherupon he being greatly vrged and requested oft times therūto at request made seuen or eight sermōs vnto the people at London wherein he vttered 9. conclusions Wherof the first and principal conclusion was touching the matter of the friers priuiledges in hearing confessions His conclusion was this First that if a doubt or question be moued for hearing cōfessiōs which of 2. places is rather to be chosē The parish church is to be preferred before the church of the friers Secondly being demaunded whether is to be taken to heare the confession of the parishioners the Parson or the Curate or the frier It is to be sayde rather the Parson or the Curate Thirdly that our Lord Iesus Christ in his humayne conuersatiō was alwayes poore but not that he loued pouerty or did couet to be poore Fourthly that our Lord Iesus Christ did neuer beg wilfully professing to be poore Fiftly that our Lord Iesus Christ did neuer teach wilfully to beg or to professe wilfull beggery The sixt conclusion was that Christ our Lord did cōtrary that men ought not wilfully or purposely wythout meere necessity to beg Seuēthly that there is neither wisedome nor holines for any man to take vpon him wilfull beggery perpetually to be obserued The eight that it is not agreing to the rule of the Obseruants or Friers Minorites to obserue wilful pouerty The last conclusion was touching the Bull of Pope Alexander the 4. whiche condemned the libell of the maisters of Paris that the same Bull touched none of these 7. last conclusions Upon these 9. conclusions premised Armachanus being appealed cited and brought vp to the presence of the Pope began to proue the same his foresaid conclusions or assertions vnder protestation made that his intētion was not to affirme any thing contrary to the christian fayth or to the Catholicke doctrine or that should be preiudicial or destructiue to the orders of the begging friers such as were
the law and words which the Lord of hostes sent in his holy spirite by the Prophetes aforetime Also Esay witnessing after the same effect cap. 30. sayth For it is an obstinate people lying children and vnfaythfull children that will not heare the law of the Lord which say to the Prophetes meddle with nothing and tell vs nothing that is true and right but speake frendly wordes to vs. c. All this shall be verified when the Prelates begin to hate thē that tell them trueth and haue knowledge like vnto such of whō Amos speaketh chapter 5. They beare him euil wil that reproueth them openly and who so telleth them the playne trueth they abhorre him And therefore sayth the Lord to the Church of Ierusalem Ose 4. Seing thou hast refused vnderstanding I haue refused thee also that thou shalt no more be my priest And for so muche as thou hast forgotten the law of thy God I will also forget thy children and chaunge theyr honor into shame And so shall it be like priest like people c. And many other sayinges there be in the prophets speaking of the deiecting and casting downe of the priestly honor Besides these foresayde signes and tokens hitherto recited there be also diuers other As the backsliding from righteousnes the lacke of discreete and learned Priestes promoting of childrē into the Church with such other like But these being alreadye well noted and marked you may easely iudge and vnderstand whether these times now present of ours be safe and cleare from tribulation to be looked for and whether the word of the Lord be true according to my theame Iuxta est iustitia mea vt reueletur my righteousnes is neare at hande to bee reuealed c. And thus muche of the second part Now to the third part or member of my subdeuision which is concerning the false and perilous opinions of some vpon thys word of my theame vt veniat c. which opinions principally be 4. repugning all agaynst the truth of the canonicall Scripture The first opinion is of such men who hauing to much confifidence in thēselues do think and perswade with themselues that the Prelates be the Church which the Lord will alwayes keepe and neuer forsake as he hath promised in the persons of the Apostles Mathew 28. saying And I will be with you to the end of the world c But this is to be vnderstanced of fayth whereof Christ speaketh Luke 21. I haue prayd for thee that thy fayth shall not fayle Whereof we read Ecclesiast 40. fayth shall stand for euer c. And albeit Charity waxe neuer so colde yet fayth notwithstanding shall remayne in few and in all distresses of the world of the which distresses our Sauiour doth prophecy in many places to come And least peraduenture some shoulde thinke themselues to be safe from tribulation because they be of the church this opinion the Lord himselfe doth contrary in Ieremy the 7. Trust not sayth he in false lying wordes saying the temple of the Lord the temple of the Lord and a litle after but you trust in wordes and lying counselles which deceiue you and doe you no good The second opinion is of them which deferre tyme for thys they well graunt that the Church shall abide trouble but not so shortly thinking thus with thēselues that these causes tokens afore recited haue bene before at other times as well in the churche For both by Gregory and Bernard holy doctors in time past the Prelates haue bene in like fort reprehended both for theyr bribinges for theyr Pompe and pride for the promoting of persons and children vnfitte vnto ecclesiasticall functions and other vyces moe which haue reigned before this in the Church of God more then now and yet by God his grace the Churche hath prospered and stand Doe ye not see that if an house haue stand and continued ruinous a long season it is neuer more neare the fall thereby but rather to be trusted the better Moreouer many times it commeth so to passe in Realmes and Kingdomes that the posterity is punished for the sinnes of the predecessors Whereof speaketh the booke of Lamentations the 5. chapter Our fathers haue sinned and are now gone and we must beare their wickednesse c. Agaynst this cogitation or opinion well doth the Lord aunswere by the Prophet Ezechiel chapter 12 saying Beholde thou sonne of man the house of Israel sayeth in this maner Tush as for the vision that he hath seene it will bee many a day or it come to passe It is farre of yet the thing that he prophecieth Therefore say vnto them thus sayth the Lord God The wordes that I haue spoken shall be deferred no longer looke what I haue sayd shall come to passe sayth the Lord. c. We haue seene in our dayes thinges to happen which seemed before incredible And the like hath bene seene in other times also as we read written in the booke of Lamentations chapter 4. The kinges of the earth nor all the inhabitaunce of the worlde would not haue beleeued that the enemy and aduersary shoulde haue come in at the gates of the Citty for the sinnes of her priestes and for the wickenesse of her Elders that haue shedde Innocentes bloud within her c. by Hierusalem as is sayd is ment thē Church The third opinion or error is very perilous and peruerse of all such as say veniat let come that will come Let vs conforme out selues to this world and take our time with those Temporifers which say in the booke of wisedome Sap. 2. Come let vs enioy our goodes and pleasures that be present and let vs vse the creature as in youth quickly c. Such as these be are in daungerous case and be greatly preiudicial to good men in the Church And if the heades and rulers of the Church were so vile to haue any such detestable cogitation in them there were no place in hell to deepe for them This Church founded by the Apostles in Christ consecrated with the bloud of so many Martyrs enlarged and increased with the vertues and merites of so many Sayntes and indued so richly with the deuosion of so many secular princes and so long prospered hetherto If it now should come into the hands of such persons it should fall in great daunger of ruine and they for theyr negligence and wickednes well deserued of God to be cursed yea here also in this present world to incurre temporall tribulation and destruction which they feare more by the sentence of the Lord saying to them in the booke of Prouerbes cap. 1. All my counsels ye haue despised and set my correctiō at nought Therefore shall I also laugh in your destruction when tribulation and anguish shall fall vpon you Fourthly an other opinion or errour is of such as being vnfaythfull beleue not any such thing to come And this errour
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
his speciall maintainers As yeares and time grew on king Edward the third which had reigned nowe about 51. yeares after the decease of prince Edwarde his sonne who departed the yeare before was stroken in great age in such feblenes withall that he was vnweldy through lacke of strēgth to gouerne the affairs of the realm Wherfore a parliament being called the yeare before his death it was there put vp by the knights other the burgesses of the Parliament because of the misgouernment of the realme by certain gredy persons about the king raking all to themselues without seing any iustice done that 12. sage and discrete Lordes and Pieres such as were free from note of all auarice shuld be placed as tutours about the Kyng to haue the doing and disposing vnder him 6. at one time and in their absence 6. at an other of matters pertinent to the publike regiment Here by the way I omit to speake of Alice Perris the wicked harlot which as the story geueth had bewitched the kings hart gouerned all and sate vpon canses herself through the diuelish help of a Frier Dominick who by the duke of Lancaster was caused to be take and was conuicted should haue suffred for the same had not the Archb. of Cant. and the Friers more regarding the liberty of their Churche then the punishing of vice reclaimed hym for their own prisoner This Alice Perrys notwithstanding she was banished by this Parliament from the king yet afterward she came againe left him not til at hys death shee tooke all his rings vpon his fingers and other iewels frō him and so fled away like an harlot But thys of her by the way These 12. gouernours by the parliament aforesayd being appoynted to haue the tuition of the king to attend to the publike affaires of the realme remained for a certaine space about him till afterward it so fel out that they being againe remoued all the regiment of the realme next vnder the King was committed to the Duke of Lancaster the kings sonne For as yet Richard the sonne of prince Edward lately departed was very yong and vnder age This Duke of Lancaster had in his heart of long time conceiued a certaine displeasure against the popish clergy whether for corrupt and impure doctrine ioyned with lyke abhominable excesse of life or for what some other cause it is not precisely expressed Onely by story the cause thereof may be gessed to rise by William Wickam bishop of Winchester The matter is thys The Bishop of Winchester as the saying went then was reported to affirme that the foresaid Ihon of Gaunt duke of Lācaster was not the sonne of king Edward nor of the Quene Who being in trauel at Gaūt had no sonne as he sayd but a daughter which the same time by lying vppon of the mother in the bedde was there smothered Whereupon the Quene fearing the kings displeasure caused a certaine manchilde of a woman of Flaunders borne the very same time to be conueyed and brought vnto her in stead of her daughter aforesayde And so brought vp the child whom she bare not who now is called duke of Lancaster And this said the Bishop did the Queene tell him lying in extremes on her death bed vnder seale of confession charging hym if the sayde Duke should euer aspire to get the crowne or if the kingdome by any meanes should fall vnto hym he then should manifest the same declare it to the worlde that the sayde Duke of Lancaster was no part of the kings bloud but a false heire of the king This slaunderous report of the wicked Byshop as it sauoureth of a contumelious lie so seemeth it to proceede of a subtile zeale toward the Popes religion meaning falshoode For that the foresayd Duke by fauouring of Wickliff declared hymselfe to be a professed enemy against the Popes profession Whych thing was then not vnknowen neyther vnmarked of the Prelates and Byshops then in Englande But the sequele of the story thus followed Thys slanderous vilany of the Byshops report being blased abroad and comming to the Dukes eare he therw t being not a litle discontented as no maruell was sought againe by what meanes he coulde to be reuenged of thys forenamed Bishop In conclusion the Duke hauing now al the gouernment of the realm vnder the king his father in hys own hand so pursued the byshop of Winchester that by acte of parliament he was condemned and depriued of al his temporal goods which goods wer assigned to prince Rich. of Burdeur the next inheritour of the crowne after the king and furthermore inhibited the said bishop not to approch nere to the court by 20. miles Further as touching thys bishop the story thus procedeth Not lōg after in the yeare of our Lord. 1377. a Parliament was called by the meanes of the Duke of Lancaster vpon certaine causes respects in which parliament great request and sute was made by the cleargy for the deliueraunce of the B. of Winchester At length whē a subsidie was asked in the kyngs name of the clergy and request also made in the kings behalfe for spedy expedition to be made for the dissoluing of the parliament the Archb. therfore accordingly conuented the bishops for the tractation thereof To whō the B. with great lamentation cōplained for lack of their felow and brother B. of Wint. Whose iniury said they did derogate to the liberties of the whole church And therfore denied to ioyne themselues in tractation of any such matters before al the members together were vnited with the head And seing the matter touched them altogether in common as well him as thē would not otherwise do And seemed moreouer to be moued against the Archb. for that he was not more stout in the cause but suffered him so to be cited of the duke The Archb. although hauing sufficient cause to excuse himselfe wherefore not to send for him as also he dyd because of the perils which might ensue therof yet being enforced persuaded therunto by the importunitie of the bishops directed downe his letters to the foresaid bishop of wintch willing hym to resort vnto the conuocation of the clergy Who being glad to obey the same was receyued with great ioy of the other bishops And at length by that meanes of Alice Perris the kings paramor aboue mētioned geuing to her a good quantity of mony the sayd Winchester was restored to his temporalities againe As the Bishops had thus sent for wintch the Duke in the meane time had sent for Iohn Wickliffe who as is saide was then the diuinity reader in Oxford and had cōmenced in sondry actes and disputations contrary to the forme and teaching of the Popes church in many things who also for the same had bene depriued of his benefice as hath bene afore touched The opinions which he began in Oxford first in his lectures and sermōs to entreat of and
and consent as wel of them as of vs and so declared that some of those conclusions were heretical and some of them erroneous repugnant to the determination of the Church as here vnder are described Wee will and commaund your brotherhoode and by vertue of holy obedience straightly enioyne all and singular our brethren and Suffraganes of our body and Church of Canterbury that with all speedye diligence you possible can you likewise enioyne them as we haue enioyned you and euery of them And that euery one of them in their Churches other places of their Citie and Dioces doe admonish and warne and that you in your Church and other Churches of your Citie and Dioces do admonish and warne as we by the tenor of these presents do admonish and warne the first time the second time and the third time and yet more straightly doe warne assigning for the first admonition one day for the second admonition an other day for the third admonition canonicall and peremptorie an other day That no man from hence forth of what estate or cōdition soeuer do hold preach or defend the foresayd heresies and errors or any of them nor that hee admitte to preach any one that is prohibited or not sent to preach nor that he heare or hearken to the heresies or errours of him or any of them or that he fauour or leane vnto hym either publiquely or priuely But that immediatly he shonne hym as he would auoide a Serpent putting forth most pestiferous poison vnder paine of the greater curse the which we commaund to be thundered against all and euery one which shal be disobedient in this behalfe and not regarding these our monitions after that those 3. dayes be past which are assigned for the canonical monition and that their delay fault or offence committed require the same That then according to the tenour of these wrytings wee commaund both by euery one of our felowe brethren our Suffraganes in their Cities and Dioces and by you in your City and Dioces so much as belongeth both to you and them that to the vttermost both ye and they cause the same excommunications to be pronounced And furthermore wee will and commaunde our foresayd felowe brethren and all singular of you a part by your selues to be admonished and by the aspersion of the bloud of Iesus Christ we likewise admonish you that according to the institution of the sacred Canons euery one of them in their Cities Dioces bee a diligent inquisitour of this hereticall prauitie and that euery one of you also in your Cities and Dioces be the like inquisitor of the foresayd heretical prauitie And that of such like presumptions they and you carefully and diligently inquire and that both they and you according to your dueties and office in this behalfe wyth effect do procede against the same to the honor and praise of his name that was crucified and for the preseruation of the Christian faith and Religion Here is not to be passed ouer the great miracle of gods diuine admonition or warning for when as the Archbyshop and suffraganes with the other Doctours of diuinitie and lawyers with a great company of babling Friers religious persons were gathered together to consult as touching Iohn Wickleffes bookes and that whole secte When as they were gathered together at the Gray fryers in Lōdon to begin their busines vpon S. Dunstons day after dinner about 2. of the clocke the very houre instant that they should go forward with their businesse a wonderfull and terrible earthquake fell through out al England wherupon diuers of the suffraganes being feared by the strange and wonderfull demonstration doubting what it shuld meane thought it good to leaue of from their determinate purpose But the Archbyshop as chiefe captaine of that army more rash and bold then wise interpreating the chaunce which had happened cleane contrary to an other meaning or purpose did confirme strengthen their harts and minds which were almost daunted with feare stoutly to proceede and go forward in theyr attempted enterprise Who then discoursing Wickliffes articles not according vnto the sacred Canons of the holy Scripture but vnto theyr owne priuate affections and traditions pronounced and gaue sentence that some of them were simply and plainely hereticall other some halfe erroneous other irreligious some seditious and not consonant to the Church of Rome Item the 12. day of Iune in the yeare aforesaid in the chamber of the Friers preachers the foresayd M. Robert Rigges Chauncelor of the vniuersitie of Oxford Thomas Brightwell professors of diuinitie beyng appoynted the same day and place by the foresayde reuerend father in God Archbyshop of Canterbury appeared before hym in the presence of the reuerend father in God Lord William by the grace of God Byshop of Winchester and diuers others doctours and bachelers of Diuinitie and of the Canon and ciuill lawe whose names are before recited And first the sayd Chauncelor by the said Lord Archb. of Cant. being examined what his opinion was touching the foresayd articles Publiquely affirmed and declared that certaine of those conclusions were hereticall and certaine erronious as the other doctors and clerks afore mentioned had declared And then immediately next after hym the foresaid Thomas Brightwel was examined which vpon some of the conclusions at first somewhat staggered but in the end being by the sayd Archbishop diligently examined vpon the same did affirme and repute the same to be hereticall and erroneous as the foresayd Chancelor had done An other Bacheler of Diuinitie also there was named N. stammering also at some of those conclusions but in the end affirmed that hys opinion therein was as was the iudgement of the foresayd Chauncelour and Thomas as is aboue declared Whereuppon the sayde Lord Archb. of Cant. willing to let and hinder the perill of such heresies errours Deliuered vnto the foresayd Chauncelour there being publiquely read his letters patents to be executed the tenour whereof in these wordes doth folow WIlliam by the grace of God Archb. of Cant. primate of all England and Legate of the Apostolicall see To our welbeloued sonne in Christ the Chancelor of the vniuersitie of Oxford within the diocesse of Lincolne greeting grace and benediction The prelates of the Church about the Lordes flocke committed to their charge ought so much to be more vigilāt as that they see the wolfe clothed in sheepes attire fraudulētly go about to worow and scatter the sheepe Doubtles the common fame brute is come vnto our eares c. Vtin mandato praecedenti We will therefore and commaunde straightly enioyning you that in the Church of our blessed Lady in Oxforde vpon those dayes the which accustomably the Sermone is made as also in the schooles of the sayde Vniuersitie vppon those dayes the Lectures be read ye publish and cause by others to be published to the clergie and people as well in their
recanted her foresayd articles and opinions For the which she being enioyned 40. dayes penance was againe admitted into her foresaid recluse in Leycester The Byshops letter to the Magistrates of the towne thus beginneth Willielmus permissione diuina c. dilectis filijs c. Also by an other letter of the foresayde Archbish. to the Deane of the Cathedrall church of our Ladye of Leycester being registred I finde that of the number of those 8. persons before recite◠whom the Archbishop himselfe at high Masse did in hys Pontificalibus so solemnely curse wyth booke bell and candle After certeine proces being sent out against them or els in the meane time being apprehended taken two of them recanted their opinions to wit William Smith and Roger Dexter But in the meane tyme Alyce the wife of the sayde Roger Dexter takyng holde of the foresaid articles with her husband also together wyth the said William Smith abiured the same For these be the wordes of the instrument Subsequenter verò praefati Wilielmus Rogerus Alicia reatus suos respicientes se nostro conspectul praesentarunt c. Notwythstanding whether they presented thēselues willingly or els were brought against their wils as most like it was hard penance was enioyned them before they were absolued These be the wordes of the instrument Sancta mater ecclesia c. i. Seeing our holy mother the church denieth not her lap to any penitēt childe returning to the vnitie of her but rather profereth to them the same we therefore do receiue againe the sayd William Roger Alice to grace And further haue caused them to abiure all and singular the aforesaide articles opinions before they receiued of vs the benefit of absolution were loosed from the sentence of excōmmunication wherein they were snarled inioyning vnto them penance according to the quantitie of the crime in forme as foloweth that is to say That euery one of them the sonday next after their returning to theyr proper goodes they the sayd William Roger Alice holding euery one an image of the crucifix in their right hands and in their left handes euery one of them a taper of waxe waying half a pound waight in their shirts hauing none other apparel vppon them doe goe before the Crosse three times during the procession of the Cathedrall Churche of our Lady of Lecester that is to say in the beginning of the procession in the middle of the procession and in the latter end of the procession to the honor of hym that was crucified in the memoriall of his passion and to the honor of the virgin his mother who also deuoutly bowing their knees and kneeling shall kisse the same crucifixe so helde in theyr handes And so with the same procession they entring againe into the church shall stand during all the time or the holy Masse before the image of the Crosse with their Lapers and crosses in their handes And when the Masse is ended the sayde William Roger Alice shall offer to him that celebrated that day the Masse Then vpon the Saterday next insuing the sayd William Roger and Alice shal in the full and publique market within the towne of Leicester stande in like manner in their shirtes without any more clothes vpon their bodies holding the foresayd crosses in their right hāds which crosses three tunes they shal during the market deuoutly kisse reuerently kneelyng vppon their knees that is in the beginning of the market in the middle of the market and in the ende of the market And the sayde William for that hee some what vnderstandeth the Latine tounge shall say this Antheame wyth the collect Sancta Katharina and the foresayde Roger and Alice being vnlearned shall say deuoutly a Pater noster and an Aue Maria. And thirdly the Sonday next immediatly after the same the sayde William Roger and Alice in theyr parish Church of the sayd towne of Leicester shall stand and do as vppon the Sonday before they stoode and dyd in the cathedrall Church of our Ladie aforesayde in all thynges Which done the foresayd William Roger and Alice after Masse shall offer to the Priest or chaplaine that celebrated the same with all humiliti and reuerence the waxe tapers which they shall carie in their handes And because of the colde weather that now is least the foresaid penitents myght peraduenture take some bodely hurt standing so long naked being mindful to moderate partly the sayd our rigor we geue leaue That after their entrance into the churches aboue sayde whilest they shall be in hearing the foresayde masses that they may put on necessary garments to keepe them from cold so that their heads and feete notwithstanding be bare and vncouered Wee therefore will and commaund you together and a part that you denounce the said William Roger and Alice to be absolued and restored againe to the vnitie of our holy mother the church and that you call them forth to do their penance in maner and forme aforesayde Giuen at Dorchester the 17. day of Nouember in the yeare of our Lorde God 1389. and the 9. yeare of our translation Unto the narration of these aboue sayd we will adioyne the story of one Peter Pateshul au Austen Frier who obtaining by the Popes priuiledge through the meanes of Walter Dis confessour to the Duke of Lancaster libertie to chaunge his coat and religion and hearing the doctrine of Iohn Wicklesse other of the same fort began at length to preach opēly and to detect the vices of his order in such forte as all men wondered to heare the horrible recyting thereof This being brought to the cares of hys order they to the number of 12. cōming out of their house to the place where he was preaching thought to haue withstode hym perforce Among whome one especially for the zeale of hys religion stoode vp openly in his preaching and contraried that which he said who then was preaching in the Church of S. Christopher in London This when the faithfull Londoners did see taking griefe hereat were mooued with great ire against the said Frier thrusting him with hys other brethren out of the church whome they not onely had beaten and fore woūded but also followed them home to their house mineding to haue destroied their mansion with fire also and so would haue done had not one of the sheriffes of London wyth two of the Friers of the sayde house well knowen reported amongst the Londiners wyth gentle wordes mitigated their rage and violence After thys Peter Pateshull thus disturbed as is aforesayd was desired by the Londiners for so much as he could not well preach amongest them to put in writing that which he had sayde before and other things more that he knew by the Friers Who then at their request wryting the same accused the friers of murther cōmitted against diuers of their brethren And to make the matter more apparant credible he declared
called vnto him the Archbishop of Yorke Richard London Henry Winchester Robert Chichester Alexander Norwich the noble prince Edmond the Duke of Yorke Rafe Earle of Westmerland Thomas Beaufort Knight Lord Chancellour of England and the Lord Beamond with other noble men as well spirituall as temporall that stood and sate by whome to name it would be long Before whome the said Iohn Badby was called personallie to answere vnto the Articles premised in the foresaid instrument Who when he came personallie before them the articles were read by the Officiall of the court of Cant. and by the Archb. in the vulgare tong expounded publikely and expresly and the same Articles as he before had spoken and deposed he still held and defended and said that whilest he liued he would neuer retract the same And furthermore he said specially to to be noted that the Lord duke of Yorke personallie there present as is aforesaid and euery man els for the time beeing is of more estimation and reputation then the Sacrament of the aulter by the priest in due forme consecrated And whilest they were thus in his examination the Archbishop considering and waying that he would in no wise be altered and seing moreouer his countenance stout and hart confirmed so that he began to persuade other as it appeared in the same These things considered the Archprelate whē he saw that by his allurements it was not in his power neither by exhortations reasons nor arguments to bring the said Iohn Badbye from his constant truth to his Catholique faith executing and doing the office of his great maister proceeded to confirme and ratifie the former sentence giuen before by the Bishop of Worcester against the said Iohn Badby pronouncing him for an open and publique hereticke And thus shifting their hands of him they deliuered him to the secular power and desired the sayd temporall Lords then and there present verie instantlie that they would not put the same Iohn Badby to death for that his offence nor deliuer him to be punished or put to death in y◠presence of all the Lordsabone recited These things thus done and concluded by the Bishops in the forenoone on the afternoone the Kings writte was not far behind By the force wherof I. Badby still perseuering in his constancie vnto the death was brought into Smithfield and there being put in an emptie barrell was bound with iron chaines fastened to a stake hauing drie wood put about him And as he was thus standing in the pipe or tonne for as yet Cherillus Bull was not in vre among the bishops it happened that the Prince the kings eldest sonne was there present Who shewing some part of the good Samaritane began to endeuour and assay how to saue the life of him whome the hypocriticall Leuites and Phariseis sought to put to death He admonished and counsailed him that hauing respect vnto himselfe he should spedelie withdraw himselfe out of these dangerous Laberinths of opinions adding oftentimes threatnings the which might haue daunted anie mans stomacke Also Courtney at that time Chancellor of Oxford preached vnto him and enformed him of the faith of holie Church In this meane season the Prior of S. Bartlemewes in Smithfield brought with all solemnitie the Sacrament of Gods body with twelue torches borne before and so shewed the Sacrament to the poore man being at the stake And then they demanded of him how he beleeued in it he answering that he knew well it was halowed bread and not gods body And then was the tunne put ouer him and fire put vnto him And when he felt fire he cried mercie calling belike vpon the Lord and so the Prince immediatelie commanded to take awaie the tunne and quench the fire The Prince his commandement being done asked him if he would forsake heresie to take him to the faith of holie Church which thing if he would doo he should haue goods inough promising also vnto him a yearelie stipend out of the kings treasurie so much as should suffice his contentation ¶ The description of the horrible burning of Iohn Badby and how he was vsed at hys death This godly Martyr Iohn Badby hauing thus consummate his testimony and martyrdome in fire the persecuting Bishops yet not herewith contented and thinking themselues as yet eyther not strong inough or els not sharpe enough agaynst tht poore innocent flock of Christ to make all thinges sure and substantiall on theyr side in such sorte as this doctrine of the Gospell nowe springing should be suppressed for euer layd theyr conspiring heads together hauing now a king for theyr own purpose ready to serue theyr turn in all poynts during the time of the same Parliamēt aboue recited yet cōtinuing the foresayd bishops and clergy of the realme exhibited a Bul vnto the kings maiestie subtily declaring what quietnes hath ben mayntayned within this realme by his most noble progenitours who alwayes defended the auncient rites and customes of the Church and enriched the same with large gifts to the honor of God and the realme and contrariwise what trouble and disquietnes was now risen by diuers as they termed them wicked and peruerse men teachinge and preachinge openlye and priuilye acertayne new wicked and hereticall kinde of doctrine contrary to the Catholicke fayth and determination of holye Church whervpon the king alwayes oppressed with blynd ignoraunce by the crafty meanes and subtile pretences of the clergie graunted in the sayd Parliament by consent of the nobilitie assembled a statute to be obserued called Ex officio as followeth The Statute Ex officio That is to say that no man within this Realme or other the kinges maiesties dominions presume or take vpon him to preach priuily or apertly without speciall licence first obteyned of the ordinary of the same place Curates in theyr owne parishe Churches and persons heretofore priuiledged and others admitted by the Canon law onely excepted Nor that any hereafter do preach mayntayne teach informe openly or in secret or make or write any booke contrary to the catholique fayth and determination of the holy Church Nor that any hereafter make anye conuenticles or assemblies or keepe and exercise anye maner of schooles touching this sect wicked doctrin and opinion And further that no man hereafter shall by any meanes fauour anye such preacher any such maker of vnlawfull assemblies or any such booke maker or writer and finally any such teacher informer or stirrer vp of the people And that all and singuler persons hauing anye the sayd bookes writinges or schedules contayning the sayd wicked doctrines and opinions shall within forty dayes after this present proclamation and statute really and effectually deliuer or cause to be deliuered all and singuler the sayd bookes and writinges vnto the ordinary of the same place And if it shall happen anye person or persons of what kinde state or condition soeuer he or they be to doe or attempt anye manner of thing contrarye to this
present proclamation statute or not to deliuer the same books in forme aforesayd That then the ordinary of the same place in his owne diocesse by authoritie of the sayd proclamation and statute shall cause to be arested and deteined vnder safe custody the sayd person or persōs in this case diffamed and euidently suspected or any of them vntill he or they so offending haue by order of lawe purged him or themselues as touching the articles layd to hys or theyr charge in this behalfe or vntill he or they haue denyed and recanted according to the lawes ecclesiasticall the sayd wicked sect preachinges teachinges and hereticall and erroneous opinions And that the sayd ordinary by himselfe or his Commissaries proceede openly and iudicially to all the effect of law agaynst the sayd persons so arested and remayning vnder safe custody that he end and determine the matter within three monethes after the sayd arest all delayes and excuses set apart according to the order and custom of the Canon law And if any person in any cause aboue mentioned shal be lawfully conuicted before the ordinary of the diocesse or hys Comissaries that then the sayd Ordinary may lawfully cause the sayd person so conuicted according to the maner and quallitie of hys fact to be layd in any of his owne prisons and there to be kept so long as to hys discretion shall be thought expedient And further the sayd Ordinary except in cases by the which according to the Canon law the party offending ought to be deliuered to the seculer power shall charge the sayd person wyth such a fine of mony to be payd vnto the kinges maiestye as he shall thinke competent for the maner and quallitie of his offence And the sayd diocesan shal be bound to geue notice of the sayd fine into the kinges maiesties Eschequer by hys letters patent vnder his seale to the intent that the sayd fine may be leuied to the kinges maiesties vse of the goodes of the person so conuict And further if any person within this realme and other the the kinges maiesties dominion shal be conuicted before the Ordinary of the place or hys Comissaryes of the sayd wicked preachinges doctrines opinions schooles and hereticall and erroneous informations or any of them and will refuse to abiure and recant the sayd wicked sect preachings teachings opinions schols and informations Or if after hys abiuration once made the relapse be pronounced agaynst hym by the diocesan of the place or hys Commissaryes for so by the Canon law he ought to be lefte to the secular power vpon credite geuen to the ordinary or hys Commissaries That then the Sheriffe of the same Countie the Mayor Sheriffes or Sheriffe or the Mayor or Baliffes of the same Cittie village or Borough of the same County and neerest inhabiting to the sayd Ordinary or hys sayd Commissaryes shall personally be present as oft as they shal be required to conferre with the sayd Ordinary or his commissaries in geuing sentence against the sayd persons offending or any of them And after the sayd sentence so pronounced shall take vnto them the sayd persons so offending and any of them and cause them openly to be burned in the sight of all the people To the intent that this kinde of punishment may be a terror vnto others that the like wicked doctrines and heretical opinions or the authours and fauourers thereof be no more mayntayned within this Realme and dominions to the great hurt which God forbid of Christian religion and decrees of holy Church In which all and singuler the premisses concerning the statute aforesayd Let the Sheriffes Mayors and Bayliffes of the sayd Counties Cities Villages and Boroughes be attendant ayding and fauoring the sayd Ordinaryes and theyr Commissaries By this bloudy statute so seuerely and sharply enacted agaynst these simple men here hast thou gentle Reader a little to stay with thy selfe and to consider the nature and condition of this present world howe it hath bene set and bent euer from the beginning by all might counsayle and wayes possible to striue agaynst the wayes of God and to ouerthrow that which he will haue set vp And althogh the world may see by infinite storyes and examples that it is but in vaine to striue against him yet such is the nature of this world all set in malignitie that it will not cease still to be like it selfe The like law and statute in the time of Dioclesian and Maximinus was attempted as before appeareth pag. 83. for the more strength were writtē also in tables of brasse to the entent that the name of Christ should vtterly be extincted for euer And yet the name of Christ remayneth where that brasen lawe remayned not three yeres The which law writtē thē in brasse although it differ in maner form from this our statute Ex officio yet to the same ende cruelty to spill the bloud of saintes there is no difference betweene the one and the other Neither is there anye diuersitie touching the first originall doer and worker of thē both For the same Sathan which then wrought his vttermost agaynst Christ before he was bound vp the same also now after his loosing out doth what he can though not after the same way yet to the same intent For then 〈◊〉 outward violence as an open enemy he did what he could Now by a more couert way vnder the title of the Church he unpugneth the Church of Christ vsing a more subtile way to deceaue vnder gay pretēsed titles but no lesse pernicious in the end wherto be shouteth as well appeareth by this bloudy statute Ex officio the sequell wherof cost afterward many a Christen mans life As in processe of story remayneth more hereafter Christ willing to be declared Furthermore for the more fortification of this statute of the king aforesayd concurreth also an other constitution made much about the same tyme by the Archb. of Canterb. Thomas Arundell So that no industrye nor pollicy of man here did lack to set the matter forward but specially on the bishops partes who left no meanes vnattempted how to subuert the right wayes of the Lord. First in most dilligent and exquisite execution of the kinges statute set foorth the execution whereof they did so exactly apply that maruell it is to consider all other laws of kinges commonly be they neuer so good to be so coldly kept and this onely among all the rest so neerely followed But herein is to be scene the dilligence of the romishe Prelates which neuer let any thing to fal that maketh for the dignity of their estate Secondly beside theyr vigilant care in seeing y◠kinges statute to be executed No lesse industrious also were they in adding thereunto mo◠constitutions of theyr owne as from time to time appeareth as wel by other Archbishops hereafter and by Pope Martine as also by this constitution here present made by Thomas Arundell the Archb. But before we enter
name for to encrease my beliefe and to helpe my vnbeliefe And for because to the praysing of Gods name I desire aboue all things to be a faithfull meÌ„ber of holy church I make this protestaâ—oÌ„ before you all foure that are now here present couering that all men women that now be absent knew the same that is what thing so euer before this time I haue sayde or done or what thing here I shall doe or say at any time hereafter I beleeue that all the olde law and the new law geuen and ordeined by the couÌ„sell of the three persons of the Trinity were geuen and written to the saluatioÌ„ of mankind And I beleue that these lawes are sufficient for mans saluation And I beleue euery article of these lawes to the intent that these articles ordeined and commaunded of these 3 persons of the most blessed trinity are to be beleued And therfore to yâ— rule the ordinaunce of these Gods lawes meekely gladly and wilfully I submit me with all mine hart that whosoeuer can or wll by authority of gods lawe or by open reason tell me that I haue erred or nowe erre or any time hereafter shall erre in any article of beliefe from which inconuenience God keepe me for hys goodnesse I submit me to be reconciled and to be buxum obedient vnto those lawes of God and to euery article of theÌ„ For by authority specially of these lawes I will thorow the grace of God be vntied charitably vnto these lawes Yea sir ouer this I beleeue admit all the senteÌ„ces authorities and reasoÌ„s of the saynts doctors according vnto holy scripture and declaring it truely I submit me wilfully and meekely to be euer obedient after my cunning and power to all these saynts and Doctors as they are obedient in worke and in word to God to his law and further not to my knowledge not for any earthly power dignitye or state thorow the helpe of God But sir I pray you tell me if after your bidding I shal lay my hand vpon the booke to what entent to sweare thereby And the Archby sayd to me yea wherefore els And I said to him Syr a book is nothing els but a thing coupled together of diuers creatures and to swere by any creature both Gods law and mans law is agaynst it But Syr this thing I say here to you before these your clerkes with my foresayd protestation that how where when and to whom men are bouÌ„d to sweare or to obey in any wise after Gods law and saints and true Doctours according vnto Gods law I will thorow Gods grace be euer ready thereto with all my cunning and power But I pray you sir for the charitye of God that ye will before that I sweare as I haue here rehearsed to you tell me how or whereto that I shal submit me and shew me wherof that ye will correct me and what is the ordinaunce that ye will thus oblige me to fulfill ¶ And the Archbishop sayd vnto me I will shortly that now thou sweare here to me that thou shalt forsake al the opinions which the sect of Lollordes holde and is slaundered with so that after this time neither priuilye nor apertly thou hold any opinion which I shal after thou hast sworne rehearse to thee here Nor thou shalt fauor no maÌ„ nor woman young nor olde that holdeth any these foresayd opinions but after thy knowledge and power thou shalt force thee to wtstaÌ„d al such distroublers of holy church in euery dioces that thou commest in and them that wyll not leaue their false and damnable opinioÌ„s thou shalt put them vp publishing them and theyr names and make theÌ„ knowne to the bishop of the dioces that they are in or to that bishops ministers And ouer this I will that thou preach no more vnto the time that I know by good witnesse true that thy conuersation be such that thy hart and thy mouth accord truely in one contrarying all the seud learning that thou hast taught here before ☞ And I hearing these wordes thought in my hart that this was an vnlefull asking and demed my selfe cursed of God if I consented hereto I thought how Susan sayd Anguish is to me on euery side And in that I stoode still and spake not the Archbishop sayd to me Aunswere one wise or other And I sayd Syr if I consented to you thus as ye haue here before rehersed to me I should becom an appealer or euery bishops espy somoner of al EnglaÌ„d For and I should thus put vp and publish the names of men and women I should herein deceiue full many persons Yea sir as it is likely by the dome of my conscience I should herein be cause of the death both of men and womeÌ„ yea both bodely and ghostly For many men women that stand now in the way of saluation if I should for the learning and reading of theyr beleue publish them therfore vp to Bishops or to their vnpiteous ministers I know some deale by experience that they should be so distroubled diseased with persecution or otherwise that many of theÌ„ I thinke would rather chuse to forsake the way of truth theÌ„ to be trauailed scorned slauÌ„dered or punished as bishops and their ministers now vse for to constrayne men women to consent to them But I finde in no place in holy scripture that this office that ye would now enfeaffe me with accordeth to any Priest of Christes sect nor to any other christen man And therefore to do this were to me a full noyous bond to bee bouÌ„deÌ„ with ouer greuous charge For I suppose that if I thus did many men and women would yea Syr might iustly vnto my confusion say to me that I were a traytor to God and to them since as I thinke in mine hart many men women trust so mikle in this case that I would not for sauing of my life doe thus to them For if I thus should do full many men women would as they might full truely say that I had falsly and cowardly forsaken the truth and slaundered shamefully the word of God For if I consented to you to do here after your will for bonchefe or mischief that may befall to me in this life I deme in my coÌ„science that I were worthy herefore to be cursed of god and also of all his Saynts fro which inconuenience keep me and all christeÌ„ people almighty God now and euer for his holy name And then the Archbishop sayd vnto me Oh thine hart is ful hard indurate as was the hart of Pharao and the deuill hath ouercomen thee and peruerted thee he hath so blinded thee in all thy wittes that thou hast no grace to know the trueth nor the measure of mercye that I haue proferred to thee Therfore as I perceiue now by the foolish auÌ„swere thou hast no wil to leaue thine old errors But
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
diuers other of their adherents made earnest sute that he should not be let go at libertie againe and hauing the fauor of the iudges on their part they bragged vp and downe in a maner as they had bin mad men and mocked the said Iohn Husse sayeng now we will hold thee well enough thou art vnder our power and iurisdiction and shalt not depart vntill such time as thou hast paid the vttermost farthing A little afore night they sent f Prouost of the Romain court vnto M. Iohn de Clum to shew him that he might returne to his lodging for as for I. Hus they had otherwise prouided for him whē M. Iohn de Clum hard these newes he was wonderfully displeased forsomuch as through their crafts subtleties glosing words they had so trained this good man into their snares whereupon he went vnto t Pope declaring vnto him all that was done most humbly beseching him that he would call to remembrance the promise which he had made vnto him and maister Henry Latzembog and that he woulde not so lightly falsifie and breake his faith and promise The Pope aunswered that all these things were done without his cōsent or commandement and saide further to maister Clum apart what reason is it that you should impute this deede vnto mee seeing that you knowe well inough that I my selfe am in the hands of these Cardinals and Bishops In mine opiniō for so much as Pope Iohn feared that which in deed did after follow that he should be depriued of his dignitie he thought to win the fauour of these Herodian Cardinals and Bishops by betraieng this good man vnto thē So the said M. Clum returned very pensifull sory he complained very fore both priuely openly of the iniury and outrage that the Pope had done but all profited nothing After this the saide I. Hus was led by the officers to the chapter house of the great Church of Constance where hee was kept prisoner by the space of right daies frō thence he was caried vnto the Iacobines hard by the riuer of Rhine and was shut vp in the prison of the Abbey the which was hard by the Bogardes After he had bene inclosed there a certaine time he fell sore sicke of an agew by meanes of the stench of the place and became so weake that they despaired of his life And for feare least this good mā should die in prison as others are wont to do the Pope sente vnto him certaine of hys Phisitions for to cure and helpe him In the middest of his sicknes his accusers made importunate sute to the principals of the Councell that the sayde Iohn Hus might bee condemned and presented vnto the Pope these Articles heere vnderwritten ¶ Articles presented against Iohn Husse FIrst he doth erre about the Sacraments of the church and specially about the Sacramet of the body of Christ for so much as he hath openly preached that it ought to be ministred openly vnto the people vnder both kinds that is to say the body and bloud This article is euident for somuch as his disciples at this instant in Prage do minister the same in both kinds Moreouer it is affirmed by diuers that he hath taught both in the schooles and in the Church or at the least that he doth hold this opinion that after the words of consecration pronounced vpon the aulter there remaineth still materiall bread in the Sacrament this article shall be knowne by his examination Secondly he doth erre as touching the ministers of the church forsomuch as he saith that they cannot cōsecrate or minister the Sacraments when they are in mortall sinne This article shall likewise be known by his examination Notwithstanding all that which is here conteined may be gathered by his writings De ecclesia the which if he denie let there then be some deuines and others appointed to peruse and looke ouer his said writings of the Church Moreouer he saith that other men beside priests may minister the Sacraments this article is euident for so much as his disciples do the same at Prage the which of themselues do violently take the Sacrament out of the treasurie and communicate among themselues whē the holy communion is denied vnto them by this and other things also it is sufficiently euident that he hath taught that euerie man being without mortall sinne hath the power of orders or priesthood for so much as such only as hath taken orders ought to minister the sacraments vnto themselues And because he proceedeth from small matters vnto great and waightier it doth consequently appeare and followe that those which be in state of grace can binde and loose Thirdly he doth erre as touching the Church and specially for that he doth not allow admit that the Church signifieth the Pope Cardinals Archbishops and the Clergie vnderneath them but saith that this signification was drawne out from the schoolemen And in no case to be holden or allowed this article is manifest by his said treatise vpon the Church Moreouer he doth erre concerning the Church in that he saith that the Church ought not to haue any temporall possessions And that the temporall Lords may take them away from the Church the clergy without any offence this errour is euident forsomuch as through his doctrine and intisements many churches in the kingdom of Boheme in the citie of Prage are already spoiled and robbed of a great part of their temporalties and goods He saith also that Constantinus other secular princes erred by enriching and enduing churches monasteries This article is manifest by that which goeth next before Fourthly he erreth as touching the Church in that hee sayth that all priests are of like power and therfore affirmeth that the reseruations of the Popes casualties the ordering of Bishops and the consecration of the Priestes were inuented only for couetousnes This Article doth somewhat appeare by those afore going but by his examination shall be more euident Fiftly he erreth concerning the church in that he sayth that the church being in sinne hath no power of the keies when as the Pope Cardinals and all other of the priests and cleargie are in deadly sinne the which he sayth is possible enough this also doth appeare in his treatise vppon the Church in his first errour as touching the ministers of the Church Sixtly he erreth touching the Church for as much as through contempt he doth not feare excommunication This doth notoriously appeare by his owne doings in that he did contemne and despise the Apostolike and ordinary censure and in all the Apostolike excommunications iniunctions he hath borne himselfe vpon the diuine commandements and in contempt of the keyes to the setting out of his hypocrisie he hath said masse all the wayes betweene this and the citie of Prage and therby hath prophanate the processe and authoritie of the Church Seuenthly he erreth againe as
thinges shall come to passe and be brought by little and little in order of times dispensed of God for the same purpose And this God doth and will do for his owne goodnes and mercy and for the riches of his great longanimity and pacience geuing time and space of repētance to them that haue lōg line in theyr sins to amend and flye from the face of the Lordes fury whyle that in like manner the carnall people and carnal priestes successiuely and in time shall fall awaye and be consumed as with the moth c. ¶ An other letter of Iohn Husse MAister Martin my deare brother in Christ I exhorte you in the Lord that you feare God keepe hys commaundementes and flee the company of women and beware of hearing their confessions least by the hipocrisie of women Sathan deceiue you trust not their deuotion You know how I haue detested the auarice and the inordinate life of the Clergy wherefore through the grace of God I suffer now persecution which shortly shal be consummate in me neither doe I feare to haue my hart powred out for the name of Christ Iesus I desire you hartely be not greedy in seeking after benefices And yet if you shal be called to anye cure in the country let the honour of God the saluation of soules and the trauaile therof moue you therunto and not the hauing of the lining or the commodities thereof And if you shall be placed in any such benefice beware you haue no yong womā for your cook or seruant least you edifie and encrease more your house then your soule See that you be a builder of your spirituall house being gentle to the poore and humble of mind and waste not your goodes in great fare I feare also if you do not amend your life ceasing from your costly and superfluous apparell least you shal be greuously chastised as I also wretched mā shal be punished which haue vsed the like being seduced by custome of euill men and wordly glory wherby I haue bene wounded agaynst God wyth the spirite of pride And because you haue notably knowne both my preaching and outward conuersation euen from my youth I haue no neede to write many thinges vnto you but to desire you for the mercy of Iesus Christ that you do not followe me in anye such leuitie and lightnes whiche you haue in seene in me You knew how before my priesthoode whiche greueth me nowe I haue delighted to playe oftentimes at chesse and haue neglected my time and thereby haue vnhappily prouoked both my self and other to anger many times by that play Wherfore besides other my innumerable faultes for thys also I desire you to inuocate the mercy of the Lord that he will pardon me and so directe my life that hauing ouercome the wickednes of this present life the flesh the world and the deuill I may finde place in the heauenly country at the least in the day of iudgement Fare ye well in Christ Iesus with all them which keepe hys law My gray coate if you will keepe to your selfe for my remembraunce but I thinke you are ashamed to wear that gray colour therfore you may geue it to whō you shall thinke good My white coate you shall geue the minister N. my scholer To George or els to Zuzikon 60. groates or els my gray coate for he hath faythfully serued me ¶ The superscription I pray you that you doe not open this letter before you be sure and certayne of my death The consolation of Mayster Hierome to Mayster Hus. MY maister in those thinges which you haue both written hetherto and also preached after the law of God agaynst the pride auarice an other inordinate vices of the Priestes goe forward be constant and strong And if I shall know that you are oppressed in the cause and if neede shal so require of myne own accorde I will folow after to helpe you as much as I can BY the lyfe actes and letters of Iohn Hus hetherto rehearsed it is euident and playne that he was condemned not for any errour of doctrine which they coulde well proue in hym who neyther denyed their popishe transubstantiation neither spake against the authoritie of the church of Rome if it were well gouerned nor yet the 7. Sacraments also sayd masse himself and almost in al their popish opinions was a papist with them but onely of euil wil was accused of his malicious aduersaries because he spake agaynst the pompe pride and auarice other wicked enormities of the pope Cardinals Prelates of that Church and because he could not abide the high dignities liuings of the Churche and thought the doinges of the pope to be Antichristlike For this cause he procured so many enemies false witnesses agaynst him Who strayning and picking matter out of hys bookes and writinges hauing no one iust article of doctrine to lay vnto him yet they made hym an hereticke whether he would or no and brought him to hys condemnation This can hatred and malice do where the charitie of Christ hath no place Whiche being so as thy charitie good reader may easely vnderstand in perusing the whol course of hys story I beseech thee thē what cause had Iohn Cochleus to write his 12. bookes agaynst Iohn Hus and Hussites In which bookes how bitterly intēperately he misuseth hys penne by these few words in hys second booke thou mayst take a little tast which wordes I thought here briefly to place in English to the ende that all English men may iudge thereby with what spirite and truth these Catholickes he caryed Hys wordes be these Lib. 2. Hist. Dico igitur Ioan Huss neque sanctum neque beatum habendum esse sed impium potius c. That is I say therfore Iohn Husse is neither to be counted holy nor blessed but rather wicked and eternally wretched insomuche that in the day of iudgement it shal be more easie not onely with the infidell Pagans Turks Tartarians and Iewes but also with the most sinfull Sodomites the abhominable Persians which most filthily doe lye with their daughters sisters or mothers yea also with most impious Cain killer of hys owne brother with Thyestes killer of hys own mother and the Lestrygones other Andropophagi which deuour mans flesh yea more easie with those infamous murderers of infants Pharao Herode then with him c. These be the words of Cochleus Whose rayling books although they deserue neyther to be read nor aunswered yet if it pleased God it were to be wished that the Lord would stir vp some towardly yong man that hath so much leasure to defend the simplicitie of thys Iohn Hus whiche cannot now aunswere for himselfe In the meane tyme something to satisfie or stay the readers mynde agaynst thys immoderate hyperbole of Cochleus in like fewe wordes I wyll bryng out Iohn Hus to speake and to cleare hymselfe agaynst this slaunder whose wordes in
this present committing the foresayd iniuryes vnto God vnto whom vengeance perteyneth who will also aboundantly reward workers of iniquity will prosecute them more amply before him whom God shall appoynt in the Apostolicke sea to gouerne his holy Churche as the onely and vndoubted Pastour Vnto whom God willing we exhibiting our due reuerence obedience as faythfull children in those things which are lawfull honest and agreeable to reason and the law of God wil make our request and petition that speedy remedy may be prouided for vs our sayde kingdome and Marquesdome vpon the premises according to the law of our Lord Iesus Christ and the institutions of the holy fathers The premises notwithstanding we setting apart all feare and mens ordinances prouided to the contrary will maynetayne and defend the law of our Lord Iesus Christ and the deuout humble and constant preachers thereof euen to the shedding of our bloud Dated at Sternberg in the yeare of our Lord. 1415. vpon S. Wēceslaus day Martyr of our Lord Iesu Christ. Round about the sayd letters there were 54. Seales hanging and their names subscribed whose Seales they were The names of which noble men I thought it good here to annext with all partly for the more credite of that hath bene sayd partly also for examples sake to the intent that our noble men and gentlemen in this our Realme of England now liuing in this cleare light of the Gospell may by their example vnderstand that if they ioyne themselues with the Gospell of Iesus zealouslye and as they should do yet are they neither the first nor the most that so haue done before them if not yet the trueth may here remayne in the story to theyr shame or els to theyr instruction seing so many noble and worthy gentlemen within the small kingdome of Bohemia to be so forward in those so darcke dayes and among so many enemyes 200. yeares agoe to take part with Christ And yet our Gentlemē here in such long cōtinuance of time being so diligētly taught are neyther in number nor in zeale to thē to be compared but will still take part contrary both to Christ and to the example of these nobles whose names they may see read here folowing 1 Alssokabat de Wiscowitz 2 Vlricus de Lhota 2 Ioan de Ksimicz 4 Iossko de sczitowicz 5 Paerdus Zwiranowicz 6 Ioan. de Ziwla 7 Ioā de Reychēberg 8 Wildo Skitzyny 9 Drliko de Biela 10 Kos de Doloylatz 11 Ioan de Simusin 12 Dobessim ' de Tissa 13 Drazko de Aradeck 14 Steph. de Hmodorkat 15 Ioan Dern de Gabonecx 16 Barso dictus Hloder de Zeinicz 17 Ioan Hmrsdorfar 18 Psateska de Wilklek 19 Petrus Mg de Sczitowicy 20 N. Studenica 21 N. Brischell 22 N. de Cromassona 23 Arannisick Donant de Poloniae 24 Ioan. Donant de Poloniae 25 Ioan. de Cziczow 26 Wenceslaus de N. 27 N. de N. 28 N.N. 29 Iosseck de N. 30 Henricus de N. 31 Waczlals de kuck  This noble man did accompanye Hus and with certain horsemen conducte him to Constance 32 Henr. de Zrenowicz 33 Baczko de Cōuald 34 Petr. dictus Nienick de zaltoroldeck 35 Czēko de Mossnow 36 N. 37 Zibilutz de Clezā 38 Ioan. de Peterswald 39 Parsifal de Namyescz 40 Zodoni de Zwietzick 41 Raczeck Zawskalp 42 Ion de Tossawicz 43 Diwa de Spissnia 44 Steffko de Draczdw 45 Issko de Draczdw 46 Odich de Hlud 47 Wosfart de Paulowicz 48 Pirebbor de Tire zenicz 49 Rynard de Tyrczewicz 50 Bohunko de Wratisdow 51 Vlricus de Racdraw 52 Deslaw de Nali 53 Bonesb de Frabenicz 54 Eybl de Roissowan After these things thus declared and discoursed cōcerning the history of Iohn Hus and Hierome of Prage the order of place and countrye next woulde require consequently to infer and comprehend the great troubles perturbations which happened after vpō the death of these men in the coūtry of Boheme but the order of time calleth me backe first to other matters here of our owne country which passed in the meane time with vs in England Which things being taken by the way and finished we will christ willing afterward returne to the tractation hereof to prosecute the troubles and conflictes of the Bohemians with other things beside perteyning to the latter end of the coūcell of constance and chosing of Pope Martin as the order of yeares and time shall require Ye heard before pag. 588. how after the death of Thomas Arundell Archb. of Caunt succeeded Henry Chichesley an 1414. and sate 25. yeres In whose time was much trouble and great affliction of good mē here in England of whom many were compelled to abiure some we burned diuers were driuē to exile Wherof partly now to entreat as we finde them in registers historyes recorded we will first begin with Iohn Claydon Currier of Londō Richard Turming whom Rob. Fabian doth falsly affirm to be burned in the yeare where in Syr Roger Acton and M. Browne suffered who in deed suffered not before the secōd yeare of Henry Chichesley being Archb. of Caunt whiche was an 1413. The history of which Iohn Claydon in the Registers is thus declared The story of Iohn Claydon Currier and of R. Turming Baker THe 17. of August 1415. did personally appeare I. Claydon Currier of London arrested by the Mayor of the sayd City for the suspition of heresy before Henry Archbishop of Caunterbury in Saynt Paules Church whiche Iohn being obiected to him by the Archbishop that in the City of London other places of the prouince of Canterbury he was suspected by diuers godly and learned mē for heresy and to be contrary to the catholick fayth and determinatiō of the church did openly confesse and denyed not but that he had bene for the space of xx yeres suspected both about the City of London also in the prouince of Caunt and specially of the common sort for Lollardy and heresy to be contrary to the catholick fayth and determination of the church of Rome and defamed of the same all the tyme aforesayd In so much that in the time of M. Robert Braybrooke B. of London deceased he was for the space of two yeares commaunded to the prison of Conwey for the foresayd defamation and suspition and for the same cause also he was in prison in the fleete for 3. yeares Out of which prison he in the raigne of King Henry the 4. was brought before Lord Iohn Scarle then Chauncellor to the king there did abiure all heresy and errour And the sayd Iohn Claydon being asked of the sayd Archbishop whither he did abiure the heresye of which he was suspect before any other did confesse that in a Conuocation at London in Paules Church before Thomas Arundell late Archbishop deceased he did abiure all such doctrine which they called heresy and error contrary to the Catholick fayth and determination of the Church and that he had
coÌ„uict vnto the secular court yet notwithstanding let them commit theÌ„ vnto the perpetuall or temporall prisons as the quality of the cause shall require vntil the next conuocation of yâ— prelates and Clergy of our prouince of Canterbury there personally to remaine and that in the same prisons they cause theÌ„ to be kept according as the lawe requireth And that of all and singular the things aforesayd that is what iniquisition they haue made and what they haue found and how in the processe they haue behaued themselues and what persons so conuict they haue caused to be put in safe keeping with what diligence or negligence of the Commissaryes aforesayd with all and all maner of other circumstances premised and therunto in any wise apperteining and specially of the abiurations if in the meane time they shall chaunce to abiure any heresyes that then in the next coÌ„uocation of the Prelates and Clergy vnder the forme aforesayd they cause the same distinctly and apertly to be certified to vs and our successours And that they deliuer effectually to the Officiall of our Court the same processe to remain with them or els in the register of one court of Canterbury so that euery one to whom â—â—th things appertaineth for the further execution of the same proces may haue recourse vnto the same officiall with all effect We therefore commaund that as touching the constitution brought vnto your City Diocesan you cause the same in conuenieÌ„t place and time to be published and that in all pointes you both obserue the same your selues and cause it also of others to be diligently obserued CommauÌ„ding furthermore all and singular our felow brethren and Suffraganes that they in likewise cause the same to be published throughout all their Cities and Dioces both diligently obserue the same themselues and also cause al others to do the same and what thing soeuer you shall do in the premisses that you certify vs betwixt this and the feast of S. Peter ad vincula next comming that you duely certify vs of these thinges by your letters patentes contayning the same effect sealed with your seales Dated at our house in London the first day of Iuly an 1416. During the time of this conuocatioÌ„ in the yere aboue sayd two priestes were presented brought before the bishops noted and defamed for hereticks one named Iohn Barton vnto whom it was obiected by Philip Bishop of Lincolne that he had bene excommunicated about 6. or 7. yeares before vpon Articles concerning religion and yet neither would appeare being cited nor woulde seeke to be reconciled agayne vnto the Church Which thinges being so prooued agaynst him he was committed to the custody of the foresayd Philip Bishoppe of Lincolne and so to be holden in prison till he should heare further what should be done The other was Robert Chapel otherwise named Holbech Chaplain sometime to the Lord Cobham vnto whoÌ„ likewise it was obiected that he being vnder the sentence of excommunication about three or foure yeares yet notwithstanding to the contempt of the keyes did continue saying Masse and preaching sought not to be recoÌ„ciled Chapel denying that he did know any such excommunication geuen out agaynst him Then was the copy of his excommunicatioÌ„ first made by the bishop of Roff. afterward denouÌ„ced by the Bishop of LoÌ„don at Paules crosse brought and read before him so that done that Session brake vp for that time which was about the latter ende of May. an 1416. The xij day of the moneth of Iuly next following the sayd Chappell appeared agayn before the Archbishop and the Prelates To whom when it was obiected as before how he had preached without the Bishops licence in dyuers places as at Cobham at Cowling and at Shorne ac length he confessing and submitting himself desired pardoÌ„ Which although it was not at the first graunted vnto him yet at the last the Bishop of Roff. putting in his hands the decree of the canon law 1. q. 7. cap. Quoties c. and causing him to read the same made him to aviure all his former articles opinions as hereticall and schismaticall neuer to holde the same agayne according to the contentes of the foresayd Canon Wherupon the sayd Robert being absolued by the authority of the Archb. saue only that he should not intermeddle with saying Masse before he had bene dispensed from the Pope himselfe for his irregularity was enioyned by the Archb. himselfe for his penance standing at Paules to publish these articles folowing vnto the people in stead of his confession geuen him to be read In primis I confesse that Bishops Priestes and other Ecclesiasticall persons hauing no other profession to the contrary may lawfully haue receiue and reteyne landes and possessions temporall to dispense and dispose the same and the rentes thereof to the behoofe of themselues or of theyr Church where they dwell according as semeth good to them 2. Item I confesse that it were very vnlawfull yea rather vniust that temporal men vpon any occasion whatsoeuer it be should take away temporall landes and possessions from the church either vniuersal or particular to whoÌ„ they are geuen the consideration of the abuse of mortall prelates priest or other ministers in the Church conuersant which are mixt together good with bad abusing the same to the contrary notwithstanding 3. Item I confesse that peregrinations to the reliques of saintes and to holy places are not prohibited nor to be coÌ„temned of any Catholicke but are auayleable to remission of sinnes and approued of holy fathers and worthy to be commended 4. Item I confesse that to worship the images of Christ or of any other saynts being set vp in the church or in any other place is not forbiddeÌ„ neither is any cause inductiue of Idolatry being so vsed as the holy fathers do will them to be worshipped But rather such images do profit much to the health of Christians because they do put vs in remeÌ„brauÌ„ce of the merits of those sayntes whom they represent and the sight of them doth moone and stirre vp the people to prayers and deuotion 5. Item I confesse that auriculer confession vsed in the Churche is necessarye for a sinner to the saluation of hys soule and necessary to be done of such a priest as is ordeyned by the Church to heare the confession of the sinner to enioyne him penance for the same without which confession if it may be had there is no remission of sinnes to him that is in sinne mortall 6. Item I confesse and firmely do hold that although the Priest be in mortall sinne yet may he make the bodye of Christ and minister other Sacramentes and Sacramentals which neuerthelesse are profitable to all the faythfull whosoeuer receiueth them in fayth and in deuotion of the Church 7. Item I confesse that bishops in their own dioces may forbid decree ordayn vpoÌ„ reasonable causes that priests should not preach without theyr
woodes and had a great pray spoile of them Notwithstanding Albertus when he heard tell that the Cardinall was entered into Boheme with all speede came agayne out of Austrich with his army besieged the strong town of Prezorabia but when he vnderstoode howe the Cardinall was fled he left of his purpose and returned through Morauia which was not yet subiecte vnto him and destroyed aboue 50. townes wyth fire and sword toke many of their cities by force and spoiled them committing great murther and slaughter and so afflicted them that they toke vpon them his yoke and promised to be subiecte and obedient to him vnder this condition that as touching religion he would be bounde to doe that whych the Councel of Basil should determine Then was there an ambassade sent out of Boheme vnto Basil where as Sigismund held the Councel who during the time of warres had kept himself at Noremberge When as hee shoulde take his iourney vnto Rome to bee crowned Emperour hee wrote letters vnto the nobles of Boheme wherin was contained how that he was a Bohemian borne and how he was not more affectioned to any nation then to his own and that he went to Rome for none other cause but to be crowned the which his honor shoulde also be a renowne to the Bohemians whome to aduaunce it hath bene alwaies his speciall care Also how that through his endeuor the Councel was begon at Basill exhorting all suche as were desirous to be heard as touching religion that they shuld come thether and that they woulde not maintaine any quarell contrary to the holy mother church that the Councel wold louingly and gentlely heare their reasons that they should onely endeuour themselues to agree wyth the Synode as touching religion and reserue and kepe a quiet and peaceable kingdome for hym against his returne Neyther shoulde the Bohemians thinke to refuse his regiment whose brother father and vncle had raigned ouer them and that hee would reigne ouer them after no other meane or sort then other Christian kings vsed to doe The councel of Basil also wrote their letter to the Bohemians that they should send their Ambassadors which should shew a reason of their faith promising safeconducte to go come and free liberty to speake what they woulde The Bohemians in this point were of 2. opinions for the Protestants almost all the common people sayd it was not good to go alledging the examples of Iohn Hus and Hierome of Prage which going vnto Constance vnder the safeconduct of the Emperour were there openly burned But the nobility folowing the minde of Maynardus prince of the new house sayde that they ought to goe vnto the Councell and that they are not to be suffred which had inuented those new and strange opinions of faith newe kinde of religion except they would render accōpt of theyr doings and sayings before the vniuersall church defend those things which they had openly taught before learned men This opinion tooke place and an ambassade of 300. horse was sent vnto Basil. The chiefe wherof were William Cosca a valiant knight Procopius surnamed Magnus a mā of worthy fame for his manifold victories Ioh. Rochezana preacher of Prage Nicolas Galecus minister of the Thaborites and one Peter an Englishman of excellent prōpt and pregnant wit The people came in great number out of the towne and many out of the synode and councell attending before the gates to see the comming of this valiāt and famous people other some gathered together in great nōber into the streetes where as they should passe through The matrones maids and children filled the windowes and houses to behold and se◠and to maruel at their strange kinde of apparel and stoute couragious coūtenāces saying that it was not vntrue which was reported of them notwithstanding all men behelde Procopius saying this is he which hath ouerthrowne the papistes in so many battels which hathe subuerted so many townes and slaine so many men whom both his enemies and also his owne souldiours do feare and reuerence also that hee was a bold valiant and inuincible captaine which coulde not be ouercome with no terrour labour or trauaile These Bohemian Ambassadors were gently receyued The next day after Cardinall Iulianus sending for them vnto the councell house made a gentle long and eloquent Oration vnto them exhorting them to vnitie and peace saying that the church was the spouse of our sauior Christ and the mother of all faithful that it hath the keyes of binding and losing and also that it is white and fair without spot or wrinkle and cā not erre in those poynts which are necessary to saluation and that he which doeth contemne the same church is to be coūted as a prophane Ethnike publicane neither can this church be represented better by any meanes then in this councel Hee exhorteth them also to receiue the decrees of the councell and to geue no lesse credite vnto the councell then vnto the Gospell by whose authority the scriptures themselues are receiued allowed Also that the Bohemians which call them selues the children of the church ought to heare the voice of their mother which is neuer vnmindful of her children how that nowe of late they haue liued apart from their mother albeit said hee that is no newe or straunge thing for there haue bene many in times past which haue forsakē their mother and yet seeking after saluation haue returned to her againe That in the time of Noes floud as many as were wythout the arke perished That the Lordes passeouer was to be eaten in one house that there is no saluation to be sought for out of the church and that this is the garden famous fountaine of water wherof whosoeuer shal drinke shall not thirst euerlastingly That the Bohemians haue done as they ought in that they haue sought the foūtains of this water at the councel and haue determined nowe at length to geue care vnto their mother Nowe all hatred ought to cease all armor and weapon is to be laid apart all occasion of warre vtterly to be reiected For the fathers would louingly and gently heare whatsoeuer there they would say in their owne cause or quarell requiring onely that they woulde willingly receiue and embrace the good counsels and determinations of the sacred synode whereunto not onely the Bohemians but also all other faithfull Christians ought to consent and agree if they wil be partakers of eternall life This Oration of the Cardinal was heard very wel allowed of the fathers Wherunto the Bohemians answered in fewe woordes that they neither had contemned the Church nor the councels that the sentence geuen at Constance against those which were vnheard doeth diminishe nothing of the Christian religion that the authoritie of the fathers hath alwaies remained amongst them inuiolate and whatsoeuer thing the Bohemians had taught to bee confirmed by the scriptures and Gospell and that they are
February vppon the which day the 4. orders were appoynted to declare theyr censure vppon the Articles in the chapiter houses of Paules first appeareth Frier Tylle for the Blacke Friers then Frier Winchelsey then Frier Low After Frier Ashwel eche Frier for his order seuerally bringing his heresy as is aboue specified Thus the verdict of these 4. orders being geuen vp to the Archb. and seuerally eche order comming in with hys heresye which was the 20. day of February Hereuppon commeth downe a wryt from the king directed to the lord Maior and Sheriffes of London De heretico comburendo dated the 1. day of March Anno 1. of his raigne The copic whereof remaineth in the recordes of the Tower beginning thus Rex Maiori vicecomitibus Wherupon the sayd William Tailour condemned as a relapse first was disgraded and after to be burned and so was committed to the seculare power who their being had to Smithfield the 1. day of Marche with Christian constancie after long imprisonment there did consummate his Martyrdom 1422. The maner of his disgrading was all one with the disgrading of Iohn Hus before for the Papistes vse but one forme for all men First disgrading them from Priesthode by taking from them the chalice and patine From deaconship by taking from them the gospell booke and tunicle From Subdeaconship by taking from them the Epistle booke and Tunicle From Accoluteship by taking from them the Cruet and Candlesticke From an Exorcisie by taking away the booke of Exorcismes or Graduall From the Sextonship by taking away the churchdoore key and surplis And likewise from Benet in taking away the surplis and first tonsure c. Al which they orderly accomplished vpon this godly Martyr before his burning Iohn Florence a Turner IDon Florence a Turner dwelling in Shelton in the Diocesse of Norwich was attached for that he helde and taught these heresies heere vnder wrytten as they called them coÌ„trary to the determination of the Church of Rome In primis that the pope and Cardinals haue no power to make or constitute any lawes Item that there is no day to be kept holy but onely the Sonday which God hath halowed Item that men ought to fast no other time but of the Quatuor temporum Item that Images are not to be worshipped neyther that the people ought to set vp any lightes before them in the Churches neither to go on pilgrimage neither to offer for the dead or with women that are purified Item that Curates should not take the tithes of theyr parishioners but that such tithes shuld be deuided amoÌ„gst the poore parishioners Item that al such as sweare by their life or power shal be damned except they repent The displing of Iohn Florence Upon wensday being the second day of August in the yeare of our Lorde 1424. the sayde Iohn Florence personally appeared before William Bernam Chauncellour to William byshoppe of Norwich whereas he proceding against him obiected the first article touching the power of the Pope and Cardinals to which Article the sayde Iohn Florence answered in thys manner If the pope liued vprightly as Peter liued he hath power to make lawes otherwise I beleeue hee hathe no power But being afterward threatned by the iudge he acknowledged thathe had erred and submitted himselfe to the correction of the church and was abiured taking an othe that from that time forward he should not hold teach preach or willingly defend any errour or heresie contrary to the determination of the church of Rome neither maintaine helpe or aide any that shal teach or hold any such errors or heresies either priuely or apertly and for his offence in thys behalfe done hee was enioyned thys penance following Three Sondaies in a solemne procession in the cathedral Church of Norwich he should be displed before al the people The like also shuld be don about his parish church of Shelton three other seuerall Sondaies hee being bare headed bare footed bare nâ—cked after the maner of a publicke penitentiarie his body being couered wyth a canues shirt and canues breches carying in his hande a taper of a pounde waight and that done he was dismissed Richard Belward of Erisam in the Dioces of Norwich RIchard Belward of Erisam in the Diocesse of Norwiche was accused for holding and teaching these errours and opinions heere vnder wrytten contrary to the determination of the church of Rome In primis that Ecclesiasticall ministers and Ordinaries haue no power to excommunicate neither can excommunicate And all be it that a Bishop doe excommunicate any man God doth absolue him Item that he held the erronious opinions and conclusions that Syr Iohn Oldcastle helde when he was in prison affirmed that Syr Iohn Oldcastle was a true Catholicke man and falsly condemned and put to death without any reasonable cause Item that such as go on pilgrimage offering to images made of woode and stone are excommunicate because they ought to offer to the quicke and not to the dead and that the Ecclesiasticall Ministers that is to say the curates do sell God vppon Easter day when as they receiue offerings of such as should communicate before they do minister the Sacrament vnto them Item that he counselled diuers women the they should not offer in the Churche for the dead neither wyth women that were purified Item that he blamed diuers of his neighbors that refused his doctrine saying vnto theÌ„ truly ye are sooles that deny to learne the doctrine of my sect for your neighbours which are of my sect are able to confound and vauquish al other that are of your sect Item that the Saintes whych are in heauen ought in no case to be prayed vnto but onely God Item that the sayd Richard keepeth schooles of lolardy in the English tong in the towne of Dychingham and a certaine Parchment maker bryngeth hym all the bookes containing that doctrine from London The 5. day of July 1424. the sayde Richarde Belward was brought before Iohn Byshop of Norwich sitting in place of iudgement wheras the foresaid Articles were obiected against the sayde Richarde whych he there denyed whereupoÌ„ the bishop appoynted him an other day to purge himselfe the monday next after the feast of S. Marget vpon which day being the 24. of Iuly in the yeare aforesayd he appeared againe before the Bishop and brought wyth him 9. of his neighbors to purge hym vpon those articles and there did solemnely purge himselfe And afterwarde for somuch as the said Bishop suspected the sayd Richarde Belward greatly of lolardie hee commaunded him there presently to sweare vpon the Euangelistes that from that day forwarde he should not wittingly preach teach or defend any error or heresy contrary to the churche of Rome neither aide assist fauour or maintaine priuely or apertly any maner of person or persons that should hold or maintaine the sayde errours or heresies In the presence of M. William Bernam Iohn Wadden
Windeham Tho Plowman Iohn Fellis Tho. Loue of Rokeland Rich Knobbing of Beckles Rich. Grace of Beckles Iohn Eldon of Beckles William Hardy Wil. Bate Iohn Weston Katherine Hobs. Iohn Daw. Rob. Grigs of Martham Wil. Calis Priest Tho. Pert. Priest Katherine Dauy. Iacob Bodhome Margaret his wife Iohn Manning of Marton Iohn Culling of Beemster Rich Fletcher of Beckles and Matild his wife Iohn Eldon of Beckles Rob. Canel Priest Nich. Drey Wil. Hardy of Mundham Iohn Poleyne These forenamed persons and souldiors of Christ being much beatē with the cares and troubles of those dayes although they were constrayned to relent and abiure that is to protest otherwise with their tonges then theyr harts did thinke partly through correction and partly through infirmity being as yet but new trayned Souldiours in Gods field yet for theyr good will they bare vnto the trueth although with theyr tongues they durst not expresse it we haue thought good that theyr names should not be suppressed as well for other sondry causes as especially for this either to stop the mouthes of malignant aduersaryes or to aunswere to theyr ignorance Who folowing rather blinde affection thē the true knowledge of times and antiquities for lacke of knowledge blame that they know not accusing the true doctrine of the worde of God for newelty and carping the teachers therof for new broched brethrē Who if they did as well foresee times passed as they be vnwilling to follow times now present they should vnderstand as well by these storyes as other before how this doctrine of the grace of God lacking no antiquity hath from time to time continually sought to burst out and in some places hath preuayled although in most places through tyrāny and the malice of men Christes procedinges haue bene suppressed and kept vnder from rising so muche as mans power and strength ioyned with craft and subtlery coulde labor to keepe downe the same as here by these good men of Northfolke and Southfolke may well appeare For if the knowledge and the good towardnesse of those good mē had had the like liberty of time with the helpe of like authority as we haue nowe and had not ben restrayned thorough the iniquity of time and tyranny of Prelates it had well appeared how olde this doctrine woulde haue bene which now they contemne and reiect for the newnes therof neither needed Boner to haue asked of Tho. Hawkes and such other where their Church was for xl yeares ago in as much as for xl yeares ago and more within the coūtry of Norfolke and Suffolke was then soūd such plenty of the same professiō like doctrine which we now professe And thus much for the nūber of the names of thesepersōs Now touching theyr Articles whiche they did mayneteine and defend first this is to be considered as I finde it in the registers such society and agrement of doctrine to be amongst them that almost in theyr assertions and articles there was no difference The doctrine of the one was the doctrine of all the other what theyr articles were partly it is shewed in the lease before and partly here followeth to be declared more at large Although it is to be thought concerning these Articles that many of them either were falsly obiected agaynst thē or not truely reported of the notaryes according as the cōmon maner is of these aduersaryes where the matter is good there to make heresy and of a litle occasion to styre vp great matter of slaunder as they did before by the articles of Iohn Wickliffe and Iohn Hus and others mo So in like maner it semeth they did in the Articles of these mē either mistaking that which they said or misunderstanding that which they ment especially in these two articles concerning baptisme and paying of tithes For where as they speaking agaynst the ceremonicall and superfluous traditions then vsed in baptisme as salt oile spittle taper light crisomes exorcising of the water with such other accoūted them as no materiall thing in the holy institution of Baptisme the notaryes slaunderously deprauing this theyr assertion to make it more odious to the eares of the people so gaue out the article as though they should holde that the sacrament of Baptisme vsed in the church by water is but a light matter and of small effect Agayne in speaking agaynst the Christening the midwiues vse in priuate houses agaynst the opinion of suche as thinke suche children to be damned which depart before they come to theyr Baptisme they are falsely reported as though they shoulde say that Christen people be sustiently baptised in the bloud of Christ and nedeth no water and that infants be sufficiently baptised if their parents be baptised before them Whiche thing is so contrary to the manifest worde that it is not to bee thoughte anye to bee so ignoraunt of the gospell that euer would or did affirme the same Moreouer they thought or sayd peraduenture that in certayne cases tithes might be witholden from wicked priestes sometime and be conferred to better vses to the be hoofe of the poore Therfore they are falsly slaundered as saying and affirming that no tithes were to be geuē to the ministers and curates of the churches And likewise for matrimony wherin they are reported to hold and affirme as though it consisted onely in the mutuall consent betwixt the man woman neding no other solemnizing in the publicke church and all because as it is like they denyed it to be a Sacramēt Other articles were obiected agaynst them as these which hereafter folow That auricular confessiō is not to be made vnto a priest but vnto God onely because no priest hath any power to absolue a sinner from his sinne Item that no Priest hath power to make the body of Christ in the sacrament of the aultar but that after the sacramentall words there remayneth pure materiall breade as before Item that euery true christian man is a priest to God Item that no man is bound vnder paine of damnatiō vnto Lent or any other dayes prohibited by the Church of Rome Item that the Pope is Antichrist and his Prelats the Disciples of Antichrist and the Pope hath no power to binde and loose vpon earth Item that it is lawfull for euery Christian to doe any bodely worke sinne onely except vpon holy dayes Item that it is lawfull for priestes to haue wiues Item that the excommunications and ecclesiastical cēsures geuen out by the Prelates are not to be regarded Item it is not lawfull to sweare in priuate cases Item that men ought not to go on pilgrimage Item that there is no honor to be geuē to the Images of the crucifixe of our Lady or any other saynt Item that the holy water halowed in the church by the priest is not holyer or of more vertue then other running or well water because the Lord blessed all waters in theyr first creation Item that the death of Thomas Becket was
and remembraunce beleued that a man ought not to coÌ„fesse his sinnes to a Priest This Article he also confessed that he doubted vpon Now remayneth to declare what these doctors aforesayd concluded vpon the articles whose aunswere vnto the same was this First of all as touching the first article they sayde that the article in the same termes as it was propouÌ„ded is not simply an heresy but an error Item as touching the second article the doctors agree as in the first Item as touching the third Article they affirme that it is an heresy Vnto the fourth Article they aunswered as vnto the first and second Item the doctors affirme the 5. article to be an heresy Item as touching the 6. Article the doctors conclude that if the sayd Nicholas being of perfect mind and remeÌ„brance did doubt whether the sacrament of the aulter were the very perfect body of Christ or no then that Article is simply an heresy Wherupon the sayd Commissary declared pronounced the sayd Nicholas Canon vpoÌ„ the determinatioÌ„ of the foresaid doctors to be an heretick and therupon forced the sayd Nicholas to abiure all the sayd Articles That done he enioined the sayd Nicholas penance for his offeÌ„ces thre displinges about the cloyster of the Cathedrall Churche of Norwich before a solemne procession bare headed barefoote carying a Taper of halfe a pound in his hand going after the maner aforesayd like a mere peniteÌ„tiary the which his penance the iudge commaunded should be respited vntill the comming of the Bishop into his dioces and that in the meane time he should be kept in prison to the end that he should not infect the flock with his venune and poyson of errors and heresyes Thus haue we briefly discoursed vnto you the greate troubles and afflictions which happened in Norfolke and Suffolke by the space of those 4. yeares before mentioned hauing drawen out briefly for euery yere certayne notable examples sufficient for the declaration of all the rest for so much as their opinions being nothing different theyr penaunce and punishment did also nothing differ otherwise then by those particuler examples may be playnely seene Thomas Bagley Priest ANd now to proceede as we haue begon with our former storyes generally we find in Fabians Chronicles that in the same yere of our Lord. 1431. Thomas Bagley a priest Vicar of Monenden beside Malden being a valiant disciple and adherent of wickliffe was condemned by the Byshops of heresy at London about the midst of Lent was disgraded and burned in Smithfield ¶ Paule Craw a Bohemian THe same yeare also was Paule Crawe a Bohemian taken at S. Andrewes by the Bishop Henry and deliuered ouer to the secular power to be burnt for holding contrary opinions vnto the Church of Rome touching the sacrameÌ„t of the Lords supper the worshipping of Sainets auricular confession with other of Wicklesses opinions The story of Thomas Rhedon a French man and a Carmelite Frier burnt in Italy for the profession of Christ. WE haue declared before how this cruell storme of persecution which first began with vs in England after it had long raged heere against many good and godly men it brake out passed into Boheme and after within a short time the fire of this persecution increasing by little and little inuaded Scotland and from thence now wyth greater force and violence this furious deuouring flame hath entred Italy and suffereth not any part of the world to be free from the murther and slaughter of most good godly men It hapned about this time that one Thomas Rhedon a Frier of that sect which taketh his name of the mount Carmelus by chance came with the VenetiaÌ„ Ausbassadours into Italy This maÌ„ although he was of that fort and secte which in stead of Christians are called Carmelites yet was he of a farre other religion vnderstood the word of God iudging that God ought not to be worshipped neither in that mount nor at Ierusalem onely but in spirit truth This man being a true Carmelite â— fauoring with his whole hart that new sweet must of Iesu Christ with earnest study desire seeking after a ChristiaÌ„ integritie of life prepared himselfe first to go into â—â—ly trusting that he should find there or else in no place sonne by whole good life and liuing he might be editied and instructed For where ought more aboundance of verme good liuing to be then in that place which is counted to be the forte and fountaine of all religion And how could it otherwise be but that wheras so great holines is professed wherupon all mens cies are bent as vpon a stage vnderas S. Peters seate is and is thought to be the ruler gouernour of all the Church all things should florish and abesid worthy of so great expectatioÌ„ in that place This holy man hauing these things before his eies and considering the same with himselfe forsooke his owne countrey Citie went vnto Rome conceiuing a firme sure hope that by the example of so many notable and worthy me he should greatly profile in godlines learning but the successe of the matter did vtterly frustrate his hope for all things were cleane coÌ„trary Whatsoeuer he saw was nothing else but meere dissimulatioÌ„ and hypocrisie In stead of gold he found nothing but coales and for to say the truth he found nothing else there but gold and siluer In stead of heauenly gifts there raigned amongst them the pompe and pride of the world In place of godlines riot In stead of learning and study douthfulnes and superstition Tyrannie and hautinesse of mind had possessed the place of Apostolicke simplicitie that now there remained no more any place or libertie for a man to learne that whiche hee knew not or to teach that which he perfectly vnderstoode Finally all things were turned artic versie all things hapned vnto him contrary to his expectation wheresoeuer he went But nothing so much offended this good mas mind as the intolerable ambition and pompous pride in them whome example of humilitie should especially commend and praise to the whole worlde And albeit that hee saw here nothing which did accord agree with the rule of the Apostles yet these things did so much passe all measure and pacience that he could by no meanes resraine his long in so great abuse and corruption of the Church seing such ambitions pride in their buildings apparell in their places in their daintie fare in their great traynes of seruants in their horsse and armour finally in all things pertaining vnto them Which things how much they did vary from the prescript rule of the Gospel so much the more was this good maÌ„ forced to speake Albeit he did well vnderstand how litle he shoulde preuaile by speaking for if admonition would profite any thing at all the bookes of Wicklesse and diuers other were not wanting The famous testimonies of Iohn Hus
Notwithstanding the Archbishop of Colen was the chiefe fauourer of the Coūcell in this assembly who with all his labour and diligēce went about to bring the matter vnto a good ende Rabanus the Archbishop of Treuers shewed himself somewhat more rough The sacred Synode also thought good to send thether their Ambassadours and appointed out the Patriarke of Aquileia the Bishop of Uicene and the Bishop of Argen diuines Iohn Segouius and Thomas de Corcellis with diuers others Ther was no mā ther present which would name himselfe the Ambassadour of Eugenius Albeit there were many of his fauourers and frends come thether both frō the Coūcell and also out of Florēce the which albeit they had sworne to the contrary yet fauoured they more Eugenius then the Councell But the chiefe Hercules of all the Eugenians was Nicholas Cusanus a man singularly well learned and of great experience After diuers cōsultations had the Electours of the Empire and the Ambassadours of the other Princes of Germany thought good to geue out commandement throughout their whole nation and countrey that the Decrees of the Councell of Basill should be receiued and obserued Whilest these things were thus debated at Mentz there sprang a certaine very doubtfull question amongst the Diuines which remained at Basill whether Eugenius might be called an heretike which had so rebelliously contemned the commaundements of the Church Hereupon they gathered thēselues together disputing long amongst themselues some affirming and othersome holding the negatiue part Vpon this their disputation there arose three seuerall opinions some affirming that he was an hereticke othersome not onely an Hereticke but also a relapse The third sort would neither grant him to be an hereticke nor a relapse Amongst these diuines the chiefe and principal both in learning and authority was the Bishop of Ebriun Ambassadour of the king of Castell and a certaine Scottish Abbot which as two most valiant Champions subdued all their enemies so that all the rest did either consent vnto their argumēts or gaue place vnto thē and so their determinatiō tooke place and Eugenius was pronounced both an heretike and relapse Eight conclusions were there determined and allowed amongst the Diuines which they called verities the copie whereof they did diuulgate throughout all Christendome When the Ambassadours of the Councell were returned from Mentz and that certain report was made of the allowing of their decrees the fathers of the Coūcel thought good to discusse the cōclusiōs of the diuines more at large Whereupon by the commandement of the deputies al the Maisters and Doctours Cleargy were called together with all the residue of the Prelates into the Chapterhouse of the greate Churche there openly to dispute and discusse Eugenius heresie The which thing sore greeued the Byshop of Millaine fearing least this disputation would worke the depriuation of Eugenius the which as he said he had alwaies letted for feare of schisme Wherfore he ceased not by all manner of waies to labour to stop trouble the matter exhorting thē that were absent by his letters and encouraging those that were present by his words to the defēce of Eugenius But at the last there was a great assembly in the Chapter house some commyng thether to dispute and other some to heare This disputation continued sixe dayes both forenoone and afternoone amongest whō Cardinall Lodouicus Archbishop Arelatensis was appointed as Iudge and Arbiter of the whole disputatiō who beside many other notable vertues was both valiaunt constaunt Nicolas Amici which was also a Proctor of the faith a famous mā amongst the Diuines of Paris demaunded of euery man what their opinion was Iohn Deinlefist publicke Notary wrote euery mās sentence and iudgement The conclusions of the Diuines whiche were the ground and foundation of their disputation were these here following 1. It is a veritie of the Catholicke fayth that the sacred generall Councell hath power ouer the Pope or any other Prelate 2. The Pope cannot by his owne authoritie either dissolue transport or proroge the generall Coūcell being law fully congregate without the whole consent of the Councell and this is of like veritie 3. He which doth obstinately resist these verities is to be counted an hereticke 4. Pope Eugenius the fourth hath resisted these verities when as at the first by the fulnesse of his Apostolicke power he attempted to dissolue or to transport the Councell of Basill 5. Eugenius being admonished by the sacred Councell did recant the errours repugnaunt to these verities 6. The dissolution or translation of the Councell attempted the second tyme by Eugenius is agaynst the foresayd verities and containeth an inexcusable errour touchyng the fayth 7. Eugenius in going about to dissolue and transport the Coūcell agayne is fallen into his before reuoked errours 8. Eugenius beyng warned by the Synode that hee should reuoke the dissolution or trāslation the second time attempted after that his contumacie was declared perseuering in his rebellion and erecting a Councell at Ferraria shewed himselfe thereby obstinate These were the cōclusiōs which were read in the Chapter house before the fathers of the Coūcell Upon the which when they were desired to speake their mindes they all in a maner cōfirmed allowed them Notwithstāding Panormitane Archbishop disputed much against them Like wise did the Bishop of Burgen the king of Arrogons Almoner Yet did they not gaynsay the 3. first cōclusions but onely those wherein pope Eugenius was touched This Panormitane as he was subtill so did he subtelly dispute agaynst the last cōclusiōs endeuouring himselfe to declare that Eugenius was not relapsed had great contention with the Bishop of Argens Iohn Segouius Fraūces de Fuxe Deuines He diuided the Articles of the faith into three sortes straightly as in the Creede largely as in the declarations made by the Church most largely of all as in those things which rise of the premisses affirming that Eugenius did by no meanes violate his fayth in his first dissolution that he made because it is not contayned in the Creede neither yet in the determinations of the Church that the Pope cannot dissolue the Councels that it seemeth not vnto him to rise of the determination before made but rather of the decrees of the Councell of Constāce And further that this as a case omitted is reserued for the Pope to be discussed for somuch as in the chapter beginning Frequēs it appeareth that the place where the Coūcell should be kept ought to be chosen by the Pope the Councell allowing the same and nothing is therof at all spoken And if peraduēture Eugenius had offended in the first dissolution notwithstāding he ought to be holdē excused because he did it by the Coūcell of the Cardinals representing the Church of Rome whose authoritie he sayd to be such that the iudgemēt therof should be preferred before all the world Neither had there bene any sacred Coūcell found to haue proceeded agaynst
sinne For when as the Church doth containe all men which are called Christiās which also do agree come together in one beliefe of faith and participation of the Sacraments I do feare least some men will thinke that I do affirme all mē to be without sinne which is so far frō my meaning that I do verely thinke the cōtrary to be most true For I suppose that there is no man in the Church being clothed in this mortall flesh without sinne Neither do these things vary or dissent among themselues For the Church hath this gift that albeit euery part and mēber therof may sin yet the whole body can not sinne For there bee alwayes good men in the Church the which albeit that they be subiect vnto humaine fragilitie notwithstāding they haue so perfect a gift of sincere and pure vertue that subduing all carnall desires and affectiōs they keep themselues a pleasant and acceptable sacrifice vnto God Neither do I consent or agree vnto the opiniō of diuers which affirme that the Virgin Mary onely perseuered in faith at the Lordes passion Whereupon diuers haue not bene ashamed to say that the faith might be so debilitate and weakened that it should returne to one only old woman Whose opinion or rather madnes Saint Paule seemeth opēly to reiect writing thus vnto the Romaines do ye not know saith he what the Scripture writeth of Helias how incessantly he called vpon God against the childrē of Israell saieng O Lord they haue slayne thy Prophets and digged downe thine aultars and I alone am left and they seeke after my soule But what answere receiued he of God I haue left vnto my self yet vij M. men which haue not bowed their knees vnto Baal What other thing doth this answere of God declare then that it is a foolish opiniō of them which thinke the Church of God to be brought vnto so small number We ought to beleeue the words of Christ which are altogether repugnāt vnto those mē who affirme the the Virgine onely did perseuere in faith For Iesus sayd vnto his Father O holy father saue thē in thy name whome thou hast geuen me that they may be one as we are one Whē I was with them I kept them in thy name I haue kept them that thou gauest vnto me and none of them perished but onely the sonne of perdition And I do not desire that thou shouldest take them out of the world but that thou shouldest preserue them from euill Beholde Christ praieth that his disciples shoulde not fall but should be preserued from euill and he so praieng without doubt is heard for he saith in another place I know the thou hearest me But how is he heard if all those for whome he praieth swarned at the time of his passion As for example By what meanes did Christ hanging vpō the Crosse commende his dearely beloued mother vnto Iohn if so be he were either then swarued or should by and by after haue swarued from the faith Moreouer did not the Centurion by and by cry out and say truly this is the sonne of God The Iewes also which at that time were farre distant from Ierusalem might both be called faithfull and also saued by their faith seeing that as the Apostle sayth men are bound vnto the Gospell after it is once knowne and reuealed vnto them But let vs leaue these men and speake of that which is more likely and let vs iudge that there hath bin and is a great number of good mē in the Church and by thē as by the more worthy part let vs name the Church holy and immaculate the whyche doth comprehend as well the euill as the good For the Church is compared vnto a net which is cast into the sea and gathereth together all kinde of fishes And agayne it is compared vnto a King which made a marriage for his sonne and sent forth his seruantes to call those which were bidden vnto the wedding and they gathered together good euill as many as they could finde Wherfore their opinion is erroneus which affirme that only good men be comprehēded in the Church the which if it were true it would confound all things neither could we vnderstand or know where the Church were But for so much as the Scripture saith no man knoweth whether he be worthy of loue or hatred their opiniō is more to be alowed truer which include all the faithfull in the Church of whom although a great part be geuen to voluptuousnes and auarice yet some notwithstāding are cleane frō deadly sinne The which part as it is the most worthy it geueth the name vnto the church to be called most holy which is so often done that we are commaunded to sing in our Creede vnam sanctam Catholicam Apostolicam Ecclesiam that is to say one holy Catholicke Apostolicke Church the which Article the Synode of Constantinople added vnto the rest Wherefore if the Church be holy it is also without sinne But to returne to our former purpose this word Sanctum which signifieth holy as Macrobius alledging Trebatius affirmeth is sometimes taken for religious and sometimes for cleane and vncorrupt And after the same maner we call the Church holy as the Apostle Peter calleth it immaculate as we read in the famous Epistle of Clement To this end also tendeth that whiche is spoken by S. Paule that Christ is the head of the Churche For if the Churche should wholy sinne she should not agree with her head Christ who is in no pointe defiled This also Christ himselfe would signifie vnto vs in Mathew when he cōmendeth the house which wās builded vpō the strōg rocke against the whiche neither the windes neither the stormes could preuaile In the house of God sayth the Apostle which is the Church builded vpō the strong rocke which rocke as the sayd Apostle declareth is Christ. Who then is so vnshamefast that hee will affirme the Churche which is founded vpō Christ to be subiect to sinne will not rather cry out with the Prophet and say Domine dilexi decorem domus tuae That is to say O Lord I haue loued the beawtie of thy house Hereupon wrote Iohn Chrisostome this golden sentence The Church neuer ceaseth to be assaulted neuer ceaseth to be layne in wayte for but in the name of Christ it hath alwayes the vpper hād ouercame And albeit that other do lye in wait for it or that the floudes do beate agaynst it yet the foūdatiō which is layd vpon the rocke is not shaken S. Hillary also sayth that it is the propertie of the Churche to vanquish when it is hurt to vnderstād when it is reproued to be in safetie whē it is forsaken to obtaine victory when as it seemeth almost ouercome Thus by many reasons testimonies it is proued that the Church doth not erre which is not spoken or affirmed of the Bishops of Rome so that this reason doth
make the Pope subiect vnto the Church for it is conuenient that the lesse perfect be subiect vnto the more perfect There be also many other testimonies reasons wherof we will now somewhat more entreate If authoritie be sought for sayth S. Hierome for I willingly occupie my selfe in his senteÌ„ces as in a most fertile field the world is greater then a Citie What then I pray you Hierome Is the Pope mighty because he is head of the Church of Rome His authoritie is great notwithstanding the vniuersall Church is greater which doth not onely coÌ„preheÌ„d one Citie but also the whole world Hereupon it followeth that if the Churche be the mother of all faithfull then she hath the Bishop of Rome for her sonne Otherwise as S. Augustine saith he can neuer haue God for his father which will not acknowledge the Church for his mother The which thing Anacletus vnderstandyng called the vniuersal Church his mother as the writers of the Canons do know And Calixtus sayth as a sonne he came to doe the will of his father so we do the will of our mother which is the Church Whereby it appeareth that how much the sonne is inferiour to the mother so much the Church is superiour or aboue the Bishop of Rome Also we haue sayd before that the Churche was the spouse of Christ the Pope we know to be a Vicare but no maÌ„ doth so ordaine a Vicar that he maketh his spouse subiect vnto him but that the spouse is alwayes thought to be of more authoritie then the Vicar for somuch as she is one body with her husbaÌ„d but the Vicar is not so Neither will I here passe ouer the wordes of S. Paule vnto the Romaines Let euery soule sayth he be subiect vnto the higher powers Neither doth he herein except the pope For albeit that he be aboue all other meÌ„ yet it seemeth necessary the he should be subiect to the Church Neither let him thinke himselfe hereby exeÌ„pt because it was said vnto Peter by Christ whatsoeuer thou bindest c. In this place as we wil hereafter declare he represeÌ„ted the person of the Church for we finde it spoken afterward vnto theÌ„ Quaecunque ligaueritis super terraÌ„ ligata eruÌ„t in coelis i. Whatsoeuer ye shal binde vpoÌ„ earth shall be also bounde in heaueÌ„ And furthermore if all power be geueÌ„ of Christ as the Apostle writeth vnto the CorinthiaÌ„s it is geuen for the edifiyng of the Church not for the destruction therof why then may not the Church correct the Pope if he abuse the keyes and bring all thinges vnto ruine Adde hereunto also an other argument A man in this life is lesser then the aungels for we read in Mathew of Iohn Baptist that he whiche is least in the kingdome of heauen is greater then he Notwithstanding Christ sayth in an other place that amongest the children of women there was not a greater then Iohn Baptist. But to proceede meÌ„ are forced by the exaÌ„pâ—e of Zacharias to geue credite vnto auÌ„gels least through their misbelief they be striken blind as he was What more The Bishop of Rome is a maÌ„ Ergo he is lesse then the aungels and is bound to geue credite to the aungels But the aungels learne of the Church and do reuereÌ„tly accorde vnto her doctrine as the Apostle writeth vnto the EphesiaÌ„s Ergo the pope is bouÌ„d to do the same who is lesse then the aungels and lesse then the Churche whose authoritye is suche that worthely it is compared by S. Augustine vnto the Sunne that lyke as the Sunne by his light doth surmount all other lightes so the church is aboue all other authority and power Wherupon S. Augustine writeth thus I would not beleue the Gospel saith he if the authority of the church did not more me thereunto the which is not in any place souÌ„d to be spoken of the bishop of Rome who representing the Church and being minister thereof is not to be thought greater or equall to hys Lorde and maister Notwythstanding the wordes of our Sauiour Christ do specially proue the Byshop of Rome to be subiect to the church as we will hereafter declare For he sending Peter to preach vnto the church sayd go and say vnto the Church To the confirmation of whole authoritye these wordes do also pertaine hee that heareth you heareth me The which wordes are not onely spoken vnto the Apostles but also vnto their succesaurs and vnto the whole Church Wherupon it foloweth that if the Pope do not harken geue eare vnto the Church he doeth not geue eare vnto Christ consequently he is to be counted as an Ethnicke Publicane For as S. Augustine affirmeth when as the Church doth excommunicate he which is so excommunicate is bounde in heauen and when the Church looseth he is loosed Likewise if he be an heretike which taketh away the supremacie of the Churche of Rome as the Decrees of the councel of Coustance doth determine how much more is he to be counted an hereticke which taketh away the authoritye from the uniuersall Church wherein the Church of Rome and all other are conteined Wherefore it is now euident that it is the opinion of al men before our daies if it may be called an opinion which is confirmed by graue authors the the Pope is subiecte vnto the vniuersall church But this is called into question whether he ought also to be iudged of the general Councel For there are some which whether it be for desire of vaine glory or that thorough their flattery they looke for some great reward haue begon to teach new and strange doctrines and to exempt the byshop of Rome from the iurisdiction of the generall Councel AmbitioÌ„ hath blinded them wherof not only this present Schisme but also all other Schismes euen vnto thys day haue had their originall For as in times past the gredy desire ambition of the papacy brought in that pesriferous beast which through Arrius then first crept into the church euen so they do specially norish and mainteine this present heresie whych are not ashamed to begge Of the which number some cry out say the workes of the subiects ought to be iudged by the Pope but the Pope to be reserued only vnto the iudgemeÌ„t of God Others said that no man ought to iudge the high and principall Seate and that it can not be iudged either by the Emperour either by the Clergy either by any king or people Other affirme that the Lord hath reserued vnto himselfe the depositions of the chiefe Bishop Others are not ashamed to affirme that the Byshop of Rome although hee cary soules in neuer so great number vnto hell yet hee is not subiect vnto any correction or rebuke And because these their words are easily resolued they runne straight waies vnto the Gospell and interprete the wordes of Christ not according to the sense and meaning of the holy Ghost
himselfe lacked pasture But we count these as things of no force or difficulty For S. Augustine in the Sermon of the natiuity of Peter and Paule sayeth in this wise Our Lorde Iesus Christe before hys Passion chose hys disciples as yet doe knowe whom he called brethren Amongest those Peter alone almost in euery place represented the person of the Church therefore it was sayde vnto him Tibi dabo claues regni coelorum That is to say Unto thee will I geue the keyes of the kingdome of heauen These keies did he not receiue as one man but as one he receiued them for the Church And in an other place Where hee wryteth of the Christian agony he sayth the keyes of the kingdome of heauen were geuen vnto the churche when as they were geuen vnto Peter And when as it was spoken vnto him Amas me Pasce oues meas That is to say Louest thou me feede my sheepe it was spoken vnto them all And S. Ambrose in the beginning of his pastorall sayth which sheepe and which flocke the blessed Apostle S. Peter tooke not charge of alone but together with vs and we alltogether with him By which wordes the foundation and principall arguments of those flatterers are vtterly subuerted and ouerthrowen For if Peter represented the person of the Church we ought not to ascribe the force of these words vnto Peter but vnto the Church Neither do I see how that can stand whych Boniface doth affirme for it is farre distant from the truth except it be vnderstand otherwise then it is spoken But it may peraduenture seeme a great thynge vnto some that it is sayd the Byshop of Rome to be the head of the Militant Churche For as in the body of man Philitions do neuer geue councell to cut of the head for any maner of sicknes disease although it be neuer coâ—ul of vicers or infected so in this mysticall body of the church the head ought alwayes to be kept and albeit it be neuer so wicked yet is it to be suffered and horne withall But now conuert this argument If it were possible in the body of man when one hed is taken away to find an other to put in his place as we see it may be done in the Church should not heade then be oftentimes chaunged for diuers diseases Moreouer if we wil thus reason that the head of the church shuld be in respecte of his body as the head of man in respecte of the body of man then doeth it necessarily followe that the head being dead the body must also die as is manifest in the body of man So should it grow into an absurditie to confesse that the Pope being dead the Church also shoulde bee dead the which how farre it dissenteth from the truth it is most manifest Therfore what soeuer other men say I am not of opinion wyth them whych affirme the Bishoppe of Rome to be head of the Church except peraduenture they doe make hym the ministeriall head for we doe reade that Christ is the heade of the Churche and not the Pope and that he is the true head immutable perpetuall and euerlasting and the Church is his body wherof the Pope hymselfe is also a member and the vicare of Christe not to the destruction but to the maintenaunce edifying of the same body of Christ. Wherefore if he be founde a damnable destroyer of the Churche he may be deposed and cast out because he doth not that he was ordeined to doe and we ought as Pope Leo sayeth to be mindeful of the commandement geuen vs in the Gospell that if our eye our foote or oure right hand do offend vs it should be cut of from the body For the Lorde sayeth in an other place Euery tree whych bringeth not foorth fruite shall be cut downe and caste into the fire And in an other place also it is sayde vnto vs take away all euill and wickednesse from among you It is very iust and true whiche is wrytten in the Epistle of Clement vnto Iames the brother of our Lorde that he whych will be saued ought to be separate from them whych will not be saued But for the more manifest declaration hereof we must haue recourse to that which is spoken by the Lorde in the Gospell of Iohn I am the true vine sayth the Lorde and my father is the husbandman and ye are the braunches euery braunch therfore that bryngeth not forth fruite in me my father wil cut off These wordes were spoken vnto the Apostles amongst whom also Peter was present whome the Lord wold haue cut off if he brought not foorth his fruit Also S. Hierome vpon these wordes of Mathewe Vnsauery salte is profitable for nothing but to be cast foorth and troden of swine Whereuppon in the persone of Peter and Paule he sayth thus It is no easie matter to stande in the place of Peter and Paule and to keepe the chaire of them which raigne with Christ. This vnsauery salte that is to say a foolish Prelate vnsauery in preaching and foolish in offending is good for nothing but to be cast foorthe that is to say deposed and to be troden of swine that is of wicked spirits which haue dominion ouer the wicked and naughty Prelates as their owne flocke and herde Beholde thys testimonie of Hierome is plaine and euident Let hym be cast out sayth he Hee expoundeth and speaketh it of the Prelate whych vsurpeth the place of Peter and so consequently of the byshop of Rome who being vnsauery in preaching and foolysh in offending oughte to be deposed as Hierome affirmeth from hys degree and dignitie Neyther as some doe dreame is he to be deposed for heresie only Isidorus in the booke of Councels rehearseth a certain epistle of Clement the successour of Peter wrytten vnto Iames the Apostle wheras the said Clement referring the words of Peter vnto himselfe sayeth thus If thou be occupied wyth worldly cares thou shalt both deceiue thyselfe those which shall geue eare vnto thee for thou canst not fully distribute vnto euery man those thinges which pertaine vnto saluation whereby it shall come to passe that thou as a man for not teaching those things which pertaine vnto saluation shalt be deposed thy disciples shall perish through ignorance Notwtstanding in an other place in stead of this word deposed it is found thou shalt be punished which 2. wordes if they be wel vnderstoode do not much differ for deposition is ofteÌ„times vsed in the place of punishment But peraduenture some wil here obiect that this Epistle is not to be iudged Clements because it is sayd to be wrytten vnto Iames who as the Ecclesiasticall hystory affirmeth was deade before that Peter was put to death But Clement might thinke that Iames was aliue when as hee wrote whych were farre distant a sunder and messengers of the christians came not often vnto Rome Moreouer there is meÌ„tion made of
my deedes that in this busines of election wherunto now by the will of the Coūcell we are sent I wil seeke nothing els then the onely saluation of the Christen people and the profit of the vniuersall Church This shall be my whole care and studye that the authority of the generall Councels be not contemned that the Catholick fayth be not impugned and that the fathers which remayne in the coūcell be not oppressed This will I seek for this shall be my care vnto this withall my whole force and power will I bend my selfe neyther will I respect any thing in this poynt eyther for mine owne cause or for any frend but onely God and the profite of the Church With this minde and intent and with this hart will I take mine othe before the Councell His wordes were liuely and fearefull After him al the other Electours in theyr order did sweare and take theyr othe Then they went with great solemnity vnto the Cōclaue where they remayned 7. dayes The maner of their election was in this sort Before the Cardinals seate was set a Deske wherupon there stood a basen of siluer into the which basen all the Electors did cast their scheduls which the Cardinall receiuing read one by one and foure other of the Electors wrote as he read them The tenour of the Schedules was in this maner I George Bishop of Uicene doe chuse such a man or suche a man for bishop of Rome and peraduenture named one or two euery one of the electors subscribed his name vnto the Schedule that he might thereby know his owne and say nay if it were cōtrary to that which was spokē wherby all deceit was vtterly excluded The first scrutiny thus ended it was found that there were many named to the papacy Yet none had sufficiēt voices for that day there were xvii of diuers natiōs nominate Notwithstanding Amedeus duke of Sauoy a man of singuler vertue surmoūted them all for in the first scrutiny he had the voyce of xvi Electors which iudged him worthy to gouerne the church After this there was diligent inquisition had in the Councell touching those whiche were named of the Electors and as euery mans opinion serued him he did either prayse or discommēd those which were nominate Notwtstanding there was suche reporte made of Amedeus that in the next Scrutiny which was holden in the Nonas of Nouember the sayd Amedeus had 21. voices and likewise in the 3. and 4. Scrutinye 21. voyces And for so muche as there was none found in all the scrutiny to haue 2. partes all the other schedules were burnt And forsomuch as there lacked but onely one voyce to the elecion of the high bishop they fell vnto prayer desiring God that he would vouchsafe to direct theyr mindes to an vnity and concorde worthely to elect and chuse him which shoulde take the charge ouer the flocke of God Forsomuch as Amedeus seemed to be nearer vnto the papacy then all other there was greate cōmunication had amongst them touching his life and disposition Some said that a lay man ought not so sodenly to be chosen for it would seeme a straunge thing for a secular prince to be called vnto the Byshopricke of Rome which would also to much derogate frō the ecclesiasticall state as though there were none therein meete or worthy for that dignity Other some sayde that a man which was maryed and had children was vnmeete for such a charge Other some agayn affirmed that the bishop of Rome ought to be a Doctor of law and an excellent learned man When these words were spoken other some rising vp spake farre otherwise that albeit Amedeus was no Doctour yet was he learned and wise for so muche as all his whole youth he had bestowed in learning studye had sought not the name but euen the groūd of learning Thē sayd another if ye be desirous to be instructed further of this princes life I pray you geue eare vnto me which doe know him throwly Truely this man from his youth vpward and euen from his yong and tender yeares hath lyued more religiously then secularly being alwaies obediēt to his parentes and maysters and being alwayes indued with the feare of God neuer geuen to any vanity or wantōnes neither hath there at any time bene any childe of the house of Sauoy in whom hath appeared greater wytte to towardnes whereby al those which did behold and know this man iudged and foresaw some great matter in him neyther were they deceiued For if ye desire to know his rule gouernance what and how noble it hath bene First know ye this that this man hath raigned since his fathers decease about xl yeares During whose time iustice the Lady and Queene of all other vertues hath alwayes florished For he hearing his subiectes himselfe woulde neuer suffer the poore to be oppressed or the weake to be deceiued He was the defender of the fatherles the aduocate of the widowes and protector of the poore There was no rapine or robbery in all his territory The poore and rich liued all vnder one lawe neither was he burthenous vnto his subiectes or importune against straungers throughout all his country there was no greuous exactions of mony throughout all his dominion He thought himselfe rich enough if the inhabitāts of his dominions did aboūd and were rich knowing that it was the poynt of a good shepheard to sheare his sheepe and not to deuour them In this also was his chiefe study and care that his subiectes might liue in peace and suche as bordered vpon him might haue no occasion of grudge By which pollicies he did not onely quietly gouern his Fathers dominion but also augmēted the same by others which willingly submitted themselues vnto him He neuer made warre vpon any but resisting agaynst such as made war vpon him he studied rather to make peace then to seeke any reuenge desiring rather to ouercome his enemies with benefites then with the sword He maried onely one wife which was a noble virgin of singuler beauty and chastity He would haue all his family to keep their handes and eyes chaste and continent and throughout all his house honesty and integrity of maners was obserued When as his wife had chaūged her life and that he perceiued his Duchy to be established that it should come with out any controuersye vnto his posteritye he declared hys mind which was alwayes religious dedicate vnto god shewed what will and affectiō he had long borne in hys hart For he contēning the pompe and state of this world calling vnto him his deare frends departed and went into a wildernes where as building a goodly Abbey he addicted himselfe wholy to the seruice of God and taking his crosse vpon him folowed Christ. In which place he being cōuersant by the space of many yeares shewed forth great examples of holynesse wearing no other garmentes then such as could withstand the
take which part he would but his opinion was rather that the dominion of Church matters should bee in the power of Christ and the Prelates with the other Clergy are but Canonicall administratours in maner of tutors but they haue more power administration then tutors and by constitutyng a Steward or Uicegerent c. Their constitution beyng duely made the Steward or Uicegerent hath the same coactiue power and exercise of iurisdiction Also as touching the fourth Article for the declaration of the first conclusion it is agreed that these wordes Iuste requisita i. iustly gotten alledged therein determine all thynges conteined in the same Also as touchyng the second conclusion where as the sacred Canons and holy Doctours speake thus the goods of the Church the substaunce of the Church and the possessions of the Church and diuers other opinions there be amongest the Doctours in whose power the rule thereof should be as it is noted in the Glose Cap. expedit xij quaest i. they do not intend to constraine any man to any of those opinions neither to exclude any of them but that euery man should haue libertie probably to mainteine which of them he thinketh best Moreouer the Bohemians sayd that they did beleue that the Clergy are but administrators of the tēporalties of the Church and not Lordes thereof accordyng to the maner of speaking of the Scriptures holy Doctours and Canons Also the Bohemians sayd that in all occasions which shall hereafter rise they would wholy stand to the determination of the iudge agreed vpon in Egra with one consent In this maner did the Ambassadours make aunswere vnto the Bohemians At the last after much communication had to and fro a concorde and vnitie was concluded and confirmed by setting to their handes The Bohemians promised to receiue the peace and vnitie of the Church and the declaratiō of the three Articles This was done in the yeare of our Lord. 1438. About the feast of S. Martin it was afterward agreed both by the Ambassadours of that Councel and of Boheme that whatsoeuer remayned should be determined agreed vpō first at Ratisbona afterward at Bruna in the Dioces of Olymutes then at Alba in Hungary before the Emperour Sigismūd but the matter could not be ended in no place At the last the concorde was confirmed by writyng with their seales at Inglania a Citie of Morauia the fift day of Iuly in the presence of the Emperour ¶ Certaine petitions which the Bohemians put vp last of all in the sacred Councell of Basill An. 1438. in the moneth of Nouemb. VNto the most reuerēd fathers in Christ and our most gracious Lords We the Ambassadors of the kingdom of Boheme do most humbly and hartely require you that for the perpetuall preseruation of the peace concord and for the firme preseruation of all things conteined in the composition you will vouchsafe of your clemencie to giue and graunt vnto vs all and singular our requests heere vnder written with effectuall execution of the same First and aboue all things we desire and require you for the extirpation of diuers dissentions and cōtrouersies which will vndoubtedly folow amongst our people vpon the diuersitie of the communion for the abolishing of infinite euils which we are not able to expresse as we haue conceiued them that you will gently vouchsafe of your goodnes liberality to giue grant command vnto our kingdome of Boheme Marquesdome of Morauia one vniforme order of the cōmunion vnto all mē vnder both kindes that is to say vnto the Archb. of Prage the Byshop of Luthonus Olimutz other prelates of the kingdome and Marquesdome hauing charge of soules to their vicares also to their flocks subiects that according to those things which are cōteined in the Bull of the Ambassadours in the cōpositions made in the name of the whole Councel written in the chap. Pro firmitate where it is thus said and all other things shall be done which shall be meete and necessary for the preseruation of the peace and vnitie For thys done by your benefite the whole kingdome shall be comforted aboue measure and established in brotherly loue whereby an vniforme subiection and obedience shall be perpetually attributed vnto the holy Church Item we require and desire as before that for the auoiding of all false suspition and doubtfulnes of manie which suppose that the sacred Councell hath graunted the saide Communion vnder both kindes vnto vs but for a time as neither profitable nor wholesome but as the libell of diuorcement that you will vouchsafe according to this chapter alledged in the compositions First they sayde that it was not the entent of the sacred Councell c. wholesomely and speedely to prouide for our safety and your graunt in this behalfe and with the Bulls of your letters to confirme that chapter together with the other perteining to the office of your Ambassadours Item we beseech you as afore that for the confirmation of obedience and for the discipline of all the Cleargy and for the small defence and obseruation of all things determined and agreed vpon and for the good order in spiritualties ye will vouchsafe effectually to prouide for vs a good lawfull pastor Archbishops and Bishops which shall seeme vnto vs most meete and acceptable for our kingdome to execute those offices and dueties Item we require you as aforesaid that your fatherly reuerēces will vouchsafe for the defence of the worthy fame of the kingdome and Marquesdome to declare and shew our innocencie in that they haue cōmunicated do hereafter shall communicate vnder both kindes to giue out ordaine and direct the letters of the sacred Councell in maner and forme most apt and meete for such declaration vnto all Princes as well secular as spirituall Cities and communalties according to the compositions and as the Lords the Ambassadours are bound vnto vs for to do Item we desire you that in the discussing of the matter for the Communion vnder both kindes and of the commandement thereof giuen vnto all faithfull yee will not proceed otherwise then according to the concordatum agreed vpon in Egra that is to say according to the law of God the order of Christ and his Apostles the generall Councels and the mindes of the holy Doctours truly grounded vpon the law of God Item we desire that your fatherly reuerences considering the great affectiō of our people will giue vs the desired libertie to communicate vnto the yonger sort the Sacrament of the Supper For if this vse of communicating should be taken away which our kingdome being godly moued by the writings of most great and holy Doctours and brought in by examples hath receiued as Catholicke and exercised now a long time verely it shoulde raise vp an intollerable offence amongst the people and their minds would be greeuously vexed and troubled Item we require you as before that for like causes
done in the premisses at the day and place aforesayd or that he which hath so executed our commaundement do so certifie vs by his letters Dated at our Manour of Lambeth the xxij day of October an 1457 and in the 4. yeare of our translation This citation being directed the Byshop vpon the sūmon thereof was brought or rather came before the iudges and Bishops vnto Lambeth where the foresaid Thomas the Archbishop with his doctors and Lawyers were gathered together in the Archbishops Court. In which conuention also the Duke of Buckingham was present accōpanyed with the Bishop of Rochester and of Lyncolne What were the opiniōs and articles agaynst him obiected after in his reuocatiou shall be specified In his answering for himselfe in such a company of the Popes frendes albeit he coulde not preuayle notwithstanding he stoutly defending himselfe declared many thinges worthye great commendation of learning if learning agaynste power coulde haue preuayled But they on the contrary part with all labor and trauel extended themselues either to reduce him or els to cōfound him As here lacked no blustring wordes of terrour and threatning so also many fayre flattering wordes and gentle persuasions were admixt with al. Briefely to make a short narration of a long and busy trauers here was no stone lefte vnturned no wayes vnprooued eyther by fayre meanes to entreat him or by terrible manasses to terrifye his mind till at the length he being vanquished and ouercome by the bishops began to faynt and gaue ouer Wherupon by by a recantation was put vnto him by the Byshops which he should declare before the people The copy of which his recantation here foloweth ¶ The forme and maner of the retractation of Reynold Pecocke IN the name of God Amen Before you the most reuered Father in Christ and Lorde the Lorde Thomas by the grace of God Archbishop of Canterbury priuate of England and Legate of the Apostolicke sea I Reynolde Pecock vnworthy Bishop of Chichester do purely willyngly simply and absolutely cōfesse and acknowledge that I in times past that is to say by the space of these 20. yeares last past and more haue otherwise conceiued holdē taught and written as touching the Sacramentes and the Articles of the fayth then the holy Church of Rome and vniuersall Church and also that I haue made written published and set forth many diuers pernitious doctrines bookes workes writings heresyes contrary and agaynst the true Catholicke and Apostolicke fayth contayning in them errours cōtrary to the Catholicke fayth especially these errours and heresies here vnder written 1. First of all that we are not bounde by the necessitye of fayth to beleue that our Lord Iesus Christ after his death descended into hell 2. Item that it is not necessarye to saluation to beleeue in the holy Catholicke Church 3. Item that it is not necessary to saluation to beleue the communion of Sayntes 4. Item that it is not necessary to saluation to affirme the body materially in the Sacrament 5. Item that the vniuersall Churche may erre in matters which perteyne vnto fayth 6. Item that it is not necessary vnto saluation to beleue that that which euery generall Councell doth vniuersally ordeine approue or determine should necessaryly for the helpe of our fayth and the saluation of soules be approued and holden of all faythfull Christians Wherfore I Reynold Pecocke wretched sinner which haue long walked in darckenesse and now by the merciful disposition and ordinaunce of God am reduced brought agayne vnto the light and way of truth and restored vnto the vnity of our holy mother the Church renoūce and forsake all errors and heresyes aforesayd Notwithstanding godly reader it is not to be beleued that Pecocke did so geue ouer these opinions howsoeuer the wordes of the recantation pretend For it is a pollicy play of the bishops that when they do subdue or ouercome any mā they cary him whither they list as it were a yoūg Stere by the nose and frame out his words for him before hand as it were for a Parate what he should speake vnto the people not according to his owne will but after theyr lust and fantasy Neither is it to be doubted but that thys Bishop repented him afterward of his recantation which may easely be iudged hereby because he was committed agayn into prison deteined captiue where as it is vncertaine whether he was oppressed with priuy and secret tyranny and there obteined the crown of Martyrdom or no. The Dictionary of Thomas Gascoigne I haue not in my handes present But if credite be to be geuen to such as haue to vs alledged the booke this we may finde in the 8. Century of Iohn Bale chapter 19. that the sayd Thomas Gascoigne in his third part of his sayd dictionary writing of Reinold Pecocke maketh declaration of his articles cōteining in them matter of sore heresy First saith he Reynold Pecock at Paules crosse preached openly that the office of a Christen Prelate chiefly aboue all other things is to preach the word of God That mans reason is not to be preferred before the Scriptures of the old and new Testament That the vse of Sacraments as they be now handled is worse then the vse of the lawe of nature That Byshops which buy theyr admissions of the Bishop of Rome do sinne That no man is bound to beleue and obey the determination of the Churche of Rome Also that the riches of Bishops by inheritage are the goods of the poore Item that the Apostles themselues personally were not the makers of the Creed that in the same Creede once was not the Article he went downe to hell Item that of the foure senses of the Scripture none is to be taken but the very first and proper sense Also that he gaue litle estimation in some poyntes to the authority of the olde Doctors Item that he condemned the wilfull begging of the Friers as a thing idle and needles This out of Thomas Gascoigne Leland also adding this moreouer sayth that he not contented to folow the Catholicke sentence of the Churche in interpreting of the Scripture did not thinke soundly as he iudged it of the holy Eucharist At length for these and suche other Articles the sayde Reynold Pecocke was condemned for an hereticke by the Archbishops and Bishops of Rosse Lyncolne and Winchester with other diuines moe Wherupon he being driuē to his recantation was notwithstanding deteyned still in prison Where some say that he was priuily made away by death Halle addeth that some say his opinions to bee that spirituall persons by Gods lawe ought to haue no temporall possessions Other write that he sayde that personall tithes were not due by Gods lawe But whatsoeuer the cause was he was caused at Paules Crosse to abiure and all his bookes brent and he himselfe kepte in his owne house during his naturall life I maruell that Polydore of this extremity of
rose vpright vppon hys feete and looking vp to heauen called vpon the Lord and protested his innocency in that behalf and so laying downe his necke againe at the fourth blowe was dispatched Mathias the other brother was led captiue with the king vnto Austria The rest of the captiues brake the prison and escaped It was not long after thys cruelty was wrought vppon Ladislaus the king being about the age of twentye two yeares that talke was made of the kings marryage wyth Magdalene daughter to the French king The place of the marryage was appoynted at Prage where greate preparation was for the matter At the first entraunce of the King into the Citie of Prage Rochezana wyth a company of Ministers such as were fauourers of Iohn Hus and of sincere Religion came with all solemnity to receiue the king making there hys oration to gratulate the kings most ioyful and prosperous accesse into the same his owne Realme and countrey of Boheme Unto whych Rochezana after he had ended hys Oration scarce the king woulde open hys mouth to geue thankes to him nor any cheareful countenaunce vnto hys companye but fiercely seemed to frowne vppon them In the next Pagen after these came foorth the Priestes of the high Minster after the most Popish maner meeting him wyth Procession and wyth the Sacrament of the aultare For as Panacea among Phisitions serueth for all diseases so the sacrament of the popes aultare serueth for all pompes and Pagens First it must lie vppon the aultare then it must be holden vp in hands then it must hang in the pixe it must serue for the quicke it must also helpe the dead it must moreouer visite the sick it must walk about that churchyard it must go about the streets it must bee caried about the fieldes to make the grasse to growe it must be had to the battaile it must ride on horsebacke before the Pope And finally it must welcome kings into Cities Wherein these Catholicke fathers doe seeme somewhat to forget themselues For if the Pope being inferiour to the Sacrament of the aultar at the commyng of kings doe vse to sitte still while the kings come and kisse hys feete what reason is it that the Sacrament of the aultare whyche is I trowe aboue the Pope shoulde meete kings by the way and welcome them to the towne But thys by the way of parenthesis Let vs nowe continue the text When Ladislaus thys Catholicke king who had shewed hymselfe before so stoute and sterne against Rochezana and his company had seene these Catholique priests with theyr Procession and especially wyth their blessed Sacrament to come wyth all reuerence and much deuotion hee lyghted downe from his horse hee embraced the crosse and kyssed it and wyth chearefull countenaunce saluted the Priestes in order All thys while his young wife was not yet come out of Fraunce but Legates were sent after most sumptuous wise to conduct her Other Legates also were sent the same time to the Emperour Fredericke for conconclusion of peace The thirde Legacie was directed likewise to Pope Calixtus about Religion howe to reduce the Bohemians to the Churche of Rome The authour of thys story which was Pope Pius hymselfe declareth further the opinion of some to be that king Ladislaus the same time had entended to make a finall ende and destruction of all that secte in Bohemia whych helde with the doctrine of Iohn Hus and Hierome by the assemble and cōcourse of the Catholique Princes and popish Prelates whyche were appoynted there to meete together at that marriage in Prage For there shoulde be first the Emperour Fredericke Elizabeth the kings mother and hys sisters Elizabeth and Anna the Princes of Saxonie Baioria Slesia Franconia the Palatine and other Princes of Rhene many also of the Lordes of Fraunce besides the Popes Cardinals Legates Prelates and other potestates of the Popes Church Who if they had all together conuented in Boheme no doubt but some great mischiefe hadde beene wrought there against the Hussires against whome thys Ladislaus following the steppes of Sigismundus hys graundfather and Albertus hys father was euer an vtter enemie But when man hath purposed yet God disposeth as pleaseth hym And therefore truely it is wrytten of Aeneas Syluius in the same place saying De regimine Ciuitatum de mutatione regnorum de orbis imperio minimum est quod homines possint tum vero De religionis constitutione multo minus magna magnus dispoint Deus That is In regiment of Cities in alteration of kingdomes in ruling and gouerning the world it is lesse then nothing that man can do it is the hygh God that ruleth high things Whereunto then I may wel adde thys moreouer and say that if the gouernance of worldly kingdomes standeth not in mans power but in the disposition of God muche lesse is it then that mans power can doe in the regiment and gouerning of Religion Example whereof in this purposed deuise of Princes doth euidently appeare For as thys great preparation and solemnitie of mariage was in doing and the Princes ready to set foorth with a litle turne of Gods holy hand al these great purposes were sodeinly turned and dashed For in the middest of this busines about the 21. day of Nouember An. 1461. this great aduersarie of Christes people king Ladislaus king of Boheme of Hungarie and Prince of Austria sickened and wythin 36. houres died some say of a Pestilent fore in hys grine some say of poyson But howe so euer it was as it came not wythout the iust iudgement of God reuenging the innocent bloude of Ladislaus Huniades sonne wrongfully put to death before so by the oportune deathe of thys King the poore Churches of Boheme were gratiously deliuered And thys ende made Ladislaus one of the mightiest Princes at that time in all Europe in whome three mighty kingdomes were conioyned and combined together Austria Hungaria and Bohemia which countreys doe lie Southeast from Englande in the farthest partes of all Germanie towarde Constantinople and the dominion of the Turks contain these principal townes in them AVstria called once Panonia superior Vienna whyche was besieged of the Turke Anno 1533. Melck Neustat noua Ciuitas Gretz S. Hypolit Lintz Stein Haynberg Kremsz Karolsburg Teben Kotzo Raba Lindenburg ¶ To Austria bee adioining also certaine Prouinces Earledomes as Stiria Prouinces Carinthia Prouinces Croaia Prouinces Cilicia Earldomes Tyrolētz Earldomes HVngaria which once called Pannonia inferior Buda Ofen Strigonium Kalachia Varadinum Nitria Noua Vetus Nicopolis Noua Vetus Agria Noua Vetus Agria Orszaw◠Bossen Sabaria ¶ Thys Vngaria was first called Pannonia or Poeonia After y◠comming of y◠Hunes it was called Hungaria Of which came Attila which destroied Italy about the yeare of the Lorde 440. Thorough Ungaria rūneth Danubius hauing on the west side Austria and Bohemia on the East Seruia on the South-side Polonia c.
may appeare that he neyther careth for GOD nor the health of the Churche Item that the preceptes and commaundementes of the pope and prelates be no otherwise but as the Councels and preceptes of Phisitions binding no further then they are founde to be holesome and standing with the trueth of the word Item that the Pope can commaunde no man vnder payne of deadly sinne except God commaund him before He sayth that the keyes of the Pope and of the prelates be not such wherwith they open the kingdome of heauen but rather shut it as the Phariseis did Concerning vowes he disputeth that such as be foolish and impossibile ought to be brokē that the hearers ought to discerne and iudge of the doctrine of their Prelates and not to receiue euery thing that they say without due examination He sheweth moreouer that the sentence or excommunication is of more force proceeding from a true godly honest simple and learned men then from the Pope as in the Councell of Constance Bernard was more esteemed then Eugenius Also if the pope with hys prelates gouern and rule naughtely that the inferiours be they neuer so base ought to resist him Writing moreouer of two Popes Pius the second and Sixtus the fourth he sayth that Pius the second dyd vsurpe vnto hymselfe all the kingdomes of the whole world that Sixtus the pope did dispense with al maner of othes in causes temporall not onely with suche othes as haue bene already but also with all suche as shal be made hereafter which was nothing els but to geue libertie and licence for men to forsweare themselues and deceiue one an other This Weselus beyng a Phrisian borne and now aged in yeares vpon a certayne time when a yong man called mayster Ioannes Oftendorpius came to hym sayd these wordes Well my childe thou shalt lyue to that day when thou shalt see the doctrine of these new and contentious diuines as Thomas and Bonauenture with others of the same sort shal be vtterly reiected and exploded from al true Christen deuines And thys which Oftendorpius then being young heard Weselus to speake he reported himselfe to Nouiomagus which wrote this story an 1520. heard it of the mouth of the sayd Weselus an 1490. Martij 18. Philippus Melanchton writing of the lyfe of Rodolphus Agricola sayth that Iosquinus Groningonsis an auncient and a godly man reported that when as he was young he was oftentimes present at the Sermons of Rodolphus and Weselus wherein they many times lamented the darckenes of the church and reprehended the abuses of the Masse and of the single life of priestes Item that they disputed oftentimes of the righteousnes of sayth why S. Paule so oftentimes did inculcate that men be iustified by faith and not by workes the same Iosquine also reported that they did openly reiecte and disproue the opinion of monks which say that men be iustified by their works Item concerning mens traditiōs their opinion was that all suche were deceiued whatsoeuer attribued vnto those traditions any opinion of Gods worship or that they could not be broken And thus much for the story of doctour Wesellianus and Wesilus By this it may be seene and noted how by the grace of God and gift of printing first came forth learning by learning came light to iudge and discerne the errors of the pope from the truth of Gods word as partly by these abouesaid may appeare partly by other that followe after by the grace of Christ shall better be seene About the very same tyme and season when as the Gospell began thus to braunch spring in Germanie the host of Christes church began also to muster to multiply likewise here in Englād as by these historyes here consequent may appeare For not long after the death of this Weselus in the yeare of our Lorde 1494. and in the 9. yeare of the reigne of K. Henry 7. the 28. of Aprill was burned a very old woman named Ioane Boughton widow and mother to the Lady Young which Ladye was also suspected to be of that opinion which her mother was Her mother was of foure score yeares of age or more held 8. of Wickleffes opinions which opiniōs my author doth not shew for the which she was burnt in Smithfield the day abouesayd My author sayth she was a Disciple of Wickleffe whome she accompted for a Sainct and helde so fast and firmly viij of his x. opinions that all the Doctours of Lōdon coulde not turne her from one of them and when it was told her that she shoulde be brent for her obstinacie false beliefe shee set nothing by theyr manacing wordes but defied them for the sayde she was so beloued of God and hys holy aungels that she passed not for the fire in the midst therof she cryed to God to take her soule into his holy handes The night following that she was burnt the most parte of her ashes were had awaye of suche as had a loue vnto the doctrine that she dyed for Shortly after the martyrdome of this godly aged mother in the yeare of our Lord 1497. and the 17. of Ianuary being Sonday two men the one called Richard Milderale and the other Iames Sturdy bare Fagots before the procession of Paules and after stoode before the preacher in the time of hys Sermon And vpon the sonday following stood other two men at Paules crosse all the sermon tyme the one garnished with paynted written papers the other hauing a Fagot on hys necke After that in Lent season vppon Passion Sonday one Hugh Glouer bare a Fagot before the procession of Paules after wyth the Fagot stoode before the preacher all the sermon while at Paules crosse And on the sonday next following foure men stoode and did there open penaunce at Paules as is aforesayd in the sermon time many of their bookes were burnt before them at the Crosse. FUrthermore the next yeare following whiche was the yeare of our Lord. 1498. in the beginning of Maye the king then being at Canterbury was a priest burnt which was so strong in his opinion that all the clerkes doctors then there beyng coulde not remoue him from his sayth whereof the king beyng enformed caused the sayd priest to be brought before hys presence who by hys perswasions caused him to reuoke and so he was burnt immediately The burning of Babram ABout which yere likewise or in the yere next folowing that xx day of Iuly was an old mā burnt in Smithfield IN the same yeare also which was of the Lord. 1499. fell the martyrdome and burning of Hieronimus Sauonarola a man no lesse godly in hart then constant in his profession Who being a Monke in Italy singularly well learned preached fore agaynst the euill lyfe liuing of the spiritualty and specially of hys own order compsayning fore vpō thē as the springes and authors of all mischieues wickednes
maruell considering that he had slaine his brother Theodosius before at home moreouer liued in incestious matrimony also being inclined to certayne new sects could not abide the coÌ„trary teachers but slew theÌ„ which admonished him thereof The sayd Constans going afterward to Italy was also ouercome of the Lumbardes c. the Saracens after this victory spoyled also Rhodes Although these cursed Saracens in these theyr greate victories conquests were not without domesticall seditions and deuisions among themselues yet the princes of the Saracens being called then Sultans had in theyr possession the gouernment of Syria Egypt Affrike of a great part of Asia about the terme of 400. yeares till at length the Saracen king which ruled in Persia fighting agaynst the Saracene of Babilon sought ayde of the Turkes to fight with him agaynst the Sultane of Babilon The which Turks by litle and litle surprised vpoÌ„ the Sultan of Persia not long after putting him out of place vsurped the king dome of Persia which afterward went further as ye shall heare the Lord willing And this is the first beginning of the Turkes dominion These Turkes after they had thus ouercome great couÌ„tryes and prouinces and made their power large mighty both in Asia and Europa begaÌ„ to deuide theyr kingdoÌ„es countryes amongest themselues But when they coulde not agree but with deadly war contended for the boundes of those kingdomes and dominions in the meane tyme 4. of the principall families conquering and subduing all the rest parted the whole Empyre amongst theÌ„selues And yet they also not so contented fell to such cruell hatred conteÌ„tion warre and slaughter no doubt by the iust iudgement of God against his blasphemous enemies that there was no end thereof vntill the remnant of the auncient Turkes was vtterly rooted out For it is euident that there are fewe nowe remayning which are Turkes in deed by birth and bloud and that the state of that great empyre is not upholdeÌ„ but by the strength anâ— power of souldyors which haue bene Christians and now are turned to Mahumetes Religion so that euen theyr owne naturall language is now out of vse amongest them sauing in certayne families of theyr nobility and geÌ„tlemen These foure familyes aboue mentioned with theyr Captaynes and armyes about the yeare of our Lorde 1330 went raging throughout all Asia and Europa and euery one of them conquered some parte of the countryes where they passed The causes of these great inuasioÌ„s and victoryes were the dissention and discorde falsehoode idlenesse vnconstancy greedy auarice lacke of trueth and fidelity among Christian men of al states and degrees both high and low For by the wilfull defection and backesliding of the Christians the Turkish power did exceedingly encrease in that many â—rsiring the licentious life liberty of war allured with the prosperous successe of thynges forsooke the Churche of God and made themselues bond slaues to Mahumet and his deuilish sect bâ—th because that fleshly liberty is delighting to all men and partly also because as fortune fauoreth so commonly the willes of men enclyne And agayne suche as be prophane and without the feare of God whereof there is an infinite number in the Church in all ages are wont commonlye to iudge of Religion according to the successe of realmes and kingdomes For if any not onelye for the variety of opinions but also for the diuersitye of euentes and fortune amongest men haue inquired and doe inquire whether there be any Churche of God distyncte from other nations what it is and where it is especially for so muche as the greatest part of men bothe in the olde time when as the foure Monarchyes flourished in order was ignoraunt of this doctrine whiche is peculier to the Churche alone and nowe also the barbarity of Mahumet preuayleth raigneth in the moste part of the worlde And how standeth this with mans reason that a small number both miserable and also feebled and broken with manye battayles shoulde be regarded and loued of God and the other flourishing in all wealth prosperity victoryes authority and power should be reiected and despised of God seing there is no power and authoritye but by the ordynaunce of God Albeit therefore the power of the Turkes hath bene for these two hundreth yeares of greater force then any other Monarchy of the world besides yet is there no Imperiall dignity to be estemed in that Turkish tyraÌ„ny but amongest those nations onely where the heauenly doctrine of the Gospell is preached other disciplines necessary for the Churche of God the common life of man mayntayned and regarded where the lawes of God other honest and ciuil ordinaunces agreable to the same doe flourish and reigne where lawful iudgement is exercised where vertue is honoured and rewarded where sinne and wickednes is punished where honest familyes are mayntayned and defended These thinges are not regarded amongest the Turkes the enemies of the sonne of God and all lawfull Empyres because they dissolue and reiect all godly focietyes honest discipline good lawes policyes righteous iudgemeÌ„ts the ordinaunce of matrimony and godly familyes For what hath the Empyre of the Turkes bene hetherto but moste deadly cruell and perpetuall warre to worke all mischief destruction and desolation to subuert good lawes Cityes kingdomes policies and to enlarge theyr cruell power dominion The stay and strength whereof is not loue and fauour proceeding of vertue and iustice as in lawefull and well gouerned Empyres but feare violence oppression swarmes and infinite thousandes of barbarous and most wicked people ministers of Satans malice fury Whiche kinde of dominion and tyranny hath bene condeÌ„ned by the voyce of God many yeares agoe the â—â—stimonyes wherof the Lord would haue to remayne in the Church least the godly being moued with the power successe therof should fall away and forsake the sonne of God Wherefore let vs not seâ—ke for any Imperiall state in that barbarity but let vs be thankefull acknowledge the great benefite of God for that he hath reserued to vs certayne remnaunts of the Romayn Empyre And let vs call vpon him dayly with harty petitions and grones wyth zeale and loue to the house of God that this Turkish power ioined with the malice of Sathan against the sonne of God preuayle not agaynst the poore congregations litle remnant of his Churche as it hath hitherto done agaynste those strong and noble christian kingdoms and churches were now we see the Turkish tyranny to raigne SathaÌ„ to haue taken full possession Whose state was once farre better then ours is now and more like to continue without such horrible ouerthrowes and desolation Oh that we might foresee a litle the great daunger that hangeth ouer our heades For though the Turke semeth to be farre of yet doe we nourishe within our brestes at home that maye soone cause vs to feele his cruell hand and worse if worse may be
learning came to visite him The furniture of his bookes cost him 7000. florens A little before his death his mind was to giue all away and to take a coule to go about preach but the Lord would not permit him His story requireth a long tractatiō which if place do serue we will not peraduēture forget With ij Popes that is with Pope Innocent Alexander vj. he had much vexation ¶ The names of the Archbyshops of Canterbury in this sixt booke conteyned 62 Iohn Stratford viij 63 Iohn Kempe iij. 64 Thomas Burchier xxxiij 65 Iohn Morton xiiij 66 Thomas Langhton  67 Henry Dene ij  Guliel Warham xxviij ¶ Heere endeth the sixt Booke and the first Tome A briefe note of Ecclesiasticall lawes ordeined by auncient Kings in this Realme FOr somuch as it is and hath bene a persuasion lōg gendered in the heads of many that the Bishops of Rome be the vniuersall heads of the whole militant Churche of Christ in earth and haue alwaies so cōtinued from the beginning of the primitiue time And that no Prince King nor Emperour in his owne Realme hath any interest to intermedle with matters and lawes Ecclesiastical but only the sayd Bishops of Rome to refell and remoue that opiniō out of the heads of all Englishmen as a thing most false and contrary both to histories of time and examples of ancient Kings gouernors of this Realme I thought to fill vp a litle end of paper here left with some such briefe rehearsall of lawes diuised appointed by Kings and rulers of this land for the ordering of the Church and causes Ecclesiasticall to the intent that all the world may see the gouernement of Christes Church heere in earth vnder Christ hath not depended only of the Pope from auncient time but hath ben rather directed by such kings and princes as God here had placed vnder him to gouerne the people of this Realme of England as foloweth heere in this present table to be noted ¶ A briefe recapitulation of auncient Ecclesiasticall lawes by sondry Kinges of this Realme ordeyned for gouernment of the Church before the Conquest ¶ Ecclesiastical lawes of King Inas or Ina. FIrst King Inas who reigned in this land the yeare of our Lord. DCCxij commanded that ministers should frame ther conuersation of life according to the forme in lawes prescribed 2. That infants should be baptised within 30. dayes 3. Item that no mā lay or spirituall free or bond should labour vpon the Sonday 4. Item he established immunitie of Churches Sanctuarie Also he tooke order for the true paiment of Church dueties and of the first fruites of all that was sowen to be payd at the day of S. Martin ¶ Ecclesiasticall lawes of King Alured or Alfred 1. KIng Alured after he had ordeined diuers iudiciall punishments for violating the holy precepts of God commanded by Moses he also cōfirmed and enlarged the priuiledge of Sanctuarie he laid double paine vpon such as committed offences in the solemnities of certaine feasts Also against them that committed sacrilege 2. He made a law against Priests committing murther 3. Also he made a law against whoredome adultery and fornication 4. He appointed daies of fasting and ceasing frō labour 5. Item he set order for making and keeping vowes ¶ Ecclesiasticall lawes of kyng Edward the elder and Gythrum the Dane kyng FIrst they agreed vpon the Sāctuary they forbad Gentilitie and Paganisine they layd punishment vpon the Clergy committing theft periurie or murther fornicatiō or any capitall crime 2. They punished Priestes that pretermitted their office in pronouncyng festiuall or fastyng dayes 3. They made a law agaynst all labour buying and sellyng vpon the Sabbaoth also for keepyng of feastes Itē for no execution to be done on the Sonday Also agaynst witches and sorcerers c. ¶ Ecclesiasticall lawes of kyng Ethelstane 1. KIng Ethelstan who reigned the yeare of our Lord 924. commaunded that euery Village of his owne should geue a monethly corrodie to a poore person 2. That 50. Psalmes should be song dayly in the Church for the kyng c. 3. He also ordeined punishmēt for witches sorcerers c ¶ Ecclesiasticall lawes of kyng Edmund 1. AFter kyng Ethelstan folowed kyng Edmund about the yeare of our Lord. 940. who established and prouided lawes agaynst the vnchast liuing of Churchmen 2. Item he made lawes concernyng tythes with first fruites of euery mans croppe and almose money duly to be payd 3. Item he enacted that Byshops of their owne proper charges should repayre Churches and should also admonish the kyng for the furnishyng of the same 4. For periury also and for fighting within the Church he set lawes and paynes ¶ Ecclesiasticall lawes of kyng Edgar 1. KIng Edgar who begā his reigne about the yeare of our Lord. 959. amongest other cōstitutions Ecclesiasticall ordeined that the Sōday should be kept holy from Saterday at noone till Monday in the mornyng 2. Item he ordeined and decreed concerning liberties freedomes of the Church for tythes also and first fruites of corne and paying of Peterpence 3. Item for holy dayes and fastyng dayes 4. Itē that assemblies or Synodes should be kept twise euery yeare whereat as well the Byshop of the Diocesse should be present as the ciuill Magistrate ¶ Kyng Aethelrede Anno. 979. KIng Aethelrede also which succeeded after Edgar and Edward appointed diuers lawes for publicke regiment whereof we finde but few touching matters Ecclesiasticall for tythes lightes feastes and nothyng els and therfore we passe further to the lawes of Canutus ¶ Ecclesiasticall lawes of kyng Canutus CAnutus the Dane kyng began to reigne in this lād in the yeare of our Lord. 1016. The said Canutus as Aethelrede had done before diuided his lawes into Ecclesiasticall and temporall 1. That Ecclesiasticall persons beyng accused of fightyng murder or any other offēce should purge thēselues therof 2. That Priestes should be degraded for periury and put in sureties of good behauiour 3. He prayeth Priestes that they will liue chast and commaunded other Religious 4. He limited the degrees of Mariage 5. Item he commaunded celebration of the Sabbaoth frō Saterday at noone till Monday mornyng as Edgar had done before forbiddyng markets huntyngs labours and Court keepynges duryng the sayd space 6. He ordained eche Christen man to come to the housell thrise yearely at the least That they search and enquire after Gods law and his commaundementes 7. That euery Christian man vnderstand the pointes of his fayth that at the least he learne perfectly the Lordes Prayer and the Creede and that whosoeuer can not the same shall be excluded from the Eucharist and shall not be receiued to vndertake for others in Baptisme 8. That Byshops and Priestes should doe their dueties that they cry out and warne their flockes when the Wolfe commeth 9. That at the Court of euery Shire the Bishop of the Dioces shal be present
Queene Elizabeth The trayterous murdering of the Lord Iames Regent of Scotland Martyr The chiefe cause of al these latter persecution in the Church is onely the priuate quarrell of the Bishop of Rome The plantation of the Popes supremacie proued not to be of God Iohn 8. Luke 18. The 3. question Apocal. 13. The two beastes in the booke of ReuelatioÌ„ described The second beast with the hornes like a Lambe The misterie of the first beast rising out of the Sea applied The Image of the beast resembled to the Monarchie of Rome Apocall 13. Of these 42. monethes and the exposition thereof read page 101. The wounded head of the beast in the reuelation what it meaneth The second beast rising out of the land pretending the hornes of a Lambe what it meaneth Apocall 13. The Misterie of the 13. chapter of the Reuelations expounded Ex platina in vita Gregoâ—ij 7. The Image of the old Monarchie reuiued by the Bishop of Rome Power to doe the workes of the beast before his sight Apocal. 13. The 4. question 2. Thess. 2. Religion of Christ spiritual and not corporall The Pope turneth the spirituall religion of Christ to a corporall religion The whole summe of the Popes Catholicke religion set forth in partes A man may be Catholique by the Popes religion without any working of the holy ghost The nature of tâ—ue Christian Religion described Saluation of man standeth onely in fayth of Christ. Fayth in Christ no light matter to fleshe and bloud Many thinges incident to saluation besides fayth but not as causes thereof Workes of sanctification how they come and follow fayth Esay 58. Math. 25. Euseb. lib. 8. cap. 1. Plat. de rep 8. Hippocrates Constantinus erus Ad Martyres Ad deum de inundantibus bellorum procellis Math. 16. Three thinges noted in Christes wordes The order of the disposition of this history 1 The suffering time of the church 2 The florishing time of the Church 3 The declining time of the church 4 The time of Antichrist in the Church 5 The reformation of the Church Church of Rome Foure thinges to be considered in the Church of Rome 1. Title 2. Iurisdiction 3. Lyfe 4. Doctrine The title of the Pope The iurisdiction of the Pope The iurisdiction of the Pope The properties of life in the Romish Clergy The doctrine of the Pope Pope siluester the second Pope Gregory 7. called Hildebrand Pope innocentius the third Pope Bonifatius the eight Equinocé That is in name onely and not in very deede Vutuocè That is both in â—ame and also in definition and effect agreeing with the name The Church of Rome as now it is is not Apostolicall but onely aequiuocè The argument of Pighius Hosius and Eckius for the aucthoritie of the Church of Rome Aunswere Fallacia aquiuoci The minor examined The maior examined A distinction The church of Rome distincted into a double consideration of tymes The 〈◊〉 of Rome how it was commendâ—d of the 〈◊〉 Doctours The principall obiection of the Papistes agaynst the Protestants Aunswere to the obiection The church of Rome reuolted from the Church of Rome An other obiection of the papists An answere to the obiection No man bound to follow the opinions of hys Godfathers in all poyntes vnlesse they be consonant in al things The church of Rome distincted froÌ„ the Church of Rome Two times of the Church of Rome considered and examined The first poynt The enormities of life in the latter Churche of Rome described Policies and practises of Rome to get mony XV. Practises of the newe Churche of Rome to get mony Summa totalis The iurisdiction and power of this new church of Rome examined This â—ewe Church of Rome in three poyntes challenged Nicen. Con. Cap. 6. Victor stopped from his excommunication by Ireneus Boniface the first falsefieth the Councell of Nice The 6. Councell of Carthage Appellations to Rome forbidden in England Appellations to Rome forbiddeÌ„ in Fraunce Ex Annonio de gestis FraÌ„corum Lib 5. Cap. 33. The Popes iurisdiction resisted in Fraunce Pragmatica sanctio The Popes iurisdiction concerning elections examined Platina Sabel Enead 8. lib. 6. ConstaÌ„tine the 4. Emperour of Constantinople The Popes bibliothe carie suspected The constitution of Constantine the 4. Emperour of ConstaÌ„tinople examined Rubrica de ordinatione Episcopi ex Caelestino Papa dist 63. Cap. Cleri Dist. 63. Cap. Sacrorum Libertie graunted to the Clergy and to the people to chuse their Bishop Carolus Magnus Ludouicus Pâ—us The decree Ego Ludocus dist 63. suspected Gratianus Volâ—teranus what ground they haue of their recordes Dist. 63. ca. Ego Ludouicus Election of the Bishop of Rome standeth vpon the coÌ„sent of the Clergy and the people of Rome The decree Ego Ludouicus proued fals Dist. 23. ca. In Nomine Domini The iudiciarie power of the Pope examined Georg. Turonens in Francorum hist. lib. 10. ca. 18. The Popes jurisdiction vsurped in geuing and disposing ecclesiastical promotions 16. q. 7. cap. emnes Basilicae The Councell of Nice cap â— The generall Councell of Antioch cap. 9. 9. q. 3. cap. per singulas Pragmatica sanctio sancti Ludouici Impropriations and first finites of benefices Institutiones canonicae sub Ludouico Pio. The wordes of Prosper Aug. ad Bonifac Vowsons and pluralities of benefices Three points wherein the Popes Church erreth in his iurisdiction 1 Ecclesiasticall iurisdiction falsly restrained impropriate to the Church of Rome which ought to be generally equall to all Churches Christian. 2 Ecclesiasticall iurisdiction abused and extended in the church of Rome further then the word limiteth Christening of Bels. 3 The iurisdiction of the Pope abused and vsurped in temporal matters where he hath nothing to doe Popes submitted in the olde tyme to Emperours Ex cap. 1. de iuramentis calumniat Dist. 97. cap. 1. Plat. in vita Euge. 2. Euidences prouing ecclesiasticall persons to haue bene subiect to their Magistrates in causes both Ecclesiasticall temporall Euidences out of the Scripture Dauid 1. Par. cap. 30.31 Ezechias 4. Reg. 18. The order of Abias was the eight order among the Priests 1. Par. 24. Salomon Iudas Machabeus 1. Mac. 10. 1. Mac. 14. Iosaphat 2. Par. 19. Iohn 19. Rom. 13. Theophilactus Aug. ad Bonifacium Aug. contra CresconiuÌ„ li. 3. cap. 5. Thomas de regim princip li. â— cap. 32. 1. Pet. 2. Gregor ad Maurit Aug. lib. 3. epist. 61. The Pope calleth king Lucius Christes Vicar 23. q. cap. 5. principes cap. Administratores Dist. 97. ca. ecclesiae cap. Victor Dist. 79. ca. Si duo 24. q. 3. cap. De illicita Ex Nouel 5. Iustinian Diuine seruice vsed in the vulgare tongue Clodoueus Concilium Aureliense Carolus Magnus Canonicall Scripture onely to be read in Churches Conc. Cartha 3. cap. 47. Bishops and Priests charged to pâ—each with diligence Superstition in Funerals forbidden Ex. Ansegiso Abbate lib. 1. cap. 76. Ludouicus Pius Ex Ans. lib. 1. cap. 20. Lib. 2. C de
crafty conspiracy of the Cardinals agaynst the Emperour The verse The glose vpon the verse of Hildebrand The Pope proued a double lyer The Pope traytor to the Emperour Great 〈◊〉 stirred vp by the pope O pestiferous hipocrite The Pope prayeth S. Peter to dishonor hys king And S. Peter byndeth the Pope to honour hys king Crocodili lachryma Scripture well applyed A figure called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Cuius contrarium verum est Vim faciunt scripturis vt plenitudinem accipiant potestatis Let all Papâ—â—â— marke here well the holines of their holy father As though he were not set vp by you rather then by them The more to blame Emperours to suffer you to be so saucie with them Nego argumentum Confer this clause with the history of the story hereafter following O double hipocrite Guibertus Archbishop depriued The 4. battell betwixt Henry and Rodulph Henricus rectors Rodulphus at hys death repenting The Pope geueth war but God geueth victory Conciliam Brixonse Anno. 1083. No Bishop of Rome to be chosen without the assent of the Emperour Abbas Vrspergensis Henricus Mutius Note here the Pope iudged and deposed of the councell The Pope seeketh succour of hys paramour The first example to fight for remission of sinnes began in Hildebrand Platina Nauclerus Sabellicus Crantzius Benno c. Hildebrand the first author and patrone of all misrule that followed in Popes The death of William Conquerour Pestilence in England and 〈◊〉 of beastes London with the Church of Paules brent Wolstane Byshop of Worcester England peaceable froÌ„ theeâ—â—â— The Abbey of battayle The Abbey of Barmoâ—desay The first byshop of Salisbury Osmund Bishop of Sarum Ordinale ecclesiastici officy SecunduÌ„â—sum Sarum Ex Eulogio historico Lib. 3. The vse and ordinary of Sarum how and when it was deuised Example of Gods iust iudgment vpon a Byshop who being unmercifull to the poore was eaten with rattes and myse Anno. 1088. William Rufus Wolstane Byshop of Worcester Anno. â— 1091. The death of Lanfras cus Archb. of Canterâ— Remigios Byshop of Lincolne Lincolne minster builded Stow Abbey builded Anno. 1092. Wynchecombe steeple brent with lightning Vi. hundreth houses blowne down with wynde The roofe of Bowe Church ouerthrown Robert Bleuet paydv thousand markes for hys Bishoppricke Herbert Losinga Byshop of Norwiche Losinga 1. adulator Norwiche mynster builded by Herbert Pope victor the 3. Pope victor poysoned in his chalice A comparisoÌ„ betwene Hildebrand Pope of Rome and Ieroboam king of Israell The order of Charter monkes began Pope Vrbanus 2. Two Popes in Rome The order of Cistercian or whyte monkes beganne Synodus Romana vel Placentina Synodus Claromantana The viage vnto the holy land The number that went The captaynes of thé whiche went to the holy land Anno. 1096. The actes of the Christians in their viage to win Hierusalem Antioch taken of the Christians Anno. 1098. The slaughter of the Persian infidels Hierusalem conquered by the Christians Ex Henrie li. 7. The king of Englands iudgment agaynst the Pope Ex Math. paris Decrees of pops Vibanus Ioan Stella Nauclerus Dist. 31. Eos qui 15. 9.6 Iuratos 30. q. 8. quod autem Example of Gods rightfull iudgement in punishing cruel murther Anselmus made Archbishop of Cant. The saying of Anselme pondered The vice of singularitie Anselme ill willing to take the Archbishop prick Canterbury first geuen to the Archbishop wholy Strife and contention betweene the king and Anselmus Anselme stopped from hys consecration Anselme consecrated Anselme doth homage to K. William Vrbanus and Clemens striuing for the papacie England fauoured Clemens Anselmus holdeth with Vrbanus Anselme denied leaue to goe to Rome Anselme appealeth from the K. to the Pope Anselme charged for a traytour The kinges argument agaynst Anselme The custome of England from William Conquerours time not to Appeale to the Pope Anselmus reply against the king The reasons of Anselme to proue the popes authority aboue other kings Anselme here ignorauntly calleth the Pope the vicare of S. Peter where the CaÌ„non lawe calleth him but the successour of Peter and vicare of Christ. All the Bishops of the Realme stoode of the kinges side agaynst Anselmus William Byshop of Duresine Gualterâ—â— the Popes legate cummeth to England Anselme could not be remoued by the king The pope taketh this no fault for a subiect to repugne agaynst hys king The stoatnes of Anselme standing agayâ— hys king The maneâ— of bringing in Anselme palle into Cant. An other quarrell of the king against Anselme Anselme agayne appealeth to Rome The king â—â— aunswere to Anselme for hys appealing to Rome The custome of England no prelate or noble man to goe to Rome with out the kinges sending The answer of Anselme to the king Note the bye reasons of Anselm The Byshops left Anselme alone Anselme flying out of England Anselme searched by the kinges officer for letten A fragment or portion of a letter of Anselme to Pope Paschalts Et ex legenda Ans. aut Edmero Ex Epistol Anselm 36. The king would not haue the pope receaued nor appealed vnto in England Anselme complayneth of the K. of hys suffragane Byshops The king contemneth the Popes warning Concilium BaroneÌ„se Anselme and hys successours of Cant. placed at the right foot of the pope in generall councels De processione spiritus sancti The difference betweene the greeke Church and the latine Ex Registro eccles Herefordensis The articles and opinions of the greeke Church differing from the Latine church of Rome My copy here seemed to want somewhat This article seemeth not to be rightly collected out of the Grecians Anselme stout champion agaâ—â—â— the Grecians A letter of Anselme sent to ValtraÌ„ Bishop of Nurenburgh Ex Epiâ— Adsel â—â—â— Bread in the communion to be vnleauened is not necessary Ex Epist. Anselme 327. An other letter Diuersitie of vsages is the Church to be borne with peace rather than to be condemned with offeÌ„ce Diuers customes in the Church hurt nothing Excommunication denounced agaynst the Grecians Excommunication bent agaynst K. William First breake hys head and then geue him a playster Message betweene the K. and the Pope A loude cracke of thunder but without a thunderbolt A bribing mistery handled at Rome Concilium Romanum â—ptimus â—ansidicus â—ummus Actes of the councel of Rome The hardnes or rather rashnes of K. Wil. The saying of K. Wil. how he neuer knew any K. drowned The death of William Rufus Walter Tirrell The new forres+ Example of the iust hand of God reuenging the faultes of Kinges in their posteritie Couetousnes noted in king William A famous example of bribes refused Two bribing monkes both disapoynted Vrbane excommunicated Henry the 4. Emperour Henry the 4. Emperour by 4â— Popes excommunicated Ludouicus erle conspiring and rebellious agaynst the Emperour Anno. 1090. Ex appendica Mariani Scâ—ts Concorde and iust obedience necessary in a common wealth Disobedience punished of God Gal. Iohn Rom. A rayling aunswere to the former
states of the church described 1. The martyrdome of the Church 2. The prosperity of the church 3. The corruption of the church 4. The correctioÌ„ of the church Ezech. 16. 〈…〉 〈…〉 Ezech. 23. 〈…〉 〈…〉 Osee. 2. Nahum 3. 5. The reformation of the Church Certaine notes and signes that the tribulation of the Church draweth neare 1. Signe 2. Thess. 2. Except there come a defection first howe it is to be vnderstanded 2. Note or token The Sinagogue and the church compared together in maners 3. Note oâ— token 〈…〉 Oligarchia is where a fewe beare al the sway and all the rest be nothing worth Esay 1. Amos. 4. Signe Prideâ— Prelates noted Amos 4. 5. Signe Sap. 16. The tyranny of prelates noted Ezech. 34. Micheas 3. Ezech. 34. 6. Signe Promoting of vnworthy ministers Haymo 7. Signe Ierem. 4. Ezech. 7. 8. Signe Zach. 7. Refusing of correction to the clergie Esay 30. Truth sheÌ„t Amos. 5. Osee. 4. Lack of lear ned priestes The third part of meÌ„ber of the subdiuision The first opinion The church where it is and in whoÌ„ it consisteth Eccle. 40. Ieremy 7. The 2. opinion Thren 5. Ezech. 12. Thren 4. The third opinion or errour Sap. 2. Prouer. cap. 1. The fourth opinion or errour Ierem. 8. Ierem. 13. Ierem. 17. Ezech. 21. Ionas cap. 3. Ierem. 26. The fourth part or member of the subdiuision Ieremy 18. Esay 5. Esay 30. Iosue 7. 1. Reg. 25. Esay 66. Psal. 71. Esay 51. The order of Iesuites Anno. 1367. The chiefe offices of the realme translated from the clergie to the Lordes temporal Pope Gregory xi Anno. 1370. The papacy reduced againe from Fraunce to Rome Militzius â— Bohemian for the truth persecuted by the pope Ex Bulla Gregory 11 The coÌ„ming of Antichrist prophesied K. Edward coÌ„plaineth of the popes reseruation of benefices The Pope put from his reseruing of benefices in England Quare impedit The law of â—munire 〈◊〉 the â—â—altie â—â—erof The Popes primacie here in engâ—â—â— bridled S. Bridget Ex lib. reuelationum Diua Bridgitta Da pecuniam Rome a fertile grounde of weedes cockle Catherina Senensis Ex Antonino part 3. histor The reformatioÌ„ of religion prophecied of before The prophecie of Katherine Note Mathias Parisiensis a writer against the pope Antichrist alreadie come The doctrine protestation of Mathias Ioannes MouÌ„â—ziger protestant against the pope Ann. 1384. Nilus the archbishop of Thessalonica Iacobus MisueÌ„sis and Militzius Militzius persecuted by the Pope Henricus de Hassia The citizeâ— of MoguÌ„tinâ— A briefe rehearsall of suche as were put to death for holding against the Byshop of Rome before the time of Wickliffeâ— Eckhardus â— Frier burned An Heremit disputing against the Popes sacrament Ranulphus Eâ— Archiuis Regiâ— Marestatis Parcial dissimulation in our histoâ—â—es of the Church of England Ex anno 6. reg â—dou 3. â—ut 1. The Archb. of Cant. came not to the parliament at Yorke and all for bearing the crosse Ex an 17. reg Edouards 3. tit 39. The Popes prouisions restrayned 〈◊〉 The church of England spoyled by the pope his foreiners The acte of K. Edwarde the first reuâ—ued for premunire tit 60. Anno. Reg. Edouardi 3 â— tit 33. Presentatiâ—â— within 4. â—onethes â—n reg 18. â— 34. No elections to be taken by the pope but onely by the K. anno reg 18. tit 35. Dispositions of benefices onely in the kynges hand an 18. Ed. 3. tit 36. Bulls froÌ„ Rome forbidden an 18 reg Ed. 3. tit 37. The Deanrie of Yorke taken froÌ„ the Cardinal an 18. reg Ed. 3. tit 38. The kings aunswere agreement to the foresayd petitions Note that the Byshops be not here named and yet the parliament standeth in force Alien monkes to auoyd an 20. Ed. 3. tit 30. The liuinges of straungers beneficed taken into the kings hand tit 21. The liuings of Romish straungers disposed to English men tit 32. tit 33. Cardinals depriued of their lyuings in England tit 34. Ex Arch 25. an reg Ed 3. The popes first fruitsâ— reseruatioÌ„s more huâ—â—full to the realm theÌ„ al the kyngâ— wars tit 14. To breake of all appeales to Rome tit 14. The request of the K. for causes not to be determined at Rome tit 7. What mischiefs come by transporting causes to Rome tit co The printed statute of prouision not agreeing in all termes against the pope with the record tit 9. Ex an reg Ed. 40. tit 7. videlicet The pope mindeth to send for the king vp by proceâ— K. Iohn could not without consent of parliament become tributary to the pope tit 8. Agreed by parliament that the K. by force should resist the Pope Braule betweene the 4. orders of Friers and the two vniuersities Ex. tit 10. The Friers subiect to the kings order only in all their controuersies parliament tit 12. Ex Archiuis regiae maiestatis an 50. Reg. Ed. 3. tit 94. Against the vsurpatiâ—n of the pope The Pope cause of all mischiefes in England The tresure of the Realme coÌ„ueyed away by the popeâ— meanes 〈◊〉 97. The Pope geueth example to 〈◊〉 benefices tit 99. Inestimable that the P. hath here out of England tit 1â—0 Reseruation of the church of England desired in the ParliameÌ„t tit 111. Actes made for no money to be transported tit 103. Againâ—â— the Popes lyge spies collectors tit 104. The Popes collection what it coÌ„meth to tit 205. The best dignities in England in the Cardinals tit 106. The Pope maintaineâ— the kings enemies with the kyngs money tit 207. The Popes practise in â—ngland to make mâ—ney tit 101. The law of 〈…〉 Against the popes vsurption tit 112. Englishe money payeth the Popes legates tâ—t 113. No good money in the realme for the pope and Card. 〈◊〉 114. The Popes colector or proctor driâ—â—n out of the realme 〈◊〉 115. The Popes collector to be examiâ—ed English meÌ„â—ood asses Order takeÌ„ in London against vsury â—â— 158. Complaynt against the B. of Yorke and his officers for their excelsiue â—â—ing for their admissions tit 171 Ex Archiâ—â— Reg. â—â—â— 3. an regni 51. tit 36. Against the popes proâ—â—sions from Rome ann reg â—1 tit 36 The effect of the ChaÌ„cellors Oration The cause of this parliament chiefly for the Popes vsurpation against the king Against the pope his prouisions from Rome â—n reg 51. â—it 35 The kynges â—â—swere Against the P. his dispâ—tations tit 62. By this Anteferri that is 〈◊〉 is 〈◊〉 the preeminence 〈◊〉 the kyng The popes lawe of preminerâ— which now we corruptly call premiâ—ine debaâ—ed by the K tit 78. Ex Actis parliaments in an reg Ed. rerâ—g 15 tit 24. Punishment of the clergie in the temporall mens handes Clarkes subiect to temporall lawe The raynment of the Archb. of Cant. an 15. Ed. 3. tit 49. Iohn Wickliffe sent with the kings Ambassadours by the K. Here beginneth the story of Iohn Wickliffe The blemishes of Wickliffe made worse then they be The testimonie of Walden an enemy in commendation of Wickliffe
speke against the pride of prelates and their excessiue dignities All be Pagans with the Pope that like not his superstitious and idolatrous traditions A great difference betweene a rouing mother and the fratike whore of Babilon We fooles thought their life to be madnes and their ende without honour Sapiens 5. Et os eius sicut os Leâ—nis 1. And his mouth is like the mouth of a Lyon Apoc. 13. Draconis lex saguine scripta The popes religioÌ„ hath left all sence of humanitâ—e * Et vidi bestiam â—â—ges terrae excercitus corum pugnantes cum illo qui â—eceoat in equo exercitu eius Apoc. 13. Et data est illi potestas in omnem tâ—ibum et populum et linguam gentem 1. And power is geuen him ones all tribes and people and tongues and nations c. Apoc. 13. Note the tendernes of this louing mother the Church of Rome Et facies omnes punâ—â—â—s et â—â—â—gâ—â— dinites et â—auperes et icâ—uos accipere characterern in manu sua dextra 1. And he shall make both little and great riche and poore free bond to take his character in their right hand c. Apoc. 13. Satan ratteleth his chaines The olde maner of the popishe othe Speaking of the inuisible church the article is true This article seemeth to be wrasted out of the wordes of Hierome of Prage The papaâ—â— dignitâ—â— toucâ—â—d Iohn Hus expoundeth this article with this distinct non ratione meriti sed ratione officii Iohn Hus declareth his mind touching this article sufficiently before Election maketh not the successor of Pet. but immitation One head of the vniuersall church beside Christ hath no foundation in all scripture The forme and maner of the popes inquisition Heresie to pâ—ay for l. Wickliffe or â—â—â—lus c. Heresie not to beleeue the councell of ConstaÌ„ce Heresie to â—â—â—ster in both kindes Heresie to deny the Popes indulgences Heresie not to worship images These Popes wil be sure to lose nothing Wealthy wickednes maintained The pope neyther preacheth himselfe nor yet will suffer other good priests to preach Papa spirat minas caedes See here the Dragon casting out whole floudes to swalow vp the Sainteâ— Pope Martin 5. contrary to Pope Boniface 8. Pope Martyn vndoeth the aâ—is and edictes of al other popes Note howe Antichrist rageth and ryleth against christ Mans power and counsaile too weake against christ An exhortation of the Bohemians The Pope and prelates by their letters stirred them to flight Faire words doe make fooles faine The Pope seduceth the world with vaine promises of thinges which he cannot geue The deuil the Pope â—iche in proâ—ising and poore in geâ—â—ng Galat. 6. False pretenses of the papistes M. Hus Hierom by wrongful violence put to death Christ heard the deuill bâ— the pope wil not heare men confesse their fayth 2. Esdras 3. Iohn 14. Iohn 8. A iust and ly requesâ—â— Bohemiâ—â— Wherefore the popes clergie wil abide no coÌ„ference with the laytie The Popes pretensed excuse detected Rom. 1. Experience of Gods blessing where the pope hath cursed Obiection Aunswere The popes false accusation answered Math. 15. The abuse of popishe religion in making priests Cardiaâ— ls c. Actes 8. The abuse of popishe religion in taking orders Popishe excommunication abused 1. Cor. 16. The popeâ— church poysoned with buying and selling their praying and singing and all their doing for money Feare of purgatory hath robbed almost all the whole world So long as priestes be rich they will neuer be true teachers The subtiltie of the deuill in making the church rich Eccle. 19. Popishe priests with their long sumtuous gownes more like to the Pharises then Christ. 1. Tim. 3. Honor in well gouerning The popes church poysoned with couetousnes Tim. 1. The popes church poysoned much with whoâ—e dome The Popes church and monasteries commonly poysoned with deuelishe enuie The popes church poysoned with idlenes and belly cheare The Popes church infamous with notorious lies The Popes church erreth in diminishing one part of the Sacrament The Popes church charged with partialitie He meaneth of claiming tithes by mere necessitie of the olde lawe and not by the positiue law of princes The Popes church charged with vsury He meaneth the immoderate riches teÌ„po all possessions MeÌ„ appointed to preach may preach tâ—oagh the Pope forbid them When the Pope holdeth his councell let meÌ„ looke to their wiues daughters where the councell is kept Ex vetustissimo codice manuscripto Great lameÌ„tatioÌ„ for Zisca The army of Zisca deuided The order and poâ—â—cie that the armie of Zisca vsed in warre after his decease Procopius Magnus Sigismund the Emperor which burned Hus and Hierom before now is fayne to entreat for hys kingdome The death of I. Hus Hierome reuenged The Cardinall of Winchester sent into Germany to rayse warre agaynst the Bohemians Three armies set against the Bohemians God rescueth his people newly conuerted The popes army flyeth Lyke captayne lyke souldiour Anno. 1421. The Pope rayseth warre the second time against the Bohemians A newe warre raysed by the pope against the Bohemians The number of the popes army against the Bohemians Cardinall Iulian with a maine host entreth Boheme The cruell slaughter done by the Cardinall God striketh a feare in the popes army * Rather for the religion of Antichrist This Cardinall belike loued to preach rather in the campe theÌ„in the church The Cardinals army ranne away for feare Great slaughter in Boheme by Duke Albert The councel of Basill A letter of the Emperour to the Bohemians The Boheâ—ians sent for by the Councell Safeconduct geuen to the Bohemians to come to the councell A doubt among the Bohemians whether to goe to the councell of Basill or no. This Maynardus was after a great backfriend to the faithful Bohemians 300. horsemen of the Bohemians sent Ambas to the councell This english man was Peter Paine The receiuing of the Bohemians at Basill Procopius famous among the Germaynes The oration of Cardinall Iulian. The Bohemians aunswere to the Cardinals oration The articles wherin the Bohemians dissented from the church of Rome Certaine appointed by the Bohemians and the councell to dispute The death of K. Henry 5. called prince of priests for fauouring the pope King Henry 6. Anno. 1422. Ex Scala mundi Ex Regist. Cant. William Taylour the first tyme apprehended W. Taylour againe appeareth before the Archbishop Three articles first obiected to W. Taylour The forme of canonical absolution in the church vsed against thâ— that were excommunicate The opinion of Wil. Taylour coÌ„cerning worshipping of Saintes Cultus latriae that is worship which is onely due to God Ang. super Psal. 21. 4. articles by the 4. orders of Friers laid against W. Taylour W. Taylour disgraded W. Taylour Martir burned in Smithfield The popes maner of degradation Iohn Florenceâ— a Turner He meanetâ—they should claime such â—â—thes by any exaction Anno. 1424. The maner
not onely left such articles and opinioÌ„s wherin he was defamed but also did abstaine from all company that were suspected of such opinions so that he should neither geue ayd helpe councell nor fauor vnto them And moreouer the sayd Iohn was asked by the sayde Archbishop whether he euer had in his house since his abiuration in his keeping any bookes written in Englishe Wherunto he confessed that he would not deny but that he had in his house and in his keeping many english bookes for he was arested by the Mayor of the city of London for such bookes as he had which bookes as he thought were in the Mayors keping Upon the which the Mayor did openly confesse that he had such bookes in his keping which in his iudgement were the worst and the moste peruerse that euer he did read or see and one booke that was well bound in red leather of parâ—chment written in a good english hand and among the other bookes found with the said Iohn Claydon the Mayor gaue vp the sayd booke afore the Archbishop Whereupon the sayde Iohn Claydon being asked of the Archbishop if he knewe that booke dyd openly confesse that he knew it very well because he caused it to be written of his owne costes and charges for he speÌ„t muche money thereupon since his abiuration Then was he asked who wrote it He did aunswere one called Iohn Grime And further being required what the said Iohn Grime was he aunswered he coulde not tell Agayne being demaunded whether he did euer read the same booke he dyd confesse that he could not read but he had heard the fourth part therof red of one Iohn Fullar And being asked whether he thought the contentes of that booke to be Catholicke profitable good and true he aunswered that many thinges which he had hearde in the same booke were both profitable good and healthful to his soule and as he sayde he had great affection to the sayd book for a Sermon preached at Horsaldowne that was written in the sayd booke And being futher asked whether since the tyme of hys sayd abiuration he did commune with one Richard Baker of the City aforesayd he did answere yea for the sayde Richard Baker did come often vnto his house to haue coÌ„munication with him And being asked whether he knew the said Richard to be suspected and defamed of heresy he did aunswere agayne that he knew well that the sayd Richard was suspected defamed of many men and women in the City of LondoÌ„ as one whom they thought to be an hereticke Which confession being made did cause the sayd bookes to be deliuered to maister Robert Gilbert Doctour of diuinity to William Lindewood Doctor of both lawes and other Clerkes to be examined and in the meane time Dauid Beard Alexander Philip and Balthasar Mero were taken for witnesses agaynst him and were committed to be examined to Maister Iohn Escourt generall examiner of Canterbury This done the Archbishop continued hys Session till Monday next in the same place Which Monday being come which was the xx of the sayd moneth the sayd Maister Escourt openly and publickely exhibited the witnesses being openly read before the Archbishop and other Bishops which being read then after that were read diuers tractations founde in the house of the sayde Iohn Claydon out of the which being examined diuers points were gathered and noted for heresies and errors and specially out of the booke aforesaid which booke the said Iohn Claydon confessed by his owne costes to be written and bound which booke was intituled the Lanterne of light In the which and in the other examined were these Articles vnder written conteyned 1. First vpon the text of the Gospell how the enemy dyd sowe the tares there is sayd thus that wicked Antichrist the Pope hath sowed among the lawes of Christ his popish and corrupt decrees which are of no authoritye strength nor valure 2. That the Archbishops and Bishops speaking indifferently are the seates of the beast Antichrist when he sitteth in theÌ„ and raigneth aboue other people in the darck caues of errors and heresyes 3. That the Bishops licence for a man to preach the word of God is the true caracter of the beast i. Antichrist therfore simple and faythfull Priestes may preache when they will agaynst the prohibition of that Antichrist and without licence 4. That the court of Rome is the chiefe head of Antichrist and the Bishops be the body the new sectes that is the monks canons and friers brought in not by Christ but damnably by the pope be the venimous pestiferous tail of Antichrist 5. That no reprobate is a member of the Church but only such as be elected and predestinate to saluation seing the church is no other thing but the congregation of faythfull soules which doe and will keepe their faith constantly as well in deed as in word 6. That Chryst did neuer plante priuate religions in the church but whilest he liued in this world he did root them out By which it appeareth that priuate religioÌ„s be vnprofitable branches in the church and to be rooted out 7. That the materiall churches should not be decked with golde siluer precious stone sumptuously but the folowers of the humility of Iesus Christ ought to worship their Lord God humbly in mean simple houses not in great buildings as the churches be now a dayes 8. That there be ij chiefe causes of the persecution of the christians one is the priestes vnlawfull keeping of teÌ„poral and superfluous goods the other is the vnsatiable begging of the friers with their hye buildings 9. That almes is not geuen vertuously nor lawfully except it be geuen with these 4. conditions first vnlesse it be geuen to the honor of God 2. vnlesse it be geuen of goodes iustly gotten 3. vnlesse it be geueÌ„ to such a person as the geuer therof knoweth to be in charity And 4. vnles it be geueÌ„ to such as haue need and do not dissemble 10. That the often singing in the church is not founded in the scripture and therefore it is not lawfull for priestes to occupy theÌ„selues with singing in the Church but with the study of the law of Christ and preaching his word 11. That Iudas did receiue the body of Christ in breade his bloud in wine In the which it doth playnly appeare that after consecration of breade and wine made the same bread and wine that was before doth truely remayne on the aultar 12. That all ecclesiasticall suffrages do profit all vertuous and godly persons indifferently 13. That the Popes and the Bishops indulgences be vnprofitable neither can they profite them to whom they be geuen by any meanes 14. That the laity is not bound to obey the prelates what so euer they commauÌ„d vnles the prelats do watch to geue God a iust account of the soules of them 15. That Images are not to be