Abridgment of the Book of Acts and Monuments by Timothy Bright, Volume 1 · Book 5 · Actions in Parliament – List of Archbishops of Canterbury

Abridgment of the Book of Acts and Monuments by Timothy Bright · Volume 1 · Book 5 · Actions in Parliament – List of Archbishops of Canterbury

p. 294Notes of certaine Parlementes holden in the reigne of K. Richard 2. making againſt the Pope.

Parlements holden againſt the P.IN the firſt yere, at Weſtminſter, that firſt fruites be no more paid to the P. Item, that no prouiſion be made from Rome, to procure any Benefice. That none farme any Eccleſiaſticall liuing of a ſtranger.

p. 295In which bill it was rehearſed that Frenchmen had ſix thouſand pound a yéere, that way in England. Againſt the Popes reſeruations of dignities electiue: in the ſecond, yéere agaynſt Aliens, who had the greateſt part of Church dignities in their hands.

Item, that the benefices of rebels to Pope Vrbane ſhould be ſeiſed into the kings hands. That Vrbane was true pope and who ſoeuer fought for any prouiſion but from Vrbane, ſhould be out of the Kings protection.

In the third yéere the Prelates and Clergie, made a proteſtation againſt a certaine new graunt, to wit, their extortion. But the King (notwithſtanding their proteſtation) would not ſtay to graunt to his Iuſtices in all caſes as was vſed to be doone in times paſt, &c. In the 4. yéere againſt the popes collectors, that all priors aliens might be remooued and Engliſhmen placed in their roomes. In the ninth yéere, that redreſſe might be had againſt ſuch religious perſons, as vnderunder licence to purchaſe 10. pound a yéere, doo purchaſe 80. or an 100. That clerkes ſhould pay to the king firſt fruites as they doo to the Pope. The 11. yéere againſt impoſitions gathered of the popes Buls of Volumus & Imponimus, and that they might be beſtowed vponupon the kings wars againſt the Schiſmatikes of Scotland, & that ſuch as bring into the realme ſuch, may be reputed for traitors.

In the 13. yéere, that the Popes collector ſhould be commanded to auoid the land within 40. daies, or elſe to be taken for the kings enemy: and that eueryevery ſuch collector from henceforth ſhould be an Engliſhman, and ſworne to execute the ſtatutes made in this parlement, &c. and in the 14, 15, 17, 20, 21, 25. Decrées, were made agaynſt ſome one point, or other of the Popes authoritie and power in England, and abuſes of the Clergie. In the fiue and twentith yéere, Thomas Arundell archb. of Canterburie in the parlement was proued a traitor,Tho. Arundell proued a traytor. in that he procured the Earles of Arundell, & Warwicke, and the Duke of Gloceſter, to encroch p. 296themſelues royall power, and to iudge to death Symon Burley, and ſir Iohn Barnes, without the Kings conſent: wherevpon it was decréed that hée ſhould be baniſhed, his temporalties ſeiſed, & his lands, and goods forfaited. The King further preſcribed that he ſhould take his paſſing on Friday, within ſix wéekes of Michelmas at Douer, toward the partes of Fraunce.

King depoſed.Anno 1399. 1399K. Richard was depoſed from his crowne by common conſent: after whom ſuccéeded Henry the 4. who returned out of France, with Thomas Arundell the Archbiſhop before exiled, and by him was led to the ſeat royall. This was anno 1399.

The next after an. 1400. 1400followed a parlement holden at Weſtminſter, in which parlement one William Sawtree Williā Sawtre.prieſt, deſiring to be heard for the commoditie of the whole realme, and the matter beyng ſmelt before of the Biſhops, they obteined that the matter ſhould be referred to the conuocation houſe: which it was, and the conuocation beyng differred till Saturday next the twelfth of February, ſo was his audience alſo: where, at the day appoynted hée appéering, the Archbiſhop Thomas Arundell obiected that hée had fallen into certaine hereticall Articles abiured before the Biſhop of Norwich, and cauſed certaine Articles vnabiured to be read, and obiected againſt him by Robert Hall Chancellour to the B. thus: ſir William Charles, otherwiſe called Sawtree, Obiections againſt Sawtreepariſh prieſt of the Church of Saint Sith the virgin in London, publickly and priuely, doth hold theſe concluſions vnderunder written. 1. That hée will not worſhip the croſſe. 2. That hée would ſooner worſhip a temporall King. 3. That he would ſooner worſhip the bodies of Saints. 4. That he would rather worſhip a man truly contrite. 5. That he is bound rather to worſhip a man predeſtinate, then an Angell of God. 6. That a man is not bound to his vow of viſiting the monuments of Saints; but that he may diſtribute the expences of his vow to the poore. p. 2977. That eueryevery Prieſt, or Deacon, is more bounde to preach then to ſay the Canonicall houres. 8. That after the wordes of conſecration, the ſubſtaunce of bread remaineth ſtill.

To which articles, he in the Charterhouſe before the biſhoppe, and his Councell, exhibited a ſcroll of anſweares, mainteyning the ſame: after which anſweares publikely read by maiſter Robert Hal, the Archbiſhop inquired of the ſaide William, whether he had abiured theſe hereſies before the Biſhop of Norwich, or not, as was alledged againſt him: whereto he anſwered no. Then he ſpecially examined him of the ſacrament of the altar: who anſwered, that after the words of conſecration, there remained bread: wherevppon the Archbiſhop gaue, ſentence of hereſie againſt him. The ſame prouincial Councel being continued vntill the 24. day of the ſame monethmonth of February, the Biſhop of Norwich preſented a certain proceſſe vntounto William Sawtre, wherein he had abiured the articles laide againſt him: which béeyng declared, it was demanded of William Sawtre, otherwiſe called Chatris, why he might not be pronounced a man fallen into hereſie, and to be diſgraded. Whereunto he anſwered nothing: then the Archbiſhoppe, and the whole Councell gaue ſentence, he ſhould be taken for a relaps,Relaps. and diſgraded, & ſo committed to the ſecular power. His proceeding in his degradation, after that he had put on the apparel, was in this ſort as followeth. In nomine patris, filii, & ſpiritus ſancti, The maner of diſgrading.Amen. We Thomas, by Gods permiſſion Archbiſh. of Cā terbury, primate of all England, and Legate of the Apoſtolike Sea, doe denounce thée William Sawtry, otherwiſe called Chawtris, Chaplaine fained, in the habite and apparell of a Prieſt, as an heretike, and as one refallen into hereſie, by this our ſentence definitiue, by counſell, conſent, & autoritie to be condemned, and by concluſion alſo of all our fellow brethren, fellow Biſhops, Prelates, Councell prouinciall, and of the whole Cleargie, doe degrade and depriue p. 298thée of all thy prieſtly orders, and in ſigne of degradation, and actuall depoſition from thy prieſtly dignitie, for thine incorrigibility, and want of amendement, wee take from thée the Patent and Chalice, and doe depriue thée of all power of celebrating maſſe, and alſo wée pull of thy backe, the caſule, and take from thée the veſtiment, and depriue thée of all prieſtly honour, and ſo procéeded they in taking away the veſtiment, and ſtoole of a Deacon, and and the albe of a ſubdeacon, and maniple, and candleſticke, taper and cruet of an Acolouth, the holy water bucket of an exorciſt, the Legend booke of a Reader in the Church, the Surpliſe of a Sexton,The ſurpleſſe of a Sexton. the crowne of Eccleſiaſticall dignity to bée ſhauen, and the Prieſtes cappe taken away, and a Lay mans cappe put on, that they might fauourably receiue the ſaide William thus vntounto them committed. This done, by their ſolliciting, the king directed a terrible decrée againſt him for his ſpéedy execution to the Mayor and ſheriffes of London: which was perfourmed accordingly. Anno 1400.

The time of Henry the 4. The time of Henrie 4.was full of trouble, blood, & miſery. He was the firſt of the kings of England, that put out his hand to the ſhedding of the blood of Saints, ſince the conqueſt.

After the burning of this godly man, the reſt of the companie beganne to holde themſelues more cloſe, for feare of the King, who was altogether bent to hold with the Popes prelacie.

Anno 1405. 1405by the Archbiſh. of Yorke, named Richard Scroop, with the L. Mowbery, marſhall of England (which both conſpired againſt the king) ten articles were ſet vponupon Churchdoores, againſt the king: wherein he was charged to be a traitor, periured, a murderer, a breaker of the orders of the church, a tyrant, a miſſ-gouernor of the commonwealth, an oppreſſor, &c. But they with their adherents were apprehended, and put to death.

p. 299Anno 1409. Thomas Badby 1409 Thomas Badby martyr.a taylor and lay man, was by Thomas Arundell archbiſhop of Canterbury brought to condemnation for the teſtimony of the truth. His Articles were: 1. That the ſacrament of the Altar is not the reall body of Chriſt, and that after conſecration it remaineth bread ſtill. 2. That it was vnpoſſible, that any prieſt could make the body of Chriſt. 3. That he ſaid, Iacke Baker of Briſtow had as much power to make the like body of Chriſt, as any prieſt had. He was pronounced an Hereticke, firſt by the B. of Worceſter in the chappell Caluary of S. Thomas martyr, nigh the cathedrall Church of Worceſter, which was afterward approued by the archbiſhop of Canterbury, Archb. of York, London, Wincheſter, Chicheſter, Norwich, (the prince Edmund, Duke of York being alſo by) &c. and he condemned in Paules Church in London,Crocodiles teares. and ſo was deliuered to the ſecular power to be burned: which when they had done, (like falſe hypocrits) they deſired y^e tēporall Lords preſent, very inſtantly, that they would not put the ſaide Iohn Badby to death, &c. But this being done in the forenoone (the 15. day of March) on the afternoone, y^e kings writ was not farre off: hée was brought into Smithfield, and there being put in an emptye barrell, was bounde with yron barres faſt to a ſtake, and dry wood put to him, and ſo burned. At which time, Courtney Chauncellour of Oxford, preached and informed him of the faith of holy church. the Prince, the K. eldeſt ſonne being alſo preſent. When the tunne was put ouer his head, and fire put to, he cried mercy, (belike vponupon the Lord,) whereat the Prince commanded to take away the tunne, and to quench the fire, promiſing him pardon (if he would recant) and a yerely ſtipende out of the kings treaſurie.

Which when he denied, and refuſed to recant, hee commanded the tunne to be put ouer him againe, and fire put to, and ſo was he conſumed.

The Cleargie ſtill perſecuted the faithfull, and moued p. 300the king at the parlement (which yet continued) to enact the Statute Ex officio, The Statute Ex officio.which hée yéelded vntounto: and to fortifie the ſame, the Archbiſhop made alſo a conſtitution againſt the profeſſors of the truth: and ſuch was the ſtraitneſſe in thoſe times, that although many did conſtantly abide, yet ſome did ſhrincke backe: among whom was one Iohn Puruey that recāted at Paules croſſe,Diuers ſhrinke backe. Iohn Edward prieſt, who reuoked at the Gréene yard at Norwich, Richard Herbert, and Emmot Willy of London, alſo Iohn Becke at London, Iohn Seynons of Lincolnſhire, who was cauſed to reuoke at Canterbury. The articles which commonly they did hold were theſe: Firſt, that y^e office of the holy croſſe did conteine méere idolatry,Articles. and that the croſſe woorſhippers are méere Idolaters: that there is not the bodily preſence in the ſacrament. That the Euchariſt was inſtituted for a memoriall onelyonly. That the ſame Sacrament is a figure of his bodie. That eueryevery Prieſt ought to preach without licenſe of his ordinary. That it is ſinne to giuegive any thing to the preaching Friers. That we ought not to offer at the burials of the dead. That confeſſion of ſins to the prieſt is vnneceſſary. That the infant, although he die vnbaptized, is ſaued. That neither the Pope, nor any whoſoeuer, can compell any man to ſweare by any creature of God, or by the Bible. That no man is bound to giuegive any bodily reuerēce to any prelats, &c.

Anno 1407. was William Thorpe W. Thorpe.examined of articles before the Archbiſhop, Thomas Arundell: which William, ſet foorth his examination, written with his owne hand. He was called, and examined the Sunday next after Lammas, hauing béene before impriſoned in the Caſtle of Saltwood: He was burthened to hauehave preached in Shreweſburie, in Saint Chads Church. 1 That the Sacrament of the Altar was materiall bread.Articles. 2 That Images are in no wiſe to be worſhipped, 3 that men ſhould not goe on Pilgrimages. 4 That Prieſtes hauehave no title to tithes. 5 That it is not lawfull to ſweare in any wiſe.

p. 301Which articles he denied that euer he taught, yet being examined of them particularly, he (firſt declaring that eueryevery Prieſt hath power to preach, and ought ſo to doe,) anſwered to the firſt, that Tranſubſtantiation was inuented by Fryer Thomas Aquinas, Tranſubſtantiation inuented by Tho. Aquinas.ſince the deuill was let looſe. To the ſecond, that, as in the Church of the Iewes, it was not lawfull, nor put in practiſe, to make the image of the Trinitie, or of any of the Saints, or Prophets: ſo neither, in the time of the Goſpell. And ſo to the reſt, hee holdeth, and aduoucheth againſt the Romiſh Church: ſauing, concerning the matter of ſwearing. He ſaide, he preached that it was not lawfull to ſweare by creatures, and ſo not by a booke: and alledged Chriſoſtome for that purpoſe, who blameth them greatly, that bringe forth a booke to ſweare by.Againſt ſwearing on a booke.

Beſides theſe articles, it was alſo obiected to him, what he thought of auricular confeſſion: which he auſwered to bée vnneceſſarie, but onelyonly a contrite, and penitent heart vntounto God. And if any man féele the burthē of his ſinnes gréeuous, and his conſcience diſquieted, then were it not amiſſe, to reſort to a good prieſt: and if he fayled, that a man might lawfullie take councell, and comfort at a Lay mans hand. The diſcourſe was long betwixt the archb. and him, and very excellently, and couragiouſly did Thorp maintaine the trueth, againſt the archbiſhop. Who, among many arguments of no waight, alledged the examples of P. Rampington (who now perſecuted the brethren, although he had before profeſſed the truth,) the B. of Hereford, and Puruey, &c. that had relapſed from the trueth which they once mainteyned: but nothing could diſcourage, or alter the conſtant hart of the godly mā. Which the Archb. perceiuing, after many threatnings,A conſtant confeſſor of the trueth. and contumelious words, he called a Clearke, and rounded him in the eare, who went forth, and ſtraightway fette the Conſtable of Saltwood Caſtle, whom the Archb. commanded to carrie William away: who led him into a foule and filthie priſon: where notwithſtanding, he felt the exceding comfort p. 302of Gods ſpirit moſt plentifullie. Beſides his examination written w^t his own hand, there is alſo extant a treatiſe, vnderunder the title of his wil, conteining a complaint againſt vitious prieſts: their pride; pleſure of this life; neglecting of their dueties; &c. What became of him is not in ſtories ſpecified: but it is moſt likely (being committed to moſt ſtraight priſon) he was cloſely made away, or died by ſicknes.

T. Walden writeth thus of I. Puruey before mentioned, in his ſecōd tome. I. Puruey (ſaith he) was the librarie of the lollards,I. Puruey, the librarie of the Lollards. and gloſſer vponupon Wic. He ſaid that the worſhipping of Abraham was but a ſalutatiō. And tom. 3. he ſaith: This I. Puruey, with Herford, a doctor of diuinity, were gréeuouſlie tormented, and puniſhed, in the caſtle of Saltwood: and at laſt recanted at Paules croſſe in London, T. Arundel then being Archb. of Cant. Afterward againe he was impriſoned vnderunder H. Chicheſlie. archb. of Cāt. 1421. 1421The works of this man which he wrote, were gathered by R. Lauingam, his aduerſarie. Firſt, as touching the ſacrament of the laſt ſupper, the ſacrament of penance, the ſacrament of orders, the power of the keyes, the preaching of the goſpell, of marriages, of vowes, of poſſeſſions, of correcting of the Clergie, of the decrées of the church, of the ſtate of the P. and Cleargie: of all theſe generallie, he left diuers monuments, grauelie, and exactly written.

Articles tecanted.The articles which he taught, and afterward was forced to recant at Paules croſſe, were theſe. 1 No tranſubſtantiation. 2 No auricular confeſſion. 3 EueryEvery godly Lay man, is a prieſt vntounto God. 4 That the wicked prelats hauehave not the keyes, and that the curſing of the Pope ſhould doe good, and no hurt: for that they which are ſo curſed, are diſmiſſed, and fréed from his curſed lawes. 5 Againſt vowes of perpetual chaſtitie. 6 That prieſts ought to preach the Goſpell fréelie. 7 That Innocentius 3. with 600. biſhops, and 1000. other prelats, which ſet down in a councel, tranſub. and reall preſence, were fooles, blockheads, heretikes, &c. in ſo doing: and p. 303therefore no man ought to obey their conſtitutions, except they be grounded vponupon the Scriptures, or vponupon ſome reaſon which can not be impugned.

Beſides theſe, Richard Lauingam collected other articles, out of y^e bookes of Puruey, as againſt the chapter of penaunce, and committing of ſinnes, Omnis vtriuſque ſexus. Item that Innocētius the third was the head of Antichriſt: againſt the Sacrament of Orders. And if there were no Pope, yet all the biſhops might gouerne the Church by common conſent, as once they did before,Once they did before, &c. ſuch worldly pride crept in among the Biſhops, &c. As touching the authoritie of the keyes no man ought to eſtéeme Sathan (whom men call the Pope) and his vniuſt cenſures, more then the hiſſing of a ſerpent, or the blaſt of Lucifer. Concerning the Sacrament of matrimony, that goſſipry ought to be no let.The P. curſe the blaſt of Lucifer. That no vow ought to be made, but in ſuch things as a man may and ought lawfully to performe.

Touching the poſſeſſions of the Church, he declareth that the king, and the Lords, and commons, may without any charge at all, kéepe 15. garriſons, & find 15000. ſouldiers, hauing ſufficient lands and reuenues to liue vppon) out of the temporalties, gotten into the hands of the Cleargy,How the temporalties of the cleargy ſhoulde be beſtowed. & fayned religious men, which neither do that which belongeth to the office of Curats to do, nor yet to ſecular lords. And moreouer, the king may hauehave 20000 pound, to come fréely euerie yere to his cofers, and aboue: alſo, may finde, and ſuſtaine, fiftéen Colledges more, and 15000. Prieſtes and Clarkes, with ſufficient liuing, and an hundred hoſpitals for the ſick, and eueryevery houſe to hauehave one hundred markes in landes: and all this to be taken out of the tēporalties of the clergy, w^tout any charge to the realme, &c. That the law of Silueſter the P. which is declared in 2. q. 5. ca. praeſul. & cap. Nullam, is contrarie to the law of Chriſt, and either Teſtament. And y^t thoſe decretals of accuſations, cap. quando, & qual. which do prohibit any clarks to be brought before a ſecular iudge, p. 304to receiue iudgement, doo containe blaſphemy, hereſie, and error, and brings great gaines to Antichriſts cofers. That puniſhment of adultery belongeth to ſecular perſons: and furthermore hée maketh an exhortation to the Princes, to iudge the Church of Rome, which hée calleth the great and curſed ſtrumpet, of whom S. Iohn writeth Apocalips. 17. Touching the lawes, & determinations of the popes church, the Chriſtians ought to repeale ſuch of them as are againſt the word of God: and that the Canon lawes are full of hereſies. This was written of him, anno 1396. 1396which ſéemeth to be before his recanttatiō at Saltwood, before Thomas Arundell Archbiſhop of Canterbury.

Nowe all this time, the ſchiſme continued betwixt the popes: and ſo endured, til the Councell of Conſtance, which was in whole, the ſpace of 29. yéeres: the original whereof, began at Vrbanus the fift, who dying ann. 1389. 1389next folowed Boniface 9. Boniface 9. impudent in ſelling of pardōo.who ſate 14. yéeres: he in ſelling his pardons, was ſo impudent, that hee brought the keies of S. Peter (as ſaith Platina) in contempt.

After him ſuccéeded Innocentius 7, and ſate two yéeres: who béeing dead, the Cardinals conſulted together, and ſéeing the inconuenience that grew of the ſchiſme, minded to prouide ſome remedie for the ſame: and tooke order, being aſſembled in their conclaue, for the election of a new Pope: and promiſed among themſelues, with a ſolemn vow made to God, Marie the bleſſed virgin, to Peter, and Paul, and all the companie of holy Saints, that if any of them within the Colledge, or without the ſame, ſhould be called to that high place of the Apoſtolicall preheminence, he ſhould effectuallie renounce the iuriſdiction, and title of his Popedome, if, or whenſoeuer,Order againſt the ſchiſme. the contrarie Pope for the time being, woulde in like manner renounce his place, and title: and his Cardinals in like manner condiſcended to the cardinals of Rome. So that theſe two Colledges of Cardinals agréeing together, that one chiefe B. might be choſen, and taken out of thē p. 305both, to be made y^e true pope: Prouided moreouer, that none ſhould ſéeke abſolution or releaſement from the ſaid vow and bond once paſſed among them. VntoUnto all which things eueryevery one ſubſcribed with his hand, and ſo they procéeded and choſe Gregory 12. who in the ſame day of his election,Pope Gregory the 12. in the preſence of all the Cardinals, confirmed the vow, ſubſcribing the ſame with his hand, in forme as followeth: And I Gregory this day being the laſt of Nouember, anno 1407. 1407choſen and elected Biſhop of Rome, doo vow, promiſe, and confirme all the premiſes, &c. This being doone, ſhortly after he was crowned, being of the age of 80. yéeres:Pope Gregory 12. periured. but the holy Father periured himſelfe, and therefore diuerſe did forſake him, and ſent to Kings and Princes of other lands for their aſſiſtance, to appeaſe the Schiſme: and amongſt the reſt, Cardinall Biturienſis was ſent to the King of England, who publiſhing diuers concluſions (which remaine in the regiſters of Thomas Arundel) diſputeth that the pope ought to be ſubiect to the Lawes and Counſels: by whoſe motion the King directeth his letters vntounto Gregory the Pope, Anno 1409. 1409perſwading him to performe his oth, and to giuegive ouer, for the quiet of the Church, and the quieting of the Schiſme: vnderunder pretence whereof hée ſhewed that 200000. 200000. Chriſtians ſlaine in a popiſh quarrell.Chriſtians had béene ſlaine, and that of late thirtie thouſand thorough the diſſention about the Biſhopricke of Leodium, betwéene two ſet vp: the one by the authoritie of the one Pope, and the other by the authoritie of the other, and further moued him to giuegive ouer, as the naturall mother did her ſonne before Salomon, The king writeth to the Pope.rather then it ſhould be parted & deuided, according as y^e harlot would it ſhould be. He wrote alſo to the colledge of Cardinals, requiring them that if according to their deſire and requeſt, Gregory would at the Councell of Piſe giuegive ouer his Popedome, they would take order for the ſtate of the Church

This being done, an. 1409. the yéere next folowing 1410. 1410The Cardinals of both popes, Gregorius, and Benedictus, p. 306by common aduiſe aſſembled at Piſe, and choſe a new pope Alexander the 5. Pope Alexander 5. Three popes together.But to this election neither Pope Gregorius nor Benedictus did agrée: whereby there were thrée Popes together in the Romiſh Church. This Pope ſcarceſly had warmed his triple crowne, but hée giueth full remiſſion of all manner of ſinnes, whatſoeuer to all them that would beſtow any thing to the Monaſtery of S. Bartholmew by Smithfield, reſorting to the ſaid Church any of theſe daies following: On maundy thurſday, goodfriday, the feaſt of the Annunciation, from the firſt enſuing to the latter. But within the ſame yéere hée died: and after him ſuccéeded Iohn 23.Pope Iohn 23.

In the time of Alexander, great trouble grew in Bohemia, by reaſon of the bookes of Iohn Wickliffe, which were embraced of diuerſe, but ſpecially of Iohn Huſſe, Iohn Huſſe.by whoſe means the people began to grow to great knowledge: wherof complaint was made to Alexander 5. that cauſed by & by Iohn Huſſe to be cited vp to Rome: & when he came not, directed his letters to y^e archb. Swinco, charging him to forbid that way, & condemne ſuch as he ſhould apprehend, for heretikes, except they would recant. Againſt which Bull, Huſſe obiected many things, & ſhewed how it ſtood againſt y^e word of God:An appeale to the ſame better aduiſed. and therefore (ſaith he) from this mandate of pope Alexander, I doo appeale to the ſaid Alexander being better aduiſed. And ſo as he was proſecuting his appeale, immediatly Alexander died. Then Swinco, when he ſaw that Iohn Huſſe contemned the bull, and had no hope in Vinceſlaus the king, of redreſſe: he wēt to complaine to Sigiſmund king of Hungary, and brother to Vinceſlaus, with whom after hée had ſpoken, immediatly he died for ſorrow. By reaſon of whoſe death the Goſpell tooke roote among the Bohemians,Pope Iohn 23. bendeth all his power againſt the Bohemiās. which held not long, for Iohn the 23. bent all his might againſt the Bohemians.

About the yéere 1412. 1412Thomas Arūdell brought into England the tolling of Auies in honor of our lady: with certaine p. 307Auies to bee ſaide,The tolling o Auies. and daies of pardon to bee giuen for the ſame: and for the ratifying hereof, he directeth his mandate to the B. of London. He graunted to eueryevery one that ſhoulde ſay the Lords praier, and ſalutation of the Angel, fiue times at the morning peale, with a deuout mind totiens quotiens, 40. daies of pardon for ſaying Auies.(how oft ſoeuer) 40. daies of pardon.

This Archb. was ſo proud, that becauſe the bels of London did not ring at his comming to the citie:Bels, ſteeple, & organs, ſuſpended by a proud Biſhop. he ſuſpended both belles, ſtéeple, and organs, til the miniſters of ſuch churches might attaine to the benefite of grace and merciemercy. For this cauſe of ringing belles, debate alſo fel betwéene the B. of Worceſter, and Pryor of the towne, inſomuch that the Archb. was ſaine to take vp the matter betwixt them: ſuch was the pompe and pride of Prelates in thoſe daies. Not vnlike was the dealing of William Courtney, Predeceſſour to Arundell: who, becauſe certaine poore men did not bring litter for his horſe in cartes, but in ſackes; did call and cite them before him, ſitting in his tribunal ſeate Pro littera, A contention pro littera, for litter.that is, for litter, after his owne Latine: and after their ſubmiſſion, enioyned them penance, that they going leiſurely, before proceſſion,Penance for bringing litter in ſacks, & not in Carts. eueryevery one of them ſhould carry openly his ſacke, or bagge ſtuffed with hay, and ſtraw: ſo that the hay and ſtraw might appeare, hanging out of the mouths of the ſacks being open: the names of the poore men were, Hugh Pennie, Iohn Foreſtall, Iohn Boy, Iohn Wanderton, William Hayward, and Iohn White, tenaunts to the Lorde of Wingham.

In this kings time, diuers actes were eſtabliſhed againſt the authoritie of the Pope, and exceſſe of his Cleargy.

In the firſt yéere, it was obiected againſt Richard 2. that he procured letters Apoſtolicall from the Pope, to confirme certaine ſtatutes of his, which ſeemed to the Parlement to tend to the diſgrace of the crowne and dignity, and againſt the liberties of the land.

In the 2. yéere, it was required in the Parlement, that p. 308all ſuch perſons as ſhould be arreſted by force of the ſtatute, made againſt the Lollards in the 2. yeere of king Henry the the fourth may bée bayled, and fréely make their purgation. In the eight yéere it was propounded, that none ſhoulde ſue to the Church of Rome for anie Benefice, collation, or preſentation of the ſame, vnderunder paine of the ſtatute of Prouiſoes, made in the 13. yéere of Richard the 2. whereunto the king graunted,

Item, in the ſame parlement, it was put vp in petition, that the King might enioy halfe of the profites of anye Parſons benefice, not reſident thereon: wherevnto the king anſwered, that Ordinaries ſhoulde doe their dueties therein, or els he woulde prouide further remedy, or ſtaye their pluralities.

The 9. yéere of the kings raigne, the commons required the king, that none preſented be receiued by any ordinarie, to hauehave any benefice, of any incumbent, for any cauſe of priuation, or inhabitation, wherof the proceſſe is not foū ded vponupon Citation, made within the realme: and alſo that ſuch incumbents may remaine in all their benefices, vntil it be proued by due inqueſt in the court of the K, that the citations whervpon ſuch priuations, & inhabitations are granted, were made within the realme, & if ſuch ordinaries do, or hauehave preſented, or others doe preſent to the contrary: that thē they and their procurators &c. incurre the pain conteined in the ſtatute made againſt prouiſoes, ann. 13. Richard. 2.

Alſo, that no Popes collectour ſhoulde from thenceforth leuie any money within the realme, for firſt fruits of any eccleſiaſtical dignitie, vnderunder paine of incurring the ſtatute of prouiſoes.

A bill in Parlement to take the temporalties from the Cleargy.Beſides, in the ſame parlement, the commons of the land put vp a bill vntounto the king, to take the temporalties out of y^e ſpiritual mens hand. The effect of the bill, was that the temporalties diſorderly waſted by men of the Church, might ſuffice to finde the king fiftéene Earles, fiftéene hundred p. 309knights, ſixe thouſand two hundred Squires, and an hundred houſes of almes, more then were in thoſe dayes in the land. And ouer all theſe charges, the K. might put yerelie in his Cofers, 20000. l.

Prouided, that eueryevery Earle ſhould hauehave of yerelie rent, 3000. markes, eueryevery knight 100 markes, and foure Plow land, eueryevery Squire 40. markes by the yere, with two plow land, and eueryevery almes houſe, with ouerſight of two true Seculars to euerie houſe: and alſo with prouiſion, that euerie Townſhip ſhould kéepe al poore people, Towne-dwellers, which might not labor for their liuing: with condition, that if mo fell in a towne, than it was able to mainteine, the ſaid almes houſes to reléeue ſuch townes.

And to beare theſe charges, they alledged by their bill, that the Temporalties being in the poſſeſſion of Spiritual men, amounted to thrée hundred and two and twentie thouſande markes by the yere: whereof, they affirmed to be in the ſea of Canterburie, with the Abbey of Chriſtes-church, of ſaint Auguſtines, Shreweſburie, Coggeſhall, and Saint Oſiris, 20000. markes by the yere. In the Sea of Durham, and other abbeyes there, 20000. markes. In the Sea of Yorke, and other abbeyes there, as much. In the Sea of Wincheſter, and abbeyes there as much. In the Sea of London, and abbeyes there, and other houſes, as much. In the Sea of Lincolne, with the abbeies of Peterborow, Ramſey, and other, as much. In the Sea of Norwich, and abbey of Burie, & other, as much. In the Sea of Elie, & Spalding, as much. In the ſea of Bath, with the abbey of Okinburn & other, as much. In the ſea of Worceſter, with the abbey of Eueſam, Abingdon, and others, as much. In the ſea of Cheſter, w^t the precinct of the ſame, and the ſeas of S Dauid, Saliſburie, & Exceter, with their precincts, as much: with many other abbeyes, biſhopricks, &c. Moreouer, they alledged, that diuers in Englād poſſeſſed ſo many temporalties, as might ſuffice to find yerely 15000. prieſtes & clarkes, eueryevery prieſt to be allowed p. 310vij. markes by the yere. To this bil no anſwere was made, but y^t the K. would take ſome aduiſemēt, & deliberatiō.

Anno 1413 1413Henrie the 4. died in a chamber at Weſtminſter, called Ieruſalem, and was buried at Canterburie, by the tombe of Thomas Becket. After him ſuccéeded his ſonne Henrie the fift, and not long after his coronation a Parlement was holden after Eaſter, at Weſtminſter, an. 1413. At which time, Tho. Arundel, Archbiſhop of Canterburie, collected in Paules church at London, an vniuerſal Sinode of al the biſhops, and clergie in England.

In which Sinode, among other matters, it was determined, that the day of S. George, and of ſaint Dunſtan, ſhoulde be double feaſt. Now, the Popiſh feaſtes are thus deuided: either they be double feaſtes, or ſimple. The double feaſt is ſubdiuided into principall double;The kindes of popiſh feaſtes. greater double; leſſer double; and inferior, or lower double. To the principall double feaſt belonged eight dayes in the yere: ſo the greater double had geuen vntounto him in this Conuocation, the day of Saint George, and of S. Dunſtan. And albeit it was ſo decréed, yet by cuſtom it was not ſo vſed.Notes of principall ſoules feaſt. The principal double, and the greater double, were knowen from al other by 4. notes. By ſeruice in the kitchen; by ſeruice in y^e church, both the which were double; by ringing in the ſtéeple, with double peale; by copes in the quire, and cenſing of the altar. For in theſe two great and principall double feaſtes, the vij. the viij and ix. leſſons muſt be read with ſilken copes: and at the ſaide feaſts, in the time of the Leſſons, the altars muſt be cenſed: & likewiſe, the leſſer double, and inferior double, had their peculiar ſeruice to them belonging. And thus much of their double feaſts. The ſimple is alſo deuided into ether triple inuitorie or double inuitorie, or elſe ſingle. Of the which moreouer ſome hauehave thrée leſſons, ſome hauehave 9. &c. And thus much of popiſh feaſtes.

The chiefe cauſe of the Synode was to oppreſſe the Goſpel (as recordeth the chronicle of S. Albōs.) And to withſtād p. 311the Noble and worthy Lord Cobham, The noble and worthy Lord Cobham.who principally mainteyned and receiued the preachers, and ſet them vp to preach, whom the Biſhop had not licenſed: which was againſt a conſtitution principall of theirs. In the meane time as they were talking and conſpiring againſt the Lord Cobham, there reſorted vntounto them 12. Inquiſitors for hereſie, whom they appoynted at Oxford the yéere before, to ſearch out for Heretikes, with all Wickliffes bookes: who brought 246. concluſions, which they had collected as hereſies out of the ſaid bookes.

The names of the Inquiſitors were theſe: Iohn Witnā, Inquiſitors for hereſie.a maiſter in new colledge, Iohn Langdom monke of Chriſt church in Canterb. William Vfford regent of y^e Carmelits, Thomas Clayton regēt of the Dominicks, Robert Gilbert, Richard Enthiſdale, Iohn Luck, Richard Sindiſhame, Richard Fleming, Thomas Rotborn, Robert Rowberry, Richard Grafdale: who all cōcluded that the chiefe fauourers were firſt to be dealt againſt: & there preſent, y^e noble knight ſir Iohn Oldcaſtle, L. Cobham, was complained of by the generall proctors, to be the chiefe, principall, and a mighty mainteiner of ſuſpected preachers, in the dioces of London, Rocheſter, and Hereford, cōtrary to the mind of the ordinaries: and to hauehave aſſiſted them by force of armes.

And laſt of all, they accuſed him to be far otherwiſe in beliefe of the ſacrament of the altar, of penance, of pilgrimage, of image worſhipping, and of the eccleſiaſticall power, then the holy Church of Rome had taught many yéeres before. VponUpon this it was concluded among them, that without any further delay, proceſſe ſhould be awarded out agaynſt him,Proceſſes againſt the Lord Cobham. as againſt a moſt pernitious heretike, and becauſe they conſidered his great birth, and the fauour he was in with the K. counſell was giuen, & they were aduiſed, firſt to know his pleaſure who thē remained at Keningſtone: which they did. Who although he too much yéelded to them, yet required thē in reſpect of his Noble ſtocke, and Knighthood, that they p. 312would (if it were poſſible) without rigour reduce him again to the vnitie of the Church, and promiſed them alſo, that in caſe they were not contented to take ſome deliberation, himſelfe would ſeriouſly common the matter with him, which he anon after accordingly did, and ſent for the L. Cobham, & whē he was come, he called him ſecretly, admoniſhing him betwixt him & himſelf, to ſubmit himſelfe to his mother the holy church, & as an obedient child to acknowledge himſelfe culpable:The anſwere of L. Cobham to the king. vntounto whom the Chriſtiā knight made this anſwer. You moſt, worthy prince (ſaith he) I am alwaies prompt & ready to obey, for aſmuch as I know you a chriſtian prince, & the miniſter of God, bearing the ſword to the puniſhment of euill doers, & ſafegard of them that are vertuous: vntounto you next vntounto my eternall God, owe I moſt reuerēce, & ſubmit therevnto (as I hauehave doone euer) all y^t I hauehave either of fortune or nature, ready at all times to fulfil whatſoeuer you in that Lord cōmaund me, But as touching the pope & his ſpiritualtie, I owe them neither ſuit nor ſeruice, for ſomuch as I know him by the ſcriptures to be the great Antichriſt,The Pope knowne by the ſcriptures to be the great Antichriſt. the ſonne of perdition, the open aduerſary of God, and the abhomination ſtanding in the holy place. When the King had heard this, with ſuch like ſentences more, hée would talke no longer with him, but left him vtterly, and the archbiſhop reſorting againe vntounto him,The L. Cobham forſaken of the king. he gaue him full authority to cite him, examine him, & puniſh him, according to their diueliſh decrées: wherevpon after a priuate citatiō by one Iohn Butler, & the archbiſhops ſomner, at the caſtle of Cowling, about the wedneſday before the Natiuitie of our lady in September, he commaunded letters citatory to be ſet vponupon the great gates of the Cathedrall Church of Rocheſter, but thrée miles from thence, charging him to appéere perſonally before him at Ledes the eleuenth day of the ſame monethmonth and yéere, all hinderances ſet aſide: & theſe beyng pulled downe, new letters were ſet vp, on the Natiuitie day of our Lady, which alſo were rent downe and conſumed.

p. 313Then foraſmuch as he did not appeare at the day appointed, at Ledes, where he ſate in his conſiſtory, as cruell as euer was Caiaphas, with his court of hypocrites about him: he iudged him, denounced him, and condemned him of moſt deep contumacy. And afterward it being reported vntounto him, y^t he laughed and ſcorned his cenſure, without iuſt proof therof, he excommunicated him, and commaunded him to be cited afreſh, to appeare before him the ſaturday before the feaſt of Mathew, threatning that if hee did not then appeare before him, he would more extremely handle him: & compelled the lay power by moſt terrible curſes to aſſiſt him againſt that ſeditious apoſtata, ſchiſmatike, heretike, the troubler of the publike peace, that enimy of the realme and great aduerſary of the holy Church: for all theſe hatefull names did he giuegive him. The Lord Oldcaſtell hearing this,The L. Cobhā maketh a draught of the confeſſion of his faith. and perceiuing in what danger he ſtood, tooke pen and paper in hand, and made a draught of the confeſſion of his faith, and ſealed it with his owne hand: which confeſſion was nothing els but the Apoſtles Creede, with a briefe declaration vppon the ſame. In which he anſwered the 4. chiefeſt articles, that the Archb. laide againſt him: and that done, he tooke the copy with him, and went therwith to the king, truſting to find mercy with him, and offered it to him, who woulde in no caſe receiue it, but cōmanded it to be deliuered vntounto thoſe that ſhould be his iudges. Then he deſired in the K. preſence, that an hundred knights & eſquiers might be ſuffered to come, as vponupon his purgation, which he knew wold cléere him of al hereſies.

Moreouer, he offered himſelfe, after the law of armes to fight for life or death, with any man liuing, Chriſtian, or heathen, in the quarel of his faith, the kings maieſty, and the Lordes of his Councel, excepted: and furthermore proteſted, that he would obey al maner of lawes agréeable to y^e word of God. Yet notwithſtanding all this, the K. ſuffered him to be ſummoned perſonally in his own priuy chamber. Then ſaid the Lord Cobham to the king, that hée had appealed from p. 314the Archb. to the Pope of Rome, and therefore he ought in no caſe (ſaid he) to be my iudge: & hauing his appeale there, readie written, he ſhewed it with all reuerence to the king: whereat the king was much more diſpleaſed, and ſaide vntounto him,The L. Cobhā arreſted at the kings commā dement. that he ſhould not purſue his appeale: and ſo was hée there arreſted at the kings commandement, and ledde forth to the tower of London, to kéepe his day (as was then ſaid) which the Archbiſhop had appointed him before, in the kings chamber.

Now the day of examination being come, which was the 23. of September, the ſaterday before the feaſt of S. Mathew, Tho. Arundell the Archb. ſitting in Caiphas roome, in the Chapter houſe of Paules, with Richard Clifford, Biſh. of London, and Henry Bullinbrook Biſhop of Wincheſter: Sir Robert Morley knight, and Lieutenant of the tower, brought perſonally before him, the ſaid L. Cobhā, and there left him for the time: vntounto whom the Archb. (after that hée had exhibited vntounto them the confeſſion of his faith, which they did not altogether miſlike) required his beliefe on the Sacrament of the Altar: & whether there bée a tranſubſtantiating or not? Whether (as concerning the Sacrament of penance) eueryevery man be neceſſarily bound to confeſſe himſelfe to a Prieſt ordained by the Churche? but he would anſwere no otherwiſe then he had exhibited in his bill,The L. Cobham anſwereth. which was, that he beléeued al the Sacraments that euer God ordained in his Church: he beléeued the bleſſed Sacrament of the altar to bée Chriſts bodie in forme of bread: That it is neceſſarie for eueryevery man to do penance for ſinne, with true confeſſion & due ſatiſfactiō, as Gods law teacheth: That who ſo doth y^e worſhip to dead images, y^t is due to god, he doth therin commit y^e ſin of Mahumetry. That eueryevery mā is a pilgrime in this world, & he that knoweth the holy commandements of God, & kéepeth them ſhalbe ſaued, althogh he neuer in his life go on pilgrimage, as men doe to Rome, to Canterbury, &c. None other anſwere could they get of him: p. 315which troubled them greatly, and the archb. bad him take deliberation till the Munday next following, which was the 25. of September, and then iuſtly to anſwere: eſpecially whether there remained materiall bread in the Sacrament of the Altar, after the words of conſecration or not? and promiſed to ſend him the matters cléerely determined: which the next day he did, euen a blaſphemous and fooliſh writing, made by him and his vnlearned clergie.

Now, when the 25. of September was come, which was the Munday before Michaelmas Anno 1413. 1413The archb. commanded his iudiciall ſeat to be remoued from the chapterhouſe of Paules, to y^e Dominicke friers within Ludgate in London, with diuers Biſh. Doct. Friers, monks, prieſts, chanons, pariſh clearks, belringers, & pardoners: which rabble al diſdained the L. Cobham,, with innumerable mocks, and ſcornes. reckoning him to be an horrible heretike,The L. Cobham mocked of knaues. and a man accurſed afore God: and after the day ſpending in reaſoning to, & fro; of y^e ſacrament of the altar, of ſhriuing, of the authoritie of the Pope, of pilgrimages, and worſhipping of Images, becauſe hée did not beléeue in theſe pointes as the holy Romiſh Church did teach; the Archbiſhop ſtood vp,The L Cobham condēned. and read a byll of condemnation againſt him: after which bill read, the L. Cobham ſaid with a moſt chéerful countenance. Though you iudge my body, which is but a wretched thing, yet am I certaine, and ſure, that ye can doe no harme to my ſoule, no more than Satan could doe to the ſoule of Iob. And as concerning theſe articles, I wil ſtand to them to the very death, by y^e grace of my eternal god. And after a ſhort inſtructiō to the people, he fell there vponupon his knées, holding vp his hands, and eyes to heauen, & praied for his enemies: O lord God eternal, I beſéech thée for thy great mercies,A worthie martir. to forgeue my purſuers, if it be thy bleſſed wil. And then he was deliuered to ſir R. Morley, and ſo led againe to the tower. This being done, the B. and prieſtes fayned an abiuration in the name of the L. Cob. to y^e end to bleare y^e eies of y^e vnlearned p. 316multitude for a time; neither did it euer come to the hands of the L. Cobham.

The L. Cobham, after he had a certaine ſpace remained in the Towre (ſentence of death being giuen vponupon him) hée eſcaped (it is not knowne by what meanes) and fled into Wales:The L. Cobham fleeth and eſcapeth. where he continued by the ſpace of foure yéeres.

Anno 1413. 1413After the common computation of our Engliſh counting the yéere from the Annuntiation: but after the Latine writers from Chriſtes Natiuitie, 1414. in the monethmonth of Ianuary, ſir Roger Acton knight, Maſter Iohn Browne, and Iohn Beuerley the preacher ſuffered martyrdome (as ſome ſay) in the field of S. Giles, with other more to the number of 36. 36. martyrs.(if the ſtories be true) they ſuffered before the Lord Cobham thrée yéeres. They were hanged and burnt. Some ſay, Sir Roger Acton was hanged naked at Tyborne, ſauing that certaine partes of him were couered, and after certaine daies, a Trumpetter of the kings called Thomas Cliffe gate graunt of the King, to take him downe, and to bury him.

After the deceaſe and martirdome of theſe aboue mentioned, in the next monethmonth following, in the ſame yéere the 20. day of February, God tooke away the great enimie of his worde,Thomas Arundell dieth. and rebell to the king, Thomas Arundell Archbiſhop of Canterburie, who was ſo ſtricken in his tongue, that he could neither ſwalow, nor ſpeake for a certain ſpace before his death. He continued Archb. eightéene yeres. After him ſuccéeded H. Chicheſley, an. 1414. and ſate 25. yeres, a great enemie to the goſpel.

About the ſame yere, the king began the foundation of ij. Monaſteries: one, of the Friers obſeruants on the one ſide of Thames:H. Chicheſley. and theother on the other ſide of the ſame riuer, called Shene: 1414and Sion, dedicated vntounto the Charterhouſe Monkes: with certaine Brigette Nunnes, or Recluſes, to the number of 60. dwelling within the ſame precinct. So that the whole number of theſe, with prieſtes, monks, deacons, p. 317and nunnes, ſhould equall the number of 13. apoſtles, and 72. diſciples.

The order of theſe was according to the deſcription of the Apoſtle, Coloſſ. 1. Eate not, taſte not, touche not, &c. Eate not, taſte not, touch not.To eate no fleſh, to touch no money, to weare no linnen, and ſo forth.

About Michaelmas the ſame yere, the king began his parlement at Leiceſter: in which, the Commons put vp their bill againe, which they had put vp before, anno 11. Hen. 4. that the Temporalties waſted ſo diſorderly by the Clergie, might be conuerted to the vſe of the king, and of his Earles, and knights, &c.

In feare of which bill, leaſt the king ſhould geue therunto his comfortable audience, (as teſtifyeth Robert Fabian, and others,) certaine of the Prelates, and other of the head Churchmen, put the king in minde, to clayme his right in France. Wherupon, Hen. Chicheſley made a long,Craft of the Cleargie. and ſolemne Oration to the king, to perſwade him thereunto: offering to him (in behalfe of the Cleargie) great, and notable ſummes: by reaſon whereof, the bill was againe put of.

Now, about this time, Io. Huſſe, preaching at his church of Bethlehem, was accuſed therefore by ſome,Huſſe accuſed. to P. Iohn the xxiij. for an heretike. The Pope committed the whole matter to Cardinall Columna, who hauing heard the accuſation, appointed a day for Iohn Huſſe to appeare in y^e court of Rome. But the king Vinceſlaus ſent his Ambaſſadors to Rome, to deſire the biſhop to quitte, and cléere deliuer Iohn Huſſe from that ſentence, and iudgement.

In the meane ſeaſon, Iohn Huſſe alſo ſent before the day appointed, his lawfull procurations to the Court of Rome: who with ſtrong reaſons did proue his innocencie, till Columna woulde accept no reaſons: and ſo his Procurators appealed vntounto the high Biſhop.H. excommunicated for an heretike. But the appeale preuayled not, but that he would excommunicate Iohn Huſſe, as an obſtinate heretike, becauſe he came not at his day appointed, p. 318to Rome: notwithſtanding, by reaſon of the appeale, they had other Iudges appointed vntounto them: as, Cardinall Aquildianus, and Cardinall Venetus, &c. Which Iudges, after they had deferred the matter a yere and a halfe, they confirmed the ſentence of Cardinall Columna: and becauſe his Procurators (being commanded) would not yeld to giuegive ouer their ſuite, certaine of them were caſt into priſon, and gréeuouſlie puniſhed: the other (leauing their buſineſſe vndone) returned againe into Boheme.

The Bohemians (notwithſtanding) little cared for this: but increaſed more and more in knowledge, and leſſe regarded the Pope.

Now, after the death of Swinco, the pope placed one Cō radus chiefe generall: who with the doctors, and diuines of the Vniuerſitie of Prage, greatly conſpired, and laboured againſt the trueth; and drewe out articles, whereunto they would hauehave Iohn Huſſe to conſent. Whereof when I. Huſſe, and his adherents had word, they alſo drewe out articles in his purgation.

Now, in the meane time of this altercation betwéene them: Pope Iohn rayſed warre againſt Ladiſlaus, king of Naples, (who had beſieged the Popes townes, and territories) and gaue full remiſſion of ſinnes to all that would war on his ſide, to defend the church. Which Bul, when it came into Boheme, the king (that fauoured the Pope) gaue commandement, that none ſhould attempte any thing againſt thoſe Indulgences. But certaine of the faithfull could not abſtaine, but called the Pope Antichriſt, and ſpake againſt him. Wherefore, they were taken, and beheaded. Their names were,Perſecution in Boheme. Iohn, Martin, and Staſcon. The people (after their death) tooke their bodies, and with great ſolemnitie, brought them vntounto the Church of Bethlehem: at whoſe funeralls, diuers prieſtes (fauouring that ſide) ſong on this wiſe: Theſe be the ſaints, which for the teſtament of God gaue their bodies, &c. And ſo they were ſumptuouſly buried p. 319in the church of Bethlehem. I. Huſſe preaching at the funerals, and much commending them for their conſtancie.

Thus the citie of Prage was deuided:Prage deuided. the Prelates with the greateſt part of the clergie, & moſt of the Barons which had any thing to looſe, helde with the Pope, eſpecially Stephen Paletz, being the chiefe doer of that ſide: on the contrary part the commons with part of the clergie, and ſtudents of the vniuerſitie, went with Iohn Huſſe. Vinceſlaus the K. fearing the matter would grow to a tumult, cauſed I. Huſſe to be remoued out of the citie: and aſſented to the Popiſh Clergy, in the 18. articles againſt Iohn Huſſe for the maintenance of the ſea of Rome. I. Huſſe now departing out of the citie, went to his countrey, where beeing protected by the Lord of the ſoyle, he cōtinued preaching: neither yet was he ſo expelled Prage, but that ſomtimes he reſorted to y^e church of Bethlehem, and there alſo preached to the people.

Moreouer, againſt the decrée of the Doctors, Iohn Huſſe, with his fellowes, replied againe: anſwering their articles, with contrary articles, and obiections: wherto the Catholike Doctors anſwered againe with a long and tedious proceſſe: the ſcope whereof principally tended to the defence of the principality of the pope.

Thus then, maiſter Ioh. Huſſe being driuē out of Prage, and moreouer, being excommunicated, that no maſſe might be ſaid, where he was preſent: the people began mightely to grudge, and crie out againſt the Prelates: laying great, and horrible vices to their charges.

The K. ſeing the inclination of the people,The people againſt the Prelates. being alſo not ignorant of the vices of the cleargie; began to require great exactions of ſuch as were knowen to be wicked liuers.

Whereupon, ſuch as fauoured Iohn Huſſe, begā to accuſe many. In ſo much, that by this meanes,None controleth Huſſe. Huſſe began to take vntounto him more libertie, and to preach in his church at Bethlehem, and none to controll him.

Now, Steuen Paletz, and Andreas de Broda, chiefe doers p. 320againſt Huſſe, wrote vntounto him ſharpe and cruell letters The Pope alſo writeth letters to Vinceſlaus the King, for ſuppreſſing of Iohn Huſſe and his doctrine: which was in the laſt yéere of his Popedome, An. 1414.

This yéere Sigiſmund the Emperour and Pope Iohn 23. Councell of Conſtance. To pacifie the Schiſme of three Popes.called a ſinod for the pacifying of the Schiſme at Conſtance, which was betwéene the thrée popes. The firſt wherof was Iohn, whom the Italians ſet vp: the ſecond Gregory, whom the Frenchmen ſet vp: the third Benedict, whom the Spaniards placed. This councell endured foure yéeres, and had in it 45. A Councell that laſteth foure yeeres, and had 45. Seſſions.Seſſions. In this councell all the matters were decided, chiefly by foure nations, Engliſh, Germaine, French and Italian: out of which foure nations were appointed and choſen foure preſidents, to iudge and determine all matters of the Councelles: the names of which foure, were theſe: Iohn the patriarch of Antioch, for France, Anthonie, Archb, of Rygen, for Italy, Nicholas, Archb. of Geneſuenſis, for Germany, and Nicholas, Biſhop of Bath, for England.

In this Councel nothing was decréed worthy of memorie, but this onelyonly, that the Popes authority is vnderunder the Councell,The Councell ought to iudge the Pope. and that the councel ought to iudge the Pope, and as touching the Communion in both kindes, although the Councell did not denie it, yet by the ſame Counſell it was decréed to the contrarie.

In this Councell Iohn did reſigne his Papacie, for the quiet of the ſchiſme: and the Emperor (geuing him thanks) kiſſed his féete. Afterward, the ſame Iohn, repenting him y^t he had ſo done ſought meanes to flie: whereunto, Frederike Duke of Auſtrich, did aſſiſt him: and when hee was nowe comming to Schafezonſe,P. repenteth of wel doing. to goe into Italie, the Emperour purſuing, tooke him and proclaymed Frederike traytor, and for that cauſe tooke away Cities from him, but was at laſt reconciled againe.

The Pope being thus depoſed, was committed vntounto the p. 321County Palantine, and by him caried to the caſtle of Manheim, where hée was kept priſoner by the ſpace of 3. yéeres, and afterward he was againe by Pope Martin admitted to the number of the Cardinals.

This pope Iohn was depoſed by the decrée of the councel: more then 40. moſt grieuous crimes proued againſt him,40. articles againſt Pope Iohn. as that he had hired Marſilius Parmenſis a phyſicion, to poiſon Alexander his predeceſſor: that he was an heretike, a ſimoniake, a lier, an hipocrite, a murtherer, an inchanter, a dice-player, an adulterer, a ſodomite: & finally, what crime was it wherewith he was not infected, &c.

In the 14. Seſſion came in y^e reſignatiō of P. Gregory 12.

The 37. Seſſion did publiſh definitiue ſentence againſt the 3. pope Benedict: & in the 39. they procéeded to elect a new pope, & on S. Martins éeuen they choſe one,Pope Martin. & therfore named him Martin: who according to the cuſtome was honorably brought by the Councell, and the Emper. into the church of Conſtance, vntounto the monaſtery of S. Auſtine, to be crowned:The Emperor leadeth the popes horſe. the Emp. on foot, leading his horſe by the bridle on the right hand: the marques of Brandēburgh prince elector, alſo leading his horſe on the left hand: the P. himſelfe riding in the midſt on his palfrey. The Councell being diſſolued, a cardinall was ſent by the P. named Anthony, to declare his Indulgēce vntounto them: who granted to eueryevery point in that coū cel, ful abſolution once in their life, ſo that eueryevery one within 2. moneths after the hearing of this Indulgence ſhould procure the ſame in forme of writing. Alſo an other Indulgēce was graunted of full remiſſion at the houre of death: & that was aſwel vnderſtood of the houſhold, as the Maiſters thē ſelues; but vnderunder this condition that from the time of notification of the ſame,The popes Indulgence. they ſhould faſt eueryevery Friday for the ſpace of one whole yéere, for abſolutiō in their life time. And for abſolution in the howre of death, that they ſhould faſt an other yéere in like ſort, except ſome lawfull impediment: ſo that after the ſecond yéere, they ſhould faſt out their liues p. 322end, or els do ſome other good worke. This beyng proclaimed, the Synode brake vp, and eueryevery man departed.

3940. Prelats at the Councell.The nūber of prelates at this councell, was 3940. wherof the number of B. & Archb. was 346. Abbots & doctors 564. Secular mē, princes, dukes, erles, knights, eſquires 16000. Common women belonging to the councell,Common women belonging to the councell 450. 450. Barbers, 600. Minſtrels, cookes, & ieſters, 329. So that y^e whole multitude which were viewed to be in the towne of Conſtance, betwéene Eaſter & Whitſontide, where nūbred to be 60500.

Now although this councell was thought principally to be called to appeaſe the ſchiſme, yet a great part of the cauſe was the Bohemians, and eſpecially for Iohn Huſſe. For before the Councell began, the Emperour Sigiſmund ſent certaine gentlemen Bohemians, which were of his owne houſhold, giuing them in charge to bring Iohn Huſſe bacheler of Diuinitie to the Councell, and that vnderunder his ſafeconduct, to the entent he ſhould purge himſelfe of that which they had to lay againſt him. Iohn Huſſe truſting vponupon the Emperours ſafecōduct, ſent word to the Emperour that he would come to the Councell, and with all, cauſed certaine bils to be written in Latine, Bohemian, and Almaine language, that if any one had to obiect ought againſt him, hée ſhould come to the councell, and there he would anſwere him. The ſame time alſo Iohn Huſſe ſent his Procurators to the lord Biſhop of Nazareth, ordained by the Apoſtolicke ſea, inquiſitour of hereſie in the cities and dioces of Prage, requiring that if he found any errour in him, he would declare it openly.The Biſhop giueth good teſtimony of Huſſe. But the Biſhop gaue good teſtimonie of Iohn Huſſe, and ſignified the ſame by his letters. Iohn Huſſe alſo required of the Archbiſhop of Prage, that if he knew any errour by him, he would ſignifie the ſame vntounto him: who cléered him before all the Barons of Boheme, that were aſſembled in the Abbey of S. Iames, for the affaires of the land. Of which teſtimony the Barons made report by their letters to the Emperour Sigiſmund, in the towne of Conſtance. p. 323Moreouer, Iohn Huſſe required for his further purgatiō before he went to the Councel, that he might make profeſſion of his faith before the Archb. and cleargy of Prage, which might not be graunted him, but by excuſe was put of.

About the Ides of October, ann. 1414. Wencelat de Duba. Iohn de Clum.Iohn Huſſe being accompanied with 2. noble gentlemen, Wencelat de Duba, & Iohn de Clum, parted from Prage toward Conſtance, and in eueryevery market towne, as he paſſed, he ſet vp writings: in which he required, that if any could lay hereſie to his charge, they ſhould prepare to méet at the Councell: there he would be ready, to ſatiſfie thē. When he was paſſed out of Boheme into Almaigne, he was greatly intertained of the Citizens, and Burgeſſes, and of the people, and founde much fauour, eſpecially at Norimberge.

In this mean time, the greateſt aduerſary that Ioh. Huſſe had, Stephen Palletz a Bohemian, was come to the councel: but his companiō, Staniſlaus znoma was not yet paſſed the borders of Boheme, when he was ſtricken with an Impoſtume, whereof he died. Aſſoone as Palletz was come to Cō ſtāce, he did aſſociate vntounto him, one Michael de Cauſis, who was ſometime Curate of Prage, and (hauing couſened the King Vinceſlaus of a great ſumme of money, to renew the mines of gold in Gilorroy, fled from thence to Rome) he and Palletz ſometime of Huſſes acquaintance. Theſe 2. promiſed the aduerſaries of Huſſe to deale againſt him: which they did, & drew articles againſt him, eſpecially out of his book de Eccleſia, & offred them vntounto the cardinals, monks, &c. and did ſo incenſe them, that they determined to cauſe Iohn Huſſe to be laide handes on.

The 26. day, after Iohn Huſſe was come to Conſtance,Iohn Huſſe come to Contance. the Cardinalles, through the inſtigation of Palletz and de Cauſis, ſent the Biſhop of Auguſt, and the Biſhoppe of Trident, and with them the Archborough of Conſtance, and a certaine knight to Iohn Huſſes lodging, which ſhould make report, that the Pope and Cardinalles willed him p. 324to come and make account of his doctrine before them, as he had oft times deſyred: and that they were ready to heare him. Iohn Huſſe vnderſtanding of their minde, went out to the Popes court, and being come before them, they required him to declare vntounto them the pointes which were reported of him to bee taught erronious, and againſt the Church, which Iohn Huſſe was willing to doe, and proteſted that he neuer (by Gods aſſiſtance) would mainteine or teach any doctrine that were not ſound. The Cardinalles ſaid, they liked that anſwere wel, and ſo went their way and left him, and maiſter Iohn Clum, vnderunder the cuſtody of armed men, till four of the clocke at after noone: at which time the Cardinalles aſſembled againe in the Popes court to take coūſell what they might do with Iohn Huſſe. And a litle before night, they ſent the prouoſt of the Romaine court, to ſhew maiſter Iohn de Clum, that hee might returne to his lodging, for as for Iohn Huſſe they had other wiſe prouided for him. And after this, Iohn Huſſe was led by the officers of the Chapter houſe of the great Church of Conſtance, where he was kept priſoner by the ſpace of eight dayes. From thence he was caryed to the Iacobins, hard by the Rhine, and was ſhut vp in the priſon of the abbey, which was hard by the Bogardes;Iohn Huſſe kept in priſon. Huſſe falleth ſicke. where he fell ſore ſicke of an ague, by reaſon of the ſtench of the place: where he became ſo weake that they diſpayred of his life: and for feare he ſhould die in priſon, the Pope ſent his phiſitions to cure him. In the time of his ſicknes, his accuſers made importunate ſute to the principals of the Councell, that he might be condemned: and preſented vntounto the Pope articles. 1. That hee held againſt tranſubſtantiation. That Prieſtes can not conſecrate being in deadly ſinne.Articles againſt Huſſe. That he doth not allow that the church ſignifyeth, Pope, Cardinals, Biſhops, &c. That he ſayth, all Prieſtes hauehave like power. That the Church being in ſinne hath no power of keies. That he feareth not excommunication. That he kepeth not the inueſſtures p. 325and inſtitutions of the church. That he holdeth, if a man be once ordeined a Prieſt or Deacon, he can not bee holden or kept backe from the office of Preaching, &c. With diuers other matters which they maliciouſly obiected againſt him. VponUpon this occaſion they appointed thrée Iudges: The Patriarch of Conſtantinople: the B. of Caſtel: and the B. of Libuſſe, who recited the accuſation vntounto Iohn Huſſe, at which time his ague was feruent and extremely vponupon him: and required hee might hauehave an aduocate to anſwere for him:An aduocate denied to H. but that was plainly and vtterly denyed him, becauſe the matter was of hereſy, for which he was called in queſtion.

Afterward, when Iohn Huſſe had gathered a litle ſtrēgth, there were (by the commaundement of the thrée commiſſioners) certaine articles gathered, ſome by Palletz, and ſome by them ſelues.

Thus, Iohn Huſſe remained in y^e priſon of the couent of Franciſcans, vntill the Wedneſday before Palmeſonday, and certaine appointed to kéepe him.

The ſame day, Iohn the 23 chaūged his apparel, and conueied himſelfe ſecretely out of the towne of Conſtance. Whereupon Iohn Huſſe (becauſe the Popes men, who kept him, deliuered vp their charge,Huſſe cruellie handled in priſon. and followed their maiſter) was put into the handes of the B. of Conſtance, who ſent him to the caſtle on the other ſyde of the riuer of Rhine, not farre from Conſtance, whereas he was ſhut vp in a tower with fetters on his legges, that hee could not walke in the day time: and in the night time he was faſtened vp to a rack on a wall hard by his bed ſyde. In the meane time certaine noblemen of Pole and Boheme put vp a ſupplication to the fower nations, Almaine, Italy, Fraunce and England, for the deliuerie of Iohn Huſſe. 14. of Maye 1415. 1415to which ſupplication the B. of Luthoms did anſwere, with further accuſation againſt Iohn Huſſe. Which anſwere of his the nobles of Boheme confuted againe. And when they by long p. 326time could receiue no anſwere of this Supplication, which they had alredy put vp, they determined the laſt day of May following, (by another Supplication, put vp to the Principals of the Councel) to intreat that I. Huſſe might be deliuered out of priſon, and defend his owne cauſe openly,

They alſo put vp the teſtimoniall of the B. of Nazareth, touching I. Huſſe: to which Supplication they anſwered, that although there might be a thouſand ſureties put in, yet they were not to be taken in this mans caſe, vntounto whome, there is no faith, nor credite to bee geuen. How be it, this they wil, vponupon the fift day of Iune next, Iohn Huſſe ſhal be brought againe to Conſtance, and there hauehave frée libertie to ſpeake his minde fréely before the Councell, and that they would louingly heare him: but in the end, the matter fel out farre contrarie to this promiſe. The ſame day, the barons, & Lords, preſented a ſupplication to the Emp. requiring him to further the ſupplication put vp to the councel: to which, what anſwere the Emp. made, it is not certain: but likely it was, by proceſſe of the matter, that the Emp. was fayne to breake his promiſe,The Emperor breaketh promiſe with H. touching the ſafeconduct which he promiſed Huſſe: by reaſon (as they pretended) that no defence of ſafeconduct might be geuen vntounto him, that was ſuſpected, or iudged to be an heretike.

The fift day of Iune, the Cardinals, &c. in the Couent of the Franciſcans in Conſtance, purpoſed, in the abſence of I. Huſſe, to hauehave condemned him in thoſe articles which they had drawen againſt him, but for a Notarie, named I. Meadoniewitz, who loued Iohn Huſſe, and went to M. Vencelat de Duba, and Iohn de Clum, and told them the matter: who went and made report thereof to the Emperor.

The Emp. vnderſtanding their intēt, ſent Lewes, y^e countie Palatine of Heydelberge, and the L. Frederike, Burgraue of Noremberg, to ſignifie vntounto them which ruled the coūcel, that nothing ſhould be done in y^e cauſe of I. H. before it were hard w^t equity: & y^t they would ſēd him al ſuch articles p. 327as were laid againſt the ſayd Huſſe, which were either falſe or Hereticall, and he would do ſo much that the ſaid Articles ſhould be examined, by good and learned men. Then according to the Emperours will, the iudgement of the principals of the councell was ſuſpended, vntounto ſuch time as the ſaid Huſſe himſelfe were preſent. Now Iohn Huſſe beyng brought forth, & beginning to anſwere,Huſſe beginneth to anſwer for himſelfe. ſcarſe had he opened his mouth, but they all began to cry out againſt him, y^t he had not leaſure to ſpeake one word: beſides ſome did outrage in words againſt him, & other ſome ſpitefully mocked him: ſo y^t he ſeing himſelfe ouerwhelmed, with this rude & barbarous noiſe, & that it profited nothing to ſpeake, he determined finally to hold his peace & kéepe ſilence. After that time, they cried, he is dumbe, he is dumbe (thinking they had won the field) this is a ſigne he conſenteth to theſe his errours. But ſome more moderate then the reſt, miſliking the dealing, departed from the councell for that preſent, and appointed to méete there againe the morrow, to procéed in iudgement.

The next day, which was the 7. of Iune (in which the Sunne was almoſt wholy eclipſed) ſomewhat after about 7. of the clocke, the ſame flocke aſſembled againe in the cloiſter of the Friers minorites, and by their appointmēt Iohn Huſſe was brought before them,Huſſe appeereth againe. accompanied with a great number of armed men: thether went alſo the Emp. whom M. De Duba, and Clum, and the notarie named Peter, did follow, to ſée what the end might be. When they were come thether, they heard the accuſation of Michaell de Cauſis, who firſt obiected againſt him, the matter of reall preſence, that hée ſhould mainteine, after the wordes of conſecration, there remayned materiall bread: which article Iohn Huſſe denied that euer hée mainteyned. VponUpon that matter there grew diſpute among them.

Then was there read an article, wherin was obiected y^t he mainteined Wicklifs errors, which he alſo denied. Beſides, diuerſe falſe accuſations were brought againſt him: which p. 328doone, and Palletz hauing endeuoured aſmuch againſt him as malice would ſerue: Iohn Huſſe was committed to the cuſtody of the Biſhop of Rigen, vnderunder whom Ierom of Prage was alſo priſoner: but before hée was led away, the Cardinall of Cambray exhorted him to ſubmit himſelfe vntounto the Councell; and ſo did alſo the Emperour: which if hée refuſed to doo, he ſaid, he would ſooner make the fire with his owne hands to burne him, then he would ſuffer him to hold ſuch opinions, &c. And ſo hauing thanked the Emperour for the ſafeconduit,Huſſe not ſuffered to proceede in his anſwere. and procéeding farther to make anſwere, he was cut of, and led away with the ſergeants.

The morrow after, which was the 8. of Iune, the ſame company aſſembled againe at the Franciſcans: & in this aſſembly was Iohn Huſſe, De Duba, & De Clum, and Peter the, notary his friends. In which aſſembly there were read againſt Huſſe 39. 39. articles againſt Huſſe.articles, the which they ſaid were drawen out of his bookes. Huſſe acknowledged all thoſe that were faithfully collected (of which ſort there were but a fewe) as, That their is but one vniuerſall Church, the company of the predeſtinate. That Paule, nor Peter were euer mēbers of the Diuell, although ſome their acts did reſemble the malignant Church. That no true member of the Church doth at any time fall away from the body. That the Predeſtinate is alwaies a member of the Church, although not in preſent iuſtice. That there is no ſenſible ſigne that cā make a man the member of the Vniuerſall Church. That a reprobate man neuer is a member of the Vniuerſall church. That Iudas was neuer a true Diſciple. That the congregation of the Predeſtinate, whether they bée in the ſtate of grace, or not according, vntounto preſent Iuſtice, is the holy vniuerſall Church. That Peter neuer was, neyther is the head of the vniuerſall church. That if he that is called the vicar of Chriſt, doo not walke according to Chriſt, he is the meſſenger of Antichriſt. That all thoſe that vſe ſimonie doo not know the duties of the keies and cenſures of the church. p. 329That the papall dignitie is ſprong from the Emperours authority. That no man would reaſonably affirme, that any man is the head of any particular Church. That it ought not to be beléeued, that the Pope may be the head of anie particular Church, vnleſſe he be predeſtinate or ordained of God. That the Popes power of Vicarſhip, is but vaine,Articles auowed of Huſſe. if he do not conform his life according to Ieſus Chriſt. That the Pope is moſt holy, onelyonly if he doe follow Chriſt in humility, gentlenes, patience, &c. That the Cardinals are not the true ſucceſſors of the apoſtles of Chriſt, except they faſhion themſelues to y^e kéeping of Chriſts cōmandements. That eccleſiaſticall cenſure ought not to procéede to execution of death. That the nobles of the world ought to compel the miniſters of the church, to kéepe the law of Ieſus Chriſt. That the Cleargies eccleſiaſtical obedience is inuented without warrant of the ſcriptures. That he appealed from the Pope to Chriſt, and did not eſtéeme the Popes curſes. That a vitious man liueth vitiouſtly, and a godly man godlily. That if a miniſter be wrongfully forbidden to preach, he ought not to obey, for any commandement of power to the contrarie, becauſe it is a worke not of indifferency, but of expreſſe commandement. The next article was almoſt one with this. That the eccleſiaſticall cenſures are antichriſtiā: which Huſſe denied to be vttred in that form. That there ought no interditement, or curſe to be appointed vntounto the people. And theſe were the articles both alleadged out of his booke of the Church, and by himſelfe auouched before them. Beſides theſe, there were other articles brought againſt him: among which were 19. y^t brought him into priſon. That Paul according to preſent iuſtice, was a blaſphemer, but the childe of God by predeſtination. That Chriſt more loueth a predeſtinate man, being ſinful, then a reprobate, in what grace ſoeuer he be for the time. That al ſinful, according to preſēt iuſtice, are not faithful. That y^e words of Chriſt touching binding and loſing, except they bee well vnderſtood, bring much p. 330feare, or much preſumption That the binding and looſing by God is ſimply and plainly the principall. That prieſts doe onelyonly heap vp thoſe things out of the ſcriptures, which ſerue for their bellies. That the Popes power, when he doth wickedly, is not to be feared. That an euil Pope is not the ſucceſſor of Peter, but of Iudas. That the Pope is the beaſt ſpoken of in the Apocalipſe. This he denied to hauehave béen vttered by him. That it is lawfull to preach, notwithſtanding the Popes inhibition. That the Popes commandement béeing not agréeable to the Goſpel, is not to be obeyed. That the Cleargy and Laitie may iudge of the works of prelats. That God himſelfe doth ſuſpend eueryevery wicked prieſt from his miniſtery. That the Cleargie ſupplanteth the Laye people, &c.

To theſe Articles aboue mentioned, were other alſo annexed, which the Pariſiens had ſet downe againſt him, to the number of 19. The chiefe author wherof, was one Gerſon Chancellour of the Vniuerſitie of Paris, wherevnto hée had no time to anſwere.

Now when the foreſaid articles were read, with their teſtimonies, the cardinal of Cambray, with the reſt, exhorted Ioh. Huſſe to ſubmit himſelf to the councel, & to ſuffer patiently y^t they would determine, which was, that he ſhold confeſſe himſelfe to hauehave erred in the articles, & promiſe by oath, neither to teach nor mainteine them: & moreouer, openly recant all of them. To this, the Emp. moued him alſo with the reſt to whom he anſwered, that whatſoeuer were repugnāt to the ſcriptures, being ſo proued vntounto him: he would recāt & renounce, otherwiſe durſt he not do againſt his conſcience, & after much debating,Huſſe will not recant. & many falſe accuſations, Iohn Huſſe was caried to priſon again, Ioh. de Clum following & cōforting him, who after he was carried away, the Emp. mightily inueyed againſt him,The Emperor againſt Huſſe. & incited the Councel againſt him, and his ſcholer, Hierom of Prage, to all ſeuerity, as alſo againſt his friends and fauourers: and ſo they departed out p. 331of the cloiſter, and brake vp the aſſembly for that time.

The day before his condemnation, which was the ſixt of Iuly, the Emperour Sigiſmund ſent vntounto him foure Biſhops, with M. Vincelat de Duba, and Iohn de Clum, to vnderſtand of him what he would doo, and when he was brought out to them, and his minde demaunded, he deliuered his reſolution, that he was ready to be reformed if it could be prooued by the ſcriptures, that he had erred. Which the Biſhops counted an arrogant anſwere, and commaunded him to be carried to priſon againe.

The next day the Emperour with all the ſpirituall and temporall Lords, held a generall Seſſion in the head church of the city of Conſtance: in which Iohn Huſſe was diſgraded, condemned, & deliuered to the ciuil power.Huſſe diſgraded, condemned, and deliuered to the ſeculars. When Ioh. Huſſe was brought thither, he fell downe vponupon his knees, & prayed a long time. In the meane while, the B. of Lundy went vp and made a ſermon: when his ſermon was ended, the Procurer of the Councell riſing vp, named Henricus de Pyro, required that the proceſſe of the cauſe of Iohn Huſſe, might be continued, & ſo procéed vntounto the definitiue ſentence: then they alleadged other articles againſt him. And laſt of all, that he ſhould ſay, there ſhould be a fourth perſon in the diuinitie: whereto Iohn Huſſe ſaide, O miſerable and wretched man, which am forced, and compelled to feare ſuch blaſphemie, & ſlander. Afterward the article was read, how he appealed to Chriſt, and that by name was called hereticall. Whereunto Iohn Huſſe anſwered: O Lord Ieſu Chriſt, whoſe word is openly condemned in this Councell, vntounto thée againe I make my appeale: who,H. appealeth to Chriſt. when y^u waſt euill intreated of thine enemies, diddeſt make thine appeale vntounto God thy father, committing thy cauſe to a moſt iuſt Iudge: that by thy example, we alſo (being oppreſſed w^t manifold wrōgs, & iniuries) ſhould flie vntounto thée. Laſt of al, was read y^e article touching the contempt of his excommunicatiō: wherto (after he had yelded a reaſonable & lawful anſwere) p. 332one of the iudges read the definitiue ſentence againſt him.

When the ſentence and iudgement againſt him was ended,Huſſe prayeth for his enemies & is derided. knéeling downe vponupon his knées, he ſaid: O Lord Ieſu Chriſt forgiue mine enemies, by whom thou knoweſt that I am falſly accuſed, and that they hauehave vſed falſe witneſſe and ſlanders againſt mée, forgiue them, I ſay, for thy great mercies ſake. This his praier, the greater part, eſpecially of the Prieſts derided.

At the laſt the 7. biſhops diſgraded him, eueryevery one taking a péece from him, & when they came to the raſing of his ſhauen crowne, before the Biſhops would go in hand with it, there fell a great contentiō among them, with what inſtrument it ſhould be done, with a razor, or a paire of ſhieres.

The courage of Huſſe.In the meane ſeaſon, Iohn Huſſe turning toward y^e Emperour, ſaid, I maruel much that they being all of like cruell mind,Cruelty of the biſhops againſt Huſſe. and ſtomake, yet they cannot agrée of their kind of crueltie. Notwithſtanding at the laſt, they agreed to cut of the ſkin of his head, with a paire of ſhieres: which being done, they cauſed to be made a certaine crowne of paper, almoſt a cubite high: in the which were painted 3. ougly diuels of a wonderfull ougly ſhape, and this title ſet ouer their heads. Hereſiarcha.

The which when he ſaw, he ſaide, My Lord Ieſu Chriſt for my ſake did weare a crown of thorns, why ſhould not I then for his ſake againe, weare this light crowne, be it neuer ſo ignominious? Truely I will doe it, and that willingly. When it was ſet vponupon his head, the Biſhops ſaid, now we committe thy ſoule to the deuill. But I (ſaid Ioh. Huſſe, lifting his eyes toward the heauens) doe committe my ſpirite vntounto thy handes, O Lord Ieſu Chriſt: to thée I commēd my ſoule, which thou haſt redéemed. So (after hee was committed to the Secular power,) the Emperor commanded Ludouicus Duke of Bauaria, that he ſhould take Huſſe of the Biſhops hands, and deliuer him to thoſe that ſhoulde doe the execution.

p. 333The place appointed for his execution, was before the gate Gothebian betwéene the gardens, and gates of the ſuburbes. When Iohn Huſſe was come thether, knéeling vponupon his knées, and lifting his eyes vp to heauen, he prayed, and ſaid certaine Pſalmes, and ſpecially the 51. and 31. pſalmes: and they which ſtoode by, heard him oftentimes in his prayer, with a merie countenance, repeate this verſe: VntoUnto thy handes O Lord, I commend my ſpirite, &c. Which thing when the Lay people behelde, which ſtoode next vntounto him, they ſaid: what he hath done before we know not, but now we ſée, and heare, that hee prayeth very deuoutly, and godly.

When as by the commandement of the tormentors hée was riſen vp from the place of his prayer, with a loud voice he ſaid: Lord Ieſu Chriſt, aſſiſt and helpe me, that with a conſtant and patient minde, by thy moſt gratious helpe, I may beare and ſuffer this cruell and ignominious death, whereunto I am condemned, for the preaching of thy moſt precious word, and holy Goſpel.

So he was tied to a ſtake, toward the Weſt, becauſe (ſaid they) he was not worthie to looke towarde the Eaſt:The behauiour of Huſſe at his death. and ſtrawe, and fagots being put to him, Ludouicus Duke of Bauaria (before fire was put vntounto the wood, with another with him, the ſonne of Clement) came, and exhorted him, that he would yet be mindfull of his ſafetie, and renounce his errors. To whom he ſaid, what errors ſhould I renoūce, when as I know my ſelfe guiltie of none. This was the principall ende, and purpoſe of my doctrine, that I might teach all men penance, and remiſſion of ſinnes, according to the veritie of the goſpell of Chriſt, and the expoſition of holie Doctors. Wherefore, with a cherefull mind and courage, I am here redy to ſuffer death.

When he had ſpoken theſe words, they left him, and hauing ſhaken hands, they departed. Then was the fire kindled, and Iohn Huſſe began to ſing with a loude voice: Ieſu p. 334Chriſt, the ſonne of the liuing God, hauehave merciemercy vponupon me: and when he began to ſay the ſame the third time, the wind droue the flame ſo vponupon his face, that it choaked him: yet notwithſtanding, he moued a while after, by the ſpace that a man might ſay almoſt thrée times, the Lordes prayer.

The bodie being burned to aſhes, with great diligence they gathered them together, and caſt them into the riuer of Rhine,They caſt the aſhes of Huſſe into y^e Rhine. that not ſo much as any memorie, or remnant of him might be left. Cocleus in his ſecond booke contra Huſſitas, thinketh, that the author that writte this hiſtorie of I. Huſſe, was called Iohannes Prizibram, a Bohemian, who after ſuccéeding in the place of Iohn Huſſe, at Prage, at laſt is thought to hauehave relented vntounto the Papiſtes.

And thus much concerning the death of I. Huſſe, who was burned at Conſtance, an. 1415. about the monethmonth of Iulie. Being in priſon,Treatiſes of H. in priſon. he wrote diuers treatiſes: of the commandemēts of the Lord, of prayer, of mortal ſinne, of matrimonie, of the knowledge and louelove of God, of thrée enemies of mankind, the fleſh, the world, and the deuill, of repentance, of the ſacrament of the body and bloud of Chriſt, of the ſufficiencie of the law of God to rule the church, &c. He had alſo many prophetical viſions.

An. 1415. 1415April iiij. M. Ierom of Prage, gréeuouſly ſorowing for the ſlanderous reproach, and defamation of his coū trey of Boheme: & alſo, hearing tell of the manifeſt iniuries done vntounto y^e man of worthie memorie: I. Huſſe, fréely, and of his own accord, came to Conſtance,Ier. of Prage commeth to Conſtance. & there perceiuing that I. Huſſe was denied to be heard: and y^t watch and ward was laide for him on euerie ſide, hee departed to Iberlinge, a Citie of the Empire, vntil the next day, which Citie was a mile from Conſtance. From thence hee wrote his Letters to Sigiſmund king of Hungarie, and his barons, requyring him of ſafeconduct: which being denied him, y^e next day he wrote certain intimations, which he ſent to Conſtāce, to be ſet vponupon the gates of the citie, & of the churches, & monaſteries, p. 335and houſes of Cardinals, and other Nobles, and prelates, requiring that if any had ought to charge him with of Hereſie, they would repaire thether, where he ſhould be ready to ſatiſfie them, requiring alſo in the ſame, ſafeconduct and frée acceſſe: which when it would not be graunted, the Nobles, Lords, Knights, &c. eſpecially of Boheme preſent in Conſtance, gaue vntounto Maiſter Ierome their letters patentes, confirmed with their ſeales, for a witneſſe and teſtimonie of the premiſſes: wherewith Ierome returning againe into Boheme,Treaſon againſt Ierome of Prage. was by treaſon of his enemies taken in Hirſſaw, by the officers of Duke Iohn, and was brought backe againe to the preſence of the Duke.

In the meane time, Palletz and de Cauſis, & ſuch as were enemies to Iohn Huſſe, required that Hierome might be cited before the Councel, which was accordingly performed, & maiſter Hierome cited, by reaſon of his intimation: and the Duke brought him bound vntounto Conſtance, with a great and long chaine: to whom, after they had obiected certaine friuolous matters, they deliuered him (being bound) vntounto the officers of the citie of Conſtance, to be caried to priſon, for that night: where he was comforted of Peter the Notary, and one Vitus. Hierome carried to priſon. Peter the Notary, & Vitus.Which being knowne, when it drew towardes euening, y^e Archb. of Rygen ſent certaine of his ſeruants, which ledde away Hierome, being ſtrongly bounde with chaines, both by the handes, and by the neck: and kept him ſo for certaine houres. When night drew on, they caried him vntounto a certaine tower of the citie, in S. Paules Churchyard, where they (tying him faſt vntounto a great block, and his féete in the ſtockes, his hands alſo being made faſt vponupon them) left him. The block was ſo high, that he could by no meanes ſit there upon, but that his head muſt hang downward: where he lay, (none of his friendes knowing of his conueyāce away) two daies, & ij. nights, reléeued only with bread & water: wherof M. Peter hauing knowledge by one of his kéepers, deſired y^t he might hauehave leaue to prouide him meat: which was granted.

p. 336Within 11. daies after ſo hanging by the héeles, he vſed ſo ſmal repaſt,Ierom falleth ſicke. that he fell ſore ſicke euen vntounto death: whervpon he deſired to hauehave a confeſſor, which was hardly and with great importunitie graunted him. Now he had béene in priſon one yéere lacking but ſeuen daies.

After they had put Iohn Huſſe to death, about the feaſt of the Natiuitie of Mary the virgin, they brought foorth M. Ierom (whom they had kept ſo long in chaines) vntounto the church of S. Paule, and wrought ſo with feare of death with him,Ierom abiureth. that he abiured in the cathedrall Church in open Seſſion, and gaue aſſent that Iohn Huſſe was iuſtly condemned and put to death: after which they cauſed him to be carried againe to the ſame priſon, but not ſo ſtraightly chained as he was before. Now Palletz and de Cauſis hearing of this and vnderſtanding that he made this abiuration, onelyonly to eſcape their hands, together with certaine Friers of Prage, put vp new accuſations againſt maiſter Hierom: New accuſations againſt M. Hierome.whoſe malice did appeare ſo much againſt him, that the Cardinall of Cambray, and the Cardinall de Vrſcons, the Cardinall of Aquilegia and of Florence, with his iudges alſo: conſidering the great iniurie done vntounto him, laboured before the whole Councel for his deliuerie. Which when they were about, his enimies, & among them, one Doctor Naſo greatly vrged the matter againſt M. Hierome, Doct. Naſo a great enemy of Hierome.inſomuch that he ſaid vntounto thē, I greatly feare, leaſt that you hauehave receiued ſome rewardes either of the K. of Boheme, or of theſe heretikes.

The Cardinals thus rebuked, gaue ouer Maſter Ieroms cauſe, and his enemies obteined to hauehave other Iudges appointed: as, the Patriarch of Conſtantinople, who had condemned M. Iohn Huſſe, and was a great enemie to M. Hierome, and another Germane Doctor. But Ierome refuſed thoſe priuate Iudges, and required open audience: which in hope hee would confirme his recantation before them, was graunted vntounto them.

Anno 1416. 1416May 25. M. Ierome was brought into open p. 337audience in the cathedrall church of Conſtance, where the commiſſioners, in the behalfe of his aduerſaries, obiected againſt him 107. new articles: and becauſe the time would not ſuffer to anſwere,New articles againſt M. Ierome. they appointed him the third day after: the reſidew of the articles, he anſwered moſt learnedly, and eloquently, and put to ſilence his aduerſaries. At length came in falſe witneſſes that teſtified againſt him: whom he againe moſt pithily, and eloquently confuted.

All this while the popes councell did wait whē he ſhould make recantation, and craue pardon. But he perſiſting ſtill in his conſtant Oration, did acknowledge no error, neither gaue any ſignification of recantation. And at laſt entred into the praiſe of M. I. Huſſe, and finally concluded, that all ſuch articles, as I. Wickliffe, & I. Huſſe, had written, and ſet foorth againſt the enormities, pompe, & diſorder of the prelates,Ierome conſtant. he would firmely and conſtantly defend vntounto the death: greatly condemning his fact, in that he did conſent vntounto the condemnation of M. I. Huſſe, & Wickliffe. The coūcell whiſpered together, & ſaid: by theſe his words, it appéereth, he is at a point with himſelf. Then was he caried again into priſon (hauing bin in priſon before 340. daies) & grieuouſly fettered,Ierome grieuouſlie fettered. by the hands, armes, & féete, with great chaines, & fetters, of yron.

The ſaturday next before the Aſcention day, early in the morning, he was brought with armed men into y^e church to hauehave iudgement: where they perſwaded him to reuoke the teſtimony, and praiſe he gaue of I. Huſſe, & Wickliffe: which he would not in any ſort doo: then a certaine B. named the B. of Landy, made a certaine ſermon exhortatory, againſt Maiſter Hierome, perſwading to his condemnation.

After the Sermon ended, M. Ierome againe ſaid vntounto them, you will condemne me wickedly, & vniuſtly: but I after my death, will leaue a remorſe in your conſcience, and a naile in your harts. Et cito vos omnes, vt reſpondeatis mihi, M. Ierome prophecieth.coram altiſsimo & iuſtiſsimo Iudice, post centum annos. That is: Here I cite you all, to anſwere vntounto me before the moſt high p. 338and iuſt Iudge, within an hundreth yeeres.

Finally, when no perſuaſions would moue him to recant, they gaue ſentence of condemnation againſt him:Ierome condemned. which ſentence being giuē, a great miter of paper was brought, painted about with red Diuels: the which when he beheld and ſaw (throwing his hood vponupon the ground) he tooke the miter, and put it on his head: ſaying, my Lord Ieſu Chriſt, when he ſuffered for me moſt wretched ſinner, did weare a crown of thorne vponupon his head, and I for his ſake, in ſtéede of that crowne, will were this miter & crowne. And afterward he was laid hold on by the ſecular power: and when he was led out of the church, with a chéerefull countenance and lowde voice,M. Ierome ſingeth after his condemnation. lifting vp his eies to heauen, he began to ſing, Credo in vnum Deum: as it is accuſtomed to be ſong in the church: after that, other certaine Canticles of the Church.

At length comming to the place of execution, where as M. Iohn Huſſe before had ſuffered death innocently, knéeling downe by the picture of Maſter Iohn Huſſe, which was there prepared to burne him, hée made a certaine deuout prayer. Whiles hée was a praying, they tooke him vp, and ſtripped him, and bound him to the Image: and when they begun to lay wood about him,M. Ierome ſingeth at the ſtake. he began to ſing: Salue festa dies: and the Hymne beyng ended, he ſong againe with a lowde voice, Credo in vnum Deum, vntounto the end: that beyng doone, hée ſaid vntounto the people, in the Germane tongue, to this effect: Déerely beloued brethren, euen as I hauehave now ſong, ſo doo I béeleue, and no otherwiſe, and this Créede is my whole faith: notwithſtanding now I die for this cauſe, for that I would not conſent and agrée to the Councell, and with them affirme & hold, that M. Iohn Huſſe was by them iuſtly condemned: for I doo know well that he was a true preacher of the goſpell of Chriſt.

When the wood was begunne to bée ſet on fire, hée ſong, In manus tuas Domine, commendo ſpiritum meum. When that was ended, and he beganne vehemently to burne: hée p. 339ſaid in the Bohemian tongue: O Lord God, father almighty, hauehave mercy vponupon me, and be mercifull to mine offences, for thou knoweſt, how that ſincerly I hauehave loued thy truth. He was by reaſon of the ſtoutnes of his nature, long in burning. After he was dead, they brought his bedding, books, hood, &c. & burned them all to aſhes in the ſame fire: which after they did diligently gather, & caſt into the riuer of Rhine. Thus much, touching Iohn Huſſe, and Hierome of Prage: whoſe hiſtorie was written by a Bohemian, who was preſent, and a beholder of the action.

In the meane time, while Hierome was in trouble, and brought before the councel, the nobles of Boheme,Letters of the nobles of Boheme to the Councell. and Morania, (greeued with their dealings) directed letters vntounto this barbarous Councell of popiſhe murderers, greatly blaming them for their fact, and defending both maiſter Iohn Huſſe, and maiſter Hierom, ending their letters in this ſort: the premiſſes notwithſtanding, we (ſetting apart al feare & mens ordinances prouided to the contrary,) wil mainteyn & defend the law of our Lord Ieſu Chriſt, and the deuout, hū ble, and conſtant preachers thereof, euen to the ſhedding of our blood: dated at Sternberg, ann. 1415. 1415&c.

Round about the ſame letters, were 54 ſeales hāging, and the names of them, whoſe ſeales they were,54. ſeales to the letter. ſubſcribed.

An. 1414. 1414by Henry Chichley Archb. of Cāterbury, much was the affliction and trouble of good men here in England: which cruelty, Iohn Claydon Iohn Claydon.currier of London, & Richard Turming Rich. Turmingfirſt taſted of.

The 17. day of Auguſt, an. 1415. Iohn Claydon did perſonally appeare, arreſted by the mayor of London, for ſuſpition of hereſie, before Henry Chichley Archbiſhop of Canterbury, in Paules Church: who being demaunded,Conſtancy. denied it not, but frankly confeſſed that for 20. yéeres ſpace, he had bin ſuſpected therof: for which alſo he had ſuffered 2. yéeres impriſonment at Conuey, & thrée yéeres in the Fléete: out of which priſon, he (in the raigne of king Henrie the fourth, p. 340was brought before L. Iohn Scarle, then Chancelour to the king, and there did abiure all hereſie, and errour. And being demanded of the Archbiſhop, confeſſed that ſince his abiuration, he had in his houſe written Engliſh bookes of religion, and had frequented the company of diuers godly mē. Which confeſſion being made, the Archb. did command the bookes to be deliuered to maiſter Robert Gilbert Doctor of diuinity, William Lindwood, Doct. of both lawes, and other Clearkes to bee examined. And in the meane time, Dauid Beare, Alexander Phillip, and Balthaſar Mero, were taken for witneſſes againſt him: and were committed to bee examined to maiſter Iohn Eſcourt, general examiner of Cāterbury. This done. the Archb. continued his ſeſſion til munday next in the ſame place, which was the 20. day of the ſame monethmonth, and maiſter Eſcourt publikely exhibited the witneſſes: which being read, there were after that read diuers tractations, found in his houſe: out of which, eſpecially out of a booke called, the Lantern of light, The Lanterne of light.(that Claidon at his owne coſts, cauſed to be written by one, called Ioh. Grime) being examined, diuers points were gathered, and noted for hereſie.Articles. Firſt, that the Pope was Antichriſt, and the enimy that ſowed tares among the lawes of Chriſt. That y^e Archbiſhops and Biſhops, ſpeaking indifferently, are the ſeats of the Beaſt Antichriſt. That the Biſhoppes licenſe, for a man to preach the worde of God, is the Character of the Beaſt. That the Court of Rome, is the head of Antichriſt, and the Biſhoppes the bodie. That no reprobate is a member of the Church. That Chriſt did neuer plant priuate religions. That the materiall Churche ſhoulde not bée decked with golde.The cauſes of perſecution. That Prieſtes vnlawfully kéeping temporall goodes, and vnſatiable begging of Friers, were the twoo chiefe cauſes of the perſecution of Chriſtians. That almes were to be giuen to the honour of GOD, onelyonly of goodes iuſtly gotten, to bée giuen to one that is in charitie, and to thoſe that hauehave néede. That p. 341often ſinging in the Church, is not founded on the ſcripture. That bread and wine remaine in the Sacrament. That all Eccleſiaſticall ſuffrages doe profite all godly perſons indifferently. That the Popes Indulgences bee vnprofitable. That the Laytie is not bound to obey the prelates, in what ſo euer they command except the prelates doe watch, to geue God a iuſt accompt of their ſoules. That Images are not to bée ſought to by pilgrimages.

For theſe articles, the archb. with the reſt, did condemne and burne I. Claydons bookes, and procéeded to a definitiue ſentence of condemnation againſt him: and ſhortly after, hée was had to Smithfield, where méekly he was made a burnt offering vntounto the Lord, an. 1415.

R. Fabian addeth, that Richard Turning, Baker, was the ſame time alſo burned in Smithfield.

The next yere, 1416. the archb. of Canterburie in his Conuocation holden at London, maketh ſharper conſtitutitions then were before,Sharper conſtitutions then before. againſt the Lollards. During the time of which Conuocation, two prieſtes, noted for Heretikes, were brought before the Biſhops: the one, Iohn Barton, and the other, Robert Chappel. Iohn Barton. Robert Chappell.Barton, becauſe he had béene excommunicated, and ſo ſtoode 6. or 7. yeres before, vponupon articles of religion, & yet ſought no reconciliation: which being proued againſt him, he was committed to Philip, B. of Lincoln, to be kept in priſon, til otherwiſe it were determined. R. Chappel, otherwiſe Holbech, ſometime chaplen to the L. Cobham, becauſe he (being vnderunder excōmunication 3. or 4. yeres) did yet in contēpt of the keyes, continue ſaying maſſe, & preaching, & ſought no reconciliation. So the ſeſſion brake vp for y^e time, which was about y^e end of May, 1416.

The 12. of Iulie next following,Chappel ſubmitteth. Chappel appeared againe, and (ſubmitting himſelfe) with much a doe, receiued pardon: and was (in ſtead of penance) enioyned certayne articles to publiſh at Paules Croſſe. As,Articles enioyned Chappel. that Prelates might lawfullie holde Temporall Lawes. That it were p. 342vniuſt, and vnlawfull for temporall men, vponupon any occaſion to take away the Prelates temporalties, notwithſtanding the abuſes of them. That peregrinations are auaileable to the remiſſion of ſinnes. That, to worſhip Images, doth profite Chriſtians. That auricular confeſſion is neceſſarie. That, though a prieſt be in mortall ſinne, yet may he make the body of Chriſt. That Prieſtes ought not to preach, without the Biſhoppes licence. That priuate religions are profitable to the vniuerſall Church. That hee woulde promiſe, and ſweare, neuer to holde any thing againſt the premiſſes.

Diuers cauſed to abiure.After the ſetting out of the conſtitutions of H. Chicheſly, Archb. of Canterburie, diuers godly men were ſore vexed, and cauſed outwardly to abiure: as, Iohn Tayler, of the pariſh of S. Maries at Querne, William Iames, Maſter of art, and Phiſitian, who had long time remayned in priſon: alſo, Iohn Duerfer, Iohn Gourdeley, of Lincolnſhire, wel commended for his learning, Katherin Dertford, a Spinſter. the Parſon of Hyggley, in Lincolnſhire, named M. Robert: William Henrie of Tenderden, Iohn Gall, a Prieſt of London, Richard Monke, Vicar of Cheſham, in Lincolnſhire, with other mo.

Collection for the P. to war againſt the Bohemians.During the time of the Conuocation prouinciall, Pope Martin had ſent down to the cleargie of England, for a ſubſidie, to be gathered of the Church, to mainteine the Popes warre, againſt the Lollards of Bohemia. Alſo, another ſubſidie was demanded, to perſecute William Clarke, maſter of arte in Oxford, who ſayling out of England, was at y^e councell of Baſill, diſputing on the Bohemians ſide: and thirdly, another ſubſidie was alſo required,W. Clarke. W. Ruſſel. to perſecute William Ruſſel, which was Wardē of the Gray Friers in London, who the ſame time was fledde, and there eſcaped out of priſon.

Among the reſt which were at this time troubled for their faith, was, Radulph Mungin, R Mungin.prieſt: againſt whom, it was p. 343articulated at the Biſhops conuocation. Firſt,Articles. that it ſhould not be lawfull for any Chriſtian to fight againſt the Heretickes of Bohemia. That hée ſhould kéepe companie with Maiſter Clarke aforeſaid. That hée ſhould diſperſe certaine bookes of Wicklifs, as Trialogus, &c. That he ſpake againſt the Popes Indulgences: which points he refuſed to abiure, and therefore by the Archbiſhop was condemned to perpetuall priſon: after whoſe condemnation the Sunday next folowing the recantation of Thomas Granter, Recantation.and Richard Monke, prieſtes aboue mentioned was read openly at Paules church: after which Granter was put to ſeuen yéeres impriſonment, vnderunder the cuſtody and charge of the Biſhop of London. Edmund Frith alſo recanted, who was the butler of Sir Iohn Oldcaſtell.

Beſides theſe, many other, who likewiſe for religion were greatly vexed, eſpecially in the Dioces of Kent, in the townes of Rumney, Tenterden, Woodchurch,Kent well affected. Cranbrooke, Staplehurſt, Beninden, Halden, Roylnenden, and others: where as whole houſholdes, both man and wife, were driuen to forſake their houſes, and townes, for daunger of perſecution. Among whom in the certificate of Burboth the Archbiſhoppes officiall: theſe are named, William White prieſt, Thomas Grenſted prieſt, Bartholmew Chronemonger, Iohn Waddon, Ioan his wife, Thomas Euerden, William Euerden, Steuen Robin, William Chineling, Iohn Tame, Iohn Facolin, William Somer, Marian his wife, Iohn Abrahā, Robert Munden, Laurence Cooke: which perſons becauſe they would not appéere, were excō municated by the Archbiſhop, and what hapned after vntounto them, it doth not appéere, but like it is, they were at length forced to ſubmit themſelues.

About the yéere 1417. 1417the L. Cobham hauing now béene in Wales the ſpace of foure yéeres (the King proclaiming a great ſumme of mony to him that could take ſir Iohn Oldcaſtle either quicke or dead) the L. Powes brought him vp to p. 344London,The L. Powes taketh the lord Oldcaſtle in Wales. about the monethmonth of Decēber: At which time there was a Parlement aſſembled at London, for the reléefe of mony to be ſent to the K. whom the biſhops had ſet to worke to fight in France: the records of which parlement doo thus ſay: that on tueſday the 14. of December, and the 20 of the parlement, ſir Iohn Oldcaſtell of Cowling, being outlawed in the Kings bench, and excommunicated before the Archb. of Canterburie for hereſie, was brought before the Lords, and hauing heard his ſaid conuictions, anſwered not thereto in his excuſe: vponupon which record and proceſſe, it was adiudged that he ſhould be taken as a traytor to the king, and caried to the Tower of London,The lord Cobham condēned. and from thence drawne thorough the citie vntounto the new gallowes in S. Giles without temple barre, and there hanged, and burned hanging.

After the martirdome of ſir I. Oldcaſtle, motiō was made in the parlement, that the L. Powes might be thāked, & worthily rewarded for his great labour in apprehending him.

All miſchiefe imputed to the Lollards.In this time all horrible miſchiefs and facts, if any were doone, were imputed to the poore Lollardes.

The nobles of Boheme, which before wrote vntounto the councell of Conſtance,Bohemians cited to the councell of Conſtance. were therfore cited vp to the councel. The letter of Sigiſmund anſwereth in y^e name of the whole councell: excuſing himſelfe of Huſſes death. Secondly, he requireth them to be quiet, and to cōforme themſelues peaceably vntounto the orders of the Romiſh church.

Alſo the Councell hearing, and fearing ſome ſtir to ariſe among the Bohemians, did make lawes to bridle them, to the number of 24. 24. lawes to bridle the Bohemians.As that the king of Bohemia ſhould bée ſworne to giuegive obedience, and defend the liberties of the church of Rome. That all Maſters, Doctors, & Prieſts, ſhall be ſworne to abiure the doctrine of Wickliffe, and Huſſe, in that councell condemned: the reſt being of like ſorte.

The Bohemians, notwithſtanding theſe cruell articles, contemning the vaine deuiſes of the Prelates & Fathers of the councell, ceaſed not to procéede in their league & purpoſe p. 345begun, ioyning themſelues more ſtrongly together.

This yere, after the depoſing of Pope Iohn, The Popes goods. 75000. li.& ſpoiling of his goods, which came to 75. thouſand pounds of golde, and ſiluer, Pope Martin was elected. Now the Pope comming vppon his palfry, trapped with ſcarlet down to the ground, and the Emperour on the right ſide, and the Prince Elector on the left, playing the footmen, and holding the horſes bridle, vntounto the market place: there the Iewes according to the manner, offered vntounto him their lawes, and ceremonies: which the Pope receiuing caſt them behind him,The Iewes offer their ceremonies to the Pope. ſaying: Recedant vetera, noua ſunt omnia: that is, Let olde things paſſe, eueryevery thing is new. Ex hiſtor. Alba. Ex Paralip. Vrſperg.

The Pope now confirmed, threateneth very grieuouſly the Bohemians, both with apoſtolicall, and ſecular arme:Pope thretneth the Bohemians. A ſolemne yearly memoriall of the death of Huſſe and Ierome. Monaſteries ſuppreſſed. Captaine Nicholas. but the Bohemians nothing moued therewith, aſſembled together, and firſt agréed to celebrate a ſolemne memoriall of the death of Iohn Huſſe, and Hierome: decréeing the ſame to be celebrated yéerely: and afterward obtained certayne Churches of the king, where they might fréely preach & miniſter the ſacraments vntounto the congregatiō. This done, they ſuppreſſed diuers monaſteries, beginning firſt with the great monaſtery of the blacke friers 7. miles diſtant from Prage, driuing the vitious prieſts and monkes out of them: and ſo their number encreaſed vnderunder their Captaine, called Nicholas.

Their number encreaſing now more and more, they went vntounto their K, requiring to hauehave more ample churches: the king ſéemed willingly to giuegive eare vntounto Nicholas, intreating for the people and commanded them to come again the next day. The people being departed, the king turned himſelfe to Nicholas, remayning ſtil behind, & ſaid:The King thretneth Nicholas. Thou haſt begun a web to put me out of my kingdome: but I will make a rope of it to hang thée. Whervppon, the K. preſently departed into the Caſtle of Viſegarde, and within a p. 346while after, entred into a new caſtle, which he himſelfe had builded, 5. ſtones caſt from thence, ſending Embaſſadors to his brother to require ayde.

Theſe proteſtants being aſſēbled in the town of Prage, holding their conuentions, the king ſent forth his chamberlain with thrée hundred horſemen, to run vponupon them: but he hauing reſpect vntounto himſelf, fled Whē y^e news was brought vntounto the king, his cupbearer (ſtanding by) ſaid, I knew theſe things would thus come to paſſe: for which words, the king would hauehave ſlaine him with his dagger, had not they which ſtood by diſſwaded him, with much adoe. Immediatly the K. being taken with a palſey, fell ſicke, and within 18. daies daies after, hauing marked the names of them, whom hée woulde hauehave put to death,The kings cruel determination diſappointed by his own departed his life, before the Princes, vntounto whome hee had ſent, were come, hauing raigned 55. yéeres, and béeing of the age of ſeuen and fiftie yéeres.

Immediatly after the death of Wenceſlaus, there was a noble mā, named Ziſca, Ziſca.borne at Troſnonia, who gathering together a number of men of warre, ſpoiled the Abbeies and monaſteries, and his number increaſing to 4000. tooke the Caſtles of Vicegrade, and Pelzina, wan the bridge, and the nether part of the leſſer Prage, which vponupon conditions hée rendred againe.

About Chriſtmas, Sigiſmund the Emp came down, and by reaſon of execution done at Vratoſlania, the head citie of Sleſia, was had in ſuch iealouſie, that they ſtopped him from entring into the cities of Bohemia, and counted him an enimie vntounto the kingdome.

In the meane time, Ziſca tooke Auſca, a Towne ſituated vponupon the riuer of Luſintius, and raſed it: and foraſmuch as he had no fenced towne to inhabite, choſe a playne, fenced by nature,Tabor builded by Ziſca. about eight myles from Auſca, and compaſſed the ſame with walles, and there builded houſes, & called the ſame Tabor. Afterwarde, hée ſurpriſed Nicholas, maiſter p. 347of the Emperours Minte, whom the Emperour had ſent with 1000. horſe into Boheme to ſet things in order.

In this meane time the Emperour gathering together the nobles of Sleſia, entered into Boheme, and allured one Chenco with large promiſes (who had before reuolted once to the Proteſtantes) to render vp againe the caſtle of Prage vntounto him, and there placed himſelfe to annoy the towne: Which doone the citizens ſent for Ziſca, who went with his Taborites, and receiued the citie vnderunder his gouernement: which the Emperour did beſiege,Ziſca putteth the Emperour to flight. but was compelled to raiſe it: and to be ſhort, Ziſca put the Emperour to flight, ſubuerts the abbey of Pelſina, and as he layed ſiege to Raby, hauing but one eye before to ſée,Ziſca loſeth his other eye. hée loſt the ſame beeing ſtricken with an arrow: which yet notwithſtanding, he woulde not forſake his army, but after that, tooke diuers townes, cauſed the Saxons his enimies to retire, and againe puts the Emperour to flight, and tooke Broda.

At theſe troubles, the conſuls of Prage, being grieued,Iohan. Premō ſtratenſis and his, companions put to death. called for Iohannes Premonſtratenſis, and nine other of his adherents, whom they ſuppoſed to bee the principalles of of this faction, into the Councel houſe, as though they wold conferre with them of the common wealth: and when they were come, they ſlue them, and departed home, eueryevery man to his owne houſe, thinking they had made the citie quiet. But their ſeruantes, not circumſpect inough, waſhing the houſes, did waſh down with all the bloud of thoſe that were ſlaine, into the ſinkes, and chanels. The which being once ſéene, the people knew what was done. By and by, there was a great tumult, the Councell houſe was ſtraight way ouerthrowen, and eleuen of the principall Citizens, which were thought to be the authors thereof, were ſlaine, and diuers houſes ſpoyled. Ziſca in the meane while, very valiantly behaued himſelfe. But, betwixt him and the Citie of Prage, at the length fell great diſſention. In ſo much, that they prepared an armie againſt him, and cauſed him p. 348to flie: who at laſt finding opportunitie of place, cauſed his ſtandard to ſtand ſtill,Diſſention betwixt Prage and Ziſca. and ſought with them of Prage, and ſlue 3000. of them, and put the reſt to flight, and went to beſiege Prage, but by the wiſedome of one named Iohannes de Rochezana, reconciliation was made betwixt Ziſca and them of Prage:Reconciliatiō. Which when the Emperour vnderſtood, & perceiued all things fell out according to the mind of Ziſca, and that vponupon him alone the whole ſtate of Boheme did depend: he ſought priuy meanes to reconcile, and get Ziſca into his fauour, promiſing him the guiding of all his army, the gouernante of the whole kingdome, and great yéerely reuenewes, if he would proclaime him king, and cauſe the cities to be ſworn vntounto him: vponupon which conditions, when as Ziſca, for the performance of the couenants, went vntounto the emperor, in his iourney at the caſtle of Priſconia, he was ſtricken with ſicknes,Ziſca dieth. and there died.

It is written, that beyng demaunded in the time of his ſicknes, where he would his body ſhould be buried: he commaunded his ſkinne to be plucked off, his dead carkaſe, and the fleſh to be caſt vntounto the foules and beaſtes, and a drum to be made of his ſkinne, which they ſhoulde vſe in their warres: affirming, that when the enimies ſhoulde heare the ſound of the drumme, they woulde not abide, but take their flight. The Taborites deſpiſing all other images, yet ſet vp the picture of Ziſca ouer the gates of their Cities.

The Epitaph of Iohn Ziſca, the valiant Captaine of the Bohemians.

I Iohn Ziſca, not inferior to any Emperor, or Captaine, in warlike policie: The epitaph of Ziſca.a ſeuere puniſher of the pride, and auarice of the Clergie, and a defender of my Countrey, do lie here. The ſame which Ap. Claudius in geuing good councell, and M. Furius Camillus did for the Romans, in valiantneſſe, the ſame I (being blinde) hauehave done for my Bohemians. p. 349I neuer ſlacked oportunitie of battaile, neither did fortune at any time faile me. I being blinde, did foreſee all oportunitie of well ordering my buſineſſe. Eleuen times, in ioyning battell, I went victor out of the fielde. I ſeemed worthilie to hauehave defended the cauſe of the miſerable, and hungrie, againſt the delicate, fatte, and gluttonous prieſtes: and for that cauſe, to hauehave receiued helpe at the handes of God. If their enuie had not let it, without doubt I had deſerued to be numbred amongeſt the moſt famous men. Nōtwithſtanding, my bones lie here in this halowed place, in deſpite of the Pope. In deſpite of the P.Iohn Ziſca, a Bohemian, enemie to all wicked, and couetous prieſts, but with a godlie zeale. Ex Aen. Sil.

All this while the Emperor, with the whole power of the Germanes, were not ſo buſie on the one ſide, but Martin the Pope was as much occupied on the other: who, about the ſame time, directed out a moſt terrible Bull againſt all thoſe that tooke part with Wickliffe, Huſſe, or Ierome: A Bull.and ſet foorth certaine articles, whereof examination was to be had: with a certaine manner alſo, how they were to be dealt withall, ſet downe.

Not long after Ziſcas death, certain Bohemians ſet forth another contrarie writing, againſt the peſtiferous Sea of Rome: bearing the names of Procopius, & Conradus, Procopius. Conradus.Captains of the Bohemians.

Now, after y^e Ziſca was dead, immediatlie followed diuiſion in the hoſte: the one parte chooſing Procopius, ſurnamed Magnus, to be their Captaine: the other part ſaying, there was none worthie to ſuccéede Ziſca. Whereupon, they, chooſing out certaine to ſerue the warres, named themſelues Orphanes.Orphans. And albeit there was oftentimes diſſention among them, yet they ioyned, and defended themſelues againſt forraine power.

Theſe two armies obteined great victories, in ſo much, p. 350that Sigiſmund the Emperor ſent for the Nobles of Bohemia, vntounto Poſonium, a towne of Hungarie, in the borders of Auſtria: but they would not enter into the town, but remained in their tents without the towne: whether the Emperor going to them, and promiſing them kindeneſſe, they obiected againe, the falſifying of his ſafeconduct to Iohn Huſſe, &c. So nothing being finally concluded, the Emperor returned home.

Pope Martin, perceiuing the Goſpell to increaſe more and more, ſent the Cardinall of Wincheſter, an Engliſhman, borne of a noble houſe, into Germanie, to moue them to warre againſt the Bohemians: whereunto the Emperor alſo did aſſiſt him.

3. Armies.There were iij. armies prouided: in the firſt were the Dukes of Saxonie, and the lower cities. The ſecond armie was gathered of the Francomans, and was vnderunder the conduct of the Marques of Brandenburgh. The thirde was led by Otho, the archbiſhop of Treuerſe, whom the Rhenenſes the Bauarians, and the Emperiall Cities of Sweuia, followed.

The 3. armies flee before they ſee their enemies.Theſe armies ioyned together, and pitched before Miſna, & vnderſtanding that the Proteſtants drewe néere, they fled before they ſaw their enemies. Then (all lettes ſet aſide) they vanquiſhed Thraconia, and hauing obteined great ſtore of warlike Engines, they deſtroyed Miſna: and when they would hauehave returned home by Franconia, they had great ſummes of money ſent them, that they would not deſtroye the Countreyes of Bramberge, and Noremberge, whereby the Hoſte of the Bohemians was greatlie enriched.

Sigiſmund the Emperor hauing newes of theſe thinges, went ſtraight vntounto Noremberge, and there gathered newe aide. Alſo, Pope Martin ſent Iulian, the Cardinall of Saint Angell, into Germanie, with ambaſſage, to make warre vponupon the Bohemians, who went ſtraightway to Noremberge p. 351to the Emperour, where many nobles of Germanie were aſſembled, and a decrée made of a new expedition againſt the Bohemians, againſt the 8. of the Calends of Iuly. It is ſaid, the company of the aid of Sweuians, which they called the company of S. George, and the Magiſtrates of the Imperiall cities, the Biſhops of Mentz, Treuers, and Colen, and the Chieftaines of their Prouinces were aboue fortie thouſand horſe,40000. horſe againſt the Proteſtants. but their footemen not fully ſo many.

After this, the Cardinall entered into Bohemia with a large army, and on the borders of Boheme deſtroied many of the Proteſtāts townes, and ſpared neither man, woman, nor child. But the Bohemians making toward them, there fell ſuch a feare among the popiſh armie,The popiſh army fleeth, before they ſee their enimies. that they fled before any enemie appeared: whom the proteſtants purſuing, had a great pray, and ſpoyle of them: notwithſtāding Albertus prince of Auſtrich, who was appointed to bring his army through Morania, hearing tell that the Cardinall was entred into Bohemia, with all ſpéede, came out of Auſtrich, with his army, and beſieged the towne of Prezorabia, but when he vnderſtood how the cardinal was fled, he left of his purpoſe, and returned through Morania, which was not yet ſubiect vntounto him: and deſtroied aboue 50.50. townes deſtroyed. townes with fire and ſword, and ſo afflicted them that they promiſed him ſubiection, on condition, that he would be bound to doe that, which the Councel of Baſil ſhould determine.

Then was there an Ambaſſage ſent out of Boheme, vntounto Baſil, where Sigiſmund held the Councell: who during the time of the wars, held himſelf at Noremberge, & wrote vntounto the Bohemians, what law he had of them, and exhorted them to repaire vntounto the Councel of Baſil,Councell at Baſil. where their gréefes ſhould be heard, and remedie prouided. The Councell of Baſil alſo wrote their letters to the Bohemians, that they ſhould ſend their Ambaſſadors, which ſhould ſhew a reaſon of their faith, promiſing them ſafeconduct to go and p. 352come, and frée libertie to ſpeake what they would. The Bohemians ſtood in doubt, conſidering how Iohn Huſſe, and Hierome of Prage had béen handled by them at Conſtance: But the Nobilitie followed the mind of Maynardus, prince of the New houſe, who perſwaded them to go. And after his councell an Ambaſſade of 300.An Embaſſage of the Bohemians to Baſill. horſe was ſent to Baſill: the chiefe whereof was William Coſca a valiant knight, and Procopius ſurnamed Magnus, a man of worthy fame for his manifold victories, Iohn Rochezana preacher of Prage, Nicholas Galerus miniſter of the Thaborites, and one Peter an Engliſhman,Peter an Engliſhman. of excellent, prompt, and pregnant wit. Theſe Bohemian Embaſſadors were gently receiued.

The next day after, the Cardinall Iulianus ſending for them vntounto the Councell houſe, made a gentle, long, and eloquent Oration vntounto them, exhorting them to peace, and vnitye: ſaying, that the Church was the ſpouſe of Chriſt, &c. This Oration the Bohemians anſwered, clearing themſelues of crimes laid to their charges, and required open audience, wheras the laity might alſo be preſent, to manifeſt their innocencie: which requeſt was granted vntounto them, and ſo they propounded foure points,4. points wherin the Bohemians diſſent from y^e church of Rome. wherin they diſſented from the Church of Rome. Firſt, that all that would bee ſaued, ought of neceſſity to receiue the Communion vnderunder both kindes. Secondly, all ciuill rule and dominion to be forbidden vntounto the Clergie, by the law of God. Thirdly, that the preaching of the word of God, is frée for all men, and in all places. The fourth was, as touching open offences: which are in no wiſe to be ſuffered, for the auoiding of greater euill.

Theſe were the pointes, obiected in the name of y^e whole Realme. The Bohemians choſe out foure Diuines, that ſhould declare their Articles to be taken out of the worde of God. Likewiſe, on the contrarie parte, there were foure appointed by the Councell. This diſputation continued fiftie dayes.The diſputation continued fiftie daies.

p. 353In the time, while the Bohemians were thus in long conflicts with Sigiſmund the Emperour,K. Henry the 5. the Prince of prieſts. King Henry the fifth likewiſe fighting in France died: who was ſo deuout to the Pope, and Prelates, that hée was called the Prince of Prieſtes.

¶ The names of the Archbiſhops of Canterbury.

54. Symon Iſelip ſeuentéene yéeres. 56.The names of the archb. of Canterbury. Symon Langham two. 57. William Witleſey fiue. Symon Sudbury ſix. 59. William Courtney fiftéene. 60. Thomas Arundell eightéene. 61. Henry Chicheſly nine and twentie.

The ende of the fift Booke.