Christs Victory over Satans Tyranny, Book 5 · Part 11 – Part 12
The latter examination of the Lord COBHAM.
Archb.
YOu are excommunicated: the last time you were before me I gently profered to hauehave assoyled you if you would hauehave asked it, and yet I doe the same if you will humbly desire it, in manner as holy Church hath ordained.
Cobh.
I will not, for I neuer trespassed against you: and God saith in the second of Malachy, Maledicam benidictionibus vestris: and knéeling down, he said, I s…ri…ue my selfe before you all: In my youth I offended thée, my Lord, in pride, wrath gluttonie couetousnesse and lecherie: I hauehave hurt many in mine anger, and done many horrible sinnes: good Lord, I aske thee merciemercy; and therewith weepingly stood vp, and said aloude. Lo good people; for breaking Gods lawes they neuer cursed me, but for their owne lawes they most cruelly handle me and others.
Archb.
Then he examined him of his Christian beleefe.
Cobham.
I beléeue all the Lawes of God, and all is true that is contained in the holy Scriptures: finally, I beleeue all that God would I should beleeue.
Archb.
He asked an answere of the Bill he had sent him, especially how hee beleeued touching the Sacrament of the Altar.
Cobham.
With the Bill I hauehave nothing to doe: but this is my beleefe touching the Sacrament, That Christ sitting at his last supper with his Disciples, the night before his death, he tooke Bread, blessed it, and brake it, and gaue it to his Disciples, and said, Take and eate it, this is my bodie that shall bee betrayed for you; doe this in remembrance of me, &c.
Archb.
Then he asked if it were bread after the consecration.
Cobh.
I beleeue it is Christs very bodie in the forme of bread. Then said a Doctor, If the sacramentall words be vttered, there remaineth no bread, but it is the onelyonly bodie of Christ. Then he said to one Master Whithead; you said once to me that the sacred Host was not Chrsts bodie. I proued there was his bodie, though Seculars and Friers could not therein agree, but held one against another in that opinion. Then said many together with great noise, We say all it is Gods bodie. …nd diuers with great anger asked him if it were bread after the consecration. Then he looking earnestly vponupon the Archbishop, he said: Sir, I beleeue surely that it is Christs bodie in forme of bread. Do not you do so?
Archb.
Yes marrie doe I. And the Doctors asked him if it were only Christs bodie after consecration, and no bread.
Cob.
It is both Christs bodie and bread, as Christ on earth was both God and man, and the inuisible Godhead was hidden in the manhood, as one of your owne Doctors Eutiches saith. As the selfe same Sacraments doe passe by the operation of the holy Ghost into a diuine nature, and notwithstanding keepe the propertie still of their former nature: so that principall mysterie declareth to remaine one true and perfit Christ. Then they smiled one vponupon another, that the people might iudge him taken in an heresie: and diuers said with a great bragge, it is a foule heresie.
Archb.
What bread is it? And the Doctors inquired of him whether it were materiall, or not.
Cob.
The Scripture maketh no mention of materiall bread, therefore my faith hath nothing to doe therewith: but I say and beleeue, that it is Christs bodie and bread. Christ saith in the sixt of Iohn, I am the liuing bread, and not the dead bread. Then all with one voyce said, it is an heresie. And one of the Bishops said, it is an error manifest to say it is bread after the Sacramentall wordes once spoken, but Christs bodie onelyonly. He said I am sure S. Paul was as wise and more learned then you be and in 1. Cor. 10. calleth it bread and not Christs bodie, but a meanes whereby we receiue Christs bodie. They said; Paul must bee otherwise expounded: for it is an heresie to say it is bread after the consecration. Hee asked how they could make that good? They answered, it is against the determination of holy Church.
Archb.
Wee sent you a writing concerning the faith of this blessed Sacrament, cleerely determined by the Church of Rome our mother, and by the holy Doctors.
Cobh.
I know none holier then Christ and his Apostles, and that determination is none of theirs: for it standeth not with the Scriptures but is cleane contrary. It hath beene the Churches but since shee receiued the great poyson of worldly possessions, and not before. Then they asked him if hee beleeued not the determination of the Church. Hee answered no: for it is no God. In is but thrice ment…oned in the Creed, in God the Father, and in God the Sonne, and in God the holy Ghost: the birth, death, buriall, resurrection and ascension hath none In for beleefe, but in him. Neither hath the Church the Sacraments, the forgiuenesse of sinnes, or resurrection, or eternall life any other In then in the holy Ghost. Then one of the Lawyers said, But what is your beleefe concerning holy Church? I beleeue the Scriptures bee true, all that is grounded vponupon them I beleeue, and I know it is Gods pleasure I should so doe: but your Lordly lawes and idle determinations I doe not beleeue; for you are none of Christs Church, as your déeds shew, but very Antichrists, obstinately set against his law and will: your lawes are nothing for Christs glorie, but for your owne vaine-glorie and abhominable couetousnesse. They said in great …ume this was an exceeding heres…e not to beleeue the determination of holy Church.
Archb.
Then he asked him what he thought holy Church.
Cobh.
Holy Church is the number of them which shall be saued, of whom Christ is head.
Archb.
Can you tell who is of this Church?
Cobh.
Yea truely can I. Then a Prior said, it is doubt to you who is thereof: for Christ said noli iudicare; if you must not iudge your neighbors, much lesse your superiors. He answered, Christ saith in the same Chapter, As the ill tree is knowne by his ill fruits, so a false Prophet by his workes. And he saith in Iohn, Beleeue the outward doings. And againe in Iohn, Iustum Iudicium iudicate: When wee know the thing is true we may iudge. And Dauid saith, Recte iudicate filii hominum. As for your superioritie; were you of Christ you would be meeke Ministers, and not proud superiours.
Then Doctor Walden said, You make no differences of iudgements: so swift Iudges alwaies are the learned Schollars of Wickliffe. He answered, your iudgements are preposterous, as the Prophet Esay saith, yee iudge ill good, and good ill: therefore your wayes are not Gods wayes, nor Gods wayes your wayes. Afore that vertuous man Wickliffe, whom you disdaine, I will say before God and man; before I knew the despised doctrine of his, I neuer abstained f…om sinne, but since I trust I hauehave done otherwise: so much grace could I neuer finde in all your glorious instructions. Doctor Walden answered, It were not well with mee if so many learned and vertuous men, teaching the Scriptures, and the examples of the Fathers so plenteous, if I had no grace to amend vntill I heard the Diuell preach. Hierome, saith, hee which séeketh such suspected masters, shall not finde the mid-day, but the mid-day Diuell. He answered, the Pharises your fathers ascribed Christs miracles to Belzebub, and his doctrine to the Diuell; and you, their naturall children, hauehave still the same iudgement of his faithfull followers: they that reproue your vicious liuing must needs be hereticks, and when you cannot proue it by Scriptures, then your Doctors must proue it. Then said he to them all, to iudge you we néede goe no further then your acts: Where finde you in Gods law that you should thus sit in iudgement, and sentence eueryevery man to death as you doe here daily? You hauehave no ground in Scripture but in Annas and Cayphas, which sat thus vponupon Christ, and vppon his Apostles after his ascention: you learned it not of Peter and Iohn. A Lawyer said, yes sir, Christ iudged Iudas. Hee answered, no; Christ iudged him not, hee iudged himselfe: Christ said indéed vntounto him, woe vntounto him for that couetous act of his, as he doth yet still to many of you; for since the venom was shed in the Church, you neuer followed Christ, neither were perfit in his law.
Archb.
What meane you by that venom?
Cobh.
Your possessions and Lordships: for there cried an Angell in the ayre, as your owne Chronicles mention, Wo, wo, wo, this day is venome shed into the Church. Before that time almost all the Bishops were Martyrs, and few since; but since that time one hath put down another, one hath poysoned another, one hath cursed another, and one hath slaine another, and done much more mischiefes, as all the Chronicles …elleth: and if all men consider this well, Christ was meeke and mercifull, the Pope is proude and a tyrant; Christ was poore and forgaue, the Pope rich and a malitious man-slayer; Rome is the neast of Antichrist, and out of that neast proceedeth all the disciples, of whom Prelats, Priests, and Monks are the bodie, and these pill… Friers are the taile which couereth his most filthie part. Then a Prior sayed, alack…r, that is vncharitably spoken. He answered, it is not only my saying, but the Propet Esayes; Hee that preacheth lies is the tayle. As your Friers and Monks be like Pharises, deuided in outward apparell and visages: so yee make deuision amongst the people. Thus you, with such others, are the naturall members of Antichrist. Then hee said vntounto them all; Woe vntounto you Scribes and Pharises hypocrits, you shut the Kingdome of heauen from others, and enter not your selues, nor suffer any other to enter: you stoppe vp the wayes with your traditions, therefore are you the houshold of Antichrist. You will not let Gods veritie to hauehave passage, fearing to hauehave your wickednesse reproued by such vaine flatterers as vphold your mischiefes: you suffer the common people most miserably to bee seduced.
Archb.
By our Lady sir, there shall none such preach in my Diocesse as make diuision amongst the poore Commons.
Cobh.
Both Christ and his Apostles were accused of sedition making, yet were they most peaceable men. Both Daniel and Christ prophesie that such a troublous time shall come as hath not beene been before: this is partly fulfilled in your dayes and doings; for many hauehave you slaine, and more will you slay if God fulfill not his promise: if hee shorten not your dayes scarcely should any flesh bee saued. Moreouer, though Priests and Deacons, for peaching Gods word, and ministring the Sacraments, with prouision for the poore, bee grounded in Gods law, yet your other Sects hauehave no ground thereof.
Then a Doctor of the law plucked out of his bosome a Writing, wherein was foure Articles, and examined him …her…on: the first was touching the Sacrament of the Altar, which he answered as before: the second, whether a man is bound to con…esse himselfe to a Priest; hee answered, a diseased or wounded man had neede hauehave a true and wise Chirurgion, knowing the ground and danger of the same: therefore it is most necessarie to be first shréeuen to God, which only knoweth our diseases, and can helpe vsus. The lawes of God are to be required of a Priest which is godly learned: but if he be an idiot or vicious, that is my Curate, I ought rather to flie from him then seeke him, for I might sooner get ill then good of him. The third was touching the authoritie of the Pope: hee answered, he that most followed Peter is next him in succession; but your Lordly order esteemeth little the lowly behauiour of Peter, nor the humble manners of them that succeeded him vntill Siluester, which for the most part were Martyrs: you let their good conditions goe, and hurt not your selfe therewith. …ll knowe it, and yet you boast of Peter. Then said one of the Doctors, then what say you of the Pope? Hee answered, he and you together make an Antichrist: he is the great head, you Bishops, Priests, Prelats, and Monks are the bodie, and the begging Friers the tayle, for they couer the filthinesse of you both with their subtile sophistrie. Neuer will I obey vntill I se… you with Peter follow Christ in conuersation. The fourth was touching Pilgrimage to Images: hee answered, I owe them no seruice by the commaundement of GOD, therefore I will not seeke them for your couetousnesse. You were best sweepe them faire from Cobwebs and Dust, or lay them vp safe for catching hurt, or burie them in the ground, as you doe other aged people which are GODS Images. It is a wonder that Saints beeing dead should bee so couetous, néedie, and beggers, which in their life time hated couetousnesse and begging. I would all the world knew it, With your shroeues and Idols, your fained Absolutions and Pardons, you draw vntounto you the wealth and chiefe pleasures of all Christian Realmes. Then a Frier said, Will you not worshippe the Crosse, as Saint Paule saith. God forbid I should reioyce in anie thing but in the Crosse of Christ. Then did hee spread his a…es abroad, and said, This is a very Crosse, and much better then your wodden Crosse▪ beeing it was created of GOD himselfe, yet will not I seeke to hauehave it worshipped.
Then said the Bishoppe of London, yet wot you not how hee died vponupon a materiall Crosse? Hee answered yea; and I wot also that our saluation came not vntounto vsus by the materiall Crosse, but alone and onelyonly by him which dyed thereupon, and well wote I… that Saint Paul reioyced in none other crosse, but in Christs passion and death onelyonly, and in his owne suffering like persecution with him for his veritie. Then another said, Will you then doe no honour vntounto the holy Crosse? Yes, it he were mine I would lay him by, least he tooke harme, and were robbed of his goods, as he is now adayes.
Bishop.
Sir Iohn, you hauehave spoken many wonderfull words, to th… slaunderous rebuke of the whole Spiritualty, giuing a great ill example to the common sort heere, to hauehave vsus in the more disdaine, and … spent mu… time in vaine, as farre as I can sée: well, wée must be now at this short point with you, you must either submit your selfe to the ordinance of holy Church, or else throw your selfe into most déepe daunger, sée to it in time, a…one …lse it will be too late.
Cobham.
I know not to what purpose I shall submit my selfe▪ much more hauehave you offended me, then I euer offended you, in thus troubling mee before this company. And because hee would not submit himselfe the Archbishop read …he definitiue sentence.
Cobh.
Though you Iudge my body, which is but a wretched thing, yet, I am sure, you can doe n… harme to my Soule, no more than Sathan could doe to the Soule of Iob. And touching my articles before rehearse…, I wil stand to them vntounto death. Then …e tur… himselfe vntounto the people, casting his hands abroad, saying with a lowde voice; Good people, beware of these men, else they wil beguile you, and lead you headlong to hel with themselues. Then he fell on his k…ées before them all and prayed for his enemies, ho… ding vp his hands, saying; Lord, for thy merciemercy sake forgiue my pursuers, if it bee thy blessed will. Th… he was lead againe vntounto the Tower.
After, the Lord Cobham escaped out of the Tower by night, and …ed to Wales, where he continued more than foure yeares after.
In this yeare,1416. Thomas Arundell Archbishop of Canterbury died, who had béene a heauie troubler of Christs Saints in his time, he was so stricken in his tongue, that neither he could swallow, nor speake, for a certaine space before his death; this was thought of many, to happen vntounto him, for that he so bound the word of God, that it should not he preached in his dayes, such was the death of Steuen Gardner. These may be terrible spectacles for such as occupie their tongue and braines to stop the course of Gods word: but his tyranny dyed not with him, but succeeded with his Office, in Henry Chichley, and in more of the spitefull Spiritualty. They confederated with the Lord Powis, a great gouernour in Wales, féeding him with large gifts, and promises, an… being … with Iudas, vnderunder pretence of amitie▪ tooke the Lord Cobham, and sent him to London, where he was imprisoned in the Tower againe, and after, they condemned him againe of Heresie and Treason, according to the aforesaid Act of Parliament. Hee rendred thankes to God that he had appointed him to suffer for his name. At his execution, hé… was laide vponupon an Hurdle, as a Traytor, and drawne into Saint Giles Field, where…s they had set vp a new paire of Gallowes. When he was taken from the Hurdle, he fell deuoutly vponupon his knees, desiring God to forgiue his enemies, then stood vp, and exhorted the multitude in most godly manner, to follow the Lawes of God, written in the Scripture, and to b…ware of such Preachers that are contrary to Christ in their conuersations, with many other speciall Councels; then was he hanged by the middle in chaines, and so consumed aliue in the fire, praising the name of God so long as his life lasted, and …o commended his Soule to God,1418. and departed m…st Christianlike in the sixt yeare of the raigne of Henry the fifth. The people shewed great dolour, but the Priest blasphemed and accursed him, requiring the people not to pray for him but to iudge him damned in Hell, because he departed not in the obedience of the Pope.
¶The Councell of Basell.
THE Councell of Basell began,1431. which was most troublesome, and endured longer then any other Councell, almost 17. yeares, wherein was concluded, as in the Councell of Constance, that the generall Councell was aboue the Pope. Unto this Councell came the Emperour Sygismund. Pope Martin dyed after he had summoned This Councell, and Eugenius the 4. succéeded Pope, who would hauehave drawne the Councell vntounto Bonony from Basell, pretending the Gréekes would come to the Councell, and be vnited to the west Church, and that they would not passe the Alp…s. And he cited the Fathers of the Councell vntounto Bonony, and they cited him againe to bee at the Councell, or his Emb…ssadours: Whereupon sprung a doubtfull question amongst the Deuines some held the Pope an Hereticke, because hee had contemned the commaundement of the Church; others▪ that hee was an Heret…cke and relaps, and vponupon long arguments, contentions, and fallings out, and when by no meanes …e would allow the Councell of Basell, hee was d…priued by the Councell, and Amedeus Duke of Sau…y chosen Pope.