Christs Victory over Satans Tyranny, Book 5 · Part 1
The first conclusion of IOHN WICKLIFFE, exhibited in the Conuocation of certaine Bishops at Lambeth.
1 THat none but Christ was ordained, and not Peter and all his off-spring politiquely to rule ouer the world for euer; for in the 1 Cor. 15. Then shall the end come when he shall deliuer vp his kingdome to God his Father, when hee shall hauehave made voide all princely dominion: it seemeth probable that they defraud her of her reward, and vniustly defer to take vengeance vponupon the body of the diuell which he hath deserued.
2 The substance of the second was that by no power any writing was to be canonized, contemning the Scripture, this was spoke to one that commended mans writing, and contemned the Scripture.
3 That eueryevery man in grace iustifying, hath not onelyonly right to all things, but aboue all the good things of God, as appeareth by the 24. of Mathew, verily hee shall make him ruler ouer all his goods: and in the eight to the Romans, God spared not his Sonne, but gaue him for vsus, how then did hee not giuegive vsus all things with him: this allureth vsus to louelove God, that hath chosen vsus to so many great and true riches.
4 None can giuegive any temporall Dominion or gift, but as the Minister of God; the Apostle saith Iesus Christ was a Minister, let not his Uicar then which should be a seruant of seruants be ashamed to vse the ministerie of the Church, for his pride of seculer Dominion, with his worldly stile, seemeth blasphemie, and the aduancement of Antichrist: especially, where they repute the Scriptures as cockle, and the determination of all controuersies of Scripture in themselues.
5 As sure as God is: the Temporall Lords may lawfully and meritoriously take away the riches from the Church, when they doe offend: yet I say, that it is not lawfull to doe it by the authoritie of the Church, and for lacke of some spirituall gouernour, and in case when the Ecclesiasticall Minister, being strayed from the Catholique faith, is to be corected and punished.
6 The Uicar of Christ is not able by his Buls, of himselfe, not by the consent of his colledge, to make a man the more able, or disable a man, that ought to procéed of God, but he onelyonly in the Name of God, to notifie to the Church whom God hath enabled, else he is as presumptuous as Lucifer, for in the 1. Cor. 3. All our sufficiency commeth of God.
7 A man cannot he excommunicated to his hurt, except hee be first excommunicated of himselfe, as Chrysostome saith, None can be hurt except sinne hurt him▪ which takes away Gods helpe and ayde, as in Esay 59. Your sinnes hauehave seperated betwixt God and you.
8 That none ought to be ex…ommunicated but in Gods cause, and wee ought to forgiue all priuate iniuries: Math. 18. If thy brother offend thee, forgiue him, euen to 70. times 7. times.
9 An Excommunication doth not binde, except pronounced against the aduersarie of Gods Law: For if God iustifie, who can condemne?
10 There is no power giuen by the example of Christ, or his Apostles, to excommunicate any for denying of Temporalties: in the ninth of Luke, Christ rebuketh his Disciples, when they would hauehave fire come downe from Heauen to excommunicate them that would not entertaine them; You know not (said he) what Spirit you are of.
11 The Disciples of Christ hauehave no power to exact, by any Ciuill authoritie, Temporalties by censures, vntil Churches were indued with possessions: Christs Disciples, what need so…uer they had, they did onelyonly exhort men to willing almes.
12 It is not possible, by the absolute power of God, that the Pope, or any Christian, can binde or loose at their pleasure, by what meanes so…uer, yet may they exact temporall things by Ecclesiasticall Censures incidentally, if case be that it appertaine to the reuengement of their God. He that doth pretend to hauehave such Power, is the man spoken of in the 2. Thess. 2. that sitteth in the Temple of God, and sheweth himselfe as though he were God.
13 All the power that Christs Uicar hath, is then only lawfull in effect, so long as it is ruled by the good will of Christ, the Head of the Church.
14 That eueryevery Priest, duely ordered by the Law of Grace, hath power to Minister the Sacraments, and to absolue any man, confessing his fault, and being penitent for the same: whereby it appeareth, that the power is ali…e to all Christian Priests: as Hugo in his 2. Booke of Sacraments declareth.
15 That the K. ma… take away the Temporalties of the Clergie, abusing the same habitually, in cases by Law limited, according to the 2. Thess. 3. We declared vntounto you, that they that would not worke, should not eate.
16 The …ndowment of Churches are giuen conditionally, that God should be honoured thereby, and the Church edified; with condicion, if it be left vndo…e in any point, the title of the gift is lost: the Lord▪ which gaue the gift, ought to correct and amend the fault, and not to b… stopped from the execution of Iustice …or any excommunication. And yet God forbid, that by these words occasion should be giuen to the Lords Temporall to take away the goods of Fortune from the Church.
17 An Ecclesiasticall Minister, & also the Pope, may be rebuked of his subiects, either of the Clergie or Laitie: Gal. 2. Peter was rebuked by Paul: for the Church is aboue the Bishop; and to say, he ought not …o be rebuked, but only of God, what offence soeuer he commit, he should be aboue the Church, the Spouse of Christ.
These be the effect of the conclusions of Wickliffe at that time, which either being not read, or vnderstood, they granted him free libertie to depart. Soone af…er died Pope Gregorie; which was happ…e to Wickliffe: for presently after fell a great dissention betwixt the Romish and French Pope; which continued 30. yeares, with great …orrow & destruction of men on both parts: and about 3. yeares after there fell a great dissention in England betwixt the Comm…ns & Nobilitie; in which trouble, Sudburie, Archbishop of Canterburie, was taken by the rude people & beheaded: to whom William Cou…tnay succéeded; who was no lesse diligent to root out hereticks then his predecessor. Notwithstanding, Wickliffes sect daily encreased, and gr…w to greater strength, vntill one William Barton, Uicechancelor of Oxford, calling together 8. Monasticall Doctors, and 4. other▪ with the rest of his affinitie, putting the common seale of the Uniuersitie vntounto certaine writings, set forth an Edict, threatning euerie man, vnderunder …rieuous penaltie, not to assemble themselues with any of Wickliffes fauorers, and threatned to Wickliffe greater excommunication, & imprisonment, and all his fauorers, vnlesse after three daies canonicall admonition, they doe repent and amend: Wickliffe appealed to the King; but the Duke of Lancaster forbad him to begin such matters, but rather submit himselfe to the censure of his Ordinarie: whereby Wickliffe being in the midst of the waues, was inforced again to make confession of his Doctrine; wherein he answered, with intricate words, and a gentler kind of phrase, whereby he either persuaded or deluded his enemies.
William Archbishop of Canterbury held a Conuocation at London;1382. where Wickliffe was commanded to be: when as they were gathered together at the Gray-friers in London, to consult about Wickliffes Bookes, & the whole Sect, a wonderfull Earthquake fell: diuers doubting, thought good to leaue off their purpose; but the Archbishop interpreting the chance to another meaning, strengthned their hearts to proceed: who discoursing Wickliffes Articles, not according to the Scriptures, but to their priuate affections, they condemned some Articles of Heresie, and others of Error.
These of Heresie.
1 The substance of Bread and Wine remaineth in the Sacrament after consecration.
2 The accidents remaine not without the subiect after consecration.
3 Christ is not truely and really, in his proper corporall Person, in the Sacrament.
4 That a Bishop or Priest, in deadly sinne, doth not Order, Consecrate, or Baptize.
5 That outward Confession is needl…sse, if one be inwardly truely penitent.
6 That it is not found in the Gospell, that Christ ordained Masse.
7 If the Pope be a Reprobate and a member of the Diuell, he hath no power giuen him ouer the faithfull, except by the Emperour.
8 That none is to be receiued for Pope since Vrban the sixt, but to liue as the Greekes, eueryevery man vnderunder his owne Law.
These as erroneous.
1 That no Prelate ought to excommunicate any, except he knew him first to be excommunicated of God.
2 He that doth so excommunicate, is an Hereticke, and excommunicated. 3 He that excommunicateth any of the Clergie which appealed to the Councell, is a Traytor to the King and Realme.
4 All that leaue off preaching or hearing the Word for feare of Excommunication, are excommunicated, and at the day of Iudgement shall be counted as Traytors to God.
5 That it is lawfull for any man, Deacon, or Priest, to preach without licence of the Pope, or any his Catholikes: that one is no Prelate, so long as he is in deadly sinne.
6 Temporall Lords may take away goods from Church-men, if they offend.
7 The Tenths are pure Almes, the Parishioner, for the offence of the Curate, may bestow them vponupon others.
8 That Spirituall Prayers applyed particularly to any, profit them no more then Generall Prayers profit others in the same case.
9 That one is more vnapt and vnable to kéepe the Commandements of God, by entring into any priuate Religion.
10 That those that hauehave instituted priuate Religions, or hauehave ind…wed them with possessions, or the begging Fryers, that hauehave no possessions, hauehave grieuously offended.
11 That those of Priuate Religions are not of the Christian Religion.
12 That Fryers are bound to get their liuings by labour, and not by begging.
13 That he is accursed that giueth Almes to begging Fryers.
When these Articles were condemned, it was commanded, that the condemnation should bee published through the whole vniuersitie, the Chancellor hindred as much as hee could, and when there must needs be Sermons made he committed the preaching to the fauourers of Wickliffe, of which Repington was one: who said in his Sermon, hee that commends the Pope or Bishops aboue Temporall Lords, doe against the Scripture, and that Maister Wickliffe was a true Catholick Doctor: that hee taught no otherwise of the Sacrament of the Altar then according to the intent of the Uniuersall Church, & his opinion therof most true; and concluded he would kéep silence touching the Sacrament, vntill God had better …nlightned the Clergy.
The Archbishop hearing hereof sent for the Commissary, and the Proctors of the Uniuersitie, and one Maister Brightwell, and accused them as fauourers of Wickliffe, and forced them to confesse his Articles hereticall and erroneous: the Commissarie fell on his knees and desired pardon, which was granted vponupon condition he should make inquirie, and put to silence all that he found fauouring Wickliffe, Harford, Repington, Ashton, and Bedman: and that hee should publish in the head Church of the Uniuersitie the condemnation of Wickliffes conclus…ons: and that hee should put all his adherents he found to purgation, or cause them to abiure: he answered he durst not doe it for death: what said the Bishop, is Oxford a nestler of heresies that the Catholick truth cannot be published? Oxford was the first Uniuersitie that maintained the truth that is now spread farr… and néere: the next day the Bishop shewed the matter to the Kings Councell, who sent commandement with all diligence, to execute the Arch-bishops iniunction.
One Henry Crompe a Cistertian Monke, which after was accused of Heresie, now was suspended by the said Commissarie, for calling the Heretickes Lolards: he complained to the Archbishop, who sent for the Commissarie and Proctors in the Kings and Councels name, where he receiued a new commandement to punish the Wickliffes: then Philip Repington, and Nickolas Harford, beeing priuily warned by the Uice-chancellor: they fled to the Duke of Lancaster, but they were apprehended and sent by him to the Archbishop: Wickliffe was exiled, and after returned againe to his parish of Lutterworth where he died: the prouidence of God is to be noted in this man and many other whom the Lord pr…serued in such rages of1387. enemies from all their hands vntilll his old age, whom the Lord will keepe nothing can hurt.
All his bookes were condemned and forbidden to be read by the Councell of Constance, and by the D…crée thereof forty yéeres after his death, by the commandement of the Bishop, his bones were digged vp and burned, & the ashes powred into the Riuer: he had written diuers works, which in the yéere 1410. were burned at Oxford: the Abbot of Shrewsbury being Commissary, & sent to ouersée the matter, his bookes were likewise burned in Boheme by the Archb▪ of Prage, he burned 200. of his books, richly adorned with bosses of Gold, and rich couerings.
In the yeare 1384. he wrot an Epistle to Pope Vrban the sixt, that the Gospell of Christ was the whole body of the Law, and that Christ was very God, and very man: and that the Pope Christs Uicar was bound most of all other vntounto the Gospel, for the greatnes of Christs Disciples consisteth not in worldly honour, but in néere …ollowing the life and manners of Christ▪ Christ was a most poore man, casting off all worldly rule and honour, therefore none ought to follow the Pope, nor other holy man, but as they follow Christ: for Peter and the sonnes of Zebedy in desiring worldly honours offended, and therein they are not to be followed, therefore the pope ought to leaue his temporall dominion to the seculer power, and therevnto exhort his whole Clergy.
There was none so great enemies to him as the Clergy, yet he had many good frends both of the meaner sort & the Nobility: amongst whom these men are numbred: Iohn Clenton, Lewis Clifford, Richard Sturius, Thomas Latimer, William Neuil, Iohn Mountegew, who plucked downe all the Images in his Church: the Earle of Salesbury when hee died refused the Sacrament of the Altar, and confession: and one Iohn of Northampton Mayor of London, who vsed such seuere punishment against the fornicators and adulterers that they were ashamed of their offences, & others afeard to offend: the Lord Cobham, who confessed he neuer hated sinne with his heart, before he was instructed by Wickliffe: all these were Noble men, and there was no want of the meaner sort of such as did with all their diligence defend his Doctrine, especially Oxford men, who were most shamefully forced to recantation, and most cruelly iudged to the fire.
One Iohn Ashton Maister of Arte, beeing examined, confessed that the bread by the sacramentall words was the very same body of Christ in number, which was borne of the U…rgin Mary: yet because hee did not answere simply, according to the tradition of Rome, as touching the subiect and accident of transmuting the substance of the bread, he was committed to the secular powers, and cast into prison where he died: many other notable Clarkes, some were burned, some died in prison, but all were afflicted: as William Swinderby, Iohn Puruey, Henry Crompe, Richard White, William Thorpe, Raynold Peacock, Bishop of Saint Asaph, and after of Chichester, Lawrence Redman, Dauid Sawtry, Iohn Ashwarbie Uicar of S. Maries in Oxford, William Iames, Thomas Brightwell, VVilliam Hawlam, Raffe Gre… hurst, Iohn Scut, Philip Noris, which being excommunicated by the Pope, appealed to a generall councell.
Peter Paine, who flying from Oxford into Bohemia, stoutly contended against the Sophisters about both …indes of the Sacrament, and was one of the fourteene that was sent to the Councell of Basil, and disputed three daies touching the Ciuill Dominion of the Clergy: Also the Lord Cobham: thus much touching the adherents of Wickliffe.
The Uice-chancellor of Oxford, with the whole congregation of the Maisters, made a publike testimonie of the learning and good life of Iohn Wickliffe, that his conditions throughout his whole life were sincere and commendable, whose honest manners and conditions, profoundnes of learning, and most redol…nt renowne and fame, we desire the more earnestly to be notified to all the faithfull, for that wee vnderstand his maturitie and ripenes of conuersation, his diligent labours to tend to the praise of God, the help and safegard of others, and the profit of the Church, there was neuer note or spot of suspition raised of him, in answering, reading, preaching, and determining: he behaued himselfe laudably, and as a stout and valiant Champion of the Faith, vanquishing by the force of Scripture, all such who by wilfu…l beggery blasphemed Christs Religion, neither was he con…ict of heresie or burned by our prelates after his buriall: God forbid our Prelates should condemne a man of such honesty, for an heretick, who amongst all the rest of our Uniuersitie had written in Logick, Philosophy, Diuinity, Morality, and the Speculatiue arte without p…are: In witnes whereof we seale this testimonial with our common Seale 5. October 1406.
Iohn Hus hauing read ouer Wickliffes Bookes, concludeth by many infallible presumptions and reasons that hee was no Heretick, but in the number of the saued, and that it was a foolish consequent, because the number of Prelates and Clergy in England, France, and Boheme doe count him for an Heretick, that therefore he is one: like is the reason for burning of his bookes, for in the first Chapter of the Booke of Machabees, they burned the Bookes of the Lord, and tore them, and whosoeuer was found to hauehave or vse them was put to death by the Kings commandement: if this argued the wickednes of the bookes, then the Law of God was wicked: so likewise of the burning of S. Gregories bookes and of diuers other good men, it followeth not because the Scribes and Pharisies condemned Christ as an Heretick, that therefore he was one, so Iohn Chrysostome was twice condemned an Hereticke by the Bishops and Clergy.
Besides the Articles afore, there were other Articles gathered out of his Bookes, which his malicious aduersaries peruersly collecting, and maliciously expounding, did exhibit to the Councell of Constance.
They sinne in Simony that be hired by temporal liuings to pray for others.
The prayer of the Reprobate preuaileth for no man.
Hallowing of Churches, confirmation of children, the Sacrament of orders bee reserued to the Pope, and Bishops onelyonly for temporall lucre.
Graduation and Doctor-ships in Uniuersities and Colledges as they bee vsed conduce nothing to the Church.
The excommunication of the Pope and his Prelates is not to be feared, because it is the censure of Antichrist.
Such as founded Monasteries offend, and all such as enter into them be members of the Diuell.
A Deacon or Priest may teach Gods word without the authority of the apostolike Sea.
They that enter into Monasticall Order or Religion, are vnable to keep Gods commandements, or to come to heauen except they returne.
The Church of Rome is the Synagogue of Satan, neither is the Pope the immediate vicar of Christ, nor of the Apostles.
The decretals of the popes be Apocripha, and seduce from the faith of Christ, and the Clergy that study them be fooles.
It is not necessarie to saluation to beleeue the Church of Rome to be supreme …ead ouer all Churches.
It is but folly to beleeue the Popes pardons.
All othes made for any contract or ciuill bargaine betwixt man and man bée vnlawfull.
Benedick, Francis, Dominick, Bernard, and al other that hauehave béen patrons of priuat religions, except they hauehave repented, with such as entred into the same, be in damnable state, and from the pope vntounto the lowest nouis they are all hereticks.
Thus you hauehave the whole summe of Wickliffes Articles, albeit not as hee vttered them, but as his froward aduersaries collected them out of his writings, if some of them séeme hard or strange, thinke it rather to be imputed to their euill will, then to his good meaning, as it might appeare if his bookes had now been extant: but this is certaine howsoeuer his Articles were taken of the euill disposed, with all good men he was highly fauoured and had in such estimation for his profound knowledge, and great learning, that all forren Nations were moued with his authoritie; especially the Bohemians had him insuch reuerence, that Iohn Hus, the greatest doer in the Uniuersitie of Prage, tooke profit of his Doctrine, and openly defended his Articles.
Wickliffes Doctrine came into Bohemia, by reason of a Student of Bohemia that was at Oxford being of Noble stock: who returning to Prage, carried certaine bookes of Wickliffes with him, De realibus vniuersalibus, De ciuili iure, et Diuino, De Ecclesia, De questionibus var…s contra clerum &c. a Noble man of Prage builded a Church called Bethelem, giuing lands to it, and finding two preachers eueryevery day to preach to the people, of the which Iohn Hus was one, hee beeing familiar with the yong man, reading and perusing these bookes, tooke such pleasure and fruit thereby, that he defended and commended them in schooles and sermons, commending him for a good man, wishing when he died to be there placed where his soule was.
We think it worth labour to shew certaine prophesies, whereby so many pers…cutions were figured: and first the aforesaid Abbot Ioachim, told King Richard, as hée went to Ierusalem, that the last of the seuen Kings spoken of in the Reuelation was Antichrist, and that at that present hee should be bred at Rome, and be exalted into the apostolick Sea, according to the Apostle, hee is exalted aboue all that is called God: hee was in the yeare 1290.
And in the Prophesie of Hildegardis, afore mentioned, she saith in the yeare 1200. the Doctrine of the Apostles, and Iustice which God appointed to spirituall Christians, beganne to war flack, and doubtfull, but this womanly time shall not so long continue as it hath done.
Bishop Fluensius, doubted not openly to preach, that Antichrist was borne in his daies.
Bi…h. Gerardus, in the yeare of our Lord 1239. in his Book of the preseruation of Gods seruants, doth coniecture Antichrist to be at hand, by the rarity of prophesie, and the gift of curing.
Hierome Sauanorol 69. yeares before prophesied, that Italy shall be plagued by the scourge of God for the manifold sinnes thereof, amongst the Princes as well Ecclesiasticall as secular, and when the Cities of Rome and Florence are ouerthrowne, then shall the Church bee renewed, which shall happen very shortly, and the Turkes, and the Mauritanians shall bee conuerted vntounto the knowledge of Christ, and that one should passe the Alpes like vntounto Cyrus, and hee shall subuert all Italy.
I thinke it lacketh not his prophesie, which happened in the yeare of our Lord 1501. that throughout all Germany there was scene vponupon mens garments, Crosses, crownes of thornes, similitude of Nailes, and drops of bloud f…ll from heauen, and oftentimes they fell within the houses, insomuch that many women wore the same long time vponupon their railes.
One Iohn a Franciscane Fryer, in the yeare of our Lord 1346. fore-shewed that the Ecclesiasticall order, should suffer much through the Ambitious auarice, and pride of the Pope: wherevpon Pope Clement the sixt, cast him in the prison.
One Manfredus a Dominick Frier, fore-shewed that Antichrist should rise vp in his time, after the yeare of our Lord 1300. and should fully rage ouer the godly, and that there should be persecution in the Church, and hee said that the Cloyster Monkes did falsifie the Doctrine of Christ, that the sacrifice of the Altar was not profitable to the quick nor dead, and that there was no knowledge i… the consolations of the Pope, but onelyonly of mens workes: at last Frederick King of Cicill sent him to the Pope, where he died vponupon the Sea by the way.
Peter, Iohn Aquine a Franciscane Frier, prophecied that in the later daies the law of Liberty should appeare: Pope Clement 4. pronounced him an hereticke after his death, and caused his bones to be digged vp and burned.
There was so many Christian Martyrs, in all parts of the world, whereof a great number were c…mpassed in with craft and deceit: some were poisoned, others tormented with torments, many oppressed with priuate and vnknowne deaths, others dyed in prison, some by famine, some by other meanes were openly and priuately destroyed, that it is scarsely possible to attaine to the knowledge of a small number of them: or if I happen to attaine to the knowledge of the names of them, yet I can not finde out the manner of the execution of them, and their causes, no one man is able to doe it, but by the example of some of them, you may …asily Iudge what hath happened to all: for the cruelty of Bishops hauehave been alike against them, and the forme of their Iudgements all one: the reason of their condemnation agreeing, and the order and kinde of their death.
It was fiue hundred yeeres since Satan was set at libertie: this Story were wonderfully to be enlarged, if all that were put to death by the Primates of the Church should be recited: for in Narbone 140. chose rather to suffer the fire, then giuegive any credit to decretals: and in the yeare 1210. at Paris were foure and twenty put to death, and in the yeare after, foure hundred burned, and fourescore beheaded: the Prince Armericus hanged, and the Lady of Castele stoned to death.
At Erphurd Begardus was burned, 1218. and a Deacon burned at Oxford 1222 a…d in the County of Cambray, diuers more were burned by the Dominicans.
The Pope commendeth a King in Boetius, that for one that the Pope had slaine, he had slaine foure hundred, cutting away the genitals: there were many burned in France 1392. not long before Wickliffe, Eckhardus a Dominick Fryer, was condemned at Hedelberge: I passe ouer the Aluenses, that were burned in K. Iohns time, and I passe ouer the Hermite that disputed in Paules Church, that the Sacrament then vsed was not ordained by Christ: of this number were two Gray-Friers that were burned at London.1395.
Certaine Conclusions were put vp vntounto the Parliament house: first, when the Church of England began first to dote in temporalties, according to her Mother in law the Church of Rome, and Churches were appropriated, Faith, Hope and Charitie began to vanish away, because pride with her Genealogy of mortall and deadly sinne, did challenge the title of truth.
2 Our priesthood that tooke originall from Rome, is not that which Christ ordained to his Disciples, because it is done by signes and pontificiall ceremonies, and benedictions of no effect, hauing no ground in Scripture, neither see wee the Holy Ghost giuen by any such ceremonies, it is a dolorous mockery, to sée Bishops play with the Holy Ghost, by giuing of crownes when they giuegive orders, in steed of white hearts, the marke of Antechrist, brought in to clo…e their idlenes.
3 The law of Chastitie, inioined vntounto Priests, which was to the preiudice of women, induceth Sodomy into the Church, by reason the delicate fare of the Clergy will hauehave a naturall purgation or worse, and the secret proofe of them is they doe delight in women, the primate religions must be disanulled, the originall of that sinne.
4 The fained m…racles of the Sacrament of bread, induceth almost all to Idolatry, because they thinke the body, which is neuer out of heauen, is included in the little bread which they shew the people: the Feast of Corpus Christi and the seruice thereof, inuented by Thomas Aquinas, fained and full of false myracles, for hee would hauehave made a myracle of an Hens Egge: these lies openly preached, turne to the approbry of him that is alwaies true.
The Orcismes or blessings ouer the Wine, Bread, Water, Oyle, Salt, Incence, the Altar Stone about the Church walles, ouer the Uestment, Chalice, Myter, Crosse, and Pilgrim-staues, are the practices of Negromancers, for by it the Creatures are honored to be of more vertue then by nature they are, and we sée no change in any creature exercised, except it be by false faith, which is the principall point of diuellish Art: if the coniuring of Holy Water were true, it would bee an excellent Medicine for all kinde of sicknesses and sores, the contrarie whereof dayly experience teacheth.
6 One man to be a King and a Priest, a Prelate and a Temporall Iudge maketh the Kingdome out of order: the Temporaltie and Spiritualtie are two parts of the Church, to be called Amphradite, or Ambidextri are good names for such men of double States: we shew this to the Parliament, that it bee enacted, that the Clergy should onelyonly occupy themselues with their owne charge, and not meddle with others charge.
7 Prayers made for the soules of the dead, is a false foundation of Almes, wherin all the almes houses in England are falsely founded, meritorious prayers ought to proceed of Charitie, but the gift is the cause of their prayers which is Simony: againe, a prayer made for one in hell is vnpleasant to God, and it is most like the Founders of such Almes houses, for their wicked indowings are most of them passed the broad way: eueryevery prayer of effect proceedeth of Charitie, and comprehendeth generally all such as God would hauehave saued, these strong Priests are able to labour and serue the Realme: let them not be retained in idlenes, for it hath been proued in a Booke to the King, that a hundred almes-houses are sufficient for the whole Realme.
8 Pilgrimages, prayers, and offerings to blind Crosses or Roods, and dea…e Images are Ido…atry and farre from almes: though these be forbidden, yet they are thought Bookes of error to the common people: and the common Image of the Trinitie is especially abhominable: but God commands almes to be giuen to the poore, and not to Idols: the seruice of the Crosse celebrated twice eueryevery yeare, is full of idolatry: for if the nailes and the speare ought so profoundly to be honored, then were Iudas his lips a maruellous good relike, if one could get them. Thou Pilgrime when thou offerest vntounto the bones of Saints, whether doest thou relieue their soules being in ioy.
9 Auricular Confession, and the fained power of Absolution, setteth vp the Priest of Priests, and giueth them opportunitie of other secret talkes, Lords and Ladies doe witnes that for feare of their Confessors, they dare not speake the truth, and in time of confession is opportunity ministred to play the Bawdes, and make other secret conuentions to deadly sinne: they say they are Commissaries from God, to Iudge and discerne all sinnes, to pardon what they please, that they hauehave the k…yes of hell and heauen, that they can excommunicate, blesse and curse, binde and lose at their pleasure: for twelue pence they will sell the Kingdome of heauen, by writing and clause of warrants, sealed with the common Seale, the Pope hath fained that he is the Treasurer of the whole Church, hauing the treasure of the passion of Christ in his kéeping, with the merits of all Saints in heauen, whereby hee giueth fained pardons a poena et culpa, and whereby he can deliuer all captiues being in purgatory at his pleasure, and make them not to come there.
10 The vow of Chastitie made by women, imperfect by nature, bringeth in horrible vices, the murdering of Children borne before their time, and before they are Christned, the destruction of their natures by medicines, accompanying amongst themselues, and with beasts, and any creature without life, commeth to such vnséemlinesse, that they are punished with hell torments, wee would that Widdowes and Maides which take the mantle and ring were married.
John Bale, a man indued with great knowledge and vnderstanding was condemned to death by Robert Triuillian chiefe Iustice, 1382. albeit he was chiefe Iustice he suffered the like punishment, and was hanged at Tyburne, being iustly requited for the bloud which he had shed.
One Iohn Puruay was accused of heresie at Oxford: Walden writeth hee was the Library of Lollards, and glos…r vponupon Wickliffe; hee with Harford, a Doctor of Diuinitie were gre…uously tormented in the prison of Saltwood, and made to recant at Paules Crosse, by Arundel Archbishop of Canterbury, and one and twenty yéers after, taken and imprisoned againe by Chichely, Archbishop of Canterbury: these be his Articles he recanted.
1 There can be no accident without the subiect in the Sacrament after consecration; but there remaineth the same substance visible bread, and the same wine as before the consecration; as when a Pagan is baptized, spiritually hee is a member of Christ: yet he hath his nature and substance as before.
2 Auricular Confession, is a whispering, destroying the liberty of the Gospel newly deuised by the Pope and Clergy, to intangle the conscience in sinne, and the soule in hell.
3 He that is holy and predestinated to eternall life, though he be a Lay man, is a Priest before God.
4 Wicked Prelates hauehave neither the keyes of hell nor heauen, though the pope interdict the Realme, he could not hurt but profit vsus, for thereby wee should be dismissed the seruice of his Church, and his Lawes.
5 If any make a vow to keep perpetuall chastitie, or any other thing that God hath appointed him too, no Prelate can compell him to keep it.
6 Hee that hath taken the office of Priesthood, though hee hauehave no charge of soules committed to him, they may and ought to preach the Gospel freely, else he is a théefe, excommunicated of God, and the holy Church.
7 That Pope Innocent the fourth and six hundred Bishops, and a thousand Prelates and the rest, that ordained Transubstantiati…n, auricular confession, and other such lawes were fooles, heretickes, blasphemers, and seducers of the people: and we ought not to beleeue them nor their successors, nor obey their lawes, except they be grounded on the Scripture, or some reason that cannot be impugned.
About the same time Richard Wiche hauing preached the Gospel, the Bishop of Durham made him recant these Articles.
1 Images are not to be worshipped.
2 God of his ordinarie power cannot make an Image bleed.
3 That we should not confesse to a wicked Priest.
4 EueryEvery Lay-man is bound to know the Gospel, and to preach it priuately or openly if he hau… habilitie.
5 A Lay-man ought to pray in his own tongue which he vnderstands, such prayer is most accepted.
6 EueryEvery priest according to his capacity is bound to know the whole Scripture, and by his office to preach it.
7 Pilgrimages to Ierusalem or Rome are vaine, what you may hauehave there, you may hauehave at home, and Baptisme may as well bee had hee…e as in other places.
8 Men or women in iourneying ought to hauehave their communication vponupon the Scripture.
9 No Priest ought to beg any thing: almes is to be giuen to the lame, feeble, and sicke▪ or they that hauehave been spoiled.
10 The Cross… is not to be worshipped.
11 EueryEvery place is as fit for prayer as another.
12 …hey doe against the Law that burne men.
In the same yéere one William Santrey, who, …nflamed with true Religion, required in the Parliament that he might be heard, for the commoditie of the whole realme: but the matter being before smelt of the Bishoppes, they obtained that the matter should be put to their hearings and Iudgements, by whom hee was at last attached of heresie, condemned for seuen Articles, disgraded and burned by the commandement of the King.
Thirteene yeares after the death of Wickliffe, Henry the fourth then raigning: King Richard was deposed and put into the Tower, and there died: A Parliament was holden, in which it was decreed that the fauourers of Wickliffe should be apprehended▪ who then were called Lollards: and if they did perseuere to bee deliuered to the Bishop of the Diocesse, and from him committed to the correction of the secular Magistrate: this brought a certaine Priest vntounto punishment that yeare, who was burned in Smithfield in presence of a great number: I take it was Swinderby, who as aforesaid was forced to recant by the Bishop of Lincolne.
Héere followeth the examination of Maister William Thorpe, written with his owne hand; hee sheweth first the reasons why he wrot it: First at the earnest request of diuers friends, and that hee had a desire of himselfe so to doe, that profit might come thereby, for the truth hath this condition, where euer it is impugned it hath a swéet sauour, and the more enemies addresse themselues to oppresse it, the sweeter smell commeth thereof, and will not passe away like smoke, but rest in some cleane soule that thirsteth thereafter: thirdly, that the good by shewing it one to an other, may strengthen one another, and shewing it to some enemy of the truth, hee may be astonied and conuerted.