Christs Victory over Satans Tyranny, Book 5
THE FIFT PART OF THE ECCLESIASTICALL History containing the Actes of Martyrs.
ALthough the Holy Ghost raised vp many before Wickliffe, to vanquish the great errors which daily did preuaile in the world, as Berengarius, Bruno of Aniow▪ Oklens the second, Valden: Marsilius, of Pado…: Iohn of Gandauo: Okchammus, with diuers others of that schoole, yet because they were not very famous nor notable, we will begin at Wickliffe, at whose time the furious fire of persecution seemed to take his originall.1371
In those great and troubelous times, and horrible darknes of ignorance, what time there séemed in a manner to bee no one so little sparke of pure doctrine remaining, this foresaid Wickliffe, by Gods prouidence, sprang vp, throgh whom the Lord would first waken, and raise vp againe the world, which was ouermuch drowned, in the déepe streames of humane traditions, when hee had long time professed Diuinitie in Oxford, and perceiuing the true doctrine of Christs Gospel to bee adulterate with so many filthy inuentions of Bishops, sects of Monkes, and dark errors: first, he began to touch the Sacrament of the body and bloud of Christ, in which he tooke much paines, protesting in open schoole that it was his purpose to call back the Church from her Idolatry in this point, but this sore could not bee touched, without the great griefe of the whole world: first the whole glut of M…nkes and Fryers were mad with him, fighting for their altars, panches and bellies: after them the Priests; after them the Bishops took the matter in hand; at last when there power seemed not sufficient to withstand the truth, which then was breaking out, they ran wholl… to the thunder-bolts of the Bishop of Rome, against them all: this valiant Wickliffe happely maintained the cause of the Sacrament, prouing it by Scriptures, and the ancient Doetors: hee refused the Doctors since the thousand yeares after Christ, saying, that after these yeares Satan was loosed, and the life of man hath been most subiect to errors, and that the simple and plaine truth doth appeare and consist in the Scriptures, when all humane traditions must be referred: he proued most stoutly, in the Sacrament, the substance with bread, the accident not to be present. As long as King Edward the third liued, he was well enough defended by him against all there woluish cruelty, yet in the last yeare of his raigne, hee was taken by the Bishop of Canterbury, at the instigation of the Pope, and put to silence in presence of the Duke of Lancaster, and the Lord Henry Piercy, yet after by the fauour of certaine Noble-men he kept not long silence, but King Edward being dead, Pope Gregory neuer ceased to moue King Richards minde, by his Letters, Bishops and Bulles, to persecute Wickliffe, and his adherents: by this meanes the examination of Wickliffe being at hand before the Bishops of Canterbury and London, a certaine Noble man called Lewis Clifford, comming in amongst the Bishops, commanded them that they should not proceede, with any defin…tiue sentence against Wickliffe, wherewith they were so amazed, and their combes so cut, that they had not a word in their mouthes to answere: and when the Bishops and Wickliffe were come together in the Archbishops Chappell at Lambeth, the Citizens and common people of London by force brake in vponupon them, and disturbing the Session, were not afraid to intreat in the cause of Wickliffe, by which meanes he escaped, after hee had made a short protestation, to be a true Christian, and to professe and defend the law of Christ as long as hee breathed, and if hee should erre hee would aske God forgiuenes, and submit himselfe to the correction of our holy Mother the Church, and that hee wou…d set forth in writing, the Articles hee was now accused for, the which to death hee would defend, which all Christians, especially the Pope and all Priests …ught to defend: for vnderstand the conclusions after the sence of the Scriptures, and holy Doctors, and I am ready to expound them if they seeme contrarie to the faith.