Actes and monuments of matters most speciall and memorable, happenyng in the Church. [vol. 1] with an vniuersall history of the same, wherein is set forth at large the whole race and course of the Church, from the primitiue age to these latter tymes of ours, with the bloudy times, horrible troubles, and great persecutions agaynst the true martyrs of Christ, sought and wrought as well by heathen emperours, as nowe lately practised by Romish prelates, especially in this realme of England and Scotland. Newly reuised and recognised, partly also augmented, and now the fourth time agayne published and recommended to the studious reader, by the author (through the helpe of Christ our Lord) Iohn Foxe, which desireth thee good reader to helpe him with thy prayer.

¶ William Thorpe.

* 1.1THus much briefly being signified by the way, touching these which haue bene forced in time of this king, to o∣pen abiuration: Next commeth to our handes the worthy history of maister William Thorpe, a warriour valiaunt, vnder the triumphant banner of Christ, with the processe of his examinations, before the foresayd Thomas Arun∣dell Archbishop of Caunterb. written by the sayd Thorpe and storyed by his owne pen, at the request of hys frendes as by hys own words in the processe here of may appeare. In whole examination (whiche seemeth first to begin. an. 1407.) thou shalt haue, good reader, both to learne and to merueile. To learne, in that thou shalt beare truth dis∣coursed and discussed, with the contrary reasons of the ad∣uersary dissolued. To marueile, for that thou shalt beholde here in this man, the merueilous force and strength of the Lordes might, spirite and grace, working and fighting in his souldiors, & also speaking in theyr mouthes, according to the word of hys promise. Luke xxi. To the rest of the sto¦ry we haue neither added nor diminished: but as we haue receiued it,* 1.2 copied out, & corrected by maister Williā Tin∣dall (who had his own handwriting) so we haue here sent it, and set it out abroad. Althoughe for the more credite of the matter, I rather wished it in his own naturall speach wherein it was first written. Notwithstanding, to put a∣way all doubt and scrouple herein, this I thought before to premonishe and testifie to the Reader, touching the cer∣taintie hereof, that they be yet aliue whiche haue seene the selfe same copy in his own old English, resembling y^• true antiquitie both of the speach, and of the time: The name of whom as for recorde of the same to auouche, is M. Whit∣head, who as he hath seene the true ancient copy in the hā∣des of George Constantine, so hath he geuen credible re∣lation of y^• sonne, both to the printer, & to me. Furthermore the sayd maister Tindall (albeit he did somewhat alter & amend the English therof, and frame it after our manner) yet not fully in al words: but that something doth remain, fauouring of the old speach of that time. What the causes were why this good man & seruaunt of Christ, W. Thorp did write it•• and pen it out himselfe, it is sufficiently decla∣red in hys owne preface, set before his booke, whiche here is prefixed in maner as followeth.

¶ The preface of William Thorpe.

THe Lord God that knoweth all thinges,* 2.1 woreth well that I am right sorrowful for to write to make known this sentence beneath written: whereby of mine euē christē set in high state & dignitie, so great blindnes & malice may be knowne: that they which doe presume of themselues to destroy vices, and to plant in men vertues, neither dreade to offend God,* 2.2 nor lust to please him as their workes doe shew. For certes the bidding of God and hys law, whiche in the praysing of his most holy name he commaundeth to be known & kept of all men and women, yong and old, af∣ter the cunning & power that he hath geuen to them: The Prelates of this lande and their ministers, w^t the couent of priests chiefly consenting to them, enforce them most busily to withstand and destroy the holy ordinaunce of God. And there through, God is greatly wroth and moued to take hard vengeance, not onely vpon them that do the euil but also on them that consent to these Antichristes limnes: which know or might know, their malice and falshoode, & dresse them not to withstand their mallice and theyr great pride.* 2.3 Neuertheles, 4. things moueth me to write this sē∣tence beneath.

The first thing that moueth me hereto is this, y^t where as it was knowne to certayn frendes, that I came from y^t prison of Shrewsbury, and as it befell in deed that I shold to the prison of Caunterbury: thē diuers friends in diuers places, spake to me full hartily and full tenderly: and com∣maunded me then, if it so were that I should be examined before the Archb. of Cant. that if I might in any wife, I should write mine apposing, and mine aunswering. And I promised to my special frendes, that if I might, I wold gladly doe their bidding as I might.

The second thing that moueth me to write this sentēce* 2.4 is this: diuers frendes which haue heard that I haue bene examined before the Archbyshop, haue come to me in pri∣son, and counsayled mee busily, and coueted greatly that I should doe the same thing. And other brethren haue sent to me, and required on Gods behalfe, that I should write out and make knowne, both mine apposing & mine auns∣wering, for the profite that (as they say) vppon my know∣ledging, may come thereof. But this they had me, that I should be busie in all my wits, to go as neare the sentence and the wordes as I could, both that were spoken to me & that I spake: Upauēture this writing may come an other time, before the archbishop and hys counsaile. And of thys counselling I was right glad: for in my conscience I was moued to doe this thing, & to aske hitherto the speciall help of God. And so then I considering the great desire of dy∣uers frendes of sondry places, according all in one: I occu∣pyed all my minde & my wits so busily, that through gods grace I perceaued by theyr meaning and their charitable desire, some profite might come there through. For south∣fastnes and trueth hath these conditions: where euer it is impugned,* 2.5 it hath asweete smell, and thereof commeth a sweet fauour. And the more violently the enemies dresse themselues to oppresse and to withstand the trueth, the

greater and the sweeter smell commeth therof. And there∣fore, this heauenly find of Gods word, wil not as a smoke passe away with the winde: but it will descende and rest in some cleane soule, that thirsteth thereafter. And thus some deale by this writing may be perceaued thorough Gods grace, how that the enemies of the trueth (standing boldly in their malice) inforce them to withstand the fredome of Christes Gospell, for which freedome Christ became man & shed his hart bloud. And therefore it is great pitty & sor∣row: y^t many men & women do their own weyward will nor busy thē not to know nor to do y^t pleasant wil of God.

* 2.6The men & women that heare the truth and southfast∣nes, and heare or know of this (perceauing what is nowe in y^• churche) ought here through, to be the more moued in all their wits, to able them to grace, & to set lesser price by themselues, that they without ta••ieng: forsake wilfully & bodely all the wrethednes of this life, since they know not how soon, nor whē, nor where, nor by whō God wil teach them,* 2.7 & assay their pacience. For no doubt, who that euer will liue pittiously, that is charitably in Christ Iesu, shall suffer now here in this life persecution, in one wife or an o¦ther. That is, if we shalbe saued, it behoueth vs to imagin ful busily: the vility and soulnes of sinne, and how y^• Lord God is displeased therfore: & so of this vility of bidiousnes of sinne, it behoueth vs to busy vs in al our wits, for to ab¦horre and hold in our mind a great shame of sinne euer, & so then we owe to sorrow hartely therfore, and euer fleing all occasion therof. And then behoueth vs to take vpon vs sharpe penāce, continuing therin, for to obtayne of y^t Lord forgeuenes of our foredone sinnes, and grace to abstain vs hereafter from sinne. And but if we enforce vs to do thys wilfully: and in conueniēt time, the Lord (if he will not vt∣terly destroy and cast vs awaye) will in diuers manners moue tyrantes agaynst vs: for to constrayne vs violentlye to do penance,* 2.8 which we would not do wilfully. And trust that this doing is a special grace of the Lord, & a great to∣ken of life & mercy. And no doubt, who euer will not ap∣ply him selfe (as is sayd before) to punish himself wilfully, neither wil suffer paciently, meekely, and gladly the rod of the Lord, howsoeuer that he will punish him: their way∣ward willes and their impacience, are vnto them earnest of euelasting damnation. But because there are but few in number that do able them thus faythfully to grace, for to liue here so simply and purely, and without gall of malice and of grudging: herefore the louers of this worlde hate & pursue them that they knowe patient, meek, chaste, & wil∣fully poore, hating and fleing all worldly vanities & flesh∣ly lusts. For surely, their verteous conditions are euen cō∣trary to the manners of this world.

* 2.9The third thing that moueth me to wryte this sentēce is this, I thought I shall busie me in my selfe to do fayth∣fully, that all men and women (occupying all their busines in knowing and in keeping of Gods commaundements) able them so to grace, that they might vnderstād truely the truth, and haue and vse vertue and prudēce, and so deserue to be lightned from aboue with heauenly wisedom:* 2.10 so that all their words & their workes may be hereby made plea∣sant sacrifice vnto the Lord God: and not onely for helpe of their own soules, but also for edification of holy Church For I doubt not: but all they that will apply them to haue this foresayd busines, shall profite ful me kill both to freds & foes. For some enemies of the truth, through the grace of God, shall through charitable folkes be made astonied in their conscience, and peraduenture conuerted from vices to vertues: and also, they that labour to know and to keep faythfully the biddinges of God, and to suffer paciently all aduersities, shall hereby comfort many frendes.

And the fourth thing that moueth me to write this sē∣tēce is this:* 2.11 I knowe by my sodein & vnwarned apposing and aunswering, that all they that will of good hart w^tout faining, able themselues wilfully & gladly after theyr cun∣ning and their power, to follow christ paciently, traueling busily, priuily, and apertly in worke and in word, to with∣draw whom soeuer that they may from vices, planting in them (if the may) vertues, comforting them & furtheryng them that stand in grace: so that therwith they be not born vp in vaine glory, through presumption of theyr wisdome nor inflamed with any worldly prosperitie: but euer meek and pacient: purposing to abide stedfastly in y^t wil of God, suffering wilfully and gladly without any grutching what soeuer rod the Lord wil chastise them with: that then, thys good Lord will not forget to comfort al such men and wo∣men in all their tribulations, & at euery poynt of tempta∣tion that any enemy purposed for to doe agaynst them. To such faithfull louers specially, & pacient followers of christ the Lord sendeth by his wisedome frō aboue, them which the aduersaries of the truth, may not know nor vnderstand. But through their old and new vnshamefast sinnes, those tyrantes and enemies of southfastnes,* 2.12 shalbe so blinded & obstinate in e••ill, that they shall weene themselues to doe pleasant sacrifices vnto the Lorde God in their malicious and wrongfull pursuing and destroying of innocent mens and womens bodyes: which men & women, for theyr ver∣tuous liuing, and for their true knowledging of the trueth and theyr pacient wilfull and glad suffering of persecution for righteousnes, deserue through the grace of God, to be heyres of the endlesse blesse of heauen. And for the feruent desire and the great loue that these men haue, as to stand in southfastnes and witnes of it: though they be sodeinly & vnwarnedly brought foorth to be aposed of their aduersa∣ries: the holy Ghost yet that moueth and ruleth them tho∣rough his charitie, will in that houre of theyr aunswering speake in them and shewe hys wisedome: that all theyr e∣nemies shall not agayn say, nor agaynst stand, lawfully.

And therfore, al they that are stedfast in y^• fayth of God yea, which through diligent keeping of his commaunde∣mentes, & for theyr pacient suffering of whatsoeuer aduer∣sitie that commeth to them, hope surely in his mercy, pur∣posing to stand cōtinually in perfect charitie. For those mē and womē, dred not so the aduersities of this life, that they wil feare (after their cunning and their power) to knowe∣ledge prudently the truth of gods word, when, where, and to whom they thinke their knowledging may profite. Yea and though therfore persecution come to them in one wise or an other, certes they paciently take it, knowing theyr conuersation to be in heauen. It is an high rewarde and a speciall grace of God: for to haue and enioy the euerlasting inheritance of heauen, for the suffering of one persecution in so short time as is the terme of this life. For loe, this heuenly heritage & endles reward: is the Lord God hym∣selfe which is the best thing that may be. This sētence wit∣nesseth the Lord God himselfe where as he sayd to Abrahā I am thy meede: And as the Lord sayd: he was and is the meede of Abraham: so he is of all his other saynts. This most blessed and best meede, he graunt to vs all for his ho∣ly name, that made vs of naught, and sent his onely most deare worthy sonne, our Lorde Iesu Christ for to redeeme vs with his most precious hart bloud. Amen.

The examination of William Thorpe, penned with hys owne hand.

KNowne be it to al men,* 3.1 that read or heare this writing that on the sonday next after the feast of S. Peter: that we call Lammesse: in the yeare of our Lord. 1407. I wil∣liam Thorpe being in prison in the Castle of Saltwoode, was brought before Tho. Arundel Archbishop of Canter∣bury and Chauncellor then of Englande. And when that I came to him: he stode in a great chamber and much peo∣ple about him: and when that he saw me, he went fast into a closit bidding all seculer men y^t followed hym to go foorth from him soone, so that no man was left than in that closet but the Archbishop himselfe and a Phisitian y^t was called Malueren, person of S. Dunstanes in London, & other two persons vnknowne to me which were ministers of y^• law. And I standing before them, by and by the Archbish. sayd to me: William, I know well that thou hast this xx. winters & more, trauelled about busily in the north coū∣try and in other diuers countryes of England,* 3.2 sowing a∣bout false doctrine, hauing great businesse if thou might with thine vntrue teaching and shrewd will, for to infect & poysō all this land. But through the grace of God thou art now withstanded & brought into my ward, so that I shall now sequester thee from thine euill purpose, and let thee to enuenime the sheep of my prouince. Neuertheles S. Paul sayth: If it may be, as much as in vs is, we ought to haue peace w^t all men. Therfore William, if y^• wilt now meckly and of good hart, without any feyning, kneele downe and lay thy hand vpō a booke and kisse it,* 3.3 promising faythfully as I shall here charge thee, y^t thou wilt submit thee to my correction, & stād to myne ordinaunce, & fulfill it duely by all thy cūning and power, thou shalt yet find me gracious vnto thee. Then sayd I to the archbishop. Syr, since ye deme me an hereticke & out of beleue, will ye geue me here audience to tell my beleue. And he sayd, yea tell on. And I sayde. I beleue that there is not but one God almigh∣ty, and in this Godhead, and of this Godhead, are three persons, that is, the father, the sonne, and the sothfast holye Ghost. And I beleue, that all these three persons are euen in power and in cunning, and in might, full of grace and of all goodnes. For what soeuer that the father doth or can or will, that thing also the sonne doth and can and will: and in all theyr power, cunning and will, the holy Ghost is e∣quall to the father and to the sonne.

Ouer this I beleue, that through counsell of this most blessed Trinity, in most cōuenient time before ordeined for the saluation of mankinde, the second person of this Trini¦ty; was ordeined to take the forme of mā, that is, the kinde of mā. And I beleue, that this secōd person our Lord Iesu Christ, was conceiued through the holy ghost, in y^e wombe of the most blessed virgin Mary, without mans seed. And I beleue, that after 9. monethes Christ was borne of this most blessed virgine, without any payne or breaking of the closser of her wombe, and without filth of her virginity.

And I beleue, that Christ our Sauiour was Circum∣cise•• in the eight day after his birth, in fulfilling of the law, and his name was called Iesus, which was so called of y^e Angel, before that he was conceiued in the wombe of Ma∣ry his mother.

And I beleue, that Christ, as he was about xxx. yeare olde, was Baptised in the floud of Iordane of Iohn Bap∣tist: and in the likenes of a Doue the holy Ghost descēded there vpon him, & a voyce was heard from heauen, saying: Thou are my welbeloued sonne, in thee I am full pleased.

And I beleue, that Christ, was moued then by the ho∣ly ghost, for to go into desert, and there he fasted 40 dayes & 40. nightes without bodely meat and drink. And I beleue that by and by after his fasting, when the manhood of christ hūgred, the fiend came to him, and tempted him in glotto∣ny, in vayne glory, and in courtise: but in all those tempta∣tions, Christ concluded the fiend, and withstood him. And then without tarying, Iesu began to preach and to say vn∣to the people: do ye penaunce, for the Realme of heauen is now at hand.

I beleue that Christ in all his time here liued most ho∣lity, and taught the will of his father most truly: and I be∣leue that he suffered therfore, most wrongfully, greatest re∣priests and despisinges.

And after this,* 3.4 when Christ woulde make an end here of this rēporal life, I beleue that in the day next before that he would suffer passiō in the morne: In forme of bread and of wine, he ordeined the Sacrament of his flesh and hys bloud, that is, his owne precious body, & gaue it to his A∣postles for to eat: cōmaunding them, and by them all their after commers, that they should do it in this forme that he shewed to them, vse themselues, and teach and comō forth to other men and womē this most worshipfull holyest sa∣crament, in mindfulnes of his holyest liuing, & of his most true preaching, & of his wilfull and patient suffering of the most paynefull passion.

And I beleue, that thys Christ our Sauiour, after that he had ordeined this most worthy Sacrament of his own precious body: he wēt forth wilfully agaynst his enemies, and he suffered them most paciently to lay their hands most violently vpō him, and to binde him, and to lead him forth as a theefe, & to scorne him, and buffet him, and all to blow or file him with their spittinges. Ouer this, I beleue, that Christ suffered most meekly and paciently his enemies, for to ding out with sharp scourges the bloud y^t was betwene his skinne and his flesh: yea without grudging Christ suf∣fered the cruell Iewes to crowne him with most sharpe thornes, and to strike him with a reede. And after, Christ suffered wicked Iewes to draw him out vpon the crosse, & for to nayle him thereupon hand and foote. And so through his pitifull nayling, Christ shed out wilfully for mans life, the bloud that was in his vaynes. And then Christ gaue wilfully his spirit into y^e hāds or power of his father, & so, as he would, & whē he would, christ died wilfully for mās sake vpon the crosse. And notwithstāding that Christ was wilfully, paynefully, & most shamefully put to death, as to the world: there was left bloud and water in his hart as before ordeined, that he would shedd out this bloud & this water for mās saluation. And therefore he suffred y^e Iewes to make a blinde knight to thrust him into the hart with a speare, and this the bloud and water that was in his hart, Christ would shed out formans loue, And after this, I be¦leue that Christ was taken downe from the crosse and bu∣ried. And I beleue that on the third day by power of hys Godhead, Christ rose againe from death to life. And the xl. day therafter, I beleue that Christ ascēded vp into heauen and that he there sitteth on the right hand of the father al∣mighty. And the fifty day after this vp going, he sēt to hys Apostles the holy ghost, that he had promised them before. And I beleue that Christ shall come & iudge all mankind; some to euerlasting peace, and some to euerlasting paines.

And as I beleue in the father & in the sonne, that they are one God almighty, so I beleue in the holy Ghost that he is also with them the same God almighty.

And I beleue an holy church, that is, all they that haue bene,* 3.5 and that now are, & alwayes to the end of the worlde shalbe, a people the which shall endeuour them to know & to keepe the commaundements of God, dreading ouer all thing to offed God, and louing and seeking most to please him. And I beleeue, that all they that haue had & yet haue, and all they that yet shall haue the foresayd vertues, surely standing in the belief of God, hoping stedfastly in his mer∣cyfull doinges, continuing to theyr end in perfect charitye, wilfully, paciently and gladly suffering persecutiōs, by the example of Christ chieflye and his Apostles, all these haue theyr names written in the booke of life.

Therfore I beleue,* 3.6 that the gathering together of this people, liuing now here in this life, is the holy Church of God, fighting here on earth agaynst the fiend, the prosperi¦ty of the world, and theyr fleshly lusts. Wherfore, seing that all the gathering together of this Church before sayd, and euery part therof, neither coueteth, nor willeth, nor loueth, nor seketh any thing but to eschew y^• offēce of God, & to do his pleasing will: meekly, gladly, and wilfully, w^t all mine hart, I submit my selfe vnto this holy Church of Christ, to be euer buxome & obedient to y^t ordinaūce of it, & of euery member therof; after my knowledge and power by y^e help of God. Therfore I knowledge now and euermore shal, if God will, that with all my hart and with all my might, I wil submit me onely to the rule and gouernaunce of them, whō after my knowledge, I may perceiue by the hauing and vsing of the before sayd vertues, to be members of the holy Church. Wherfore these articles of belief and al other (both of the olde law and of the new, which after the com∣maundement of God any man ought to beleue) I beleeue verely in my soule, as a sinful deadly wretch of my cunning and power, ought to beleue: praying the Lord God for his holy name, for to encrease my beliefe, and to helpe my vn∣beliefe.

And for because to the praysing of Gods name, I de∣sire aboue all things to be a faithfull mēber of holy church,* 3.7 I make this protesta••ō before you all foure that are now here present, couering that all men & women that now be absent, knew the same: that is, what thing so euer before this time I haue sayde or done, or what thing here I shall doe or say, at any time hereafter.* 3.8 I beleeue, that all the olde law and the new law geuen and ordeined by the coūsell of the three persons of the Trinity, were geuen and written to the saluatiō of mankind. And I beleue, that these lawes are sufficient for mans saluation. And I beleue euery arti∣cle of these lawes, to the intent, that these articles ordeined and commaunded of these 3 persons of the most blessed tri∣nity, are to be beleued.

And therfore to y^• rule & the ordinaunce of these, Gods lawes, meekely, gladly and wilfully, I submit me with all mine hart: that whosoeuer can or wll by authority of gods lawe, or by open reason, tell me that I haue erred or nowe erre, or any time hereafter shall erre in any article of beliefe (from which inconuenience God keepe me, for hys good∣nesse) I submit me to be reconciled and to be buxum & obe∣dient vnto those lawes of God, and to euery article of thē. For by authority, specially of these lawes, I will, thorow the grace of God, be vntied charitably vnto these lawes. Yea sir, & ouer this, I beleeue & admit all the sentēces, au∣thorities and reasōs of the saynts & doctors, according vn∣to holy scripture, and declaring it truely.

I submit me wilfully and meekely to be euer obedient after my cunning and power,* 3.9 to all these saynts and Doc∣tors, as they are obedient in worke and in word to God & to his law, and further not (to my knowledge) not for any earthly power, dignitye or state, thorow the helpe of God. But sir I pray you tell me, if after your bidding, I shal lay my hand vpon the booke, to what entent: to sweare there∣by▪ And the Archby. sayd to me, yea, wherefore els? And I said to him.* 3.10 Syr a book is nothing els but a thing coupled together of diuers creatures, and to swere by any creature both Gods law and mans law is agaynst it.

But Syr, this thing I say here to you before these your clerkes,* 3.11 with my foresayd protestation, that how, where when, and to whom, men are boūd to sweare or to obey in any wise after Gods law, and saints, and true Doctours, according vnto Gods law: I will thorow Gods grace be euer ready thereto, with all my cunning and power. But I pray you sir for the charitye of God, that ye will before y^t I sweare (as I haue here rehearsed to you) tell me how or whereto, that I shal submit me: and shew me wherof that ye will correct me, and what is the ordinaunce that ye will thus oblige me to fulfill.

¶ And the Archbishop sayd vnto me: I will shortly that now thou sweare here to me, that thou shalt forsake al the opinions which the sect of Lollordes holde, and is slaun∣dered with: so that after this time, neither priuilye nor a∣pertly, thou hold any opinion which I shal (after thou hast sworne) rehearse to thee here. Nor thou shalt fauor no mā

nor woman, young nor olde, that holdeth any these fore∣sayd opinions: but after thy knowledge and power, thou shalt force thee to w^tstād al such distroublers of holy church in euery dioces, that thou commest in: and them that wyll not leaue their false and damnable opiniōs, thou shalt put them vp, publishing them and theyr names, and make thē knowne to the bishop of the dioces that they are in, or to y^t bishops ministers. And ouer this I will, that thou preach no more vnto the time y^t I know by good witnesse & true, that thy conuersation be such, that thy hart and thy mouth accord truely in one, contrarying all the seud learning that thou hast taught here before.

☞ And I hearing these wordes, thought in my hart, that this was an vnlefull asking: and demed my selfe cur∣sed of God, if I consented hereto, & I thought how Susan sayd: Anguish is to me on euery side. And in that I stoode still and spake not, the Archbishop sayd to me: Aunswere one wise or other. And I sayd: Syr, if I consented to you thus as ye haue here before rehersed to me, I should becom an appealer, or euery bishops espy, somoner of al Englād, For and I should thus put vp,* 3.12 and publish the names of men and women, I should herein deceiue full many per∣sons: Yea sir, as it is likely by the dome of my conscience, I should herein be cause of the death both of men and womē. yea both bodely and ghostly. For many men & women that stand now in the way of saluation: if I should for the lear∣ning and reading of theyr beleue, publish them therfore vp to Bishops or to their vnpiteous ministers, I know some deale by experience, that they should be so distroubled & di∣seased with persecution or otherwise, that many of thē (I thinke) would rather chuse to forsake the way of truth thē to be trauailed, scorned, slaūdered, or punished, as bishops and their ministers now vse for to constrayne men & wo∣men to consent to them.

But I finde in no place in holy scripture, that this of∣fice that ye would now enfeaffe me with,* 3.13 accordeth to any Priest of Christes sect, nor to any other christen man. And therefore to do this, were to me a full noyous bond to bee boūdē with, & ouer greuous charge. For I suppose, that if I thus did, many men and women would, yea Syr, might iustly vnto my confusion say to me, that I were a traytor to God and to them: since (as I thinke in mine hart) ma∣ny men & women trust so mikle in this case, that I would not for sauing of my life, doe thus to them. For if I thus should do, full many men & women would (as they might full truely) say, that I had falsly and cowardly forsaken the truth, and slaundered shamefully the word of God. For if I consented to you to do here, after your will, for bonchefe or mischief that may befall to me in this life: I deme in my cōscience, that I were worthy herefore to be cursed of god and also of all his Saynts: fro which inconuenience, keep me and all christē people, almighty God now and euer for his holy name. And then y^e Archbishop sayd vnto me. Oh, thine hart is ful hard indurate as was the hart of Pharao,* 3.14 and the deuill hath ouercomen thee and peruerted thee, & he hath so blinded thee in all thy wittes, that thou hast no grace to know the trueth nor the measure of mercye that I haue proferred to thee. Therfore, as I perceiue now by y^e foolish aūswere, thou hast no wil to leaue thine old errors.

But I say to thee leud losell, other quickly cōsent thou to mine ordinance and submit thee to stand to my decrees: or by S. Thomas, thou shalt be disgraded, and follow thy felow in Smithfield. And at this saying, I stoode still and spake not,* 3.15 but I thought in mine hart that God did to me great grace, if he would of his great mercy bring me to such an end. And in mine hart I was nothing afrayd with this manassing of the Archbishop. And I considered there two things in him. One, that he was not yet sorowfull for that he had made William Sawtre wrongfully to be burnt: & as I considered, that y^• Archbishop thirsted yet after more sheding out of innocēt bloud. And fast therfore I was mo¦ned in al my wittes, for to hold the Archbishop neither for Prelate nor for Priest of God. And for that mine inward man was thus altogether departed from the Archbishop, me thought I shoulde not haue any dread of him. But I was right heauy and sorowfull, for that there was no au∣dience of secular men by: but in my hart I prayd the Lorde God, for to comfort me and strength me agaynst them that there were agaynst the sothfastnesse. And I purposed to speake no more to the Archbishop and his clerkes then me need behoued: and all thus I prayde God for his goodnesse to geue me then and alway grace to speake, with a meke & an easy spirit: and whatsoeuer thing that I should speake, that I might thereto haue true authorities of Scriptures or open reason. And for that I stood thus still and nothing spake, one of the Archbishops Clerks sayd vnto me. What thing musest thou? Doe thou as my Lord hath now com∣maunded to thee here.

And yet I stood still and aunswered him not:* 3.16 And then soone after the Archbishop sayd to me: Art thou not yet be∣thought, whether thou wilt doe as I haue sayde to thee? And I said then to him: Syr, my father and my mother, on whole soules god haue mercy (if it be his will) spent mikle mony in diuers places about my learning, for the intēt to haue made me a Priest to God. But whē I came to yeres of discretion, I had no will to be Priest, and therefore my frends were right heauy to me, and then me thought theyr grudging agaynst me was so paynefull to me, that I pur∣posed therfore to haue left theyr company. And when they perceiued this in me, they spake sometime full fayre & plea∣saunt wordes to me: But for that they might not make me to consent of good hart to be a Priest, they spake to me full oftentimes very greuous wordes, and manassed me in di∣uers maners, shewing to me full heauy cheare. And thus one while in fayre maner, an other while in greuous, they were long time (as me thought) full busye about me, or I consented to them to be a Priest.

But at the last, when in this matter they would no lon∣ger suffer mine excusations, but either I should consent to them, or I shoulde euer beare their indignation, yea, theyr curse (as they sayde.) Then I seeing this, prayd them that they would geue me licence for to go to them that were na∣med wise Priestes, and of vertuous conuersation to haue theyr counsell, and to know of them the office & the charge of Priesthood. And hereto, my father and my mother cōsen∣ted full gladly, & gaue me their blessing & good leaue to go, and also mony to spend in this iourny. And so that I wēt to those Priestes whom I heard to be of best name, and of most holy liuing, and best learned, & most wise of heauenly wisedome: and so I communed with them vnto the time that I perceiued by their vertuous and cōtinuall occupa∣tions, that their honest and charitable workes passed theyr same which I heard before of them.

Wherfore Syr, by the example of the doctrine of them: and specially for the godly and innocent workes whiche I perceiued then of them, and in them: After my cunning and power, I haue exercised me then and in this time, to know perfectly gods law, hauing a will and desire to liue theraf∣ter, which willeth that all men and women should exercise themselues faythfully there about. If than Syr, either for pleasure of thē that are neither so wise nor of so vertuous conuersation to my knowledge, nor by cōmon fame to any other mens knowledge in this land, as these men were of whom I tooke my counsell & information: I should now forsake thus sodenly and shortly, and vnwarned, all y^t lear∣ning that I haue exercised my selfe in this xxx. winter and more, my cōscience should euer be herewith out of measure vnquieted: and as Syr I know wel, that many mē & wo∣men should be there through greatly troubled & sclaunde∣red: And as I sayd sir, to you before, for mine vntruth and false cowardnes, many a one should be put into full great reproofe, yea sir, I dread that many one (as they might thē iustly) would curse me full bitterly: and sir I feare not, but the curse of God, which I shoulde deserue herein, woulde bring me to a full euil end, if I continued thus. And if tho∣row remorse of conscience I repented me any time, retur∣ning into the way, which you do your diligēce to cōstraine me now to forsake: yea sir, all the bishops of this lād, with full many other Priests, would desame, me, and pursue me as a relapse: & they y^t nowe haue (though I be vnworthy) some confidence in me, hereafter woulde neuer trust to me, though I could teach & liue neuer so vertuously, more then I can or may. For if after your coūsell I left vtterly all my learning, I should hereby first wound & defile mine owne soule, and also I should here through, geue occasiō to ma∣ny men and womē of full sore hurting, yea sir as it is like∣ly to me, if I cōsented to your will: I should he rin by mine euill example in it, as farre as in me were, flea many folke ghostly, y^t I should neuer deserue for to haue grace of god, to the edifying of his church, neither of my self, nor of none other mans life, and vndone both before God and man.

But sir, by exāple chiefly of some whose names I will not now rehearse,* 3.17 of H. of I. P. and B. and also by the present doing of Philip Rampingtō, y^t is now become B. of Lin∣colne: I am now learned (as many moe hereafter through Gods grace shalbe learned) to hate & to flee all such sclaun∣der that these foresayd men chiefly haue defiled, principally themselues with. And in it that in them is, they haue enue nimed all the church of God, for the sclaūderous reuoking at the crosse of Paules, of H.P. and of B. and how now Phi∣lip Rampingtō pursueth Christes people. And the faining that these men dissemble by worldly prudence, keeping thē cowardly in theyr preaching and communing within the bondes and termes (which without blame may be spoken

and shewed out to the most worldly liuers) wil not be vn∣punished of God. For to y^• poynt of truth y^t these mē shew∣ed out sometime, they will not now stretch forth their li∣nes. But by example, each one of them as theyr words and their works shew, busy them through their fayning, for to sclaunder and to pursue Christ in his members, rather thē they will be pursued.

¶ And the Archbishop sayd to me: These men the whiche thou speakest of now, were fooles and heretickes, whē they were counted wise men of thee and other such losels. But now they are wise men, though thou and such other deme them vnwise. Neuerthelesse I wist neuer none that right sayd, that any while were enuenimed with your contagi∣ousnes, that is, contaminated and spotted doctrine.

☞ And I sayd to the Archbishop: Syr, I thinke well that these mē & such other are now wise as to this world:* 3.18 But as theyr words sounded sometime, and their works shew∣ed outwardly, it was like to moue me that they had earnest of the wisedome of God, & that they should haue deserued mi••le grace of God, to haue saued their owne soules & ma∣ny other mens, if they had continued faythfully in wilfull pouerty, & in other simple vertuous liuing: and specially, if they had with these foresaid vertues continued in their bu∣sie fruitful sowing of Gods word: as to many mēs know∣ledge they occupyed them a season in all their wits, ful bu∣sily to know the pleasaunt will of God, trauelling all their members full busily for to do thereafter, purely and chiefly to the praysing of the most holy name of god, and for grace of edification and saluation of Christen people.* 3.19 But woe worth false couetise, and euill counsell and tyranny, by which they and many men and womē are led blindly into an euill end.

¶ Then the Archbishop sayde to me: Thou and such other Losels of thy sect, would shaue your heardes full neare for to haue a benefice.* 3.20 For by Iesu, I know none more coue∣tous shrewes then ye are, whē that ye haue a benefice. For loe, I gaue to Iohn Puruay a benefice but a mile out of this Castle, and I heard more complaints about his coue∣tousnes for tithes and other misdoinges, then I did of all men that were aduaunced within my dioces.

☞ And I sayde to the Archbishop: Sir, Puruay is neither with you now for the benefice that ye gaue him, nor he hol∣deth faythfully with the learning that he taught and writ before time: and thus he sheweth himselfe neither to be hot nor colde, and therfore he and his felowes, may sore droad, that if they turne not hastily to the way that they haue for∣saken: peraduēture they be put out of the number of Chri∣stes chosen people.

¶ And the Archbishop sayde: Though Puruay be now a false harlot, I quite me to him: But come he more for suche cause before me (or we part) I shall know with whom he holdeth. But I say to thee: which are these holy men and wise, of whom thou hast taken thine information?

☞ And I sayd:* 3.21 Syr, Maister Iohn Wickliffe was holden of full many men, the greatest clearke that they knew then liuing, and therwith he was named a passing ruely man & an innocent in his liuing: and herefore, great men commu∣ned oft with him, and they loued so his learning, that they writt it, & busily inforced them to rule themselues thereaf∣ter. Therfore sir, this foresayd learning of M. Iohn Wick∣liffe, is yet holden of full many men and women, the most agreable learning vnto the liuing and teaching of Christ & of his Apostles, and most opēly shewing & declaring how the church of Christ hath bene and yet should be ruled and gouerned. Therfore, so many men and women couet thys learning and purpose,* 3.22 through Gods grace, to cōforme their liuing like to this learning of Wickliff. M. Iohn A∣ston taught & writ accordingly, and full busily, where and when, and to whom that he might, and he vsed it himselfe right perfectly vnto his liues end. And also Philip of Rā∣pington while he was a Canō of Lecester. Nicholas Here¦ford, Dauy Gotray of Pakring Monke of Byland and a Maister of Diuinitye, and Iohn Puruay and many other which were holden right wise men & prudent, taught and writ busily this foresayd learning, & cōformed them there∣to. And with all these men, I was oft right homely & com∣muned with them long time and oft: and so before al other men I those willingly to be informed of them and by thē, and specially of wickliffe himselfe, as of the most vertuous and godly wise man that I heard of or knew. And therfore of him specially and of these men I tooke the learning that I haue taught: and purpose to liue thereafter (if God wil) to my liues end. For though some of those mē be contrary to the learning that they taught before, I wote well that their learning was true which they taught: and therefore with the helpe of God I purpose to hold and to vse y^t lear∣nyng which I heard of them, while they fate on Moyses chayre, & specially while that they sat on y^• chayre of Christ. But after y^t workes that they now do, I will not doe with Gods helpe. For they feyne, and hide, & contrary y^t trueth, which before they taught out playnely and truly. For as I know well, when some of those men haue bene blamed for their slaunderous doyng: they graunt not that they haue taught a misse or erred before time, but that they we••e con∣strayned by payne to leaue to tell out the soth, & thus they chuse now rather to blaspheme God, then to suffer a while here persecution bodely, for sothfastnesse that Christ shedde out his hart bloud for.

¶ And the Archbishop sayd:* 3.23 That learning that thou cal∣lest truth and sothfastnes, is open slaunder to holy church, as it is proued of holy Church. For albeit, that Wickleffe your author was a great clerke, and though that many mē held him a perfect liuer: yet his doctrine is not approued of holy church, but many sentences of his learning are dam∣ned as they well worthy are.* 3.24 But as touching Philip of Rampington, that was first Chanon, and after Abbor of Leicester, which is now Bishop of Lincolne: I tell thee, that the day is commē, for which he fast the euen. For nei∣ther he holdeth nowe, nor will holde, the learning that hee taught, when he was a Canon of Leicester. For no byshop of this land pursueth nowe more sharpely them that holde thy way, then he doth.

☞ And I sayd:* 3.25 Sir full many men and women wonde∣reth vpō him, and speaketh him mikle shame, and holdeth him for a cursed enemy of the truth.

¶ And the Archbish. sayd to me: Wherfore taryest thou me thus here with suche fables, wilt thou shortly (as I haue sayd to thee) submit thee to me or no?

☞ And I sayd: Sir I tell you at one word, I dare not for the dread of God submit me to you, after the tenour & sen∣tence tharye haue aboue rehearsed to me.

And thus as if he had be••e wroth, he sayd to one of his clerkes. Fetch hether quickly, the certification that came to me ••rō Shrewsbury vnder the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 seale witnessing the errors and heresyes, which this Losel hath venunous∣ly sowne there.

Then hastely the clarke tooke out and layde forth on a cupbord, diuers rolles and writinges, among which there was a litle one, which the clarke deliuered to the Archby∣shop. And by and by the Archbishop read this roll contey∣ning this sentence.

The third sonday after Easter,* 3.26 the yeare of our Lorde 1407. William Thorpe came vnto the towne of Shrews∣bury, and thorow leaue graunted vnto him to preache: He sayd openly in S. Chaddes church in his sermon, that the sacrament of the aulter, after the consecration, was mate∣riall bread. And that images, should in no wise be worship¦ped. And that mē should not go on pilgrimages. And that priestes haue no title to tithes. And that it is not lawful for to sweare in any wise.

¶ And when the Archbishop had red thus this roll,* 3.27 he rol∣led it vp agayne, and sayd to me. Is this wholesome lear∣ning to be among the people?

☞ And I sayd to him: Sir I am both ashamed on theyr behalf, and right sorowful for them that haue certified you these thinges thus vntruelye: for I preached neuer, nor taught thus priuily nor apertly.

¶ And the Archbishop sayd to me, I will geue credence to these worshipfull men which haue written to me, and wit∣nessed vnder theyr scales there amōg them. Though now thou denyest this,* 3.28 weenest thou that I will geue credence to thee? Thou Losell, hast troubled the worshipfull com∣munalty of Shrewsbury, so that the Balifes and commi∣nalty of that towne haue writtē to me, praying me that am Archbishop of Cant. primate and Chancellor of England, that I will vouchsafe to graunt them: that if thou shalt be made (as thou art worthy) to suffer open iouresse for thine heresies, that thou may haue thy iouresse openlye there a∣mong them: So that all they whome thou and suche other Losels haue there peruerted,* 3.29 may thorow feare of thy deed be reconciled agayne to the vnity of holy Church. And also they that stand in true fayth of holy Church, may thorow thy deed be more established therein. And as if this asking well pleased y^• Archbishop, he sayd. By my thrift, this har∣ty prayer, and feruent request, shall be thought on.

But certaynely, nother y^• prayer of the men of Shrews∣bury, nor the manassing of the Archbishoppe made me any thing afrayd. But in rehearsing of this malice, and in the hearing of it,* 3.30 my hart greatly reioysed, & yet doth. I thank God for the grace, that I then thought, and y••t think shall come to all the Church of God here thorow, by the speciall mercifull doing of the Lord. And as hauing no dread of the malice of tyrantes, by trusting stedfastly in the helpe of the Lord, with full purpose for to knowledge the sothfastnes,

and to stand therby after my cunning and power: I said to the Archbishop, Sir if the truth of Gods word might now be accepted as it should be, I doubt not to proue by likely euidence, that they that are famed to be out of the fayth of holy Church in Shrewsbury,* 3.31 & in other places also, are in the true fayth of holy Church. For as theyr wordes found, and theyr workes shew to mans iudgement (dreading and louing faythfully God) theyr will, their desire, ther loue & theyr busines are most set to dread, to offend God, & to loue for to please him in true & faythfull keeping of his cōmaū∣dementes. And agayne, they that are sayd to be in the faith of holy Church in Shrewsbury & in other places, by open euidence of their proud, enuious, malicious, couetous, le∣cherous, and other foule words & workes: neither know, nor haue wil to know, nor to occupy their wits truely and effectuously in the right fayth of holy Church. Wherefore all these, nor none that folow theyr maners, shall any time come verely in the fayth of holy church, except they inforce them more truely to come in the way which now they de∣spise. For these men and women that are now called faith∣full and holden iust, nother know, nor will exercise thēselfe to know (of faythfulnes) one commaundement of God.

And thus full many men and womē now, and special∣ly mē that are named to be principall lims of holy church, styree God to great wrath, & deserue his curse for that they call or hold them iust mē, which are full vniust, as their vi∣cious wordes, their great customable swearing, and theyr slaunderous and shamefull works shew openly and wit∣nes. And therfore, such vicious men & vniust in theyr own confusion, call them vniust men & womē, which after their power and cunning busy themselues to liue iustly after the cōmaundement of God. And where sir ye say, that I haue distroubled the cōminalty of Shrewsbury, & many other men and women with my teaching: If it this be, it is not to be wondred of wise men,* 3.32 since all the communalty of y^t City of Ierusalem was distroubled of Christes own per∣son, that was very God and man, and most prudent prea∣cher that euer was or shalbe. And also all the Sinagoge of Nazareth was moued agaynst Christ, & so fulfilled with ire towards him for his preaching, that the men of the Si∣nagoge rose vp and cast Christ out of theyr City, & led him vp to the top of a moūtayn for to cast him down there head¦ling. Also accordingly hereto, the Lord witnesseth by Moi∣ses, that he shall put dissention betwixt his people, and the people that cōtrarieth and pursueth his people. Who sir is he, that shall preach the truth of Gods word to the vnfaith full people, and shall set the sothfastnes of the Gospell, and the prophecy of God almighty to be fulfilled?

¶ And the Archbishop sayd to me. It foloweth of these thy wordes, that thou and such other thinkest: that ye do right well for to preach and teach as ye do, without authority of any Bishop. For ye presume, that the Lord hath chosē you onely for to preach, as faythful disciples and speciall folow∣ers of Christ.

* 3.33☞ And I sayd: Syr by authority of Gods law and also of Sayntes and Doctors I am learned to deme, that it is e∣uery Priestes office and duty for to preach busilye, freely & truely the word of God. For no doubt euery Priest should purpose first in his soule, & couer to take the order of priest∣hood chiefly for to make knowne to the people the word of God, after his cunning and power: approuing his words euey to be true by his vertuous works, and for this intent we suppose that Bishops & other Prelates of holy church, should chiefly take and vse their prelacye, and for the same cause Bishops should geue to Priestes their orders.* 3.34 For Bishops should accept no man to Priesthood, except that he had good wil and f••••l purpose, & were wel disposed, and wel learned to preach. Wherfore sir, by y^e bidding of Christ, & by the example of his most holy liuing, & also by the wit∣nessing of his holy Apostles and Prophets, we are bounde vnder full great payn, to exercise vs after our cunning and power (as euery Priest is likewise charged of God) to ful∣fil duely the office of priesthood. We presume not here of ourselues for to be estemed (neither in our owne reputatiō nor in none other mās) faythful disciples, & special folowers of Christ. But sir, as I sayde to you before, we deeme this by authority chiefly of Gods word, that it is the chief duety of euery priest, to busy thē faythfully to make the law of God knowne to his people, & so to commune the cōmaūdement of God charitably, how that we may best, where, whē, and to whom that euer we may, is our very duety. And for the will & busines that we owe of due debt to do iustly our of∣fice through the styrring and speciall helpe (as we trust) of God,* 3.35 hoping stedfastly in his mercy: we desire to be y^e fayth full disciples of Christ, and we pray this gracious Lord or his holy name, that he make vs able to please him with deuout prayers, & charitably Priestly works, that we may obtaine of him to folow him thankefully.

¶ And the Archbishop sayd to me: L••ud losell, whereto makest thou such vayne reasons to me? Asu••••h not Saynt Paule,* 3.36 how shoulde Priestes preache, except they be sent? But I sent thee neuer to preache. For thy venemous doc∣trine is so knowne throughout England, that no Bishop will admitte thee to preache by witnessing of theyr letters. Why thē lewd Idiot, willest thou presume to preach, since thou art not sent nor licensed of thy soueraigne to preache. Sayth not S. Paul, that subiects ough to obey theyr soue∣raignes, and not onely good & vertuous: but also tiraunts that are vicious?

☞ And I sayd to the Archbishop: Sir, as touching your le••ter of licence or other Bishops,* 3.37 which ye say we shoulde haue to witnes that we were able to be sent for to preache: We know wel that neither you sir, nor any other bishop of this land, wil graūt to vs any such letters of licence, but if we should oblige vs to you, and to other bishops by vnle∣full othes, for to passe not the bondes and termes which ye sir, or other bishops will limit to vs. And since in this mat∣ter your termes be some to large, & some to strait: we dare not oblige vs thus to bee bounden to you for to keepe the termes, which you will limit to vs, as you do to Friers, & such other Preachers.* 3.38 And therefore, though we haue not your letter sir, nor letters of any other bishops writrē with inke vpon parchmēt: we dare not therfore leaue y^e office of preaching (to which preaching, all Priests after their cun∣ning and power are boūd: by diuers testimonies of Gods law, and great Doctors) without any mention making of Bishops letters. For as mikle as we haue taken vpon vs the office of Priesthood (though we are vnworthy thereto) we come and purpose to fulfill it with the helpe of God, by authority of his own law, and by witnesse of great doctors and Sayntes, accordingly hereto trusting stedfastly in the mercy of God.* 3.39 For that he commaūdeth vs to do the office of Priesthood, he will be our sufficient letters and witnes, if we by example of his holy liuing and teaching, specially occupy vs faythfully to do our office iustly: yea y^t people to whom we preach (be they faythfull or vnfaythfull) shall be our letters, that is our witnesse bearers: for y^e truth where it is sowne, may not be vnwitnessed. For all y^t are conuer∣ted & saued by learning of Gods word, & by working thereafter: are witnes bearers: that the trueth and sothfastnesse which they heard and did after, is cause of theyr saluation. And agayne, all vnfaythfull men and women which heard the truth told out to them, and would not do therafter: also all they that might haue heard the truth, & would not hear it, because that they would not do therafter.

All these shall beare witnes agaynst themselues, & the truth which they woulde not heare, or els heard it & despi∣sed to do therafter, through theyr vnfaythfulnes, is & shal∣be cause of theyr damnation. Therfore sir, since this afore∣sayd witnessing of God, and of diuers Sayntes and Doc∣tors, & of al the people good & euill, suffiseth to al true prea∣chers: we thinke that we doe not the office of Priesthood, if that we leaue our preaching, because that we haue not, or may not haue duely Bishops letters, to witnesse that we are sent of them to preach. This sentence approueth Saint Paul, where he speaketh of himselfe, & of faithfull Apostles and disciples saying thus. We need no letters of commen∣datiō as some preachers do, which preach for couetousnesse of temporall goods,* 3.40 and for mens praysing. And where ye say Syr, that Paule biddeth subiectes obey theyr souerai∣gnes, that is soth, and may not be denied. But there is two maner of soueraignes, vertuous soueraignes and vicious tyrauntes.* 3.41 Therfore, to these last soueraignes, neither mē nor womē that be subiect, owe to obey in two maners. To vertuous soueraignes & charitable, subiectes owe to obey wilfully and gladly, in hearing of their good counsel, in cō∣senting to their charitable biddinges. and in working after their fruitfull workes.

This sentence Paul approueth where he sayth to sub∣iectes. Be ye mindefull of your soueraignes, that speake to you the word of God, & follow you the fayth of thē, whose cōuersation you know to be vertuous. For as Paul sayth, after these soueraignes, to whom subiectes owe to obey in following of the maners: worke besely in holy studying, how they may withstand and destroy vices, first in thēsel∣ues, and after in all their subiectes, and how they may best plāt in them vertues. Also these soueraignes, make deuout and feruēt prayers for to purchase grace of God, that they and their subiects may ouer all thing, dread to offend hym, and to loue for to please him. Also these soueraignste whō Paul biddeth vs obey, as it is said before, liue so vertuous∣ly: that all they that will liue well, may take of them good example, to know & to keep the cōmaundements of God. But in this foresayd wise, subiectes ought not to obey nor

to be obedient to tyrantes, while they are vitious tyrants, since their will,* 3.42 their counsell, their biddinges, and theyr workes are so vicious, that they ought to be hated & lefte. And though such tyrantes be maisterfull and cruel in boa∣s••ing and manasing, in oppressions & diuers punishinges: S. Peter biddeth the seruauntes of such tyrauntes, to obey meekely such tyrantes, sufferinges paciently their maliti∣ous cruelnes. But Peter counselleth not any seruaunt or subiect, to obey to any Lord or Prince, or soueraign in any thing that is not pleasing to God.

¶ And the Archbishop sayd vnto me. If a soueraigne byd his subiect do that thing that is vitious, this soueraygne herein is to blame: but the subiect for his obedience, deser∣ueth meede of God. For obedience pleaseth more to God, than any sacrifice.

☞ And I sayd. Samuell the Prophet sayd to Saule the wicked king, that God was more pleased with y^t obediēce of his commaundement, then with any sacrifice of beastes. But Dauid saieth, and S. Paule, and S. Gregory accor∣dingly together,* 3.43 that not onely they that do euill, are wor∣thy of death and damnation: but also they that cōsent to e∣uill doers. And sir, the law of holy Church teacheth in the decrees, that no seruant to his Lord, nor childe to the father or mother, nor wife to her husband, nor monke to his Ab∣bot, ought to obey, except in lefull things, and lawfull.

¶ And the Archbishop said to me. All these alledgings that thou bringest forth,* 3.44 are not els but proude presumptuous∣nesse. For hereby thou inforcest thee to proue, that thou and such other are so iust, that ye ought not to obey to Prelats. And thus against the learnyng of S. Paule that teacheth you not to preach, but if ye were sent: of your owne autho∣ritie, ye will go forth and preach, and do what ye lift.

☞ And I saide. Syr, presenteth not euery Priest the office of the Apostles, or the office of the disciples of Christ? And the Archbishop sayd, yea.

And I sayde. Syr, as the x. chapt. of Mathew, and the last chapter of Marke witnesseth: Christ sent his Apostles for to preach. And the x. chapter of Luke witnesseth, that Christ sent his two and seuēty disciples for to preach, in e∣uery place that Christ was to come to. And S. Gregorie in the cōmon law saith, that euery man that goeth to priest hoode,* 3.45 taketh vpon him the office of preaching: For as hee sayth, that Priest stirreth God to great wrath, of whose mouth is not heard the voyce of preaching. And as other more gloses vpon Ezechiell, witnesse: that the Prieste that preacheth not busilye to the people, shall be partaker of their damnation that perish through his default. And though the people be saued by other speciall grace of God then by the Priestes preaching,* 3.46 yet the Priests, in that they are ordeined to preach, and preach not, as before God, they are manslears. For as farre as in them is, such Priests as preach not busily and truely, sleyeth all the people ghostly: in that they withholde from them the word of God, that is life and sustenaunce of mens soules. And Saynt Hydore sayd, Priestes shall be damned, for wickednesse of the peo∣ple, if they teach not them that are ignoraunt, or blame not them that are sinners. For all the worke or businesse of Priestes,* 3.47 standeth in preaching and teaching, that they e∣dify all men, as well by cunning of fayth, as by discipline of workes, that is vertuous teaching. And as the Gospell witnesseth: Christ sayd in his teaching. I am borne & comē into this world, to beare witnesse to the truth, and he that is of the truth, heareth my voyce.

Then Sir, since by the word of Christ specially, that is his voyce,* 3.48 Priestes are commaunded to preache: whatsoe∣uer priest that it be, that hath not good wil and full purpose to doe thus, and ableth not himselfe after his cunning and power to doe his office by the example of Christ and of hys Apostles: whatsoeuer other thing that he doth displeaseth God. For loe, S. Gregory sayth, that thing left, that a man is bound chiefly to do, whatsoeuer other thing that a man doth: it is vnthankfull to the holy ghost: and therfore sayth Lincolne. The Priest that preacheth not the word of God, though he be seene to haue none other defaulte, he is Anti∣christ and Sathanas, a night theefe, and a day theefe, a sley∣er of foules, and an aungel of light turned into darckenes. Wherefore Syr, these authorityes and other well conside∣red, I deme my selfe damnable, if I either for pleasure or displeasure of any creature, apply me not diligētly to prech the word of God. And in the same damnation I deeme all those Priestes, which of good purpose and will, enforce thē not busily to do thus, & also all them that haue purpose or will to let any Priest of this busines.

¶ And the Archbishop sayde to those 3. Clerkes that stoode before him. Lo Syrs, this is the maner and busines of this Losell and such other, to picke out such sharpe sentences of holy Scripture and Doctours, to mayntayne theyr sect & lore agaynst the ordinaunce of holy Church. And therefore Losell, it is thou that couetest to haue agayne the Psalter that I made to be taken frō thee at Caunterbury, to record sharpe verses agaynst vs. But thou shalt neuer haue that Psalter, nor none other booke, till that I know y^t thy hart & thy mouth accordfully, to be gouerned by holy Church.

☞ And I sayd: Syr,* 3.49 all my will and power is, & euer shal be (I trust to God) to be gouerned by holy Church.

¶ And the Archbishop asked me, what was holy Church.

☞ And I sayd: Syr, I tolde you before, what was holye Church. But since ye aske me this demaund: I call Christ and his Saintes holy Church.

¶ And the Archbishoppe sayd vnto me. I wore well that Christ and his Saintes are holy Churche in heauen, but what is holy Church in earth?

☞ And I sayd: Syr, though holy Churche be euery one in charity, yet it hath two partes. The first and pricipall part, hath ouercomen perfectly all the wretchednesse of this life, and raigneth ioyfully in heauen with Christ. And the other part is here yet in earth, busily & continually fighting day and night agaynst temptations of the fiend: forsaking and hating the prosperity of this world, dispising and withstā∣ding theyr fleshly lustes, which onely are the pilgrimes of Christ, wandring toward heauen by stedfast fayth & groū∣ded hope, and by perfect charity. For these heauenly pilgri∣mes, may not, nor will not, be letted of their good purpose, by the reasō of any doctors discording from holy scripture, nor by the floudes of any tribulation temporall, nor by the wind of any pride, of boast, or of manasing of any creature: For they are all fast grounded vpon the sure stone Christ, hearing his word and louing it, exercising them faithfully and continually in all their wittes to do therafter.

And the Archbishop sayd to his Clerkes. See ye not how his hart is indurate, and how he is trauelled with the deuill occupying him thus busily to alledgr suth sentences to mayntaine his errours and heresies? Certayne, thus he would occupy vs here all day, if we would suffer him.

One of the clerkes aunswered,* 3.50 Sir, he sayd right now that this certification that came to you from Shrewsbury, is vntruely forged agaynst him. Therefore sir, appose you him nowe heare in all y^t points which are certified against him, & so we shall heare of his own mouth his answeres, and witnesse them.

And the Archb. took the certification in his hand, & loo∣ked theron a while, and then he sayd to me.

Loe here it is certified against thee by worthy men and faithfull of Shrewsbury, that thou preachedst there openly in S. Chads church: that the Sacramēt of the aultar was material bread after the consecratiō, what sayst thou? was this truely preached?* 3.51

☞ And I sayd: Sir, I tell you truly y^t I touched nothing therof the sacrament of y^e aultar, but in this wise, as I will with Gods grace tel you here. As I stood there in the pul∣pit, busiyng me to teach the commaundemēt of God: there knilled a sacring bel, & therfore mickle people turned away hastily, and with noyse ran fro towardes me. And I seing this, sayd to them thus: Good men ye were better to stand here still and to heare Gods word.* 3.52 For certes the vertue & the mede of the most holy Sacrament of the aultar stādeth mikle more in the beliefe therof y^t ye ought to haue in your soule, thē it doth in the outward sight therof. And therfore, ye were better to stand still quietly to heare gods word, be∣cause that through y^e hearing therof, mē come to very true belief. And otherwise sir, I am certaine I spake not there, of the worthy sacrament of the aultar.

¶ And the Archb. sayd to me: I beleeue thee not whatsoe∣uer thou sayst, since so worshipful mē haue witnessed thus agaynst thee.* 3.53 But since thou deniest that thou sayedst thus there, what sayst thou now? Resteth there after the conse∣cration in the host, materiall bread or no?

☞ And I sayd: sir I know in no place in holy Scripture where this terme materiall bread is written: and therfore sir, whē I speak of this matter, I vse not to speake of ma∣teriall bread.

¶ Then the Archb. sayd to me: Now teachest thou men to beleue in this sacrament?

☞ And I sayd: Syr, as I beleeue my selfe, so I teach other men.

¶ He sayd, tell out playnely thy beliefe thereof.

☞ And I sayd with my protestation: Sir, I beleeue that the night before that Christ Iesu woulde suffer (wilfully) passiō for mankind on the morne after: he took bread in his holy and most worshipfull hands, lifting vp his eyes, and giuyng thankes to God his father, blessed this bread and brake it, and gaue it to his disciples, saying to them: Take and eate of this all you, this is my body. And that this is & ought to be all mens beliefe, Mathew, Marke, Luke and

Paule witnesseth. Other beliefe Sir I haue none, nor wil haue, nor teach: for I beleue, that this suffiseth in this mat∣ter. For in this beliefe with Gods grace I purpose to liue and dye, knowledging as I beleue and teach other men to beleue that the worshipfull Sacrament of the aultar, is the Sacrament of Christes flesh and his bloud, in forme of bread and of wine.

¶ And the Archb. sayd to me. It is sooth that this Sacra∣ment is very Christes body in forme of bread. But thou & thy sect teachest it to be substance of bread. Thinke you this true teaching?

☞ And I sayd: Neither I, nor any other of the sect that ye damne, teach any otherwise then I haue tolde you, nor beleue otherwise to my knowing. Neuertheles sir, I aske of you for charity, that ye will tell me here playnly, how ye shall vnderstand the text of Saint Paule, where he sayth thus: This thing fele you in your self that is in Christ Ie∣su, while he was in the forme of god. Sir, calleth not Paul here the forme of God, the substance or kinde of God? Also sir, sayth not the church in the houres of y^e most blessed vir∣gin accordingly hereto, where it is writtē thus? Thou au∣thor of health remember, that sometime thou tooke of y^e vn∣defiled virgine, the forme of our body. Tell me for charitye therefore, whether the forme of our body, be called here the kinde of our body or no?

* 3.54¶ And the Archb. sayde to me: Wouldest thou make me to declare this text after thy purpose, since the Church nowe hath determined: that there abideth no substaunce of bread after the consecration, in the sacrament of the aultar? Bele∣uest thou not this ordinaunce of the church?

☞ And I sayd: Sir, whatsoeuer Prelates haue ordeyned in the Church, our beliefe standeth euer whole. I haue not heard, that the ordinaunce of men vnder beliefe, should bee put into beliefe.

¶ And the Archb. sayd to me: If thou hast not learned this before, learne now to know that thou art out of beliefe. If in this matter and other, thou beleauest not as the holye Church beleueth. What say Doctors treating of this Sa∣crament?

* 3.55☞ And I sayd: Sir, S. Paule that was a great Doctor of holy Church, speaking to the people, and teaching thē in y^e right belief of this most holy Sacrament: calleth it bread y^t we breake. And also in the Canon of the masse after the cō∣secratiō: this most worthy Sacramēt is called holy bread. And euery priest in this lād, after that he hath receiued this sacrament, sayth in this wise: That thing that we haue ta∣ken with our mouth, we pray God that we may take it w^t a pure and clean mind. That is as I vnderstand, we pray God that we may receiue throw very beliefe, this holy sa∣crament worthely.* 3.56 And Sir, Saint Augustine sayth: that thing that is seene, is bread: but that mens fayth asketh to be informed of, is very Christes body. And also, Fulgence an ententife Doctour, sayth: As it were an errour to say that Christ was but a substaunce, that is very man, and not very GGD: or to say that Christ was very God, and not very man: so is it (this Doctour sayth) an errour to say, that the Sacrament of the aultar is but a substaunce: And also Sir, accordingly hereto, in the secret of the midde Masse on Christmas day,* 3.57 it is written thus: Idem refulsit Deus, sic terrena substantia nobis conferat quod diuinum est: which sentence sir, with the secret of the fourth fery, quatu∣or temporum Septembris: I pray you sir declare here openly in English.

* 3.58¶ And the Archbishop sayd to me, I perceiue well enough where about thou art, and how the deuil blindeth thee, that thou may not vnderstand the ordinaunce of holy Church, nor consent therto. But I commaund thee now, aunswere me shortly: Beleuest thou that after the consecratiō of this foresayd Sacrament: there abideth substaunce of breade, or not?

☞ and I sayd: Sir, as I vnderstand it is all one to graūt or beleue, that there dwelleth substance of bread, & to graūt and to beleue that this most worthy sacrament of Christes owne body is accidēt without subiect.* 3.59 But Sir, for as mi∣kle as your asking passeth my vnderstanding, I dare nei∣ther deny it nor graūt it, for it is schole matter, about whi∣che I busied me neuer for to know: & therfore I committe this terme accidens sine subiecto, to those Clerkes which de∣light them so in curious and subtle sophistry, because they determine oft so difficult and straūge matters, & wade and wander so in them from argument to argument, w^t pro & contra,* 3.60 till that they wot not where they are, & vnderstand not thēselues. But the shame that these proude Sophisters haue to yelde them to men, and before men, maketh thē oft fooles and to be concluded shamefully before God.

¶ And the archb. said to me: I purpose not to oblige thee to the subtle arguments of clerks, since thou art vnable ther∣to: but I purpose to make thee obey to the determination of holy Church.

☞ And I sayd: sir, by open euidence and great witnesse, a M. yeare after the incarnation of Christ, the determinati∣on which I haue here before you rehearsed, was accept of holy Church as sufficient to the saluation of all them that would beleue it faythfully,* 3.61 and work thereafter charitably. But Sir, the determination of this matter whiche was brought in since the fiend was loosed by Frier Thomas a∣gayne, specially calling the most worshipfull Sacramēt of Christes owne body an accident without subiect:* 3.62 whiche terme, since I know not that Gods lawe approueth it in this matter, I dare not graūt, but vtterly I deny to make this Friers sentence, or any such other, my beliefe, do with me God what thou wilt.

¶ And the Archb. sayd to me:* 3.63 Wel, wel, thou shalt say other¦wise or that I leaue thee. But what sayest thou to this se∣cond point that is recorded agaynst thee by worthy men of Shrewsbury, saying that thou preachedst there, that Ima∣ges ought not to be worshipped in any wise.

☞ And I sayd: Syr, I preached neuer thus, nor through gods grace I wil not any time consent to think nor to say thus, neyther priuily nor apertly. For lo, the Lord witnes∣seth by Moses, that the thinges which he made were right good, and so then they were, and yet they are & shalbe good and worshipfull in theyr kind. And therfore, to the end that God made them to, they are al praisable and worshipful, & specially man that was made after the image & likenesse of God,* 3.64 is full worshipfull in hys kinde, yea this holy image that is man, God worshippeth. And herefore euery man should worship other, in kinde, and also for heauenly ver∣tues that mē vse charitably. And also I say, wood, tin, gold siluer, or any other matter that images are made of: al these creatures are worshipful in their kinde, and to the end that God made them for.* 3.65 But the caruing, casting, & payntyng of an imagery, made within mans hād, albeit that this do∣yng be accept of man of highest state and dignitie, & orday∣ned of them to be a Calender to lend men, that neyther can nor will be learned to know God in hys word, neyther by his creatures, nor by hys wonderfull & diuers workings: Yet this imagery ought not to be worshipped in fourme, nor in the likenes of mans craft. Neuerthelesse, that euery matter the paynters paynt with since it is Gods creature, ought to be worshipped in the kinde, and to the ende that God made and ordayned it to serue man.

¶ Then the Archbishop sayd to me, I graunt well that no body ought to doe worship to any suche images for them∣selues. But a crucifixe ought to be worshipped for the pas∣sion of Christ that is paynted therein,* 3.66 and so brought there through to mans mind: and thus the images of the blessed Trinitie, and of the Virgine Mary Christes mother, and other images of sayntes,* 3.67 ought to be worshipped. For loe, earthly kinges and Lordes which vse to send theyr letters ensealed with their armes, or with theyr priuy signet to them that are with them, are worshipped of these men. For when these men receiue theyr Lordes letters, in whiche they see and know the willes and biddinges of the Lords in worship of theyr Lordes they doe off theyr caps to these letters. Why not them, since in Images made wyth mans hande, we may read and knowe many diuers thinges of GOD, and of hys Sayntes, shall we not worship their images?

☞ And I sayd,* 3.68 within my foresaid protestation I say, that these worldly vsages of temporal lawes that ye speak now of, may be done in case without sinne. But this is no simi∣litude to worshippe Images made by mans hande, since that Moyses, Dauid, Solomon, Baruch, and other saints in the Bible, forbid so playnely the worshipping of suche Images.

¶ Then the archbishop sayd to me: Leud losell: in the olde law before that Christ tooke mankinde, was no likenes of any person of y^e trinitie, neither shewed to man nor known of man: But nowe since Christ became man, it is lefull to haue Images to shew hys manhoode. Yea though many men which are right great Clerkes & other also, held it an errour to paynt the Trinitie: I say it is well done to make and to paynt the Trinitie in images. For it is great moo∣uing of deuotion to men, to haue and to behold the Trini∣tie and other images of saints, carued, cast, & paynted. For beyond the sea, are the best paynters that euer I saw. And sirs I tell you, this is their maner, and it is a good maner. Whē y^t an Image maker shall carue, cast in molde, or paint any Images, he shall go to a Priest, & shriue him as clean, as if he should then dye: and take penance, and make some certayne vowe of fasting or of praying or pilgrimages do∣ing, praying y^e Priest specially to pray for him, that he may haue grace to make a fayre and a deuout Image.

☞ And I sayd: Sir, I doubt not if these paynters that ye speake of, or any other painters vnderstoode truly the text of Moyses, of Dauid, of y^• wise man, of Baruch, and of o∣ther saints and doctors: These painters should be moued to shrine thē to God w^t ful inward sorowe of hart, taking vpon them to do right sharpe penāce for the sinful & vaine cra••t of painting, caruing, or casting they had vsed: Pro∣mising God faithfully, neuer to do so after: knowledging openly before al men their reprouable learning. And also sir, these priests that shrine (as you do say) painters, & en∣ioine thē to do penance, & pray for their speede, promisyng to thē helpe of their prayers for to be curious in their sin∣ful crafts: sinne herein more greuously, then the painters. For these priests do comfort and geue them, counsail to do that thing, which of great pain, yea vnder y^• pain of gods curse, they should vtterly forbid them. For certes sir, if the wonderful working of God, & the holy liuing & teachyng of Christ, and of his Apostles and Prophetes, were made knowen to the people by holy liuing & true, and busy rea∣ching of priests: these thinges (sir) were sufficient bookes and Kalenders to know God by, & his Saynts, without any images made with mans hand.* 3.69 But certes, y^e vicious liuing of priests and their couetousnes, are chiefe cause of this errour, and all other viciousnes that raygneth amōg the people.

¶ Then the Archbish. sayd vnto me, I hold thee a vicious Priest and a curst, and all them that are of thy sect, for all priests of holy church, & all images that moue men to de∣uotion, thou & such other go about to destroy.* 3.70 Losel, were i•• a faire thing to come into the church and see therin none Image?

☞ And I sayd: sir, they that come to y^• church for to praye deuoutly to the lord God, may in their inward wittes be the more feruent, that al their outwarde wits be closed frō al outward seing & hearing, and frō all disturbance, & let∣tings. And since Christ blessed thē that saw him not bode∣ly, and haue beleued faithfully in him: it suffiseth then to al mē (through hearing and knowing of gods word, and to do thereafter) for to beleue in God,* 3.71 though they see neuer images made with mans hand after any person of y^• Tri∣nitie, or of any other saint.

¶ And the Archb. said to me, with a feruent spirit: I say to thee Iosell that it is right wel done to make and to haue an image of the Trinitie,* 3.72 Yea, what saist thou? is it not a stir∣ring thing to behold such an image?

☞ And I said: Sir, ye said right now that in the old lawe or Christ toke mākind, no likenes of any person of y^e Tri∣nity was shewed to men: wherefore sir, ye said it was not thē leful to haue images, but nowe ye saye, since Christ is becomen mā, it is leful to make & to haue an image of the Trinitie,* 3.73 & also of other saints. But sir, this thing would I learne of you: since y^e father of heauen, yea & euery persō of y^e Trinitie was without beginning God almightye, & many holy prophets that were deadly mē, were martired violētly in the old law, and also many men & women thē died Confessors: Why was it not then as leful & necessary as nowe to haue made an Image of the father of heauen, and to haue made and had other images of Martirs, pro∣phets, and holy Confessors, to haue ben Kalenders to ad∣uise men and moue thē to deuotion, as ye say that images now do?

* 3.74¶ And the Archb. sayd: The sinagogue of the Iewes had not authoritie to approue those thinges as the Church of Christ hath now.

☞ And I sayd: Sir: S. Gregory was a great man in the new lawe, & of great dignity, and as the cōmon law wit∣nesseth, he commended greatly a Bishop, in that he forbad vtterly the Images made with mās hand should be wor∣shipped.

¶ And the Archb. sayd: Ungracious Iosell, y^u sauourest no more truth then an hound. Since at the roode at y^e North∣dore at Londō, at our Lady at Walsingam, & many other diuers places in Englād, are many great & praysable mi∣racles done: should not y^e images of such holy saynts and places,* 3.75 at the reuerence of God & our lady & other saintes be more worshipped then other places and images, wher no miracles are done?

☞ And I said: Sir, there is no such vertue in any image∣ry, that any images should herefore be worshipped, wher fore I am certaine that there is no miracle done of god in any place in earth, because that any images made w^t mans hād should be worshipped. And herfore sir, as I preached openly at Shrewsbury & other places, I say now here be∣fore you: That no body should trust that there were anye vertue in imagery made with mans hand, and therfore no body should vow to thē nor secke them, nor kneele to thē, nor bow to them, nor pray to them, nor offer any thing to them,* 3.76 nor kisse them, nor ensence thē. For lo the most wor∣thy of such images, the brasen Serpent (by Moises made, at Gods bidding) the good K. Ezechie destroied worthely & thankfully, & al because it was ensenced. Therfore sir, if men take good heede to the writing and to the learning of S. Augustine, of S. Gregory, and of Saint Iohn Chriso∣stome, and of other Saints and doctors, howe they spake & write of miracles, that shalbe done now in the last ende of the world: It is to dreyd, that for the vnfaythfulnesse of men & women, the Fiende hath great power, for to work many of the miracles that nowe are done in such places. For both men and women delight now more for to heare and know miracles, then they do know Gods worde, or to heare it effectuously. Wherefore, to the great cōfusion of all them that thus do Christ sayth: The generation of ad∣ulterers requireth tokens,* 3.77 miracles, and wonders. Ne∣uertheles as diuers saints say, now when the faith of god is published in Christendome, the word of God suffyseth to mans saluation, without such miracles: and thus also the worde of God suffiseth to all faythfull men & women, without any such images. But good sir, since the father of heauen that is God in his godhead, is y^e most vnknowen thing that may be, and the most wonderful spirit, hauing in it no shape or likenesse, and members of anye deadlye creature: in what likenes or what image may God the fa∣ther be shewed or painted?

¶ And the Archb. said:* 3.78 as holy church hath suffered the I∣mages of the Trinitie, & al other images to be paynted & shewed: it sufficeth to them y^t are mēbers of holye church. But since thou art a rotten member, cut away from holye church: thou fauorest not the ordinaunce therof. But since the day passeth, leaue we this matter

ANd then he sayd to me:* 3.79 What sayest thou to the third point that is ••••••••••fied against thee, preaching opēly in Shreusbury,* 3.80 that pilgrimage is not lefull: and ouer this, thou saidest that those men and women that go on pilgri∣mages to Canterbury, to Beuerley, to Karlington, to Walsingam, and to any such other places, are accursed and made foolish, spending their goods in waste.

☞ And I said: Sir, by this certification I am accused to you that I should teach,* 3.81 that no pilgrimage is lefull. But I said neuer thus. For I know that there be true pilgri∣mages and lefull, and full pleasant to God: and therfore sir, howsoeuer mine enimies haue certified you of me, I told at Shrewsbury of two maner of pilgrimages.

¶ And the Archbishop said to me, whom callest thou true pilgrimes?

☞ And I said:* 3.82 Sir, with my protestation, I call them true pilgrimes traueling toward y^• blisse of heauen, which in the state, degree, or order that God calleth them to, do busie them faithfullie for to occupie all their wits bodelie and ghostlie, to knowe truelie, and to keepe faithfullie the biddings of God, hating and fleeing all the seauen deadlie sins, and euerie branch of them: Ruling them vertuouslie (as it is said before) with all their wits, doing discretlie, wilfully, and gladly, all the workes of mercy, bodelie and ghostly, after their cunning and power, abling them to the gifts of the holy ghost, disposing them to receiue them in their soules, and to hold therein, the right blessings of Christ: Busieng them to knowe and to keepe, the seauen principall vertues, and so then they shall obteine heere through grace, for to vse thankefully to God, all the con∣ditions of charitie. And then, they shall be moued with the good spirit of God, for to examine oft and diligentlie their conscience, that neither wilfullie nor wittinglie they erre in anie article of beleefe, hauing continually (as frail∣tie will suffer) all their busines, to dread and to flee the of∣fence of God, and to loue ouer all, and to seeke euer to do his pleasant will.* 3.83 Of these pilgrimes I said, what soeuer good thought that they any time thinke, what vertuous word that they speake, and what fruitfull worke that they worke: Euery such thought, word and worke is a step numbred of God, toward him into heauen. These fore∣said pilgrimes of God, delight sore when they heare of Saints or of vertuous men and women, how they for∣sooke wilfully the prosperitie of this life,* 3.84 how they with∣stood the suggestion of the fiend, how they restrained their fleshly lusts, how discret they were in their penance do∣ing, how pacient they were in all their aduersities, how prudent they were in counseling of men and women, mo∣uing them to hate all sinne, and to flie them, and to shame euer greatly thereof, and to loue all vertues, and to drawe to them, imagining how Christ and his followers by ex∣ample of him, suffered scornes and sclaunders, and howe paciently they abode and tooke the wrongful manasing of tyrantes: How homely they were and seruisable to poore men, to relieue and comfort them bodely and ghostly, after

their power and cunning, and how deuout they were in prayers, how feruent they were in heauenly desires, and how they absented them from spectacles of vaine sayings and hearings, and how stable they were to let and to de∣stroy al vices, and how laborious and ioyfull they were, to sowe and to plant vertues. These heauenly conditions and such other, haue pilgrimes, or endeuour them for to haue: whose pilgrimage God accepteth.

And agayne, I sayde, as their workes shewe, the moste part of men and women that goe nowe on pilgrimages, haue not these foresaid conditions, nor loueth to busie thē faythfully for to haue. For as I well knowe, since I haue full oft assayde, examine whosoeuer will xx. of these pyl∣grimes, and he shall not finde three men or women that know surely a commaundement of God, nor can say their Pater noster, & Aue Maria, nor their Creede readely in anye maner of language. And as I haue learned & also knowe somewhat by experience of these same pilgrimes, tellynge the cause, why that many men and women go hether and thether now on pilgrimage: It is more for the health of their bodies, then of their soules: more for to haue ryches and prosperitie of this world, then for to be enriched with vertues in their soules: more to haue here worldly & flesh¦ly frendship, then for to haue frindship of God, and of his saints in heauen. For whatsoeuer thinge man or woman doth,* 3.85 the frendship of God, nor of any other Saint cānot be had, wythout keeping of Gods commaundementes. Further, with my protestation, I say nowe as I sayde in Shrewsbury, though they that haue fleshly willes, trauel farre their bodies and spend mekel money, to seeke and to visite the bones or Images (as they saye they doe) of thys Saint or of that: such pilgrimage going is neither praisa∣ble nor thankful to God nor to any saint of God, synce in effect, al such pilgrimes dispise God and al his cōmaunde∣ments & Saints. For y^t cōmaundemēts of God they will nother know nor keepe, nor cōform thē to liue vertuously by example of Christ and of his Saints.* 3.86 Wh••refore sir, I haue preached and taught openly, and so I purpose al my life time to do with Gods help, saying that such fond peo∣ple waste blamefully Gods goods in their vain pilgrima∣ges, spending their goods vpon vitious hostelars, which are oft vncleane womē of their bodies: & at the least, those goods with the which they should do works of mercy af∣ter Gods bidding, to poore needy men and women.

These poore mens goods and their liuelode, these run∣ners about,* 3.87 offer to riche priestes which haue me kill more liuelode then they neede. And thus those goods they wast wilfully, & spend them vniustly against gods bidding vp∣on straungers, with which, they should helpe and relieue, after Gods wil, their poore nedy neighbors at home: ye & ouer this folly, oft times diuers men and women, of these runners thus madly hether and thither into pilgrimage: borow hereto, other mens gooddes, ye and sometime they stealemens goods hereto, and they pay them neuer again. Also sir, I know wel that when diuers men and women wil go thus after their owne wills, and fyndinge out one pilgrimage: they will ordeyne wyth them before, to haue with them both men and women, that can wel sing wan∣ton songs, and some other pilgrimes, wil haue with them bagge pipes: so that euery town that they come through, what with the noyse of their singing, and with the soūd of their piping, and with the iangling of their Caunterbury bels, and with the barkyng out of dogges after them, that they make more noyce, thē if the king came there away, w^t all his clarions, & many other minstrels. And if these men and women be a month out in their pilgrimage, many of them shall be an halfe yeare after, great ianglers, tale tel∣lers, and lyers.

¶ And y^• Archb. said to me: Leud Iosel, thou seest not farre inough in this matter, for thou considerest not y^• great tra∣uaile of pilgrims:* 3.88 therfore, thou blamest that thing that is praysable. I say to thee, that it is right wel done, that pil∣grimes haue with them both singers and also pipers: that when one of them that goeth barefoote, striketh his to v∣pon a stone, and hurteth him sore, & maketh him to blede: it is well done that he or his felow begin thē a song, or els take out of his bosom a bagpipe, for to driue away w^t suche mirth, the hurt of his fellow. For with such solace, the tra∣uayle and wearynes of pilgrymes, is lightly, and merily borne out.

☞ And I sayd: sir, S. Paule teacheth men to weepe with them that weepe.

¶ And the Archb. said, what ianglest thou against mēs de∣uotion? Whatsoeuer thou or such other say,* 3.89 I say that y^• pil∣grimage that now is vsed, is to thē that do it, a praysable and a good meane to come the rather to grace. But I hold thee vnable to know this grace, for thou enforcest thee to let the deuotion of the people: since by authoritie of holye scripture, men may lefully haue & vse such solace as y^u re∣prouest. For Dauid in his last Psalme, techeth mē to haue diuers instruments of musike for to praise therwith God:

☞ And I saide:* 3.90 sir, by the sentence of diuers Doctours ex∣poūding the psalmes of Dauid: that musike and minstrel∣sie y^t Dauid & other saints of the olde lawe spake of, ought now nother to be taken nor vsed by the letter, but these in∣strumēts with their musike ought to be interpreted ghost¦ly: For al those figures are called vertues and grace, with which vertues men should please god, & praise hys name. For S. Paul sayth: al such things befell to them in figure. Therfore sir, I vnderstād, that the letter of this psalme of Dauid and of such other Psalmes and sentences doth slay them that take thē now litterally. This sentence as I vn∣derstand sir, Christ approueth himself, putting out y^• min∣strels, or that he would quicken the dead damsell.

¶ And y^e Archb. said to me.* 3.91 Lend losel, is it not lefull to vs to haue Organes, in y^e church for to worship there withall God? And I sayd, ye sir, by mans ordinance: But by y^e or∣dinance of God, a good sermon to y^e peoples vnderstāding were mekil more pleasant to God.

☞ And the Archb. said, that Organes and good delectable songs, quickned & sharpened more mēs wits then should any sermon.

¶ But I saide: sir, lusty men & worldly louers, delite and couet & trauail to haue al their wittes quickned & sharpe∣ned w^t diuers sensible solace: But al the the faythful louers and followers of Christ, haue al their delite to heare gods word, and to vnderstand it truely, and to worke therafter faithfully and continually. For no doubt, to dread to offēd God, and to loue to please him in all things quickneth and sharpeneth all the wittes of Christs chosen people: and a∣bleth them so to grace, that they ioy greatly to withdrawe their eares and al their wits and members, frō al world∣ly delite and from all fleshly solace.* 3.92 For S. Ierome (as I thinke) sayth. No body may ioy with this world & raigne with Christ.

☞ And y^e Archb. (as if he had ben displeased w^t mine aun∣swer) said to his clerks. What gesse ye that this Idiot wyll speak there,* 3.93 wher he hath no dread: since he speaketh thus now here in my presence? Wel, wel, by God thou shalt bee ordayned for. And then he spake to me al angerly.

WHat saiest thou to this fourth point,* 3.94 that is certified against thee, preaching openly & boldly in Shrews∣bury, that priests haue no title to tithes.

And I sayd. Sir, I named there no worde of tythes in my preaching. But more then a month after that I was arested: there in prison, a man came to mee into the pry∣son, asking me what I sayd of tythes. And I sayd to him. Sir, in this towne are many clerkes and priests, of which some are called religious mē, though many of them be se∣culars. Therefore, aske ye of them this question. And thys man sayd to me. Syr, our Prelates say, that we also are ob¦liged to pay our tithes of all thinges that renue to vs: and that they are accursed,* 3.95 that withdraw anye part wittingly fro them of their tythes. And I sayd (sir) to that man, as w^t my protestation I say now before you: that I wonder that any priest dare say, men to be accursed, without the ground of Gods word, And the man said. Syr our priests say, that they curse men thus by authoritie of Gods law. And I said Sir I know not where this sentence of cursing is autho∣rised now in the Bible. And therefore syr, I pray you that ye will aske the most cunning clerke of this town, that yee may know wher this sentēce of cursing thē y^t tithe not, is now writtē in gods law: for if it were writtē there, I wold right gladly be learned wher. But shortly this mā would not go fro me, to aske this questiō, of an other body: But required me there, as I would aunswer before God, if in this case, that cursing of priests were lawfull & approued of God? And shortly herewith came to my mind the lear∣ning of S. Peter, teaching priests specially to halowe the Lord Christ in their harts: being euermore redy (as farre as in them is) to aunswer thorough faith and hope to thē that aske of them a reason. And this lesson Peter teacheth men to vse with a meeke spirit & with dread of the Lord. Wherefore sir, I said to this man in this wise. In the old law,* 3.96 which ended not fully, till the time that Christ rose vp againe from death to life: God cōmanded tithes to be gi∣uen to the Leuits, for the great busines and daily trauaile that perteined to their office. But priests, because their tra∣uel was mekil more easy & light, then was the office of the Leuits: God ordeined y^• priests should take for their liue∣lode to do their office, the tenth part of those tithes y^t were giuen to y^e Leuits. But now (I said) in the new law, nei∣ther Christ nor any of his apostles tooke tithes of y^e people

nor cōmanded the people to pay tithes, neither to Priests nor to deacons.* 3.97 But Christ taught the people to do almes, that is, works of mercy, to poore needie men (of surplus, that is superfluous of their temporall goods) which they had, more then them needed reasonably to their necessarie liueloode. And thus (I sayde) not of tithes, but of pure almes of the people, Christ liued and his Apostles: when they were so busy in preaching of the word of God to the people, y^• they might not trauell otherwise for to get their liueloode. But after Christes ascension, and when the A∣postles had receiued the holy Ghost: they trauayled wyth their hands, for to get their liuelode, whē that they might thus do for busy preaching. Therefore by example of him∣selfe, S. Paule teacheth al the priestes of Chryst for to tra∣uaile with their hand, when for busy teaching of the peo∣ple they might thus do. And thus, all these Priests whose priesthode God accepteth now, or will accept, or did in the Apostles time, and after their discease: wil do to y^e worlds end. But (as Cisterciensis telleth) in the thousand yeare of our Lord Iesus Christ. 211. yeare, one Pope the x. Grego∣ry ordeined new tithes first to be geuen to priestes now in the new law.* 3.98 But Saint Paule in his tyme, whose trace or example all Priestes of God enforce them to follow, se∣ing the couetousnes that was among the people, desiring to destroy the soule sinne through the grace of God & true vertuous liuing and example of himselfe: wrote & taught all priestes for to follow him as he followed Christ, pacy∣ently, willingly, and gladly in hygh pouerty: Wherefore, Paule sayth thus.* 3.99 The Lord hath ordeyned that they that preach the Gospell, shall lyue of the Gospel. But we (saith Paul) that couet and busye vs to be faythfull followers of Christ, vse not this power. For lo (as Paul witnesseth af∣terward) when he was full poore and needy, preaching a∣mong the people: he was not chargeous vnto them, but wyth hys handes he trauayled not onely to get his owne lyuing, but also the lyuing of other poore and needye crea∣tures. And since the people was neuer so couetous, nor so auarous (I gesse) as they are nowe: It were good counsell that al priests toke hede to this heauenly learning of Paul following him herein wilful pouerty, nothyng chargyng y^e people for their bodily liueloode. But because that many Priests do contrary to Paule in this foresayde doctrine: Paul biddeth the people take hede to those priests that fo∣low him as he had geuē them example. As if Paul would say thus to the people: Accept ye none other Priests then they, that liue after the forme that I haue taught you. For certain, in whatsoeuer dignity or order y^• any Priest is in, if he conforme him not to follow Christ & his Apostles in wilful pouerty, & in other heauenly vertues, and specially in true preaching of Gods word: though such a one be na∣med a Priest,* 3.100 yet he is no more but a priest in name, for the worke of a very Priest, in such a one wanteth. This sen∣tence approueth Augustine, Gregory, Chrisostom, & Lim∣colne plainly.

¶ And the Archb. saide to me. Thinkest thou this whole∣some learning for to sow openly, or yet priuily among the people? Certein, this doctrine contrarieth plainly y^e ordy∣nance of holy fathers which haue ordeined, graunted, & li∣cenced priests to be in diuers degrees, & to liue by tithes & offrings of the people, and by other dueties.

☞ And I said, sir, if priests were now in measurable mea∣sure & number, and liued vertuously, & taught busilye and truly the word of God, by example of Christ & of his apo∣stles, without tithes, offrings, & other dueties that priests now chalenge & take: the people would geue them freely, sufficient liuelode.

¶ And a clerke said to me. How wilt thou make this good, that the people will geue freely to priestes their liuelode: since that now by the law euery priest cā scarcely cōstraine the people to geue them their liuelode.

☞ And I said. Sir it is now no wonder though the peo∣ple grudge to geue priests the liuelode that they aske: Me∣kil people know now, how y^t priests should liue, & howe that they liue contrarye to Christ & to his Apostles. And therfore, the people is ful heauy to pay (as they doe) their temporal goods to parsons and to other vicares & priests, which should be faythfull dispensatours of the parishes goodes: taking to thēselues no more, but a scarce liuing of tithes, nor of offrings, by the ordinance of the cōmon law. For whatsoeuer priests take of the people (be it tithe or of∣fering, or any other duety or seruice) the priests ought not to haue thereof no more, but a bare liuing: & to depart the residue to the poore men & womē specially of the parish of whom they take this temporal liuing. But y^e most dele of priests nowe wasteth their parishes goodes, and spendeth them at their owne wil after the world, in ther vain lusts: So that in few places poore mē haue duly (as they should haue) their own sustenāce, nother of tithes nor of offrings nor of other large wages & foundations that priests take of the people in diuers maners aboue y^t they nede for nede full sustenance of meat & clothing.* 3.101 But the poore nedy peo∣ple are forsaken and left of Priests to be sustayned o•• y^e pa∣rishens, as if the priests toke nothing of the parishers for to helpe the people with.

And thus sir, into ouer great charges of the parishens they pay their tēporal goods twice where once myght suf∣fice, if priests were true dispensatours. Also sir, the parish∣ners that pay their temporal goods (be they tithes or offe∣rings) to priests that do not their office amōg them iustly are parteners of euery sinne of those Priests:* 3.102 because that they sustaine those priestes folly in their sinne, with their temporal goods. If these things be well considered, what wonder is it thē sir, if the parishners grudge against these dispensators?

¶ Then the Archb. said to me,* 3.103 Thou that shouldst be iud∣ged & ruled by holy church, presumptuously thou deemest holy church to haue erred in the ordinance of tithes & other dueties to be paid to priests. It shal be long or thou thriue Losel, that thou despisest thy ghostly mother. How darest thou speake this (Losel) among the people? Are not tithes geuen to priests for to liue by?

☞ And I said:* 3.104 Sir S. Paule saith, that tithes were geuen in the old law to Leuites and to Priests, that came of the linage of Leuy. But our priests he sayth, came not of the linage of Leuy, but of the linage of Iuda, to whych Iuda no tithes were promised to be geuen. And therfore Paule saith, since the priesthode is chaūged from y^e generation of Leuy to the generation of Iuda: It is necessary that chā∣ging also be made of the law. So that priests liue now, w^t out tithes & other duety that they now claime, following Christ & his Apostles in wilfull pouerty, as they haue ge∣uē thē example.* 3.105 For since Christ liued (all the tyme of hys preaching) by pure almes of the people. And by example of him, his Apostles liued in the same wise, or els by y^e tra∣uaile of their hāds as it is sayd aboue. Euery priest, whose priesthode Christ approueth, knoweth wel, & confesseth in worde and in worke, that a disciple ought not to be aboue his maister, but it sufficeth to a disciple to bee as hys mai∣ster, simple, and pure, meke and pacient: and by example specially of his maister Christ, euerye Priest shoulde rule him in al his liuing, & so after his cūning & power, a priest should busy him to enforme and to rule, whom so euer hee might charitably.

¶ And the Archbish. said to me with a great spirite,* 3.106 Gods curse haue thou & mine for this teachinge: for thou woul∣dest hereby, make the olde law more free and perfect thē y^• new law. For thou saiest, that it is leful to Leuites and to priests to take tithes in the old law,* 3.107 and so to enioy their priuilegies: but to vs priests in the new law, thou sayest it is not lawfull to take tithes. And thus thou geuest Le∣uites of the old law, more freedome than to priests of the new law.

☞ And I said. Sir, I maruell, that ye vnderstand thys plaine text of Paule thus.* 3.108 Ye wot well, that the Leuites and priests in the old lawe that tooke tithes, were not so free nor so perfect, as Christ and his Apostles that tooke no tithes. And sir, there is a Doctor (I thinke that it is Saint Ierome) that saith thus. The priests that chalenge now in the new law,* 3.109 tithes: Say in effect, that Christ is not become man, nor that he hath yet suffered death for mans loue. Wherefore, this Doctor saith this sentence. Since tythes were the hires and wages limitted to Le∣uites and to priests of the old law for bearing about of the tabernacle, and for slayeng and fleing of beasts, and for burning of sacrifice, and for keeping of the temple, and for tromping of battell before the hoste of Israell, and other diuers obseruances that perteined to their office: Those priests that will chalenge or take tithes, deny that Christ is come in the flesh, and do the priests office of the old law, for whome tithes were granted: for els (as this Doctor saith) priests take now tithes wrongfully.

¶ And the archb. said to his clarkes. Heard ye euer Losell speake thus? Certaine, this is the learning of them all, that whersoeuer they come, and they may be suffered: they enforce them to expugne the freedome of holy Church.

☞ And I said.* 3.110 Sir, why call you the taking of tithes, and of such other duties that priests chalenge now (wrong∣fullie) the freedome of holy church: Since neither Christ nor his apostles, chalenge nor tooke such duties. Herefore these takings of priests now are not called iustly the free∣dome of holy church, but all such geuing and taking ought to be called and holden, the slanderous couetousnes of men of the holy church.

¶ And the archb. said to me. Why Losell, wilt not thou

and other that are consedered with thee, seeke out of holy scripture, & of the sence of doctors, al sharpe authorities a∣gainst lords, knights, and squiers, & against other secular men, as thou doest against priests.

* 3.111☞ And I said: Sir, whatsoeuer men or women, lords of ladies, or any other that are present in our preaching spe∣cially, or in our cōmoning after our cūning, we tell out to thē their office & their charges: But sir, since Chrisostome sayth, that priests are the stomack of y^e people, it is nedeful in preaching, & also in commoning, to be most busy about this priesthode:* 3.112 Since by the viciousnes of priestes both Lordes & cōmons are most sinfully infected & led into the worst. And because y^• the couetousnes of priests & pride, & the boast that they haue & make of their dignity and pow∣er: destroyeth not onely the vertues of priesthod in priests thēselues, but also ouer this, it stirreth God to take great vengeance both vpon the Lords, & vpon cōmons, whych suffer these priests charitably.

* 3.113¶ And the Archb. said to me. Thou iudgest euery priest proud y^• wil not go arayed as thou doest. By god I deme him to be more meke y^• goeth euery day in a scarlet gown, thā thou in thy threed bare blew gown. Wherby knowest thou a proud man?

☞ And I said. Sir a proud priest may be known, when he denieth to follow Christ & his Apostles, in wylfull po∣uerty and other vertues:* 3.114 & coueteth worldly worship, and taketh it gladly, & gathereth together with pleding, mana∣sing, or with flattering, or w^t simony any worldly goodes: And most, if a priest busy him not chiefly in himselfe, & af∣ter in all other men, and women after his cunning & pow∣er, to withstand sinne.

* 3.115¶ And the Archb. sayd to mee. Though thou knewest a priest to haue al these vices, & though thou sawest a pryest louely lye now by a womā, knowing her fleshly: wouldst thou therfore deme this priest dānable? I say to thee y^t in the turning about of thy hand, such a sinner may be verily repented.

☞ And I sayd. Sir I wil not damne any man for any sinne that I know done or may be done, so that the sinner leaueth his sinne. But by authoritie of holy Scripture, he that sinneth thus openly as ye shew here, is damnable for doing of such a sinne: and most specially, a priest y^e shoulde be example to al other for to hate & flye sinne.* 3.116 And in how short time that euer ye say y^e such a sinner may be repēted: he ought not of him y^e knoweth his sinning, to bee iudged verily repentant, without open euidence of great shame & harty sorow for his sinne. For whosoeuer (and specially a priest) that vseth pride, enuy, couetousnes, lechery, simony or any other vices: sheweth not as open euidēce of repen∣tance as he hath geuen euil exāple & occasion of sinning, if he cōtinue in any such sinne as long as he may: it is likely that sinne leaneth him, & he not sinne. And as I vnderstād such a one sinneth vnto death, for whō no bodye oweth to pray, as S. Iohn sayth.

* 3.117¶ And a Clerke saide then to the Archb. Sir, the lenger that ye appose him, the worse he is: and the more ye busye you to amend him, the waywarder he is. For he is of so shrewd a kinde, that he shameth not onely to be himselfe a soule nest, but withou: shame he busyeth him to make his nest souler.

* 3.118☞ And the Archbishop saide to hys Clerke. Suffer a while, for I am at an ende with him, for there is an other poynt certyfyed agaynst hym, and I will heare what hee sayth thereto.

¶ And so thā he said to me. Lo it is here certified against thee, y^t thou preachedst opēly at Shrewsbury, that it is not lawful to sweare in any case.

☞ And I said, Sir I preached neuer so openlye, nor I haue taught in this wise in any place. But sir, as I prea∣ched in Shrewsbury, w^t my protestation I say to you now here:* 3.119 that by the authoritie of the Gospell of S. Iames, & by witnes of diuers Saints & doctours: I haue preached opēly in one place or other, that it is not leful in any cause to sweare by any creature. And ouer this Sir, I haue also preached and taught by the foresaid authorities: y^e no body should sweare in any case, if that without othe in any wise he that is charged to sweare might excuse him to them that haue power to compel him to sweare, in leful thing & law¦ful. But if a man may not excuse him without oth, to them that haue power to cōpel him to sweare, than he ought to sweare onely by God, taking him onely that is southfast∣nesse, for to witnes the southfastnes.

* 3.120And then a Clarke asked me if it were not leful to a sub∣iect at the bidding of his Prelate, for to kneele downe and touch the holy Gospel booke, and kisse it, saying: So helpe me God and this holydome, for he should after hys cun∣ninge and power, doe all thynges that hys Prelate com∣maundeth hym.

☞ And I said to them: Sirs, ye speake here full gene∣rally or largely. What if a prelate commaūded hys subiect to do an vnlawful thing, should he obey therto?

¶ And the Archb. said to me: A subiect ought not to sup∣pose,* 3.121 that his prelate wil bid him do an vnlawfull thinge. For a subiect ought to thinke that his prelate wil bid him do nothing but that he wil aunswer for before God, that it is leful: And then, though y^e bidding of the prelate bee vn∣leful, the subiect hath no peril to fulfil it, since that he thin∣keth & iudgeth, that whatsoeuer thing his prelate byddeth him do, that it is leful to him for to do it.

☞ And I sayd, sir I trust not thereto. But to our pur∣pose: Sir I tel you, y^t I was once in a gentlemās house, and there were then two Clarkes there, a maister of diui∣nity, and a man of law, which man of law was also com∣muning in diuinitie. And among other things, these men soake of othes,* 3.122 & the man of law sayd: at the bidding of his soueraigne, which had power to charge him to sweare, he would lay his hand vpon a booke, and heare hys charge: and if his charge to his vnderstanding were vnlefull, he would hastely withdraw his hand vpō the booke, taking there onely God to witnes, that he would fulfil that lefull charge, after his power. And the maister of diuinitie sayde then to him thus. Certaine, he that layeth his hand vpō a booke in this wise, and maketh there a promise to do that thing that he is commaunded: Is obliged therby by boke othe, then to fulfil his charge. For no doubt, hee that char∣geth him to lay his hand thus vpon a booke (touching the booke, & swearing by it, and kissing it, promisinge in this forme to do this thing or that) wil say and witnes, that he that toucheth thus a booke, and kisseth it, hath sworne vp∣on that booke. And al other mē that see that man thus do, and also all those that heare hereof, in the same wise wyll say and witnes, that this man hath sworne vpon a booke. Wherefore,* 3.123 the maister of diuinitie sayde, it was not lefull neyther to geue nor to take any such charge vpon a booke: for euery booke is nothing els, but diuers creatures, of which it is made of. Therefore to sweare vpon a booke, is to sweare by creatures, and this swearinge is euer vnle∣full. This sentence witnesseth Chrisostome playnely,* 3.124 bla∣ming them greatly that bring forth a booke for to sweare vpon, charging Clarkes, that in no wise they constrayne any body to sweare, whether they thinke a man to sweare true or false.

¶ And the Archbishop and his Clarkes,* 3.125 scorned mee, and blamed me greatly for this saying. And the Archb. manas∣sed me with great punishment & sharpe, except I left thys opinion of swearing.

☞ And I said: Sir, this is not myne opinion, but it is the opinion of Christ our sauiour, & of S. Iames, & of Chry∣sostome, & other diuers saints and doctours.

¶ Than the Archb. had a clarke read this homely of Chri∣sostom: which homely, this clerke held in his hand writtē in a roule: which roule the Archb. caused to be taken from my fellow at Caūterbury. And so then this clark read this role, til he came to a clause where Chrisostome sayth, that it is sinne to sweare well.

And then a clark Malueren (as I gesse) said to y^e Archb. Sir,* 3.126 I pray you were of him, how he vnderstādeth Chry∣sostome here, saying it to be sin to sweare well.

And so the Archbish. asked me, how I vnderstode here Chrisostome.

And certaine,* 3.127 I was somwhat afraid to aunswer here∣to: For I had not busied me to study about the sense ther∣of, but lifting vp my minde to God, I praied him of grace, And as fast as I thought how Christ said to his apostles: When for my name ye shall be brought before Iudges, I shall geue into your mouth, wisedome y^t your aduersaries shal not against say. And trusting faithfully in the word of God, I said: Sir, I know wel that many men & women, haue nowe swearing so in custome,* 3.128 that they knowe not, nor wil not know, y^t they do euil for to sweare as they do: But they thinke and say, that they do wel for to sweare as they do, though they know wel that they sweare vntrue∣ly. For they say, they may by their swearing (though it be false) voide blame or temporal harme, which they shoulde haue,* 3.129 if they sweare not thus. And sir, many men and wo∣men maintaine strongly that they sweare well, when that thing is sooth that they sweare for. Also, full many men & women say nowe, that it is well done to sweare by crea∣tures, when they may not (as the say) otherwise be belee∣ued. And also, ful many men and women now say, that it is wel done to sweare by God, and by our Ladye, and by other saints, for to haue them in minde. But since al these sayings are but excusatious, and sinne: mee thinketh sir, that this sense of Chrisostom may be alleaged wel against

all such swearers: witnessing that al these sinne greuously though they thinke themselues for to sweare in thys fore∣sayd wise, well. For it is euil done and great sinne, for to sweare truth, when in any maner, a man may excuse him∣selfe without othe.

¶ And the Archbishop sayd, that Chrysostome might bee thus vnderstand.

* 3.130And then a clerke sayd to me: wilt thou tarye my Lorde no lenger, but submit thee here mekely to the ordinance of holy Church, and lay thy hand vpon a booke touching the holy Gospell of GOD, promising not onelye wyth thy mouth, but also with thine hart to stand to my Lords or∣dinaunce?

☞ And I sayd: Sir haue I not told you here, how that I heard a maister of diuinity say: that in such case it is al one to touch a booke,* 3.131 and to sweare by a booke?

¶ And the Archb. sayd: There is no maister of diuinitie in England so great, y^• if he hold this opinion before me, but I shall punish him as I shal do thee, except thou sweare as I shall charge thee.

☞ And I sayd: Sir, is not Chrisostome an ententife Do∣ctour?

¶ And the Archb. sayd, yea.

☞ And I sayd: if Chrisostome proueth him worthye great blame, that bringeth forth a booke to sweare vpon: it must nedes followe, that he is more to blame that sweareth on that booke.

* 3.132¶ And the Archb. said: if Chrisostome ment accordingly to the ordinance of holy church, we wil accept him.

☞ And then said a clerke to me. Is not y^e word of God & God himselfe equipolient, that is, of one authoritie?

¶ And I sayd, yea.

☞ Then he said to me, why wilt thou not sweare then by the Gospell of God, that is gods word, since it is al one to sweare by the word of God, & by God himselfe.

¶ And I said: Sir, since I may not now otherwise be be∣leued, but by swearing: I perceiue (as Austen saith) that it is not spedeful that ye y^• should be my brethren should not beleue me: therfore I am redy by the word of God (as the lord commaunded me by his word) to sweare.

☞ Then the Clarke sayd to me. Lay then thine hand vp∣on the booke, touchinge the holy Gospell of God and take thy charge.

¶ And I said: Sir I vnderstand that the holy Gospell of God may not be touched with mans hand.

☞ And the Clearke sayde I fonded, and that I sayde not truth.

¶ And I asked this clerk whether it were more to reade y^• Gospel to touch the Gospell.

☞ And he said it was more to read the Gospell.

* 3.133¶ Then I said: Sir, by authority of S. Hierome, the gos∣pel is not the gospel for reading of the letter, but for the be∣lief that men haue in the word of God. That it is the gos∣pel that we beleue, and not the letter that we read: for be∣cause the letter that is touched with mans hand, is not the Gospel, but y^e sentence that is verily beleued in mās hart, is the Gospel. For so Hierome saith. The Gospel, y^t is the vertue of Gods word, is not in y^t leaues of the boke, but it is in the roote of reason. Neyther the Gospel (he sayeth) is in the writing aboue of the letters, but the Gospell is in y^e marking of the sentence of scriptures. This sentence ap∣proueth S. Paule, saying thus. The kingdome of God is not in word but in vertue. And Dauid saith: The voice of the Lord that is his word, is in vertue. And after Dauid sayth: Through the word of God y^e heauēs were formed, and in the spirite of his mouth is all the vertue of thē. And I pray you sir,* 3.134 vnderstand ye wel how Dauid sayth, then in the spirit of the mouth of y^• Lord, is all the vertue of an∣gels and of men.

And the clarke sayd to me. Thou wouldest make vs to fond with thee.* 3.135 Say we not that the Gospels are written in the Masse booke?

☞ And I sayd. Sir, though men vse to saye thus, yet it is vnperfect speech. For the principal part of a thinge is pro∣perly the whole thing. For lo, mans soule y^t may not now be sene here, nor touched w^t any sensible thing, is properly man. And al the vertue of a tree is in the roote thereof that may not be sene, for do away the roote, & y^e tree is destroied And sir,* 3.136 as ye sayd to me right now, God & hys word are of one authoritie: And sir, S. Hierome witnesseth, y^• Christ (very God & very mā) is hid in the letter of the law: thus also sir, y^• gospel is hid in the letter. For sir, as it is ful like∣ly many diuers men and womē here in the earth, touched Christ & saw him, & knew his bodely persō, which neither touched, nor saw, nor knewe ghostly his godhead. Right thus sir, many men now touch & see, & write, & read y^e scrip¦tures of gods law, which neither see, touch, nor read effec∣tually the gospel. For as the godhead of Christ (that is the vertue of God) is knowen by the vertue of beliefe, so is y^e Gospel, that is, Christes word.

¶ And a clerke said to me.* 3.137 These be full misty matters and vnsauery that thou shewest here to vs.

☞ And I said: Sir, if ye, y^t are maisters, know not plain∣ly this sentence, ••e may sore dread that y^e kingdome of hea∣uen be taken from you, as it was frō the princes of priests and from the elders of the ••owes.

¶ And then a Clerke (as I gesse) Malueren, sayde to me. Thou knowest not thine equiuocations: for the kingdom of heauen hath diuers vnderstandings. What callest thou the kingdom of heauen in thys sentence, that thou shew∣est here?

☞ And I said:* 3.138 Sir, by good reason and sentence of doctors the Realme of heauen is called here, the vnderstanding of Gods word.

¶ And a clerke said to me. From whom thinkest thou that this vnderstanding is taken away?

☞ And I sayde: Sir (by authoritie of Christ himselfe) the effectuall vnderstanding of Christes word is taken away from al them chiefly,* 3.139 which are great lettered men, & pre∣sum to vnderstand high things, & wil be holden wise men & desire maistership & high state & dignitie: but they wyll not conforme them to the liuing and teaching of Christ & of his Apostles.

¶ Then y^e Archb. said. Wel, wel, thou wilt iudge thy soue∣raignes. By God, y^e king doth not his duety, but he suffer thee to be condemned.

☞ And then an other Clerke sayd to me.* 3.140 Why (on Fry∣day that last was) counsailedst thou a man of my Lordes that he should not shriue him to no man but onely to god?

¶ And with this asking I was abashed: And then by and by I knew that I was subtilly betraied of a mā that came to me in prison on the Friday before, cōmoning with mee in this matter of confession.* 3.141 And certaine, by his words I thought, that this man came then to me, of ful feruent and charitable will: But now I know he came to tempt me & to accuse me, God forgeue him if it be his wil. And withal mine hart when I had thought thus, I said to this clerk, Sir, I pray you that ye would fetch this man hether: and all the wordes as nere as I cā repete them, which that I spake to him, on Friday in the prison. I wil rehearse now here before you all, and before him.

☞ And (as I gesse) the Archbishop said then to me. They that are now here, suffice to repete them. How saidst thou to hym?

¶ And I sayd: Syr, that man came and asked me in diuers thinges,* 3.142 and after hys asking, I aunswered him (as I vn∣derstoode) that good was: And as he shewed to me by his wordes, he was sory of hys liuing in court, and right hea∣uy for his owne vicious liuing, and also for the viciousnes of other men, and specially of priests euil liuing: & herefore he sayd to me with a sorrowfull hart (as I gessed) that he purposed fully within short time for to leaue the court, and to busie him to know Gods lawe, and to confirme all hys life thereafter. And when he had sayd to me these wordes & moe other whiche I would rehearse and he were present, he prayed me to heare hys confession. And I sayd to him, sir, wherefore come ye to me, to be confessed of me, ye wote wel y^• the Archb. putteth & holdeth me here, as one vnwor∣thy either to geue or to take any sacrament of holy Church.

☞ And he sayd to me. Brother I wote well, and so wote many other moe, that you and such other are wrongfully vexed, and therefore I common with you the more gladly. And I sayd to him. Certayne I wote well that many men of this court, and specially the priestes of this housholde would be full euill apayd both you & with me, if they wist that ye were confessed of me.* 3.143 And he sayd, that he cared not therfore, for he had full little affection in them: And as me thought, he spake these wordes and many other, of so good will and of so high desire, for to haue knowne and done the pleasant will of God. And I sayd to hym, as with my foresayd protestation I say to you now here: Syr, I coun∣sayle you, for to absent you from all euill company, and to draw you to them that loue and busie them to knowe and to keepe the preceptes of God: And then the good spirite of God will moue you for to occupy busily all your wittes in gathering together of all your sinnes, as farre as ye can bethinke you, shaming greatly of them and sorrowing har¦tely for them: Yea syr, the holy Ghost will thē put in your hart a good will and a seruent desire for to take and to hold a good purpose, to hate euer and to flie, (after your cūning and power) al occason of sinne: and so then, wisedome shal come to you from aboue, lightening (with diuers beames of grace and of heauenly desire) all your wittes,* 3.144 enforming you how ye shall trust stedfastly in the mercy of the Lorde:

knowledging to him onely all your vicious liuing, pray∣ing to him euer deuoutly of charitable counsel and conty∣nuance. Hoping without dout, that if ye cōtinue thus, bu∣sying you faythfully to know & to kepe his biddings, that he wil (for he onely, may) forgeue you al your sinnes. And this man said to me. Though God forgeue men their sins yet it behoueth men to be assoyled of priests, & to do y^e pe∣nance that they enioyne them.

And I sayde to him, Sir, it is all one to assoyle men o•• their sinnes, & to forgeue mē their sinnes. Wherefore, sined it pertayneth only to God to forgeue sinne:* 3.145 It sufficeth in this case, to counsel men & women for to l••aue their sinne, and to comfort them that busy them thus to do, for to hope stedfastly in the mercy of God. And agayne ward, Priestes ought to tel sharply to customable sinners, that if they wil not make an ende of their sinne, but cōtinue in diuers sin•• while that they may sinne, all such deserue payne without any en▪ And herefore, Priests should ouer busye them to liue wel and holyly, and to teach the people 〈◊〉〈◊〉 & truly the worde of God, shewyng to all folke in open preaching and in priuy counseling; that the lord God only forgeueth sinne. And therefore, those priests y^t take vpō thē to assoyle mē of their sinnes, blaspheme God: since that it perteineth onely to the Lord, to assoile men of all their sinnes, For no doubt, a thousand yeare after y^• Christ was man, no Priest of Christ durst take vpon him to teach the people, neither priuily nor apertly, that they behoued nedes to come to be assayled of them, as Priests now do. But by authoritie of Christes word: Priests bounde indurate customable syn∣ners, to euerlasting paines, which in no time of their ly∣uing, would busy thē faithfully to knowe the biddinges of God, nor to kepe thē. And again, al they that would occu∣py al their wits to hate & to flye al occasion of sinne, drea∣ding ouer al thing, to offend God, and louing for to please him continually: to these men & women Priests shewed, how the Lord assoyleth them of all their sinnes. And thus Christ promised to confirme in heauen, al the binding and loosing that priests by authoritie of his word, binde men in sinne that are indurate therin, or loose thē out of sinne here vpon earth,* 3.146 that are verely repentaunt. And this mā hea∣ring these words said, that he might well in conscience cō∣sent to this sentence. But he sayd. Is it not nedefull to the lay people y^t can not thus do, to go shrine them to priests▪ And I said, If a man feele himselfe so distroubled with a∣ny sinne,* 3.147 y^• he can not by his own witte auoide this synne without counsel of them that are herein wiser than he. In such a case, the counsell of a good Priest is full necessarye. And if a good priest fayle as they do now cōmonly, in such a case S. Augustine sayth, that a man may lawfully com∣mon and take counsel, of a vertuous secular mā. But cer∣tain, that mā or womā is ouerladen and too beastly, which cannot bring their owne sinnes into their minde, busying them night and day for to hate & to forsake al their sinnes, doing a sigh for them after their cunning and power. And sir, full accordingly to this sentence vpō Midlentō Sūday (two yeare as I gesse now agone) I hard a Monk of Fe∣uersam that men called Morden,* 3.148 preache at Caūterbury at the crosse within Christ Church Abbey, saying thus of cōfession. That as through the suggestiō of the feend with∣out counsell of any other body, of themselues many men & women, can imagine and find meanes & ways inough to come to pride, to theft, to lechery, and other diuers vices: In contrary wise this Monke said. Since the Lord God is more ready to forgiue sinne than the feend is or may be of power, to moue any body to sinne: than whosoeuer wil shame and sorow hartely for their sinnes,* 3.149 knowledging them faithfully to God, amending them after their power and cunning, without counsell of any other body than of God and himselfe (through the grace of God) all such men and women may find, sufficient meanes to come to Gods mercy, and so to be cleane assoiled of all their sinnes. This sentence I sayd sir to this man of yours, and the selfe words as neere as I can gesse.

¶ And the Archbishop said. Holy Church approoueth not this learning.* 3.150

☞ And I said. Sir, holy Church of which Christ is head in heauen and in earth, must needs approue this sentence. For loe, hereby all men & women may, if they will, be suf∣ficiently taught to know & to keepe the commandements of God,* 3.151 & to hate & to flie continually all occasion of sinne, and to loue and to seeke vertues busily, & to beleue in God stably, and to trust in his mercy stedfastly, & so to come to perfect charitie & continue therin perseuerantly. And more the Lord asketh not of any man here now in this life. And certaine, since Iesu Christ died vpon the crosse, wilfully to make men free: Men of the Church are to bold and to bu∣sie, to make men thrall, binding thē vnder y^e paine of end∣les curse (as they say) to do many obseruaunces and ordy∣naunces, which neither the liuing nor teachyng of Chryst nor of his Apostles approueth.

And a Clerke said thē to me: Thou shewest plainly here thy deceit, which thou hast learned of them that trauell to sow people amōg y^e wheat. But I coūsel thee to go away cleane frō this learning, & submit thee lowly to my lorde, and thou shall finde him yet to be gracious to ther.

¶ And as fast then, an other Clerke said to me: How wast thou so bold at Paules Crosse in London, to stande there hard with thy upper boundē about thine head, and to re∣proue in his Sermon the worthy clerke Alkerton, draw∣ing away al that thou mightest: yea, & the same day at af∣ternoone, thou meeting the worthy Doctour in Watlyng streete, calledst him false flatterer and hipocrite.

☞ And I said: Sir, I thinke certainely that there was no man nor womā that hated verelye sinne, & loued vertues (heauing y^e Sermō of the clerk at Oxford, and also Alker∣sons Sermon) but they sayd, or might iustly say, that Al∣kerton reproued that clerke vntruely, and slaundered him wrongfully and vncharitably. For no doubt, If the liuing & teaching of Christ chiefly and of his Apostles be true, no body that loueth God and his law, wil blame any sentēce that the clerke then preached there: since by authoritie of Gods word, & by approued Saints & Doctours, & by opē reason, this Clerke approued all thinges clearely that hee preached there.

¶ And a Clerke of the Archbishops saide to me, his Ser∣mon was false, and that he sheweth openlye, since he dare not stand forth and defend his preaching that he thē prea∣ched there.

☞ And I saide: Sir, I thinke that he purposeth to stande stedfastly thereby, or els he scaundereth fouly himself, and also many other that haue great trust that he will stand by the truth of the Gospel. For I wote wel, this Sermon is writen both in Latin and English, and many men haue it & they set great price thereby. And sir, If ye were present with y^• Archbishop at Lambeth when this Clarke appea∣red and was at his aunswere before the Archbishoppe, ye wote wel that this Clerke denied not there his Sermon, but two daies he maintained it before the Archbishop and his Clerkes.

And then the Archbishop or one of his Clerkes said (I wote not which of them) that harlot shalbe met wyth, for that Sermon. For no man but he and thou, and such other false harlots, prayseth any such preaching.

¶ And then the Arbhb. said. Your cursed sect is busie, and it ioyeth right greatly to contrary & to destroy y^e priuilege and fredome of holy Church.

☞ And I said:* 3.152 Sir, I know no men that trauell so busi∣ly as this sect doth (which you reproue) to make rest and peace in holy church. For pride, couetousnes, and simony, which distrouble most holy Church: this sect hateth & fle∣eth, and trauayleth busilye to moue all other men in like maner, vnto meekenes and wilfull pouerty, and charitie, and free ministring of the Sacraments: this sect loueth & vseth, and is full busie to moue all other folkes thus to do. For these vertues, owe all mēbers of holy church, to their head Christ.

Then a Clerke said to the Archbishop: Sir, it is farre dayes, and ye haue farre to ride to night: therfore make an end with him, for he wil none make. But the more sir, that ye busy you for to draw him toward you, y^e more cōtumax he is made, and the farther fro you.

¶ And then Malueren said to me:* 3.153 William, kneele down, and pray my Lord of grace, & leaue al thy phantasies, and become a child of holy church.

☞ And I said: Sir, I haue prayed the Archbishop oft, and yet I pray him for the loue of Christ, that he wil leaue hys indignation that he hath against me: and that he wil suffer me after my cūning & power, for to do mine office of priest¦hode, as I am charged of god to do it. For I couet nought els, but to serue my God to hys pleasing in y^e state that I stand in, and haue taken me to.

¶ And y^• Archbishop said to mee: If of good hart thou wilt submit thee now here meekely, to be ruled from this time forth by my counsel,* 3.154 obeying mekely and wilfully to mine ordinance, thou shalt finde it most profitable & best to thee for to doe thus. Therefore tary thou me no lenger, graunt to do this y^t I haue sayd to thee now here shortly, or denie it vtterly.

☞ And I said to the Archbishop: Sir, owe we to beleeue that Iesu Christ was and is, very God and very man?

¶ And the Archbishop sayd Yea.

☞ And I said: Sir, owe we to beleue that al Christes ly∣uing and his teaching is true in euery point?

¶ And he sayd, yea.

☞ And I sayd: Syr, owe we to beleue, that the liuinge of the Apostles, and the teaching of Christ, and all the Pro∣phetes, are true whiche are written in the Bible, for the health and saluation of good people?

¶ And he sayd yea.

☞ And I sayd: Syr, owe all Christen men & women after their cunning and power, for to conforme all their liuing, to the teaching specially of Christ, and also to the teaching and liuing of his Apostles and of Prophets, in all thinges that are pleasaunt to God, and edification of his Church?

¶ And he sayd, yea.

☞ And I sayd: Syr ought the doctrine, the bidding, or the counsell of any body, to be accepted or obeyed vnto: except this doctrine, these biddings, or this counsel, may be graū∣ted and affirmed by Christes liuing and his teaching speci∣ally, or by the liuing and teaching of his Apostles & Pro∣phetes?

¶ And y^• Archbishop said to me: Other doctrine ought not to be accepted,* 3.155 nor we owe not to obey to any mans bid∣ding or counsell, except we can perceiue that his bidding or counsell, accordeth with the life and teaching of Christ, and of his Apostles and Prophets.

☞ And I sayd: Syr, is not all the learning, and biddings and counsels of holy Church, meanes and healefull reme∣dies, to know and to withstand the priuy suggestions,* 3.156 and the aperte temptations ot the fiende? and also wayes and healeful remedies, to slea pride and all other deadly sinnes, and the braunches of them, and souereign meanes to pur∣chase grace, for to withstand and ouercome all the fleshlye lustes and mouinges?

¶ And the Archbishop sayd yea.

☞ And I sayd: Syr, whatsoeuer thing ye or any other bo∣dy bid or counsel me to do, accordingly to this forsayd lear∣ning, after my cunning & power, through the helpe of god, I will meekly with all my hart obey therto.

¶ And the archbishop sayd to me: Submit thee than now here meekly and wilfully, to the ordinance of holy church, which I shall shew to thee.

☞ And I sayd: sir, accordingly as I haue here now before you rehearsed, I will nowe be ready to obey full gladly to Christ the head of the holy Church, & to the learning and biddinges, and counselles of euerye pleasing member of him.* 3.157

¶ Thē the archbishop striking with his hand fiercely vpō a cupborde, spake to me with a great spirit saying: By Ie∣su, but if thou leaue such additions, obliging thee now here without any exceptiō to mine ordinance (or that I go out of this place) I shall make thee as sure, as any theefe that is in the prison of Lanterne. Aduise thee now what thou wilt do. And then as if he had bene angred, he went fro the cupborde where he stood, to a window.

¶ And then Malueren and an other Clerke came nearer me, and they spake to me many words full pleasantly: and an othe while they manassed me, and counselled full busily to submitte me,* 3.158 or els they sayd I shoulde not escape puni∣shing ouer measure: For they sayd, I should be degraded, cursed, and burned, & so then damned. But now they sayd, thou mayst eschew all these mischiefes, if thou wilt submit thee wilfully & meekely to this worthye prelate, that hath cure of thy soule. And for the pitty of Christ (sayde they) be∣thinke thee, howe great Clerkes the Bishop of Lincolne, Hereford, and Purney were, and yet are, and also B. that is a well vnderstanding man. Which also haue forsaken & reuoked, all the learning and opinions, that thou and such other hold.* 3.159 Wherfore, since each of them is mikle wiser thē thou art, we counsell thee for the best: that by the example of these foure Clerkes, thou follow them submitting thee as they did.

And one of the Bishops Clerkes sayd then there, that he heard Nicoll Hereford say: that since he forsook & reuo∣ked all the learning & Lolards opiniōs, he hath had mikle greater fauour and more delite to hold agaynst them, then euer he had to hold with them, while he held with them.

* 3.160And therefore Malueren said to me: I vnderstand and thou wilt take thee to a Priest, and shriue thee cleane, for∣sake all such opinions, & take the penance of my Lord here, for the holding & teaching of them: within short time, thou shalt be greatly comforted in this doing.

☞ And I sayd to the Clerkes, that thus busily counselled me to folow these foresayd men: Sirs, if these mē of whom ye counsell me to take example, had forsakē benefices of tē∣porall profite, & of worldly worship, so that chey had absē∣ted them, and eschewed from al occasions of couetousnes & of fleshly lustes, and had taken upon them simple liuing, & wilfull pouerty: they had herein geuen good example to me and to many other, to haue folowed thē. But now, since all these foure men, haue slaunderously and shamefully done the contrary, consenting to receiue and to haue and to hold tēporall benefices, liuing now more worldly & more flesh∣ly then they did before, conforming them to the maners of this world: I forsake them herein, and in all their foresayd slaunderous doing. For I purpose with the helpe of God (into remissio of my sinnes, and of my ••oule cursed liuing) to hate and to flee priuily and apertly, to follow these men, teaching and counselling whome so euer that I may,* 3.161 for to flee & eschew the way that they haue chosen to go in, which will lead them to the worst end, (if in conuenient time they repent them not) verely forsaking and reuoking opēly the flaunder that they haue put, and euery day yet put, to Chri¦stes Church. For certayne, so open blasphemy and slaun∣der as they haue spoken and done, in their reuoking & for∣saking of the truth, ought not nor may not priuily be amē∣ded, duely. Wherfore sirs, I pray you that you busy not for to moue me to follow these mē, in reuoking and forsaking the trueth, and sothfastnes as they haue done, and yet doe: wherein, by open euidence they stirre God to great wroth, and not onely agaynst themselues, but also agaynst all thē that fauor them, or consent to them herein, or that commu∣neth with them, except it be for their amendement. For where as these mē first were pursued of enemies, now they haue obliged them by othe for to slaūder and pursue Christ in his members. Wherfore (as I trust stedfastly in y^e good∣nes of God) the worldly couetousnes, and the lusty liuing and the sliding from the truth of these runnagates: shall be to me and to many other men and women, an example & an euidence, to stand more stifly by the truth of Christ.

For certayne,* 3.162 right many men and women, doe marke and abhorre the foulnes and cowardnes of these foresayd vntrue men, how that they are ouercome & stopped wyth benefices, and withdrawen from the truth of Gods word, forsaking vtterly to suffer therfore bodely persecution. For by this vnfaythfull doing and apostasye of them (specially that are great lettered men) and haue knowledged openly the truth:* 3.163 and now, either for pleasure or displeasure of ty∣rauntes, haue taken hire and temporall wages to forsake the truth and to hold agaynst it, slaundering and pursuing them that couet to followe Christ in the way of righteous∣nes, many men and womē therefore are now moued. But many mo thorow the grace of God, shall be moued hereby for to learne the truth of God, and to doe thereafter, and to stand boldly thereby.

¶ Then the Archbishop sayd to his clerkes. Busye you no lenger about him, for he and other such as he is, are cō∣sedered together,* 3.164 that they will not sweare to be obedient, & to submit them to prelates of holy church. For now since I stoode here, his fellow also sent me word that he will not sweare, and that this fellow counselled hym that he should not sweare to me. And losell, in that thing that in thee is, thou hast busied thee to lose this young man, but blessed be God, thou shalt not haue thy purpose of him. For he hath forsaken all thy learning, submitting him to be buxum & obedient to the ordinaunce of holy church, and weepeth full bitterly, and curseth thee full hartily for the venemous tea∣ching which thou hast shewed to him, counselling hym to do thereafter.

And for thy false counselling of many other & him, thou hast great cause to be right sory. For long time thou hast bu¦sied thee to peruert whomsoeuer thou mightest. Therfore, as many deathes thou art worthye of, as thou hast geuen euill counselles. And therefore by Iesu, thou shalt go the∣ther, where Nicoll Harford & Thom. Puruay were har∣bered. And I vndertake, or this day viij. dayes, thou shalt be right glad for to doe what thing that euer I did thee to do.* 3.165 And Losell, I shal assay, if I can make thee there as so∣rowfull (as it was tolde me) thou wast glad of my last go∣yng out of England. By S. Thomas, I shall turne thy ioy into sorow.

☞ And I sayd: Syr there can no body proue lawfully that I ioyed euer,* 3.166 of the maner of your going out of this land.

But Syr, to say the soth, I was ioyfull when ye were gone: for the bishop of London in whole prison ye left me, found in me no cause for to hold me lenger in his prisō, but at the request of my frēdes, he deliuered me to them, asking of me no maner of submitting.

¶ Then the archbishop sayd to me. Wherefore that I yede out of England, is vnknowne to thee: But be this thinge well knowne to thee, that God (as I wote well) hath cal∣led me agayn, and brought me into this land, for to destroy thee and the false sect that thou art of: as by God, I shall pursue you so narowly, that I shall not leaue a slip of you in this land.

☞ And I sayd to the archbishop: Syr, the holy Prophette Ieremy sayd to the false Prophet Anany. When the word that is the prophecy of a Prophet, is knowne or fulfilled:

then it shalbe knowne, that the Lorde sent the Prophet in trueth.

¶ And the Archbishop (as if he had not bene pleased with my saying) turned him awayward hether and thether, and sayd. By GOD, I shall set vpon thy shinnes a payre of pearles,* 3.167 that thou shalt be glad to chaunge thy voyce.

These and many moe wonderous and conuicious wordes, were spoken to me, manassing me and al other of the same sect, for to be punished and destroyed vnto the vt∣termost.

And the Archbishop called then to him a Clerke, and rowned with him:* 3.168 and that Clerk went forth, and soone he brought in the Constable of Saltwoode Castle, and the Archbishop rowned a good while with him: And then the Constable went forth, and then came in diuers seculars, & they scorned me on euery side, & manassed me greatly. And some counselled the Archbishop to burne me by and by, & some other counselled him to drowne me in the Sea, for it is neare hand there.

And a Clerke standing beside me, there kneeled downe to y^• Archbishop, praying him that he would deliuer me to him, for to say Martins with him: & he would vndertake: that within three dayes I shoulde not resist any thing that were commaunded me to do of my Prelate.

And the archbishop sayd, that he would ordayn for me himselfe.

And then after, came agayne the Constable and spake priuily to the Archbishop: And the archbishop cōmaunded the Constable to lead me forth thence with him, & so he did. And when we were gone forth thence, we were sent after againe. And whē I came in agayne before the archbishop: a Clerke bad me kneele downe and aske grace, and submit me lowly, and I should finde it for the best.

* 3.169☞ And I sayd thē to the archbishop. Syr, as I haue sayd to you diuers times to day, I will wilfully & lowlye obey and submit me to be ordeined euer after the cunning and power, to God & to his law, and to euery member of holy Church, as farre forth as I can perceiue that these mem∣bers accord with their head Christ, and will teach me, rule me, or chastise me by authority, specially of Gods law.

¶ And the archbishop sayd. I wist wel he would not with out such additions submit him.

And then I was rebuked, scorned & manassed on eue∣ry side:* 3.170 and yet after this, diuers persons cried vpon me to kneele downe and submit me, but I stood still and spake no word. And then there was spoken of me and to me many great words, & I stood and heard them manasse curse and scorne me: but I sayd nothing.

Then a while after, y^e archbishop sayd to me. Wilt thou not submit thee to the ordinaunce of holy Church?

☞ And I sayd: Syr, I will full gladly submitte me, as I haue shewed you before.

¶ And then the Archbishop bad the Constable, to haue me forth thence in haste.

And so then I was led forth, and brought into a foule vnhonest prison,* 3.171 where I came neuer before. But thanked be God, when all mē were gone forth then from me, & had sparred fast the prison doore after them: By and by after, I therin by my selfe, busied me to thinke on God, & to thanke him of his goodnesse. And I was then greatlye comforted in all my wits, not onely for that I was then deliuered for a time from the sight, from the hearing, from the presence, from the scorning, and from the manassing of mine ene∣mies: but much more I reioysed in the Lord,* 3.172 because that through his grace he kept me so, both among the flattering specially, and among the manassing of mine aduersaryes, that without heauinesse and anguish of my conscience, I passed away from them. For as a tree layd vpon an other tree, ouerwharte or Crosse wise, so was the Archbishoppe and hys three Clerkes alwayes contrarye to me, and I to them.

Now good God for thine holy name, and to the pray∣sing of the most blessed name: make vs one together, if it be thy will (by authority of thy word, that is true perfite cha∣rity) and els not. And that it may thus be, all that this wri∣ting read or heare, pray hartely to the lord God, that he for his great goodnesse that can not be with tongue expressed, graunt to vs and to all other, which in the same wise, and for the same cause specially, or for any other cause be at dy∣staūce, to be knit & made one in true fayth, in stedfast hope, and in perfite charity. Amen.

¶ Besides this examinatiō here aboue described, came an other treatise also to our hands of the same W. Thorne, vnder the name and title of his testament: which rather by the matter and handling thereof, might seme to be counted a complaynt of vicious Priestes: which treatise or Testa∣ment, in this place we thought not meere to be left out.

MAthew an Apostle of Christ,* 3.173 and his Gospeller, witnes∣seth truly in the holy Gospell, the most holy liuing and the most wholesome teachyng of Christ. He rehearseth how that Christ likeneth thē that heare his wordes and keepe thē, to a wise mā that buildeth his house vpon a stone, that is a stable and a ••ad ground. This house is mans soule in whome Christ delighteth to dwell, if it be grounded, that is stablished faythfully in his liuing & in his true teaching, adourned or made faire with diuers vertues, which Christ vsed and taught without any medling of any error, as are chiefly the conditions of charity.

This foresaid stone is Christ,* 3.174 vpon which euery faythful soule must be builded, since vpon none other ground then vpon Chri∣stes liuing and his teaching, no bodye may make any building or housing, wherein Christ will come and dwell. This sentence wyt∣nesseth S. Paule to the Corinthians, shewing to them that no body may set any other ground then is set, that is, Christes liuing and teaching. And because that all men and women shoulde geue all their businesse here in this life,* 3.175 to build them vertuously vpon this sure foundation: S. Paule knowledging the seruent desire, and the good will of the people of Ephesye, wrote to them comfortablye saying: Now ye are not straungers, guestes, nor yet comelinges, but ye are the Citizens and of the householde of God, builded a∣boue vpon the foundement of the Apostles and Prophetes. In which foundement, euery building that is builded or made tho∣rough the grace of God, it encreaseth or groweth into an holy tē∣ple, that is: Euery body that is grounded or builded faythfully in the teaching and liuing of Christ, is there through, made the holy temple of God.

This is the stable groūd and stedfast stone Christ, which is the sure corner stone,* 3.176 fast ioyning & holding mightely together, two walles. For through Christ Iesu, meane or middle person of the Trinitye: the Father of heauen is pitious or mercifully ioyned and made one together to mankinde. And through dread to offēd God, and seruent loue to please him, mē be vnseparably made one to God and defended surely vnder his protection. Also, this fore∣sayd stone Christ,* 3.177 was figured by the square stones of whiche the temple of God, was made. For as a square stone, wheresoeuer it is cast or layd, it abideth and lyeth stably: so Christ and euery fayth∣full member of his Church by example of him, abideth and dwel∣leth stably in true fayth, and in all other heauēly vertues in all ad∣uersityes that they suffer in this valley of teares.

For loe, when these foresayd square stones were hewen and wrought for to be layde in the walles or pillers of Gods temple, none noyse or stroke of the workeman was heard. Certaine this si∣lēce in working of this stone, figu••eth Christ chiefly and his faith∣full members, which by example of him, haue bene and yet are, and euer to the worldes end shall be so meeke and pacient in eue∣ry aduersity, that no sound nor yet any grudging shall any time be perceiued in them.

Neuerthelesse, this chiefe and most worshipfull corner stone which onely is ground of all vertues, proude beggers repriued: but this despight and reproofe,* 3.178 Christ suffered most meekely in his owne person, for to geue example of all meekenesse and pacience to all his faythfull folowers. Certayne, this world is now so full of proud beggers which are named Priestes: but the very office of working of Priesthood which Christ approueth true, and accep∣teth, is farre from the multitude of Priests that now reigne in this world.

For from the highest Priest to the lowest all (as who say) stu∣dy, that is,* 3.179 they imagine and trauell busilye, how they may please this world and theyr flesh. This sentence and many such other de∣pendeth vpon them, if it be well considered, other God the father of heauen hath deceiued all mankinde by the liuing specially and teaching of Iesu Christ, and by the liuing and teaching of his A∣postles and Prophetes: or els all the Popes that haue bene, since I had any knowledge or discretion, with all the Colledge of Cardi∣nals, Archbishops,* 3.180 and Bishops, Monks, Canons, and Friers, with all the contagious flock of the communalty of Priesthood, which haue (all my life time and mikle lenger) reigned and yet reigne, & increase damnably from sinne into sinne: haue bene and yet bee proud, obstinate heretickes, couetous simoners, and defouled a∣dulterers in the ministering of the Sacramentes, and specially in the ministring of the Sacrament of the aultar. For as their workes sheweth whereto Christ biddeth vs take heed: the highest Priestes and Prelates of this Priesthood,* 3.181 chalenge and occupy vnlefull, tē∣porall Lordships. And for temporall fauour and meed, they sell & geue benefices to vnworthy and vnable persons, yea these simo∣ners sell sinne, suffering men and women in euery degree and e∣state, to lye, and continue, from yeare to yere, in diuers vices slaū∣derously. And thus by euil example of high priests in the church, lower Priestes vnder them are not onely suffered, but they are mayntayned to sell full deare (to the people for temporall meed) all the Sacraments.

And thus all this foresayd Priesthoode, is blowne so high and borne vp in pride and vaine glory of their estate and dignity & so blinded with worldly couetousnes:* 3.182 That they disdayne to follow Christ in very meekenesse and wilfull pouerty, liuing holylye and

preaching Gods word truely, freely and continually, taking theyr liuelihood at the free will of the people of their pure almes, where and when they suffice not for theyr true and busy preaching to get their sustenaunce with their handes. To this true sentence groun∣ded on Christes owne liuing and teaching of his Apostles, these foresaid worldly & fleshly Priests wil not consent effectually.* 3.183 But as theyr workes and also their wordes shew: boldly and vnshame∣fastly these forenamed Priestes and Prelates, couet, and enforce them mightely and busily, that all holy scripture were expounded and drawne accordingly to their maners, and to theyr vngroun∣ded vsages and findinges. For they will not (since they hold it but folly and madnesse) conforme their maners to the pure and sim∣ple liuing of Christ and his Apostles,* 3.184 nor they will not followe freely their learning. Wherefore, all the Emperours and Kinges, and all other Lordes and Ladyes, and all the common people in e∣uery degree and state, which haue before time knowne or might haue knowne, and also all they that now yet know or might know this foresayde witnes of Priesthood, and would not nor yet will, enforce them after theyr cunning and power, to withstand chari∣tably the foresayd enemies and traytors of Christ, and of his chur∣che: all these striue with Antichrist agaynst Iesu. And they shall heare the indignation of God almighty without end,* 3.185 if in conue∣nient time they amend them not, and repent them verelye, doing therefore due mourning and sorow, after their cunning & power. For through presumtuousnesse and negligence of Priestes & Pre∣lates (not of the Churche of Christ, but occupying theyr prelacye vnduely in the Church) and also flattering and false couetousnes of other diuers named Priestes: Lousengers and lounderers, are wrōgfully made and named Heremites, and haue leaue to defraud poore and needy creatures of their liuelode, and to liue by theyr false winning and begging, in slouth and in other diuers vices. And also of these Prelates, these coker noses, are suffered to liue in pride and hipocrisy, and to defoule themselues both bodelye and ghostly. Also by the suffering and counsell of these foresayde Pre∣lates and of other Priestes, are made both vayne brotherhoodes and sisterhoodes, full of pride and enuye, which are full contrary to the brotherhood of Christ, since they are cause of mickle disse∣tion, and they multiply and susteyne it vncharitably: for in lustye eating and drinking, vnmeasurably and out of time, they exercise themselues. Also this vaine confederacy of brotherhoodes, is per∣mitted to be of one clothing, and to hold together.

And in all these vngrounded and vnlefull doinges, priests are parteners and great medlers and counsellers. And ouer this vici∣ousnesse, Heremites and Pardoners, Ankers, and straūge beggers, are licensed and admitted of Prelates and Priestes, for to beguile the people with flatteringes and leasinges slaunderously agaynst all good reason and true beleue, and so to encrease diuers vyces in themselues, and also among all them that accept them or con∣sent to them.

And thus, the viciousnesse of these foresayd named Priestes & Prelates, haue bene long time, and yet is, and shal be cause of wars both within the Realme and without. And in the same wise, these vnable Priestes haue bene, and yet are, and shalbe chiefe cause of pestilence of men, and morein of beastes, and of barrennesse of the earth, and of all other mischiefes, to the tyme that Lordes and cō∣mons able them through grace, for to know and to keepe the cō∣maundements of God, inforcing them than faythfully and chari∣tably by one assent, for to redresse and make one this foresayde Priesthood, to the wilfull, poore, meeke, and innocent liuing and teaching, specially of Christ and his Apostles.

Therefore, all they that know or might know, the viciousnes that raigneth now cursedly in these Priests and in theyr learning, if they suffice not to vnderstand this contagious viciousnesse: let them pray to the Lord hartily for the health of his Church, abstei∣ning them prudently from these indurate enemyes of Christ and of his people, and from all their Sacraments, since to them all that know them or may know, they are but fleshly deedes and false: as S. Cyprian witnesseth in the first question of decrees,* 3.186 and in the first cause. Ca. Si quis inquit. For as this Saynt and great Doctour witnesseth there, that not onely vicious Priestes, but also all they that fauour them or consent to them in their viciousnesse: shall to∣gether perish with them, if they amend them not duely, as all they perished that cōsented to Dathan and Abiron. For nothing were more confusion to these foresayd vicious Priestes, than to eschew them prudently in all theyr vnlefull Sacramentes, while they cō∣tinue in their sinnefull liuing slaunderously, as they haue lōg time done and yet do. And no body need to be afrayde (though death did folow by one wise or other) for to dye out of this world with∣out taking of any Sacrament of these foresayd Christes enemyes: since Christ will not fayle, for to minister himselfe all Iefull & heal∣full Sacramentes and necessary at all time (and specially at end) to all them that are in true fayth, in stedfast hope, and in perfect charity.

But yet some mad fooles say (for to eschew slaunder) they wil be shriuen once in the yeare, and communed of theyr proper Prie∣stes, though they knowe them defouled with slaunderous vyces. No doubt, but all they that thus do or consent priuely or apertly to such doing, are culpable of great sinne: since S. Paul witnesseth, that not onely they that do euill, are worthy of death and damna∣tion, but also they that consent to euill doers. Also (as their slaū∣derous workes witnesse) these aforesayd vicious Priestes, despise and cast from them heauenly cunning, that is geuen of the holye ghost Wherefore, the Lord throweth all such despisers from him, that they vse nor do any Priesthood to him.

No doubt than, all they that wittingly or wilfully, take or cō∣sent that any other body should take any Sacrament of any suche named Priest, sinneth openly and damnably agaynst all the Trini∣ty, and are vnable to any Sacrament of health.

And that this foresayd sentēce is altogether true, into remis∣sion of all my sinnefull liuing, trusting stedfastly in the mercye of God, I offer to him my soule.

And to proue also the foresayde sentence true with the helpe of God, I purposefully for to suffer meekely and gladly my most wretched bodye to bee tormented, where God will, of whom he will, and when he will, and as long as he will, and what temporall payne he will and death, to the praysing of his name, and to the e∣dification of his Church.

And I that am most vnworthy and wretched caytife, shall now through the speciall grace of God, make to him pleasaunt sacrifice with my most sinnefull and vnworthy body. Beseechyng hartely all folke that read or heare this end of my purposed Testa∣ment, that through the grace of GOD, they dispose verely and vertuously all their wittes, and able in lyke maner all their mem∣bers for to vnderstand truely, and to keepe faythfully, charita∣bly, and continually all the commaundementes of God, and so than to pray deuoutly to all the blessed Trinitie, that I may haue grace with wisedome and prudence from aboue, to end my lyfe here in this foresayd truth and for this cause, in true fayth and stedfast hope, and perfect charitie. Amen.

What was the ende of this good man and blessed ser∣uant of God Williā Thorpe, I finde as yet in no story spe¦cified. By all coniectures it is to be thought,* 3.187 that the arch∣bishop Thomas Arundull being so hard an aduersarye a∣gaynst those men, would not let him goe. Much lesse it is to be supposed, that he would euer retract his sentence and opinion, which he so valiantly mayntayned before the by∣shop, neither doth it seeme that he had any such recanting spirite. Agayne, neyther is it founde, that he was burned. Wherfore it remayneth most like to be true, that he beyng committed to some straight prison (according as the Arch∣byshop in his examination before, dyd threaten him) there (as Thorpe confesseth himselfe) was so straightly kept, that eyther he was secretly made away, or els there he dy∣ed by sicknesse.

The like end also I finde to happen to Iohn Aston, an other good folower of Wickliffe, who for the same doctrine of the sacrament was condemned by the Bishops, And be¦cause he would not recant, he was committed to perpetu∣all prison, wherein the good man continued till his death. An. 1382.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The exami∣nation of the constant seruaunt of God Williā Thorpe.
• * 1.2

  This history 〈◊〉〈◊〉 set forth & cor∣rected by M. W. Tyndall.
• * 2.1

  The preface.
• * 2.2

  Gods lawes must be knowe•• and folowed.
• * 2.3

  Foure caused ••••. setting forth ••.13 examination.
• * 2.4

  The 2. 〈◊〉〈◊〉
• * 2.5

  Truth leaueth alwayes a sweet ••mel behinde it.
• * 2.6

  Godly counsell geuen if it may be followed.
• * 2.7

  Persecution fol∣loweth the true Church.
• * 2.8

  The cause why persecution is suffered to come
• * 2.9

  The third cause.
• * 2.10

  Edification of other, necessary to be considered.
• * 2.11

  The 4. cause.
• * 2.12

  The assi∣stance of God neuer fayleth the that are persecuted.
• * 3.1

  Examinatió of William Thorpe be∣fore Tho. Arundell Archb.
• * 3.2

  Loyteryng prelates, cá∣not abyde trauellyng preachers. The grace of God and of my Lord of Cant. be 2. thinges.
• * 3.3

  Your ordi∣naunce, and why not to Gods ordi∣nance if it please your grace?
• * 3.4

  〈…〉〈…〉 crea∣•••• of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉〈◊〉
• * 3.5

  ••hat is the holy church▪
• * 3.6

  The true notes of the true church.
• * 3.7

  What heresie in this beliefe, I pray you my Lord?
• * 3.8

  The old Testa∣ment and new.
• * 3.9

  Doctors so to be folowed as they folow the word.
• * 3.10

  To sweare by a booke whether it be lawfull.
• * 3.11

  How where, and when to sweare.
• * 3.12

  Behold the po∣pish procedings whereto they tende.
• * 3.13

  No maruell why: for Christ and Antichrist how can they agree.
• * 3.14

  It is prety when Pharao iudgeth Moses harde hearted. Where learned you my Lord to call your bro∣ther Racha.
• * 3.15

  He meaneth Gods Martyr Williā Sautrey.
• * 3.16

  The order and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of his brin∣ging vp.
• * 3.17

  Phillip Re∣pington made bish. and a perse∣cutor.
• * 3.18

  Happy be 〈◊〉〈◊〉 that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 3.19

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 worth 〈◊〉〈◊〉 coue∣••••••.
• * 3.20

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 pitie 〈◊〉〈◊〉 pre∣•••••• cannot 〈…〉〈…〉 popish 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 3.21

  A worthy 〈◊〉〈◊〉 sa∣•••••• of M. Iohn Wick∣liffe.
• * 3.22

  M. Iohn 〈…〉〈…〉, Ram∣ington, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Her∣••••••, Dauy 〈◊〉〈◊〉, I. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 3.23

  The testimony for Wickliffe, out of the mouth of his own ad∣uersary.
• * 3.24

  Many such 〈…〉〈…〉 our 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 3.25

  Repington be∣came a pers••cu∣t••r, after he was made byshop.
• * 3.26

  The sacrament after consecra∣tion materiall bread. Articles obiec∣ted against Wil∣liam Thorpe.
• * 3.27

  Holesome e∣nough for mans soule though not for your kit∣chyn.
• * 3.28

  O Shreuesbury, thouhast a cause to repēt th••e, in that thou woul∣dest not rec••iue the truth whē it was offered thee
• * 3.29

  The Romish church must be stablished, by persecuting of true preachers.
• * 3.30

  A sure trust in Gods truth, cō∣foūdeth the ma∣lice of tyran••es.
• * 3.31

  If the touch∣stone might try: truth should be knowne. The description of the right Christians in Shreuesbury. The Catholikes of Shreuesbury. Shreusbury, ex∣cept thou turne frō thy wicked wayes, thou canstnot receiue the trueth.
• * 3.32

  Ierusalem trou∣bled by the p••eaching of Christ.
• * 3.33

  The worde of God ought tru∣ly to be prea∣ched.
• * 3.34

  If this lesson had bene well folowed, the world had not bene brought to such darknes by blind & dumme priestes.
• * 3.35

  An effectuous prayer, God graunt in all ministers.
• * 3.36

  Why 〈◊〉〈◊〉 pr••••ched without 〈◊〉〈◊〉 byshops l••∣cence.
• * 3.37

  He answe∣reth to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 question ••••••∣cerning 〈◊〉〈◊〉 letter of ••••∣cence.
• * 3.38

  The incōue∣nience•• of seeking of the bi••••ops letter or ly∣cence.
• * 3.39

  The witnes of the prea∣chers, i•• the good life of the folow∣ers.
• * 3.40

  Two mine of soue∣raignes.
• * 3.41

  He meaneth prelates that be vn∣uertuous.
• * 3.42

  Two maner ••••••be••ing: 〈◊〉〈◊〉 folow∣ing their do∣••••ges and examples. 2. •••• suffe∣ring their ••ranges, Wicked 〈◊〉〈◊〉 are not 〈◊〉〈◊〉 folow∣ed in euill. Well reaso∣•••• my lord 〈◊〉〈◊〉 lyke a 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 3.43

  Obedience 〈◊〉〈◊〉 be ge∣••••, but in 〈◊〉〈◊〉 leful 〈◊〉〈◊〉 lawfull.
• * 3.44

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 pre∣••mption 〈◊〉〈◊〉 stādeth 〈◊〉〈◊〉 your ••••••derfull ••••bition. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in 〈◊〉〈◊〉 they 〈◊〉〈◊〉 priest∣••ood, they resent to 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Math. 10. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 vlt. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 10.
• * 3.45

  The office 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of ••••••••ching.
• * 3.46

  Priests that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 not, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 people. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 3.47

  Doctrine of 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Discipline of workes.
• * 3.48

  Priests not 〈◊〉〈◊〉 sent •••• preach, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 cōman∣ded to preach. Gregorius. Lincolnien∣su.

  Whatsoeuer a man doth leauing that ••alone which hee is ••••••chieflye ••••und to do, is sinne.

  Yet this by∣shop pluc∣keth him not by the 〈◊〉〈◊〉, nor burneth not of his hand, a•• Bone•• did. Holychurch
• * 3.49

  2. Partes of the Church.
• * 3.50

  Well helpt for∣ward M. Clark.
• * 3.51

  The foresayd ar∣ticles renued a∣gainst Thorpe.
• * 3.52

  The vertue of the sacrament standeth in the beliefe, more then in the out∣ward signe.
• * 3.53

  Material bread.
• * 3.54

  The papistes haue none other defence for thē but onely the Church. Euery ordinance of Churchmen byndeth not our fayth.
• * 3.55

  The greatest Doctors of the church be A∣postles. S. Paule calleth it bread. The Canō of the masse calleth it bread.
• * 3.56

  S. Austē calleth it bread.
• * 3.57

  The secreat of the masse on Christmas day, nameth it a ter∣rene substaunce.
• * 3.58

  My Lord can reuile apace he can declare but a little. Choke him vp my Lord.
• * 3.59

  To graunt the reall being of the body with∣out bread, is as much as to graūt the a••cident to be without the subiect.
• * 3.60

  Against proud Sophisters. Templum do∣mini. Templum do∣mini.
• * 3.61

  The church stood 〈◊〉〈◊〉 till the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 broke 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 3.62

  Transub∣stantiation brought in by ••••yer Tho. Aquin.
• * 3.63

  It is happy he did not flye in his face as ••••n∣ner did. The 2. point touching Images. Thorpe charged with an vn∣tru••th.
• * 3.64

  Man a wor∣shipfull i∣mage of God.
• * 3.65

  Though m•• accept the painting of or caruing of images, yet is it not the right way to learn to serue God.
• * 3.66

  The image of the Tri∣nitie.
• * 3.67

  A similitude of the kings seale or let∣ters, to proue the worship of images.
• * 3.68

  No simili∣tude to be made be∣twene erth∣ly thinges & spirituall, namely, when Gods word doth expresse to the contra∣ry. So you say my Lorde, but God saith cōtrary in his com∣mandem••ts. Painters deuotion & the Popes diuinitie do well agree. Preparation of the pain∣ters to make a faire and a deuout I∣mage.
• * 3.69

  The true ••ookes and ••alenders to ••on God.
• * 3.70

  ••etter ••ot my 〈◊〉〈◊〉, than •••• see blind 〈◊〉〈◊〉 there •••• be wor∣••••ipped.
• * 3.71

  The ••ight ••••••ice of a C••••••stian.
• * 3.72

  My Lord, ••••••ryea, ••••il not ••••••were Gods nay.
• * 3.73

  Note this ••••worship∣••••••s and ••••••nteiners •••• Images.
• * 3.74

  The Syna∣••••••••e of Antichrist will haue authoritie.
• * 3.75

  Great mira∣cles done by ••mages, but my Lorde doth not tel by whose power. Myracles importing worship to be done to Images may well be su∣spected not to come of G••d.
• * 3.76

  A Christian man ought not to vow, seeke, nor how, nor pray, nor offer nor kille an Image. For the vnfaith∣fulnes of men, the deuill may worke myracles.
• * 3.77

  The worde of God suffiseth vs to saluation, without myra∣cles. That which is of nature vn∣knowne, cannot be resembled by any visible crea∣ture knowne.
• * 3.78

  Holy church of your owne buil∣ding.
• * 3.79

  The 3. article.
• * 3.80

  Pilgrimage.
• * 3.81

  Two maner of Pilgrimages.
• * 3.82

  The true pilgri∣mage is to tra∣uell in heauenly thinges.
• * 3.83

  Euery good worke, is a good steppe to hea∣uen.
• * 3.84

  The maner and examples of saintes.
• * 3.85

  Pilgrimage dis∣pleasaunt to God.
• * 3.86

  Goods euill be∣stowed in pil∣grimage.
• * 3.87

  The incōueniēce that commeth by pilgrimage.
• * 3.88

  Well spoken my Lord for Lin∣colnshire bag∣pipes. And why then blamed Bo∣ner Philpot for singing in the stockes?
• * 3.89

  A new found way to grace of the bishops making.
• * 3.90

  Instrumētes & musike of the old testament, how they are to be ap∣plyed and vsed in the new testa∣ment.
• * 3.91

  Orgaynes in the Church. A fitt com∣parison my Lord, & like your selfe.
• * 3.92

  The saying of Ierome.
• * 3.93

  You sweare my Lord.
• * 3.94

  The 4. arti∣cle concer∣ning priestes tithes.
• * 3.95

  A paradox without Gods word.
• * 3.96

  A difference to be put betwixt the old law and the new. Priestes had the x. part of the tithes geuen to the Leuites.
• * 3.97

  Christ com∣••••undeth ••••es, not •• his, ex∣••pt tithes ••••almes.
• * 3.98

  Tithes by ••h••m and when they were first commaūded ••a the new ••••w.
• * 3.99

  Paule ha∣••••ng power to take, yet ••••ed it not. Paule wold not be char∣geous. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 priestes were coue∣••••us than, what be they now? This rule, with the rule of beg∣ging Frices, can not stand togeather
• * 3.100

  Holesome ••••ough my Lord if your ••it were to ••••uour it. But it con∣••••rieth not the ordināce ••eyther of God nor of his worde▪ If priestes would not ••••acke in their duetie, they should not lacke in hauing sufficient. Fallax ar∣gumentum secundum, non causam ••vt causam. The euill demeanor of the priestes, is the cause why the people be so slacke in their tithes. Priestes be∣ing content with suffici∣ency, and a bare liuing, ought to part the re∣sidue to the poore.
• * 3.101

  Priestes did so than, but our priestes doe not to now.
• * 3.102

  Whether tithes are to be paid to priestes doing not their duetie.
• * 3.103

  Gostly mother? nay, an vngostly stepdam, to all Gods children.
• * 3.104

  By the law none could chaleng tithes, but onely the seed of Leuy Our priestes be not of the seede of Leuy. Ergo by the law our priestes cannot chalenge tithes.
• * 3.105

  As the priest∣bood is chāged, so is the law chaunged.
• * 3.106

  Blesse but curse not saith S. Paule.
• * 3.107

  He goeth neare you my Lord, when he tou∣cheth your tithes.
• * 3.108

  The difference of the freedoms betwene the old and new lawes.
• * 3.109

  For what cause tithes were geuē in the olde law,
• * 3.110

  If you take a way tithes, you vndoe the church.
• * 3.111

  Thorpe, preach agaynst whom thou wilt, so thou touch not this scabbe.
• * 3.112

  The viciousnes and pride of priestes infec∣teth ••ll the world.
• * 3.113

  A spitefull meeknes that is in skarlet gownes.
• * 3.114

  The signes and markes of proud priestes.
• * 3.115

  Paule saith, god shall iudge all fornicators, what say you my Lord?
• * 3.116

  Priestes ought to be examples of good lining.
• * 3.117

  Clarkly spoken and like a Para∣site.
• * 3.118

  Forget nothing I pray you my Lord.
• * 3.119

  Not lawfvll to sweare by any creature. Men ought not to sweare when without an othe he may excuse himselfe that is compelled to sweare.
• * 3.120

  Well said Sir Iohn of you, your holy mo∣ther stroke your head.
• * 3.121

  These pre∣lates would be thou be to be good, be they ne∣uer so bad.
• * 3.122

  A commu∣nication be∣twixt a law∣ier and a di∣uine.
• * 3.123

  To sweare by a booke is to sweare by creatures.
• * 3.124

  Chrisostom blameth booke oath.
• * 3.125

  Here now lacked Bo∣ner, to scratch hym by the face.
• * 3.126

  Fither Mal∣ueren, or els Syr Bryan Blowcole.
• * 3.127

  Christ pro∣miseth & ge∣ueth mouth & vtterance.
• * 3.128

  The place of Chriso∣stome ex∣pounded, how it is sin to sweare well.
• * 3.129

  What it is to sweare well.
• * 3.130

  Pope holy Church.
• * 3.131

  To touch a booke is to sweare by a booke. It is happy that he cal∣••ed not for a candle, and made a Sce∣••ola of him, as ••oner did 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Tomkins.
• * 3.132

  It is happy that Chri∣sostome was not here, or els he would haue had him by the backe. But that word cannot be touched. Thorpe re∣fseth not sweare.
• * 3.133

  Whether the booke be the Gospell. ••••om saith the Gospel is not the Gospel for ••rading, but for beleuing. The Gospel is not the leaues of the booke, but the roote of reason. S. Paule.
• * 3.134

  Dauid.
• * 3.135

  This clarke was well ••eene in the Masse booke
• * 3.136

  The Gos∣pel is not the letter but hid in the letter.
• * 3.137

  Misty matters for your blind eyes.
• * 3.138

  The kingdome of God taken for the vnder∣standing of Gods word.
• * 3.139

  This salte was somewhat two sharpe for their rotten fleshe to abide.
• * 3.140

  Helpe downe with him sir Iohn.
• * 3.141

  Note here the crafty practise of this holy church.
• * 3.142

  A false brother.
• * 3.143

  A crafty trayne of a popishe dissembler.
• * 3.144

  Auricular confession.
• * 3.145

  God onely for∣geueth sinne, man onely can coūsell to leaue sinne.
• * 3.146

  Shrife & cōfessiō to priestes.
• * 3.147

  A good secular man may be counseller, where a priest faileth by S. Augustine.
• * 3.148

  Morden Monke of Feuersam preaching of cō∣fession.
• * 3.149

  Harty repētāce to God, needeth no confession to a priest.
• * 3.150

  No nor nothing els that is good.
• * 3.151

  Christ geueth freedome, the pope geueth thraldome.
• * 3.152

  The true freedome of holy church not destroy∣ed but in∣creased by true prea∣chers.
• * 3.153

  Take my Lords blas∣sing & stand vp.
• * 3.154

  My Lord hath hast, for being benighted.
• * 3.155

  And why compel you this man to the contrary
• * 3.156

  Thorpe cō∣tent to sub∣mit himself to the ordi∣••••unce of councels.
• * 3.157

  ••f Boner 〈◊〉〈◊〉 bene 〈◊〉〈◊〉, hee would not 〈◊〉〈◊〉 strokē 〈◊〉〈◊〉 cupbord
• * 3.158

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 multi∣••••e is not 〈◊〉〈◊〉 folo∣••ed in euil.
• * 3.159

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 what 〈◊〉〈◊〉 is, God ••••ing him ••••to him∣••••fe.
• * 3.160

  •• cleane 〈◊〉〈◊〉 thrift 〈◊〉〈◊〉 sin.
• * 3.161

  Other mens ex∣amples are so to be folowed, as they be the fol∣lowers of Christ
• * 3.162

  Promotions commonly and great liuinges, choke truth.
• * 3.163

  Men folowing the wayes of Balaam.
• * 3.164

  Thorpes felow refuseth to sweare to the prelates.
• * 3.165

  Vide supra. pag. 497.
• * 3.166

  Arundell the Archb. going out of England. The gentlenes of the B. of Lō∣don to Thorpe. So promised Winchester in Queene Maries time, but that passed his pow∣er to performe. A notable aun∣swer of Thorpe to the Byshop, promising to destroy all the Gospellers.
• * 3.167

  Such pearles would better beseeme my Lord your gol∣den shooes.
• * 3.168

  At illi clamabāt dicentes tolle, tolle, crucifige eum. Luke 23.
• * 3.169

  Obedience to God and to hys lawe woulde not serue.
• * 3.170

  In patience and silence possesse your soules.
• * 3.171

  Thorp cast in prison.
• * 3.172

  Thorpe comfor∣ted & strengthe∣ned of the Lord, after his conflict with the bishop
• * 3.173

  Christ dwel¦leth in a faythfull soule.
• * 3.174

  Christ is the stone wheron we must build••.
• * 3.175

  Howe we are made the temple of God.
• * 3.176

  Marke what we haue by Christ.
• * 3.177

  The proper∣tie of a square stone
• * 3.178

  Christ is an example of all perfect meekenes.
• * 3.179

  Priests see•• the pleasure of this world.
• * 3.180

  Great odd•• betwixt the life of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and Ch•••• and hys A∣postles.
• * 3.181

  Whē prie•••• forget God truth, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 whether they runne headlong. The gre•••• infect the small.
• * 3.182

  Fleshlye priests can∣not 〈◊〉〈◊〉 with th•• thinges.
• * 3.183

  They hunt after this with tooth and nayle.
• * 3.184

  An exhor∣tation to all degrees, to see priest∣hood amen∣ded.
• * 3.185

  Prelates & priestes neg∣ligent in their duties.
• * 3.186

  Cirp. 1. q. 1. cap. Si quis in∣quit.
• * 3.187

  The ende of W. Thorpe vncer∣tayne.