sayth in the Catholicke Churche: I stedfastly beleue, that there is but one God almighty, in and of whose Godhead are these three persons, the father, the sonne, and the holye Ghost, and that those three persons are the selfe same God almighty. I beleue also, that the second person of this most blessed Trinitie, in most conuenient tune appoynted ther∣unto afore, tooke flesh and bloud of the most blessed virgin Mary, for the sauegarde and redemption of the vniuersall kind of man, which was afore lost in Adams offence.
Moreouer I beleeue, that the same Iesus Christ our Lord thus being both God and man, is the onely head of the whole Christian Churche, and that all those that hathe bene or shalbe saued, be members of this most holy church. And this holy Churche I thinke to be deuided into three sortes or companyes.
Wherof the first sort be now in heauen, and they are the sayntes from hence departed. These as they were here cō∣uersant, conformed alwayes their liues to the most holye lawes and pure examples of Christ, renouncing Sathan, the world, and the flesh, with all their concupiscences and euils.
The second sort are in Purgatory (if any suche place be in the scriptures) abiding the mercy of God and a full deli∣ueraunce of payne.
The third sort are here vpon the earth, and be called the Church millitant. For day and night they contend against crafty assaultes of the deuill, the flattering prosperities of this world, and the rebellious filthines of the flesh.
This latter congregation by the iust ordinance of God is also seuered into three diuers estates, that is to say, into priesthood, knighthood, and the commons. Among whom the will of God is, that the one should ayd the other, but not destroy the other. The priestes first of al secluded from all worldlines, should conforme theyr liues vtterly to the examples of Christ and his Apostles. Euermore shoulde they be occupyed in preaching and teaching the scriptures purely, and in geuing wholesome examples of good liuing to the other two degrees of men. More modest also, more louing, gentle, and lowly in spirite, should they be, then a∣no other sortes of people.
In knighthood are all they, which beare sword by law of office. These should defend Gods lawes, and see that the Gospell were purely taught, conforming theyr liues to yt same, and secluding all false preachers: yea these ought ra∣ther to hazard their liues, thē to suffer such wicked decrees as either blemisheth the eternall Testament of God, or yet letteth the free passage therof, whereby heresies & schismes might spring in the Churche. For of none other arise they as I suppose, then of erroneous constitutiōs, craftely first creeping in vnder hipocriticall lies, for aduauntage. They ought also to preserue Gods people from oppressours, ty∣rauntes, and theeues, & to see the clergie supported so long as they teach purely, pray rightly, and minister the Sacra∣mentes freely. And if they see them doe otherwise, they are bound by the law of office to compell them to chaung their doinges: & to see all thinges performed according to gods prescript ordinaunce.
The latter fellowship of this Church, are the common people: whose duery is, to beare their good mindes & true obedience, to the aforesayd ministers of God, theyr kinges ciuill gouernours and Priestes. The right office of these, is iustly to occupy euery man his facultie, be it marchaun∣dise, handicraft: or the tilthe of the ground. And so one of them to be as an helper to an other, following alwayes in their sortes the iust commaundementes of the Lord God.
Ouer and besidés all this, I most faythfully beleeue ye the Sacramentes of Christes Churche are necessary to all Christen beleuers: this alwayes seen to: that they be truly ministred according to Christes first institution and ordi∣naunce. And forasmuch as I am maliciously & most falsly accused of a misbeliefe in the sacrament of the aulter, to the hurtfull slaunder of many: I signifie here vnto all men, yt this is my fayth concerning that. I beleue in that Sacra∣ment to be contayned very Christes body and bloud vn∣der the similitudes of bread and wyne, yea the same body yt was conceiued of the holy ghost, borne of yt virgine Mary done on the crosse: dyed, that was buryed, arose the thyrd day from the death: and is now glorified in heauen. I also beleue, the vniuersall law of God to be most true and per∣fect, and they which doe not so follow it in theyr fayth and works (at one time or an other) can neuer be saned: Where as he that seketh it in fayth, accepteth it, learneth it, deligh∣teth therin, and performeth it in loue, shall cast for it the fe∣licitie of euerlasting Innocencie.
Finally, this is my fayth also, that God will aske no more of a Christen beleuer in this life, but onely to obey yt preceptes of that most blessed law. If any Prelates of the Church require more, or els any other kinde of obedience, then this to be vsed: he contemneth Christ, exalting hym∣selfe aboue God, and so becommeth an open Antichrist. Al the premisses I beleue particularly, and generally all that God hath left in his holy scripture: that I should beleeue. Instantly desiring you my siege Lord and most worthye king, that this confession of mine, may be iustly examined by the most godly wise and learned men of your Realme. And if it be found in all pointes agreeing to the veritie, thē let it be so allowed: and I therupon holden for none other then a true Christian. If it be proued otherwise: then let it be vtterly cōdemned: prouided alwayes, that I be taught a better beliefe by the word of God: and I shall most reue∣rently at all times obey therunto.
This briefe confession of this fayth, the Lorde Cobham wrote (as is mentioned afore) and so tooke it with him to the court, offering it withall meekenes vnto the kyng to read it ouer. The king would in no case receaue it, but cō∣manded it to be deliuered vnto thē that should be his iud∣ges. Then desired he in the kinges presence, that an hun∣dred knightes and Esquiers might be suffered to come in vpon hys purgation, which he knew, woulde cleare hym of all heresies. Moreouer he offered himsel••e after the lawe of armes, to fight for life or death in any man liuing, Chri∣sten or heathen, in the quarrell of hys fayth, the king and the Lordes of hys Councell excepted. Finally with all gē∣tlenes he protested before all yt were present, that he wold refuse no maner of correction that shold after the lawes of God he ministred vnto him, but that he would at al times with all meekenes obey it. Notwithstanding all this, the king suffered him to be sommoned personally in his owne priuy chamber. Then sayd the Lord Cobham to the king that he had appeled from the Archbishop to the Pope of Rome, & therefore he ought he sayd, in no cause to be hys iudge. And hauing his appeale there at hand ready writtē, he shewed it with al reuerence to the king. Wherewith the king was then much more displeased then afore, and sayde angerly vnto him, that he should not pursue hys appeale: but rather he should tary in hold, till suche time as it were of the Pope allowed. And thē, would he, or nild he, yt arch∣bishop should be his iudge. Thus was there nothing al∣lowed that the good Lord Cobham had lawfully afore re∣quired. But for so much as he woulde not be sworne in all things to submit himselfe to the Church, and so take what penaunce the archbishop would enioyne him: He was a∣rested agayne at the kinges commaundement, and so ledde forth to the Tower of London, to keepe hys day (so was it then spoken) that the archbishop had appoynted him a∣fore in the kinges chamber.
Then caused he the foresayd confession of his fayth to be copyed agayne and the aunswere also (which he had made to the foure articles proponed agaynst him) to be written in maner of an Indenture in two sheetes of paper: That when he should come to hys aunswere, he might geue the one copy vnto the archbishop, and reserue the other to him selfe. As the day of examination was come, which was the 23. day of September the Saterday before the feast of saint Mathewe: Thomas Arundell the Archbishop, sitting in Cayphas rowme in the Chapter house of Paules, wyth Richard Clifford Byshop of London, and Henry Bolnig broke Byshop of Winchester: sir Robert Morley knight and Liefetenant of the Tower, brought personally before hym the sayd Lord Cobham, and there left him for the time vnto whom the archbishop sayd these wordes.