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.

About this Item

Title: 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.
Author: Foxe, John, 1516-1587.
Publication: [At London :: Imprinted by Iohn Daye, dwellyng ouer Aldersgate beneath S. Martins],; An. 1583. Mens. Octobr.
Rights/Permissions: To the extent possible under law, the Text Creation Partnership has waived all copyright and related or neighboring rights to this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above, according to the terms of the CC0 1.0 Public Domain Dedication (http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/). This waiver does not extend to any page images or other supplementary files associated with this work, which may be protected by copyright or other license restrictions. Please go to http://www.textcreationpartnership.org/ for more information.
Subject terms: Martyrs -- Great Britain -- Early works to 1800.
Link to this Item: http://name.umdl.umich.edu/A67922.0001.001
Cite this Item: "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." In the digital collection Early English Books Online. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A67922.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed June 11, 2024.

Pages

Richard Belward of Erisam in the Dioces of Norwich.

RIchard Belward of Erisam, in the Diocesse of Nor∣wiche, was accused for holding and teaching these er∣rours and opinions heere vnder wrytten, contrary to the determination of the church of Rome.

* 1.1In primis, that Ecclesiasticall ministers and Ordinaries haue no power to excommunicate, neither can excommu∣nicate: And all be it that a Bishop doe excommunicate any man, God doth absolue him.

Item, that he held the erronious opinions and conclu∣sions, that Syr Iohn Oldcastle helde when he was in pri∣son, & affirmed that Syr Iohn Oldcastle was a true Ca∣tholicke man, and falsly condemned and put to death with∣out any reasonable cause.

Item, that such as go on pilgrimage, offering to ima∣ges made of woode and stone, are excommunicate because they ought to offer to the quicke, and not to the dead: and that the Ecclesiasticall Ministers, that is to say the curates do sell God vppon Easter day, when as they receiue offe∣rings of such as should communicate before they do mini∣ster the Sacrament vnto them.

Item, that he counselled diuers women, y^e they should not offer in the Churche for the dead, neither wyth women that were purified.

Item, that he blamed diuers of his neighbors that re∣fused his doctrine,* 1.2 saying vnto thē: truly ye are sooles that deny to learne the doctrine of my sect, for your neighbours which are of my sect, are able to confound and vauquish al other that are of your sect.

Item, that the Saintes whych are in heauen, ought in no case to be prayed vnto, but onely God.

Item, that the sayd Richard keepeth schooles of lolar∣dy in the English tong, in the towne of Dychingham, and a certaine Parchment maker bryngeth hym all the bookes containing that doctrine from London.

The 5. day of July 1424. the sayde Richarde Belward was brought before Iohn, Byshop of Norwich sitting in place of iudgement, wheras the foresaid Articles were ob∣iected against the sayde Richarde, whych he there denyed: whereupō the bishop appoynted him an other day to purge himselfe, the monday next after the feast of S. Marget: vp∣on which day being the 24. of Iuly, in the yeare aforesayd, he appeared againe before the Bishop, and brought wyth him 9. of his neighbors to purge hym vpon those articles, and there did solemnely purge himselfe. And afterwarde, for somuch as the said Bishop suspected the sayd Richarde Belward greatly of lolardie, hee commaunded him there presently to sweare vpon the Euangelistes, that from that day forwarde he should not wittingly preach, teach, or de∣fend any error or heresy, contrary to the churche of Rome, neither aide, assist, fauour or maintaine, priuely or apertly, any maner of person or persons, that should hold or main∣taine the sayde errours or heresies. In the presence of M. William Bernam, Iohn Wadden, Robert Serle & Iohn Berne Esquire, and other of his neighbours which came vnto his purgation.

In like maner Iohn Goddesel of Dichingham parch∣mentmaker, was detected and accused vpon the same arti∣cles, and thereupon brought before the bishop:* 1.3 whereas he denying them, purged himselfe by his neighbours, as Ri∣chard Belward before had done, being sworne also in lyke maner, as he was, and so was dismissed and set at libertie, vntill the yeare of our Lord 1428. When as he was againe apprehended, accused and abiured, as shalbe more at large declared in the hystorie when we come to that yeare. Syr Hugh Pie also, chaplaine of Ludney in the dioces of Nor∣wich, was likewise accused and brought before the byshop of Norwich y^e 5. day of Iuly.* 1.4 An. 1424. for holding of these opinions following.

That the people ought not to go on pilgrimage.

Item, that y^e people ought not to geue almes, but only vnto suche as begge at theyr dores.

Item,* 1.5 that the image of the crosse and other images are not to be worshipped. And that the said Hugh, had cast the crosse of Bromeholde into the fire to be burned, which hee tooke from one Iohn welgate of Ludney. Which articles as is aforesayde, being obiected against him, he vtterly de∣nied: Wherupon he had a day appoynted to purge himselfe by the witnes of 3. lay men and 3. priests. That so done, he was sworne as the other before, and so dismissed.

After this, in the yeare of our Lorde 1428. king Henry the 6. sent downe most cruel letters of commission vnto I. Exetor and Iacolet Germaine, keeper of the castle of Col∣chester, for the apprehending of Sir William White Priest, and others suspected of heresies, the tenor wherof, hereaf∣ter ensueth.

¶ The copie of the kings letters directed to Iohn Exeter, and Iacolet Germaine, keeper of the ca∣stle of Colchester, for the apprehending of Sir William White priest and other, (as they called them) lollards.

HEnry by the grace of God king of Englande and of Fraunce,* 2.1 Lord of Ireland, to his well beloued Iohn Exetor, and Iacolet Germaine, keeper of the castle of Colchester health.

Ye shall vnderstand that we fully trusting vnto your fidelitye and circumspections, haue appoynted you ioyntly and seuerally to take and arrest William White priest, and Thomas, late chap∣laine of Setling, in the countie of Norfolke, and William Nor∣thampton priest, and al other whatsoeuer they be that are suspect of heresy or lollardy, wheresoeuer they may be founde within the liberties or without, and straight way being so taken, to send the vnto our next gaile or prison, vnto such time, as we shall haue ta∣ken other order for their deliuery: And therefore wee straightly commaunde you, that ye diligently attende about the premisses, and fulfill the same in forme aforesayde. Also we charge and com∣mand all and singuler Iustices of peace, Maiors, Shriues, Bailiffes, Cunstables, and all other our faithfull officers, by the tenoure of these presents, that they do assist, aide, and counsaile you & euery of you, in the execution of the premisses, as it shall be comely for them. In witnes whereof, we haue caused these our letters pa∣tentes to be made.

Witnes my selfe at Westminster, the 6. of Iuly, the 6. yeare of our raigne
.

By vertue of which commission we finde in olde Mo∣numents, that wythin shorte space after. Iohn Exeter, which was appointed one of the commissioners, attached 6. persons in the towne of Bungay in the diocesse of Nor∣wich, and committed them to William Day, and William Roe, Constables of the towne of Bungay, to be sent with∣in 10. dayes folowing vnder safe custodie, vnto the castle of Norwich. Whose names, through the antiquity of the mo∣nument were so defaced that we coulde not attaine to the perfecte knowledge of them all: onely 3. names partlye remained in the booke to be read, which were these.

¶ Iohn Waddon of Tenterdon, in the countie of kent, Bartlemewe, Monke of Ersham, in the countie of Norfolke, Corneleader, a martyed man. William Skuts.

These 3. were in the custodie of the Duke of Northfolk, at hys castle of Fremingham.

Besides these, we also finde in the said old monuments within the diocesse of Norffolke and Suffolke, specially in the townes of Beckels, Ersham, and Ludney, a great nū∣ber both of men and women to haue bene vexed and ca••••e in prison, & after their abiuration, brought to open shame in churches and markets by the bishop of the sayd diocesse called William, and hys Chancellour William Bernham, Iohn Exceter being the Register therein, so that wythin the space of 3. or 4. yeares,* 2.2 that is from the yeare 1428. vn∣to the yeare 1431. about the number of 120. menne and wo∣men are examined and sustained great vexatiō for the pro∣fession of the Christian faithe: of whome some were onely taken vppon suspition onely for eating of meates prohibi∣ted vpon vigil dayes, who of their purgation made, esca∣ped more easily away and wyth lesse punishment, whose names here follow subscribed.

The names of them that were taken and examined vpon suspition of heresye.

* 2.3RObert Skiruing of Harlstone.
...Wiliam Skiruing.
...Iohn Terry of Ersham.
...Iohn Abtre of Ersham.
...Iohn Middleton of Haluergate.
...Iohn Wayde of Ersham.
...Rich. Clarke of Sething.
...Tho. White of Bedingham.
...M. Rob. Beete of Berry.
...Rich. Page of Clipsly.

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The other were more cruelly handled, and some of them were put to death and burned, of whō we do specially finde mention made of these three.

...Father Abraham of Colchester.
...William white Priest.
...Iohn Waddon priest.

The residue, for a great number of good men and women, were forced to abiure, sustayning such cruell penaunce as pleased then the sayd Bishop and his Chauncellor to lay vpon them. The names of which both men and wonnē here folow together in this briefe Catalogue to be seene.

...IOhn Beuerley.
...Iohn Wardon.
...Iohn Baker. Iohn Midleton.
...Iohn Kynget.
...Margery Backster.
...Iohn Skilley.
...Iohn Godhold.
...Thomas Albecke. Iohn Pierce.
...Nicholas Canon of Eye.
...Thomas Pye.
...Iohn Mendham.
...Iohn Middleton.
...Thomas Chatris.
...Thomas Wade.
...William Taylor.
...Iohn Cupper, vicar of Tunstall.
...Sir Hugh Pye Priest.
...Bartholomew Tatcher.
...Thomas Iames.
...Iohn Fouling.
...Bertram Cornmonger.
...Thomas Swerdin.
...Alanus Andrew.
...William Wright.
...William Euerden.
...William Taylor.
...Auis the wi••e of Thomas Moone and her daughter.
...Richard Fletcher of Beckles.
...Nicholas Belward.
...Thomas Grenemere.
...Iohn Clarke. William Bate.
...William Scherming.
...William Osburne.
...Iohn Rene of Beckles.
...Baldwine Cooper of Beckles.
...Iohn Pert. M Mones seruant.
...Rob. Brigs, Iohn Finch.
...Iohn Wropham. Thomas Mone.
...Isabell Chaplaine of Martham.
...William Masse of Ersham.
...Iohn Goodwine of Ersham.
...Henry Latchcold of Ersham.
...Henry Boode of Ersham.
...Rich Horne of Ersham.
...Iohn Belward senior of Ersham.
...Iohn Belward iunior of Ersham.
...Iohn Spire of Bungay.
...Rob. Colle of Turning.
...The heard of Shepemedow
...Isabell Dauy of Costes.
...Sibill wife of Iohn Godefell of Dicham.
...Iohn Pyry of Bartham.
...Iohn Baker. Margery Wright.
...Thomas Burrell and his wife.
...Iohn Pert. Edm. Archer.
...The Clarke of Ludney.
...Rich Clarke of Sething.
...Katherine the wife of William Wright, William Colin of South∣creke.
...Rich King of Windeham.
...Tho Plowman. Iohn Fellis.
...Tho. Loue of Rokeland.
...Rich Knobbing of Beckles.
...Rich. Grace of Beckles.
...Iohn Eldon of Beckles.
...William Hardy, Wil. Bate.
...Iohn Weston.
...Katherine Hobs.
...Iohn Daw.
...Rob. Grigs of Martham.
...Wil. Calis Priest.
...Tho. Pert. Priest.
...Katherine Dauy.
...Iacob Bodhome, & Margaret his wife.
...Iohn Manning of Marton.
...Iohn Culling of Beemster.
...Rich Fletcher of Beckles and Matild his wife.
...Iohn Eldon of Beckles.
...Rob. Canel Priest.
...Nich. Drey.
...Wil. Hardy of Mundham.
...Iohn Poleyne.

These forenamed persons and souldiors of Christ, be∣ing much beatē with the cares and troubles of those dayes although they were constrayned to relent and abiure, that is to protest otherwise with their tonges, then theyr harts did thinke, partly through correction and partly through infirmity (being as yet but new trayned Souldiours in Gods field) yet for theyr good will they bare vnto y^e trueth, although with theyr tongues they durst not expresse it, we haue thought good that theyr names should not be suppres∣sed, as well for other sondry causes, as especially for this: either to stop the mouthes of malignant aduersaryes, or to aunswere to theyr ignorance: Who folowing rather blinde affection thē the true knowledge of times and antiquities, for lacke of knowledge, blame that they know not, accu∣sing the true doctrine of the worde of God, for newelty and carping, the teachers therof for new broched brethrē. Who, if they did as well foresee times passed, as they be vnwil∣ling to follow times now present, they should vnderstand as well by these storyes as other before, how this doctrine of the grace of God lacking no antiquity, hath from time to time continually sought to burst out, and in some pla∣ces hath preuayled, although in most places through tyrā∣ny and the malice of men, Christes procedinges haue bene suppressed and kept vnder from rising, so muche as mans power and strength ioyned with craft and subtlery, coulde labor to keepe downe the same: as here by these good men of Northfolke and Southfolke, may well appeare. For if the knowledge and the good towardnesse of those good mē, had had the like liberty of time, with the helpe of like au∣thority as we haue nowe,* 2.4 and had not ben restrayned tho∣rough the iniquity of time and tyranny of Prelates: it had well appeared how olde this doctrine woulde haue bene, which now they contemne and reiect for the newnes ther∣of: neither needed Boner to haue asked of Tho. Hawkes, and such other, where their Church was for xl. yeares ago, in as much as for xl. yeares ago, and more, within the coū∣try of Norfolke and Suffolke, was then soūd such plenty of y^e same professiō & like doctrine which we now professe. And thus much for the nūber of the names of thesepersōs.

Now touching theyr Articles whiche they did mayne∣teine and defend: first this is to be considered, as I finde it in the registers, such society and agrement of doctrine to be amongst them, that almost in theyr assertions and articles there was no difference. The doctrine of the one was the doctrine of all the other, what theyr articles were, partly it is shewed in the lease before: and partly here followeth to be declared more at large.

Although it is to be thought concerning these Articles that many of them either were falsly obiected agaynst thē, or not truely reported of the notaryes, according as the cō∣mon maner is of these aduersaryes, where the matter is good, there to make heresy, and of a litle occasion, to styre vp great matter of slaunder, as they did before by the arti∣cles of Iohn Wickliffe and Iohn Hus, and others mo: So in like maner it semeth they did in the Articles of these mē, either mistaking that which they said, or misunderstanding that which they ment, especially in these two articles con∣cerning baptisme and paying of tithes. For where as they speaking agaynst the ceremonicall and superfluous tradi∣tions then vsed in baptisme, as salt, oile, spittle, taper, light crisomes, exorcising of the water, with such other, accoūted them as no materiall thing in the holy institution of Bap∣tisme, the notaryes slaunderously deprauing this theyr as∣sertion, to make it more odious to the eares of the people,* 2.5 so gaue out the article as though they should holde that the sacrament of Baptisme vsed in the church by water, is but a light matter and of small effect.

Agayne, in speaking agaynst the Christening the mid∣wiues vse in priuate houses, agaynst the opinion of suche as thinke suche children to be damned, which depart before they come to theyr Baptisme, they are falsely reported as though they shoulde say, that Christen people be susti∣ently baptised in the bloud of Christ, and nedeth no water, and that infants be sufficiently baptised, if their parents be baptised before them. Whiche thing is so contrary to the manifest worde, that it is not to bee thoughte anye to bee

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so ignoraunt of the gospell, that euer would or did affirme the same.

Moreouer, they thought or sayd peraduenture that in certayne cases, tithes might be witholden from wicked priestes sometime, and be conferred to better vses, to the be hoofe of the poore: Therfore they are falsly slaundered, as saying and affirming that no tithes were to be geuē to the ministers and curates of the churches.

* 2.6And likewise for matrimony, wherin they are reported to hold and affirme as though it consisted onely in the mu∣tuall consent betwixt the man & woman, neding no other solemnizing in the publicke church and all because (as it is like) they denyed it to be a Sacramēt. Other articles were obiected agaynst them as these which hereafter folow.

* 2.7That auricular confessiō is not to be made vnto a priest but vnto God onely, because no priest hath any power to absolue a sinner from his sinne.

Item, that no Priest hath power to make the body of Christ in the sacrament of the aultar, but that after the sa∣cramentall words, there remayneth pure materiall breade as before.

Item that euery true christian man is a priest to God.

Item, that no man is bound vnder paine of damnatiō vnto Lent or any other dayes prohibited by the Church of Rome.

Item, that the Pope is Antichrist, and his Prelats the Disciples of Antichrist, and the Pope hath no power to binde and loose vpon earth.

* 2.8 Item, that it is lawfull for euery Christian to doe any bodely worke (sinne onely except) vpon holy dayes.

Item that it is lawfull for priestes to haue wiues.

Item, that the excommunications and ecclesiastical cē∣sures geuen out by the Prelates are not to be regarded.

Item, it is not lawfull to sweare in priuate cases.

Item, that men ought not to go on pilgrimage.

Item that there is no honor to be geuē to the Images of the crucifixe, of our Lady, or any other saynt.

Item, that the holy water halowed in the church by the priest, is not holyer or of more vertue then other running or well water, because the Lord blessed all waters in theyr first creation.

* 2.9Item, that the death of Thomas Becket, was neyther holy neither meritorious.

Item, that reliques as dead mens bones, ought not to be worshipped or digged out of theyr graues, or set vp in Shrynes.

Item, that prayers made in all places are acceptable vnto God.

Item, that men ought not to pray to any saynt but on∣ly to God.

Item that the vels and ringing in the church was or∣deyned for no other purpose then to fill the pristes purses.

Item, that it is no sinne to withstand the ecclesiasticall preceptes.

Item, that the catholick church is onely the congrega∣tion of the elect.

* 2.10These were the Articles, which were generally obiec∣ted agaynst them all, wherin they did so agree in one vni∣forme sayth, that whatsoeuer one did hold, all the other did mayntayne & hold the same. By the which theyr consent & doctrine it appeareth that they all receiued it of some one instructor, who was William White: which being a scholer and folower of I. Wickliffe, resorted afterward into thys country of Norfolke and there instructed these men in the light of the gospell. And now as we haue declared the na∣mes and Articles of these good men, so it remayneth some∣what to speake of theyr troubles how they were handled, beginning first with William White.

Notes

* 1.1

He meaneth the wicked by∣shops of that time, whose cur¦ses God did blesse.

This proueth Sir I. Oldecastle to be no traytour.
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* 1.2

The wordes of ha Register.

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* 1.3

Iohn Goddesell of Dichingham.

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* 1.4

Sir Hugh Pye Priest.

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* 1.5

Image of the crosse not to be worshipped

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* 2.1

A letter of the king.

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* 2.2

William Bishop of Norwich, William Bernhā hys Chaūcelor.

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* 2.3

A cataloge of good mé and women troubled for suspition of heresie.

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* 2.4

Bonermight see the church here in this age, more then xl. yeres be∣fore he was borne.

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* 2.5

These men are falsely slaunde∣red about Bap∣tisme.

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* 2.6

The papistes are but quarel pic∣kers.

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* 2.7

Articles.

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* 2.8

In case of ne∣cessitie, vrgent they meane.

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* 2.9

The death of Thomas Becket.

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* 2.10

In this article is ment that the wicked be in the church but not of the Church.

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Pages

Richard Belward of Erisam in the Dioces of Norwich.

¶ The copie of the kings letters directed to Iohn Exeter, and Iacolet Germaine, keeper of the ca∣stle of Colchester, for the apprehending of Sir William White priest and other, (as they called them) lollards.

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