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DEDICATED, BY PERMISSION,

HIS MOST GRACIOUS MAJESTY.

THE ACTS AND MONUMENTS . OF JOHN FOXE.

VOL. III.

LONDOK : tKINTED BY R. CLAY, BREAD-STREET-HILL,

doctors' commons

1 andMomiments

of ilitse latter an"a ptrdlous tJatics, touci)ing matters of xl)t €\)nxt\),

wherein are comprehended and described

the great persecutions & horrible troubles

that haue bene wrousht and practised b>

the Rcmishe Prelates, speciallye in this

Realme of England and Scotlande,

from the yeare of our Lorde a

thousande, unto the tyme

nowe present.

Gathered and collected according to the

true copies and w-rrtingres certificatorie as wel

of the parties thetnselues that suffered,

as also out of the Bishops Regpsters,

which wer the doers therof,

bv John Foxe.

^■

thp: acts and monuments of john foxe:

A NEW AND COMPLETE EDITION

WITH A PRELIMINARY DISSERTATION, BY THE

KEV. GEORGE TOWNSEND, M.A.

OF TRINITY COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE.

PREBENDARY OF DURHAM, AND VICAR OF NORTHALLERTON, YORKSHIRE.

EDITED BY THE

REV. STEPHEN REED CATTLEY, MA.

OF queen's college, CAMBRIDGE,

RECTOR OF BAGTHORP, NORFOLK, AND CHAPLAIN TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE EARL OF SCARBROUGH.

VOL. IIL

PUBLISHED BY R. B, SEELEY AND W. BURNSIDE ;

AND SOLD BY L. & G. SEELEY,

FLEET STREET, LONDON.

MDCCCXXXVIL

C4^-

\

' b

(s

"\ O

CONTENTS.

VOL. III. CONTINUATION OF BOOK V.

CONTAINING THE LAST THREE HUNDRED YEARS FROM THE LOOSING OUT

OF SATAN.

A.D. PAGE

1377. Richard II 3

Articles collected out of Wickliff's Sermons 4

1378. Bull of Pope Gregory to the Chancellor and University of

Oxford 5

Epistle of Pope Gregory to Richard, King of England, to

persecute John WicldifF 7

The Conclusions of John WicklifF exhibited at a Convocation

of Bishops at Lambeth 10

The Protestation of John WickliiF 12

An Exposition upon the Conclusions of John WicklifF ... 13 1382. Mandate of Archbishop Courtney respecting Heresy ... 20

Articles of John Wickliff, some condemned as heretical,

others as erroneous 21

A Letter of Archbishop Courtney to the Bishop of London

against John WicldifF and his adherents 22

Determinations upon the Articles of Wickliff .... 24 A Letter of Archbishop Courtney to the Chancellor of Oxford

against Wickliff and his adherents ibid.

The Monition of Archbishop Courtney to the Chancellor of

Oxford 26

The Examination of Nicholas Herford, Philip Reppington, and

John Ashton ibid.

The Protestation of Herford, Reppington, and Ashton ... 28 Further Examinations and Proceedings against Herford, Rep- pington and Ashton 29

Process of Archbishop Courtney against John Ashton ... 31

The Sentence pronounced on John Ashton 32

The Sentence of Excommunication passed upon Herford and

Reppington, with the Citation against them 34

A Private Statute made by the Clergy without the consent of

the Commons ; \vith the Examination of it by the Author . 36 An Extract from the Petition of the Commons for repealing the

aforesaid Statute 37

b

11 CONTENTS.

A.D. . . ^-AGE

1 382. The King's Letters-patent to the Archbishop against the Fa-

vourers of WickhfF ibid.

The Kinsr's Letter to the Vice-chancellor and Proctors of

Oxford^ 38

Matters incident to Robert Rigges, Vice-chancellor of Oxford,

Herford, Reppington and others 40

"" Another Letter of the King to the Vice-chancellor of Oxford . 43 A Letter of Robert Rigges, Vice-chancellor of Oxford, to the

Archbishop 45

Abjuration of Philip Reppington 46

A cruel Letter of the Archbishop against Herford .... 47

An Epistle of John Wickliff to Pope Urban VI 49

1383. Pope Urban 's Bull to destroy Clement the Antipope . ... 51 Form of the Pope's Absolution pronounced by the Bishop . . ibid.

1384. The substance of John Wickliff 's Answer to the King, touch-

ing the right and title of the King and the Pope .... 54 The Public Testimony given by the University of Oxford, for

John Wickliff 57

The Testimony of John Huss touching John Wickliff ... 58 The Sentence of the Council of Constance in condemnation of the Doctrine and Fortj'-five Articles of Wickliff .... GO

Certain other Articles of AVickliff 61

Articles against Wickliff attested by William Woodford . . 63 The Public Defence of certain Articles of John Wickliff, be- fore the whole University of Prague. On the Thirteenth

and Fifteenth Articles ; by John Huss 64

The Second Disputation, in the University of Prague, upon the

Seventeenth Article of John Wickliff; by John Huss . . 77 Hildegard's Prophecy respecting Friars and Monks .... 87 The Third Disputation, upon the Eighteenth Article of

Wickliff; by John Huss 88

The Substance of the Decree of the Council of Constance for the taking up of the Bones of John Wickliff . . . . 94

1389. The Story of William Swinderby 107

The Revocation of Swinderby 108

1391. The Process of John Tresnaut, Bishop of Hereford, against

Swinderby, in the cause of Heretical Pravity 109

Matters articulated against Swinderby 110

The Protestation of Swinderby to the Bishop of Hereford, in

the same old English wherein he wrote it 112

The Citation of William Swinderby 120

The Sentence against Swinderby 126

His Appeal from the Sentence of the Bishop to the King . . ibid. Swinderby's fruitful Letter sent to the Nobles and Bm-gesses

of the Parliament 128

The Story and Process against Walter Brute, a Briton . . . 131 Articles and Instruments denounced against him .... 132 Certain Exhibits of Walter Bi-ute in writing presented to the

Bishop, for his Defence 136

A more ample Tractation of the same matter 139

The Judgment and Belief of Walter Brute, touching the Lord's

Supper, the Order of Priests, &c 173

Walter Bra te, on the Order and Office of Prayer 179

Copy of a Letter from a Lollard to Master Nicholas Herford . 188 The Device of a Letter, feigned under the name of Lucifer,

Prince of Darkness, written to the proud and persecuting

Prelates of the Popish Clergy 190

Bull of Pope Boniface to the I3ishop of Hereford against the

Lollards 193

The Tenor of the Pope's Bull to King Richard 194

The King's Commission 195

1392. Letter of the King against Walter Brute 196

CONTKNTS. m

A-D. PAGE

1394. Letters of Archbishop Courtney respecting the An-est of eight

Lollards, and the Re-admission of Margaret Caily, a nun, into

the Monastery of St. Kadegond 199

Letter of the Archbishop, enjoining Penance of certain good Persons of Leicester 200

1395. The Book of Conclusions and Reformations, exhibited in the

Parliament holden at London, and set up at Paul's door and

other places, a. d. 1395 203

Letter of Richard IL to Pope Boniface IX 207

1398. Notes of Parliaments, holden in the reign of King Richard IL,

making against the Pope 213

1399. Henry IV 221

1400. Sir William Sautre, otherwise called Chatris, parish priest, a

Martyr ibid.

Sir William's First and Second Examination 222

Process against him ; his Recantation, &c 225

Sentence of Degi-adation pronounced upon him 227

The cruel Decree against William Sautre 228

1401. Articles against King Henry IV. set upon Church-doors . . 230

1409. John Badby, artificer, a Martyi- 235

Sentence of the Bishop of Worcester against him, with the

attestation of the Notaries 236

The cruel Statute ' Ex Officio" 239

The cruel Constitution of Archbishop Arundel, against the

Gospellers, or followers of God's Tnith 242

Articles of divers who were constrained to abjure .... 248

William Thorpe : that constant servant of God 249

The Preface of William Thorpe followed by his Examination,

penned with his own hand 250

The Testament of William Thoi-pe 282

The Story of John Purvey 285

Articles which he recanted, with other Articles drawn out of

his books by Richard Lavingham 286

A Sermon no lesse godly than learned, preached at Paules

Crosse on the Sunday of Quinquagesima, anno 1389, by

R. Wimbeldon 292

Letters of King Henry IV. to Pope Gregory XII 308

Letter of King Henry IV. to the Cardinals 309

1410. A Mandate of Archbishop Arundel to the Bishop of London, to

warn men to say certain Prayers at the tolling of the ' Aves'

or ringing of Curfew 311

A Commission from the same, to suspend ceitain Churches of London, because they rung not their bells at the presence of my Lord Archbishop of Canterbury, with other Letters on the same subject 313

An Injunction of Penance, fi-om the Register of William Comtney, Archbishop of Canterbury 315

Notes of Parliament Matters in the days of King Henry IV. 316

1413. Henry V 319

The Trouble and Persecution of the most valiant and worthy Martyr of Christ, Sir John Oldcastle, knight. Lord Cobham. 320

The Christian Belief of Lord Cobham 324

The Examinations of Loixl Cobham, &c 326

The definitive Sentence of his Condemnation 336

A Testimonial made by his Friends 338

An Abjuration counterfeited by the Bishops 339

Copy of an Epistle of the Archbishop of Canterbury to the Bishop of London, whereon dependeth the ground and cer- tainty of the aforesaid history of the Lord Cobham . . . 342 The Catholic Faith and Confession of Lord Cobham . . . 344 The definitive Sentence of Lord Cobham's Condemnation . 347

iv CONTENTS.

A.D. PAGB

1413. A Defence of Lord Cobham against Nicliolas Harpsfield, set

out under the name of Alanus Copus Anglus 348

The Words and Contents of the Statute made in the second

year of Henry V., chapter seventh ; with Notes by the

Author 353

The Indictment of the Lord Cobham, Sir Roger Acton, and

others, with Notes following upon the same 36S

1414. The Entry of the memorable History of the Bohemians, con-

taining the History of Master John Huss, no less famous than lamentable : wherein is set out at large the whole order of his coming unto the Council of Constance, with the Acts and Process against him there ; and, finally, his most cruel Death and Martyrdom, for the testimony of the ti-uth of our

Lord Jesus Christ " 405

Articles drawn out by John Huss and his adherents . . . 409 Objections of John Huss and his party against the Decree of

the Doctors .411

Substance of the Answer of the Catholic Doctors to the fore- going objections 412

Letter of Pope John to King Wenceslaus 415

The Council of Constance 416

Recapitidation of matters done in each Session of the Council. 418 The Safe-conduct given to Master John Huss ; and his Letters. 424 The Testimonial of the good Bishop of Nazareth ..... 427 An Instrument of Recognition or Protestation of the Lord In- quisitor of Heresies ibid.

An Instrument of Testimonial, how Master John Huss and his Procm-er were denied entrance into the Public Procuration, celebrated and holden in the Archbishop's Court .... 430 The Copy of the Letters which John Huss set up in the com- mon places of the Cities which he passed through, going to the Council 431

1415. Articles presented unto Pope John XXIII., for the Condem-

nation of Master John Huss after he was newly imprisoned. 436 The first Schedule or Bill, which the Nobles of Bohemia de- livered up to the Council for the Deliverance of John Huss,

the fourteenth day of May, A. D. 1415 440

Answer of the Bishop of Luthonis, to the last part of the Sup- plication which the Nobles of Bohemia presented unto the

Council 441

Answer of the Nobles of Bohemia 442

Copy of a Public Testimonial of the whole University of Prague

for John Huss, offered up to the Council 444

Another Supplication of the Nobles of Bohemia for John Huss. 446 The Protestation of John Huss, and the Answer of the Council. 447 Supplication of the Barons to the Emperor Sigismund for John

Huss 449

The Answer of John Huss to Twenty-six Articles concerning

his Book of the Church 459

The Copy and Tenor of the Appeal of John Huss .... 467 Seven Articles said to be di'awn out of the Treatise which John

Huss wrote against Stephen Paletz 468

Six Articles drawn out of the Treatise of John Huss, wiitten

against Stanislaus de Znoyma 471

Other Nineteen Articles objected against John Huss, he being

in Prison 473

Second Series of Nineteen Articles formally contained in or picked, by the Parisians, out of the Treatise of John Huss of Prague, which he entitled " Of the Church," following in this part or behalf, the errors, as they term them, of John

Wickliff 478

Reasons and Determinations of the Masters of Paris . . . 479

CONTENTS. V

A.D. PAGE

1416. Oration of the Emperor Sigismund, addressed to the Council . 484 The Sermon of the Bishop of Londe, befoi-e the Sentence was

given upon John Huss 486

The Sentence or Judgment of the Council of Constance against

John Huss 489

The Letter of the Emperor Sigismund to the Nobles of Bo- hemia 495

A Letter of John Huss to his Friends in Bohemia .... 496 A Letter of the Lord John de Clum, concerning the Safe-con- duct of John Huss ibid.

Epistles and Letters of John Huss 497

A Letter of a Scholar of WicklLff to John Huss and the Bohe- mians : dated from London 506

Other Letters of John Huss 507

The Consolation of Master Jerome to Master Huss .... 510 The tragical and lamentable History of the famous learned man and godly martp- of Christ, Master Jerome of Prague: bm-ned at Constance for like cause and quarrel as was Mas- ter John Huss 511

The Intimation of Jerome of Prague, set up in divers places of

the town of Constance 513

The Citation of Jerome to the Council of Constance .... ibid. The forced Abjuration of Master Jerome of Prague . . . .517

The Sentence read against Jerome 523

The Letter of the Fifty-four Nobles of Moravia, written unto the Council of Constance in defence of Master John Huss and Master Jerome of Prague : with their names annexed . 526 The History of John Claydon, currier ; and of Richard Tunn- ing, baker 531

Articles contained in an English Book called " The Lanthorn

of Light " 532

Proclamation of Archbishop Chichesley against the Lollards . 534 The Trouble of John Barton and Robert Chapel, for Religion . 535

Articles obtruded upon Chapel to confess 536

Recantation of Thomas Granter 539

1417. The Second Apprehension of the Lord Cobham 541

1418. In D. Johan. Cobhami equitis aurati et martyris cineres, car-

men J. F. in felicem memoriam 544

Continuation of the memorable History of the Bohemians ; Avherein is plainly and truly set forth, what vexations and conflicts they had for the religion of John Huss and Jerome of Prague, and of their Victories obtained and gotten, both against the Papists, and also against the Emperor Sigis- mund: and, finally, the Death of their valiant Captain

Zisca 545

Articles decreed in the Council of Constance, against the Bo- hemians ibid.

1419. The Story of Zisca 548

1422. A Notable Oration of Zisca to his Soldiers 555

The Epitaph of John Zisca, the valiant Captain of the Bohe- mians 556

The Bull of Pope Martin directed forth against the Followers of John Wickliff in England, of John Huss of Bohemia, and

of Jerome of Prague 557

The Articles of John Huss to be inquired upon 561

A fruitfid and christian Exhortation of the Bohemians, to Kmgs and Princes, to stir them up to the Zeal of the Gospel . . 567

The Oration of Cardinal Julian 577

The Table of the Archbishops of Canterbury 579

CONTENTS.

BOOK VI.

PERTAINING TO THE LAST THREE HUNDRED YEARS FROM THE LOOSING OUT OF

SATAN.

AD. TASE

1422. A Preface to the Reader 580

Henry VI 581

William Tailor, Priest ibid.

1424. John Florence, a Turner 584

Richard Belward, and others 585

1428. Copy of the King's Letters directed to John Exeter and Jacolet Germain, Keeper of the Castle of Colchester, for the appre- hending of Sir William White, Priest, and other Lollards, as they called them 586

WiUiam White, Priest 591

Copy of the Letter of the Bishop of Norwich respecting Thomas Pie and Thomas Mendham 592

John Beverly, alias Battild, a Labourer ; John Skilley of Flinton, Miller, and others 593

The Story of Margery Bagster and others 594

1430. Richard Hoveden, Martyi- 598

1431. Nicholas Canon, of Eye 599

Thomas Bagley, Priest ; Paul Craw, a Bohemian, Martyr . 600 The Story of Thomas Rhedon, a Frenchman and Carmelite

Friar, burnt in Italy for the Pi'ofession of Christ . . . .601 1431 The Order and Manner of the Council of Basil : with a brief

to Recapitulation of the principal Matters decreed and con-

1439. eluded therein 605

The Conclusions of the Disputations, and the Argument of

Panormitane for the Pope 608

The Answer of John Segovius 609

The Conclusions of the Disputations, summed up by iEneas

Sylvius 611

The Oration of Panormitane 627

The Oration of Ludovicus the Prothonotary 629

The Oration of Cardinal Arelatensis, or, of Aries . . . .631

The Oration of Amedeus, Archbishop of Lyons 640

The Oration of Segovius . . . . , 641

The Second Book of the Commentaries of .^neas Sylvius, upon

the Acts of the Council of Basil 658

The Preface of John Segovius and his associates .... 664 The Oration in favour of Amedeus to the Popedom .... 670 A further Continuation of the memorable History of the Bo- hemians ; being a bi'ief Epitome, showing how they were called and brought unto the Council of Basil ; briefly col- lected and gathered out of the Commentaries of iEneas

Sylvius 675

A Declaration of the Council of Basil touching the three last

Articles of the Bohemians already alleged 682

A Declaration of the Council touching the first Article of the

Communion 683

Certain Petitions which the Bohemians put up, last of all, in

the sacred Council of Basil 688

An Epistle of Martin Meyre to iEueas Sylvius 692

The Copy of an Epistle of Julian, Cardinal of St. Angelo, unto Pope Eugene, for that he went about to dissolve the Council

of Basil 693

An Epistle of jEneas Sylvius to the Rector of the University of Cologne, in defence of the Coimcil 699

1440. Richard Wiche, Priest, Martvr 702

CONTKN'TS. VU

A.D. PAGK

1 HO. The King's Writ prohi])iting Pilgrimages to the Tomb of

Richard Wiche 708

A brief Answer to the Cavillations of Alanus Copus concerning

Lady Eleanor Cobham 704

The Contention between the rich Cardinal of Winchester, and Humphrey, the good Uuke of Gloucester, with certain

Articles objected against the Cardinal 709

1447. The Story and Death of Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester . .711

1450. The Invention and Benefit of Printing 718

1453. The lamentable Losing of Constantinople 722

1457. The History of Reynold Peacock, Bishop of Chichester; afflicted and tormented by the false Bishops for his Godli- ness, and Profession of the Gospel 724

Copy of the Citation sent by Thomas Bowcher, alias Burschere,

Archbishop of Canterbmy 732

The Form and Manner of the Retractation of Reynold Peacock. 733 Sentences or Proverbs attributed unto Pope Pius IL, &c. . . 736 The Title of the House of York to the Crown of England . . 740

1461. Edward IV 742

1473. Albei-t and Frederic III., Emperors of Germany 762

The Large Dominions of Ladislaus 767

1477. John the Neatherd, of Franconia, a martyr; and Doctor Jo- hannes de Wesalia 775

1483. Edward V 782

Ricliard II., the Usurper 785

ILLUSTRATIONS IN VOL. III.

Exhumation of Wickliff P^ge 9(>

Burning of Badby 238

Injunction of Penance ... 314

Burning of Lord Cobham 542

ACTS AND MONUMENTS.

VOL. III.

VOL. III.

ACTS AND MONUMENTS.

CONTINUATION OF BOOK V.

CONTAINING

THE LAST THREE HUNDRED YEARS FROM THE LOOSING OUT

OF SATAN. 1

RICHARD THE SECOND.

After king Edward HI., succeeded his grandson, Richard II. Richard being yet but young, of the age of eleven years : who, in the same ^^' year of his father's decease, with great pomp and solemnity was A. D. crowned at Westminster, a.u. 1377, and following his father's steps, 1377. was no great disfavourer of the way and doctrine of WicklifF: albeit, at the first beginning, partly through the iniquity of the times, and partly through the pope's letters, he could not do what he would. Notwithstanding, something he did in that behalf; more perhaps than in the end he had thanks for from the papists, as more, by the grace of Christ, shall appear. But as times do change, so changeth commonly the cause and state of man. The bishops now seeing the aged king to be taken away, during the time of whose old age all the government of the realm depended upon the duke of Lancaster ; and now the said bishops again seeing the said duke, with the lord Percy, the lord marshal, to give over their offices, and to remain in their private houses without intermeddling, thought now the time to serve them, to have some advantage, against John WicklifF; who hitherto, under the protection of the aforesaid duke and lord marshal, had some rest and quiet. Concerning the story of this WicklifF, I trust, gentle reader, it is not out of thy memory what went before, (vol. ii. p. 801), how he being brought before the bishops, by the means of the duke and of lord Henry Percy, the council was interrupted, and broke up before nine of the clock, by reason whereof WicklifF at that time escaped, without any further trouble ; who, notwithstanding his being by the bishops forbidden to deal in that doctrine any more, continued

(1) Latin Edition 1559, p. 3. Ed. 1563, p. 83. Ed. r.570, p. ,529. Ed. 1576, p. 425. Ed. 1583, p. 430. Ed. 1596, p. 396. Ed. 1684, vol. 1. p. 490.— Eu.

4 WirKI.Il'l' S AliTlCI.l'.S. TlIK I'Ul'i; b bill sent to OXFORL*.

Richard g^-]| ^^.j^i^ j^jg fpJiQ^yg going barefoot, ^nd in long frieze gowns, preacli-

ing diligently unto the people. Out of his seraions these articles most

^•i^ chiefly at that time were collected.

Articles collected out of WickliflTs Sermons.

That the holy eucharist, after the consecration, is not the very body of Christ, but figuratively.

That the church of Rome is not the head of all churches more than any other church is ; nor hath Peter any more power given him by Christ than any other apostle hath.

Item, That the pope of Rome hath no more part in the keys of the ciunch, tlian hath any other within the order of priesthood.

Item, If God bo, the lords temporal may lawfully and meritoriously take away their temporalties from the churchmen offending habitualiter.

Item, If any temporal lord do know the church so oflendhig, he is bound, under pain of damnation, to take the temporalties from the same.

Item, That the gospel is a rule sufficient of itself to rule the life of every christian man here, without any otlier rule.

Item, That all other rules, under whose observances divers religious persons be governed, do add no more perfection to the gospel, than doth the white coloiu' to the wall.

Item, That neither the pope, nor any other prelate of the church, ought to have prisons wherein to punish transgressors.

His con- Besides these articles, divers other conclusions afterwards were condemn- gathered out of his writings and preachings by the bishops of Eng- edbythe Jand, which they sent diligently to pope Gregory XL, at Rome; at Rome, wlicrc the Said articles being read and perused, were condemned

for jieretical and erroneous by three and twenty cardinals. wickiiff In the mean time the archbishop of Canterbury, sending forth his fnre'^the^ citations, as is aforesaid, called before him the said John WicklifF, in ?T''l'" , the presence of the duke of Lancaster and lord Percy ; who, upon

bishop of 1 . , 1 1 -1 p

Canter- the declaration oi the pope s letters made, bound him to silence, lor-

^^^' bidding him to treat any more of those matters. But then, through

the disturbance of the bishop of London, and the duke, and lord

Percy, that matter was soon despatched, as hath been above recorded.

And all this was done in the days and last year of king Edward IIL,

and pope Gregory XL

A.D.1378. Li the year following (a.d. 1378), being the first year of king

sttflbrd'^ Richard iL, the said pope Gregory, taking his time, after the death

brink's of king Edward, sendeth his bull' by the hands and means, peradven-

buii. ' ture, of one master Edmund Stafford, directed unto the university of

Oxford, rebuking them sharply, imperiously, and like a pope, for

suffering so long the doctrine of John WicklifF to take root, and not

plucking it up with the crooked sickle of their catholic doctrine.

The mas- When the bull came to be delivered into their hands, by the pope's

Oxford, niessenger aforesaid, the proctors and masters of the university, join-

doubt ijig together in consultation, stood long in doubt, deliberating with

wnether i ^ . i i i n i i

to receive themsclvcs whether to receive the pope s bull with honour, or to orreject p^f^gg ^^^ rcjcct it witli sliamc.

I cannot here but laugh in my mind to behold the authors of this

(i) Our author has fallen into an error respecting the date of this bull (seep.fi), for Gregory XI. died on March 27, a. d. 1378, more than two months anterior to it. According to Wilkins's Concilia, all these bulls were dated June 11, 1377 ; tbey did not reach England till the November following, and in the mean time, on June 21, in the same year, king Edward III. died. Richard assembled his first parliament on the 13th of October, 1378. See Lewis's History, p. 50 ; Wilkins's Concilia, vol. iii. p. 118 : and Wordsworth's Ecclesiastical Biography, 7ol. i. pp. 33 and 34, in the note. Ed.

COl'V OK THK I'Ol'l. S WILD BULL. ,->

story whom I follow ; what exclamations, what wouderings and •ff'c*o»'rf-

marvels they make at these Oxford men, for so doubting at a nuitter

so plain, so manifest of itself, as they say, whether the pope's bull ^- ^' sent to them from Home was to be received or not ; which thing to our monkish ^vriters seemed then such a prodigious wonder, that they with blushing cheeks arc fain to cut short the matter, in the midst, with silence.

The copy of this wild bull, sent to them from the pope, was this :

Gregory the Bishop, the Servant of (lod's Servants, to his well- beloved Sons, the Chancellor and University of Oxford, in the Diocese of Lincoln, Greeting and Apostolical Benediction.

We are compelled not only to marvel, but also to lament, that you, consider- The ing the apostolical seat hath given unto your university of Oxford such great f'"''^ ^ ,, favour and privilege, and also that you flow, as in a large sea, in the knowledge sent to of the holy Scriptures, and ought to be champions and defenders of the ancient Oxiord. and catholic faith (without which there is no salvation), by your great negligence and sloth, will suffer wild cockle, not only to grow up among the pure wheat of the flourishing field of yoiu" university, but also to wax strong and choke the com. Neither have ye any care, as we are informed, to extirpate and pluck the same up by the roots, to the great blemishing of your renowned name, the peril of your souls, the contempt of the church of Rome, and to the great decay of the ancient faith. And further (which grieveth us), the increase of that filthy weed was more sharply rebuked and judged of in Rome than in England, where it sprang : wherefore let there be means sought, by the help of the faithful, to root out the same. Grievously it is come to our ears, that one John The pope Wickliff, parson of Lutterworth, in Lincoln diocese, a professor of divinity '^°™- (would God he were not rather a master of errors), is rim into a kind of detest- of^john able wickedness, not only and openly publishing, but also vomiting out of the Wicklifl". liJthy dungeon of his breast, divers professions, false and erroneous conclusions, and most wicked and damnable heresies, whereby he might defile the faithful sort, and bring them from the right path headlong into the way of perdition, overthrow the state of the clmrch, and utterly subvert the secular policy. Of which his mischievous heresies some seem to agree (only certain names and terms changed) with the perverse opinions, and unlearned doctrine, of Marsilius of Padua, and of John of Ganduno, of miworthy memory ; whose books were uttei'ly abolished in the realm of England, by om' predecessor of happy memorj^, John XXIL, which kingdom doth not only flourish in power and abundance of faculties, but is much more glorious and shining in pureness of fuith ; accus- tomed always to bring forth men excellently learned in the true knowledge of the holy Scriptures, ripe in gravity of manners, men notable in devotion, and defenders of the catholic faith.

Wherefore we will and command you, by our writing apostolical, in the name of your obedience, and upon pain of privation of our favour, indidgences, and privileges granted unto you and your university from the said see apostolical, tliat hereafter ye sufter not those pestilent heresies, and those subtle and false conclusions and propositions, misconstriung the light sense of faith and good works (howsoever they term it, or what curious implication of words soever they use) any longer to be disputed of, or brought in question ; lest if it be not withstood at the first, and plucked up by the roots, it might perhaps be too late, hereafter to prepare medicines when a greater number are infected with the contagion. And fiulher, that ye apprehend immediately, or cause to be appre- Here the hended the said John Wickliff, and deliver him to be detained in the safe ^^''.'i i"^" ciLstody of our well-beloved brethren, the archbishop of Canterbiuy, and the *" " ^"^ bishop of London, or either of them. And if you shiul find any gainsayers cor- rupted with the said doctrine (which God forbid) in your said university, within your jurisdiction, who shall obstinately stiuid in the said errors, that then, in like manner, ye apprehend them, and commit them to safe custody, and other- wise to do, in this case, as it shall appertain unto you ; so that by yoiu" carefid proceedings herein, your past negligence concerning the premises may now fuUv be supplied and recon'''H!used with prc-x-iit diligence. Whereby you sliall

Sudburv.

6 THK I'OPK S LETTKl^S AGAINST WICKLIFP\

Richard not only purcliase unto you the favour and benevolence of the seat apostolical, ^■f- but also a great reward and merit of Almighty God. J Given at Rome, at St. Mary's the Greater, xi. Kalends of June, and in the

1S7S ^'^^ J^''^ "^ '^"' consecration. Simon Besides this bull sent to the university of Oxford, the said pope

Gregory directed, moreover, his letters at the same time to the arch- bishop of Canterbury, Simon Sudbury, and to the bishop of London, named William Courtney, with the conclusions of John Wickliff therein enclosed, commanding them, by virtue of those his letters apostolical, and straitly enjoining them to cause the said John WicklifF to be apprehended, and cast into prison ; and that the king and the nobles of England shovdd be admonished by them, not to give any credit to the said John WicklifF, or to his doctrine in any M'ise. Besides this bill or bull of the pope, sent unto the archbishop of Canterbury and to the bishop of London, bearing date, eleventh Kalend. Jun. and the seventh year of the reign of the pope ; I find, moreover, in the said story, two other letters' of the pope concerning

(1) The editor subjoins the two letters to which our author alludes, from Wilkins's Concilia Magnce Britannise et Hiberniaa, pp. 117, 118.

AlicB litem afostoliccE ad citandum cum ad comjmrcndum coram domino papa. Ex Eeg. Sudbury, fol. 45, b. " Gregorius episcopus, servus servorum Dei, venerabilibus fratribus archi- episcopo Cantuariensi, et episcopo Londonensi, salutem, et apostolicam benedictionem. Xuper nos non sine gravi cordis turbatione, ex plurium fide dignorum significatione pcrcepto, quod Johannes WycfifT, rector ecclesis de Lutterworth, Lincoiniensis dioecesis, sacrae paginss professor, utinam non magister errorum, in earn dctestabileni vesaniam temere proruperat, quod nonnullas propositiones et conclusiones erroneas ac falsas, et male in fide sonantes, qua; statum totius eccle- sias subvertere et enervare nituntur, quarumquee aliquae, licet quibusdam mutatis terminis, imitari videbantur perversas opiniones, et doctrinam indoctam damnatse memoriae Marsilii de Padua, et Johannis de Ganduna, quorum liber per felicis recordationis Johanncra papam XXII. prasdcces- sorem nostrum, reprobatus extitit et damnatus, non verebatur in regne Anglias asserere, dogmati- zare, et publice praedicare, illis nonnuUos Christi fideles nialigne inficiens, ac a fide catholica, sine qua non est salus, faciens deviare. Nos attendentes, quod tarn perniciosum malum, quod in plurimos serpere poterat, corum animas lethali contagione necaudo, non debebamus, prout nee (lebemus, sub dissimulatione transire; vobis per alias nostras literas commisim\is et mandavimus, ut vos, vel alter vestrum de dictarum propositionum et conclusionum assertione, quaruni copiani sub bulla nostra misimus interclusam, vos secrcto informantes, si ita esse inveneritis praedictum Johannem auctoritate nostra capi, et carceribus mancii)ari faceretis, eumque sub bona custodia teneretis in vinculis, donee a nobis super hoc receperitis aliud in mandatis, prout in dictis Uteris plenius continetur. Considerantes itaque, quod praefatus Johannes hujusmodi captionem et car- cerationem forte praisentiens, posset (quod absit) per fugae, latitationis prsesidia dictum nostrum mandatum in gravissimum fidei detrimentum eludere ; nos, ne tam damnabilcs propositiones et conclusiones indiscussas, et earum tcmerarius assertor impunitus remaneant, in detrimentum gravissimum fidei prtelibata?, fraternitati vestrce per apostolica scrijjta committimus et mandamus, quatenus vos, vel alter vestrum, per vos vel aliuni, seu alios, praefatum Johannem, si per vos capi et carcerari nonpossit, per edictum publicum proponendum in studio Oxoniensi dictae dioecesis, et aliis locis publicis, de quibus sit verisimilis conjectura, quod ad dicti Johannis uotitiam perv-enire valeat, et de quibus vobis expedire videatur, ex parte nostra peremptorie monere et citare curetis, quod infra trium mensium spatium a die citationis hujusmodi in antea computandum, ubicunque tunc nos esse contigerit, compareat personaliter coram nobis, super propositionibus et conclusi- onibus hujusmodi responsurus ac dicturus, et facturus quicquid super eis duxerimus ordinandum, et ordo dictaverit rationis ; praedicendo in hujusmodi citationis edicto, quod, sive idem Johannes in hujusmodi termino comparuerit, sive non comparuerit, nos super prasmissis, et contra eum, usque ad debitam condemnationem ipsius inclusive procedemus, prout ejus deraerita exigent, ac nobis secundum Deum et conservationem dictae fidei videbitur expedire. VoUimus autcm, et prae- sentium tenore statuimus, quod prasdicta citatio sic facta, perinde piaefatum Johannem arctet, ac si sibi personaliter insinuata et intimata fuisset ; constitutione quacunque contraria non obstante. Diem vero citationis et formam,et quicquid feceritis in pr^dictis, nobis per vestras literas, vestris sigillis raunitas, harum serieni continentes, fideliter et quam citius poteritis, intimare curetis. Dat. Romae apud Sanctam Mariam Majorem, 11 cal. Junii, pontlficatus nostri anno septimo." [A.D. 1377, the 51st Ed. III.]

Alice litereB apostoliccE pro codcm. Ex Reg. Sudbury, fol. 46, a. " Gregorius episcopus servus servorum Dei, venerabilibus fratribus Cantuariensi archiepiscopo, et episcopo Londonensi, salutem, et apostolicam benedictionem. Subsi periculosis admodum erroribus quarundam detestabilium propositionum et conclusionum ad enervationem totius ecclesiastici status tendentium, quas scrip- tas in scliedula inclusa praesentibus, Johannes Wycliff, rector ecclesiae de Lutterworth, Lincoinien- sis diccccsis, dictus theologiae professor, asseritur tam impie, quam temere suscitasse plenius vobis scribimus per alias nostras patentes literas, quas cum prssentibus destinamus. Volumus igitur, et fraternitati vestrae mandamus, quatenus clarissimum in Christo filium nostrum Edwardum, legem Angliae illustreni, et dilectos tilios nobiles viros et natos dicti regis, ao delectam in Christo filiam nobilem mulierem princepissam Acquitaniae et WaUiae, aliosque magnates de Anglia, et consiliarios regis, iper vos et alios magistros et peritos in sacra pagina non maculatos hujusmodi erroribus, sed in fide sinceros et fervidos studeatis facere plenarie informari, ac eis ostendi, quanta verecundia devoto regno Angliae oriatur exinde ; et quod non solum sunt ipsK conclusiones erro- neae in fide, sed, si bene advertatur, innuunt omnem distruere politiam ; et requi'ratis eos strictis- sime, quod ad extirpationem tantomm errorum, pro reverentia Dei et apostolicsc sedis, et nostrn,

THREE LETTERS OF THE POPE ABOUT ONE MATTER. 7

the same matter, but differing in form, sent unto the same bishops, Bichard

and all bearing the same date, both of the day, year, and month of '.

the reign of the said pope Gregory : whereby it is to be supposed A. D. that the said pope either was very exquisite and solicitous about the ^•^^^- matter, to have WicklifF to be apprehended, who wrote three divers Three letters to one person, and all in one day, about one business, or else the pope that he did suspect the bearers thereof; the solution whereof I leave p"°JJ,^, to the judgment of the reader. ^''""^ °"^

h urthermore, beside these letters \vritten to the university, and to the bishops, he directeth also another epistle, bearing the same date, unto king Edward, as one of my stories saith ; but as another saith, to king Richard, which soundeth more near the truth ; forasmuch as in the seventh year of pope Gregory XL, which was a.d. 1378, king Edward was not alive. The copy of his letter to the king here followeth :

The Copy of the Epistle sent by the Bishop of Rome to Richard,

King of England, to persecute John WicklifF. '

Unto his well-beloved son in Christ, Richard, the most noble king of Eng- i

land, health, &c. 1

The kingdom of England, which the Most Highest hath put under your i

power and governance, being so famous and renowned in valiancy and strength, so abundant and flowing in all kind of wealth and riches, but much more glo- rious, resplendent, and shining, through the brightness and clearness of all godliness and faith, hath been accustomed always to bring forth men endued i

with the true knowledge and understanding of the holy Scriptures, grave in ;

years, fervent in devotion, and defenders of the catholic faith : tlie which have not only directed and instructed their own peojile through their wholesome I

doctrine and precepts into the true path of God's commandments, but also we have heard by the report and infoiTnation of many credible persons, to our i|

great grief and heart sorrow, that John Wickliff, parson of Lutterworth, in the I

diocese of Lincoln, professor of divinity (I would to God he were no author of I

heresy), hath fallen into such a detestable and abominable madness, that he 'i

hath propounded and set forth diverse and sundry conclusions, full of errors, and containing most manifest heresy, which do tend utterly to subvert and over- throw the state of the whole church ; of which, some (albeit under coloured phrase and speech) seem to smell and savour of perverse opinions, the foolish i

doctrine of condemned memory of Marsiliiis of Padua, and John of Ganduno, '

whose books were, by pope John XXIL, our px-edecessor, a man of a most happy j

memory, reproved and condemned, &c. i

Hitherto, gentle reader, thou hast heard how WicklifF was accused by the bishop. Now you shall also hear the pope's mighty reasons and arguments, by which he did confute him, to the king. It fol- ,

loweth :

Therefore, forasmuch as our reverend brethren the archbishop of Canterbury Here is '

and the bishop of London have received a special commandment from us, by impdson- our authority, to apprehend and commit the before-named John WicklifF unto JJJfteach. prison, and to transport his confession unto us : if they shall seem in the pro- ing. secution of this their business to lack your favour or help, we require, and most '

earnestly desire your majesty, even as your most noble predecessors have always i

been most earnest lovers of the catholic faith (whose case or quarrel in this matter

is chiefly handled) ; that you would vouchsafe, even for the reverence of God and the faith aforesaid, and also of the apostolic seat and of our person, with your help and favour to assist the said archbishop and all others that shall go about to execute the said business : whereby, besides the praise of men, you

ipsonimque, merito apud Deum, et honore in seculo, tanquam caUiolici piincipes, etpugiles dict.-B fldei, omni, qua pcterint, efficacia tribuant auxilium et favorem. Dat. RomEe apud Sanctara MariaiD Majorem, 11 cal. Junii, pontificatus nostri anno septimo."

8 THE i'opk's arguments in confuting heresies.

Richard shall obtain an heavenly reward, and great favour and good will at our hand, ^^- and of the see aforesaid. Dated at Rome, at St. Mary the Greater, the 11th ~7~Q~ Kal. of June, in the 7th year of our bishopric, a.d. 1378.

1378. *' These are the -whole force and