and outer confession is but superfluous and unprofitable unto him. 6. That it is not found or stablished by the Gospell, that Christ did make or ordaine masse. 7. If the pope be a reprobate and euill man, and consequently a member of the Diuell; hee hath no power by any manner of meanes giuen unto him ouer faithfull Christians, except peraduenture it be given him from the emperour. 8. That since the time of Urban the 6, there is none to be receiued for pope, but euery man is to liue after the manner of the Greeks, vnder his own law. 9. That it is against the Scripture, that ecclesiasticall Ministers should haue any temporall possessions.

The other Articles of Iohn Wickliffe, condemned as erroneous. 10. That no prelate ought to excommunicate any man, except hee knew him first to be excommunicate of God. 11. That he, which doth so excommunicate any man, is thereby himselfe either an heretike or excommunicated. 12. That a prelate or bishop excommunicating any of the clergy, which bath appealed to the king or the councell, is thereby himselfe a traitor to the king and realine. 13. That all such, which doe leaue off preaching or hearing the Word of God or preaching of the Gospell, for feare of excommunication; they are already excommunicated, and in the day of judgement shall be counted as traitors vnto God. 14. That it is lawfull for any man, either deacon or priest, to preach the Word of God without the authoritie or licence of the Apostolike Sea or any other of his catholickes. 15. (a) That so long as a man is in deadly sin, hee is neither bishop nor prelat in the Church of God. 16. (b) Also that the temporall lords may, according to their own will and discretion take away the temporall goods from the churchmen whensoeuer they doe offend. 17. That tenths are pure almes, and that the parishioners may, for offence of their Curats, detaine and keepe them back, and bestow them vpon others, at their owne will and pleasures. 18. Also that all speciall prayers applyed to any priuate or particular person, by any prelat or religious man, doe no more profit the same person, than generall or vniuersall prayers doe profit others, which bee in like case or state vnto him. 19. Moreover, in that any man doth enter into any priuate religion, whatsoeuer it bee, hee is thereby made the more vnapt and vnable to obserue and keepe the Commandements of God. 20. That holy men which haue instituted priuate religions, whatsoeuer they be (as well such as are indued and possessed, as also the order of begging friers hauing no possessions) in so doing, haue grieuously offended. 21. That religious men, being in their priuate religions, are not of the Christian religion. 22. That friers are bounden to get their liuing by the labour of

(a) This anicle peraduenture was not so straitly ment of him as it was gathered of them, as is aforesaid.

(b) This article expoundeth the ix article aboue.

VOL. I.

their hands, and not by begging. 23. That whosoever doth giue any almes vnto friers, or to any begging obseruant, is accursed, or in danger thereof.

The letter of the Archbishop directed to the Bishop of London, against Iohn Wickliffe and his adherents.-William by Gods permission Archbishop of Canturburie, Metropolitane of all England, and of the apostolicall Sea legate; To our reuerend brother by the grace of God bishop of London, salutation. The prelats of the Church ought to bee so much the more vigilant and attentiue about the charge of the Lords flocke committed vnto them: how much the more they shall vnderstand the Wolues, being clothed in sheepes apparell, fraudulently to go about to worrie and scatter the sheepe. Truely by the continuall crie and bruted fame (which it grieueth me to report) it is come to our knowledge that although by the canonicall sanctions, no man being forbidden or not admitted, should either publicly or priuily without the authoritie of the apostolicall Sea or bishop of that place, vsurpe or take vpon him the office of a preacher: Some notwithstanding, such as are the children of damnation, being vnder the vale of blinde ignorance, are brought into such a doting minde, that they take vpon them to preach, and are not affraid to affirme and teache diuers and sundrie propositions and conclusions here vnder recited, both hereticall, erroneous and false, condemned by the Church of God, and repugnant to the decree of holy Church, which tend to the subuerting of the whole state of the same, of our prouince of Canturburie, and to the destruction and weakning of the tranquilitie of the same; and that as well in the churches, as in the streets, as also in manie other prophane places of our said prouince, generaly, comonly and publikly, do preach the same, infecting very many good christians, causing them lainentably to wander out of the way, and from the catholike Church, without which there is no saluation. therefore, considering that so pernicious a mischiefe, which may creepe amongst manie, we ought not to suffer, and by dissimulation to passe ouer, which may with deadly contagion slay the soules of men, lest their blood be required at our hands; are willing so much as God will permit vs to doe, to extirpate the same. Wherefore, by the counsell and consent of many of our bretheren and Suffragans, wee haue conuented diuers and sundrie doctors of diuinitie, as also professors and other clerks of the canon and ciuill lawes, the best learned within the realme, and of the most soundest opinion and iudgement in the catholike faith, to giue their opinions and judgements concerning the foresaid conclusions. But forasmuch as the said conclusions and assertions, being in the presence of vs, and our fellow brethren and other conuocates, openly expounded, and diligently examined, were in the end found by common counsell and consent as well of them as of vs, and so declared that some of those conclusions were hereticall, and some of them

We

persons were gathered together to consult as touching Iohn Wickliffes books, and that whole sect; when as I say, they were gathered together at the gray friers in London, to begin their businesse, vpon saint Dunstans day after dinner, about two of the clocke, the very houre and instant that they should goe forward with their businesse, a wonderfull and terrible earthquake fell throughout all England: whereupon diuers of the suffragans, being feared by the strange and wonderfuli demonstration, doubting what it should meane, thought it good to leaue off from their determinate purpose. But the archbishop (as chiefe captaine of that army, more rash and bold than wise) interpreting the chance which had happened cleane contrary to another meaning or purpose, did confirme and strengthen their hearts and minds, which were almost daunted with feare, stoutly to proceede and goe forward in their attempted enterprise. Who then discoursing Wickliffes articles, not according vnto the Sacred Canons of the holy Scripture, but vnto their owne priuate affections and traditions, pronounced and gaue sentence, that some of them were simply and plainely hereticall, other some halfe erroneous, other irreligious, some seditious, and not consonant to the Church of Rome.--Item, the twelfth day of June, in the yeere aforesaid, in the chamber of the friers preachers, the foresaid master Robert Rigge, Chancellor of the Vniuersitie of Oxford, and Thomas Brightwell professors of diuinitie (being appointed the same day and place, by the foresaid reuerend father in God archbishop of Canturburie) appeared before him in the presence of the reuerend father in God, lord William

erroneous, and repugnant to the determination | a great company of babling friers, and religious of the Church, as hereunder are described. We will and command your brotherhood and by vertue of holy obedience straitly inioine all and singular our brethren, and suffragans of our bodie and Church of Cauturburie, that with all speedie diligence you possibly can you likewise entoine them (as wee haue enioined you) and eucrie of them. And that eucrie one of them in their Churches and other places of their citie and diocesse, doe admonish and warne, and that you, in your Church and other Churches of your citie and dioces doe admonish and warne, as we by the tenor of these presents doe adinouish and warne the first time, the second time, and the third time; and yet more straitly doe warne, assigning for the first admonition one day, for the second admonition another day, and for the third admonition canonicall and peremptorie, another day; That no man from henceforth of what estate or condition soeuer, doe hold, preach, or defend the foresaid heresies and errors or any of them; nor that he admit to preach any one that is prohibited or not sent to preach, nor that be heare or hearken to the heresies or errors of him or any of them, or that hee fauour or leane vnto him either publikely or priuily; but that immediately hee shun bim, as he would auoid a serpent putting forth most pestiferous poison, vnder paine of the greater curse, the which wee command to bee thundered against all and euerie one which shall be disobedient in this behalfe, and not regarding these our monitions, after that those three daies be past which are assigned for the canonicall monition, and that their delay, fault or offence committed require the same: And then accord-by the grace of God bishop of Winchester and ing to the tenour of these writings, we comdiuers other doctors and bachelors of diuinitie mand both by euerie one of our fellow bre- and of the canon ciuill and law, whose names are theren and our suffragans in their cities and before recited. And first the said Chancellor dioces, and by you in your citie and diocesse by the said lord Archbishop of Canturbury, (so much as belongeth both to you and them) being examined what his opinion was touching that to the vttermost both ye and they cause the foresaid articles, publikely affirmed and dethe same excommunications to be pronounced. clared, that, certain of those conclusions were And furthermore wee will and command our hereticall, and certaine erroneous, as the other foresaid fellow bretheren, and all and singular doctors and clerkes afore mentioned had deof you apart by your selues, to bee admonishedclared. And then immediately next after him, and by the aspersion of the blood of Iesus Christ the foresaid Thomas Brightwell was examined, wee likewise admonish you; that according to which vpon some of the conclusions at first the institution of the Sacred Canons, euery one somewhat staggered, but in the end, being by of them in their cities and dioces, bec a diligent the said Archbishop diligently examined vpon inquisitor of this hereticall prauitie; and that the same, did affirme and repute the same to euery one of you also in your cities and dioces bee hereticall and erroneous, as the foresaid bee the like inquisitor of the foresaid hereticall Chancellor had done. Another Bachelor of praustic: And that of such like presumption Diuinitie also there was named N. stammering they and you carefully and diligently inquire, also at some of those conclusions, but in the and that both they and you (according to your end affirmed that his opinion therein was, as duties and office in this behalfe) with effect doe was the judgement of the foresaid Chancellor proceede against the same, to the honour and and Thomas as is aboue declared. Whereupon, praise of his name that was crucified, and for the said lord Archbishop of Canturbury, willthe preseruation of the Christian faith and re-ing to let and hinder the perill of such heresies ligion.

Here is not to be passed ouer the great miracle of Gods diuine admonition or warning; for when as the archbishop and sufragans, with the other doctors of diuinitie, and lawyers with

|

and errours, deliuered vnto the foresaid Chancellour, there being publikely read, his letters patents to be executed, the tenor whereof in these words doth follow.

William by the grace of God archbishop of

The archbishop not yet contented with this, doth moreouer by all meanes possible solicite the king to ioyne withall the power of his temporall sword; for that hee well perceived, that hitherto as yet the popish clergie had not authoritie sufficient, by any publike law or statute of this land, to proceede vnto death against any person whatsocuer, in case of religion, but onely by the vsurped tyranny and example of the court of Rome. Where note (gentle reader) for thy better vnderstanding, the practice of the Romish prelats in seeking the king's helpe to further their bloody purpose against the good saints of God. Which king being but young, and vnder yecres of ripe iudgement, partly induced, or rather seduced by importune sute of the foresaid archbishop, partly also either for feare of the bishops (for kings cannot alwayes doe in their realmes what they will) or else perhaps inticed by some hope of subsidie to be gathered by the clergy, was content to adioyne his priuat assent (such as it was) to the setting downe of an ordinance, which was indeed the very first law that is to bee found made against religion and the professours thereof, bearing the name of an act made in the parliament holden at Westminster, anno 5. Rich. 2, where among sundry other statutes then published, and yet remaining in the printed bookes of statutes, this supposed statute is to bee found, cap. 5. § vltimo, as followeth.

Canturburie, primate of all England, and legate ' shall incurre the sentence of this instrument by of the apostolicall Sea: To our welbeloued vs sent forth (which God forbid) wee specially sonne in Christ the Chancellor of the Vniser- reserue vnto our selues: exhorting you the sitie of Oxford, within the diocesse of Lincolne, Chancellor by the aspersion of the blood of greeting, grace, and benediction. The prelats Iesus Christ, that to the vttermost of your of the Church, about the Lords flocke commit-power hereafter you doe your endeanour, that ted to their charge, ought to be so much more the clergie and people being subiect vnto you, vigilant as that they see the Woolfe, clothed in if there bee any which haue straied from the sheeps attire, fraudulently go about to worrie catholike faith by such errours, may bee brought and scatter the sheepe. Doubtlesse, the com- home againe to the laud and honour of his mon fame and brute is come vnto our eares, name that was crucified, and preseruation of &c. Vi in mandato præcedenti. Wee will the true faith. And further our will is, that therefore and command, straitly inioyning you, whatsoever you shill doe in the premises, in that in the Church of our blessed Ladie in Ox- manner and forme of our processe in this beford, vpon those daies in the which accustoma- halfe it be had and done: andthat you for your ble the sermon is made, as also in the schooles part, when you shall be required thereunto, of the said Vniuersitie vpon those daies the plainely and distinctly doe certifie vs by your Lectures bee read, yee publish and cause by letters patents, hauing the tenour hereof. others to bee published to the clergie and people, as well in their vulgar tongue, as in the Latine tongue, manifestly and plainely without any curious implication, the same hereticall and erroneous conclusions, so repugnant to the determination of holy Church, as is aforesaid; to hrane beene and be condemned; which conclusions wee also declare by these our letters to bee vtterly condemned. And that furthermore you forbid, and canonically admonish and cause to bee admonished, as wee by the tenour of these presents doe forbid and admonish you, once, twice, and thrice, and that peremptorily that none hereafter hold, teach, and preach, or defend the heresies and errors abouesaid, or any of them, either in schoole or out of schoole by any sophisticall cauillation or otherwise: or that any admit to preach, here or hearken vnto John Wickliffe, Nicholas Herford, Philip Reppington, canon regular, or Iohn Ashton, or Laurence Redman, which be vehemently and notoriously suspected of heresie, or else any other whatsoeuer, so suspected or defamed; or that either priuately or publikcly they either aide or fauour them or any of them, but that incontinently they shun and auoide the same as a Serpent which putteth forth most pestiferous poyson. And furtherinore we suspend the said suspected persons from all scholasticall act, till such time as they shall purge themselues before vs in that behalfe: and that you denounce the same publikely by vs to haue beene and be suspended; and that yee diligently and faithfully enquire of all their fautors and fauourers, and cause to bee enquired throughout all the halls of the said Vniuersitic. And that when you shall haue intelligence of their names and persons, that ye compell all and euerie of them to abiure Neir outragès by ecclesiasticall censures and other paines canonicall whatsoeuer, vnder paine of the greater curse, the which against all and singular the rebellious in this behalfe, and disobeying our monitions, wee pronounce: so that their fault, deceit, and offence in this bebalfe deserue the same (the said monition of ours being first sent) which in this behalfe we esteenie and allow canonicall, that then and againe according to the effect of these our letters, &c. The absolution of all and singular such, which

Item, forsomuch as it is openly known that there be diuers euill persons within the realin, going from county to county, and from towne to towne, in certaine habits vnder dissimulation of great holinesse, and without the licence of the ordinaries of the places, or other suflicient authoritie, preaching daily not onely in Churches and Church-yards, but also in markets, faires, and other open places where a great congregation of people is, diners sermons containing beresies and notorious errors, to the great emblemishing of Christian faith and destruction of the lawes, and of the estate of Holy Church, to the great perill of the soules of the people, and of all the realme of England, as more pla nely is found, and sufficiently proued before the reuerend father in God the archbishop of Canturbury, and the bishops and other prelats,

12. PROCEEDINGS IN PARLIAMENT against Alexander Nevil, archbishop of York, Robert Vere, duke of Ireland, Michael de la Pole, carl of Suffolk, Robert Tresilian, lord chief justice of England, and Nicholas Brambre some time mayor of London, and others, for High-Treason: 11 Richard II. A.D. 1388. [3 Hol. Chron. 453. Grafton, 377. Walsing. 334. 3 Tyrrel, 895. Brady, 307. 1 Cobb. Parl. Hist. 188.]