+The Examination
of Master William Thorpe, priest,
of heresy, before Thomas Arundell,
Archbishop of Canterbury,
the year of our Lord,
M.CCCC. and
seven.+
+¶ The Examination
of the honourable Knight, Sir John
Oldcastle, Lord Cobham, burnt
by the said Archbishop,[26] in
the first year of King
Henry the Fifth.+
+¶ Be no more ashamed to hear it, than ye were
and be, to do it.+
Footnotes:
[26] This is incorrect, Archbishop ARUNDELL condemned Sir JOHN OLDCASTLE
on September 25th, 1413, who was then sent to the Tower, see _pp._ 125,
132: from which he escaped; and being recaptured in Wales in 1417, was
burnt on the 14th December of that year. But in the meantime, Archbishop
ARUNDELL had died on the 14th February, 1414; and HENRY CHICHELEY had
become Archbishop.
=W. Tindale. 1530.=
+¶ Unto the Christian Reader.+
_Grace and peace in our Lord JESUS CHRIST. Read here with judgement,
good Reader! the Examination of the blessed Man of GOD, and there thou
shalt easily perceive wherefore our Holy Church (as the most unholy sort
of all the people will be called) make all their examinations in
darkness; all the lay people clean excluded from their counsels._
_For if their lies had been openly confuted, and also that the Accused
of Heresy might as well have been admitted to reason their_ Articles
_with Counsel, whether they were heresy or no[t], as the Accused of
Treason against the King is admitted to his Council to confute his cause
and_ Articles, _whether they be treason or not, they should never have
murdered nor prisoned so many good Christian men as they have done._
_For their cloaked lies could never have continued so long in the light,
as they have done in corners. They, good men! when they come in the
pulpit, and preach against the Truth, cry, "If their learning_ [_i.e._,
of the Protestants] _were good and true, they would never go in corners;
but speak it openly!"_
_Whereunto I answer, that besides that CHRIST and his Apostles were
compelled (for because of the furiousness of their fathers, the Bishops
and Priests, which only, that time also, would be called Holy Church)
oftentimes for to walk secretly, and absent themselves, and give place
to their malice. Yet we have daily examples, of more than one or two,
that have not spared nor feared for to speak, and also_ [_to_] _preach
openly the Truth; which have been taken of them, prisoned, and brent:
besides others that for fear of death, have abjured and carried faggots.
Of whose_ Articles _and Examination there is no layman that can shew a
word._
=DEATHS OF SEVEN AT COVENTRY, &c.=
_Who can tell wherefore, not many years past, there were Seven burnt in
Coventry on one day? Who can tell wherefore that good priest and holy
martyr, Sir_ [the reverend] _THOMAS HITTON was brent, now this year, at
Maidstone in Kent? I am sure, no man! For this is their cast_
[contrivance] _ever when they have put to death or punished any man:
after their secret Examinations, to slander him of such things as he
never thought; as they may do well enough, seeing there is no man to
contrary them._
_Wherefore I exhort thee, good brother! whosoever thou be that readest
this treatise, mark it well, and consider it seriously! and there thou
shalt find, not only what the Church is, their doctrine of the
Sacrament, the Worshipping of Images, Pilgrimage, Confession, Swearing,
and Paying of Tithes: but also thou mayest see what strong and
substantial arguments of Scripture and Doctors, and what clerkly reasons
my Lord the head and Primate of the Holy Church in England (as he will
be taken) bringeth against this poor, foolish, simple, and mad losell,
knave, and heretic, as he calleth him. And also the very cause wherefore
all their Examinations are made in darkness._
_And the Lord of all Light shall lighten thee with the candle of His
grace, for to see the Truth! Amen._
¶ _This I have corrected and put forth in the English that
now is used in England, for our Southern men;
nothing thereto adding, ne yet therefrom
minishing. And I intend hereafter,
with the help of GOD to put it
forth in his own old English,
which shall well serve, I
doubt not, both for the
Northern men and
the faithful
brethren
of Scot-
land._
[+William of Thorpe's Preface.+]
=William of Thorpe. 1407.=
The LORD GOD that knoweth all things, wotteth well that I am right
sorrowful for to write or make known this Sentence beneath written,
where that of mine even Christian, set in high state and dignity, so
great blindness and malice may be known; that they, that presume of
themselves to destroy vices and to plant in men virtues, neither dread
to offend GOD, nor lust [_desire_] to please Him: as their works shew.
For, certes, the bidding of GOD and His Law (which, in the praising of
His most Holy Name, He commandeth to be known and kept of all men and
women, young and old; after the cunning and power that He hath given to
them), the Prelates of this land and their ministers, with the comente
[_community_] of priests chiefly consenting to them, enforce them most
busily to withstand and destroy the holy Ordinance of GOD. And
therethrough, GOD is greatly wroth and moved to take hard vengeance, not
only on them that do the evil, but also on them all that consent to the
Antichrist's limbs; which know or might know their malice and their
falsehood, and [ad]dress them not to withstand their malice and great
pride.
* * * * *
=THE FOUR MOTIVES TO THIS NARRATIVE.=
Nevertheless, four things moveth me to write this Sentence beneath.
The first thing, that moveth me hereto is this, that whereas it was
known to certain friends that I came from the prison of Shrewsbury,
and (as it befell in deed), that I should to the prison of
Canterbury; then divers friends, in divers places, spake to me
full heartfully and full tenderly, and commanded me then, if it so
were that I should be examined before the Archbishop of CANTERBURY,
that, if I might in any wise, I should write mine Apposing and mine
Answering. And I promised to my special friends, that if I might, I
would gladly do their biddings, as I might.
The second thing that moveth me to write this Sentence is this.
Divers friends which have heard that I have been examined before
the Archbishop, have come to me in prison and counselled me busily,
and coveted greatly that I should do the same thing. And other
brethren have sent to me, and required me, on GOD's behalf! that I
should write out and make known both mine Apposing and mine
Answering "for the profit that," as they say, "over my
[ac]knowledging may come thereof." But this, they bade me, that I
should be busy in all my wits to go as near the Sentence and the
words as I could; both that were spoken to me, and that I spake:
up[on] adventure this Writing came another time, before the
Archbishop and his Council. And of this counselling I was right
glad! for in my conscience, I was moved to do this thing; and to
ask hereto the special help of GOD.
And so then, I considering the great desire of divers friends of
sundry places, according all in one; I occupied all my mind and my
wits so busily, that through GOD's grace, I perceived by their
meaning and their charitable desire some profit might come
therethrough.
=TRUTH IMPUGNED, HATH A SWEET SMELL.=
For Soothfastness and Truth hath these conditions. Wherever it is
impugned, it hath a sweet smell, and thereof comes a sweet savour.
And the more violent the enemies [ad]dress themselves to oppress
and to withstand the Truth, the greater and the sweeter smell
cometh thereof. And therefore this heavenly smell of GOD's Word
will not, as a smoke, pass away with the wind; but it will descend
and rest in some clean soul that thirsteth thereafter.
And thus, some deal, by this Writing, may be perceived, through
GOD's grace, how that the enemies of the Truth, standing boldly in
their malice, enforce them to withstand the freedom of CHRIST's
Gospel; for which freedom, CHRIST became man, and shed his heart's
blood. And therefore it is great pity and sorrow that many men and
women do their own wayward will; nor busy them not to know nor to
do the pleasant will of GOD.
Ye men and women that hear the Truth and Soothfastness, and hear or
know of this, perceiving what is now in the Church, ought
therethrough to be the more moved in all their wits to able them to
grace, and set lesser price by themselves: that they, without
tarrying, forsake wilfully [_voluntarily_] and bodily all the
wretchedness of this life; since they know not how soon, nor when,
nor where, nor by whom GOD will teach them, and assay their
patience. For, no doubt, who that ever will live piteously, that is
charitably, in CHRIST JESU shall suffer now, here in this life,
persecution in one wise or another, that is, if we shall be saved.
=THIS STORY MAY STARTLE SOME CONSCIENCES.=
It behoveth us to imagine full busily, the vilite and foulness of
sin, and how the LORD GOD is displeased therefore: and of this
vilite of hideousness of sin, it behoveth us to busy us in all our
wits for to abhor and hold in our mind a great shame of sin, ever!
and so then we owe [_ought_] to sorrow heartily therefore, and ever
flying all occasion thereof. And then [it] behoveth us to take upon
us sharp penance, continuing therein, for to obtain of the LORD,
forgiveness of our foredone sins, and grace to abstain us hereafter
from sin! And but if [_except_] we enforce us to do this wilfully
and in convenient time, the LORD (if He will not utterly destroy
and cast us away!) will, in divers manners, move tyrants against
us, for to constrain us violently for to do penance, which we
would not do wilfully. And, trust! that this doing is a special
grace of the LORD, and a great token of life and mercy!
And, no doubt, whoever will not apply himself, as is said before,
to punish himself wilfully, neither will suffer patiently, meekly,
and gladly the rod of the LORD, howsoever that He will punish him:
their wayward wills and their impatience are unto them earnest of
everlasting damnation.
But because there are but few in number that do able them thus
faithfully to grace, for to live here simply and purely, and
without gall of malice and of grudging, herefore the lovers of this
world hate and pursue them that they know patient, meek, chaste,
and wilfully poor, hating and fleeing all worldly vanities and
fleshly lusts. For, surely, their virtuous conditions are even
contrary to the manners of this world.
The third thing that moveth me to write this Sentence is this. I
thought I shall busy me in myself to do faithfully, that all men
and women occupying all their business in knowing and in keeping of
GOD's commandments, able them so to grace, that they might
understand truly the Truth, and have and use virtue and prudence;
and so to serve to be lightened from above with heavenly wisdom: so
that all their words and their works may be hereby made pleasant
sacrifices unto the LORD GOD; and not only for help for their own
souls, but also for edification of all Holy Church.
For I doubt not but all they that will apply them to have this
foresaid business shall profit full mickle both to friends and to
foes. For some enemies of the Truth, through the grace of GOD,
shall, through charitable folks, be made astonied in their
conscience, and peradventure converted from vices to virtues; and
also they that labour to know and to keep faithfully the biddings
of GOD, and to suffer patiently all adversities, shall hereby
comfort many friends.
And the fourth thing that moveth me to write this Sentence is this.
I know my sudden and unwarned Apposing and Answering that all they
that will of good heart without feigning able themselves wilfully
and gladly, after their cunning and their power, to follow CHRIST
patiently, travailing busily, privily and apertly, in work and in
word, to withdraw whomsoever that they may from vices, planting in
them (if they may) virtues, comforting them and furthering them
that standeth in grace; so that therewith they be not borne up into
vainglory through presumption of their wisdom, nor enflamed with
any worldly prosperity: but ever meek and patient, purposing to
abide steadfastly in the Will of GOD, suffering wilfully and
gladly, without any grudging whatsoever, the rod the LORD will
chastise them with.
=INNOCENCE RECEIVES DIVINE HELP.=
Then this good LORD will not forget to comfort all such men and
women in all their tribulations, and at every point of temptation
that any enemy purposeth for to do against them ([to] such faithful
lovers specially, and patient followers of CHRIST), the LORD
sendeth His wisdom from above to them! which the adversaries of the
Truth may not know nor understand; but through their old and new
unshamefast sins, those tyrants and enemies of Soothfastness shall
be so blinded and obstinate in evil, that they shall ween
themselves to do pleasant sacrifices unto the LORD GOD in their
malicious and wrongful pursuing and destroying of innocent men's
and women's bodies; which men and women for their very virtuous
living and for their true knowledging of the Truth and their
patient, wilful, and glad suffering of persecution for
righteousness, deserve through the grace of GOD to be heirs of the
endless bliss of heaven.
And for [_on account of_] the fervent desire and the great love
that those men have, as to stand in Soothfastness and witness of
it, though they be, suddenly and unwarned, brought forth to be
Apposed of their adversaries: the HOLY GHOST yet, that moveth and
ruleth them, through His charity, will, in the hour of their
Answering, speak in them, and shew His wisdom, that all their
enemies shall not again say [_gainsay_] and against stand lawfully
[_by right_].
And therefore all they that are stedfast in the faith of GOD, yea, which
(through diligent keeping of His commandments, and for their patient
suffering of whatsoever adversity that cometh to them) hope surely in
His mercy, purposing to stand continually in perfect charity: for those
men and women dread not so the adversities of this life, that they will
fear (after their cunning and their power) to [ac]knowledge prudently
the truth of GOD's Word! when, where, and to whom that they think their
[ac]knowledging may profit. Yea, and though therefore, persecution come
to them, in one wise or another, certes, they patiently take it! knowing
their conversation to be in heaven.
=HEAVEN IS THE LORD GOD HIMSELF.=
It is a high reward and a special grace of GOD for to have and enjoy as
the everlasting inheritance of heaven, for the suffering of one
persecution in so short a time as is the term of this life. For, lo,
this heavenly heritage and endless reward is the LORD GOD Himself! which
is the best thing that may be. This Sentence witnesseth the LORD GOD
Himself, whereas He said to ABRAHAM, _I am thy mede!_ And as the LORD
said He was, and is the mede of ABRAHAM; so He is of all His other
saints.
This most blessed and best mede He grant to us all! for His holy name,
that made us of nought, and sent His only most dear worthy Son, our Lord
JESU CHRIST, for to redeem
us with His most precious
heart's blood.
Amen.
+[The Examination of sir William of Thorpe.]+
=William. ? 1407.=
Known be it to all men that read or hear this Writing beneath, that on
the Sunday next [_August 7th_] after the Feast of St. Peter that we call
Lammas [_August 1st_], in the year of our Lord a thousand four hundred
seventh year, I, WILLIAM of Thorpe, being in prison in the castle of
Saltwood [_near Hythe, in Kent_], was brought before THOMAS ARUNDELL,
Archbishop of CANTERBURY, and [Lord] Chancellor then of England.
And when that I came to him, he stood in a great chamber, and much
people [were] about him; and when that he saw me, he went fast into a
closet [_private room_], bidding all secular men [_laymen_] that
followed him, to go forth from him soon; so that no man was left then in
that closet, but the Archbishop himself, a physician that was called
MALVEREN [_i.e., JOHN MALVERNE, S.T.P._], Parson of St. Dunstan's
[Church, in Tower Street] in London, and two other persons unknown to
me, which were Ministers of the Law [_i.e., the Canon Law: later on,
they are called Clerks, i.e., Chaplains_].
=A PRECISE & AUTHENTIC LOLLARD _CREED_.=
+Archbishop.+ And I standing before them, by and by, the Archbishop said
to me, "WILLIAM! I know well, that thou hast, this twenty winter and
more [_i.e., from before 1387_], travelled about busily, in the North
country and in other divers countries [_counties_] of England, sowing
about false doctrine: having great business, if thou might, with thine
untrue teaching and shrewd will, for to infect and poison all this land.
But, through the grace of GOD! thou art now withstanded, and brought
into my ward! so that I shall now sequester thee from thine evil
purpose, and let [_hinder_] thee to envenom the sheep of my Province.
Nevertheless, St. PAUL saith, _If it may be, as far as in us is, we owe_
[ought] _to have peace with all men._ Therefore, WILLIAM! if thou wilt
now, meekly, and of good heart, without any feigning, kneel down and lay
thy hand upon a book, and kiss it; promising faithfully as I shall here
charge thee, that 'thou wilt submit thee to my correction and stand to
mine ordinance, and fulfil it duly by all thy cunning and power,' thou
shalt yet find me gracious unto thee!"
+William.+ Then said I, to the Archbishop, "Sir, since ye deem me an
heretic out of belief, will ye give me here audience to tell my
_Belief_."
+Archbishop.+ And he said, "Yea, tell on!"
+William.+ And I said, _"I believe that there is not but one GOD
Almighty, and in this Godhead and of this Godhead are three Persons;
that is the Father, the Son, and the soothfast HOLY GHOST. And I believe
that all these three Persons are even in power, in cunning, and in
might, full of grace and of all goodness: for whatever that the Father
doth or can or will, that thing also the Son doth can and will; and in
all their power cunning and will, the HOLY GHOST is equal to the Father
and to the Son._
_Over this, I believe that, through counsel of this most blessed
Trinity (in most convenient time, before ordained), for the
salvation of mankind, the second Person of this Trinity was
ordained to take the form of Man, that is the Kind of man. And I
believe that this second Person, our Lord JESU CHRIST was
conceived, through the HOLY GHOST, into the womb of the most
blessed Virgin MARY without any man's seed. And I believe that
after nine months, CHRIST was born of this most blessed Virgin
without any pain or breaking of the closter of her womb, and
without filth of her virginity._
_And I believe that CHRIST our Saviour was circumcised in the eighth
day after his birth, in fulfilment of the Law; and his name was
called JESUS, which was called of the angel before he was conceived
in the womb of MARY his mother._
_And I believe that CHRIST, as he was about thirty years old, was
baptized in the flood of Jordan of JOHN_ [the] _Baptist, and in
likeness of a dove the HOLY GHOST descended there upon him; and a
voice was heard from heaven, saying,_ Thou art my well beloved Son!
In Thee, I am full pleased!
_And I believe that CHRIST was moved then by the HOLY GHOST for to
go into [the] desert, and there he fasted forty days and forty
nights without bodily meat and drink. And I believe that by and by,
after his fasting, when the manhood of CHRIST hungered, the Fiend
came to him and tempted him in gluttony, in vainglory, and in
covetise: but in all those temptations CHRIST concluded_
[confounded] _the Fiend and withstood him._
_And then, without tarrying, JESU began to preach, and to say unto
the people,_ Do ye penance! for the Realm of Heaven is now at hand!
_And I believe that CHRIST, in all his time here, lived most holily;
and taught the Will of his Father most truly: and I believe that he
suffered therefore most wrongfully, greatest reproofs and
despisings._
_And after this, when CHRIST would make an end here, of his temporal
life, I believe that, in the day next before that he would suffer
passion on the morn, in form of bread and wine, he ordained the
Sacrament of his flesh and blood, that is his own precious body, and
gave it to his Apostles for to eat, commanding them, and by them all
their after-comers, that they should do it, in this form that he
shewed to them, use themselves and teach and common forth to other
men and women this most worshipful holiest Sacrament; in mindfulness
of his holiest Living and of his most true Teaching, and of his
wilful and patient Suffering of the most painful Passion._
_And I believe that thus, CHRIST our Saviour, after that he had
ordained this most worthy Sacrament of his own precious body, he
went forth wilfully against his enemies, and he suffered them most
patiently to lay their hands most violently upon him, and to bind
him, and to lead him forth as a thief, and to scorn and buffet him,
and all to blow or_ [de]_file him with their spittings._
_Over this, I believe that CHRIST suffered, most meekly and
patiently, his enemies for to ding_ [beat] _out with sharp scourges,
the blood that was between his skin and his flesh: yea, without
grudging, CHRIST suffered wicked Jews to crown him with most sharp
thorns, and to strike him with a reed. And, after, CHRIST suffered
wicked Jews to draw_ [lay] _him out upon the Cross, and for to nail
him there, upon foot and hand; and so, through this pitiful nailing,
CHRIST shed out wilfully, for man's life, the blood that was in his
veins: and then, CHRIST gave wilfully his spirit into the hands or
power of his Father. And so, as he would, and when he would, CHRIST
died wilfully, for man's sake, upon the Cross. And notwithstanding
that CHRIST was wilfully, painfully, and most shamefully put to
death as to the world, there was left blood and water in his heart,
as he before ordained that he would shed out this blood and this
water for man's salvation. And therefore he suffered the Jews to
make a blind_ [ignorant] _Knight to thrust him into the heart with a
spear; and this the blood and water that was in his heart, CHRIST
would shed out for man's love._
_And, after this, I believe that CHRIST was taken down from the
Cross, and buried._
_And I believe that on the third day, by the power of his godhead,
CHRIST rose again from death to life. And forty days thereafter, I
believe that CHRIST ascended up into heaven; and that he there
sitteth on the right hand of GOD the Father Almighty. And the tenth
day after his up going, he sent to his Apostles the HOLY GHOST, that
he had promised them before._
_And I believe that CHRIST shall come and judge all mankind, some to
everlasting peace, and some to everlasting pains._
_And as I believe in the Father, and in the Son, that they are one
GOD Almighty; so I believe in the HOLY GHOST that is also, with
them, the same GOD Almighty._
_And I believe_ [in] _an Holy Church, that is, all they that have
been, and that now are, and always to the end of the world shall be,
a people the which shall endeavour them to know, and keep the
commandments of GOD; dreading over all things to offend GOD, and
loving and seeking most to please Him. And I believe that all they
that have had, and yet have, and all they that yet shall have the
foresaid virtues, surely standing in the Belief of GOD, hoping
steadfastly in His merciful doings, continuing to their end in
perfect charity, wilfully patiently and gladly suffering
persecutions by the example of CHRIST chiefly and His Apostles; and
these have their names written in the Book of Life. Therefore I
believe that the gathering together of this people living now in
this life, is the Holy Church of GOD, fighting here on earth against
the Fiend, the prosperity of the world, and their fleshly lusts.
Wherefore, seeing that all the gathering together of this Church
beforesaid, and every part thereof, neither coveteth, nor willeth,
nor loveth, nor seeketh anything, but to eschew the offence of GOD,
and to do His pleasing will: meekly, gladly, and wilfully, of all
mine heart, I submit myself unto this Holy Church of CHRIST; to be
ever buxom and obedient to the ordinance of it, and of every member
thereof, after my knowledge and power, by the help of GOD._
_Therefore I_ [ac]_knowledge now, and evermore shall (if GOD will!)
that, of all my heart, and of all my might, I will submit me only to
the rule and governance of them whom, after my knowledge, I may
perceive, by the having and using of the beforesaid virtues, to be
members of the Holy Church._
_Wherefore these Articles of Belief and all others, both of the Old
Law and of the New, which, after the commandment of GOD, any man
ought to believe, I believe verily in my soul, as a sinful deadly
wretch of my cunning and power ought to believe; praying the LORD
GOD, for His holy name, for to increase my belief, and help my
unbelief._
_And for because, to the praising of GOD's name, I desire above all
things to be a faithful member of Holy Church, I make this
Protestation before you all four that are now here present, coveting
that all men and women that_ [are] _now absent knew the same; that
what thing soever before this time I have said or done, or what
thing here I shall do or say at any time hereafter, I believe that
all the Old Law and the New Law given and ordained by the counsel of
these three Persons in the Trinity, were given and written to_ [for]
_the salvation of mankind. And I believe these Laws are sufficient
for the man's salvation. And I believe every Article of these Laws
to the intent that these Articles were ordained and commanded, of
these three Persons of the most blessed Trinity, to be believed. And
therefore to the rule and the ordinance of these, GOD's Laws,
meekly, gladly, and wilfully, I submit me with all mine heart: that
whoever can or will, by authority of GOD's Law, or by open reason,
tell me that I have erred, or now err, or any time hereafter shall
err in any Article of Belief (from which inconvenience, GOD keep me,
for his goodness!) I submit me to be reconciled, and to be buxom and
obedient unto these Laws of GOD, and to every Article of them. For
by authority specially of these Laws, I will, through the grace of
GOD, be unied_ [united] _charitably unto these Laws._
_Yea, Sir, and over this, I believe and admit all the Sentences,
authorities, and reasons of the Saints and Doctors, according unto
Holy Scripture, and declaring it truly. I submit me wilfully and
meekly to be ever obedient, after my cunning and power, to all these
Saints and Doctors as they are obedient in work and in word to GOD
and his Law: and further, not to my knowledge; nor for any earthly
power, dignity, or state, through the help of GOD._
=ARCHBISHOP'S CONDITIONS TO WILLIAM.=
"But, Sir, I pray you tell me, if after your bidding, I shall lay my
hand upon the book, to the intent to swear thereby?"
+Archbishop.+ And the Archbishop said unto me, "Yea! wherefore else?"
+William.+ And I said to him, "Sir, a book is nothing else but a thing
coupled together of diverse creatures [_created things_]; and to swear
by any creature, both GOD's Law and man's law is against. But, Sir, this
thing I say here to you, before these your Clerks, with my foresaid
_Protestation_, that how, where, when, and to whom, men are bounden to
swear or to obey, in any wise, after GOD's Laws, and Saints and good
Doctors according with GOD's Law; I will, through GOD's grace, be ever
ready thereto, with all my cunning and power!
"But I pray you, Sir, for the charity of GOD! that ye will, before that
I swear as I have rehearsed to you, tell me how or whereto that I shall
submit me; and shew me whereof that ye will correct me, and what is the
ordinance that ye will thus oblige me to fulfil?"
+Archbishop.+ And the Archbishop said unto me, "I will, shortly, that
now thou swear here to me, that thou shalt forsake all the opinions
which the Sect of Lollards hold, and is slandered [_charged_] with; so
that, after this time, neither privily nor apertly, thou hold any
opinion which I shall, after that thou hast sworn, rehearse to thee
here. Nor thou shalt favour no man nor woman, young nor old, that
holdeth any of these foresaid opinions; but, after thy knowledge and
power, thou shalt enforce thee to withstand all such distroublers of
Holy Church in every diocese that thou comest in; and them that will not
leave their false and damnable opinions, thou shalt put them up,
publishing them and their names; and make them known to the Bishop of
the diocese that they are in, or to the Bishop's Ministers. And, over
this, I will that thou preach no more, unto the time that I know, by
good witness and true, that thy conversation be such that thy heart and
thy mouth accord truly in one contrarying [of] all the lewd learning
that thou hast taught herebefore."
And I, hearing these words, thought in my heart that this was an
unlawful asking; and I deemed myself cursed of GOD, if I consented
hereto: and I thought how SUSANNA said, _Anguish is to me on every
side!_
+Archbishop.+ And in that I stood still, and spake not; the Archbishop
said to me, "Answer one wise or another!"
=HE IS TO BE THE BISHOPS' SPY.=
+William.+ And I said, "Sir, if I consented to you thus, as ye have here
rehearsed to me; I should become an Appealer, or every Bishop's Spy!
Summoner of all England! For an [_if_] I should thus put up and publish
the names of men and women, I should herein deceive full many persons:
yea, Sir, as it is likely, by the doom of my conscience, I should herein
be cause of the death, both of men and women; yea, both bodily and
ghostly. For many men and women that stand now in the Truth, and are in
the way of salvation, if I should for the learning and reading of their
_Belief_ publish them or put them therefore up to Bishops or to their
unpiteous Ministers, I know some deal by experience, that they should be
so distroubled and dis-eased with persecution or otherwise, that many of
them, I think, would rather choose to forsake the Way of Truth than to
be travailed, scorned, and slandered or punished as Bishops and their
Ministers now use [_are accustomed_] for to constrain men and women to
consent to them.
"But I find in no place in Holy Scripture, that this office that ye
would now enfeoff me with, accordeth to any priest of CHRIST's sect, nor
to any other Christian man. And therefore to do thus, were to me a full
noyous bond to be bounden with, and over grievous charge. For I suppose
that if I thus did, many men and women in the world, yea, Sir, might
justly, unto my confusion say to me that 'I were a traitor to GOD and to
them!' since, as I think in mine heart, many men and women trust so
mickle in me in this case, that I would not, for the saving of my life,
do thus to them. For if I thus should do, full many men and women
would, as they might full truly, say that 'I had falsely and cowardly
forsaken the Truth, and slandered shamefully the Word of GOD!' For if I
consented to you, to do hereafter your will, for bonchief and mischief
that may befall to me in this life, I deem in my conscience that I were
worthy herefore to be cursed of GOD, as also of all His Saints! From
which inconvenience keep me and all Christian people, Almighty GOD! now
and ever, for His holy name!"
=ARUNDELL THREATENS TO BURN WILLIAM.=
+Archbishop.+ And then the Archbishop said unto me, "O thine heart is
full hard, endured [_hardened_] as was the heart of PHARAOH; and the
Devil hath overcome thee, and perverted thee! and he hath so blinded
thee in all thy wits, that thou hast no grace to know the truth, nor the
measure of mercy that I have proffered to thee! Therefore, as I perceive
now by thy foolish answer, thou hast no will to leave thine old errors.
But I say to thee, lewd losell! [_base lost one!_ or _base son of
perdition!_] either thou quickly consent to mine ordinance, and submit
thee to stand to my decrees, or, by Saint Thomas! thou shalt be
disgraded [_degraded_], and follow thy fellow in Smithfield!"
And at this saying, I stood still and spake not; but I thought in mine
heart that GOD did to me a great grace, if He would, of His great mercy,
bring me to such an end. And in mine heart, I was nothing [a]fraid with
this menacing of the Archbishop.
And I considered, there, two things in him. One, that he was not yet
sorrowful, for that he had made WILLIAM SAUTRE wrongfully to be burnt
[_on Feb. 12, 1401, at Smithfield_]. And as I considered that the
Archbishop thirsted yet after more shedding out of innocent blood. And
fast therefore I was moved in all my wits, 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, methought I should not
have any dread of him. But I was right heavy and sorrowful for that
there was none audience of secular [_lay_] men by: but in mine heart, I
prayed the LORD GOD to comfort me and strengthen me against them that
there were against the Soothfastness. And I purposed to speak no more to
the Archbishop and his Clerks [_Chaplains_] than me need behoved.
=HOW WILLIAM CAME TO WYCLIFFE, ABOUT 1377.=
And all thus I prayed GOD, for His goodness, to give me then and always
grace to speak with a meek and an easy spirit; and whatsoever thing that
I should speak, that I might thereto have true authorities of Scriptures
and open reason.
+A Clerk.+ And for that I stood still, and nothing spake, one of the
Archbishop's Clerks said unto me, "What thing musest thou? Do thou, as
my Lord hath now commanded to thee here!"
And yet I stood still, and answered him not.
+Archbishop.+ And then, soon after, the Archbishop said to me, "Art thou
not yet bethought, whether thou wilt do as I have here said to thee?"
+William.+ And I said then to him, "Sir, my father and mother (on whose
souls GOD have mercy! if it be His will) spent mickle money in divers
places about my learning; for the intent to have made me a priest to
GOD. But when I came to years of discretion, I had no will to be priest;
and therefore my friends were right heavy to me. And then methought
their grudging against me was so painful to me, that I purposed
therefore to have left their company. And when they perceived this in
me, they spake some time full fair and pleasant words to me: but for
that they might not make me to consent, of good heart, to be a priest,
they spake to me full ofttimes very grievous words, and menaced me in
divers manners, shewing to me full heavy cheer. And thus, one while in
fair manner, another while in grievous, they were long time, as
methought, full busy about me, ere I consented to them to be a priest.
"But, at the last, when, in this matter, they would no longer suffer
mine excusations; but either I should consent to them, or I should ever
bear their indignation; yea, 'their curse,' as they said. Then I seeing
this, prayed them that they would give me license for to go to them that
were named wise priests and of virtuous conversation, to have their
counsel, and to know of them the office and the charge of priesthood.
"And hereto my father and my mother consented full gladly, and gave me
their blessing and good leave to go, and also money to spend in this
journey.
=WYCLIFFE'S CO-WORKERS IN TRANSLATING THE _BIBLE_, HEREFORD & PURVEY,
GIVE UP LOLLARDISM.=
"And so then I went to those priests whom I heard to be of best name and
of most holy living, and best learned and most wise of heavenly wisdom:
and so I communed with them unto the time that I perceived, by their
virtuous and continual occupations, that their honest and charitable
works [sur]passed their fame, which I heard before of them. Wherefore,
sir, by the example of the doctrine of them, and specially for the godly
and innocent works which I perceived of them and in them; after my
cunning and power I have exercised me then, and in this time, to know
perfectly GOD's Law: having a will and desire to live thereafter,
willing that all men and women exercised themselves faithfully
thereabout.
"If then, Sir, either for pleasure or displeasure of them that are
neither so wise, nor of so virtuous conversation (to my knowledge, nor
by common fame of other men's knowledge in this land) as these men were,
of whom I took my counsel and information; I should now forsake, thus
suddenly and shortly, and unwarned, all the learning that I have
exercised myself in, this thirty winter [_i.e., from 1377_] and more, my
conscience should ever be herewith out of measure unquieted. And as,
Sir, I know well that many men and women should be therethrough greatly
troubled and slandered; and (as I said, Sir, to you before) for mine
untruth and false cowardness many a one should be put into full great
reprefe [_reproof_]. Yea, Sir, I dread that many a one, as they might
then justly, would curse me full bitterly: and, Sir, I fear not but the
curse of GOD (which I should deserve herein) would bring me to a full
evil end, if I continued thus.
"And if through remorse of conscience, I repented me at any time,
returning into the Way which you do your diligence to constrain me now
to forsake; yea, Sir, all the Bishops of this land, with full many other
priests, would defame me, and pursue me as a Relapse: and they that now
have (though I be unworthy) some confidence in me, hereafter would never
trust to me, though I could teach and live never so virtuously more that
I can or may.
"For if, after your counsel, I left utterly all my Learning: I should
hereby, first wound and defile mine own soul; and also I should
herethrough give occasion to many men and women of full sore hurting.
Yea, Sir, it is likely to me, if I consented to your will, I should
herein by mine evil example in it, as far as in me were, slay many folk
ghostly, that I should never deserve for to have grace of GOD to the
edifying of His Church, neither of myself, nor of none other man's life,
and [be] undone both before GOD and man.
"But, Sir, by example chiefly of some, whose names I will not now
rehearse, [NICHOLAS DE] H[EREFORD], of J[OHN] P[URVEY], and B[OWLAND];
and also by the present doing of PHILIP of REPINGTON that [_after being
a Lollard_] is now become Bishop of LINCOLN [_consecrated on March 28,
1405; and about a year following this Examination was made, on September
19, 1408, a Cardinal_]: I am now learned, as many more hereafter through
GOD's grace shall be learned, to hate and to flee all such slander that
these foresaid men chiefly hath defiled principally themselves with. And
in it that in them is, they have envenomed all the Church of GOD; for
the slanderous revoking at the Cross of Paul's, of H[EREFORD], P[URVEY],
and of B[OWLAND], and how now PHILIP REPINGTON pursueth CHRIST's people.
And the feigning that these men dissemble by worldly prudence, keeping
them cowardly in their preaching and communing, within the bonds and
terms, which, without blame, may be spoken and shewed out to the most
worldly livers, will not be unpunished of GOD. For to the point of truth
that these men shewed out some time, they not will now stretch forth
their lives: but by example, each one of them, as their words and works
shew, they busy them, through their feigning, for to slander and to
pursue CHRIST in his members, rather than they will be pursued."
+Archbishop.+ And the Archbishop said to me, "These men the which thou
speakest of now, were fools and heretics, when they were counted wise
men of thee and other such losells: but now they are wise men, though
thou and such others deem them unwise. Nevertheless, I wist never none,
that right said; that any while were envenomed with your contagiousness,
that is contaminated and spotted doctrine."
+William.+ And I said to the Archbishop, "Sir, I think well that these
men and such others are now wise as to this world, but as their words
sounded sometime and their works shewed outwardly, it was likely to move
me that they had earnest of the wisdom of GOD, and that they should
have deserved mickle grace of GOD to have saved their own souls and
many other men's, if they had continued faithful in wilful poverty and
in other simple virtuous living; and specially if they had with these
foresaid virtues, continued in their busy fruitful sowing of GOD's Word,
as, to many men's knowledge, they occupied them a season in all their
wits full busily to know the pleasant Will of GOD, travailing all their
members full busily for to do thereafter purely, and chiefly to the
praising of the most holy name of GOD and for grace of edification and
salvation of Christian people. But woe worth false covetise! and evil
counsel! and tyranny! by which they and many men and women are led
blindly into an evil end."
=J. PURVEY, VICAR OF WEST HYTHE, 1401-3.=
+Archbishop.+ Then the Archbishop said to me, "Thou and such other
losells of thy sect would shave your beards full near, for to have a
benefice! For, by Jesu! I know none more covetous shrews than ye are,
when that ye have a benefice. For, lo, I gave to JOHN PURVEY a benefice
but a mile out of this Castle [_i.e., the vicarage of West Hythe, near
Saltwood Castle in Kent, which PURVEY held from August 11, 1401, till he
resigned it on October 8, 1403_], and I heard more complaints about his
covetousness for tithes and other misdoings, than I did of all men that
were advanced within my diocese."
+William.+ And I said to the Archbishop, "Sir, PURVEY is neither with
you now for the benefice that ye gave him, nor holdeth he faithfully
with the learning that he taught and writ before time; and thus he
sheweth himself neither to be hot nor cold: and therefore he and his
fellows may sore[ly] dread that if they turn not hastily to the Way that
they have forsaken, peradventure they be put out of the number of
CHRIST's chosen people."
+Archbishop.+ And the Archbishop said, "Though PURVEY be now a false
harlot [_debased man. This term was at this time applied also to men_],
I quite me [_absolve myself in respect_] to him: but come he more for
such cause before me, ere we depart, 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?"
=THE FIRST LEADERS OF THE LOLLARDS.=
+William.+ And I said, "Sir, Master JOHN WYCLIFFE was holden of full
many men, the greatest Clerk [_Divine_] that they knew then living; and
therewith he was named a passing ruely man and an innocent in his
living: and herefore great many commoned [_communed_] oft with him, and
they loved so much his learning that they writ it, and busily enforced
them to rule themselves thereafter. Therefore, Sir, this foresaid
learning of Master JOHN WYCLIFFE is yet holden of full many men and
women, the most agreeable learning unto the living and teaching of
CHRIST and his Apostles, and most openly shewing and declaring how the
Church of CHRIST hath been, and yet should be, ruled and governed.
Therefore so many men and women covet this learning, and purpose,
through GOD's grace, to conform their living like to this learning of
WYCLIFFE.
"Master JOHN AISTON taught and writ accordingly, and full busily, where,
and when, and to whom that he might: and he used it himself right
perfectly, unto his life's end.
"And also PHILIP of REPINGTON, while he was a Canon of Leicester [_He
was Chancellor of Oxford in 1397, and again in 1400_]; NICHOLAS
HER[E]FORD; DAVID GOTRAY of Pakring, Monk of Bylande and a Master of
Divinity; and JOHN PURVEY, and many others, which were holden right wise
men and prudent, taught and writ busily this foresaid learning, and
conformed them thereto. And with all these men I was oft right homely
[_quite at home_], and communed with them long time and oft: and so,
before all other men, I choose wilfully to be informed of them and by
them, and especially of WYCLIFFE himself; as of the most virtuous and
godly wise men that I heard of or knew. And therefore of him specially,
and of these men I took my learning, that I have taught; and purpose to
live thereafter, if GOD will! to my life's end.
"For though some of these men be contrary to the learning that they
taught before, I wot well that their learning was true which they
taught; and therefore, with the help of GOD, I purpose to hold and to
use the learning which I heard of them while they sat on MOSES' chair,
and specially while they sat on the chair of CHRIST. But after the works
that they now do, I will not do! with GOD's help. For they feign and
hide and contrary the Truth which before they taught out plainly and
truly. For as I know well, when some of these men hath been blamed for
their slanderous doing, they grant not that they have taught amiss, or
erred before time; but that they were constrained by pain[s] to leave to
tell out the Sooth: and thus they choose now rather to blaspheme GOD
than to suffer awhile here bodily persecution for Soothfastness that
CHRIST shed out his heart-blood for."
=WILLIAM'S SERMON AT ST. CHAD'S.=
+Archbishop.+ And the Archbishop said, "That learning that thou callest
Truth and Soothfastness is open slander to Holy Church, as it is proved
of Holy Church. For albeit that WYCLIFFE your author [_founder_] was a
great Clerk, and though that many men held him a perfect liver: yet his
doctrine is not approved of Holy Church, but many Sentences of his
learning are damned [_condemned_] as they are well worthy.
"But as touching PHILIP of REPINGTON that was first Canon, and after
Abbot of Leicester, which is now Bishop of LINCOLN; I tell thee that the
Day is now comen for which he fasted the Even! For neither he holdeth
now, nor will hold the learning that he thought when he was Canon of
Leicester; for no Bishop of this land pursueth now more sharply them
that hold thy Way than he doth."
+William.+ And I said, "Sir, full many men and women wondereth upon him,
and speaketh him mickle shame, and holdeth him for a cursed enemy of the
Truth."
+Archbishop.+ And the Archbishop said to me, "Wherefore tarriest thou me
thus here, with such fables? Wilt thou shortly, as I said to thee,
submit thee to me or no?"
+William.+ And I said, "Sir, I tell you at one word. I dare not, for the
dread of GOD, submit me to you after the tenour and Sentence that ye
have above rehearsed to me."
* * * * *
+Archbishop.+ And then, as if he had been wroth, he said to one of his
Clerks, "Fetch hither quickly the _Certification_ that came to me from
Shrewsbury, under the Bailiff's seal, witnessing the errors and heresies
which this losell hath venemously witnessed there!"
Then hastily the Clerk took out and laid forth on a cupboard divers
rolls and writings; among which there was a little one, which the Clerk
delivered to the Archbishop.
=THE DESIRE OF THE SHREWSBURY MEN.=
And by and by the Archbishop read this roll containing this sentence.
¶ _The third Sunday_ [April 17th] _after Easter_ [March 27th], _the year
of our Lord 1407, WILLIAM THORPE came unto the town of Shrewsbury, and,
through leave granted to him to preach, he said openly in St. Chad's
Church, in his sermon,_
_That the Sacrament of the Altar after the consecration was
material bread._
_And that images should in no wise be worshipped._
_And that men should not go on any pilgrimages._
_And that priests have no title to tithes._
_And that it is not lawful to swear in any wise._
+Archbishop.+ And when the Archbishop had read thus this roll, he rolled
it up again, and said to me, "Is this wholesome learning to be among the
people?"
+William.+ And I said to him, "Sir, I am both ashamed on their behalf,
and right sorrowful for them that have certified you these things thus
untruly: for I never preached nor taught thus, privily nor apertly."
+Archbishop.+ And the Archbishop said to me, "I will give credence to
these worshipful men which have written to me and witnessed under their
seals there among them. Though thou now deniest this, weenest thou that
I will credence to thee! Thou, losell! hast troubled the worshipful
comminalty of Shrewsbury, so that the Bailiffs and comminalty of that
town have written to me, praying me, that am Archbishop of CANTERBURY,
Primate, and Chancellor of England, _that I will vouchsafe to grant
them, that if thou shalt be made, as thou art worthy! to suffer open
jouresse_ [? penance or pillory] _for thine heresies, that thou may have
thy jouresse openly there among them; so that all they whom thou and
such like losells have there perverted, may, through fear of thy deed_
[_i.e._, martyrdom] _be reconciled again to the unity of Holy Church;
and also they that stand in true faith of Holy Church may through thy
deed be more stablished therein._" And as if this asking had pleased the
Archbishop, he said, "By my thrift! this hearty prayer and fervent
request shall be thought on!"
But certainly neither the prayer of the men of Shrewsbury, nor the
menacing of the Archbishop made me anything afraid: but, in the
rehearsing of this malice, and in the hearing of it, my heart greatly
rejoiced, and yet doth. I thank GOD, for the grace that I then thought,
and yet think, shall come to all the Church of GOD herethrough, by the
special merciful doing of the LORD.
=A DAUNTLESS LOLLARD SPEECH.=
+William.+ And as having no dread of the malice of tyrants, by trusting
stedfastly in the help of the LORD, with full purpose for to
[ac]knowledge the Soothfastness, and to stand thereby after my cunning
and power, I said to the Archbishop, "Sir, if the truth of GOD's Word
might now be accepted as it should be, I doubt not to prove by likely
evidence, that they that are famed to be out of the faith of Holy Church
in Shrewsbury and in other places also, are in the true faith of Holy
Church. For as their words sound and their works shew to man's
judgement, dreading and loving faithfully GOD; their will, their desire,
their love, and their business, are most set to dread to offend GOD and
to love for to please Him in true and faithful keeping of His
commandments.
"And again, they that are said to be in the faith of Holy Church at
Shrewsbury and in other places, by open evidence of their proud,
envious, malicious, covetous, lecherous, and other foul words and works,
neither know nor have will to know nor to occupy their wits truly and
effectuously in the right faith of Holy Church. Wherefore [none of] all
these, nor none that follow their manners, shall any time come verily in
the faith of Holy Church, except they enforce them more truly to come in
the way which now they despise. For these men and women that are now
called Faithful and holden Just, neither know, nor will exercise
themselves to know, of faithfulness, one commandment of GOD. And thus
full many men and women now, and specially men that are named to be
"principal limbs of Holy Church," stir GOD to great wrath; and deserve
His curse for that they call or hold them "just men" which are full
unjust, as their vicious words, their great customable swearing, and
their slanderous and shameful works shew openly and witness. And
herefore such vicious men and unjust in their own confusion call them
"unjust men and women," which after their power and cunning, busy
themselves to live justly after the commandment of GOD.
"And where, Sir, ye say, that I have distroubled the comminalty of
Shrewsbury and many other men and women with my teaching; if it thus be,
it is not to be wondered [at] of wise men, since all the comminalty of
the city of Jerusalem was distroubled of CHRIST's own person, that was
Very GOD and Man, and [the] most prudent preacher that ever was or shall
be. And also all the Synagogue of Nazareth was moved against CHRIST, and
so full-filled with ire towards him for his preaching, that the men of
the Synagogue rose up and cast CHRIST out of their city, and led him up
to the top of a mountain for to cast him down there headlong. Also
according hereto, the LORD witnesseth by MOSES, that He shall put
dissension betwixt His people, and the people that contrarieth and
pursueth His people. Who, Sir, is he that shall preach the truth of
GOD's Word to that unfaithful people, and shall let [_hinder_] the
Soothfastness of the gospel, and the prophecy of GOD Almighty to be
fulfilled?"
+Archbishop.+ And the Archbishop said to me, "It followeth of these thy
words, 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 chosen you only, for to preach as faithful
disciples and special followers of CHRIST!"
=THE OFFICE OF EVERY PRIEST IS TO PREACH.=
+William.+ And I said, "Sir, by authority of GOD's law, and also of
Saints and Doctors, I am learned to deem that it is every priest's
office and duty for to preach busily, freely, and truly the Word of GOD.
"For, no doubt, every priest should purpose first in his soul and covet
to take the order of priesthood chiefly for to make known to the people
the Word of GOD, after his cunning and power, approving his words ever
to be true by his virtuous works; and for this intent we suppose that
Bishops and other prelates of Holy Church should chiefly take and use
their prelacy. And for the same cause, Bishops should give to priests
their orders. For Bishops should accept no man to priesthood, except
that he had good will and full purpose, and were well disposed and well
learned to preach. Wherefore, Sir, by the bidding of CHRIST, and by
example of His most holy living, and also by the witnessing of His holy
apostles and prophets, we are bound under full great pain to exercise us
after our cunning and power (as every priest is likewise charged of
GOD), to fulfil duly the office of priesthood. We presume not hereof,
ourselves, for to be esteemed, neither in our own reputation nor in none
other man's, faithful disciples and special followers of CHRIST: but,
Sir, as I said to you before, we deem this, by authority chiefly of
GOD's Word, that it is the chief duty of every priest to busy him
faithfully to make the law of GOD known to His people; and so to comune
[_communicate_] the commandment of GOD charitably, how that we best,
where, when, and to whom that ever we may, is our very duty. And for the
will and business that we owe of due debt to do justly our office,
through the stirring and special help, as we trust, of GOD, hoping
stedfastly in His mercy, we desire to be the faithful disciples of
CHRIST: and we pray this gracious LORD, for His holy name! that He make
us able for to please Him with devout prayers and charitable priestly
works, that we may obtain of Him to follow Him thankfully."
+Archbishop.+ And the Archbishop said to me, "Lewd losell! whereto
makest thou such vain reasons to me? Asketh not Saint PAUL, _How should
priests preach, except they be sent?_ But I sent thee never to preach!
For thy venomous doctrine is so known throughout England, that no Bishop
will admit thee for to preach, by witnessing of their Letters! Why then,
lewd idiot! willst thou presume to preach, since thou art not sent nor
licensed of thy Sovereign to preach? Saith not Saint PAUL that _Subjects
owe_ [ought] _to obey their Sovereigns; and not only good and virtuous,
but also tyrants that are vicious!_"
=GOD WILL BE A LETTER OF LICENSE!=
+William.+ And I said to the Archbishop, "Sir, as touching your Letter
of License or other Bishops', which, ye say, we should have to witness
that we were able to be sent for to preach; we know well that neither
you, Sir, nor any other Bishop of this land will grant to us any such
Letters of License but [_except_] we should oblige [_bind_] us to you
and to other Bishops by unlawful oaths for to pass not the bounds and
terms which ye, Sir, or other Bishops will limit to us. And since in
this matter, your terms be some too large, and some too strait; we dare
not oblige us thus to be bound to you for to keep the terms which you
will limit to us, as ye do to Friars and such other preachers: and
therefore, though we have not your Letter, Sir, nor Letters of other
Bishops written with ink upon parchment; we dare not herefore leave the
office of preaching; to which preaching, all priests, after their
cunning and power are bound, by divers testimonies of GOD's Law and of
great Doctors, without any mention making of Bishops' Letters.
=BOTH GOOD AND BAD ARE WITNESSES.=
"For as mickle as we have taken upon us the office of priesthood, though
we are unworthy thereto, we come and purpose to fulfil it, with the help
of GOD, by authority of His own law, and by witness of great Doctors and
Saints according hereto, trusting stedfastly in the mercy of GOD. For
that [_because_] He commandeth us to do the office of priesthood, He
will be our sufficient Letters and witness, if we, by the example of his
living and teaching specially occupy us faithfully to do our office
justly: yea, that people to whom we preach, be they faithful or
unfaithful, shall be our Letters, that is, our witness bearers; for that
Truth where it is sown may not be unwitnessed. For all that are
converted and saved by learning of GOD's Word and by working thereafter
are witness bearers, that the Truth and Soothfastness which they heard
and did after, is cause of their salvation. And again, all unfaithful
men and women which heard the Truth told out to them and would not do
thereafter, also all they that might have heard the Truth and would not
hear it, because that they would not do thereafter, all these shall bear
witness against themselves, and the Truth (which they would not hear, or
else heard it and despised to do thereafter through their
unfaithfulness) is and shall be cause of their damnation.
"Therefore, Sir, since this foresaid witnessing of GOD, and of divers
Saints and Doctors, and of all the people good and evil sufficeth to all
true preachers: we think that we do not the office of the priesthood, if
that we leave our preaching because that we have not or may not have
duly Bishops' Letters to witness that we are sent of them to preach.
This Sentence approveth Saint PAUL where he speaketh of himself and of
faithful Apostles and disciples, saying thus, _We need no letters of
commendation as some other preachers do; which preach for covetousness
of temporal goods, and for men's praising._
"And where ye say, Sir, Saint PAUL biddeth _subjects obey their
Sovereigns_; this is Sooth, and may not be denied. But there are two
manner of Sovereigns; virtuous sovereigns and vicious tyrants. Therefore
to these last Sovereigns, neither men nor women that be subject owe
[_ought_] to obey. In two manners. To virtuous Sovereigns and
charitable, subjects owe to obey wilfully and gladly in hearing of their
good counsel, in consenting to their charitable biddings, and in
working after their fruitful works. This Sentence, PAUL approveth where
he saith thus to subjects, _Be ye mindful of your Sovereigns that speak
to you the Word of GOD; and follow you the faith of them, whose
conversation you know to be virtuous._
=THE OLD THEORY OF POLITICAL RESPONSIBILITY.=
"For as PAUL saith after, These Sovereigns to whom subjects owe to obey
in following of their manners, work busily in holy studying how they may
withstand and destroy vices, first in themselves and after in all their
subjects, and how they may best plant in them virtues. Also these
Sovereigns make devout and fervent prayers for to purchase [_obtain_]
grace of GOD, that they and their subjects may, over all things, dread
to offend Him, and to love for to please Him. Also these Sovereigns to
whom PAUL biddeth us obey, as it is said before, live so virtuously that
all they that will live well may take of them good example to know and
to keep the commandments of GOD.
"But, in this foresaid wise, subjects owe [_ought_] not to obey nor to
be obedient to tyrants, while they are vicious tyrants; since their
will, their counsel, their biddings, and their works are so vicious that
they owe [_ought_] to be hated and left. And though such tyrants be
masterful and cruel in boasting and menacing, in oppressions and divers
punishings; Saint PETER biddeth the servants of such tyrants to obey
meekly to such tyrants, suffering patiently their malicious cruelness.
But PETER counselleth not any servant or subject to obey to any Lord, or
Prince, or Sovereign, in anything that is not pleasing to GOD."
+Archbishop.+ And the Archbishop said unto me, "If the Sovereign bid his
subject do that thing that is vicious, this Sovereign herein is to
blame: but the subject, for his obedience, deserveth meed of GOD. For
obedience pleaseth more to GOD than any sacrifice."
+William.+ And I said, "SAMUEL the Prophet said to SAUL the wicked King,
that _GOD was more pleased with the obedience of His commandment, than
with any sacrifice of beasts_: but DAVID saith, and Saint PAUL and Saint
GREGORY accordingly together, that not only they that do evil are worthy
of death and damnation; but also all they that consent to evil doers.
And, Sir, the law of Holy Church teacheth, in the _Decrees_, that no
servant to his Lord, nor child to the father or mother, nor wife to her
husband, nor monk to his abbot, ought to obey, except in lefull
[_loyal_] things and lawful."
+Archbishop.+ And the Archbishop said to me, "All these allegings that
thou bringest forth are nought else but proud presumptuousness. For
hereby thou enforcest [_endeavourest_] thee to prove, that thou and such
others are so just, that ye owe [_ought_] not to obey to Prelates: and
thus against the learning of Saint PAUL that telleth you _not to preach,
but if ye were sent_, of your own authority, ye will go forth and
preach, and do what ye list!"
+William.+ And I said, "Sir, [re]presenteth not every priest the office
of the Apostles or the office of the disciples of CHRIST?"
+Archbishop.+ And the Archbishop said, "Yea!"
=A PRIEST NOT PREACHING, IS ANTICHRIST.=
+William.+ And I said, "Sir, as the 10th Chapter of Matthew and the last
Chapter of Mark witnesseth, CHRIST sent his Apostles for to preach. And
the 10th Chapter of Luke witnesseth CHRIST sent his two and seventy
disciples for to preach in every place that CHRIST was to come to. And
Saint GREGORY in the _Common Law_ saith, that every man that goeth to
priesthood taketh upon him the office of preaching: for as he saith,
_that priest stirreth GOD to great wrath, of whose mouth is not heard
the voice of preaching_. And as other more glosses upon EZEKIEL witness,
that the priest that preacheth not busily to the people shall be
partaker of their damnation, that perish through his default: and though
the people be saved by other special grace of GOD than by the priest's
preaching; yet the priests (in that they are ordained to preach, and
preach not) as before GOD, they are man-slayers. For as far as in them
is, such priests as preach not busily and truly, slayeth all the people
ghostly, in that they withhold from them the Word of GOD, that is [the]
life and sustenance of men's souls. And Saint ISIDORE saith, _Priests
shall be damned for_ [the] _wickedness of the people, if they teach not
them that are ignorant, and condemn them that are sinners_. For all the
work and witness of priests standeth in preaching and teaching; that
they edify all men, as well by cunning of faith, as by discipline of
works, that is virtuous teaching. And, as the gospel witnesseth, CHRIST
said in his teaching, _I am born and come into this world to bear
witness to the Truth, and he that is of the Truth heareth my voice._
"¶ Then, Sir, since by the word of Christ specially, that is his voice,
priests are commanded to preach; whatsoever priest that it be, that hath
not goodwill and full purpose to do thus, and ableth not himself after
his cunning and power to do his office, by the example of Christ and his
Apostles: whatsoever other thing that he doeth, displeaseth GOD. For,
lo, Saint GREGORY saith, _That thing left, that a man is bound chiefly
to do; whatsoever other thing that a man doeth, it is unthankful to the
HOLY GHOST._ And therefore saith [ROBERT GROSSETETE, Bishop of] LINCOLN,
_That priest that preacheth not the Word of GOD, though he be seen to
have none other default, he is Antichrist and Sathanas, a night-thief
and a day-thief, a slayer of souls, and an angel of light turned into
darkness._
"Wherefore, Sir, these authorities and others well considered, I deem
myself damnable, if I, either for pleasure or displeasure of any
creature, apply me not diligently to preach the Word of GOD: and in the
same damnation, I deem all those priests which, of good purpose and
will, enforce them not busily to do thus, and also all them that have
purpose or will to let [_hinder_] any priest of this business."
=THE _PSALTER_ TAKEN FROM WILLIAM.=
+Archbishop.+ And the Archbishop said to those three Clerks that stood
before him, "Lo, Sirs, this is the manner and business of this losell
and such others, to pick out such sharp sentences of Holy Scripture and
of Doctors to maintain their sect and lore [_teaching_] against the
ordinance of Holy Church. And therefore, losell! is it, that thou
covetest to have again the _Psalter_ that I made to be taken from thee
at Canterbury, to record sharp verses against us! But thou shalt never
have that _Psalter_, nor none other book, till that I know that thy
heart and thy mouth accord fully to be governed by Holy Church."
+William.+ And I said, "Sir, all my will and power is, and ever shall
be, I trust to GOD! to be governed by Holy Church."
+Archbishop.+ And the Archbishop asked me, "What was Holy Church?"
+William.+ And I said, "Sir, I told you before, what was Holy Church:
but since ye ask me this demand, I call CHRIST and his saints, Holy
Church."
+Archbishop.+ And the Archbishop said unto me, "I wot well that CHRIST
and his saints are Holy Church in heaven; but what is Holy Church in
earth?"
+William.+ And I said, "Sir, though Holy Church be every one in charity;
yet it hath two parts. The first and principal part hath overcomen
perfectly all the wretchedness of this life, and reigneth joyfully in
heaven with CHRIST. And the other part is here yet in earth, busily and
continually fighting, day and night, against temptations of the Fiend,
forsaking and hating the prosperity of this world, despising and
withstanding their fleshly lusts; which only are the pilgrims of CHRIST,
wandering towards heaven by steadfast faith, and grounded hope, and by
perfect charity. For these heavenly pilgrims may not, nor will not, be
letted [_hindered_] of their good purpose by reason of any Doctors
discording from Holy Scripture, nor by the floods of any tribulation
temporal, nor by the wind of any pride of boast, or of menacing of any
creature; for they are all fast grounded upon the sure stone CHRIST,
hearing his word and loving it, exercising them faithfully and
continually in all their wits to do thereafter."
+Archbishop.+ And the Archbishop said to his Clerks, "See ye not how his
heart is endured [_hardened_], and how he is travailled with the Devil,
occupying him thus busily to allege such Sentences to maintain his
errors and heresies! Certain, thus, he would occupy us here all day, if
we would suffer him!"
* * * * *
=THE 1ST CHARGE OF THE SHREWSBURY MEN.=
One of the +Clerks+ answered, "Sir, he said, right now, that this
_Certification_ that came to you from Shrewsbury is untruly forged
against him. Therefore, Sir, appose you him now here, in all the points
which are certified against him; and so we shall hear of his own mouth
his answers, and witness them."
+Archbishop.+ And the Archbishop took the _Certification_ in his hand,
and looked thereon awhile; and then he said to me, "Lo, herein is
certified against thee, by worthy men and faithful of Shrewsbury, that
thou preachedst there _openly in Saint Chad's Church, that the Sacrament
of the Altar was material bread after the consecration_. What sayest
thou? Was this truly preached?"
=_MATERIAL BREAD_ NOT FOUND IN SCRIPTURE.=
+William.+ And I said, "Sir, I tell you truly that I touched nothing
there of the Sacrament of the Altar, but in this wise, as I will, with
GOD's grace, tell you here.
"As I stood there in the pulpit, busying me to teach the commandment of
GOD, there knelled a sacring-bell; and therefore mickle people turned
away hastily, and with great noise ran from towards me. And I seeing
this, say to them thus, 'Good men! ye were better to stand here full
still and to hear GOD's Word. For, certes, the virtue and the mede of
the most holy Sacrament of the Altar standeth much more in the Belief
thereof that ye ought to have in your soul, than it doth in the outward
Sight thereof. And therefore ye were better to stand quietly to hear
GOD's Word, because that through the hearing thereof, men come to very
true belief.' And otherwise, Sir, I am certain I spake not there, of the
worthy Sacrament of the Altar."
+Archbishop.+ And the Archbishop said to me, "I believe thee not!
whatsoever thou sayest, since so worshipful men have witnessed against
thee. But since thou deniest that thou saidest thus there, what sayest
thou now? Resteth there, after the consecration, in the [h]ost, material
bread or no?"
+William.+ And I said, "Sir, I know of no place in Holy Scripture, where
this term, _material bread_, is written: and therefore, Sir, when I
speak of this matter, I use not [_am not accustomed_] to speak of
material bread."
+Archbishop.+ Then the Archbishop said to me, "How teachest thou men to
believe in this Sacrament?"
+William.+ And I said, "Sir, as I believe myself, so I teach other men."
+Archbishop.+ He said, "Tell out plainly thy belief hereof!"
+William.+ And I said, with my Protestation, "Sir, _I believe that the
night before that CHRIST JESU would suffer wilfully Passion for mankind
on the morn after, he took bread in his holy and most worshipful hands,
lifting up his eyes, and giving thanks to GOD his Father, blessed this
bread and brake it, and gave it to his disciples, saying to them_, Take,
and eat of this, all of you! This is my body!
"And that this is, and ought to be all men's belief, MATTHEW, MARK,
LUKE, and PAUL witnesseth.
"Other belief, Sir, have I none, nor will have, nor teach: for I believe
that this sufficeth in this matter. For in this belief, with GOD's
grace, I purpose to live and die: [ac]knowledging as I believe and teach
other men to believe, that _the worshipful Sacrament of the Altar is
the Sacrament of CHRIST's flesh and his blood, in form of bread and
wine_."
+Archbishop.+ And the Archbishop said to me, "It is sooth, that this
Sacrament is very CHRIST's body in form of bread: but thou and thy sect
teachest it to be the substance of bread! Think you this true teaching?"
+William.+ And I said, "Neither I nor any other of the sect that ye damn
[_condemn_], teach any otherwise than I have told you, nor believe
otherwise, to my knowing.
=ST. PAUL, A DOCTOR OF HOLY CHURCH.=
"Nevertheless, Sir, I ask of you, for charity! that will ye tell me
plainly, how ye shall understand this text of Saint PAUL, where he saith
thus, _This thing feel you in yourselves, that is, in CHRIST JESU, while
he was in the form of GOD._ Sir, calleth not PAUL here, _the form of
GOD_, the substance or kind of GOD? Also, Sir, saith not the Church, in
the _Hours_ of the most blessed Virgin, accordingly hereto, where it is
written thus, _Thou Author of Health! remember that some time thou took,
of the undefiled Virgin, the form of our body!_ Tell me, for charity!
therefore, Whether _the form of our body_ be called here, _the kind of
our body_, or no?"
+Archbishop.+ And the Archbishop said to me, "Wouldst thou make me
declare this text after thy purpose, since the Church hath now
determined that 'there abideth no substance of bread after the
consecration in the Sacrament of the Altar!' Believest thou not, on this
Ordinance of the Church?"
+William.+ And I said, "Sir, whatsoever Prelates have ordained in the
Church, our Belief standeth ever whole. I have not heard that the
ordinance of men under Belief, should be put into Belief."
+Archbishop.+ And the Archbishop said to me, "If thou hast not learned
this before, learn now, to know that thou art out of belief, if, in this
matter, and others, thou believest not as Holy Church believeth! What
say Doctors treating of this Sacrament?"
=THE FAITH OF THE CHURCH FOR 1,000 YEARS.=
+William.+ And I said, "Sir, Saint PAUL, that was a great Doctor of Holy
Church, speaking to the people and teaching the right belief of this
most holy Sacrament, calleth it _bread that we break_. And also in the
Canon of the _Masse_, after the consecration, this most worthy Sacrament
is called _holy bread_. And every priest in this land, after he hath
received this Sacrament, saith to this wise, _That thing which we have
taken with our mouth, we pray GOD, that we may take it with a pure and
clean mind_: that is, as I understand, 'We pray GOD, that we may
receive, through very belief, this holy Sacrament worthily.' And, Sir,
Saint AUGUSTINE saith, _That thing that is sense is bread, but that
men's faith asketh to be informed of, is very CHRIST's body._ And also
FULGENTIUS, an ententif Doctor, saith, _As it were an error to say that
CHRIST was but a substance, that is Very Man and not Very GOD, or to say
that CHRIST was Very GOD and not Very Man; so is it_, this Doctor saith,
_an error to say that the Sacrament of the Altar is but a substance_.
And also, Sir, accordingly hereto, in the _Secret_ of the mid-_Mass_ of
Christmas day, it is written thus, _Idem refulsit DEUS, sic terrena
substantia nobis conferat quod divinum est_; which sentence, with the
_Secret_ of the fourth ferye _quatuor temporum Septembris_, I pray you,
Sir, declare here openly in English!"
+Archbishop.+ And the Archbishop said to me, "I perceive well enough
whereabout thou art! and how the Devil blindeth thee, that thou maist
not understand the ordinance of Holy Church, nor consent thereto! But I
command thee now, answer me shortly, 'Believest thou that, after the
consecration of this foresaid Sacrament, there abideth substance of
bread or not?'"
+William.+ And I said, "Sir, as I understand, it is all one to grant or
to believe that there dwelleth substance of bread, and to grant or to
believe that this most worthy Sacrament of CHRIST's own body is one
Accident without Subject. But, Sir, for as mickle as your asking passeth
mine understanding, I dare neither deny it nor grant it, for it is a
School matter [_a subject for debate in the University Schools_], about
which I busied me never for to know it: and therefore I commit this term
_accidens sine subjecto_, to those Clerks which delight them so in
curious and subtle sophistry, because they determine oft so difficult
and strange matters, and wade and wander so in them, from argument to
argument, with _pro_ and _contra_, till they wot not where they are! nor
understand not themselves! But the shame that these proud sophisters
have to yield them to men and before men, maketh them oft fools, and to
be concluded shamefully before GOD."
+Archbishop.+ And the Archbishop said to me, "I purpose not to oblige
thee to the subtle arguments of Clerks, since thou art unable thereto!
but I purpose to make thee obey to the determination of Holy Church."
+William.+ And I said, "Sir, by open evidence and great witness, a
thousand years after the Incarnation of CHRIST, that determination which
I have, here before you, rehearsed was accepted of Holy Church, as
sufficient to the salvation of all them that would believe it
faithfully, and work thereafter charitably. But, Sir, the determination
of this matter, which was brought in since the Fiend was loosed by Friar
THOMAS [ACQUINAS, _d._ 1274] again, specially calling the most
worshipful Sacrament of CHRIST's own body, an _Accident without
Subject_; which term, since I know not that GOD's law approveth it in
this matter, I dare not grant: but utterly I deny to make this friar's
sentence [_enunciation_] or any such other my belief; do with me, GOD!
what Thou wilt!"
+Archbishop.+ And the Archbishop said to me, "Well, well! thou shalt say
otherwise ere that I leave thee!"
* * * * *
=THE 2ND CHARGE OF THE SHREWSBURY MEN.=
"But what sayest thou to this second point that is recorded against
thee, by worthy men of Shrewsbury, saying that thou preachedst openly
there that _the images ought not to be worshipped in any wise_?"
+William.+ And I said, "Sir, I preached never thus, nor, through GOD's
grace, I will not, any time, consent to think nor to say thus; neither
privily, nor apertly. For, lo, the LORD witnesseth by Moses, that the
things which He made were _right good_, and so then they were, and yet
are, and shall be good and worshipful in their kind. And thereto, to the
end that GOD made them to, they are all preisable [_valuable_] and
worshipful; and specially man that was made after the image and likeness
of GOD is full worshipful in his kind: yea, this holy image, that is
man, GOD worshippeth [_respecteth_]. And herefore every man should
worship others in kind, and also for heavenly virtues that men use
charitably. Also I say, wood, tin, gold, silver, or any other matter
that images are made of; all these creatures [_created things_] are
worshipful in their kind, and to the end that GOD made them for.
=HOW IMAGE-CARVERS SHRIVE THEMSELVES FIRST.=
"But the carving, casting, nor painting of any imagery made with man's
hands (albeit that this doing be accepted of men of highest state and
dignity, and ordained of them to be a calendar [_horn book_] to lewd men
that neither can nor will be learned to know GOD in His Word, neither
by His creatures, nor by His wonderful and divers workings); yet this
imagery ought not to be worshipped in the form, nor in the likeness of
man's craft: nevertheless that every matter that painters paint with,
since it is GOD's creature, ought to be worshipped in the kind and to
the end that GOD made and ordained it to serve man."
+Archbishop.+ Then the Archbishop said to me, "I grant well that nobody
oweth [_ought_] to do worship to any such images for themselves; but a
crucifix ought to be worshipped for the Passion of CHRIST that is
painted therein, and so brought therethrough to man's mind: and thus the
images of the blessed Trinity and of [the] Virgin MARY, CHRIST's mother,
and other images of the saints ought to be worshipped. For, lo, earthly
kings and lords, which use to send their letters ensealed with their
arms or with their privy signet, to men that are with them, are
worshipped of these men. For when these men receive their lord's
letters, in which they see and know the wills and biddings of their
lords, in worship of their lords, they do off their caps to these
letters: why not, then, since in images made with man's hands, we may
read and know many divers things of GOD and of His saints, shall we not
worship their images?"
+William.+ And I said, with my foresaid Protestation, "I say that these
worldly usages of temporal lords that ye speak now of, may be done in
case without sin: but this is no similitude to worship images made by
man's hand, since that MOSES, DAVID, SOLOMON, BARUCH, and other saints
in the _Bible_, forbid so plainly the worshipping of all such images."
+Archbishop.+ Then the Archbishop said to me, "Lewd losell! In the Old
Law, before that CHRIST took mankind [_human nature_], was no likeness
of any person of the Trinity neither shewed to man nor known of man; but
now since CHRIST became man, it is lawful to have images to shew His
manhood. Yea, though many men which are right great Clerks, and others
also, hold it an error to paint the Trinity; I say, it is well done to
make and to paint the Trinity in images. For it is a great moving of
devotion to men, to have and to behold the Trinity and other images of
Saints carved, cast, and painted. For beyond the sea, are the best
painters that ever I saw. And, sirs! I tell you, this is their manner;
and it is a good manner! When that an image-maker shall carve, cast in
mould, or paint any images; he shall go to a priest, and shrive him as
clean as if he should die, and take penance, and make some certain vow
of fasting, or of praying, or of pilgrimages doing: praying the priest
specially to pray for him, that he may have grace to make a fair and a
devout image."
=GREAT BOLDNESS OF THE LOLLARD APOSTLE.=
+William.+ And I said, "Sir, I doubt not, if these painters that ye
speak of, or any other painters understood truly the text of MOSES, of
DAVID, of the Wise Man [_i.e._, _SOLOMON_], of BARUCH, and of other
Saints and Doctors, these painters should be moved to shrive them to
GOD, with full inward sorrow of heart; taking upon them to do right
sharp penance for the sinful and vain craft of painting, carving, or
casting that they had used; promising GOD faithfully never to do so
after, [ac]knowledging openly before all men, their reprovable earning.
And also, sir, these priests, that shrive, as ye do say, painters, and
enjoin them to do penance, and pray for their speed, promising to them
help of their prayers for to be curious [_cunning_] in their sinful
crafts, sin herein more grievously than the painters. For these priests
do comfort and give them counsel to do that thing, which of great pain
(yea, under the pain of GOD's curse!) they should utterly forbid them.
For, certes, Sir, if the wonderful working of GOD, and the holy living
and teaching of CHRIST and of his Apostles and Prophets were made known
to the people by holy living and true and busy teaching of priests;
these things, Sir, were sufficient books and kalendars to know GOD by,
and His Saints: without any images made with man's hand: but, certes,
the vicious living of priests and their covetousness are [the] chief
cause of this error and all other viciousness that reigneth among the
people."
+Archbishop.+ Then the Archbishop said to me, "I hold thee a vicious
priest, and a curst! and all them that are of thy sect! for all priests
of Holy Church and all images that move men to devotion; thou and such
others go about to destroy! Losell! were it a fair thing to come into a
church, and see therein none image?"
=THERE IS NO MIRACLE IN AN IMAGE.=
+William.+ And I said, "Sir, they that come to the church, for to pray
devoutly to the LORD GOD, may in their inward wits be the more fervent
[when] that all their outward wits be closed from all outward seeing
and hearing and from all distroublance and lettings [_hindrances_]. And
since CHRIST blessed them that saw him not bodily, and have believed
faithfully in him: it sufficeth then, to all men, through hearing and
knowing of GOD's Word, and to do thereafter, for to believe in GOD,
though they see never images made with man's hands, after any Person of
the Trinity, or of any other Saint."
+Archbishop.+ And the Archbishop said to me with a fervent spirit, "I
say to thee, losell! that it is right well done to make and to have an
image of the Trinity! Yea, what sayest thou? Is it not a stirring thing
to behold such an image?"
+William.+ And I said, "Sir, ye said, right now, that in the Old Law,
ere Christ took mankind, no likeness of any Person of the Trinity was
shewed to men; wherefore, Sir, ye said it was not then lawful to have
images: but now ye say, since CHRIST is become man, it is lawful to make
and to have an image of the Trinity, and also of other saints. But, sir,
this thing would I learn of you! Since the Father of heaven, yea, and
every Person of the Trinity was, without beginning, GOD Almighty, and
many holy prophets, that were dedely [_deathly, i.e., liable to death_]
men, were martyrized violently in the Old Law, and also many men and
women then died holy Confessors: why was it not _then_, as lawful and
necessary as now, to have made an image of the Father of heaven, and to
have made and had other images of martyrs, prophets, and holy confessors
to have been kalendars to advise men and move them to devotion, as ye
say that images now do?"
+Archbishop.+ And the Archbishop said, "The Synagogue of Jews had not
authority to approve these things, as the Church of Christ hath now."
+William.+ And I said, "Sir, Saint GREGORY was a great man in the New
Law, and of great dignity; and as the Common [? _Canon_] Law witnesseth,
he commended greatly a Bishop, in that he forbade utterly the images
made with man's hand, should be worshipped."
=IN WHAT IMAGE, MAY GOD BE SHEWED?=
+Archbishop.+ And the Archbishop said, "Ungracious losell! thou
favourest no more the truth, than a hound! Since at the Rood[s] at the
North Door [_of Saint Paul's Church_] at London, at our Lady at
Walsingham, and many other divers places in England, are many great and
preisable [_precious_] miracles done: should not the images of such
holy saints and places, at [_on account of_] the reverence of GOD, and
our Lady, and other saints, be more worshipped, than other places and
images where no such miracles are done?"
+William.+ And I said, "Sir, there is no such virtue in any imagery,
that any images should herefore be worshipped; wherefore I am certain
that there is no miracle done of GOD in any place in earth, because that
any images made with man's hand, should be worshipped. And herefore,
Sir, as I preached openly at Shrewsbury and other places, I say now here
before you: that nobody should trust that there were any virtue in
imagery made with man's hand, and herefore nobody should vow to them,
nor seek them, nor kneel to them, nor bow to them, nor pray to them, nor
offer anything to them, nor kiss them, nor incense them. For, lo, the
most worthy of such images, the Brazen Serpent, by MOSES made, at GOD's
bidding! the good King HEZEKIAH destroyed worthily and thankfully; for
because it was incensed. Therefore, Sir, if men take good heed to the
writing and to the learning of Saint AUGUSTINE, of Saint GREGORY, and of
Saint John CHRYSOSTOM, and of other Saints and Doctors, how they speak
and write of miracles that shall be done now in the last end of the
world; it is to dread that, for the unfaithfulness of men and women, the
Fiend hath great power for to work many of the miracles that now are
done in such places. For both men and women delight now, more for to
hear and know miracles, than they do to know GOD's Word or to hear it
effectuously. Wherefore, to the great confusion of all them that thus
do, Christ saith, _The generation of adulterers requireth tokens,
miracles, and wonders._ Nevertheless, as divers Saints say, now, when
the faith of GOD is published in Christendom, the Word of God sufficeth
to man's salvation, without such miracles; and thus also the Word of GOD
sufficeth to all faithful men and women, without any such images.
"But, good Sir, since the Father of heaven, that is GOD in His Godhead,
is the most unknown thing that may be, and the most wonderful Spirit,
having in it no shape or likeness of any members of any dedely [_deadly,
i.e., liable to death_] creature: in what likeness, or what image, may
GOD the Father be shewed or painted?"
+Archbishop.+ And the Archbishop said, "As Holy Church hath suffered,
and yet suffereth the images of all the Trinity, and other images to be
painted and shewed, sufficeth to them that are members of Holy Church.
But since thou art a rotten member cut away from Holy Church, thou
favourest not the ordinance thereof! But since the day passeth, leave we
this matter!"
* * * * *
=THE 3RD CHARGE OF THE SHREWSBURY MEN.=
+Archbishop.+ And then he said to me, "What sayest thou, to the third
point that is certified against thee, preaching openly in Shrewsbury
that _Pilgrimage is not lawful_? And, over this, thou saidest that
_those men and women that go on pilgrimages to Canterbury, to Beverley,
to Carlington, to Walsingham, and to any such other places, are
accursed; and made foolish, spending their goods in waste_."
+William.+ And I said, "Sir, by this _Certification_, I am accused to
you, that I should teach that _no pilgrimage is lawful_. But I never
said thus. For I know that there be true pilgrimages, and lawful and
full pleasant to GOD; and therefore, Sir, howsoever mine enemies have
certified you of me, I told at Shrewsbury of two manner of pilgrimages."
+Archbishop.+ And the Archbishop said to me, "Whom callest thou true
pilgrims?"
=EVERY GOOD THOUGHT IS A STEP HEAVENWARD.=
+William.+ And I said, "Sir, with my Protestation, I call them true
pilgrims travelling towards the bliss of heaven, which (in the state,
degree, or order that GOD calleth them) do busy them faithfully for to
occupy all their wits bodily and ghostly, to know truly and keep
faithfully the biddings of GOD, hating and fleeing all the seven deadly
sins and every branch of them, ruling them virtuously, as it is said
before, with all their wits, doing discreetly wilfully and gladly all
the works of mercy, bodily and ghostly, after their cunning and power
abling them to the gifts of the HOLY GHOST, disposing them to receive in
their souls, and to hold therein the right blessings of CHRIST; busying
them to know and to keep the seven principal virtues: and so then they
shall obtain herethrough grace for to use thankfully to GOD all the
conditions of charity; and then they shall be moved with the good Spirit
of GOD for to examine oft and diligently their conscience, that neither
wilfully nor wittingly they err in any Article of Belief, having
continually (as frailty will suffer) all their business to dread and to
flee the offence of GOD, and to love over all things and to seek ever to
do His pleasant will.
"Of these pilgrims, I said, 'Whatsoever good thought that they any time
think, what virtuous word that they speak, and what fruitful work that
they work; every such thought, word, and work is a step numbered of GOD
towards Him into heaven. These foresaid pilgrims of GOD delight sore,
when they hear of saints or of virtuous men and women, how they forsook
wilfully the prosperity of this life, how they withstood the suggestion
of the Fiend, how they restrained their fleshly lusts, how discreet they
were in their penance doing, how patient they were in all their
adversities, how prudent they were in counselling of men and women,
moving them to hate all sin and to flee them and to shame ever greatly
thereof, and to love all virtues and to draw to them, imagining how
CHRIST and his followers (by example of him) suffered scorns and
slanders, and how patiently they abode and took the wrongful menacing of
tyrants, how homely they were and serviceable to poor men to relieve and
comfort them bodily and ghostly after their power and cunning, and how
devout they were in prayers, how fervent they were in heavenly desires,
and how they absented them from spectacles of vain seeings and hearings,
and how stable they were to let [_hinder_] and to destroy all vices, and
how laborious and joyful they were to sow and plant virtues. These
heavenly conditions and such others, have the pilgrims, or endeavour
them for to have, whose pilgrimage GOD accepteth.'
=THE SINGING AND JANGLING OF PILGRIMS.=
"And again I said, 'As their works shew, the most part of men or women
that go now on pilgrimages have not these foresaid conditions; nor
loveth to busy them faithfully for to have. For (as I well know, since I
have full oft assayed) examine, whosoever will, twenty of these
pilgrims! and he shall not find three men or women that know surely a
Commandment of GOD [_i.e., one of the Ten Commandments_], nor can say
their _Pater noster_ and _Ave MARIA_! nor their _Credo_, readily in any
manner of language. And as I have learned, and also know somewhat by
experience of these same pilgrims, telling the cause why that many men
and women go hither and thither now on pilgrimages, it is more for the
health of their bodies, than of their souls! more for to have richesse
and prosperity of this world, than for to be enriched with virtues in
their souls! more to have here worldly and fleshly friendship, than for
to have friendship of GOD and of His saints in heaven. For whatsoever
thing a man or woman doth, the friendship of GOD, nor of any other
Saint, cannot be had without keeping of GOD's commandments.'
"For with my Protestation, I say now, as I said at Shrewsbury, 'though
they that have fleshly wills, travel for their bodies, and spend mickle
money to seek and to visit the bones or images, as they say they do, of
this saint and of that: such pilgrimage-going is neither praisable nor
thankful to GOD, nor to any Saint of GOD; since, in effect, all such
pilgrims despise GOD and all His commandments and Saints. For the
commandments of GOD they will neither know nor keep, nor conform them to
live virtuously by example of CHRIST and of his Saints.'
"Wherefore, Sir, I have preached and taught openly, and so I purpose all
my lifetime to do, with GOD's help, saying that 'such fond people waste
blamefully GOD's goods in their vain pilgrimages, spending their goods
upon vicious hostelars [_innkeepers_], which are oft unclean women of
their bodies; and at the least, those goods with the which, they should
do works of mercy, after GOD's bidding, to poor needy men and women.'
"¶ These poor men's goods and their livelihood, these runners about
offer to rich priests! which have mickle more livelihood than they need:
and thus those goods, they waste wilfully, and spend them unjustly,
against GOD's bidding, upon strangers; with which they should help and
relieve, after GOD's will, their poor needy neighbours at home. Yea, and
over this folly, ofttimes divers men and women of these runners thus
madly hither and thither into pilgrimage, borrow hereto other men's
goods (yea, and sometimes they steal men's goods hereto), and they pay
them never again.
"Also, Sir, I know well, that when divers men and women will go thus
after their own wills, and finding out one pilgrimage, they will ordain
with them before[hand] to have with them both men and women that can
well sing wanton songs; and some other pilgrims will have with them
bagpipes: so that every town that they come through, what with the noise
of their singing, and with the sound of their piping, and with the
jangling of their Canterbury bells, and with the barking out of dogs
after them, they make more noise than if the King came there away, with
all his clarions and many other minstrels. And if these men and women be
a month out in their pilgrimage, many of them shall be, a half year
after, great janglers, tale-tellers, and liars."
=THE ARCHBP.'S CURE FOR A TOEACHE.=
+Archbishop.+ And the Archbishop said to me, "Lewd losell! thou seest
not far enough in this matter! for thou considerest not the great
travail of pilgrims; therefore thou blamest that thing that is
praisable! I say to thee, that it is right well done; that pilgrims have
with them both singers and also pipers: that when one of them that goeth
barefoot striketh his toe upon a stone and hurteth him sore and maketh
him to bleed; it is well done, that he or his fellow, begin then a song
or else take out of his bosom a bagpipe for to drive away with such
mirth, the hurt of his fellow. For with such solace, the travail and
weariness of pilgrims is lightly and merrily brought forth."
+William.+ And I said, "Sir, Saint PAUL teacheth men, _to weep with them
that weep_."
+Archbishop.+ And the Archbishop said, "What janglest thou against men's
devotion? Whatsoever thou or such other say, I say, that the pilgrimage
that now is used, is to them that do it, a praisable and a good mean[s]
to come the rather to grace. But I hold thee unable to know this grace!
for thou enforcest thee to let [_hinder_] the devotion of the people,
since by authority of Holy Scripture, men may lawfully have and use such
solace as thou reprovest! For DAVID in his last _Psalm_, teacheth me to
have divers instruments of music for to praise therewith GOD."