accordinge to the acte, were first hanged and than brente in the seyde saynet Gyles Felde. In the same yeare also was one Johan Claydon, a skynner, and one Richard Turmyne, a baker, both hanged and brente in Smythfelde by that vertuouse acte; besydes that was done in all other quarters of Englande, which was no small nombre yf yt were now thoroughlye knowen. The latter Empresonynge and Death of the Lorde Cobham. In the yeare of oure Lorde one thousand four hundred and fifteen, died Thomas Arrundell, which had beene archebyshoppe of Canterburye more than thirty two years, to the great destruccyon of Christen beleve. Yet dyed not his prodygyouse tyrannye 6 His prodygyouse tyrannye.] We borrowed above from Lewis, a recital of archbishop Arundel's achievements of this nature. (See note on Thorpe's Examination, p. 272,3.) The narrative will not be complete without subjoining in this its proper place, the description of his successor Chicheley's performances, intended to supply what was found wanting to the complete efficiency of the work of Arundel "That these hated and persecuted men might no where be sheltered, but that all persons might deny them succour, archbishop Chicheley two years after the act of 2 Henry V." (described in the same note above-mentioned,) "in a convocation held at London, made a constitution, which he sent to the bishop of London, and his other suffragans to be put in execution; wherein he enjoined all suffragans and archdeacons in the province of Canterbury, with their officials and commissaries in their several jurisdictions, diligently to inquire twice every year after persons suspected of heresy; that where any reputed heretics were reported to dwell, three or more of that parish should be obliged to take an oath that they would certify in writing to the suffragans, archdeacons, or their commissaries what persons were heretics, or who kept private conventicles, or who differed in life and manners from the common conversation of the faithful, or who asserted heresies or errors, or who had any suspected books written in the vulgar English tongue, or who received, favoured, or were conversant with any persons suspected of errors or heresies. That the diocesans, upon information, should issue out process against the accused persons, and deliver them over to the secular court, or commit them to perpetual or temporary imprisonment, as the nature of the case required, at least until the sitting of the next convocation.' "This was a most effectual way to ruin the poor Wickliffites. For now an inquisition was set up in every parish, and men were set at variance against their own fathers and mothers, and nearest relations: so that often a man's greatest foes were those of his own household and blood. Accordingly we find too frequent instances upon record, of the brother detecting the brother and sister, the husband the wife, the sons their own father and mother, the with him, but succeded with his office in Henrye Chycheleye, and in a great sorte more of that spightfule spiritualte. For theyr malyce was not yet setled agaynst the goode lorde Cobham. But they confedered with the lorde Powys (which was at that tyme a great governour in Walys), fedynge him with lordlye gyftes and promyses to accomplyshe theyr desyre. He at the last thus monyed with Judas, and outwardlye pretendynge him great amyte and favour, most cowardlye and wretchedlye toke him, and in conclusyon so sent him up to London', where as he remayned a moneth or two imprysoned agayne in the Tower. And after longe processe they condemned him agayne of heresye and treason by force of the afore named acte, he renderynge thankes unto God, that he had so appoynted him to suffre for his names sake. And upon the daye appoynted, he was broughte out of the Tower with his armes bounde behynde him, havynge a verye cheerefull countenaunce. Than was he layd upon an hardle, as though he had bene a most heynouse traytour to the crowne, and servants their mistresses, and parents their own children." Lewis's Life of Wickliffe, p. 134, 5. edit. 1820, chap. 7. And what, may we not now well ask, could be the prospects and condition of a country, in all the mighty interests of truth, religion, virtue, and piety, in public or private life, so long as these things were to bear sway in the land? * Sent him up to London.] Of this part of the story the account is told more fully in Fox. Being committed to the Tower, he escaped afterwards, and was in Wales about the space of foure yeares. In the which mean time a great summe of money was proclaimed by the king to him that could take the said Sir John Oldcastle, either quicke or dead. About the end of which foure yeares being expired, the Lord Powes, whether for love and greedinesse of the money, or whether for hatred of the true and sincere doctrine of Christ, seeking all maner of waies how to play the part of Judas, at length obtained his bloodie purpose, and brought the Lord Cobham bound up to London; which was about the yeare of our Lord 1417, and about the month of December; at which time was a parliament assembled at London. The records of which parliament doe thus say that on Tuesday the 13th day of December, sir John Oldcastle, of Cowling, in the countie of Kent, knight, being outlawed in the King's Bench, and excommunicated before by the archbishop of Canturburie for heresie, was brought before the Lords, and having heard his said convictions, answered not thereto in his excuse. Upon which record and processe, it was adjudged, that hee should be taken as a traitor to the king and the realme; that he should be carried to the Tower of London, and from thence drawen through London unto the new gallowes in Saint Giles without Temple Barre, and there to be hanged, and burned hanging." Fox's Acts, p. 591. so drawne forth into saynet Gyles Felde, where as they had set up a newe payre of gallowes. And as he was comen to the place of execution and was taken from the hardle, he fell down devoutlye upon his knees, desyerynge almyghtye God to forgeve his enemys. Than stode hee up and behelde the multytude, exhortynge them in most godlye maner, to followe the lawes of God wrytten in the Scripturs, and in anye wise to beware of soche teachers as they se contrarye to Christ in theyr conversacyon and lyvynge, with manye other specyall counsels. Than was he hanged up there by the myddle in cheanes of yron, and so consumed alyve in the fyre, praysynge the name of God, so longe as his lyfe lasted. In the ende he commended his sowle into the handes of God, and so departed hens most christenlye, his bodye resolved into ashes. And this was done in the yeare of oure Lorde one thousand four hundred and eighteen, which was the sixt yeare of the regne of kynge Henrye the fyft, the people there present shewinge great dolour. How the prestes that time fared, blasphemed, and cursed, requyryinge the people not to praye for him, for that he departed not in the obedyence of theyr pope, yt were too long to wryte. This terryble kynde of deathe, with galowes, cheanes, and fyre, apereth not very precyouse in the eyes of menne that be carnall, no more than did the deathe of Christ, when he was hanged up amonge theves. The righteous seemeth to dye (sayth the wise manne) in the syghte of them which are unwyse, and theyr end is taken for verye destruccyon. Ungodlye foles thynketh theyr lyves verye madnesse, and theyr passage hens without all honour. But though they suffre payne before menne (sayth he), yet is theyr expectation full of immortalyte. They are accounted for the chyldren of God, and have theyr just porcyon amonge the saynctes. As golde in the fornace doth God trye his electes, and as a most pleasant brent offerynge receyveth he them to rest. The more harde the passage be, the more gloriouse shall they apere in the latter resurreccyon. Not that the afflictyons of this lyfe are worthye of soche a glorye, but that it is Gods heavenlye pleasure so to rewarde them. Never are the judgements and wayes of menne lyke unto the judgements and wayes of God, but contrayre evermore, unlesse they be taught of him. In the latter time (sayth the Lorde unto Daniel) shall manye be chosen proved and puryfyed by fyre, yet shall the ungodlye live wickedly styll, and have no understandynge that is of faythe. By an angel from heven was Johan ernestlye commanded to wryte, that blessed are the dead which hence departeth in the Lorde. -Ryghte dere (saythe David) in the sight of God is the dethe of his true servauntes. Thus resteth this valeaunt Christen knyghte Syr Johan Oldcastele, undre the aultre of God (which is Jesus Christ), amonge that godlye companye, which, in the kyngedome of patyence, suffred great tribulacyon with the deathe of theyr bodyes for his faythfull worde and testimonye, abydynge there with them the fulfyllynge of theyr whole nombre, and the full restauracyon of his electes. The which He grant in effect at his tyme appoynted, which is one God eternall! Amen. |