¶ The Preface .

IN the prophane historyes of olde Oratours and poetes both Grekes and Latynes are they moche commended and thought worthy of eternall memorye / which haue eyther dyed for theyr naturall contreye or daungered theyr lyues for a common welthe . Plutarch Properc . Cicero . Catustus Horatius ●ucanu● . Staciu● . As we reade of Codrus that was kynge of Athens / of Quintus Curcius the Romane / of Ancurus the Phrygiane / Olysses / Hermas / Theseus / Menecius / Scipio Aphricanus / Mucius Sceno●a / Valerius Cocles / the two bretheren of Cartago which were both called Philenus / and the thre noble Decyanes with other diuerse . Exo. 14. Eccle. 4● Iudic●● . In the sacred scripturs of the Byble / hath Moses / Iosue / Gedeon / Iepthe / Delbora / Iudith / Dauid / 1. Reg. 17 〈◊〉 . 6. / Helias / Iosias / zorobabel / Mathathias / Eleazarus and the Machabees theyr iust prayses for theyr myghtye zele and manyfolde enterpryses concernynge the chyldren of Israel . Sigeberrn● Gēb●acensis . Amonge the Papistes also which are a most prodygyouse kynde of menne ) are they most hyghlye anaunced by lyenge sygnes / false myracles / erronyouse writtynges / shrynes / rellyques / lyghtes / tabernacles / aulters / Petrus Equilinus . sensynges / songes / & holye dayes / which haue bene slayne / for the lybertees / priuileges / auctorite / honour / ryches / & proude mayntenaunce of theyr holye whorysse churche .

Wicelius . Vincentius . Leander Volateranus . A●●cas . Ioan Ec. As were Antidius / Bonifacius / Benno / Thomas Becket / Iohan the Cardinall / Petrus de Castrono●o / Peter of Millayne / Paganus of Bergom / Stanislaus of Cracou●a / Steuen Colyer of Tholose / Bonauenture of Padua / Iulianus the Cardinall of saynt Angel . And in oure tyme Iohan Fysher / Thomas More / Fryre Forest / Reynoldes / & the Charterhouse monkes which suffred here in Englande / with an infynite nombre more . What is than to be thought of those godlye and valeaunt warryours / Heb. 11. Acto . ● Apoc. 6 which hath noth spared to bestowe theyr most dere lyues for the veryte of Iesus Christ agaynst the malygnaunt mustre of that execrable Antichrist of Rome the deuyls owne vycar . Ioan . 8. Of whose gracyouse nombre a verye specyall membre and a vessell of Gods eleccyon was that vertuouse knyght syr Iohan Oldecastell the good lorde Cobham / as will plentuously apere in this processe folowynge . Syr Iohan olde castell & the bishoppes . He that hath iudgement in the sprete / shall easelye perseyue by this treatyse / what beastlye blockeheades these bloudye bellyegoddes were in theyr vnsauerye interrogacyons / and agayne what influence of grace this manne of God had from aboue concernynge his answers / specyallye in that most blynde and ignoraunt tyme wherin all was but darkenesse / the sunne aperynge sacke clothe / as saynct Iohan hath in the Apocalyps . Ioan. 3. Apoc. 6.

Most surelye fulfylled Christ that promes in him which he made to his Apostles . Luc. 21. Mat. 10. Mar. 13. Luc. 12. Cast not in youre myndes afore hande ( sayth he ) what answere ye shall make whan these spirituall tyrauntes shall examine you in theyr synagoges / and so delyuer you vp vnto kynges and debytees . For I will geue you soche vtteraunce and wysdome in that houre / as all your ennemyes shall neuer be able to resyst . Christes disciple . This onlye sentence of Christ adioyned to his godly answere / is ynough to proue him his true disciple / and them in theyr folyshe questyons / the manyfest members of sathan . I remembre that .xiiii. yeares ago / the true seruaunt of God Willyam Tyndale put into the prent a certen brefe examinacyon of the seyd lorde Cobham . The examinacyon of the lorde Cobham The which examinacyon was wrytten in the tyme of the seyd lordes troble / by a certen frynde of his / and so reserued in copyes vnto this our age . But sens that tyme I haue founde it in theyr owne wrytynges ( which were than his vttre enemyes ) in a moche more ample fourme than there . the great processe of Thomas Arundell . Specyallye in the great processe which Thomas Arundell the Archebysshop of Caunterburye made than agaynst him / wrytten by his owne notaryes and clar●●● / tokened also with his owne sygne and scale / and so dyrected vnto Rycharde Clyfforde than Bysshop of London with a generall commaundement to haue it than publyshed by him & by the other Bysshoppes the whole realme ouer .

Thomas Walden . in fasciculo zizanio ●um Wicleni . Forthermore I haue seane it in a copye of that wrytynge / which the seyd Rycharde Clyfforde sent vnto Robert Mascall a Carmelyte fryre and Bysshop of Herforde vndre his sygne and seale / and in a copye of his also dyrected to the Archedeacons of Herforde and Shrewesburye . The yeare / moneth / and daye of theyr date with the beginnynges of theyr wrytynges shall here after folowe in the boke / as occasyon shall requyre it . Frōwhēs this treatyse cometh . Besydes all this Thomas Walden beynge in those dayes the kynges confessour / and present at his examinacyon / condempnacyon / & execracyon / regestred it amonge other processes more / in his boke called Fasciculus zizaniorum Wicleui . He maketh mencyon of it also in his fyrst Epistle to Pope Martyne the fyft / and in his solempne sermon de funere regis . Walden . cont . Wicleuistas / in prologo doctri . 7. li. 2. ca. 66 Onlye soche reasons haue I added therunto / as the afore named Thomas Walden proponed to him in the tyme of that examinacyon / as he mencyoneth in his fyrst and seconde bokes aduersus Vhi●●u●stas / with the maner of his godlye departynge out of this frayle lyfe / which I founde in other wrytynges and chronicles . His youthe was full of wanton wildenesse before he knew the scripturs / as he reporteth in his answere / and for the more part vnknowen vnto me / and therfore I wryte it not here . His father the lorde Regnolde of Cobham Iohan Frosyart nombereth alwayes amongest the most worthye warryours of Englande .

The christen manhode of sir Iohan oldecastell . In all aduenterouse actes of wordlye manhode / was he euer bolde / stronge / fortunate / doughtye / noble / & valcaunt . But neuer so worthye a conquerour as in this his present conflyct with the cruell and furyouse frantyck kyngedome of Antichrist . Farre is this Christen knyght more prayse worthye / for that he had so noble a stomake in defence of Christes verite agaynst those Romyshe superticyons / than for anye temporall nobylnesse eyther of bloude / byrthe / landes / or of marcyall feates . Cowardes in christes battels . For manye thousandes hath had in that great corrage / which in the other haue bene most faynt harted cowardes and verye desperate dastardes / where as he perseuered most faythfullye constaunt to the ende . Manye Popyshe parasytes & menne pleasynge flatterers haue written large commendacyons and encomyes of those / but of soche noble menne as this was / verye fewe or in a maner non at all . Flatterers of great menne . Wan I somtyme reade the workes of some menne lerned / Parasites . I maruele not a lytle to se them so abundaunt in vayne flatterynge prayses for matters of no value / yea / for thynges to be dyspraysed rather than praysed of menne that were godlye wyse .

Polydorus Vergilius a collectour somtyme in Englande of the Popes Peter Pens and afterwarde Archedeacon of Wellys / Polydorus Anglice historie / libro . 4. hath in this poynt deformed his wrytynges greatlye / polutynge oure Englyshe chronycles most shamefullye with his Romyshe lyes and other Italyshe beggerye ▪ Battels hath he described there at large ●o no small discommendynges of some Princes with were godlye / No tales maye be tolde out of scole . but the preuye packynge of Prelates / and craftye conueyaunce of the spiritualte hath he in euery place almost full properly passed ouer . He was to famylyar with the Bysshoppes and toke to moche of theyr counsell / whan he compyled the .xxvi. bokes . of his Englyshe hystorye . And not greatly is the lande beholden vnto him in that worke / for anye large prayse of erudicyon that he hath geuen it there . A syngular bewtye is it to a Christen regyon / whan theyr auncyent monumentes are garnyshed amonge others / No menne are lerned with him / but Italianes . with menne of freshe lytterature which therin hath small remembraunce or non . Vnlesse it be Gildas / Bedas / Alcuinus / Ioannes Scotus / Aldelmus / Neuburgus / and one or two more / non are in that whole worke mencyoned concernyng that / as though Englande had alwayes bene most barren of menne lerned . This do I not wryte in dysprayse of his lernynge / ( which I knowe to be verye excellent ) but for the abuse therof beynge a most syngular gyft of God .

A worthy worke were that afore God & manne . I wolde wyshe some lerned Englyshe manne ( as there are now most excellent fresh wyttes ) to set forth the Englyshe chronycles in theyr ryght shappe / as certen other landes hath done afore them / all affeccyons set a part . I can not thynke a more necessarye thynge to be laboured to the honour of God / bewtye of the realme / ●rudicyon of the people / and commodite of other landes / next the sacred scripture of the Byble / than that worke wolde be . Blasp●●mouse tryfles are ● Englyshe chronycles . For truly in those they haue there yet / is vyce more anaunced than vert● / & Romyshe blasphemye than godlynesse . As it maye full wele apere vnto eyes of ryght iudgement / in the lamentable hystorye here folowynge / and soche other / which hath bene longe hydde in th● darke . Marke dilygentlye the sentence of the seyd Polydorus concernynge this good lorde Cobham / and there vpon consydre his good workemanshyp in other matters . In the counsell of Constaunce ( sayth he ) was the heresye of Iohan Wycleue condemned / and two at the same tyme burned in that cyte which were the chefe heades of that secte . Polydorus anglice historie li. 22 All this is true / though the f●ate handelynge therof be altogyther Italyshe .

But where as he sayth after / that whan this was ones knowen to theyr companyons in Englande / He vpholdeth holy churche with lyes they conspyred in theyr madnesse agaynst the whole clergye and fynallye agaynst the kynge also for that he was than a fawter of Christen relygyon / hauynge to theyr great captaynes syr Iohan Oldecastell and syr Roger Acton / he maketh a most shamefull lye . Fabianus . Acta consilii Constantiensis . For how coude syr Roger Acton with his companye conspyre vpon that occasyon / beynge dead more than iiii . years afore ? and syr Iohan Oldecastell remaynyng all that season in Walys ? Iohan Hus suffred death at Constaunce the yeare of oure Lorde a . M. CCCC.xv . in Iulye . Hierome of Prage in the yeare of oure Lorde a . M. cccc.xvi . in Maye / which were the two heades he speaketh of . Syr Roge● Acton was brent with his companye in the yeare of oure Lorde a . M. CCCC.xiii . in Ianuarye / as wytnesseth Walden / Fabiane / and Iohan Maior in theyr chronycles and wrytynges . ●udge the yll tre by his frute . Now recken these nombers and years / and marke the propre conueyaunce of this Romyshe gentylman the popes collectour / to clought vp that croked kyngedom of theyrs . He can by soche legerdemayne both please his fryndes in Englande and also at Rome .

They were enemyes to holy churche . After that he foloweth with lye vpon lye / as that they came than to London to destroye the kynge / that he in his owne persone mett with them there in armes / that they cowardlye fledde / that some were taken there and brent out of hande / and that the lorde Cobham and syr Roger Ac●on were cast into the tower of London vpon that occasyon . Burnyng was not than for tray●ours Semeth it not a matter somwhat lyke to the purpose ( thynke you ) that menne shulde be there burned for makynge soche an insurreccyon or tumult ? I trowe he hath cobled here somwhat workemanlye . And where as he sayth in the ende / that the kynge thervpon made an acte / that they from thens forth shuld be taken as traytours agaynste his owne persone / which were proued to folowe that secte / he maketh an abhomynable lye . Whaldenus in sermone de fun●re regis . For that ●cte was made onlye at the Bisshoppes complaynte and false sute in the fyrst yeare of his regne / and by force of that acte those innocent menne than suffred . Well stored with lyes . More than .iiii. hondreth of soche manyfestlyes coude I gather out of his chronycles / moche more than myght more eyes and iudgementes do .

Now lete vs expende what the true cause shuld be of this godlye mannys condemnacyon and death / all dreames of Papistes sett a part . The causes of syr Iohan olde castels condemnacyon . The truthe of it is / that after he had ones throughlye tasted the Christen doctryne of Iohan Wycleue and of his disciples / and perseyued theyr lyuynges aggreable to the same . He abhorred all the supersticyouse sorceryes ( ceremonyes I shuld saye ) of the proude Romyshe churche . F●o● thens forth he brought all thynges to the towche stone of Gods worde . Iohan. 5. 1. Thes. 5. Mat. 7. 1. Iohan . 4. He tryed all matters by the scripturs / and so proued theyr spretes whether they were of God or naye . He maynteyned soche preachers in the dyoceses of Caunterburye / London / Rochestre / and Herforde / as the Bysshoppes were sore offended with . He exhorted theyr prestes to a better waye by the Gospell / and whan that wolde not helpe he gaue them sharpe rebukes . He admonyshed th● kynges / as Rycharde the seconde / Henrye Walden ▪ in fascicuso zizaniorum Wicleui . the fourth / and Henrye the fyft of the clergyes manyfolde abuses / & put into the parlement house certen bokes concernynge theyr iust reformacyon / both in the yeare of oure Lorde a . M.ccc xcv . and in the yeare a . M. CCCC.x . of the fyrst boke this is the begynnyng . Prima conclusio . Fabianus . Quando ecclesia Anglie &c. which I haue here left out least this treatyse shuld be to great . The other boke was made by one Iohan Puruey a mastre of art of Oxforde . Besyde the .xviii. conclusions that mastre Iohan Wycleue had put in longe afore that .

In the yeare of oure Lorde a . M.ccc . ●●i . this noble lorde Cobham with certen other more / Walden ▪ Polydorus in his●oria anglorum lib. 20. mocyoned the kynge at Westmyns●re in the tyme of his parlement / that it were verye commodyouse to Englande yf the Romyshe Bysshoppes auctorite extended no forther than the Occeane see or hauen of Calys / consyderynge the charges and vnquyetnesse of sutes there / and that mennys causes cond● not be throughlye knowen so farre of . Wher vpon the kynge made this acte by consent of his lordes / that no manne from thens forth shuld sue to the Pope in anye matter / nor publyshe anye excommunicacyon of his / vndrepeyne of losynge theyr goodes with perpetuall inpresonment . Treuisa in addicōnibus Cestrensis . Polydorus . This and the afore named boke had cost him with syr Iohan Chenye and other more his lyfe in Fabianus . Polydorus . the sixt yeare after / at the craftye accusement of certen Prelates ( though it hath in the chronycles an other colour ) had not God than most gracyously preserued him . An other cause of his death yet besydes all that hath bene sayd afore / was this . Whalden . cont . Wicleui . li. ● . Cap. ●0 . He caused all the workes of Iohan Wycleue to be written at the instaunce of Iohan huss / and so to be sent into Boheme / Fraunce / Spayne / Portyngale / and other landes . Ar●a con●●lii Constariciensis . Herman●us Shedel . Wherof Subinco Lepus the Archebysshop of Prage caused more than two hondreth volumes fayre wrytten / openlye to be brent afterwarde / as wytnesseth Aeneas Siluius de origine Bohemorum .

These causes knowen with other more that I coude reherse / consydre whether the worlde that is alwayes so wycked was worthye to holde soche a noble christen warryour as this was / Heb. ● . Esa. 10. Nah● . ● . or naye ? Consydre also the iust ponnyshment of the lorde for wycked lawes that were than made / with the exceadynge myscheues that the spiritualte than vsed . And waye the myserable estate that the realme was in sone after for contempt of his eternall worde . And there vpon lawde his ryghtousnesse / and beware of lyke contempt and plage in these dayes . Waldenusi sermone de funere regis . In the yeare of oure Lorde a . M. cccc . xxii . departed kynge Henry the fyft in his most floryshynge tyme / euen in the begynnyng of the .xxxvii. yeare of his age / which was abought .iiii. years after the death of this lorde Cobham . His sonne Henry the sixt succeded in his rome and had the gouernaunce of this whole realme / beynge but a babe of . vii● monethes olde and odde dayes . kynge Henry the vi . a babe . What a doloure was this vnto menne of rype difcressyon / naturally louynge theyr contre and regardynge the common welthe therof ? yea / what a plage of God was it after the scripturs to haue a yonge chylde to theyr kynge ? Esa. 3. A plage . And that it shuld the more manyfestlye apere to come that waye / or of the stroke of God / he was a chyldyshe thynge all the dayes of his lyfe .

I shall geue you ( sayth the lorde in his hygh dyspleasure ) chyldren to be youre princes / Esa. 3. & yonge infauntes with out wysdome shall haue the gouernaunce of you . The yeares of that plage . Wvhat wretched calamytees the realme suffred afterwarde for the space of more than .iii. score years and thre tyll the dayes of kynge Henry the seuenth / yt is vnspeakable . Sens the preachynge of Iohan Wycleue hath the lorde suffred the pompouse Popyshe Prelates to shewe themselues forth in theyr owne ryght colours / that they myght now in the lyght of his Gospell apere as they are in dede / euen spyghtfull murtherers / ydolaters / and Sodomytes . Prelate● what the now apere . Afore his tyme they lurked vndre the glytterynge shyne of hypocrefye / and coude not be seane in theyr mastryes . The fryers with theyr charmynge sophysirye threwe soche a darke myst ouer the vniuersall worlde / that superstycyon coude not be knowen for superstycyon / nor ydolatrye for ydolatrye . Fryers darkened all with theyr sophistrye . Vnspeakable fylthynesse of all fleshlye occupyenge was than called Prestes chastyte / as yt is yet and will be tyll yt come to the hyghest / that God maye take full vengeaunce . Apoc. ●● . Than was whoredome worshypped in Prelates of the churche / and sacred wedlock rekened soche a detestable vyce as was worthye in a prest most cruell death . As was seane for example in syr Willyam Wyghe which was brent for the same at Norwych in the yeare of oure Lorde . 14.28 . Walden . 〈◊〉 vtroque apere .

Thus was Whyght iudged blacke and lyght darkenesse / so yl● was men a syght in those dayes . Esa. 5. By soche meanes ( sayth the Prophete ) they drewe wyckednesse vnto them as yt were with a corde / and all kyndes of synne as yt were with a cart rope . Englande for vnthankefulnesse ponnyshed . If Englande at that tyme had not bene vnthankefull for the syngular benefyght that God than sent them by those good menne / the dayes of Antichrist and his beastlye broode had bene shortened there longe a go as yt is euen now & here after lyke to be more largelye . A most oryent fresshe myrrour of Christen manhode apereth this worthye lorde Cobham in our age / the veryte now open / which was in herabsens a lampe of contempt before wordlye wyse menne . What the lorde Cobham apereth now . In him maye noble menne beholde here playnelye a wol● noble stomake and precyouse fayth in the myddes of great Antichristes modye mustre . His corage was of soche va●●e that yt gaue him the victorye ouer them by the clere iudgement of the scripturs / what though the worldes iudgementes be farre otherwyse . 1. Ioh. 5 1. Cor. ●5 And as for the cruell death which he most contumelyouslye suffred / yt is now vnto him a most plentuouse wynnynge / for in the iust quarell was yt of his Lorde Iesus Christ . Phil. 1. Apoc. 1.

Myght those bloudye blusterers haue had theyr full swaye now of late / The deuyll slepeth not . they wolde haue made more Oldecastels / Actons / Brownes / & Beuerlayes / yea / they wolde haue made there a greatter hauocke vpon Christes congregacyon / than euer ded Saul in his ragynge furye . Act. 8. They ment more than they vttered whan they approched so nygh ( as ded cruell Haman ) to the presence of noble Assuerus . Hester . 5. But blessed be the eternall father which hath geuen soche wysdome godlye vnto oure most worthye kynge / A godlye gouernor . that he perseyuynge theyr slayghtes / so abated theyr tyrannouse fercenes . Praye noble menne / praye / yea with the true clergye and commons / that lyke as he hath now with duke Iosue the ouerhande of wycked Hierico by his onlye gyft / Iosue . 6. and is through that becomen an whole perfyght kynge within his own● realme farre aboue all his predecessours / Lawde God for him . so that he maye in conclusyon ouerthrowe her clerelye . Mat. 26. Ioan. 18. For as yet the dredefull damsell ( tyrannye ) that was Cayphas dorekeper / Walden . in ●ermōe dwelleth in the howses of Byshoppes / and dalye compelleth poore Peter to denye his mastre . As manye eyes as euer had vygylaunt Argus had he nede to haue / that is compassed with soche a sort / as are that broode of the wylye serpent . Praye for his grace Consydre what heauenlye thynges ye haue receyued of the scripturs vndre his permyssyon / and yet praye ones agayne for his gracyouse contynuaunce to the more increase of knowledge . Amen .

O Babylon / thy merchauntes were princes of the earth . And with thyne inchauntementes were all nacyons deceyued Apocal. xviii .

☞ The great processe of Thomas Arundell the Archebysshop of Caunterburye and of the Papisticall clergye with him / agaynst the most noble knyght syr Iohan Oldecastell the lorde Cobham in the yeare of oure Lorde a. M. cccc . and .xlii. wherin is contayned his examinacyon / impresonment / and excommunycacyon . The processe before his examinacyon .

AFter that the true seruaunt of Iesus Christ Iohan Wycleue / Ex operibus & scriptis Thome Waldeni . a manne of verye excellent lyfe & lernynge / had for the space of more than .xxvi. years most valeauntlye batteled with the great Antichrist of Europa or Pope of Rome & his dyuerslye dysgysed host of anoynted hypocrytes / to restore the churche agayne to the pure estate that Christ left her in at his ascensyon / he departed hens most Christenlye into the handes of God / the yeare of oure Lorde a . M.CCC.lxxxvii . Iohan Wicleue a man of god & his disciples . and was buryed in his owne parryshe churche at Lutterworth in Lyncolne shere . No small nombre of godlye disciples left that good manne behynde him to defende the lowlynesse of the Gospell agaynst the exceadynge pryde / ambycyon / sym●nye / anaryce / hypocresye / whoredome / sacrylege / tyrannye / ydolatrouse worshyppynges / and other fylthye frutes of those styfnecked Pharysees . Thomas Arundell in magno processu . Agaynst whom Thomas Arundell than Archebysshop of Caunterburye / so ferce as euer was Pharao / Antiochus / Herodes or Cayphas / collected in Paules churche at London a vniuersall synode of all the papystycall clergye of Englande in the yeare of oure Lorde a . M. CCCC . and .xiii. as he had done dyuerse other afore / to withstande theyr most godlye enterpryse . And this was the fyrst yeare of kynge Henrye the fyft / whom they had than made fyt for theyr hande .

Ionam . 11. Psal. 1. Psal. 2. As these hygh Prelates with theyr Pharysees and Scrybes were thus gathered in this pestilent counsell against the Lorde and his worde / fyrst there resorted vnto them the .xii. inquysytours of heresyes ( whom they had appoynted at Oxforde the yeare afore to serche out heretyques with all Wycleues bokes , and they brought . CC. and .lxvi. faythfull conclusyons whom they had collected as heresyes out of the seyd bokes . The names of the seyd inquysytours were these . Walden . in fasciculo zizanio rum Wicleui . Iohan Witnam a mas●r● in the newe college / Iohan Langedon monke of Chry churche in Caunterb●rye / Willyam Vfforde regent of the Carmelytes / Thomas Clayton regent of the Dominykes / Robert Gylber● / Rycharde Cartysdale / Iohan Lucl●e / Rycharde Snedysham / Rycharde Flem●mynge / Thomas Rodborne / Rob●rt Roadberye / and Rycharde Grasdale In the meane season caused they ther hyred seruauntes to blowe it forth a brod● through out all the realme / that they were there congregate for an wholsom ●nyte and reformacyon of the churche of Englande / to stoppe so the mouthes of the common people . A practyse commonlye vsed of that generacyon . Soche is alwayes the common practyse of these subtyle sorcerers / whyls they are in doynge myschefe / to blere the eyes of the vnlerned multitude with one false craft or other .

After a certen communicacyon they concluded amonge themselues / A luke practyse sought now of late but yt toke not . that yt was not possyble for them to make whole Christes cote without seme ( meanynge therby theyr patched Popyshe synagoge ) vnlesse certen great menne were brought out of the waye / which semed to be the chefe maynteners of the seyd disciples of Wycleue . Amonge whom the most noble knyght syr Iohan Oldecastell the lorde Cobham was complayned of by the generall proctours / yea rather betrayers of Christ in his faythfull members / Accused for maynteynynge the Gospell of Christ . to be the chefe principall . Him they accused fyrst for a myghtye mayntener of suspected preachers in the dyoceses of London / Rochestre / & Herforde / contrarye to the myndes of theyr ordynaryes . Not onlye they affermed him to haue sent thyder the seyd preachers / but also to haue assysted them there by force of armes / not withstandynge theyr synodall constitucyon made afore to the contrarye . Last of all they accused him / Accused for his Ehristen beleue . that he was farre otherwyse in beleue of the sacrament of the aultre / of penaunce / of pylgrymage / of ymage worshyppynge / and of the ecclesyastycall power / than the holye churche of Rome had taught manye years afore .

Processe agaynst him . In the ende yt was concluded amonge them / that without anye farther delaye / processe shuld out agaynst him as agaynst a most pernycyouse heretyque . Some of that felyshyp which were of more craftye experience than the other / wolde in no case haue the matter so rashlye handeled / but thought this waye moche better . A spirituall practyse . Consyderynge the seyd lorde Cobham was a manne of great byrthe and in fauer at that tyme with the kynge / theyr counsell was to knowe fyrst the kynges mynde / to saue all thynges ryght vp . This counsell was wele accepted / and thervpon the Archebysshop Thomas Arundell with his other Bysshoppes and a great part of the clergye went strayght wayes vnto the kynge as than remaynynge at kenyngton . A woluyshe generacyon . And there they layed forth most grenouse complayntes agaynst the seyd lorde Cobham / to his great infamye and blemyshe / beynge a manne most godlye . The kynge gentyllye harde those bloud thurstye rauenours / The kynge speaketh for him . & farre otherwyse than became his princelye dignite he ins●aūtlye desyred them / that in respect of his noble stocke and knyghthode they shulde yet fauorablye deale with him . And that they wolde yf yt were possyble / without all rygour or extreme handelynge reduce him agayne to the churches vnyte . His gentyll promes . He promysed them also that in case they were contented to take some delyberacyon / his selfe wolde seryouslye common the matter with him .

Anon after the kynge sent for the seyd lorde Cobham . And as he was come / he called him secretlye admonyshyng him betwixt him and him / to submyt hims●lfe to his mother the holye churche / His admonyshment and as an obedyent chylde to acknowledge himselfe culpable / vnto whom the Christen knyght made this answere / yow most worthye prince sayth he● am I alwayes prompt and willynge to obeye / for so moche as I knowe you a Christen kynge and the appoynted minystre of God bearyng his ryghtuouse swerde to the ponnyshment of yll doers and for the sauegarde of them that be vertuouse . Vnto you next my eternall lyuynge God owe I my whole obedience / Rom. 13. 1. Pet. 2. and submyt me therunto ( as I haue done euer all that I haue eyther of fortune or nature / redye at all tymes to fulfyll what so euer ye shall in that lorde commaunde me . A most Christen obedience . But as touchynge the Pope and his spiritualte / trulye I owe them neyther sure nor seruyce / for so moche as I knowe him by the scripturs to be the great Antichrist / the sonne of perdicyon / the open aduersarye of God / and the abhominacyon standynge in the holye place . 2. Thes. 2. Mat. 24. Whan the kynge had hearde this with soche lyke sentences more he wolde talke no longar with him / but left him so vtterlye .

And as the Archebysshop resorted agayne vnto him for an answere / he gaue him his full auctorite to cyte him / examyne him / and ponnyshe him accordynge to the deuylyshe decrees / which they call the lawes of holye churche . Ex vetusto exemplari Condinensiū . Than the seyd Archebyshop by the counsell of his other Bysshoppes and clergye / appoynted to call before him the seyd syr Iohan Oldecastell the lorde Cobham / and to cause him personallye to apere / to answere to soche suspected artycles as they shuld laye agaynst him . Cayphas seketh Christ . So sent he forth his chefe sommener with a verye sharpe cytacyon vnto the castell of Cowlynge / where as he at that tyme dwelt for his solace . Iudas is sent forth And as the seyd sommener was thyder commen / he durst in no case entre the gates of so noble a manne without his lycens / and therfore he returned home agayne / his massage not done . An other Iudas yet is hyered . Than called the Archebysshop one Iohan Butler vnto him which was than the dorekeper of the kynges preuye chambre / & with him he couenaunted through promyses and rewardes / to haue this matter craftelye brought to passe vndre the kynges name .

Whervpon the seyd Iohan Butler toke the Archebysshoppes sommener with him / Iudas kisseth and betrayeth and went vnto the seyd lorde Cobham / shewynge him that it was the kynges pleasure that he shuld obeye that cytacyon / and so cyted him frawde lentlye . Than sayd he vnto them in fewe wordes / that in no case wolde he consent to those most deuylyshe practyses of the Prestes . The malyce of the serpent . As they had infourmed the Archebysshop of that answere / & that yt was mete for no manne pryuatelye to cyte him after that without parell of lyfe / he decreed by and by to haue him cyted by publyque processe or open commaundement . Marke this relygyon of the papistes . And in all the hast possyble vpon the wedynsdaye before the Natiuite of oure Ladye in Septembre / he commaunded letters cytatorye to be set vpon the great gates of the cathedrall churche of Rochestre ( which was but iii. Englyshe myles from thens ) chargynge him to apere personallye before him at Ledys in the .xi. daye of the same moneth and yeare / all excuses to the contrarye set a part . The cytacyons taken downe . Those letters were taken downe anon after by soche as bare fauer vnto the lorde Cobham / and so conueyed a syde . After that caused the Archebyshop newe letters to be set vp / on the Natyuyte daye of oure Ladye / which also were rent downe and vtterlye consumed .

Than for so moche as he ded not apere at the daye appoynted at Ledys where as he fate in consystorye as cruell as euer was Cayphas with his court of hypocrytes about him he iudge him / Cayphas sytteth in consystorye . denounced him / and condempned him of most depe contumacye . After that whan he had bene falselye infourmed by his hyred spyes and other glosynge glauerers / False accusacyons agaynst him . that the seyde lorde Cobham had law hed him to scorne / dysdayned all his doynges / maynteyned his olde opynyons contemned the churches power / the dignyte of a Bysshop / & the ordre of presthode ( for of all these was he than accufed ) in his modye madnesse without iust profe ded he openlye excommunicate him . The serpent doth his nature . yet was he not with all this ferce tyrannye qualyfyed / but commaunded him to be cyted a freshe / to apere afore him the Saturdaye before the feast of saynct Matthew the Apostle / with these cruell threttenynges added therunto . That yf he ded not obeye at that daye / he wolde more extremelye handle him . And to make himselfe more stronge towardes the perfourmaunce therof / he compelled the laye power by most terryble manacynges of curses and interdiccyons / Se here how spirituall they be . to assyst him agaynst that sedycyouse apostata / that scysmatyque / that heretyque / that troubler of the publyque peace / that enemye of the realme / and great aduersarye of all holye churche / for all these hatefull names ded he geue him .

This most constaunt seruaunt of the lorde and worthye knyght syr Iohan Oldecastell the lorde Cobham / A myrror of Christen knyght hode . beholdynge the vnpacable furye of Antichrist thus kyndled agaynst him / perscyuynge himselfe also compased on euerye syde with deadlye daungers / he toke paper and penne in hande / & so wrote a Christen confessyon or rekenyng of his fayth ( which foloweth here after ) and both sygned and sealed it with his owne hande . He confesseth his God before menne . Wherin he also answereth to the iiii . chefest artycles that the Archebysshop layed agaynst him . That done he toke the copye with him / & went therwith to the kynge / trustynge to fynde mercye and fauer at his hande . The Apostles fayth Non other was that confessyon of his than the common beleue or somme of the churches fayth / called the Apostles crede / of all Christen menne than vsed . As thus .

☞ The Christen beleue of the lorde Cobham .

I Beleue in God the father almyghtye / maker of heauen and earth . The common crede of Christyanes . And in Iesu Christ his onlye sonne oure Lorde / which was conc●yued of the holye ghost / borne of the virgine Marye / suffred death vndre Ponce Pylate / crucyfyed / dead / and buryed / went downe to helles / the thyrde daye rose agayne from death / This fayth was not regarded . ascended vp to heauens / he sytteth on the ryght hande of God the father almyghtye / and from thens shall come agayne to iudge the quycke and the dead . I beleue in the holye ghost / the vnyuersall holye churche / the communyon of saynctes / the forgeuenesse of s●nnes / the vprysynge of the fleshe / and euerlastynge lyfe / Amen .

And for a more large declaracyon ( sayth he ) of this my fayth in the catholyck churche . A declaracyon of his beleue . I stedefastlye beleue that there is but one God almyghty / in and of whose Godhede are these .iii. persones / the father / the sonne / and the holye ghost / and that those .iii. persones are the same selfe God almyghtye . 1. Ioan. 9. I beleue also that the seconde personne of this most blessed Trinite in most conuenyent tyme appoynted therunto afore / Gal. 4. Ioan. 1. Luc. 2. toke fleshe and bloude of the most blessed virgyne Marye for the sauegarde and redempcyon of the vnyuersall kynde of manne / which was afore lost in Adams offence . Christ is the onlye head of his churche . More ouer I beleue that the same Iesus Christ ouer Lorde / thus beynge both God & manne / is the only head of the whole Christen churche / and that all those that hath bene or shall be saued / be members of this most holy churche . And this holye churche I thynke to be dy●●ded into .iii. sortes or companyes .

The churche diuyded in .iii. partis . Wherof the fyrst sort be now in heauen / and they are the saynctes from hens departed . These / as they were here conuersaunt conformed alwayes ther lynes to the most holye lawes and pure examples of Christ / renouncynge sathan / the worlde / and the fleshe with all theyr concupyscences and cuyls . The seconde sort are in purgatorye ( yf anye soche he by the scripturs ) abydynge the mercye of God and a full delyueraunce of payne . Contrarye wrote he / Ad parliamentum . Ex Whaldeno . ● The thyrde sort are here vpon the earthe and be called the churche mylytaunt . For daye & nyghe they contende agaynst the craftye assaultes of the deuyll / the flatterynge prosperytees of this worlde / and the rebellyouse fylthynesse of the fleshe .

This latter congregacyon by the iust ordynaunce of God is also seuered into iii. dyuerse estates / The chu●che mylytaunt diuided in .iii. that is to saye / into presthode / knyghthode and the commons Amonge whom the will of God is / that the one shuld ayde the other / but not destroye the other . The Prestes fyrst of all secluded from all worldlynesse / shulde conforme theyr lyues vtterlye to the examples of Christ and his Apostles . What ● Prestes shuld be . Euermore shulde they be occupyed in preachynge and teachyng the scripturs purelye / and in geuynge wholsom counsels of good lyuynge to the other two degrees of menne . More modest also / more louynge / gentyll / and lowlye in sprete shuld they be / than anye other sortes of people .

In knyghthode are all they which beare swerde by lawe of offyce . knyghthode what it shuld do . These shuld defende Gods lawes / and se that the Gospell were purelye taught / conformynge theyr lyues to the same and secludynge all false preachers . yea / these ought rather to hasarde theyr lyues than to suffre soche ●●ycked decrees as eyther blemysheth the eternall testament of God or yet letteth the fre passage therof / wherby heresyes and scysmes myght sprynge in the churche . Marke here a most Christen hart . For of non other aryse they ( as I suppose ) than of soche erronyouse constitucyons / craftelye fyrst crepynge in vndre hypocrytes lyes for auauntage . They ought also to preserue Gods people from oppressers / tyrauntes / and theues / and to se the clergye supported so longe as they teache purelye / praye ryghtlye / and mynystre the sacramentes frelye . The clergye wherfor supported . And yf they se them do other wyse / they are bounde by lawe of offyce to compell them to change theyr doynges / and to se all thynges perfourmed accordynge to Gods prescript ordynaunce .

The latter felyshyp of this churche / are the common people / whose dewtye is to beare theyr good myndes and true obedyence to the aforeseyd mynysters of God / theyr kynges / cyuyle gouernours / and Prestes . What the common peple ought to do . The ryght offyce of these is iustlye to occupye euerye manne in his facultè / be yt merchandyce / handye crafte / or the tylthe of the grounde . And so one of them to be as an helper to an other / ●olowynge alwayes in theyr sortes the iust commaundementes of theyr Lorde God .

Ouer and besydes all this / I most faythfullye beleue that the sacramentes of Christes churche are necessarye to all Christen beleuers / Beleue concernynge the sacramentes . this alwayes sene to / that they be trulye mynystred accordynge to Christes fyrst instytucyon and ordynaunce . And for so moche as I am malycyoulye and most falselye accused of a mysbeleue in the sacrament of the aultre / to the hurtfull slaundre of manye . I sygnyfye here vnto all menne that this is my fayth concernynge that . The sacrament of the aultre I beleue in that sacrament to be contayned verye Christes bodye and bloude vndre the symylytudes of breade and wyne / yea the same bodye that was conceyued of the holye ghost / borne of Marye the virgyne / done on the crosse / dyed / that was buryed / arose the thyrde daye from the death / and is now gloryfyed in heauen . Beleue concernynge Gods lawes . I also beleue the vnyuersall lawe of God to be most true and perfyght / and that they which do not so folowe it in theyr fayth and workes at one tyme or other / can neuer be saued . Where as he that seketh yt in fayth / accepteth yt / lerneth yt / delyghteth therin / and perfourmeth yt in loue / shall tast for yt the felycyte of euerlastynge innocencye .

what god axeth of a Christiane . Fynallye this is my fayth also / that God will axe nomore of a Christen beleuer in this lyfe / but onlye to obeye the preceptes of that most blessed lawe . If anye Prelate of the churche requyreth more / or els anye other kynde of obedyence than this to be vsed / he contemneth Christ exaltynge himselfe aboue God / & so becometh an open Antichrist . All these premysses I beleue partycularlye / & generallye all that God hath left in his holye scripturs that I shuld beleue . Instauntlye desyerynge you my lyege lorde and most worthye kynge / A Christe desyre of the lorde Cobham . that this confessyon of myne maye be iustlye examyned by the most godlye wyse and lerned menne of your realme . And yf yt be founde in all poyntes agreynge to the veryte / than lete yt be so allowed / and I thervpon holden for non other them a true Christyane . This request was lawfull If yt be proued otherwyse / than lete yt be vtterlye condemned / prouyded alwayes that I be taught a better beleue by the worde of God / and I shall most reuerentlye at all tymes obeye therunto .

Obedience vnto his kynge . This brefe confessyon of his fayth / the lorde Cobham wrote ( as is mencyoned afore ) and so toke yt with him to the court / offerynge yt with all mekenesse vnto the kynge to reade yt ouer . The kynge wolde in no case receyue yt / but commaunded yt to be delyuered vnto them that shuld be his iudges . Than desyred he in the kynges presens that an hondred knyghtes and esquyres myght be suffered to come in vpon his purgacyon / which ( he knewe ) wolde clere him of all heresyes . His Christen stomake & manhode . Moreouer he offered himselfe after the lawe of armes to fyght for lyfe or death with anye manne lyuynge Christen or Heythen in the quarell of his fayth / the kynge and the lordes of his counsell excepted . No reasonable offre wolde serue . Fynallye with all gentylnesse he protested before all that were present / that he wolde refuse no maner of correccyon that shuld after the lawes of God be mynystred vnto him / but that he wolde at all tymes with all mekenesse obeye yt . Not withstandynge all this / the kynge suffered him to be sommoued personallye in his owne preuye chambre .

Than sayd the lorde Cobham to the kynge / His appele from the Archebisshop . that he had appeled from the Archebysshop to the Pope of Rome / & therfore he ought ( he sayd ) in no case to be his iudge . And hauynge his appele there at hande redye written / he shewed yt with all reuerence to the kynge . Wherwith the kynge was than moche more dyspleased than afore / and sayd angerlye vnto him / that he shuld not pursue his appele . The kynge h●re worshyppeth the b●ast . But rather he shuld tarrye in holde / tyll soche tyme as yt were of the Pope allowed . And than / wolde he or nylde he / the Archebysshop shuld be his iudge . Thus was there nothynge allowed that the good lorde Cobham had lawfullye afore requyred . But for so moche as he wolde not be sworne in all thynges to submyt himselfe to the churche / Cobham wolde not obeye Antichrist . and so to take what penaunce the Archebysshop wolde enioyne him / he was arested agayne at the kynges commaundement / and so ledde forth to the towre of London / to kepe his daye ( so was yt than spoken ) that the Archebysshop had appoynted him afore in the kynges chambre .

Than caused he the aforeseyd confessyon of his fayth to be copyed agayne and the answere also which he had made to the .iiii. articles proponed agaynst him to be written in maner of an indenture in two shetes of paper . His confessyon & answere newly copyed . That whan he shuld come to his answere / he myght geue the one copye vnto the Archebysshop / and reserue the other to himselfe . As the daye of examynacyon was comen / which was the .xxiii daye of Septembre or the saturdaye before the feast of saynct Matthew / Thomas Arundell Cayphas sytteth in consystorye . the Archebysshop syttynge in Cayphas rome in the chaptre howse of Paules with Rycharde Clyfforde Bysshop of London / and Henrye Bolyngbroke Bysshop of Wynchestre / syr Robert Morleye knyght / and Lef●tenaunt of the towre / brought personallye before him the seyd lorde Cobham / and there left him for the tyme / Vnto whom the Archebysshop sayd these wordes .