Chapter VI: Introduction (4)

"Ah, peace, dear mother, I thee pray!
And comfort me all that ye may,
And sing 'by by, lullay lullay,'
To put away all heaviness."
_Now sing we, etc._

_Caput apri refero
Resonens laudes domino._

The boar's head in hands I bring,
With garlands gay and birds singing!
I pray you all help me to sing,
_Qui estis in convivio!_

The boar's head I understand,
Is chief service in all this land,
Wheresoever it may be found,
_Servitur cum sinapio!_

The boar's head I dare well say,
Anon after the twelfth day,
He taketh his leave and goeth away!
_Exivit tunc de patria!_

_I pray you be merry and sing with me,
In worship of Christ's Nativity!_

Into this world this day did come
Jesus Christ, both God and man,
Lord and servant in one person,
Born of the blessed Virgin Mary!
_I pray, etc._

He that was rich without any need
Appeared in this world in right poor weed,
To make us, that were poor indeed,
Rich without any need truly!
_I pray, etc._

A stable was his chamber, a crach was his bed,
He had not a pillow to lay under His head,
With maiden's milk that babe was fed,
In poor clothes was lapped the Lord Almighty!
_I pray, etc._

A noble lesson here is us taught,
To set all worldly riches at nought!
But pray we that we may be thither brought
Where riches is everlastingly!
_I pray, etc._

EXPLICIT.

_Noel, noel, noel, noel!
This is the salutation of Gabriel!_

Tidings true
There be come new,
Sent from the Trinity,
By Gabriel from Nazareth
A city of Galilee!
A clean maiden,
A pure virgin,
By her humility
Hath born the Person
Second in divinity!
_Noel!_

When that He presented was
Before her fair visage,
In most demure and goodly wise
He did to her homage!
"I am sent, Lady,
From heaven so high,
That Lord's heritage,
For He of thee
Now born will be,
I am sent on the message!"
_Noel!_

"Hail, Virgin celestial!
The meekest that ever was
Hail, temple of the Deity
Hail, Virgin pure!
I thee ensure,
Within a little space
Thou shalt conceive,
And Him receive
That shall bring great solace."
_Noel!_

Then bespake the Virgin again,
And answered womanly,
"Whatsoever my Lord commandeth me
I will obey truly!
Ecce, sum humillima
Ancilla domini,
Secundum verbum tuum
fiat mihi!
_Noel!_

_Man, move thy mind and joy this feast,
Veritas de terra orta est!_

As I came by the way
I saw a sight seemly to see,
Three shepherds ranging in a kay,
Upon the field keeping their fee.
A star, they said, they did espy,
Casting the beams out of the east,
And angels making melody
_Veritas de terra orta est!_

Upon that sight they were aghast,
Saying these words, as I say thee:
"To Bethlehem shortly let us haste,
And there we shall the truthe see!"
The angel said unto them all three,
To their comfort or ever be ceased,
"_Consolamini and merry be,
Veritas de terra orta est!_"

From heaven, out of the highest see,
Righteousness hath taken the way,
With mercy meddled plenteously,
And so conceived in a may,
Miranda res this is in fay!
So saith the prophet in his gest;
Now is He born, scripture doth say:
_Veritas de terra orta est!_

Then passed the shepherds from that place,
And followed by the starres beam,
That was so bright afore their face,
It brought them straight unto Bethlem.
So bright it shone, on all the realm
Till they came there they would not rest,
To Jewry and Jerusalem!
_Veritas de terra orta est!_

_All this time this song is best:
Verbum caro factum est!_

This night there is a child born
That sprang out of Jesse's thorn;
We must sing and say thereforn
_Verbum caro factum est!_

Jesus is the child's name,
And Mary mild is his dame;
All our sorrow shall turn to game,
_Verbum caro factum est!_

It fell upon high midnight,
The stars shone both fair and bright,
The angels sang with all their might
_Verbum caro factum est!_

Now kneel we down on our knee,
And pray we to the Trinity,
Our help, our succour for to be!
_Verbum caro factum est!_

_Now sing we, sing we,
Gloria tibi domine!_

Christ keep us all, as he well can,
A solis ortus cardine!
For He is both God and man,
Qui natus est de virgine!
_Sing we, etc._

As He is Lord both day and night,
Venter puellae baiulat,
So is Mary mother of might,
Secreta quae non noverat.
_Sing we, etc_.

The holy breast of chastity,
verbo concepit filium,
So brought before the Trinity,
Ut castitatis lilium!
_Sing we, etc_.

Between an ox and an ass
enixa est puerpera;
In poor clothing clothed He was
[Qui] regnat super aethera!
_Sing we, etc_.

EXPLICIT.

+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.