destruction. "Arundel instantly saw the wisdom of this policy, and he resolved to follow it," says Milner. "For the purpose of giving weight to his proceedings, this artful prelate, at the head of a great number of dignified ecclesiastics, complained most grievously to Henry, of the heretical practices of his favourite servant, Lord Cobham, and intreated his majesty to consent to the prosecution of so incorrigible an offender. The affections of the king appear to have been, in some measure, already alienated from the unfortunate nobleman: Mr. Fox observes, that he gently listened to those 'blood-thirsty' prelates, and far otherwise than became his princely dignity *.” Henry requested the prelates to spare that nobleman until he should have conversed with him. The king admonished him, that as an obedient son he would acknowledge himself culpable, and submit to the decision of his mother, the holy church but that magnanimous Christian knight made his sovereign this answer: 'You, most worthy prince, I am always prompt and willing to obey; unto you, next my eternal God, owe I my whole obedience; and submit thereunto as I have ever done, all that I have either of fortune or nature, ready at all times to fulfil whatsoever you shall in the Lord command me. But as touching the pope and his spirituality, I owe them neither suit nor service; for so much as I know him by the Scriptures to be the great antichrist, the son of perdition, the open adversary of God, and the abomination standing in the holy place." Henry's weak mind revolted at such boldness in the Christian, and turned angrily away. Influenced by his superstition, he authorized Arundel to proceed against his victim. Cobham retired to his castle at Cowling near Rochester; but Arundel sent his summoner to require his appearance, to which the baron paid no regard, and letters of citation were affixed to Rochester cathedral. Having written a paper which he styled "The Christian Belief of Lord Cobham," this nobleman went with it himself to the king, but Henry refused to receive it, and ordered it to be delivered to the * Milner, vol. iv, p. 171. prelates, allowing them to cite him personally in his presence. Cobham appealed to the pope, but in vain; he was committed to the Tower. In his confinement he prepared a new confession of his faith, to lay before the consistory, in St. Paul's. Arundel desired him meekly to seek absolution, which he might obtain on his recantation; when Lord Cobham presented his written belief. Much clamour was made against this resolved confessor of Christ, when he was remanded for a while; and being again brought before this ecclesiastical assembly, they required him to acknowledge the transubstantiation of the Lord's supper, which he firmly denied. Arundel again required him to confess and ask absolution, which Cobham refused, declaring he never had trespassed against him; and, in the presence of the assembly, he made a solemn confession and appeal to God, asking his forgiveness. Then admonishing the people to beware of the antiscriptural doctrines of the bishops, who condemned him, not for breaking the laws of God, but their unrighteous traditions, he declared, "I believe fully and faithfully in the universal laws of God. I believe that all is true which is contained in the holy, sacred scriptures of the Bible. Finally, I believe all that my Lord God would I should believe." After much insult from the bishops, Cobham was condemned as a heretic, Sept. 5, 1413, and remanded to the Tower, from which, however, he escaped, early in October. Arundel is said to have been mortally seized, while pronouncing sentence on Lord Cobham; and he dying A. D. 1414, was succeeded in his archiepiscopal dignity by Henry Chicheley. "This man," says Milner, "deserves to be called the firebrand of the age in which he lived;" and after charging upon him the guilt of involving Henry in a desolating war with France, remarks, "The archbishop at home, partly by forced abjurations, and partly by the flames, domineered over the Lollards; and almost effaced the vestiges of godliness in the kingdom. This was one of the most gloomy seasons, which the church ever experienced. No quarter was given to any professors of the pure religion of Christ. Even the duke of Bedford, the brother of the king, one of the wisest men of his age, thought it no dishonour to be the minister of Chicheley's cruelties. The diocese of Kent was particularly exposed to the bloody activity of Chicheley. Whole families were obliged to relinquish their places of abode for the sake of the Gospel *.” Reports were frequently carried to the king, that the Lollards, with Cobham at their head, were conspiring to murder Henry and his brother in the palace at Eltham; and to burn Westminster Abbey, St. Paul's, St. Alban's, and all the priories in London. Rapin argues their falsehood, remarking, "It is more than probable that the accusation was forged, to render the Lollards odious to the king, with a view to gain his licence for their persecution †.” Milner also testifies, that "the conduct of those in power in the church, at that time, was so completely flagitious and unprincipled, that it is impossible to review their usual mode of proceeding against those whom they termed heretics, without entertaining suspicions similar to those which have occurred to Rapin. Henry appears, however, to have given sufficient credit to the calumny to answee all the designs of the ecclesiastical rulers. He became thoroughly incensed against the Lollards, and particularly against Lord Cobham. A bill of attainder against that unfortunate nobleman passed the Commons, through the royal influence. The king set a price of a thousand marks upon his head, and promised a perpetual exemption from taxes to any town that should secure him ." Through the diligence of the dependents of Lord Powis, Cobham was discovered and taken in Wales, and brought to London, while the king was employed in France. "His fate was soon determined. He was dragged into St. Giles's Fields, with all the insult and barbarity of enraged superstition; and there, both as a traitor and a heretic, he was suspended alive in chains, upon a gallows, and burnt to death § ", A. D. 1417. "At the time of his execution, many persons of rank and * Milner's Church History, vol. iv, p. 195, 196. + History of England, vol. i, p. 507, folio edition. Ibid. distinction were present; and the ecclesiastics are said to have laboured to the utmost to prevent the people from praying for him. Lord Cobham, however, resigned himself to painful and ignominious death, with the utmost bravery and most triumphant joy, exhorting the people to follow the instructions which God had given them in the Scriptures; and to disclaim those false teachers, whose lives and conversation were so contrary to Christ and his religion *." CHAPTER IV. FROM THE MARTYRDOM OF COBHAM, A. D. 1417, TO THE DEATH OF HENRY VII, A. D. 1509. Popish Oppressions-Norfolk and Suffolk — William White - Wycliffe's Bones burnt - Humphrey Duke of Gloucester - Eleanor, his Duchess, imprisonedHimself murdered — His Chaplain Pecock's Sufferings - Dr. Southey's Remarks -Several Kings John Goose - Printing invented Henry VII - Joan Brrughton-William Tylsworth - Bishop Nix-Royal Superstition. ECCLESIASTICAL tyranny and oppression continued through the fifteenth century; sacrificing, by the prison and the stake, the most pious and virtuous of the community. "Wycliffe's learning," as the reading of the Scriptures was called, was still cherished by multitudes; but the most vigorous efforts were made to cut off those who dared to obey the Gospel of Christ, and thus transgress the impositions of the bishops. Fox records the sufferings of many; among whom, William Taylor, after a grievous imprisonment, by order of the bishop of Worcester and archbishop Chicheley, was martyred at the stake, at Smithfield, March 1, 1422 ↑. Norfolk and Suffolk were regarded as overspread with the heresy of Wycliffe, especially by the ministry of William White. Fox calls him. "The morning star in the midst of a cloud;" and says, "He gave over his priesthood and benefice, and took unto him a godly young woman to his wife, named Joan: notwithstanding, he did not therefore leave from his former office and duty, but continued to labour to the glory and praise of the spouse of Christ, by reading, * Ibid. vol. iv, p. 191, 195. † Acts and Monuments, vol. i, p. 865. writing, and preaching *." He was prevailed on to recant before archbishop Chicheley, at Canterbury: but, repenting of his cowardice, he went into Norfolk; and there, occupying himself teaching and converting the people unto the true doctrine of Christ, at the last, by means of the king's letters, he was apprehended and condemned by the bishop of Norwich, and there burned, in September 1424. White was revered and beloved by those who had been benefited by his ministry; and a lady of some note declared, that, if any saints were to be prayed to, she would rather pray to him on account of his holy life. "His wife, Joan, suffered greatly from the bishop; and about one hundred and twenty of his followers were vexed and cast into prison, and, after their abjuration, brought to open shame in churches and markets." Wycliffe's ashes were not allowed to rest in quiet; for, in 1415, by the Council of Constance, by whose atrocious sentence Huss and Jerome were sacrificed at the stake, fortyfour conclusions, drawn from the writings of Wycliffe, were declared to be heretical, and their author condemned as an obstinate heretic. His bones were ordered to be dug up and cast upon a dunghill; but the sentence was not executed till 1428, when Pope Martin V sent orders to Fleming, bishop of Lincoln, once a professed favourer of the reformed doctrine. The bishop's officers obeyed the order; the bones were burnt, and the ashes were cast into the adjoining rivulet, Swift. From Lutterworth, as Fuller beautifully remarks, "this brook conveyed his ashes into the Avon; Avon into Severn Severn into the narrow seas; they into the ocean. And thus the ashes of Wycliffe are the emblem of his doctrine, which now is dispersed all the world over t." ; Henry VI, only ten months' old, had succeeded to the throne, A. D. 1422, when Humphrey, called "the Good Duke of Gloucester," was Protector, during the king's minority. The duke was son of Henry IV, brother of Henry V, and uncle of the young king: and he is said to have been of a * Acts and Monuments, vol. i, p. 869. + Church History, cent. xv. |