Fifteenth Century Prose and Verse Part 20

+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 pa.s.sing 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 G.o.d'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 G.o.dly 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 G.o.d 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 G.o.d, 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 G.o.d'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 G.o.d 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 d.a.m.ned [_condemned_] as they are well worthy.

"But as touching PHILIP of REPINGTON that was first Canon, and after Abbot of Leicester, which is now Bishop of LINCOLN; I tell thee that the Day is now comen for which he fasted the Even! For neither he holdeth now, nor will hold the learning that he thought when he was Canon of Leicester; for no Bishop of this land pursueth now more sharply them that hold thy Way than he doth."

+William.+ And I said, "Sir, full many men and women wondereth upon him, and speaketh him mickle shame, and holdeth him for a cursed enemy of the Truth."

+Archbishop.+ And the Archbishop said to me, "Wherefore tarriest thou me thus here, with such fables? Wilt thou shortly, as I said to thee, submit thee to me or no?"

+William.+ And I said, "Sir, I tell you at one word. I dare not, for the dread of G.o.d, submit me to you after the tenour and Sentence that ye have above rehea.r.s.ed to me."

+Archbishop.+ And then, as if he had been wroth, he said to one of his Clerks, "Fetch hither quickly the _Certification_ that came to me from Shrewsbury, under the Bailiff's seal, witnessing the errors and heresies which this losell hath venemously witnessed there!"

Then hastily the Clerk took out and laid forth on a cupboard divers rolls and writings; among which there was a little one, which the Clerk delivered to the Archbishop.

=THE DESIRE OF THE SHREWSBURY MEN.=

And by and by the Archbishop read this roll containing this sentence.

-- _The third Sunday_ [April 17th] _after Easter_ [March 27th], _the year of our Lord 1407, WILLIAM THORPE came unto the town of Shrewsbury, and, through leave granted to him to preach, he said openly in St. Chad's Church, in his sermon,_

_That the Sacrament of the Altar after the consecration was material bread._ _And that images should in no wise be worshipped._ _And that men should not go on any pilgrimages._ _And that priests have no t.i.tle to t.i.thes._ _And that it is not lawful to swear in any wise._

+Archbishop.+ And when the Archbishop had read thus this roll, he rolled it up again, and said to me, "Is this wholesome learning to be among the people?"

+William.+ And I said to him, "Sir, I am both ashamed on their behalf, and right sorrowful for them that have certified you these things thus untruly: for I never preached nor taught thus, privily nor apertly."

+Archbishop.+ And the Archbishop said to me, "I will give credence to these worshipful men which have written to me and witnessed under their seals there among them. Though thou now deniest this, weenest thou that I will credence to thee! Thou, losell! hast troubled the worshipful comminalty of Shrewsbury, so that the Bailiffs and comminalty of that town have written to me, praying me, that am Archbishop of CANTERBURY, Primate, and Chancellor of England, _that I will vouchsafe to grant them, that if thou shalt be made, as thou art worthy! to suffer open jouresse_ [? penance or pillory] _for thine heresies, that thou may have thy jouresse openly there among them; so that all they whom thou and such like losells have there perverted, may, through fear of thy deed_ [_i.e._, martyrdom] _be reconciled again to the unity of Holy Church; and also they that stand in true faith of Holy Church may through thy deed be more stablished therein._" And as if this asking had pleased the Archbishop, he said, "By my thrift! this hearty prayer and fervent request shall be thought on!"

But certainly neither the prayer of the men of Shrewsbury, nor the menacing of the Archbishop made me anything afraid: but, in the rehearsing of this malice, and in the hearing of it, my heart greatly rejoiced, and yet doth. I thank G.o.d, for the grace that I then thought, and yet think, shall come to all the Church of G.o.d herethrough, by the special merciful doing of the LORD.

=A DAUNTLESS LOLLARD SPEECH.=

+William.+ And as having no dread of the malice of tyrants, by trusting stedfastly in the help of the LORD, with full purpose for to [ac]knowledge the Soothfastness, and to stand thereby after my cunning and power, I said to the Archbishop, "Sir, if the truth of G.o.d's Word might now be accepted as it should be, I doubt not to prove by likely evidence, that they that are famed to be out of the faith of Holy Church in Shrewsbury and in other places also, are in the true faith of Holy Church. For as their words sound and their works shew to man's judgement, dreading and loving faithfully G.o.d; their will, their desire, their love, and their business, are most set to dread to offend G.o.d and to love for to please Him in true and faithful keeping of His commandments.

"And again, they that are said to be in the faith of Holy Church at Shrewsbury and in other places, by open evidence of their proud, envious, malicious, covetous, lecherous, and other foul words and works, neither know nor have will to know nor to occupy their wits truly and effectuously in the right faith of Holy Church. Wherefore [none of] all these, nor none that follow their manners, shall any time come verily in the faith of Holy Church, except they enforce them more truly to come in the way which now they despise. For these men and women that are now called Faithful and holden Just, neither know, nor will exercise themselves to know, of faithfulness, one commandment of G.o.d. And thus full many men and women now, and specially men that are named to be "princ.i.p.al limbs of Holy Church," stir G.o.d to great wrath; and deserve His curse for that they call or hold them "just men" which are full unjust, as their vicious words, their great customable swearing, and their slanderous and shameful works shew openly and witness. And herefore such vicious men and unjust in their own confusion call them "unjust men and women," which after their power and cunning, busy themselves to live justly after the commandment of G.o.d.

"And where, Sir, ye say, that I have distroubled the comminalty of Shrewsbury and many other men and women with my teaching; if it thus be, it is not to be wondered [at] of wise men, since all the comminalty of the city of Jerusalem was distroubled of CHRIST's own person, that was Very G.o.d and Man, and [the] most prudent preacher that ever was or shall be. And also all the Synagogue of Nazareth was moved against CHRIST, and so full-filled with ire towards him for his preaching, that the men of the Synagogue rose up and cast CHRIST out of their city, and led him up to the top of a mountain for to cast him down there headlong. Also according hereto, the LORD witnesseth by MOSES, that He shall put dissension betwixt His people, and the people that contrarieth and pursueth His people. Who, Sir, is he that shall preach the truth of G.o.d's Word to that unfaithful people, and shall let [_hinder_] the Soothfastness of the gospel, and the prophecy of G.o.d Almighty to be fulfilled?"

+Archbishop.+ And the Archbishop said to me, "It followeth of these thy words, that thou, and such other, thinkest that ye do right well for to preach and teach as ye do, without authority of any Bishop. For ye presume that the LORD hath chosen you only, for to preach as faithful disciples and special followers of CHRIST!"

=THE OFFICE OF EVERY PRIEST IS TO PREACH.=

+William.+ And I said, "Sir, by authority of G.o.d's law, and also of Saints and Doctors, I am learned to deem that it is every priest's office and duty for to preach busily, freely, and truly the Word of G.o.d.

"For, no doubt, every priest should purpose first in his soul and covet to take the order of priesthood chiefly for to make known to the people the Word of G.o.d, after his cunning and power, approving his words ever to be true by his virtuous works; and for this intent we suppose that Bishops and other prelates of Holy Church should chiefly take and use their prelacy. And for the same cause, Bishops should give to priests their orders. For Bishops should accept no man to priesthood, except that he had good will and full purpose, and were well disposed and well learned to preach. Wherefore, Sir, by the bidding of CHRIST, and by example of His most holy living, and also by the witnessing of His holy apostles and prophets, we are bound under full great pain to exercise us after our cunning and power (as every priest is likewise charged of G.o.d), to fulfil duly the office of priesthood. We presume not hereof, ourselves, for to be esteemed, neither in our own reputation nor in none other man's, faithful disciples and special followers of CHRIST: but, Sir, as I said to you before, we deem this, by authority chiefly of G.o.d's Word, that it is the chief duty of every priest to busy him faithfully to make the law of G.o.d known to His people; and so to comune [_communicate_] the commandment of G.o.d charitably, how that we best, where, when, and to whom that ever we may, is our very duty. And for the will and business that we owe of due debt to do justly our office, through the stirring and special help, as we trust, of G.o.d, hoping stedfastly in His mercy, we desire to be the faithful disciples of CHRIST: and we pray this gracious LORD, for His holy name! that He make us able for to please Him with devout prayers and charitable priestly works, that we may obtain of Him to follow Him thankfully."

+Archbishop.+ And the Archbishop said to me, "Lewd losell! whereto makest thou such vain reasons to me? Asketh not Saint PAUL, _How should priests preach, except they be sent?_ But I sent thee never to preach!

For thy venomous doctrine is so known throughout England, that no Bishop will admit thee for to preach, by witnessing of their Letters! Why then, lewd idiot! willst thou presume to preach, since thou art not sent nor licensed of thy Sovereign to preach? Saith not Saint PAUL that _Subjects owe_ [ought] _to obey their Sovereigns; and not only good and virtuous, but also tyrants that are vicious!_"

=G.o.d WILL BE A LETTER OF LICENSE!=

+William.+ And I said to the Archbishop, "Sir, as touching your Letter of License or other Bishops', which, ye say, we should have to witness that we were able to be sent for to preach; we know well that neither you, Sir, nor any other Bishop of this land will grant to us any such Letters of License but [_except_] we should oblige [_bind_] us to you and to other Bishops by unlawful oaths for to pa.s.s not the bounds and terms which ye, Sir, or other Bishops will limit to us. And since in this matter, your terms be some too large, and some too strait; we dare not oblige us thus to be bound to you for to keep the terms which you will limit to us, as ye do to Friars and such other preachers: and therefore, though we have not your Letter, Sir, nor Letters of other Bishops written with ink upon parchment; we dare not herefore leave the office of preaching; to which preaching, all priests, after their cunning and power are bound, by divers testimonies of G.o.d's Law and of great Doctors, without any mention making of Bishops' Letters.

=BOTH GOOD AND BAD ARE WITNESSES.=

"For as mickle as we have taken upon us the office of priesthood, though we are unworthy thereto, we come and purpose to fulfil it, with the help of G.o.d, by authority of His own law, and by witness of great Doctors and Saints according hereto, trusting stedfastly in the mercy of G.o.d. For that [_because_] He commandeth us to do the office of priesthood, He will be our sufficient Letters and witness, if we, by the example of his living and teaching specially occupy us faithfully to do our office justly: yea, that people to whom we preach, be they faithful or unfaithful, shall be our Letters, that is, our witness bearers; for that Truth where it is sown may not be unwitnessed. For all that are converted and saved by learning of G.o.d's Word and by working thereafter are witness bearers, that the Truth and Soothfastness which they heard and did after, is cause of their salvation. And again, all unfaithful men and women which heard the Truth told out to them and would not do thereafter, also all they that might have heard the Truth and would not hear it, because that they would not do thereafter, all these shall bear witness against themselves, and the Truth (which they would not hear, or else heard it and despised to do thereafter through their unfaithfulness) is and shall be cause of their d.a.m.nation.

"Therefore, Sir, since this foresaid witnessing of G.o.d, and of divers Saints and Doctors, and of all the people good and evil sufficeth to all true preachers: we think that we do not the office of the priesthood, if that we leave our preaching because that we have not or may not have duly Bishops' Letters to witness that we are sent of them to preach.

This Sentence approveth Saint PAUL where he speaketh of himself and of faithful Apostles and disciples, saying thus, _We need no letters of commendation as some other preachers do; which preach for covetousness of temporal goods, and for men's praising._

"And where ye say, Sir, Saint PAUL biddeth _subjects obey their Sovereigns_; this is Sooth, and may not be denied. But there are two manner of Sovereigns; virtuous sovereigns and vicious tyrants. Therefore to these last Sovereigns, neither men nor women that be subject owe [_ought_] to obey. In two manners. To virtuous Sovereigns and charitable, subjects owe to obey wilfully and gladly in hearing of their good counsel, in consenting to their charitable biddings, and in working after their fruitful works. This Sentence, PAUL approveth where he saith thus to subjects, _Be ye mindful of your Sovereigns that speak to you the Word of G.o.d; and follow you the faith of them, whose conversation you know to be virtuous._

=THE OLD THEORY OF POLITICAL RESPONSIBILITY.=

"For as PAUL saith after, These Sovereigns to whom subjects owe to obey in following of their manners, work busily in holy studying how they may withstand and destroy vices, first in themselves and after in all their subjects, and how they may best plant in them virtues. Also these Sovereigns make devout and fervent prayers for to purchase [_obtain_]

grace of G.o.d, that they and their subjects may, over all things, dread to offend Him, and to love for to please Him. Also these Sovereigns to whom PAUL biddeth us obey, as it is said before, live so virtuously that all they that will live well may take of them good example to know and to keep the commandments of G.o.d.

"But, in this foresaid wise, subjects owe [_ought_] not to obey nor to be obedient to tyrants, while they are vicious tyrants; since their will, their counsel, their biddings, and their works are so vicious that they owe [_ought_] to be hated and left. And though such tyrants be masterful and cruel in boasting and menacing, in oppressions and divers punishings; Saint PETER biddeth the servants of such tyrants to obey meekly to such tyrants, suffering patiently their malicious cruelness.

But PETER counselleth not any servant or subject to obey to any Lord, or Prince, or Sovereign, in anything that is not pleasing to G.o.d."

+Archbishop.+ And the Archbishop said unto me, "If the Sovereign bid his subject do that thing that is vicious, this Sovereign herein is to blame: but the subject, for his obedience, deserveth meed of G.o.d. For obedience pleaseth more to G.o.d than any sacrifice."

+William.+ And I said, "SAMUEL the Prophet said to SAUL the wicked King, that _G.o.d was more pleased with the obedience of His commandment, than with any sacrifice of beasts_: but DAVID saith, and Saint PAUL and Saint GREGORY accordingly together, that not only they that do evil are worthy of death and d.a.m.nation; but also all they that consent to evil doers.

And, Sir, the law of Holy Church teacheth, in the _Decrees_, that no servant to his Lord, nor child to the father or mother, nor wife to her husband, nor monk to his abbot, ought to obey, except in lefull [_loyal_] things and lawful."

+Archbishop.+ And the Archbishop said to me, "All these allegings that thou bringest forth are nought else but proud presumptuousness. For hereby thou enforcest [_endeavourest_] thee to prove, that thou and such others are so just, that ye owe [_ought_] not to obey to Prelates: and thus against the learning of Saint PAUL that telleth you _not to preach, but if ye were sent_, of your own authority, ye will go forth and preach, and do what ye list!"

+William.+ And I said, "Sir, [re]presenteth not every priest the office of the Apostles or the office of the disciples of CHRIST?"

+Archbishop.+ And the Archbishop said, "Yea!"

=A PRIEST NOT PREACHING, IS ANTICHRIST.=

+William.+ And I said, "Sir, as the 10th Chapter of Matthew and the last Chapter of Mark witnesseth, CHRIST sent his Apostles for to preach. And the 10th Chapter of Luke witnesseth CHRIST sent his two and seventy disciples for to preach in every place that CHRIST was to come to. And Saint GREGORY in the _Common Law_ saith, that every man that goeth to priesthood taketh upon him the office of preaching: for as he saith, _that priest stirreth G.o.d to great wrath, of whose mouth is not heard the voice of preaching_. And as other more glosses upon EZEKIEL witness, that the priest that preacheth not busily to the people shall be partaker of their d.a.m.nation, that perish through his default: and though the people be saved by other special grace of G.o.d than by the priest's preaching; yet the priests (in that they are ordained to preach, and preach not) as before G.o.d, they are man-slayers. For as far as in them is, such priests as preach not busily and truly, slayeth all the people ghostly, in that they withhold from them the Word of G.o.d, that is [the]

life and sustenance of men's souls. And Saint ISIDORE saith, _Priests shall be d.a.m.ned for_ [the] _wickedness of the people, if they teach not them that are ignorant, and condemn them that are sinners_. For all the work and witness of priests standeth in preaching and teaching; that they edify all men, as well by cunning of faith, as by discipline of works, that is virtuous teaching. And, as the gospel witnesseth, CHRIST said in his teaching, _I am born and come into this world to bear witness to the Truth, and he that is of the Truth heareth my voice._