Fifteenth Century Prose and Verse Part 26

+William.+ And I said to the Clerks, that thus busily counselled me to follow these foresaid men, "Sirs, if these men, of whom ye counsel me to take example, had forsaken benefices of temporal profit and of worldly worship, so that they had absented them and eschewed from all occasions of covetousness and of fleshly l.u.s.ts; and had taken them to simple living and wilful poverty: they had herein given good example to me and many others to have followed them. But now, since all these four men have slanderously and shamefully done the contrary, consenting to receive and to have and to hold temporal benefices, living now more worldly and more fleshly than they did before, conforming them to the manners of this world; I forsake them herein, and in all their foresaid slanderous doing!

=WILLIAM REJECTS THE LOLLARD TURNCOATS.=

"For I purpose, with the help of G.o.d into remission of all my sins and of my foul cursed living, to hate and to fly privily and apertly, to follow these men! teaching and counselling whomsoever that I may, for to fly and eschew the way that they have chosen to go in, which will lead them to the worst end, if, in convenient time, they repent them not, verily forsaking and revoking openly the slander that they have put, and every day yet put to CHRIST's Church. For, certain, so open blasphemy and slander, as they have spoken and done in their revoking and forsaking of the Truth, ought not, nor may not, privily be amended duly.

Wherefore, Sirs, I pray you that ye busy you not for to move me to follow these men in revoking and forsaking of the Truth and Soothfastness! as they have done, and yet do; wherein by open evidence, they stir G.o.d to great wroth, and not only against themselves, but also against all them that favour them or consent to them herein, or that comoneth [_communeth_] with them, except it be for their amendment. For whereas these men first were pursued of enemies, now they have obliged them by oath for to slander and pursue CHRIST in his members! Wherefore, as I trust stedfastly in the goodness of G.o.d, the worldly covetousness, and the l.u.s.ty living, and the sliding from the truth of these runagates [_renegades_] shall be to me, and to many other men and women, an example and an evidence to stand the more stiffly by the Truth of CHRIST.

"For, certain, right many men and women do mark and abhor the foulness and cowardice of these aforesaid untrue men, how that they are overcome, and stopped with benefices, and withdrawn from the truth of G.o.d's Word, forsaking utterly to suffer therefore bodily persecution. For by this unfaithful doing and apostasy, of them specially that are great lettered men, and have [ac]knowledged openly the truth; and now either for pleasure or displeasure of tyrants have taken hire and temporal wages, to forsake the Truth and to hold against it, slandering and pursuing them that covet to follow CHRIST in the way of righteousness: many men and women therefore are now moved. But many more, through the grace of G.o.d, shall be moved hereby, for to learn the Truth of G.o.d, and to do thereafter, and to stand boldly thereby."

=ABP. SAYS, "HE SHALL CONFORM IN 8 DAYS!"=

+Archbishop.+ Then the Archbishop said to his Clerks, "Busy you no longer about him! for he, and others such as he is, are confeder[at]ed so together, that they will not swear to be obedient, and to submit them to Prelates of Holy Church. For now, since I stood here, his fellow sent me word that _he will not swear, and that he_ [WILLIAM of Thorpe]

_counselled him that he should not swear to me_ But, losell! in that thing that in thee is, thou hast busied thee to lose this young man; but, blessed be G.o.d! thou shalt not have thy purpose of him! For he hath forsaken all thy learning, submitting him to be buxom [_submissive_] and obedient to the ordinance of Holy Church; and weepeth full bitterly, and curseth thee full heartily for the venomous teaching which thou hast shewed to him, counselling him to do thereafter. And for thy false counselling of many others and him, thou hast great cause to be right sorry! For, long time, thou hast busied thee to pervert whomsoever thou mightest! Therefore as many deaths thou art worthy of, as thou hast given evil counsels. And therefore, by Jesu! thou shalt go thither where NICHOLAS HEREFORD and JOHN PURVEY were harboured! and I undertake, ere this day eight days, thou shalt be right glad for to do what thing that ever I bid thee do!

"And, losell! I shall a.s.say if can make thee there, as sorrowful as, it was told me, thou wast glad of my last going out of England [_in_ 1397].

By St. Thomas! I shall turn thy joy into sorrow!"

+William.+ And I said, "Sir, there can n.o.body prove lawfully that I joyed ever of the manner of your going out of this land [_the Archbishop had been banished_]. But, Sir, to say the sooth, I was joyful when ye were gone! for [ROBERT DE BRAYBROOKE] the Bishop of LONDON (in whose prison ye left me!) found in me no cause for to hold me longer in his prison; but, at the request of my friends, he delivered me to them, asking of me no manner of submitting."

+Archbishop.+ Then the Archbishop said to me, "Wherefore that I yede [_went_] out of England is unknown to thee! But be this thing well known to thee! that G.o.d, as I wot well, hath called me again and brought me into this land, for to destroy thee and the false sect that thou art of!

as, by G.o.d! I shall pursue you so narrowly that I shall not leave a step of you in this land!"

+William.+ And I said to the Archbishop, "Sir, the holy prophet JEREMY said to the false prophet HANANIAH, _When the word_, that is, the prophecy, _of a prophet is known or fulfilled; then it shall be known that the LORD sent the prophet in truth_!"

+Archbishop.+ And the Archbishop, as if he had not been pleased with my saying, turned him away-ward, hither and thither, and said, "By G.o.d! I shall set on thy shins a pair of perlis [? _pearls_], that thou shalt be glad to change thy voice!"

These and many more wondrous and convicious [_railing_] words were spoken to me; menacing me and all others of the same sect, for to be punished and destroyed to the uttermost.

And the Archbishop called then to him, a Clerk; and rounded with him [_whispered in his ear_], and that Clerk went forth: and soon he brought in the Constable of Saltwood Castle, and the Archbishop rounded a good while with him.

=THE CONSTABLE PLACES HIM IN A DEN.=

And then the Constable went forth, and then came in divers secular [_laymen_]; and they scorned me on every side, and menaced me greatly.

And some counselled the Archbishop to burn me by and by [_at once_]: and some others counselled him to drown me in the sea, for it is near [at]

hand there.

+A Clerk.+ And a Clerk standing besides me there, kneeled down to the Archbishop, praying him that he would deliver me to him for to say _Matins_ with him; and he would undertake that, within three days, I should not resist anything that was commanded me to do, of my Prelate.

And the Archbishop said that he would ordain for me himself.

And then, after, came in again the Constable and spake privily to the Archbishop.

And then the Archbishop commanded the Constable to lead me forth thence, with him: and so he did.

And when we were gone forth thence, we were sent after again.

And when I came in again before the Archbishop, a Clerk bade me kneel down, and ask grace, and submit me lowly, and I should find it for the best.

+William.+ And I said then to the Archbishop, "Sir, as I have said to you, divers times, to-day, I will wilfully and lowly obey and submit me to be ordained ever, after my cunning and power, to G.o.d and His Law, and to every member of Holy Church; as far forth as I can perceive that these members accord with their head, CHRIST, and will teach me, rule me, or chastise me by authority specially of G.o.d's Law."

+Archbishop.+ And the Archbishop said, "I wist well, he would not, without such additions, submit him!"

And then, I was rebuked, scorned, and menaced on every side; and yet, after this, divers persons cried upon me to kneel down and submit me: but I stood still, and spake no word.

And then there was spoken of me and to me many great words; and I stood, and heard them menace, curse, and scorn me: but I said nothing.

+Archbishop.+ Then a while after, the Archbishop said to me, "Wilt thou not submit thee to the ordinance of Holy Church?"

+William.+ And I said, "Sir, I will full gladly submit me, as I have shewed you before."

And then, the Archbishop bade the Constable to have me forth thence in haste.

=HE THANKS G.o.d, HE IS, AT LAST, ALONE.=

And so then I was led forth, and brought into a foul unhonest prison, where I came never before. But, thanked be G.o.d! when all men were gone forth then from me, and had sparred [_barred_] fast the prison door after them, by and by [_immediately_] after, I therein by myself busied me to think on G.o.d, and to thank Him of His goodness.

And I was then greatly comforted in all my wits, not only for that I was then delivered, for a time, from the sight, from the hearing, from the presence, from the scorning, and from the menacing of my enemies: but much more I rejoiced in the LORD, because that through His grace, He kept me so, both among the flattering specially, and among the menacing of mine adversaries, that without heaviness and anguish of my conscience, I pa.s.sed away from them. For as a tree laid upon another tree overthwart or on cross wise, so was the Archbishop and his three Clerks always contrary to me, and I to them.

Now, good G.o.d! (for Thine holy name and for the praising of Thy most blessed name, make us one together), if it be Thy will, by authority of thy Word that is true perfect charity: and else not! And that it may thus be, all that this writing read or hear, pray heartily to the LORD G.o.d! that He (for His great goodness that cannot be with tongue expressed) grant to us and to all others, that in the same wise and for the same cause specially, or for any other cause be at [a] distance, to be knit and made One in true Faith, in stedfast Hope, and in perfect Charity.

Amen.

+-- Thus endeth the Examination of Master William Thorpe.+

+And hereafter followeth his Testament.+

=19 Sept. 1460.=

=WILLIAM OF THORPE'S _TESTAMENT_.=

_MATTHEW, an Apostle of CHRIST and his gospeller, witnesseth truly in the Holy Gospel, the most holy living and the most wholesome teaching of CHRIST. He rehea.r.s.eth how that CHRIST likeneth them that hear his words and keep them, to_ a wise man that buildeth his house upon a stone, _that is a stable and a sad_ [firm] _ground_.

_This_ house _is man's soul, in whom CHRIST delighteth to dwell, if it be grounded, that is, stablished, faithfully in his living, and in his true teaching, adorned or made fair with divers virtues, which CHRIST used and taught without any meddling of any error, as are chiefly the conditions of charity._

_This foresaid_ stone _is CHRIST, upon which every faithful soul must be builded, since upon none other ground than upon CHRIST's living and his teaching, n.o.body may make any building or houseing wherein CHRIST will come and dwell. This sentence witnesseth PAUL_ to the Corinthians, _shewing them that n.o.body may set any other ground than is set, that is, CHRIST's living and his teaching._

_And because that all men and women should give all their business here in this life to build them virtuously upon this sure foundation, Saint PAUL [ac]knowledging the fervent desire and the good will of the people of Ephesus, wrote to them comfortably, saying_, Now ye are not strangers, guests, nor yet comelings, but ye are the citizens and of the household of G.o.d, builded above upon the foundament of the Apostles and Prophets. In which foundament, every building that is builded and made through the grace of G.o.d, it increaseth or groweth into a holy temple; _that is, everybody that is grounded and builded faithfully in the teaching and living of CHRIST is therethrough made the holy temple of G.o.d._

_This is the stable ground and stedfast_ stone, _CHRIST! which is the sure corner-stone fast joining and holding mightily together two walls.

For through CHRIST JESU, mean or middle Person of the Trinity, the Father of Heaven is piteous or mercifully joined and made one together to Mankind: and through dread to offend G.o.d, and fervent love to please him, men be unseparably made one to G.o.d, and defended surely under His protection._

_Also this foresaid_ stone _CHRIST was figured by the square stones of which the Temple of G.o.d was made. For as a square stone, wheresoever it is cast or laid, it abideth and lieth stably; so CHRIST and every faithful member of his Church, by example of him, abideth and dwelleth stably in true faith and in all other heavenly virtues, in all adversities that they suffer in this Valley of Tears. For, lo, when these foresaid square stones were hewen and wrought for to be laid in the walls or pillars of G.o.d's Temple, none noise or stroke of the workmen was heard. Certain, this silence in working of this stone figureth CHRIST chiefly, and his faithful members, which by example of him have been, and yet are, and ever to the world's end shall be, so meek and patient in every adversity, that no sound nor yet any grudging shall any time be perceived in them._

_Nevertheless this chief and most worshipful corner-stone, which only is ground of all virtues, proud beggars reproved! but this despite and reproof CHRIST suffered most meekly in his own person, for to give example of all meekness and patience to all his faithful followers.

Certain, this world is now so full of proud beggars which are named priests; but the very office of working of priesthood which CHRIST approveth true, and accepteth, is far from the mult.i.tude of priests that now reign in this world._

_For, from the highest priest to the lowest, all (as who say) study, that is, they imagine and travail busily how they may please this world and their flesh. This sentence and many such others dependeth upon them, if it be well considered; either G.o.d the Father of heaven hath deceived all mankind by the living specially and teaching of JESUS CHRIST, and by the living and teaching of his Apostles and Prophets; all else all the Popes that have been since I had any knowledge or discretion, with all the College of Cardinals, Archbishops, and Bishops, Monks, Canons, and Friars, with all the contagious flock of the comminalty of priesthood, which have, all my life-time and mickle longer, reigned and yet reign and increase d.a.m.nably from sin into sin, have been and yet be proud obstinate heretics, covetous simoners_ [trafficers in ecclesiastical preferments], _and defouled adulterers in the ministering of the Sacraments, and especially in the ministering of the Sacrament of the Altar._