The great processe of Thomas Arundell the Archebysschop of Caunterburye and of the Papisticall clergye wt him agaynst the most noble knyght syr Iohan Oldecastell the lorde Cobham in the yeare of oure Lorde a. M.cccc. and ylii. wherin is co~tayned his examinacyon impresonme~t and excommunycacyon.

The processe before his examinacyon.

AFter that ye true seruau~t
of Iesus Christ Iohan
Wycleue a ma~ne of verye
excellent lyfe & lernynge
had for the space
of more than .xxvi.
years most valeauntlye batteled with
the great Antichrist of Europa or Pope
of Rome & his dyuerslye dysgysed host
of anoynted hypocrytes to restore the
churche agayne to the pure estate that
Christ left her in at his ascensyon he
departed hens most Christenlye into
the handes of God the yeare of oure
Lorde a. M.CCC.lxxxvii. and was
buryed in his owne parryshe churche
at Lutterworth in Lyncolne shere. No
small nombre of godlye disciples left
that good manne behynde him to defende

B.iii.

the lowlynesse of ye Gospell agaynst
the exceadynge pryde ambycyon symonye
auaryce hypocresyew horedome
sacrylege tyrannye ydolatrouse worshyppynges
and other fylthye frutis
of those styfnecked Pharysees. Agaynst
whom Thomas Arundell than Archebysshop
of Caunterburye so ferce as
euer was Pharao Antiochus Herodes
or Cayphas collected in Paules churche
at London a vniuersall synode of all
the papystycall clergye of Englande in
the yeare of oure Lorde a. M.CCCC.
and .xiii. as he had done dyuerse other
afore to withstande theyr most godlye
enterpryse. And this was the fyrst yeare
of kynge Henrye the fyf twhom they
had than made fyt for theyr hande.
As these hygh Prelates with theyr
Pharysees and Scrybes were thus gathered
in this pestilent counsell against
the Lorde and his wordefyrst there resorted
vnto them the .xii. inquysytours
of heresyes whom they had appoynted
at Oxforde the yeare afore to serche
out heretyques with all Wycleues bokes,
and they brought .CC. and .lxvi.
faythfull conclusyons whom they had
collected as heresyes out of the seyd bokes.
The names of the seyd inquysytours
were these. Iohan Witnam a mastre
in the newe college Iohan Langedon
monke of Chry churche in Caunterburye/
Willyam Vfforde regent of
the Carmelytes Thomas Clayton regent
of the Dominykes Robert Gylbers
Rycharde Cartysdale Iohan Lucke
Rycharde Snedysham Rycharde
FlemmyngeThomas RodborneRobert
Rondberye
/ and Rycharde Grasdale.
In the meane season caused they
ther hyred seruau~tes to blowe it forth
abrod: through out all the realme that
they were there congregate for an wholsom
vnyte and reformacyon of the churche
of Englande to stoppe so the mouthes
of the co~mon people. Soche is alwayes
the co~mon practyse of these subtyle
sorcerers whyls they are in doynge
myschefe to blere the eyes of the vnlerned
multitude with one false craft
or other.
After a certen communicacyon they
concluded amonge themselues that yt
was not possyble for them to make whole
Christes cote without seme meanynge
therby theyr patched Popyshe synagoge
vnlesse certen great menne were
brought out of the waye which semed
to be the chefe maynteners of the seyd

B.iiii.

disciples of Wycleue. Amonge whom
the most noble knyght syr Iohan Oldecastell
the lorde Cobham was complayned
of by the generall proctours yea rather
betrayers of Christ in his faythfull
members to be ye chefe principall.
Him they accused fyrst for a myghtye
mayntener of suspected preachers in ye
dyoceses of London Rochestre & Herforde
contrarye to the myndes of theyr
ordynaryes. Not onlye they affermed
him to haue sent thyder the seyd preachers
but also to haue assysted them
thereby force of armes not withstandynge
theyr synodall constitucyon made
afore to the co~trarye. Last of all they
accused him that he was farre otherwyse
in beleue of the sacrament of the
aultre of penaunce of pylgrymage of
ymage worshyppynge and of the ecclesyastycall
power than the holye churche
of Rome had taught manye years
afore.
In the ende yt was concluded amonge
them that without anye farther delaye
processe shuld out agaynst him as
agaynst a most pernycyouse heretyque.
Some of that felyshyp which were of
more craftye experie~ce than the other
wolde in no case haue ye matter so rashlye
handeled but thought this waye
moche better. Consyderynge the seyd
lorde Cobham was a manne of great
byrthe and in fauer at that tyme with
the kynge theyr counsell was to knowe
fyrst the kynges mynde to saue all thynges
ryght vp. This counsell was wele
accepted and thervpon the Archebysshop
Thomas Arundell with his other
Bysshoppes and a great part of the clergye
went strayght wayes vnto the kynge
as than remaynynge at kenyngton.
And there they layed forth most greuouse
complayntes agaynst the seyd lorde
Cobham to his great infamye and blemyshe
beynge a manne most godlye.
The kynge gentyllye harde those bloud
thurstye rauenours & farre otherwyse
than became his princelye dignite he
instau~tlye desyred them that in respect
of his noble stocke and knyghthode
they shulde yet fauorablye deale with
him. And that they wolde yf yt were possyble
without all rygour or extreme
handelynge reduce him agayne to the
churches vnyte. He promysed them also
that in case they were contented to take
some delyberacyon his selfe wolde
seryouslye common the matter with
him.

B.v.

Anon after the kynge sent for the seyd
lorde Cobham. And as he was come he
called him secretlye admonyshyng him
betwixt him and him to submyt himselfe
to his mother the holye churche and
as an obedyent chylde to acknowledge
himselfe culpable vnto whom the Christen
knyght made this answere yow
most worthye prince sayth he am I alwayes
prompt and willynge to obeye
for so moche as I knowe you a Christen
kynge and the appoynted minystre of
God bearyng his ryghtuouse sworde to
the ponnyshment of yll doers and for
the sauegarde of them that be vertuouse.
Vnto you next my eternall lyuynge
God owe I my whole obedience and
submyt me therunto as I haue done
euer all that I haue eyther of fortune
or nature redye at all tymes to fulfyll
what so euer ye shall in that lorde commaunde
me. But as touchynge the Pope
and his spiritualte trulye I owe the~
neyther sute nor seruyce for so moche
as I knowe him by the scripturs to be
the great Antichrist the sonne of perdicyon
the open aduersarye of God and
the abhominacyon standynge in the holye
place. Whan the kynge had hearde
this with soche lyke sentences more he
wolde talke no longar with him but
left him so vtterlye.
And as the Archebysshop resorted
agayne vnto him for an answere he gaue
him his full auctorite to cyte him
examyne him and ponnyshe him accordynge
to the deuylyshe decrees which
they call the lawes of holye churche.
Than the seyd Archebyshop by the cou~sell
of his other Bysshoppes and clergye
appoynted to call before him ye seyd
syr Iohan Oldecastell the lorde Cobham
and to cause him personallye to
apereto answere to soche suspected artycles
as they shuld laye agaynst him.
So sent he forth his chefe sommener
with a verye sharpe cytacyon vnto the
castell of Lowlyngewhere as he at
that tyme dwelt for his solace. And as
ye seyd sommener was thyder co~menhe
durst in no case entre the gates of so noble
a manne without his lycensand
therfore he returned home agaynehis
massage not done. Than called the Archebysshop
one Iohan Butler vnto him
which was than the dorekeper of the
kynges preuye chambre& with him he
couenaunted through promyses and rewardes
to haue this matter craftelye
brought to passe vndre ye kynges name.
Whervpon the seyd Iohan Butler
toke the Archebysshoppes sommener
with him and went vnto the seyd lorde
Cobham shewynge him that it was the
kynges pleasure that he shuld obeye
that cytacyon and so cyted him frawdelentlye.
Than sayd he vnto them in fewe
wordes that in no case wolde he co~sent
to those most deuylyshe practyses
of the Prestes. As they had infourmed
ye Archebysshop of that answere & that
yt was mete for no manne pryuatelye
to cyte him after that without parell of
lyfehe decreed by and by to haue him
cyted by publyque processe or open commaundement.
And in all the hast possyble
vpon the wedynsdaye before the Natiuite
of oure Ladye in Septembre he
commaunded letters cytatorye to be set
vpon the great gates of the cathedrall
churche of Rochestre which was but
iii. Englyshe myles from thens chargynge
him to apere personallye before
him at Ledys in the .xi. daye of the same
moneth and yeare all excuses to the co~trarye
set a part. Those letters were taken
downe anon after by soche as bare
fauer vnto the lorde Cobham and so
conueyed a syde. After that caused the
Archebysshop newe letters to be set vp
on the Natyuyte daye of oure Ladye
which also were rent downe and vtterlye
consumed.
Than for so moche as he ded not apere
at the daye appoynted at Ledys where
as he sate in consystorye as cruell as
euer was Cayphas with his court of hypocrytes
about him he iudged him denounced
him and condempned him of
most depe contumacye. After that whan
he had bene falselye infourmed by his
hyred spyes and other glosynge glauerers
that the seyde lorde Cobham had
lawhed him to scorne dysdayned all his
doynges maynteyned his olde opynyo~s
contemned the churches powerthe dignyte
of a Bysshop & the ordre of presthode
for of all these was he than accused
in his modye madnesse without iust
profe ded he openlye excommunicate
him. yet was he not with all this ferce
tyrannye qualyfyed but commaunded
him to be cyted a freshe to apere afore
him the Saturdaye before the feast of
saynct Matthew the Apostle with these
cruell threttenynges added theru~to.
That yf he ded not obeye at that daye
he wolde more extremelye handle him.
And to make himselfe more stronge towardes
the perfourmaunce therof he
compelled the laye power by most terryble
manacynges of curses and interdiccyons
to assyst him agaynst that sedycyouse
apostata that scysmatyque that
heretyquet hat troubler of the publyque
peace that enemye of the realme
and great aduersarye of all holye churche
for all these hatefull names ded he
geue him.
This most constaunt seruaunt of the
lorde and worthye knyght syr Iohan
Oldecastell the lorde Cobham beholdynge
the vnpacable furye of Antichrist
thus kyndled agaynst him perseyuynge
himselfe also compased on euerye syde
with deadlye daunger she toke paper
and penne in hande & so wrote a Christen
confessyon or rekenyng of his fayth
which foloweth here after and both
sygned and sealed it with his owne hande.
Wherin he also answereth to the
iiii. chefest artycles that the Archebyshop
layed agaynst him. That done he toke
the copye with him & went therwith
to the kynge trustynge to fynde mercye
and fauer at his hande. Non other was
that confessyon of his than the co~mon
beleue or somme of the churches fayth
called the Apostles crede of all Christen
menne than vsed.

The fyrst examynacyon of the lorde Cobham.

SIr Iohan in ye last generall co~uocacyon
of the clergye of this oure
prouince ye were detected of certen certen
heresyes & by suffycye~t wytnesses
founde culpable. Whervpon ye were by
forme of spirituall lawe cyted & wolde
in no case apere. In co~clusyon vpon youre
rebellyouse contumacye ye were both
pryuatelye and openlye excommunycated.
Notwithstandynge we neuer yet
shewed oureselfe vnredye to haue geue~
you youre absolucyon nor yet do not to
this houre wolde ye haue mekely axed
yt. Vnto this the lorde Cobham shewed

C.iiii.

as though he had geuen no~ care hauynge
his mynde otherwyse occupyed & so
desyred non absolucyon. But he sayd
he wolde gladlye before him and his bretherne
make rehersall of that faythe
which he helde and entended alwayes
to stande to yf yt wolde please them to
lycens him therunto. And than he toke
out of his bosome a certen wrytynge
endented concernynge the artycles
wherof he was accused and so openlye
redde yt before them geuynge yt vnto
the Archebyshop as he had made therof
an ende. Wherof this is the copye.
I Iohan Oldecastell knyght and lorde
Cobham will all Christen menne to
vnderstande that Thomas Arundell
Archebysshop of Cau~terburye hath not
onlye layed yt to my charge malycyouslye
but also verye vntrulye by his lettre
and seale written agaynst me in most
slaunderouse wyse that I shuld otherwyse
fele and teache of the sacrame~tes
of the churche assygnynge specyallye
the sacrament of the aultre the sacrament
of penaunce the worshyppynge of
ymages and the goynge of pylgrymage
vnto them farre other wyse than
eyther beleueth or teacheth the vnyuersall
holye churche. I take almyghtye
God vnto wytnesse that yt hath bene
and now is and euermore with the helpe
of God yt shall be my full intent and
will to beleue faythfullye and whollye
all the sacramentes that euer God ordeyned
to be mynystred in the holye
churche. And more ouer for to declare
me in these .iiii. poyntes afore rehersed.
I beleue that in the most worshypfull
sacrament of the aultre is Christes verye
bodye in fourme of breade the same
bodye that was borne of the blessed virgyne
Marye done on the crosse dead
and buryed and that the thyrde daye
arose from death to lyfe the which bodye
is now gloryfyed with the father in
heauen. And as for the sacrament of penaunce
I beleue that yt is nedefull to
all them that shall be saued to forsake
theyr synne and to do penaunce for yt
whith true contrycyon to God confessyon
of theyr fawtes and dewe satisfaccyon
in Christ lyke as Gods lawes lymyteth
and teacheth els can they haue
no saluacyon. This penaunce I desyre
all menne to do. And as for ymages I
vnderstande that they perteyne nothynge
to oure Christen beleue but were permytted
longe sens the fayth was geue~
vs of Christ by sufferau~ce of the churche

C.v.

for to be as kalenders vnto laye
menne to represent or brynge to mynde
the passyon of oure Lorde Iesus Christ
with the martyrdome and good lyuynge
of the saynctes.
I thynke also that what so ouer he
be which doth that worshyp to dead
ymages that is dewlye belongynge vnto
God or that putteth his fayth hope
or confydence in the helpe of them as he
shuld do onlye in his eternall lyuynge
God or that hath affeccyon in one more
than in an other he perpetrateth in
so doynge .i. abhomynable synne of ydolatrye.
Moreouer in this am I fullye
persuaded that euerye manne dwellynge
on this earth is a pylgryme eyther
towardes blesse or els towardes payne.
And that he which knoweth not nor
will not knowe nor yet kepe the holye
co~maundementes of God in his lyuynge
here all be yt that he goth on pylgrymage
into all quarters of the worlde
yf he departeth so he shall surelye
be dampned. Agayne he that knoweth
the holye commaundementes of God
and so perfourmeth them to the ende of
his lyfe to his power shall without fayle
be saued in Christ though he neuer
in his lyfe go on pylgrymage as menne
vse now a dayes to Cau~terburye Walsyngham
Compostell and Rome or to
anye other place els.
This answere to his artycles thus
ended and redde he delyuered yt to the
Bysshoppes as is sayd afore. Than cou~selled
the Archebysshop with the other
two Bysshoppes and with dyuerse of ye
doctours what was to be done in this
matter commaundynge him for the tyme
to stande asyde. In conclusyon by
theyr assent and infourmacyon he sayd
thus vnto him. Come hydre syr Iohan.
In this your writynge are manye good
thynges contayned and ryght catholyck
also we denye yt not. But ye must
consydre that this daye was appoynted
you to answere to other poyntes concernynge
those artycles wherof as yet no~
mencyon is made in this your byll. And
therfore ye must yet declare vs youre
mynde more playnelye. As thus whether
that ye holde afferme and beleue
that in the sacrame~t of the aultre after
the consecracyon ryghtlye done by a
prest remayneth materyall breade or
not• Moreouer whether ye do holde afferme
and beleue that as concernynge
the sacrament of penaunce where as a
competent nombre of Prestes are euerye
Christen manne is necessarylye bou~de
to be confessed of his synnes to a
prest ordayned by the churcheor not •
After certen other communycacyon
this was the answere of the good lorde
Cobham. That non otherwyse wolde
he declare his mynde nor yet answere
vnto his artycles than was expreslye
in his wrytynge there co~tayned. Than
sayd the Archebyshop agayne vnto him
Syr Iohan beware what ye do. For yf
ye answere not clerelye to those thynges
that are here obiected agaynst you
specyallye at the tyme appoynted you
onlye for that purpose the lawe of holye
churche is that compelled ones by
a iudge we maye openlye proclame ye
an heretyque. Vnto whom he gaue this
answere. Do as ye shall thynke yt best
for I am at a poynt. What so euer he
and the other Bysshoppes ded aske him
after that he bad them resort to his byll
for therby wolde he stande to the verye
death. Other answere wolde he not geue
that daye wherwith the Byshoppes
and Prelates were in a maner amased
and wonderfullye dysquyeted. At the
last the Archebysshop counselled agayne
with his other Bysshoppes and doctours.
And in the ende therof declared
vnto him what the holye churche of
Rome folowynge the sayinges of saynt
Austynsaynt Hieromsaynt Ambrose
and of other holye doctourshad determyned
in those mattersno maner of
mencyon ones made of Christ. Which
determynacyon sayth he ought all
Christen menne both to beleue and to
folowe.
Than sayd the lorde Cobham vnto
him that he wolde gladlye both beleue
and obserue what so euer the holy churche
of Christes institucyon had determyned
or yet what so euer God had
willed him eyther to beleue or to do.
But that the Pope of Rome with his
Cardynals Archebysshoppes Bysshoppes
and other Prelates of that churche
had lawfull power to determyne soche
matters as stode not with his worde
throughlye that wolde he not he sayd
at that tyme afferme. With this the
Archebyshop bad him to take good aduysement
tyll the Monedaye next folowynge
which was the .xxv. daye of
Septembre and than iustlye to answere
specyallye vnto this poynt whether
there remayned materyall breade in ye
sacrament of the aultre after the wordes
of consecracyon or not? He promysed
him also to sende vnto him in wrytynge
those matters clerelye determyned
that he myght than be the more
perfyght in his answere makynge. And
all this was not els but to blynde the
multytude with somwhat. The next
daye folowynge accordynge to his promes
the Archebysshop sent vnto him into
the tower this folyshe and blasphemouse
wrytynge made by him and by
his vnlerned clergye.

The determynacyon of the Archebysshop and clergye.

THe fayth and determynacyon
of holye Churche
towchynge the blessfull
sacrament of the aultre
is this. That after the
sacramentall wordes be
ones spoken by a Prest in
his Masse the materyall breade that
was before breade is turned into Christes
verye bodye. And the materyall wyne
that was afore wyne is turned into
Christes verye bloude. And so there remayneth
in the sacrament of the aultre
from thens forth no materyall breade
nor materyall wyne which were there
before the sacramentall wordes were
spoken. How beleue ye this artycle • Holye
churche hath determyned that euerye
Christen manne lyuynge here bodylye
vpon eart hought to be shryuen to a
prest ordayned by ye churche yf he maye
come to him. How fele ye this artycle •
Christ ordayned saynct Peter ye Apostle
to be his vycar here in earth. Whose
see is the holye churche of Rome. And
he grau~ted that the same power which
he gaue vnto Peter shulde succede to
all Peters successours which we call
now Popes of Rome. By whose specyall
power in churches partycular be ordayned
Prelates as Archebysshoppes
Bysshoppes persones curates & other
degrees more. Vnto whom Christen
menne ought to obeye after the lawes
of the churche of Rome. This is the determynacyon
of holye churche. How fele
ye this artycle • Holye churche hath
determyned that yt is merytoryouse to
a Christen manne to go on pylgrymage
to holye places. And there specyallye to
worshyp holye relyques and ymages of
saynctes Apostles Martyrs Confessours
and all other saynctes besydes
approued by the churche of Rome. How
fele ye this artycle •
And as the good lorde Cobham had
redde ouer this wretched wrytyngehe
marueled greatlye of theyr madde ignoraunce.
But that he consydered agayne
that God had geuen them ouer for theyr
vnbeleues sake into most depe errours
and blyndnesse of soule. Agayne he perseyued
therby that theyr vttermost malyce
was purposed agaynst him how so
euer he shuld answere. And therfore he
put his lyfe into the handes of God desyerynge
his onlye sprete to assyst him
in his next answere. Whan the seyd
xxv. daye of Septembre was come
which was also the Monedaye afore
Myhelmesse in the seyd yeare of oure
lorde a M.CCCC. and .xiii. Thomas
Arundell the Archebysshop of Caunterburye
commaunded his iudycyall seate
to be remoued from ye chaptre house of
Paules to the Domynyck fryers within
Ludgate at London. And as he was there
set with Rycharde ye Bysshop of London.
Henrye the Bysshop of Wynchestre
and Benet the Byshop of Bangor
he called in vnto him his counsell and
his offycers with dyuerse other Doctours
and fryers. Of whom these are
the names here folowynge.
Mastre Henrye Ware the Offycyall
of Caunterburye
Phylip Morgan doctor of both lawes
Howell kyffyn doctor of the cano~ lawe
Iohan kempe doctour of the cano~ lawe
Willyam Carleton doctour of the canon
lawe Iohan Wytnam of the newe
college in Oxforde Ioha~ Whyghthead
a doctour of Oxforde also Robert
Wombewell vycar of saynct Laurence
in the Iewrye Thomas Palmer
the wardene of the Mynors Robert
Chamberlayne prior of the Domynyckes
Rycharde Dodyngton prior of the
Augustynes Thomas Walden prior
of the Carmelytes all doctours of diuinyte.
Iohan Steuens also and Iames
Coleboth notaryes appoynted there
purposelye to wryte all that shuld be eyther
sayd or done. All these with a great
sort more of Prestes Monkes Chano~s
fryers parryshe clarkes Bellryngers
and pardoners dysdayned him with innumerable
mockes and scornes rekenynge
him to be an horryble heretyque
and a manne acursed afore God.
Anon the Archebysshop called for a
masseboke and caused all those Prelates
and doctours to sweare therevpon
that euerye manne shuld faythfullye do
his offyce and dewtye that daye. And
that neyther for fauer nor feare loue
nor hate of the one partye nor the other

D

anye thynge shuld there be wytnessed
spoke nor done but accordynge to the
truthe as they wolde answere before
God and all the worlde at the daye of
Dome. Than were the two forseyd notaryes
sworne also to wryte and to wytnesse
the wordes and processe that there
shuld be vttered on both partyes & to
saye theyr myndes yf they otherwyse
knewe yt before they shuld regestre yt.
And all this dissymulacyon was but to
colour theyr myscheues before the ignoraunt
multytude. Consydre herin gentyll
reader what this wycked generacyon
is and how farre wyde from the
iust feare of God for as they were tha~
so are they yet to this daye.
After that came forth before them
syr Robert Morleye knyght and Lyeftenaunt
of the tower & he brought with
him the good lorde Cobham there leauynge
him amonge them as a lambe
amonge wolues to his examynacyon
and answere.

The latter examynacyon of the lorde Cobham.

THan sayd the Archebysshop vnto
him: lorde Cobham ye be aduysed
I am sure of the wordes
and processe which we had vnto you
vpon saturdaye last past in the chaptre
howse of Paules. Which processe were
now no longe to be rehersed agayne.
I sayd vnto you than that ye were acursed
for youre contumacye and dysobedyence
to holye Churche thynkynge
that ye shuld with mekenesse haue desyred
youre absolucyon.
Than spake the lorde Cobham with
a most cherefull countenaunce & sayd:
God sayth by his holye Prophete Maledicam
benedictionib=9= vestriswhich
is as moche to saye as I shall curse
where as you blesse.
The Archebysshop made than as
though he had contynued forth his tale
and not hearde him sayinge: Syr at
that tyme I gentyllye profered to haue
assoyled yow yf ye wolde haue asked yt.
And yet I do the same yf ye will humblye
desyre yt in dewe forme and maner
as holye churche hath ordayned.
Than sayd the lorde Cobham. Naye
forsoth will I not for I neuer yet trespased
agaynst you & therfore I will not
do yt. And with that he kneled downe
on the pauement holdynge vp his handes
towardes heauen & sayd. I shryue
me here vnto the my eternall lyuynge
God that in my frayle youthe I offended

D.ii.

the lorde most greuouslye in pryde
wrathe and glottonye in couetousnesse
and in lechere. Manye menne haue
I hurt in myne anger and done manye
other horryble synnes good Lorde
I aske the mercye. And therwith wepynglye
he stode vp agayne and sayd
with a myghtye voyce. Lo good people
lo. For the breakynge of Gods lawe
and his great commaundementes they
neuer yet cursed me. But for theyr owne
lawes and tradycyons most cruellye do
they handle both me and other menne.
And therfore both they and theyr lawes
by the promes of God shall vtterlye be
destroyed.
At this the Archebysshop and his co~panye
were not a lytle blemyshed. Notwithstandynge
he toke stomake vnto
him agayne after certen wordes had in
excuse of theyr tyrannye and examyned
the lorde Cobham of his Christen
beleue.
Wher vnto the lorde Cobham made
this godly answere. I beleue sayth he
fullye and faythfullye the vniuersall lawes
of God. I beleue that all is true wc
is contayned in ye holye sacred scripturs
of the Byble fynallye I beleue all that
my lorde God wolde I shuld beleue.
Than demaunded the Archebisshop
an answere of the byll which he and the
clergye had sent him into the tower the
daye afore in maner of a determinacyon
of the churche concernynge the .iiii. artycles
wherof he was accused specyallye
for the sacrament of the aultre how
he beleued therin •
Wherunto the lorde Cobham sayd
that with that byll he had nothynge to
do. But this was his beleue he sayd
concernynge the sacrament. That his
lorde and sauer Iesus Christ syttynge
at his last supper with his most dere disciples
the nyght before he shulde suffre
toke breade in his hande. And geuynge
thankes to his eternall father
blessed yt brake yt and so gaue yt vnto
them sayinge. Take yt vnto ye and eate
therof all. This is my bodye which
shall be betrayed for you. Do this here
after in my remembraunce . This do I
throughlye beleue sayth he for this
faythe am I taught of the Gospell in
Matthew in Marke and in Luke and
also in the fyrst Epistle of saynct Paule
to the Corintheanes.
Than asked the Archebysshop yf he
beleued that yt were breade after the
consecracyon or sacramentall wordes

D.iii.

spoken ouer yt.
The lorde Cobham sayd. I beleue
that in the sacrament of the aultre is
Christes verye bodye in fourme of breade
the same that was borne of the virgyne
Marye done on the crosse dead
and buryed and that the thyrde daye
arose from death to lyfe which now is
gloryfyed in heauen.

The latter enpresonynge and death of the lorde Cobham.

IN the yeare of oure Lorde a. M.CCCC.
and .xv. dyed Thomas
Arundell which had bene Archebysshop
of Caunterburye more than
xxxii. yeares to the great destruccyon
of Christen beleue. yet dyed not his prodygyouse
tyrannye with him but suceeded
with his offyce in Henrye Chycheleye
and in a great sort more of that
spyghtfull spiritualte. For theyr malyce
was not yet satled agaynst the good
lorde Cobham. But they confedered
with the lorde Powys which was at
that tyme a great gouernor in Walys
fedynge him with lordelye gyftes and
promyses to accomplysshe theyr desyre.
He at the last thus monyed with Iudas
and outwardlye pretendynge him
great amyte & fauour most cowardlye
and wretchedlye toke him and in conclusyon
so sent him vp to London where
as he remayned a moneth or two inprysoned
agayne in the Tower. And after
longe processe they condemned him
agayne of heresye and treason by force
of the afore named acte. He renderynge
thankes vnto God that he had so appoynted
him to suffre for his names sake
And vpon the daye appoynted he was
brought out of the Tower with his armes
bounde behynde him hauyng a verye
cherefull countenaunce. Than was
he layed vpon an hardle as though he
had bene a most heynouse traytour to
the crowne and so drawne forth into
saynct Gyles felde where as they had
set vp a newe payre of Galowes. As he
was comen to the place of execucyon
and was taken from the hardle he fell
downe deuoughtlye vpon his knees desyerynge
almyghtye God to forgeue his
enemyes. Than stode he vp and behelde
the multytude exhortynge them in
most godlye maner to folowe the lawes
of God wrytten in the scripturs and in
anye wyse to be ware of soche teachers
as they se contrarye to Christ in theyr
conuersacyn and lyuynge with manye
other specyall counsels. Than was he
hanged vp thereby the myddle in cheanes
of yron and so consumed a lyue in
the fyre praysynge the name of God so
longe as his lyfe lasted. In the ende he
commended his sowle into the handes
of God and so departed hens most
Christenlye his bodye resolued into
ashes.
And this was done in the yeare of our
Lorde a. M.cccc. and . xviii. which was
the sixt yeare of the regne of kyng Henrye
the fyft the people there present
shewynge great dolour. How the Prestes
that tyme fared blasphemed and
cursed requyrynge the people not to
praye for him but to iudge him damned
in hell for that he departed not in the
obedye~ce of theyr Pope yt were to longe
to wryte. This terryble kynde of
death with galowes cheanes and fyre
apereth not verye precyouse in the
eyes of menne that be carnall no more
then ded the death of Christ whan he
was hanged vp amonge theues. The
ryghtuouse semeth to dye sayth the wyse
manne in the syght of them which
are vnwyse and theyr ende is taken for
verye destruccyon. Vngodlye foles thynketh
theyr lyues verye madnesseand
theyr passage hens without all honour.
But though they suffre payne before
menne sayth he yet is theyr expectacyon
full of immortalyte. They are accounted
for the chyldren of God & haue
theyr iust porcyon amonge the saynctes
As golde in the fornace doth God trye
his electes& as a most plesaunt brent
offerynge receyueth he them to rest.
The more harde the passage be the
more gloryouse shall they apere in the
lattre resurreccyon. Not that the affliccyons
of this lyfe are worthye of soche
a glorye but that yt is Gods heauenlye
pleasure so to rewarde them. Neuer are
the iudgementes and wayes of menne
lyke vnto the iudgementes and wayes
of God but co~trarye euermore vnlesse
they be taught of him. In the latter tyme
sayth the Lorde vnto Daniel shall
manye be chosen proued and puryfyed
by fyre yet shall the vngodlye lyue wyckedlye
styll and haue no vnderstandynge
that is of fayth. By an angell from
heuen was Iohan ernestlye co~maunded
to wryte that blessed are ye dead which
hence departeth in ye Lorde. Ryght dere
sayth Dauid in the syght of God is
the death of his true seruau~tes. Thus
resteth this valeaunt Christen knyght
syr Iohan Oldecastell vndre the aultre
of God which is Iesus Christ amonge
that godlye companye which in the
kyngedome of pacye~ce suffred great tribulacyon
with ye death of theyr bodyes
for his faythfull worde and testimonye
abydynge there with them the fulfyllynge
of theyr whole nombre & the full restauracyon
of his electes. The which

G.ii.

he graunt in effect at his tyme appoynted
which is one God eternall Amen.

The conclusyon.

BEsydes the causes rehersed afore
in the preface concernynge
the dreadfull death of this most
Christen knyght syr Iohan Oldecastell
the lorde Cobham this is also rekened
for one. In the ende of the fyrst boke
which he put vp into the Parleme~t howse
agaynst the abusyons of the clergye
in the yeare of oure Lorde a. M.CCC.xcv.
which was also the .xviii. yeare
of kynge Rycharde the seconde were
these .vi. verses wrytten as a brefe conclusyon
sommarye of the vnyuersall co~tentes therof.
Plangunt Anglorum Gentes crimen
Sodomorum.
Paulus fert, horum sunt Idola causa
malorum.
Surgunt ingrati, Giezite Symone nati,
Nomine prelati, hoc defensare parati.
Qui reges estis, populis quicunq3 preestis,
Qualiter hiis gestis gladios prohibere
potestis?
Though the verses be grosse and vnperfyght
accordynge to the tyme than
wherin all freshe lytterature was clerelye
extynguyshed yet is the sentence
of them lyuelye and of a freshe faythfull
sprete euen in the zele of Helias
and Phinees for rebuke of synne. And
thus are they in the Englyshe.
Bewayle maye Englande the synne
of Sodomytes.
For Idolles and they are grounde of
all theyr wo.
Of Symon Magus a secte of hypocrytes
Surnamed prelates are vp with them
to go.
And to vpholde them in all that they
maye do.
yow that be rewlers peculyarlye selected.
How can ye suffre soche myscheues
vncorrected?
Whan this boke wolde not helpe towardes
anye reformacyon but was lawhed
to scorne of the Bysshoppes than
were these verses copyed out by dyuerse
menne & set vpon theyr wyndowes gates
and dores which were than knowe~.
for obstynate hypocrytes and fleshlye
lyuers which made ye prelates madde.
And this is ye great insurreccyon that
Walden complayneth of vnto Pope
Martyne the fyft & after him Polydorus.

G.iii.

the Popes collectour with other papistes
more wherin neuer a one manne
was hurt. I wolde maruele moche more
of the doublenesse of Thomas Walden
beynge than the kynges confessour
yf I ded not knowe the vnshame fast
nature of that lyenge generacyon. In
his fyrst Epistle vnto Pope Martyne
& in the fyrst Preface of his fourth boke
contra Wicleuistas he sayth that syr
Iohan Oldecastell with a great nombre
of heretyques conspyred agaynst
kynge Henrye the fyft in the fyrst yeare
of his regne & that he offered him for
euerye monke chanon fryre and Popyshe
Prestes head within his realme
a golde noble. And cleane contrarye vnto
thishe testyfyeth in his boke called
Fasciculus zizaniorum Wicleui that
he was the same selfe tyme yeare moneth
weke and daye a presoner within
the Tower of London. How wele these
two wrytynges agre I report me.
But thus commonlye are innocent
menne lyed vpon amonge these blasphemouse
belly goddes. But he that is essencyallye
true of himselfe hath promysed
at one tyme or other to clere his true
seruaunt not by lyes and fables but by
his owne pure worde. No secrete sayth
he is so close but ones shall be opened
neyther is anye thynge so hydde that
shall not at the last be knowen clerelye.
Thus hath syr Iohan Oldecastell a
tryumphau~t victorye ouer his enemyes
by the veryte which he defended all co~trarye
to the blynde worldes expectacyon
& they haue a fowle ouerthrowe
beynge proued manyfest murtherers
blynde beastes hypocrytes & lyars by
the same. Soche a swete Lorde is God
alwayes to those that be his true seruau~tes
blessed be his holye name therfore.
Conferre the causes of this godlye ma~nys
death with the poyntes that Thomas
Becket dyed for and other Popishe
martyrs besydes & ye shall fynde them
farre dyfferent and vnlyke. Thomas
Becket was slayne at Caunterburye in
his Prelates aparell in the head churche
before the hygh aultre amonge relygyouse
Monkes and Prestes and in
the holye tyme of Christmas by his
owne sekynge. And all this is gloryouse
vnto worldlye iudgementes.
Syr Iohan Oldecastell was brent
in cheanes at London in saynct Gyles
felde vndre the galowes amonge the
laye people & vpon the prophane workynge
daye at the Bysshoppes procurement.

G.iiii.

And all this is vngloryouse yea
& verye despyseable vnto those worldlye
eyes what though Iesus Christ his
mastre afore him were handeled after
a verye lyke sort. For he was crucyfyed
at Hierusalem, without the cyte & without
the holye synagoge acursed out of
churche amonge the prophane multytude
in the myddest of theuesin ye place
where as theues were co~monlye hanged,
and not vpon the feastfull daye but
afore yt by the Bysshoppes procureme~t
also. Now lete vs consydre the causes
of both theyr deathes & trye them both
by the manyfest scripturs of the Gospell
which of them shuld seme most to
the glorye of God & which most to the
glorye of menne. Thomas Becket dyed
vpon his owne sekynge onlye for maynteynynge
the wanton lybertees and superfluouse
possessyons of the Romyshe
churche here within Englande which
are both forbydden of Christ and also
condemned by the same scripturs. He
that forsaketh not all that he hath
sayth he can not be my disciple. And
whan a contencyon befell amonge the
Apostles for the superyoryte he sayd also
vnto them. The kynges of the worlde
haue the worldes domynyon with all
pompe and rytches belongynge to the
same. But yow shall not so.
Syr Iohan Oldecastell dyed at the
importune sute of the clergye for callynge
vpon a Christen reformacyon in
that Romyshe churche of theyrs & for
manfullye standynge by the faythfull
testymonyes of Iesuas all the afore
seyd processe declareth. And this is
both allowed in the Gospell and also
requyred of euerye Christen beleuer.
He that confesseth me and my worde
before menne sayth Christ him will I
confesse for myne before my eternall father.
And he that shall denye me & my
veryte before menne him will I also
denye for myne before my euerlastynge
father which is in heauen.
Thomas Becket in the tyme of his
death co~mended himselfe to the patrones
of his churche which were two gylded
ymages of saynct Sauer and saynct
Marye & the cause of his churche vnto
saynct Denys & had no more but his
Prestes crowne cut of which is the Popes
lyuerye marke euen by the verye
shauynge as his storye mencyoneth.
Syr Iohan Oldecastell in the tyme
of his death co~mended his sowle with
Dauid Christ & Steuen into the handes

G.v.

of God the eternall father and his
cause to the ryghtfull iudgement of his
sonne Iesus Christ with desyre of mercyfull
forgeuenesse co~cernynge his enemyes
as became a faythfull Christyane
& had his whole bodye consumed in
the fyre. Now plucke from youre eyes
the corrupted spectacles of carnall or
popyshe iudgementes & do vpon them
that clere syght which ye haue by the
sprete of Christ. And that faythfullye
donetell me which of these two semeth
rather to be the martyr of Christ and
which the Popes martyr • The wayes
of God sayth Esaye are not ye wayes
of menne. But so farre as the heauens
are aboue the vyle earth so farre do his
iudgementes excede theyrs. That wc
semeth hygh and gloryouse vnto menne
sayth Christ is verye abhominacyon
afore God. By this maye ye se that
the precyouse spowse or immaculate
churche of Christ is no gorgyouslye
paynted gentyll woman nor gloryouse
glytterynge madane but all hydden
and vnknowen to the worldlye infydels
which dysdayneth to seke her in
the scripturs.
Nothynge is precyouse vnto them
that shyneth not vnto the eye. A most
fyt membre for Christes mystycall bodye
is he that suffreth with the head
therof. As this good syr Iohan Oldecastell
ded whan he was with Christ examyned
of the proude Bysshoppes scorned
of the Prestes dysdayned of the
worlde yll reported mocked hated reuyled
acursed and so commytted vnto
the laye iudgeme~t to be condemned by
them vnto most shamefull and cruell
deathe. yea so extremely malycyouse
was that spyghtfull spiritualte agaynst
him that they wolde not suffre his bodye
to be buryed in theyr great cyte or
holye Churche which is spirituallye
called Sodoma and Egyptus to make
the prophecye of saynct Iohans Apocalyps
trulye to be verefyed vpon him
& to proue him Christes membre all togyther.
They both resolued his bodye
into ashes & also made the ryuer to carrye
them awaye lyke as they ded also
with the bones of Iohan Wycleue
least anye thynge therof shulde remayne
bycause they wolde also shewe them
selues lyke in tyra~nye to Iulianus apostata
that so vsed the bodye of holye Iohan
Baptist afore them. I shuld make a
comparyson betwixt this blessyd martyr
of Christ syr Iohan Oldecastell
and Peter of Myllayne with other of
the Popes martyrs which dyed for the
Popes power pardons pylgrymages
eare confessyon and other popyshe matters
more establysshed in the generall
counsell of laterane but yt wolde axe
to moche tyme.
And as concernynge the kynde of
his co~temtuouse death or martyrdome.
More vyle was not his hangynge vndre
ye galowes in an yron cheane than
was the hangynge of his lorde Iesus
Christ vpon the crosse in the tyme of
his death. Nor than was the hangynge
of Peter Andrew and Phylyp his holye
Apostles Bysshop Symeon Dorotheus
Gorgonius Alexander Epipodius
Claudius Asterius MenonNemesius
NestorAgricola Iuli azoe
the wyfe of Nicostratus with manye
other holye martyrs more. More odyouse
was not his burnynge in the fyre
than was the cruell burnynge of Barnabas
the Apostle Polycarpus ye good
Bysshop of Smyrna Amancius Agathon
TyburciusGetulius Symphronius
Sosthenes Victor Dioscorus
Eulogius Fructuosus Castus Aemilius
Fidencius Hero Hyreneus Aphra
Hylaria Apolonia Anastasia
& manye hondrethes more. Whan this
stronge wytnesse of the lorde was amo~ge
the fatte bulles of Basan and most
cruellye assaulted of them he was
throughlye assertayned in his conscience
for that conflyct of fayth to tast his
eternall goodnesse in the lastynge lande
of the lyuynge.
yea soche tyme as he was reproued
of his enemyes and forsaken of his fryndes
in maner of a broken vessellhe toke
a stronge stomacke vnto him as ded
the myghtye Machabees and thought
thus in his mynde. That though those
vngracyouse tyrauntes shulde put him
vnto death yet wolde the eternall kynge
which is both resurreccyon and lyfe
rayse him vp agayne in the resurreccyon
of lyfe euerlastynge amonge them
that hath dyed for his pure lawes. All
redye hath he raysed his fame which
laye longe dead by the lyuynge sprete
of his Gospell for that he was a mynystre
therof. Which is a most euydent
token that he will here after with his
other mystycall members rayse him vp
in perfyght glorye. Whan the Gospell
laye dead gloryouse Thomas Becket
was a saynct & Iohan Oldecastell a
forgotten heretyque. But now that the
lyght therof shyneth we are lyke to se
yt farre otherwyse. For proude Becket
hath alredye hydden his face and poore
Oldecastell begynneth now to apere
verye notable. Not all vnryghtlye ded
saynct Augustyn speake yt and other olde
doctours besydes that manye were
worshypped here in earth for saynctes
whose wretched sowles are greuouslye
crucyate in hell.
Soche tyme as oure most worthye
souerayne kynge Henrye the .viii. now
lyuyng after the most godlye example
of kynge Iosias vysyted the temples of
his realme he perseyued the synnefull
shryne of this Becket to be vnto his people
a most pernycyouse euyll and therfore
in the worde of the lorde he vtterlye
amonge other destroyed yt. If he
had vpon that and soche other abhomynable
shrynes brent those ydolatrouse
prestes which were & are yet theyr
chefe mayntener she had fulfylled that
godlye historye through out. But that
which was not than perfourmed in hope
of theyr amendement maye by chau~ce
lyght vpon them herafter whan no
gentyll warnynge will seme to be regarded.
I doubt ye not at all but his most
noble dyscressyon perseyueth moche more
in that wycked generacyon of the Popes
norryshynge vp which alwayes
hath maynteyned and yet do soche manyfest
errours than he euer in his lyfe
yet vttered. The eternall father rewarde
his grace for that clere lyght of helthe
which we poore creaturs haue receyued
at his onlye hande vndre God
though yt be not all without the greuouse
ponnyshment of oure bodyes. By the
processe which we haue afore here vttered
of syr Iohan Oldecastellye maye
euydentlye se that great is the treasure
which the Lorde hath layed vp for the
behoue of the~ that hath trusted in him.
Wherwith now he maketh du~methe
lyenge lyppes of them that dysdaynouslye
reported the ryghtuouse to the honour
and prayse of his most gloryouse
name. AMEN. Thus endeth the brefe chronycle
co~cernynge the Examynacyon & death
of ye blessed martyr of Christ syr Iohan
Oldecastell the lorde Cobham not canonysed
of the Pope but in the precyouse
bloude of his Lorde Iesus Christ.
Collected by Iohan Baleand imprynted
anno Domini .1544.
&. vi. die Augusti.