1570 Edition | Book 5 | Page 685 
some haue ix. &c.
And thus much by occasion for Popishe feastes, not that I do so much deride them, as I lamēt, that so much and manifest Idolatry in them is cōmitted to the great dishonour of our Lord our GOD, which is onely to be honoured.
MarginaliaThe trouble of the Lord Cobham.
Ex chron. Monac. Albanensis.BVt to let this bymatter passe, again to returne to the foresayd vniuersall Synode assembled by Thomas Arundell at S. Paules churche in London, as is before remembred:
CloseFoxe's first account of Sir John Oldcastle came in the Commentarii (fos. 90v-107v). Apart from praise of Oldcastle, this material consisted of the process against Oldcastle which was described in a letter from Archbishop Arundel to the bishop of London, which was contained in the Fasciculi Zizaniorum (Bodley Library MS Musaeo e 86, fos. 101v-105v). In the Rerum (pp. 100-106), Foxe reprinted this material, adding material from Fabyan's chronicle on Oldcastle's confrontations with the clergy before his revolt. (See Robert Fabyan, The Chronicle of Fabian [London, 1559], STC 10664, p. 390). It is interesting that Foxe apparently did not have access to John Bale's Brief Chronicle, a hagiography of Oldcastle, during his exile. He remedied this in his first edition. There he replaced the account of Oldcastle in his Latin martyrologies with a reprinting of all of Bale's Brief Chronicle, except for the preface and the conclusion. (See John Bale, A brefe chronycle concernyng the examination and death of the blessed martir of Christ sir Johan Oldcastel [London, 1548?], STC 1278, B3r-G2v). Foxe also added a brief account of Arundel's death, which was taken from John Bale's Catalogus (p. 577). In 1570, Foxe reprinted this material but with a few changes. He dropped the beginning of Bale's Brief Chronicle and replaced it with an account of the 1413 Convocation drawn from College of Arms MS Arundel 7, a version of Thomas Walsingham's Chronica majora. (See Thomas Walsingham, Historia Anglicana, ed. H. T. Riley, 2 vols., Rolls Series 28 [London, 1863-4], II, p. 291). Foxe also deleted some of the more sharply anticlerical passages in the Brief Chronicle. The 1570 version of the account of Oldcastle was repeated without change.in the 1576 and 1583 editions.
[Back to Top]Thomas S. Freeman
University of Sheffield
In the meane tyme, as these were in talke amongest them, concerning the good Lord Cobham: resorted vnto them the twelue inquisitours of heresies (whom they had appoynted at Oxford the yeare afore, to search out heretikes, with all Wickliffes bokes) who brought two hundreth and. xlvi. conclusions, which they had collected as heresies out of the sayd bookes. MarginaliaWalden in fasciculo. Zizarniorum Wicleui.The names of the said inquisitours were these.
[Back to Top]| 1 Iohn VVitnam, a maister in the new College. | |
| 2 Iohn Langedon, monke of Christhurch in Canterb. | |
| 3 VVilliam Vfford, regent of the Carmelites. | |
| 4 Thomas Claxton, regent of the Dominikes. | |
| 5 Robert Gylbert. | 9 Richard Flemming. |
| 6 Richard Earthisdale. | 10 Thomas Rotborne. |
| 7 Iohn Lucke. | 11 Robert Ronbery. |
| 8 Richard Snedisham. | 12 Richard Grafdale. |
These thynges thus done, and the Articles beyng brought in: further they proceeded in their communication, concluding amōg them selues, that it was not possible for them to make whole Christes coate wythout seame (meaning thereby their patched popish synagog) vnlesse certayne great men wer brought out of the way which seemed to be the chiefe maintainers of the sayde disciples of Wickliffe. Amonge whome this noble knight sir Iohn Oldcastell the Lord Cobham, was complayned of by the generall proctours, to bee the chiefe principall. MarginaliaThe L. Cobhā accused for maintayning the gospel of Christ.Him they accused first for a mighty mayntainer of suspected preachers in the dioces of London, Rochester, and Hereforde, contrary to the myndes of theyr Ordinaries. Not onely they affirmed hym to haue sent thither the sayd preachers, but also to haue assisted them there by force of armes, not wythstandyng theyr Sinodall constitution made afore to the contrary. MarginaliaThe L. Cobhū accused for his Christen beleue.Last of all, they accused hym, that hee was farre otherwyse in beliefe of the Sacrament of the aultar, of penaunce, of pilgrimage, of image worshipping, and of the ecclesiasticall power, thē the holy church of Rome had taught many yeares before.
[Back to Top]MarginaliaProcesse against him.In the end it was concluded among them, that without any further delay, proces should be awarded out agaynst him, as against a most pernitious hereticke.
MarginaliaA spirituall practise.Some of that felowship which were of more crafty experiēce then the other: thought it not best to haue that matter so rashlye handeled, but by some preparation made thereunto before. Considering the sayd Lord Cobham was a man of grtat byrth, and in fauour at that tyme with the kyng: their coūsaile was to know first the kynges mynde, to saue all thinges vpright. This counsayle was well accepted, and therupon the Archbishop Thomas Arundell with hys other bishops, and a great part of the Clergy, went straight wayes vnto the kyng, then remayning at Keningston. And there, layde foorth most greuous complayntes against the sayd Lord Cobham, to hys great infamie and blemishe, being a man right godly. MarginaliaThe king speaketh for him.The king gently heard those blood thirstye prelates, and farre otherwise then became his princelye dignitie: not withstanding requiring, and instantlye desiring them, that in respect of his noble stock and knighthoode, they should yet fauourablye deale with him. And that they woulde if it were possible, without all rigour or extreme handling, reduce him againe to the churches vnitie. MarginaliaHis gentle promise.He promised them also, that incase they were not contented to take some deliberation, his selfe would seriously common the matter with him.
[Back to Top]MarginaliaThe Kings admonishement to the Lorde Cobham.Anon after, the king sent for the sayd lord Cobham. And as he was come, he called hym secretlye, admonishing hym betwixt him and him, to submit him selfe to hys mother the holy church, and as an obedient chylde, to acknowledge himselfe culpable. Vnto whom the christen knight made this answer: MarginaliaThe aunswere of the Lord Cobham to the king.You most worthy prince sayth he, I am alwayes prompt and willing to obey, for somuch as I know you a Christen king, and the apoynted minister of God, bearing the swoorde to the punishment of euill doers, & for safegard of them that be vertuous. MarginaliaRom. 13.
1 Pet. 23
Lorde Cobham obedient to the kinge.Vnto you (next my eternal God) owe I my whole obedience, and submit thereunto (as I haue done euer) all that I haue, eyther of Fortune or Nature, readye at all tymes to fulfill whatsoeuer ye shal in that Lord, commaund me. But as touching the Pope and hys spiritualtie, I owe thē neither sute nor seruice, forsomuch as I know him by the scriptures to be the great Antichrist, þe sonne of perditiō, the opē aduersary of God, & the abhomination standing in the holy place. MarginaliaA moste christen obedience.
2 Thess. 2.
Math. 24.
The Lord Cobham forsaken of the king.Whē the king had heard this, with suche like sentences more, he wold talk no longer with him, but left him so vtterly.
And as the Archbishop resorted agayne vnto him for an answer, he gaue hym his full authoritie to cite hym, examine him, and punishe him according to their diuelish decrees, which they called the lawes of holy church. Then the sayd Archbishop by the counsayl of hys other bishops and clergy, appointed to call before him sir Iohn Oldcastell the Lorde Cobham, and to cause hym personally to appeare, to aunswer to suche suspect articles as they should lay agaynst him. MarginaliaLord Cobham sommoned by the Archb.So sent he forth his chiefe Sōmoner, with a very sharp citacion vnto the castell of Cowling, wher as he at that tyme dwelt for his solace. And as the said Sommoner was come thether, he durst in no case enter þe gates of so noble a mā wtout his lisēce, and therfore he returned home againe, his message not done. MarginaliaIohn Burler playeth Iudas part.Thē called the archb. one Iohn Butler vnto him, which was then þe dore keper of the kinges priuie chamber: and with hym he couenaunted through promises and rewardes, to haue thys matter craftely brought to passe, vnder the kings name. Wherupon, the sayd Iohn Butler tooke the Archbishops Somner with hym, and went vnto the sayd Lord Cobham: shewing hym, that it was the kinges pleasure that he should obey that citation, and so cited him fraudulently. Than sayd he to them in fewe wordes, that he in no case would consent to those most deuilishe practises of the priestes. As they had informed the Archbishop of that answere, and that it was for no man priuately to cite him after that, without perill of lyfe: he decreed by and by to haue hym cited by publique processe or open commaundement. And in all the haste possible, vpon the wednisday before the natiuitie of our Ladie in September: he commaunded letters Citatory, to be set vpon the great gates of the cathedrall church of
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