ter authoritie and ground of that hys report. For to follow nothyng els but flying fame, so rashely to diffame a man whose lyfe he knoweth not, is not the part of a faithful story writer.

MarginaliaWickliffe beginneth to touch the matter of the sacramēt. But to returne from whence we digressed. Beside these hys opinions and assertions aboue recited,  

with other moe, which are hereafter to be brought in order: He beganne also then somethyng nerely to touche the matter of the Sacrament, prouyng that in the sayd Sacrament, the accidences of bread remayned not without the subiect, or substaunce: both by the holy Scriptures, and also by the authoritie of the doctors, but specially by such as were most auncient. As for the latter writers, that is to say such as haue written vpon that argument vnder the thousand yeres since Christs tyme, he vtterly refused: saying, that after these yeres Sathan was losed and set at liberty. And that since þ^t time the lyfe of man hath bene most subiect and in daunger of errours: the simple and playne truth to appeare and consist in the Scriptures, wherunto all humaine traditions what so euer they be, must be referred, and specially such as are set forth and published now of late yeares.MarginaliaThe latter writers of the Church to be misdoubted. This was the cause why he refused the latter writers of decretals, leaning only to the Scriptures & auncient doctors: most stoutly affirmyng out of them that in the Sacrament of the body which is celebrate, with breade the accid nce not to be present without the substaunce. That is to say, that the body of Christ is not present without the bread, as the common sorte of Priestes in those dayes did dreame. As for hys argumentes what they were:MarginaliaThe accidences not to be in the sacrament without the substaunce. we will shortly at more oportunitie by Gods grace, declare them in an other place. But herein the truth (as the Poet speaketh very truly) had gotten Iohn Wickliffe great displeasure and hatred, at many mens handes: and specially of the Monkes and richest sort of Priests.

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Albeit through  

the fauour and supportation of þ^e duke of Lancaster, and Lord Henry Percy, he persisted hitherto in some meane quiet agaynst their woluish violence & cruelty:Marginalia1376. Till at last about the yeare of our Lord. 1376. the bishops still vrgyng and incityng their Archbishop Symon Sudbery, who before had depriued hym, and afterward prohibited hym also not to stirre any more in those sortes of matters:MarginaliaWickliffe cited to appeare before the bishops. had obtayned by processe and order of citation to haue hym brought before them. Wherunto both place and tyme for hym to appeare after their vsuall forme was to hym assigned.

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The Duke hauyng intelligence, that Wickliffe his client should come before the Bishops, fearyng that he being but one, was to weake agaynst such a multitude: calleth to hym out of the orders of Friers, foure Bachelers of Diuinitie, out of euery order one, to ioyne them with Wickliffe also for more suretie. When the day was come assigned to the sayd Wickliffe to appeare, which day was Thursday, the xix. of February. Iohn Wickliffe accompanied wyth the foure Friers aforesayd, and with them also the Duke of Lancaster, and Lord Henry Percy, Lord Marshall of England, the sayd Lord Percy also going before them to make roume and way where Wickliffe should come.

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MarginaliaEx hist. Monachi. D. Albani ex accommadato D. Math. Archiepis. Cant. Thus Wickliffe (through the prouidence of God) being sufficiently garded, was commyng to the place, where the Bishops sate: whom by the way they animated and exhorted not to feare nor shrinke a whit at the company of the bishops there present, who were all vnlearned (sayd they) in respect of hym. For so proceede the wordes of my foresayd author, whom I follow in this narration: neyther that he should dread the concourse of the people, whom they would themselues assist and defend, in such sort as he should take no harme. With these wordes, and with this assistaunce of the nobles: Wickliffe in hart encouraged, approcheth to the church of S. Paule in London.MarginaliaStriuing for the Lords to passe by the people. Where a mayne prease of people was gathered to heare, what shuld be sayd & done. Such was there the frequencie and throng of the multitude, that the Lordes (for all þ^e puissance of the high Marshall) vnneth  

with great difficultie could get way through.MarginaliaW. Courtney Bishop of London. In so much, that the bishop of London (whose name was William Courtney) seyng the stirre that the lord Marshall kept in the church, among the people, speakyng to the Lord Percy, sayd: that if he had known before what mastries   he would haue kept in the church, he would haue stopped hym out, from commyng there.

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MarginaliaThe words of the B. of London to the L. Percy. At which woordes of the Byshop, the Duke disdaynyng not a little, aunswered to the Byshoppe agayne, and sayd: that he would keepe such masterie there, though he sayd nay.

At last, after much wrastlyng they pierced through and came to our Ladies chapell. Where the Duke and Barons were sitting together with the Archbishops and other Bishops. Before whom the foresayd Iohn Wickliff according to the maner, stode before them, to know what should be layd vnto hym.MarginaliaIohn Wickliffe bid to sit downe before the byshops. To whom first spake the Lord Percy, bidding him to sit downe, saying: that he had many thinges to answer to, and therfore had nede of some softer seat.MarginaliaWickliffe denyed by the Byshop of London to sit downe. But the bishop of London cast eftsones into a fumish chafe w^t those wordes sayd: he should not sit there. Neither was it sayd he, accordyng to law or reason, that he which was cited there to appeare to aunswer before his ordinary, should sit downe during the tyme of his aunswer, but should stād.MarginaliaStrife betwene the L. Marshall and B. of Lōdō. The people set in a stir. Vpon these words a fire began to heat and kindle betwene them. In so much that they began to rate and to reuile one the other, that the whole multitude therwith disquieted, began to be set on a hurrey.

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MarginaliaStrife betwene [illegible text] of Lancaster and bishop of London. The B. ouergoeth the Duke in skoulding. Then the Duke takyng the Lord Percies part wyth hasty wordes began also to take vp the bishop. To whome the Bishop agayne nothyng inferiour in reprochful checkes and rebukes, did render and requite not only to him as good as he brought: but also did so farre excell him in this railing arte of scoldyng, that to vse the words of myne author, Erubuit Dux quod non potuit præualere litigio. i. that the duke blushed and was ashamed, because he could not ouerpasse the Bishop in brawlyng and rayling,  

and therefore fell to playne threatning, manasing þ^e Bishop, that he would bring downe the pride not onely of him, but also of all the prelacie of England: And speakyng moreouer vnto hym:MarginaliaThis B. of London was Williā Courtney sonne to the Earle of Deuonshyre. Thou (sayd he) bearest thy selfe so brag vpon thy parentes, which shall not be able to helpe thee: They shall haue enough to do to helpe themselues. For hys parentes were the Earle and countesse of Deuonshire. To whom the Bishop again aunswered, that to be bold to tell truth, hys confidence was not in hys parentes, nor in any man els, but onely in God in whom he trusted.MarginaliaThe Duke threateneth to draw out their B. by the heare out of the Church. Londiners take part wyth their Byshop. Then the duke softly whisperyng in the eare of hym next by him, sayd that he would rather plucke out the Bishop by the heyre of hys head out of the church, then he would take this at hys hand. This was not spoke so secretly, but that the Londiners ouerheard hym. Wherupon being set in a rage, they cried out, saying: that they would not suffer their bishop so contemptuously to be abused. But rather they would loose theyr lyues, then that he should so be drawen out by the heyre. Thus that Councell beyng broken with scoldyng and brawlyng for that day, was dissolued before ix. of the clocke. And the Duke wyth the Lord Percy went to the Parliament.MarginaliaPetitions put vp in the Parliament against the Citie of London. Where the same day before diner a bill was put vp in the name of the Kyng by the Lord Thomas Wostocke, and Lord Henry Percy, that the Citie of London should no more be gouerned by a Mayor, but by a Captaine, as in tymes before. And that the Marshall of England should haue all the ado in taking the Arestes within the sayd city, as in other cities beside, with other petitions mo, tendyng to the lyke derogation of the liberties of London. Which bill beyng read, standeth vp Iohn Philpot burgesse then for the City, saying to them which read the bill, that was neuer sene so before: and adding moreouer that the Mayor would neuer suffer any such things or other arest to be brought into the city, with mo such wordes of like stoutnes.

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MarginaliaHasty counsaile of the Lōdiners. The next day following, the Londiners assembled th?selues in a councell, to consider among them vpon the bil for chaūging the Mayor, and about the office of the Marshal, also concernyng the iniuries done the daye before to their Bishop. In which meane tyme they beyng busie in long consultation of this matter, sodenly and vnawares entred in þ^e place two certaine Lordes, whether to come to spy, or for what other cause the author leaueth it vncertaine, the one called Lord Fyzwalter: the other Lord Guy Brian. At the first commyng in of them, the vulgare sort was ready forthwith to flee vppon them, as spies, had not they made their protestation with an othe, declaryng that their cōming in was for no harme toward them. And so were compelled by the citizens to sweare to the city their truth and fidelitie, contrary to the which othe if they should rebell, contēted to forfeit whatsoeuer goodes and possessiōs they had within the citie.

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MarginaliaThe Oration of lord Fizwalter to the Londiners. This done, then began the Lord Fizwalter in this wise to perswade and exhort the citizens: first declaryng how he was bound and obliged to them and to their Citie, not for the othe onely now newly receyued, but of olde and auncient good wyll from hys great graundfathers tyme. Beside other diuers dueties, for the which he was chiefly bound to be one of their principall fautors: for so much as what so euer tended to theyr damage and detriment, redounded also no lesse vnto hys owne, for which cause he could not otherwyse chuse, but that as he did and vnderstand to be attempted against the publike profite and liberties of the Citie,

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