course vnto the same official, with all effect.

We therefore commaunde, that as touchyng the constitution brought vnto your Citie and Diocesan, you cause the same in conuenient place and tyme to be published, and that in all pointes you both obserue the same your selues and cause it also of others to be diligently obserued: Commaundyng furthermore, all and singular our fellow brethrē and Suffraganes, that they in likewise cause the same to be published throughout all their Cities and Dioces, and both diligently obserue the same themselues, and also cause all others to do the same: and what thyng soeuer you shall do in the premisses, that you certifie vs betwixt this and the feast of S. Peter ad vincula, next commyng, that you duely certifie vs of these thynges, by your letters patentes, contaynyng the same effect, sealed with your seales. Dated at our house in London, the first day of Iuly. An. 1416.

MarginaliaThe trouble of Iohn Barton, & Rob. Chapell in cause of religion.During the tyme of this conuocation, in the yere aboue sayd, two priestes were presented and brought before the bishops, noted and diffamed for heretikes: one named Iohn Barton, vnto whome it was obiected by Phillip Bishop of Lincolne, MarginaliaThis Philip seemeth to be Philip Repyngton afore mentioned in the story of Wicklieffe.that he had bene excommunicated about. vi. or. vij. yeares before, vpon Articles concernyng religion, and yet neyther would appeare beyng cited, nor would seeke to bee reconciled agayne vnto the Church. Which thinges beyng so proued agaynst hym, he was committed to the custodye of the foresayd Phillip Byshop of Lyncolne, and so to bee holden in pryson, tyll he should heare further what should be done.

The other was Robert Chapel, otherwise named Holbech, Chaplaine sometyme to the Lord Cobham: vnto whō lykewise it was obiected, that he beyng vnder the sentence of excommunication about thre or foure yeres, yet notwithstandyng to the contempt of the keyes, did continue saying Masse, and preaching, and sought not to be recōciled, Chapell denyng that he did know any such excommunication geuen out agaynst hym. Then was the copy of his excommunication first made by the bishop of Roff. afterward denounced by the Bishop of Londō at Paules Crosse, brought and red before hym: and so that done, that session brake vp for that tyme, whiche was about the latter ende of May, an. 1416.

The. xij. day of the moneth of Iuly next followyng, the sayd Chapell appeared agayne before the Archbishop and the Prelates. To whome when it was obiected as before, how he had preached without the Bishops licence, in diuers places, as at Cobham, at Cowling, and at Shorne, at lēgth he confessing and submittyng himself, desired pardon. MarginaliaRob. Chapell abiureth.Which although it was not at the first graunted vnto hym, yet at the last the Bishop of Roff. puttyng in his hands the decree of the canon law 1. q. 7. cap. Quoties. &c. and causing hym to read the same, made hym to abiure all hys former Articles & opinions as hereticall and schismaticall, neuer to holde the same againe, according to the contentes of the foresayd Canon. Wherupon the said Robert beyng absolued by the autoritie of the Archb. (saue onelye that he should not intermeddle with saying Masse, before he had bene dispensed frō the Pope himselfe for his irregularitie) was enioyned by the Archb. himself for his penance, standing at Paules, to publishe these Articles followyng vnto the people, in stead of his confession geuen him to be red.

MarginaliaArticles obtruded to Rob. Chapell to confesse.In primis, I confesse, that Bishops, Priestes, and other Ecclesiasticall persons, hauyng no other profession to the contrary, may lawfully haue, receyue, and reteyne landes and possessions temporall, to dispense, and dispose the same and the rentes thereof, to the behoufe of themselues or of theyr Church where they dwell, accordyng as seemeth good to them.

2. Item, I confesse that it were very vnlawfull, yea rather vniust, that temporall men, vpon any occasion, what soeuer it be, should take away temporall landes and possessons from the church either vniuersall, or particular, to whō they are geuen, the consideration of the abuse of mortall prelates, priestes, or other ministers in the Church conuersaunt (which are mixt together good with bad) abusing the same, to þ^e contrary notwithstanding.

MarginaliaMarke well this catholique doctrine of the popes church, concerning remissiō of sinnes.3. Item, I confesse, that peregrinations to the reliques of saintes, and to holy places, are not prohibited, nor to be contemned of any Catholicke, but are auayable to remission of sinnes, and approued of holy fathers, and worthy to be commended.

MarginaliaMarke how this doctryne ioyneth with Gods cōmaundement, & wyth his worde.4. Item, I confesse that to worship the images of Christ or of any other saintes beyng set vp in the Church, or in any other place, is not forbidden: neither is any cause inductiue of Idolatry, beyng so vsed as the holy fathers do will them to be worshipped: But rather such Images do profit much to the health of Christians, because they do put vs in remēbraūce of the merites of those saintes, whom they represent: and the sight of them doth mooue and stirre vp the people to prayers and deuotion.

MarginaliaErgo, by thys doctrine the iuste man liueth not by his faith, but by his confession auricular.5. Item, I confesse that auricular confession vsed in the Churche is necessarye for a sinner to the saluation of hys soule, and necessary to be done of such a priest, as is ordeyned by the Church, to heare the confession of the sinner, & to enioyne him penaunce for the same: without which confession (if it may be had) there is no remission of sinnes to him that is in sinne mortall.

MarginaliaHow can these priestes be seruauntes of Christ, which be makers of Christ.6. Item, I confesse and firmely do hold, that although the Priest be in mortall sinne, yet may he make the bodye of Christ, and minister other Sacraments and Sacramentals: which neuertheles are profitable to all the faythfull, whosoeuer receaueth them in fayth and in deuotion of the Church.

7. Item, I confesse that bishops in their owne dioces may forbid, decree, and ordayne, vpon reasonable causes, þ^t priestes should not preach without their speciall licence, the word of God, and that those that do agaynst the same, should suffer the ecclesiasticall censures.

MarginaliaPriuate religions profitable, if ye could tell wherfore.8. Item, I confesse that priuate religions as wel of mōks, canons and other, as also of the begging Friers, beyng allowed by the church of Rome, are profitable to the vniuersal Church, and in no meanes contrary to Gods law, but rather founded and authorised theron.

9. Item, I promise and sweare vpon these holy Euangelies, which I hold here in my handes, that I will hēceforth neuer hold, affirme, nor by any meanes teach any thyng contrary vnto the premisses either openly or priuately.

MarginaliaStraite inquisition in England.After the setting out of the constitution aforesaid in the dayes of the aboue named Henry Chichesley Archbishop of Caunterbury, great inquisition herevpon followed in England, and many good men, whose hartes began to be won to the Gospell, were brought to much vexation, and caused outwardly to abiure.

MarginaliaChrist had the hartes of men: they had their bodyes.Thus, while Christ had the inward hartes of men: yet the Catholicke Antichrist would needes possesse their outwarde bodies, and make them sing after hys songe. MarginaliaA briefe summe of such as abiured, vnder Hen. Chichesley.
I. Taylour.In the number of whome, beyng compelled to abiure, besides the other aforesaid, was also Iohn Tailor of the parish of Saint Michaels at Querne, MarginaliaW. Iames.William Iames maister of Arte and Phisition, who had long remained in prison, and at length after abiuration, was licensed, with his keper, to practise his Phisick.

MarginaliaI. Dwerffe.Also Ioh. Dwerf, so named for hys low stature, which was sent by the Duke of Bedford to the foresayd Chichesly and other bishops to be examined before them in the conuocation: there he at length reuolting from hys doctrine recanted, and did penaunce.

MarginaliaI. Iourdelay.In like manner Iohn Iourdelay of Lincolneshire, well commended in the registers for his learnyng, accused by the priestes of Lincoln for a certaine boke, which he contrary to the former decree of the bishops dyd conceale and did not exhibite vnto thē, was therforeMarginaliaI. Iourdelay abiureth.enforced to abiure. After whō was brought likewise before the Bishoppes, one Katherine Dertford a Spinster, who beyng accused and examined vpon these 3. articles, concerning the sacrament of the popes aultar, adoration of Images, and of pilgrimage, aunswered that she was not able, beyng vnlearned, to aunswer to such high matters, neither had she any further skil, but onely her Crede and x. Commaundementes: and so was she committed to the vicar generall of the B. of Wint. (for that she was of the same dioces) to be kept, and further to be examined of the same. Ex Regist. Henr. Chichesley.

MarginaliaRob. person of Heggeley examined.At the same sitting was also brought before the sayde Archb. and his fellow byshops, by the lieuetenant of the Tower, the person of Heggeley in Lincolneshiere, named M. Robert, who being long kept in the tower, at length by the kinges writte was brought and examyned the same tyme vpon the like articles: to witte, touching the sacrament of their altar, peregrination, adoration of Images, & whether it was lawfull for spirituall men to enioy temporall Lordeships, &c. To the which articles he aūswered (saith the Register) doublely and mockingly, saue onely in the sacrament he seemed something more conformable, albeit not yet fullye to their contentation. Wherfore, beyng committed to the custody and examination of Richard Byshoppe of Lincolne, where in the ende he was also induced to submit himselfe.

MarginaliaW. Hēry of Tenterden examined.The same likewyse did W. Henry of Tenterden beyng suspected and arested for company keping with them, whom the Bishops called Lollardes, and for hauyng suspected bookes.

Besides these, diuers other there were also whiche in