1583 Edition | Book 5 | Page 590 
CloseAn ancient city and county of itself, having separate jurisdiction. Locally in the hundred of Bridge and Petham, lathe of St. Augustine, eastern division of the county of Kent. 26 miles south-east by east from Rochester. The city comprises the parishes of All Saints, St. Alphege, St. Andrew, St. George, The Holy Cross, St. Margaret, St. Martin, St. Mary Bredman, St. Mary Bredin, St. Mary Magdalene, St. Mary Northgate, St. Mildred, St. Peter and St. Paul, all in the Diocese of Canterbury, and with the exception of St. Alphege and St. Martin within the Archdeaconry of Canterbury. The living of All Saints is a rectory with St. Mary in the Castle and St. Mildred attached; St. Alphege is a rectory exempt, united with the vicarage of St. Mary Northgate; St. Andrew is a rectory with St. Mary Bredman annexed; St. George is a rectory with St. Mary Magdalene annexed; St. Martin's is a rectory exempt with St. Paul's annexed; St. Peter's is a rectory with Holy Cross annexed; St. Mary Bredin is a vicarage; and St. Margaret's is a donative in the patronage of the Archdeacon
[Back to Top]English information from Samuel Lewis, A Topographical Dictionary of England (S. Lewis & Co: London, 1831)
Scottish information from Samuel Lewis, A Topographical Dictionary of Scotland (S. Lewis & Co: London, 1846)
Welsh information taken from Samuel Lewis, A Topographical Dictionary of Wales(Lewis & Co: London, 1840)
The reason for the use of these works of reference is that they present the jurisdictional and ecclesiastical position as it was before the major Victorian changes. The descriptions therefore approximate to those applying in the sixteenth century, after the major changes of 1535-42. Except for the physical locations, which have not changed, the reader should not therefore take these references as being accurate in the twenty-first century.
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CloseKent
OS grid ref: TQ 753 760
CloseLambeth, South London
OS grid ref: TQ 305 775
CloseKent
OS grid ref:
CloseAn ancient city, having separate jurisdiction, locally in the lathe of Aylesford, county of Kent. 8.5 miles north from Maidstone. The city is the seat of the bishopric, and comprises the parishes of St Nicholas and St Margaret, both in the Archdeaconry and Diocese of Rochester. St Margaret's is a vicarage in the patronage of the Dean and Chapter, and St Nicholas is a vicarage in the patronage of the bishop.
[Back to Top]English information from Samuel Lewis, A Topographical Dictionary of England (S. Lewis & Co: London, 1831)
Welsh information taken from Samuel Lewis, A Topographical Dictionary of Wales(Lewis & Co: London, 1840)
The reason for the use of these works of reference is that they present the jurisdictional and ecclesiastical position as it was before the major Victorian changes. The descriptions therefore approximate to those applying in the sixteenth century, after the major changes of 1535-42. Except for the physical locations, which have not changed, the reader should not therefore take these references as being accurate in the twenty-first century.
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Close[S. Iames]
A Coruña, Spain
Coordinates: 42° 52' 57" N, 8° 32' 28" W
Major pilgrimage site
bene present at theyr wicked Sermōs, greuously punishing with threatnings, terrors, and the power of the secular sword: suche as did withstand him: alledging and affirming amongest others, that we and our felow brethren Suffragans of out prouinces had not, neither haue any power to make any such constitutions. Also he hath holden, and doth holde opinion and teach as touching the sacramentes of the aultar, of penaunce, of pilgrimage, of the worshiping of Sayntes, and of the keyes contrary to that which the vniuersall church of Rome doth teach ond affirme.
[Back to Top]Wherefore, on the behalfe of the sayd prelates and clergy, we were then required that we would vouchsafe to proceed agaynst the sayd sir Iohn Oldcastle vpon the premisses. Notwithstanding, for the reuerence of our Lord the king, in whose fauour the sayde sir Iohn at that presēt was, MarginaliaSir I. Oldecastel in fauour with the kyng.& no lesse also for honor of his knighthood: we with our fellow brethren and Suffraganes then present, with a great part of the Clergy of our prouince, comming personally before the presence of our Lord the king, being then at hys Manor of Kenington, put vp against the said sir Iohn, a complaint, and partly reciting the defaultes of the sayd sir Iohn. But at the request of our Lord the king, we desiring to reduce the sayd sir Iohn to the vnity of the church, without any reproche, we deferred all the execution of the premisses for a great time. But at the last, for so much as our sayd Lord the king after his great trauelles taken about the conuersion of him, did nothing at all profite, as our said Lord the king vouchsafed to certify vs both by word & writing: We immediatly decreed to call forth the sayd sir Iohn personally to aunswere before vs at a certayne time already passed, in and vpon the premisses, and sent our messengers with these our letters of citation to the sayde sir Iohn, then being at his castle of Cowling, vnto the which messenger we gaue commaundement that he should in no case go into the Castle except he were licensed. But by the meane of one Iohn Butler, porter of the kings chāber, he should require the sayd sir Iohn, that he would either licēse the sayd messenger to come into the Castle, or that he would cite him, or et the least that he would suffer himselfe to be cited without his Castle. The whiche sir Iohn openly aunswered vnto the sayd Iohn Butler, declaring the premisses vnto him on the behalfe of our Lord the king: that he woulde by no meanes be cited, neither in any case suffer his citation. Then we being certified of the premisses lawfully proceeded further.
[Back to Top]First, hauing faythfull report made vnto vs, that he could not be apprehended by personall citation, we decreed to cite him by an edict, to be openly set vppe in the porches of the Cathedrall Church of Rochester next vnto him, litle more then three English miles distant from the sayd castle of Cowling. As we had thus caused him to be cited, and our edict aforesayde to be publickely & openly set vpon the porches of the said Church, that he should personally appeare before vs the 11. day of September last past to aunswere vnto the premisses, and certayne other thinges concerning heresye: The which day being come, we sitting in the tribunall seat in our greater chappell within the Castle of Leedes of our dioces, the which we then inhabited, and where as we then kept residence with our court, and hauing taken an othe whiche is requisite in the premisses, and the information by vs heard and receiued, as the common report goeth: in the partes whereas the sayd sir Iohn dwelleth ( fortifying himselfe in his sayd castle, defending his opinions manifoldly, MarginaliaThe keyes of the church falsely wrasted.contemning the keies of the churche and the Arbishops power.) We therefore caused the sayde Syr Iohn cited, as is aforesayd, to be openly with a loude voyce called by the cryer: and so being called, long looked for, and by no meanes appearing, we iudged him (as he was no lesse worthy) obstinate, and for punishment of his sayd obstinacye, we did then and there excommunicate him.MarginaliaThe L. Cobham excommunicated. And for so much as by the order of the premisses, and other euident tokens of hys doinges, we vnderstand that the sayde sir Iohn for the defence of his errour doth fortify himselfe, as is aforesayd against the keyes of the Church, by pretence whereof, a vehement suspition of heresy and schisme riseth agaynst him: We haue decreed if he may be apprehended, agayne personallye to cite him, or els as before, by an edict that he should appeare before vs the Saterday next after the feast of Saint Mathew the Apostle and Euangelist next comming, to shew some reasonable cause if he can, why we shoulde not proceede agaynst him, to more greuous punishment, as an open hereticke, schismaticke and open enemy of the vniuersall church. And personally to declare why he should not be pronounced such a one, or that the ayde of the secular power shoulde not be solemnely required agaynst him. And further to aunswere, do and receiue as touching the premisses, whatsoeuer iustice shal require. The which time being come, that is to say, the Saterday next after the feast of S. Mathew being the 24. day of September, sir Rob. Morley knight Lieftenant of the tower of London appeared personally before vs, sitting in the chapter house of the Churche of S. Paule at London, with our reuerent fellowe brethren and Lordes, Richard by the grace of God Bishop of London, and Henry Byshop of Winchester, and brought with him sir Iohn Oldecastle Knight, and set him before vs (for a little before he was taken by the kinges seruauntes and cast into the tower) vnto which sir Iohn OldcastleMarginaliaThe L. Cobham cast into the Tower.so personally present, we rehearsed all the order of the proces, as it is contayned in the actes of the of the daye before passed with good and modest wordes and gentle meanes. MarginaliaThe teres of the Crocadile.This is to say, howe he the said sir Iohn was detected and accused in the conuocation of the prelates and clergy of our sayd prouince as is aforesayd vpon the articles before rehearsed, and how he was cited & for hys contumacy excommunicate. And when we were come to that poynt, we offered our selues ready to absolue him. MarginaliaPopish absolution neglected.Notwithstanding, the sayd sir Iohn, not regarding our offer, sayd, that he would willingly rehearse before vs, and my sayde fellowe brethren, the fayth which he held & affirmed. So he hauing his desire & obteining licence, tooke out of his bosome a certayne Scedule indented, and there openly reade the contentes of the same, and deliuered the same Scedule vnto vs, and the Schedule of the articles, wherupon he was examined, which was as in forme folowing.
[Back to Top]I Iohn Oldcastle knight, Lord of Cobham, desire to made manifest vnto all Christians, & God to be taken to witnesse, that I neuer thought otherwise or would thinke otherwise (by Gods helpe) then with a stedfast & vndoubted fayth to imbrace all those his Sacramentes whiche he hath instituted for the vse of his Church.
[Back to Top]Furthermore that I may the more playnly declare my mynde in these iiij. pointes of my fayth: MarginaliaThe Sacrament of the aultar.First of all I beleue the Sacramēt of the aulter to be the body of Christ vnder þe forme of bread the very same body which was borne of his mother Mary, crucified for vs dead and buried, rose againe the third day, sitteth on the right hād of his immortall father, now being a triumphant partakec with him of his eternall glory. MarginaliaOf penance.Then as touching the Sacrament of penaunce this is my belief, that I doe thinke the correctiou of a sinnefull lyfe to be most necessary for all such as desire to be saued and that they ought to take vpō them such repentaunce of their former lyfe by true confession, vnfayned contrition, and lawfull satisfaction, as the worde of God doth prescribe vnto vs. Otherwise there will be no hope of saluation.
[Back to Top]Thirdly, as touchyng images,MarginaliaOf Images. this is my opiniō, that I do iudge them no poynt of fayth, but brought into the worlde after the fayth of Christ by the sufferaunce of the Church, & so growen in vse that they might serue for a kalender of the lay people and ignoraūt. By the beholdyng wherof they might the better call to remēbraunce the godly examples & martyrdome of Christ and other holy men: but if any man do otherwise abuse this representatiō, and geue the reuerence vnto those Images, which is due vnto the holy men whom they represent, or rather vnto him whom the holy men themselues owe all theyr honour, setting all theyr trust and hope in them which ought to be referred vnto God: or if they be so affected toward the domb Images, that they do in any behalfe addict vnto them, eyther be more addicted vnto one Saint then another, in my minde they doe little differ from Idolatrye, grieuouslye offending agaynst God the author of all honor.
[Back to Top]MarginaliaOf pilgrimages.Last of all I am thus perswaded that there be no inhabitants here in earth, but that we shall passe straight either to life or punishment: for whosoeuer doth so order his lyfe that he stumble at the commaundementes of God, whiche either he knoweth not, or he will not be taught them, it is but in vayne for him to look for saluation, although he ran ouer all the corners of the world. Contrarywise, he which obserueth his commaundements cannot perish, although in all his life time he walked no pilgrimage, neither to Rome, Caunterbury, nor Compostella, or to any other place, whither as the common people are accustomed to walke.
[Back to Top]This Scedule with the articles therin conteined being read (as is aforesaid) by the sayd sir Iohn: We with our felow brethren aforesaid, & many other doctors & learned mē had conference vpon the same. And at the last by the counsell and consent of them, we spake these wordes folowing vnto the sayd sir Iohn there present. Behold sir Ioh. there are many good and catholicke things conteined in this scedule. But you haue this time to answere vnto other matters which sauor of errors & heresies. Wherunto, by the cōtentes of this scedule, it is not fully answered, and therfore you must answere therunto & more plainely expresse & declare your fayth & opinions as touching those poynts in þe same bill. That is to say, whither you hold, beleue and affirme, that in the sacrament of the aultar, after che cōsecration rightly done, there remayneth materiall bread or not.MarginaliaSee whether these men picke quarelles where they neede not.
[Back to Top]Item, whether you hold, beleue, and affirme, that it is necessary in the sacrament of penaunce for a man to cōfesse his sinnes vnto a priest appoynted by the church.
The which articles in this maner deliuered bnto him,