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Cobham

Cobham

NGR: TQ 670 684

A parish, formerly a market town, in the hundred of Shamwell, lathe of Aylesford, county of Kent, 5 miles west from Rochester. The living is a vicarage not in charge in the Archdeaconry and diocese of Rochester

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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Cooling (Cowling) Castle

Kent

OS grid ref: TQ 753 760

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Hagnaby [Heggely]

Lincolnshire

OS grid ref: TF 345 625

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Paul's Cross

Open-air pulpit by the south wall of St Paul's Cathedral, London

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Shorne

Kent

OS grid ref: TQ 695 715

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St Michael Le Querne [Saynt Michaels at Querne]

London

Destroyed 1666

specially of the abiurations, if in the meane time they shall chaunce to abiure any heresyes: that then in the next cōuocation of the Prelates and Clergy vnder the forme aforesayd, they cause the same distinctly and apertly to be certified to vs and our successours: And that they deliuer effectually to the Officiall of our Court, the same processe to remain with them, or els in the register of one court of Canterbury, so that euery one, to whom such things appertaineth for the further execution of the same proces, may haue recourse vnto the same officiall, with all effect.

We therefore commaund, that as touching the constitution brought vnto your City & Diocesan, you cause the same in conueniēt place and time 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: Commaūding furthermore, all and singular our felow brethren and Suffraganes, that they in likewise cause the same to be published throughout all their Cities and Dioces, & both diligently obserue the same themselues, and also cause al others to do the same: and what thing soeuer you shall do in the premisses, that you certify vs betwixt this and the feast of S. Peter ad vincula, next comming, that you duely certify vs of these thinges, by your letters patentes, contayning the same effect, sealed with your seales. Dated at our house in London, the first day of Iuly. an. 1416.

During the time of this conuocatiō, in the yere aboue sayd, MarginaliaThe trouble of I. Barton, and Robert Chapell in cause of reli.gion.two priestes were presented & brought before the bishops, noted and defamed for hereticks: one named Iohn Barton, vnto whom it was obiected by MarginaliaThis Philip seemeth to be Philippe Repington afore mentioned in the story of Wicklieffe.Philip Bishop of Lincolne, that he had bene excommunicated about 6. or 7. yeares before, vpon Articles concerning religion, and yet neither would appeare being cited, nor woulde seeke to be reconciled agayne vnto the Church. Which thinges being so prooued agaynst him, he was committed to the custody of the foresayd Philip Bishoppe of Lincolne, and so to be holden in prison, till he should heare further what should be done.

The other was Robert Chapel, otherwise named Holbech, Chaplain sometime to the Lord Cobham: vnto whō likewise it was obiected, that he being vnder the sentence of excommunication about three or foure yeares, yet notwithstanding to the contempt of the keyes, did continue saying Masse, and preaching, & sought not to be recōciled, Chapel denying that he did know any such excommunication geuen out agaynst him. Then was the copy of his excommunicatiō first made by the bishop of Roff. afterward denoūced by þ^e Bishop of Lōdon at Paules crosse brought and read before him: & so that done, that Session brake vp for that time, which was about the latter ende of May. an. 1416.

The xij. day of the moneth of Iuly next following, the sayd Chappell appeared agayn before the Archbishop and the Prelates. To whom when it was obiected as before, how he had preached without the Bishops licence, in dyuers places, as at Cobham, at Cowling, and at Shorne, ac length he confessing and submitting himself, desired pardō.MarginaliaR. Chapell abiureth. Which although it was not at the first graunted vnto him, yet at the last the Bishop of Roff, putting in his hands the decree of the canon law: l. q. 7. cap. Quoties. &c. and causing him to read the same, made him to abiure all his former articles & opinions as hereticall and schismaticall, neuer to holde the same agayne, according to the contentes of the foresayd Canon. Wherupon the sayd Robert being absolued by the authority of the Archb. (saue only that he should not intermeddle with saying Masse, before he had bene dispensed from the Pope himselfe for his irregularity) was enioyned by the Archb. himselfe for his penance, standing at Paules to publish these articles folowing vnto the people, in stead of his confession geuen him to be read.

MarginaliaArticles obtruded to R. Chapel to confesse.In primis, I confesse that Bishops, Priestes, and other Ecclesiasticall persons, hauing no other profession to the contrary, may lawfully haue, receiue, and reteyne landes and possessions temporall, to dispense and dispose the same and the rentes thereof, to the behoofe of themselues or of theyr Church where they dwell, according as semeth good to them.

2. Item, I confesse that it were very vnlawfull, yea rather vniust, that temporal men vpon any occasion, whatso euer it be, should take away temporall landes and possessions from the church either vniuersal or particular, to whō they are geuen, the consideration of the abuse of mortall prelates, priest, or other ministers in the Church conuersant (which are mixt together good with bad) abusing the same to the contrary notwithstanding.

3. Item, I confesse that peregrinations to the reliques ofsaintes and to holy places, are not prohibited, nor to be cōtemned of any Catholicke, MarginaliaMarke well this catholicke doctrine of the Popes Church, concerning remission of sinnes.but are auayleable to remission of sinnes, and approued of holy fathers, and worthy to be commended.

4. Item, I confesse that to worship the images of Christ or of any other saynts being set vp in the church, or in any other place is not forbiddē:MarginaliaMarke how this doctrine ioyneth with Gods cōmaundement. & with his word. neither is any cause inductiue of Idolatry, being 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 merits of those sayntes, whom they represent and the sight of them doth mooue and stirre vp the people to prayers and deuotion.

5. Item, I confesse that auriculer confession vsed in the Churche is necessarye for a sinner to the saluation of hys soule,MarginaliaErgo, by this doctrine the iust man liueth not by his faith, but by his confession auricular. 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 penance for the same: without which confession (if it may be had) there is no remission of sinnes to him that is in sinne mortall.

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

7. Item, I confesse that bishops in their own dicoes, may forbid, decree, & ordayn vpō reasonable causes, that priests should not preach without theyr speciall licēce, the word of God, and that those that do agaynst the same, should suffer the ecclesiasticall censurs.

8. Item, I confesse that priuate religiōs as wel of monks canons and other, as also of the begging Friers, being allowed by the church of Rome, MarginaliaPriuate religiōs profitable, if ye could tell wherfore.are profitable to the vniuersall church, and in no meanes contrary to Gods law, but rather founded and authorised thereon.

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

After the setting out of the constitution aforesaid in the dayes of the aboue named Henry Chichesley Arbishop of Caunterbury great inquisition hereupon followed in England,MarginaliaStraight inquisition in Englād. and many good men whose harts began to be won to the Gospell, were brought to much vexation: and caused outwardly to abiure.

Thus, while Christ had the inward hartes of men:MarginaliaChrist had the hartes of men: they had their bodies. yet the Catholick Antichrist would needes possesse their outward bodyes, and make them sing after his song. In the number of whom, being compelled to abiure,MarginaliaA briefe summe of such as abiured, vnder Hen. Chichesley. besides the other aforesayd was also I. TaylorMarginalia I. Tailour of the parishe of Saynt Michaels at Querne. William IamesMarginaliaW. Iames. maister of Art and Phisition, who had long remained in prison, and at length after abiuration, was licēced with his keper, to practise his Phisicke.

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

In like maner Iohn IourdelayMarginaliaIohn Iourdelay. of Lincolnshire, well commended in the registers for his learning, accused by þ^e priestes of Lincoln for a certayn book, which he contrary to the former decree of the bishops did conceale & dyd not exhibite vnto thē, MarginaliaI. Iourdelay abiureth.was therfore enforced to abiure. After whō was brought likewise before the Byshops, one Katharin Dertford a Spinster, who being accused and examined vpon these 3. articles concerning the Sacrament of the popes altar, adoration of Images, and of pilgrimage, answered that she was not able, being vnlearned, to answere to such high matters, neither had she any further skil, but only her Creed and x. commaundements: and so was she committed to the vicar general 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. Hen. Chichesley.

At the same sitting was also brought before the sayde Archb. and his fellow bishops, by the liuetenant of þ^e Tower, the person of Heggely in Lincolneshyre,MarginaliaRob. person of Heggeley examined. named M. Robert, who being long kept in the tower, at lēgth by the kinges writte was brought and examined the same tyme vpon the like articles, to witte: touching the sacrament of their aultar, peregrinatiō, adoration of images, & whether it was lawfull for spirituall men to enioy temporall Lordships. &c. To the which articles he answered (saith the Register) doublely and mockingly, saue onely in the sacramēt he semed something more conformable, albeit not yet fully to their contētion. Wherfore being committed to the cu-