The 17. day of August, an. 1415. John Claydon did personally appear, arrested by the mayor of London, for suspicion of heresy, before Henry Chichley Archbishop of Canterbury, in Pauls Church: who being demanded,1 denied it not, but frankly confessed that for 20. years space, he had bin suspected thereof: for which also he had suffered 2. years imprisonment at Convey, & three years in the Fleet: out of which prison, he (in the reign of king Henry the fourth, ⟨p. 340⟩was brought before L. John Scarle, then Chancellor to the king, and there did abjure all heresy, and error. And being demanded of the Archbishop, confessed that since his abjuration, he had in his house written English books of religion, and had frequented the company of divers godly men. Which confession being made, the Archb. did command the books to be delivered to master Robert Gilbert Doctor of divinity, William Lindwood, Doct. of both laws, and other Clerks to be examined. And in the mean time, David Bear, Alexander Phillip, and Balthasar Mero, were taken for witnesses against him: and were committed to be examined to master John Escourt, general examiner of Canterbury. This done. the Archb. continued his session till monday next in the same place, which was the 20. day of the same month, and master Escourt publicly exhibited the witnesses: which being read, there were after that read divers tractations, found in his house: out of which, especially out of a book called, the Lantern of light, 2(that Claidon at his own costs, caused to be written by one, called Joh. Grime) being examined, divers points were gathered, and noted for heresy.3 First, that the Pope was Antichrist, and the enemy that sowed tares among the laws of Christ. That the Archbishops and Bishops, speaking indifferently, are the seats of the Beast Antichrist. That the Bishops license, for a man to preach the word of God, is the Character of the Beast. That the Court of Rome, is the head of Antichrist, and the Bishops the body. That no reprobate is a member of the Church. That Christ did never plant private religions. That the material Church should not be decked with gold.4 That Priests unlawfully keeping temporal goods, and unsatiable begging of Friars, were the two chief causes of the persecution of Christians.
The 17. day of August, an. 1415. Iohn Claydon did personally appeare, arrested by the mayor of London, for suspition of heresie, before Henry Chichley Archbishop of Canterbury, in Paules Church: who being demaunded,1 denied it not, but frankly confessed that for 20. yéeres space, he had bin suspected therof: for which also he had suffered 2. yéeres imprisonment at Conuey, & thrée yéeres in the Fléete: out of which prison, he (in the raigne of king Henrie the fourth, ⟨p. 340⟩was brought before L. Iohn Scarle, then Chancelour to the king, and there did abiure all heresie, and errour. And being demanded of the Archbishop, confessed that since his abiuration, he had in his house written English bookes of religion, and had frequented the company of diuers godly mē. Which confession being made, the Archb. did command the bookes to be deliuered to maister Robert Gilbert Doctor of diuinity, William Lindwood, Doct. of both lawes, and other Clearkes to bee examined. And in the meane time, Dauid Beare, Alexander Phillip, and Balthasar Mero, were taken for witnesses against him: and were committed to bee examined to maister Iohn Escourt, general examiner of Cāterbury. This done. the Archb. continued his session til munday next in the same place, which was the 20. day of the same moneth, and maister Escourt publikely exhibited the witnesses: which being read, there were after that read diuers tractations, found in his house: out of which, especially out of a booke called, the Lantern of light, 2(that Claidon at his owne costs, caused to be written by one, called Ioh. Grime) being examined, diuers points were gathered, and noted for heresie.3 First, that the Pope was Antichrist, and the enimy that sowed tares among the lawes of Christ. That ye Archbishops and Bishops, speaking indifferently, are the seats of the Beast Antichrist. That the Bishoppes license, for a man to preach the worde of God, is the Character of the Beast. That the Court of Rome, is the head of Antichrist, and the Bishoppes the bodie. That no reprobate is a member of the Church. That Christ did neuer plant priuate religions. That the materiall Churche shoulde not bée decked with golde.4 That Priestes vnlawfully kéeping temporall goodes, and vnsatiable begging of Friers, were the twoo chiefe causes of the persecution of Christians.
- 1Constancy.
- 2The Lantern of light.The Lanterne of light.
- 3Articles.
- 4The causes of persecution.
