About the year 1376. §1376the Bishops still urging and stirring up their Archbishop Simon Sudbury (which before had deprived him, and afterward prohibited him not to stir any more in those kind of matters) had obtained by process and order of citation, to have him brought before them, whereupon both place and time for him to appear, after their usual form was to him assigned. The Duke having intelligence, that Wycliffe his Client should come before the bishops, fearing that he being but one, should be too weak against such a multitude, calleth unto him out of the orders of Friars, four Bachelors of divinity, out of every order one, to join them with Wycliffe, for the more surety. When the day was come for Wycliffe to appear, which was Thursday, the 19. of February, John Wycliffe accompanied with the Friars,1 and with them also the Duke of Lancaster, and Lord Henry Percy, Lord marshal of England: the said Lord Percy going before him to make room and way where Wycliffe should come: such was the throng of the multitude in Pauls Church (which was the place appointed) that the Lords, for all the puissance of the high Marshall, scarce could with great difficulty get way thorough. In so much, that the Bishop of London, Will. Courtney, son to the Earle of Devonshire, seeing the stir that the Lord Marshall kept in the Church, among the people, speaking to the Lord Percy, said, that if he had known what masteries he would have kept in the church, he would have stopped him for coming in there. Whereupon grew words. At last, after much wrestling, they pressed through, and came to our Ladies Chapel, where the Duke, and barons were sitting together, with the Archbishops, and other ⟨p. 273⟩Bishops, before whom stood John Wycliffe to know what should be laid against him. To whom first spake the Lord Percy, bidding him sit down, saying:2 he had many things to answer unto, and therefore had need of some soft seat. But the Bishop of Lincoln cast into a fumish heat, said he should not sit there, neither (said he) was it according to law, &c. whereupon grew great heat of speech among them. The Duke also taking part with the Lord Percy, 3rebuked the Bishop, who went so far beyond the Duke in railing, that the Duke (as the Author saith) was ashamed because he could not overpass the Bishop in brawling, and therefore fell to plain threatening:
About the yéere 1376. §1376the Bishops still vrging and stirring vp their Archbishop Simon Sudbury (which before had depriued him, and afterward prohibited him not to stirre any more in those kind of matters) had obtained by processe and order of citation, to haue him brought before them, wherevpon both place and time for him to appeare, after their vsuall forme was to him assigned. The Duke hauing intelligence, that Wickliffe his Client should come before the bishops, fearing that he being but one, should be too weak against such a multitude, calleth vnto him out of the orders of Friers, foure Batchelers of diuinity, out of euery order one, to ioyne them with Wickliffe, for the more surety. Whē the day was come for Wickliffe to appeare, which was Thursday, the 19. of February, Iohn Wickliffe accompanied with the Friers,1 and with them also the Duke of Lancaster, and Lord Henry Piercey, Lord marshall of England: the said Lord Piercey going before him to make roome and way where Wickliffe shoulde come: such was the throng of the multitude in Paules Church (which was the place appointed) that the Lordes, for all the puissaunce of the high Marshall, scarce could with great difficultie gette way thorough. In so much, that the Bishop of London, Wil. Courtney, sonne to the Earle of Deuonshire, séeing the stirre that the Lord Marshall kept in the Church, among the people, speaking to the Lorde Piercie, said, that if hee had knowen what masteries he would haue kept in the church, he would haue stopped him for comming in there. Whereupon grewe words. At last, after much wrastling, they preased thorow, and came to our Ladies Chappell, where the Duke, and barons were sitting together, with the Archbishops, and other ⟨p. 273⟩Bishops, before whom stood Iohn Wickliffe to know what should be laid against him. To whom first spake the Lord Percie, bidding him sit downe, saying:2 hée had many things to answere vnto, and therefore had need of some soft seate. But the Bishop of Lincolne cast into a fumish heat, sayd he should not sit there, neither (said he) was it according to law, &c. wherevpon grewe great heat of speach among them. The Duke also taking part with the Lord Percie, 3rebuked the Bishop, who went so farre beyond the Duke in rayling, that the Duke (as the Author saith) was ashamed because hée could not ouerpasse the Bishop in brawling, and therefore fell to plaine threatning:
- 1Wycliffe brought before the Bishops.Wickliffe brought before the Bishops.
- 2Wycliffe bid sit down.Wickliffe bid sit downe.
- 3From brawl to threats.From braule to threates.
