A01115:987
An abridgement of the book of acts and monuments of the ChurchAn abridgement of the booke of acts and monumentes of the Church
An abridgement of the book of acts and monuments of the Church: written by that Reverend Father, Master John Fox: and now abridged by Timothy Bright, Doctor of Physic, for such as either through want of leisure, or ability have not the use of so necessary an historyAn abridgement of the booke of acts and monumentes of the Church: written by that Reuerend Father, Maister Iohn Fox: and now abridged by Timothe Bright, Doctour of Phisicke, for such as either through want of leysure, or abilitie haue not the vse of so necessary an history
London: printed by I. Windet, 1589
Volume 1 › Book 5: The fifth Book.Volume 1 › Book 5: The fifth Booke.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
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, 3