A Ccordyng to the fiue sondry diuersities and alterations of the Church, so haue I diuided hetherto the order of this present Church story into fiue principall partes, euery part contayning. 300. yeares. So that now commyng to the last. 300. yeares, that is, to the last tymes of the Church, countyng from the tyme of Wickleffe: For asmuch as in the compasse of the sayd last 300. yeares, are contained great troubles and perturbations of the Church, with the meruailous reformation of the same through the wondrous operation of the almighty, all which thynges cannot be comprehended in one boke, I haue therfore disposed the sayd latter. 300. yeares, into diuers bookes, beginnyng now with the vj. booke, at the raigne of kyng Henry the vj. In which booke, beside the greuous and sundry persecutions raised vp by Antichrist, to be noted, herein is also to be obserued, that where as it hath of long tyme bene receiued and thought of the common people, that this Religion now generally vsed, hath sprong vp and rysen but of late, euen by the space (as many do thinke) of. xx. or. xxx. yeares, it may now manifestlye appeare, not onely by the Actes and Monumentes heretofore passed, but also by the hystories hereafter followyng, how this profession of Christes Religion hath bene spread abroad in England of old and auncient tyme, not onely from the space of these. 200. later yeares, from the tyme of Wyckleffe, but hath continually from tyme to tyme sparkled abroad, although the flames therof haue neuer so perfectly burst out, as they haue done within these hundred yeares and more: As by these hystories here collected and gathered out of Registers, especially of the Diocesse of Norwich, shall manifestly appeare: wherin may be sene what men, and how many both men and women within the sayd Dioces of Norwich, haue bene, which haue defended the same cause of doctrine, which now is receiued by vs in the Church. Which persons although then they were not so strōgly armed in their cause and quarell, as of late yeares they haue bene, yet were they warriours in Christes church, and fought for their power, in the same cause. And although they gaue backe through tyranny, yet iudge thou the best good Reader, and referre the cause therof to God, who reueleth all thynges accordyng to hys determined will and appointed tyme.

Secondly, that no humayne person is to be worshipped, but onely God is to be adored.

Thirdly, that the Saintes are not to be worshipped nor inuocated.

Vpon these Articles the sayd William Taylour being examined, denyed that he did preach or holde them in way of defendyng them, but onely did common and talke vpon the same, especially vpon the second and third Article, onely in way of reasonyng, and for argument sake. And to iustifie hys opinion to be true in that which he did holde, he brought out of his bosome a paper or libell written, wherein were conteined certayne Articles, wyth the testimonies of the Doctours alledged, and exhibited the same vnto þ^e archbyshop. Who then beyng bidde to stand a side, the Archbyshop consultyng together wyth the Bishops and other prelates, what was to be done in the matter, delyuered the writynges vnto Maister Iohn Castle, and Iohn Rikynghale, the two Vicechauncelours of Oxford and Cambridge, and to Iohn Langdon Monke of Canterbury. Who aduising with them selues, and wyth other deuines, about the Articles and allegations, on the monday folowyng, presented the sayd Articles of William Taylour, to the Archbyshop and Prelates, as erroneous and hereticall. Wherupon William Taylour beyng called before them, in conclusion was contented to reuoke the same, and for hys penaunce was by them condemned to perpetuall prison.

Notwythstanding through fauour they were contented, that he should be released from hys carceral induraunce, in case he would put in sufficient suretie in þ^e kyngs Chaūcery, and sweare that he shall neuer holde or fauour any such opinions hereafter. And thus the sayde William Taylour appoynted to appeare the next Wenesday at Lambeth before the Archbyshop, to take hys absolution from hys long excommunication duryng the tyme from Thomas Arundell, appeared agayne before hym, where he laying a side his Arunlousa, that is: hys cloke, his cap, and stripped vnto hys doublet, kneled at the feete of the Archbyshop.

   

In the meane tyme, while William Taylour was thus in the custody of the Byshop of Worcester, there passed certayne writinges betwene hym, and one Thomas Smith priest at Bristow, in the which writynges William Taylour replyed agaynst the sayd Thomas, concernyng þ^e question of worshyppyng Saintes. Vpō the occasion of whiche reply, beyng brought to the hands of the Byshop of Worcester, William Taylour began a new to be troubled, and was brought agayne before the publicke cōuocation of the clergie, by the sayd Bishop of Worcester, to aunswere vnto hys writynges. This was an. 1422. the xi. day of February. Vnto the which conuocation the sayd William beyng presented, hys writyngs were read to him which he would not, nor could not deny to be of his owne hand writyng.

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