the papists mark and consider what profits or fruits their papistical holiness hath brought forth unto the world. If we would measure every man's doctrine by his fruits, let us behold this man, whom, together with an infinite number of others, this most optable doctrine of Wickliff hath brought forth. For thus, as is before said, Walden, who otherwise was his most grievous enemy, reported of the said sir John Oldcastle: That he did never understand how great the poison and spot of sin was, but only by reading of Wickliff's books.[1] This I thought good to recite in this place, because of Polydore Virgil, who, in the twenty-second book of his Story of England, calleth him valiant, but a wicked man. But if Polydore had showed himself as faithful in the writing of tlie history, as the lord Cobham was distant from impiety and wickedness, he would never have spoken those words, and would have defiled so noble a history with fewer lies.*
Moreover, in the records above mentioned, it followeth, how, in the said parliament, after the martyrdom of this valiant knight, motion then was made, that the lord Powis might "be thanked and rewarded, according to the proclamation made, for his great travail taken in the apprehension of sir John Oldcastle, knight, heretic." Thus stand the words of the record; where two things are to be noted: First, how sir John here in the record is called, not traitor, Judas but heretic only. Judas seeketh for his reward.Secondly, mark how this brother of Judas here craveth his reward for betraying the innocent blood. Wherein it is not to be doubted, but that his light fee, and 'quid vultis mihi dare' in this world, will have a heavy reward hereafter in the world to come, unless he repented.
*In D. Johan. Cobhami equitis aurati et Martyris cineres, Carmen I. F. in felicem memoriam. Anno 1418.
Stemmate, pace, toga præstans: et clarus in armis
Miles, eques, martyr: gemma, monile, decus;
Militæque dominique potens Cobhamius Heros,
Lux patriæ, et gentis gloria digna suæ:
Pertulit infestas acies, tulit aspera multa,
Bella profana gerens, pælia sacra gerens.
Hæc mente, ilia manu, parili cum laude, subibat
Parte etenim victor semper utraque stetit.
Hinc equitis debetur honos, hinc martyris illi
Gloria, qua victor tempus in omne manet.
Victus erat. Quid tum? mens quando invicta manebat,
Pars potior, nullis cedere docta malis.
O tibi, te dignus rex, si Cobhame tulisset
Suppetias, nec te destituisset ope,
Turmis sat fueras istis, turbisque Cyclopum:
Quas tua fregisset dextra labore levi
Hoc sibi, sed Christus quid si diadema reponit?
Tu meliora, quidem, tempore dignus eras.*[2]
