Which Mass having in the said Chapel been solemnly celebrated, there being present thereat the said John Wodecok, the Mayor, John Prestone, Recorder, Nicholas Wottone and Geoffrey Broke, Sheriffs, the Prior of the Holy Trinity, John Hadlee, William Staundone, Richard Whytyngtone, Drew Barentyn, Thomas Knolles, John Shadworth, William Askham, William Bramptone, John Warner, William Walderne, William Venour, Robert Chychely, Thomas Fauconer, Thomas Polle, William Louthe, William Crowmere, Henry Bartone, and Henry Pountfreyt, Aldermen, and many reputable Commoners of the City aforesaid; the same Mayor, Recorder, Sheriffs, Aldermen, and Commoners, entered the Guildhall, where the precept of the said Mayor and Aldermen, as the cause of the said congregation, was becomingly set forth and declared by the said Recorder to the Commoners aforesaid; to the end that such Commoners should nominate unto the said Mayor and Aldermen such able and proper persons as had before filled the office of Sheriff in the City aforesaid; it being for the said Commoners to take no care which one of the persons so to be nominated should be chosen by the Mayor and Aldermen to be Mayor for the ensuing year. Which being done, the said Mayor, Recorder, Sheriffs, and Aldermen, went up into the Chamber of the Mayor's Court, within the Guildhall aforesaid, there to await the nomination of such two persons. Whereupon, the Commoners peacefully and amicably, without any clamour or discussion, did becomingly nominate Richard Whytyngtone, mercer, and Drew Barentyn, goldsmith, through John Westone, Common Countor of the said city, and presented the same.
And hereupon, the Mayor and Aldermen, with closed doors, in the said chamber chose Richard Whytyngtone aforesaid, by guidance of the Holy Spirit, to be Mayor of the City for the ensuing year: after which, the Mayor and Aldermen, coming down from the Chamber into the Hall, to the Commoners there assembled as the custom is, notified by the Recorder unto the same Commoners, how that, by Divine inspiration, the lot had fallen upon the said Richard Whytyngtone, as above stated.
THE PERSECUTION OF THE LOLLARDS (1413).
The Lollards were disciples of Wyclif, and increased very considerably in numbers and in power at the beginning of the fifteenth century. A large number of the citizens of London appear to have become attached to the new doctrines, which repudiated some of the most important dogmas of the Church. The clergy were active in their efforts to suppress the new beliefs, and applied to the King for assistance. Whatever may have been the personal views of Henry IV. and Henry V. on the matter, they were compelled by force of circumstances to keep on good terms with the Church, and measures of repression were adopted. The leader of the Lollards, Sir John Oldcastle, a man of distinguished military ability, was imprisoned, but rescued from the Tower by a band of Londoners. A huge meeting was held in St. Giles's Fields, but was prevented from doing any damage by Henry V.'s vigilance; the party was vigorously persecuted, and Oldcastle was captured and hanged. After this Lollardry languished, and gradually disappeared.
The King to the Mayor and Sheriffs of London: Greeting.
Inasmuch as we have been given to understand that certain priests, not privileged by law for this purpose, nor licensed by the diocesan of the place, nor permitted by the Church, who are said to be of this new sect of the Lollards, have been preaching in public places within the aforesaid city, and in the suburbs and vicinity thereof, in order to excite and win over some who are ill disposed to the Catholic faith and the doctrine of holy mother Church; and by their own rashness, and contrary to the laws and ordinances of the Church, they have preached, nay, rather have profaned the Word of God; or at least under pretext of preaching they have in such places been emboldened to propagate discord among our people on the pestiferous seeds of Lollardism and evil doctrine, after the manner of preachers; and as some of our people of our said city and its vicinity, under pretence of hearing such preaching, have assembled to those places, and have congregated together in large multitudes; and, in consequence, murmurs and seditions have in part arisen, and will probably arise, to the disturbance and no small marring of our peace, unless a remedy be more quickly applied to abolish such meetings and pull down such conventicles:
We, desiring especially to provide for the defence of the Catholic faith, the laws and ordinances of the Church, and for preserving our peace, command you, that you cause proclamation publicly to be made, within our city aforesaid, and its suburbs, in every place where you shall find it expedient:
That no chaplains, of whatsoever degree, state, or condition they may be, shall henceforward hold, cherish, affirm, preach, or defend such opinions, heresy, or error, contrary to the decision of holy mother Church; and that none other our lieges and subjects in this matter adhere to or abet them, or lend them counsel or assistance, under penalty of imprisonment of their bodies, and the forfeiture of all their goods and chattels, to our will and disposal. We further command and positively enjoin you that, if henceforth you shall be able to find within your bailiwick any such chaplains preaching and affirming publicly or secretly, contrary to the aforesaid rescript, or any other our lieges and subjects making conventicles and meetings, or receiving the same chaplains, or being under probable or great suspicion concerning the premises, or in any way counselling, favouring, or helping such chaplains in this matter, then arrest ye them without delay, and commit them to prison, there to remain, until they shall obey the commands of the diocesan in whose diocese they may have preached....
Witness the King, at Westminster, the 21st day of August, 1413.