overcome. The Lollards were every day increasing in the kingdom,
and were become a formed party, which appeared extremely dangerous
to the church, and even formidable to the civil authority.[***] The
enthusiasm by which these sectaries were generally actuated the great
alterations which they pretended to introduce, the hatred which they
expressed against the established hierarchy, gave an alarm to Henry;
who, either from a sincere attachment to the ancient religion, or from
a dread of the unknown consequences which attend all important changes,
was determined to execute the laws against such bold innovators.

* Hist. Croyland. Contin. Hall, fol. 34. Holing, p. 544.

** Holing, p. 545.

*** Walsing. p. 382.

The head of this sect was Sir John Oldcastle, Lord Cobham, a nobleman
who had distinguished himself by his valor and his military talents, and
had, on many occasions, acquired the esteem both of the late and of
the present king.[*] His high character and his zeal for the new sect
pointed him out to Arundel, archbishop of Canterbury, as the proper
victim of ecclesiastical severity, whose punishment would strike a
terror into the whole party, and teach them that they must expect
no mercy under the present administration. He applied to Henry for a
permission to indict Lord Cobham;[**] but the generous nature of
the prince was averse to such sanguinary methods of conversion. He
represented to the primate, that reason and conviction were the best
expedients for supporting truth; that all gentle means ought first to
be tried, in order to reclaim men from error; and that he himself
would endeavor, by a conversation with Cobham, to reconcile him to the
Catholic faith. But he found that nobleman obstinate in his opinions,
and determined not to sacrifice truths of such infinite moment to his
complaisance for sovereigns.[***]

* Walsing. p 382.

** Fox's Acts and Monuments, p. 513.

*** Rymer, vol ix. p. 61. Walsing. p. 383.

Henry's principles of toleration, or rather his love of the
practice, could carry him no farther; and he then gave full reins to
ecclesiastical severity against the inflexible heresiarch. The primate
indicted Cobham, and with the assistance of his three suffragans, the
bishops of London, Winchester, and St. David's, condemned him to the
flames for his erroneous opinions. Cobham, who was confined in the
Tower, made his escape before the day appointed for his execution.