Actes and monuments of matters most speciall and memorable, happenyng in the Church. [vol. 1] with an vniuersall history of the same, wherein is set forth at large the whole race and course of the Church, from the primitiue age to these latter tymes of ours, with the bloudy times, horrible troubles, and great persecutions agaynst the true martyrs of Christ, sought and wrought as well by heathen emperours, as nowe lately practised by Romish prelates, especially in this realme of England and Scotland. Newly reuised and recognised, partly also augmented, and now the fourth time agayne published and recommended to the studious reader, by the author (through the helpe of Christ our Lord) Iohn Foxe, which desireth thee good reader to helpe him with thy prayer.

The entry of the story of the Bohemians.

I Declared a little before howe by the occasion of Queene Anne, which was a Bohemian and maried to king Ri∣chard 2. the Bohemians cōming therby to the knowledge of Wickliffes bookes here in England, began first to taste and sauor Christes gospell, til at length by the preaching of Iohn Husse, they increased more and more in knowledge. In so much that pope Alexander the v. hearing thereof, be∣gan at last to styrre coales, and directeth his Bu•• to y^• arch∣bishop of Suinco, requiring hym to looke to the matter, & to prouide that no person in Churches, Schooles or other places should mayntayne that doctrine, citing also I. Hus to appeare before him. To whom the sayd Iohn aunswe∣ring againe, declared that mandate or Bull of the pope vt∣terly to repugne agaynst the manifest examples & doinges both of Christ and of hys Apostles, and to be preiudiciall to the liberty of the Gospell, in binding y^e word of God not to haue free recourse. And therefore from this mandate of the P. he appealed to the same Pope better aduised. But while he was prosecuting hys appeale, Pope Alexander died, as is aforesayd, pag, ••53. Ex Cochleo, in hist. Hussit.

After whome succeeded Pope Iohn the xxiii. who also playing hys part here in this matter like a Pope, sought by all meanes possible how to represse and keep vnder the Bohemians, first beginning to worke his malice vpō the foresayd Iohn Husse theyr preacher. Who at the same tyme preaching at Prage in the temple of Bethleem, because he seemed rather willing to teach the Gospell of Christ, then the traditions of Bishops, was therefore accused of cer∣tayn to the forenamed P. Iohn the 23. for an heretick. The Bishop committed the whole matter vnto Cardinall de Collumna, who when he had heard the accusation, he ap∣poynted a day to Iohn Husse, that he shold appeare in the court of Rome: whiche thing once done, Wenceslaus king of the Romaynes & of Boheme, at the request specially of his wife Sophia, and of the whole nobility of Boheme, as also at the earnest sute and desire of the towne and vniuer∣sitie of Prage: He sent his Embassadours to Rome, to de∣sire the byshop to quit & clearely deliuer Iohn Husse from that sentence and iudgement, and that if the byshop did sus∣pect the kingdome of Boheme to be infected with anye he∣retical or false doctrine, that he shold send his ambassadors the which might correct and amēd the same, if there be any errour or fault in them. And that all this should be done at the onely costes and charges of the king of Boheme, and to promise in his name that he would ayde and assiste the Bi∣shops Legates with all hys power and authoritie, to pu∣nishe all such as shoulde be taken or found in any errone∣ous doctrine. In the meane season also Iohn Husse before his day appointed, sent his lawfull and meete procurators vnto the court of Rome, and with most firme and stronge reasons, dyd proue hys innocency, whereupon he trusted so, that he thought he shoulde haue easely obtayned that he should not haue bene compelled, by reason of the great dā∣ger, to appeare the day appoynted. But when as the Car∣dinall de Collumna, (vnto whose will and iudgement the whole matter was committed) would not admit no defēce or excuse: Iohn Husse his procurators, appealed vnto the high Bishop: yet notwithstanding, this last refuge did not so much preuaile with Cardinall de Collumna, but that he would opēly excommunicate Iohn Husse as an obstinate hereticke, because he came not at hys day appoynted vnto Rome.

Nothwithstanding for so much as his procurators had

appealed vnto the high bishop, they had other iudges ap∣pointed vnto them, as cardinal Aquileianus and cardinal ••enetus with certayne others. The which iudges after they had prolonged and differred the matter by the space of one yere and a halfe, at the last they returned to the sentēce and iudgement of cardinall de Columna, and confirming y^e same, commaunded Iohn Hus his Procurators that they should leaue of to defend him any more, for they would suf∣fer it no longer. Wherupon when his Procurators would not cease theyr instant sute, certayne of them were cast into prisō, and greuously punished, the other leauing theyr bu∣sines vndone, returned into Boheme.

The Bohemians notwithstandinge little cared for all this, but continuing stil as they grew more in knowledge, so the lesse they regarded the Pope, complayning dayly a∣gaynst him and the Archb. for stopping the word of God, and the gospel of Christ to be preached, saying that by their indulgences and other practises of the court of Rome, and of the bishops Consistory, they sought their owne profit, & not of Iesus Christ: that they pluckt from the sheepe of Christ the wool and milke, and did not feed them, neyther with the word of God nor with good examples. Teaching moreouer and affirming, that the commaūdements of the Pope and Prelates are not to be obeyed, but so far as they follow the doctrine and life of Christ and of his Apostles, and that lay men ought to iudge the workes of the prelates as Paule iudged the workes of Peter in correcting him. Gal. 2. Furthermore, they had amongst thē certayne notes and obseruations, whereby they might discerne how far & wherin they might obey theyr prelates: they derided also & scorned the Popes iurisdiction, because of the schisme that was then in the church, whē there were 3. popes together one striuing agaynst another for the papacy.

Ouer and besides this, at the same time Iohn Hus did propoūd publickly, and by the Notaries caused to be writ∣ten. 3. doubtfull questions, the tenor wherof foloweth here word for word & is this: Forasmuch sayth he as it is good for men being in doubt to aske counsell, whereby all dubi∣tatiō remoued, they may be able the more firmly to adhere the truth. 3. doubtes here arise to be solued. The first doubt is whither we ought to beleeue in the Pope. The second, whither it be possible for any man to be saued, which con∣fesseth not with his mouth vnto a mortal priest. The third doubte is, whither any of the doctors doe holde or say that some of Pharaos host being drowned in the red sea, and of the Sodomites being subuerted, besaued.

As concerning the first, he did hold negatiuely, allead∣ging the saying of ••ede vpon this place of the Apostle: To him that beleeueth vpon him which iustifieth the wicked, his fayth is imputed to righteousnes. Rom. 4. Vpon thys place sayth ••ede: Aliud est credere in deum, aliud credere deo, aliud credere deum. &c. The second doubt sayth he, the mai∣ster of the sentence doth answere. lib. 4. dist. 17. cap. 11. in these wordes: What is then to be holden or sayd herein? Certes, that without the confession of the mouth, and assoyling of the outward payne, sinnes be forgeuen through contrition and humility of the hart. &c. For the third doubt he brought in the wordes of S. Ierome vpon the Prophet Nahum, speaking of the Egiptians destroyed in the sea, and of the Sodomites destroyd with fire, & of the Israelites destroy∣ed in the desert. Know you (sayth Ierome) that God ther∣fore punished them for their sinnes here temporally, be∣cause they should not be punished hereafter perpetually, & therfore because they were here punished, they shall not be punished hereafter for els the scripture should lie, which is not to be graunted. These 3. questiōs belike Iohn Hus did bring in to declare howe the doctors doe not agree in all things neither with the church of Rome, neither are to be followed in all poyntes of all men.

It foloweth moreouer after the death of the Archbish. Swinco aboue mentioned, that one named Cōradus was placed by y^e pope there to be chief general, which Cōradus conferring with the diuines and doctors of the vniuersity of Prage, required their aduises and counselles, what way they might best take to asswage the dissentions & discordes betwene the clergy and the people. Whereupon a certayne councell was deuised to be holden after this sort and ma∣ner as foloweth.

1. First, that all doctors and maisters of the vniuersity of Prage should be assēbled in the court of the Archb. and in his presence that euery doctor and maister shoulde sweare, not to holde or mayntayne any of the 45. articles of Iohn Wickliffe before condemned.

2. Item, concerning the 7. sacraments of the Church, the keyes & censures of the church, the maners, rites, ceremo∣nies, customes, and liberties of the church, concerning also the worshipping of reliques and indulgēses, the orders & religions of the church, that euery one shall sweare that he doth hold, beleue & mayntayn, and will maintayn as doth the church of Rome and no otherwise, of the which church of Rome the Pope is the head, & the colledge of Cardinals is the body: who are the true and manifest successours of blessed S. Peter prince of the Apostles, and of the colledge of the other Apostles of Christ.

3. Item, that euery one shall sweare, that in euery catho∣licke matter belonging to the Church that he will stand to the determination of the Apostolicall sea, and that he wyll obey the prelates in all maner of thinges wheresoeuer, the thing which is pure good is not forbidden: or that which is mere ill, is not commaunded: but is meane or indifferēt be¦twene both. Which mean or indifferent thing, yet notwith∣standing by circumstances of time, place or person, may be either good or euill.

4, Item, that euery one shall sweare & confesse by his oth, that the opinions of Wickliffe and others, touching the 7. sacraments of the church and other things aboue notified, being contrary to the sayd church of Rome be false.

5. Item, that an othe be required of them all, that none of them shall hold, defend or maintaine any of the 45. articles of Iohn Wickliffe aforesayd; or in any other matter catho∣lick, and especially of the 7. Sacraments and other articles aboue specified, but only as doth the Church of Rome, and no otherwise.

6. Item, that euery ordinary in his dioces shall cause the sayd premisses contained in the 1.2.3.4. articles aforesayde to be published in his Sinodes, and by his preachers to be declared to the people in the kingdome of Boheme.

7. Item, that if any Clerke, student, or lay man shal with stād any of the premisses, that the ordinary haue authority if he be conuicted therof to correct him, according to the old lawes and Canons, and that no man shal d••••end such one by any meanes, for none but the ordinary hath power to correct such a man, because the Archbishop is chauncellour both of the kingdome and vniuersity of Prage.

8. Item, that the songes lately forbidden, being odious, ••aūderous and offensiue to others fame, be not long ney∣ther in streetes, tauernes, nor any other place.

9. Item, that maister Iohn Hus shall not preach so long as he shall haue no absolution of the court, neither shal hin¦der the preaching in Prage by his presence, that by this, his obedience to the Apostolicall sea may be knowne.

10. Item, that this Councell doth appeare to be good and reasonable for the putting away of ill report and dissentiō that is in the kingdome of Boheme.

11. Item, if maister Iohn Hus, with his complices will performe this, which is conteined in the 4. former Arti∣cles, then we will be ready to say as they woulde wishe vs and haue vs, whensoeuer need shall require, that we do a∣gree with them in matter of fayth, otherwise if they wyll not so doe, we in geuing this testimony should lye greatly vnto our Lord the King & to the whole world. And more∣ouer, we will be content to write for them to the Court of Rome, and do the best we can for them, our honors saued. This counsell and deuise being considered amongest the head of the vniuersity of Prage, the foresayd administrator named Conradus, presented to the king and to the barons of the realme, and also to the Senate of Prage. Whereof as soone as word came to Iohn Hus and his adherents, they likewise drew out other Articles in maner and forme of a councell as foloweth.

For the honor of God & the true preaching of hys gos∣pell, for the health of the people, and to auoyd the sinister & false infamy of the kingdome of Boheme, and of the Mar∣quiship of Morauia, & of the city and vniuersity of Prage, and for the reforming of peace & vnity betweene the clergy and the scholers of the vniuersity.

1. First, let the right and iust decrement of the princes and of the kinges councell, be holden and stand in force, which betwene the L. Archbi. Suinco on the one party, and be∣twene the rector & maister Iohn Hus on the other party, was made, proclaimed, s••aled, and solemnly on both parts receiued and allowed in the court of our soueraigne Lord the king.

2. Item, that the kingdome of Boheme remain in his for∣mer rites, liberties & common customes, so as other king∣domes & landes do enioy, that is, in all approbations, con∣demnations, and other actes concerning the holy mother vniuersall church.

3. Item, that maister I. Hus, agaynst whom the foresayd Lord Suinco, could obiect no crime before the coūcell, that the sayd Iohn Hus may be present in the congregation of the Clergy and there whosoeuer will obiect to him either heresy or error, let him obiect, binding himself to suffer the like payne, if he do not proue it.

4. Item, if no man will set himselfe on y^e contrary part a∣gainst him, then let the cōmaundement be made by our so∣ueraigne Lord the king through all his Cittyes; and like∣wise let it be ordeined and proclaimed through all villages and townes, that maister Iohn Hus, is ready to render ac¦count of his fayth, and therfore if any will obiect vnto him any heresy or errour, let him write his name in the chaun∣cery of the Lord Archbishop, and to bring forth his proba∣tions openly before both the parties.

5. Item, if no such shalbe founde to obiect, or which will write his name, then let them be called for, which caused to be noised & rumored in the Popes Court, that in the king∣dome of Boheme, in the Citty of Prage, and in the Mar∣quesdome of Morauia, many there be whose harts be infe¦cted with heresy and error, that they may proue who they be: and if they be not able to proue it, let them be punished.

6. Item, that commaundement be directed to Doctors of Diuinity and of the Canon law, and to the Chapter of Ca¦thedrall churches, and that it be required of them all and of euery one particularly, that they wil bring forth his name, if they know any such to be an heretick or erroneous. And if they deny to know any such, then let them make recogni¦tion therof, before the publike Notary, confirming y^e same with their seales.

7. Item, these things thus done & premised, then that our soueraigne Lord the king, & also that the Archb. will geue commaundement vnder payne that no man shall call one another hereticke or erroneous, vnles he will stand to the probation of that heresy or error, as it becommeth him.

8. Item, after these thinges obteined that our soueraigne lord the king, with the consent of his Barons, will thē le∣uy a subsidy, or collect of the clergy, & direct an honest am∣bassy to the Popes court, with the which embassadors, let thē also go vpō theyr owne proper charges or expenses for theyr purgation, which haue caused this kingdome falsly & greuously to be infamed in the Apostolicall court.

9. Item, in the meane season for the presence of master I. Hus no Interdict ought to be made, as it was made of late contrary to the order and determination of our holye mother church. &c.

As this matter was thus in altercatiō betwene y^e two parts, y^e one obiecting, y^e other answering in articles, as is aforsayd: In the meane time it happened by the occasiō of Ladislaus king of Naples, who had besieged the Popes townes and territories, that Pope Iohn raising vp warr agaynst the sayd Ladislaus, gaue ful remission of sinnes to all them which would warre of his side to defēd y^e church. When this Bul of y^e popes indulgēce was come to Prage, and there published, the king Wenselaus, who thē fauored that pope, gaue cōmaundement that no man should attēpt any thing against the sayd Popes indulgēces. But Hus w^t his folowers, not able to abide y^e impiety of those pardōs. began manifestly to speake agaynst them, of the which cō∣pany were 3. certayn artificers, who hearing y^e priest prea∣ching of these iudulgences, did opēly speak against them, & called the pope Antichrist, which would set vp the crosse to fight agaynst his euenchristened. Wherefore they were brought before the Senate, and committed to warde. But the people ioyning thēselues together in armes: came to y^e magistrates, requiring thē to be let loose. The magistrates with gētle wordes and fayre promises satisfied the people, so that euery man returning home to his own house, y^e tu∣mult was asswaged. But the captiues being in prison, not withstanding were there beheaded, whose names were Iohn, Martin, and Stascon. The death and martirdome of these three being knowne vuto the people, they took the bodies of them that were slaine, and with great solemnitye brought them vnto the church of Bethlem. At whose fune∣rall diuers priestes fauoring that side, did sing in this wise These be the Sayntes whiche for the testament of God gaue their bodies. &c. And so their bodyes were sumptuously interred in the church of Bethlem, I. Hus preaching at the same fu∣nerall, much commending them for theyr constancye, and blessing God the father of our Lord Iesus Christ, whyche had hidde the way of his verity so from the prudent of this world, and had reuealed it to the simple lay people and in∣ferior priestes, which chose rather to please God then men.

Thus this City of Prage was deuided. The prelates with the greatest part of the clergy, & most of the Barons, which had any thing to lose, did hold w^t the pope, especially Steuen Paletz, being the chiefest doer on that side. On the contrary part the commons, with part of the clergy & stu∣dentes of the vniuersity went with Iohn Hus. Wenslaus the king fearing least this would grow to a tumult, being moued by the doctors and prelates and councell of his ba∣rons thought best to remoue Iohn Husse out of the Citty, who had bene excommunicated before by the Pope: And further to cease this dissention risen in the church, commit∣ted the matter to the disposition of the doctors and the cler∣gy. They cōsulting together among thēselues, did set forth a decree, ratified and confirmed by the sentēce of the king, contayning the summe of 18. articles for the maynteynance of the Pope and the see of Rome, agaynst the doctrine of Wickeliffe and Iohn Husse. The names of the Doctors of Diuinity were these: Steuen Paletz: Stanislaus de Znoyma: Pe∣trus de Ikoyma: Ioannes Heliae: Andreas Broda: Iohannes Hilde∣sen: Mattheus Monachus: Hermannus Heremita: Georgius Bota: Simon Wenda. &c. Iohn Hus thus departing out of Prage, went to his coūtry, where he being protected by the Lord of the Soile, continued there preaching, to whom resorted a great concourse of people, neither yet was he so expelled out of Prage, but that sometimes he resorted to his church of Bethleem, and there also preached vnto the people.

Moreouer agaynst the sayde decree of the doctours, I. Hus with his companye replied agayne, and aunswered to their articles, with cōtrary articles agayn as foloweth.

Notes

• Vide supra. pag. 507
• The Bohe∣mians recei∣uing the Gospell.
• The pope a∣gainst the Bohemiās. Iohn Hus cited of the Pope. Iohn Husse appealeth from the pope to the Pope. Pope Iohn. 23.
• Iohn Hus accused to pope Iohn.
• Iohn Hus excōmuni∣cate by Car∣dinall de Collumna. ••
• The Bohe∣••••••ns a∣••••••••st the Pope & his ••••ings. Ex Cochleo 〈…〉〈…〉. ••us••••. lib. 1
• Doubtes ••ohn Hus ••••••pounded
• ••••••dere in ••••••n. ••••edere ••••o. ••••••dere 〈◊〉〈◊〉. ••••. Lomb. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 dist. ••. cap. 11. Against A∣••••rice con∣fe••sion.
• Councell of the prelates of Prage a∣gainst the Gospellers.
• Purum bonum, Purum malum, Medium.
• The Pope ma∣keth warre.
• Iohn. Ma••tine. Sta••con. Martyrs.
• Steuen Paletz a great enemy to Iohn Hus.
• I. Husse bani∣shed out of Prage.