Actes and monuments of matters most speciall and memorable, happenyng in the Church. [vol. 2, part 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 copy of an other Letter to his frend tou∣ching his assertions of the Mariage of Priestes, and other causes for the which he was condemned.

IT is heresy to defend any doctrine agaynst the holy scrip¦ture. Therfore the Lord Chauncellour and Bishops cō∣senting to his sentence agaynst me, be heretickes. For they haue geuen sentence agaynst the mariage of priests, know¦ing that S. Paul to Timothe and Titus writeth playnly,* 1.1 that Bishops, Priestes, & Deacons may be maried: know¦ing also that by S. Paules doctrine, it is the doctrine of y^e deuils to inhibite Matrimony. And S. Paule willeth e∣uery faythfull Minister to teach the people so, least they be deceiued by the marked Marchauntes. 1. Tim. 4.

These Byshops are not ignoraunt, that it is onely S. Paules counsell, and lawfull, but Gods commaundemēt also to mary, for such as cannot otherwise liue chaste, nei∣ther auoyd fornication.* 1.2

They know that such as do mary, do not sinne.

They know that God, before sinne was, ordeined ma∣trimony, & that in Paradise, betwene two of his principall creatures, man, and woman.

They knowe what spirite they haue, whiche saye it is euill to mary (seing God sayd: it is not good for man to be alone without a wife) hauing no speciall gift contrary to the generall commaundemēt and ordinance, diuers times repeated in the booke of Genesis,* 1.3 which is to encrease and multiply.

They know that Abraham caried into the lād of Cana∣an his old & yet barrayne wife the vertuous womā Sara with him, leauing father and mother,* 1.4 and country other∣wise at Gods commaundement. For though father & mo∣ther, and other frendes are deare and neare, yet none are so dearely and nearely ioyned together, as man & wife in ma¦trimony, which must needes be holy, for that it is a figure & similitude of Christ and his Church.

They know that S. Paul geueth a great prayse to ma∣trimony, calling it honorable,* 1.5 and that not onely to and a∣mong many, but to and among all men without exceptiō, whosoeuer haue need of that Gods remedy, for mans and womans infirmity.

They know y^t if there were any sinne in Matrimony,* 1.6 it were chiefly to be thought to be in the bedcompany. But S. Paul sayth: that the bedcompany is vndefiled.

They know that the hauing of a wife was not an im∣pediment for Abraham, Moyses, Isaac, Iacob, Dauid. &c. to talke with God, neither to y^e Leuites, bishops, & priests office in the time of the old Testament or the New.

They know y^t Christ would not be cōceiued,* 1.7 or borne of his blessed mother the virgine Mary, before she was es∣poused in mariage, his owne ordinaunce.

They know by S. Cyprian and Sainct Augustine that a vow is not an impediment sufficient to let Matrimony or to diuorce the same.

They know that S. Chrysostome sayth it is heresie to affirme that a bishop may not haue a wife.* 1.8

They know that Ambrose will haue no commaunde∣ment but counsaile onely to be geuen, touching the obser∣uing of virginitie.

They know that Christ with his blessed mother & the Apostles were at a mariage, and beautified and honoured the same with hys presence, and first miracle.

To be short: they know that al that I haue here writ∣ten touching the mariage of Priestes, is true & they know that the papistes themselues do not obserue touching that matter, their owne lawes and Canons, and yet they con∣tinue marked in conscience with an hote iron, as dete∣testable heretickes in this behalfe. The Lorde geue them grace to repent, if it be his good will, Amen.

My second cause why I was condemned an hereticke is,* 1.9 that I denyed Transubstantiation and Concomitati∣on, two iuggling wordes of the papistes, by the whiche they doe beleue and will compel al other to beleue y^t Chri∣stes natural body is made of bread, & the Godhead by and by to be ioyned thereunto: so y^t immediately after y^e words (called the wordes of consecration) there is no more bread and wine in the sacrament, but the substaunce onely of the bodye and bloud of Christ together with his Godhead: so that the same being now Christ, both God and man ought to be worshipped with godly honour, and to be offered to God, both for the quick & the dead, as a sacrifice propiciato¦ry and satisfactory for the same, This matter was not lōg debated in words: but because I denyed the foresaid papi∣sticall doctrine, (yea rather playne most wicked Idolatry, blasphemy and heresie) I was iudged an hereticke.* 1.10

I did also affirme the pope to be Antichrist, and po∣pery Antichristianitie.

And I confessed the Doctrine of the Bible to be a suffi∣cient doctrine, touching all and singular matters of Chri∣stian Religion, and of saluation.

I also alledged that the othe against the Supremacy of the Bishop of Rome, was a lawfull othe,* 1.11 and so was the othe made by vs all, touching the kings or Queenes pree∣minence. For Chrisostomus sayth: That Apostles, Euan∣gelistes,

and all men in euery realme were euer, and ought to be euer, touching both body and goodes, in subiection to the kingly authority, who hath the sworde in his hand, as Gods principall officer and Gouernour in euery Realme. I desired the Bishops to repent for bringing the Realme from Christ to Antichrist,* 1.12 from light to darkenes, from ve∣rity to vanity.

Thus you know the summe of my last examination, & condemnation. Pray for me, and I will pray for you.

God be praysed: since my condemnation, I was neuer frayd to dye:* 1.13 Gods will be done. If I shrinke from Gods truth▪ I am sure of an other maner of death thē had Iudge Hales. But God be praysed, euen from the bottome of my hart, I am vnmoueably setled vppon the Rocke, nothyng doubting, but that my deare God will performe and finish the worke that he hath begon in me, and other. To him be al honor both now and euer through Christ our onely and whole Sauior. Amen.

And thus much wrote Doctour Taylour concerning this matter, to his frend.

You heard in the former aunsweres a little before cer∣teine allegations touched of Doctour Taylour out of S. Cyprian, Augustine, Chrysostome, and Ambrose, touching the lawfulnes of Priestes mariage. Now ye shal heare the places of the sayd Doctors cited and produced out of their owne bookes, as here ensueth,

Notes

• * 1.1

  The B. of Wint. and his fellowe•• proued to be o••pen heretickes by Scripture 〈◊〉〈◊〉 by the true ••••••∣nition of here••••.
• * 1.2

  1. Tim. 4. Bishops sinne agaynst their owne consciēce & that for 9. or 10. causes. 1. Cor. 7. Gene. 2.
• * 1.3

  Gene. 1.
• * 1.4

  Gene. 12. Mariage is no impediment for a good man to walke in ••he o∣bediēe of Gods cōmaundement.
• * 1.5

  Ephe. 5. Aeb. 13.
• * 1.6

  Gene. 18. Exod. 18. Gene. 25. Gene. 31. 1. Reg. 7.
• * 1.7

  Math. 1.
• * 1.8

  Chrisostome. It is heresie to deny Priestes Mariage. Ambros. 3. Q. 1. Integritat.
• * 1.9

  The 2 cause of D. Taylours co∣demnation. Transub••tantia∣tion and Con∣comitation, two iuggling words of the Papistes.
• * 1.10

  The 3. article a∣gaynst Doct. Taylour.

  The 4. article a∣gaynst Doct. Taylour.
• * 1.11

  The 5. article a∣gaynst Doct. Taylour.
• * 1.12

  All men must obey kinges.
• * 1.13

  D. Taylour ne∣uer afrayd of d••••th.