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.

¶To the slaunderous and vntrue title of mayntenance of superstition. &c. he sayeth, that he did not maynteyne any superstition, contrary to the kinges ordinaunces and iniun∣ctions, but abhorring in his hart all superstition, hath trauel∣led and doth trauell to abolish the same by true doctrine and doyng, as much as he can, with the kinges peace amongst his people there.

[ 20] TO the 20. he sayth, that George Constantine in the third yeare of the kinges Maiestyes reigne, not regar∣ding the daungerous time of rebellion in other places, rashly caused to be pulled downe without any authoritye knowne to this defendaunt, the communion altar in Car∣marthen Church, by his owne presumptuous mynde ap∣pointing the vse thereof in another place of the church, not without grudge of the people. Wherefore the Bishop fea∣ring tumult, cōmaunded the vicar to set vp the communiō table (for the time) nere to the place where it was before.

To the 21. he sayth that he hath bene diuers tymes in [ 21] the quere of Carmarthen, and hath taried there in the com∣munion time not communicating himselfe, and that in e∣uery Church where he commeth on the holy day to preach, or to pray, he kneeleth in the quere bareheaded, as well at Matines before the Communion, as at Euensong after without any superstition: he thinketh it not necessary for the Communions sake to leaue kneeling to Christ. But he hath diligently taught the people not to kneele nor knocke to the visible shew, or externall shewe of the Sacrament. And the queres of Carmarthen and other places there, are not close at the sides, so that the people may come in and forth at theyr pleasure. Moreouer the Kinges ordinaun∣ces doth not authorise him to rebuke the people for knock∣ing on theyr brests in token of repentaunce of theyr sinnes nor for kneeling in token of submission to God for mercye in Christ.

To the 22. he sayth, that in time of rebellion in Deuon. [ 22] and Cornewall, threatening to come into Wales, he tea∣ching the people the true fourme of prayer, accordinge to Gods holy word, and declaring the prayer vpon beades to be vayne and superstitious, yet durste not for feare of tumulte, forceably take from any man his beades with∣out authority. And touching the not reproouing of suche as hee shoulde meete, wearing beades, hee remembreth not that he hath so done, vnlesse it were in the rebellion tyme, at whiche time he durste not rebuke suche Offen∣ders.

To the 23. he sayth, that he beyng in the Pulpitte, hys [ 23] face towardes the people, did not see the lightes, if anye were set vp about the corpes behinde his backe, till after that he came downe from the Pulpitte. But he with Ge∣orge Constantine and the aforesayde Chauntour, sittyng in the Church in Carmarthen, to heare causes, and see∣ing the Uicare with other Priestes, with song and lights bringyng a corpes vppe to the Church, called forthwyth the Uicare and Priestes, and rebuked them in open court as cormorantes and Rauens flying about the dead carcase for lucre sake.

To the 24. he sayeth, that he caused the one childe be∣yng [ 24] borne with great perill of death to the Mother, and it selfe lying for dead a certayne space after, to be christened on the workyng day: the other childe was Christened on the working day, because both Father and Mother, and al other people there, were in perill of death, by reason of the sodayne sweat, which all men feared at that time. And touching the rest of the accusatiō which is, that by that ex∣ample, it is vsed after the olde accustomed fashion, he kno∣weth no such thing.