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.

¶Another letter written by the Bishop of S. Dauies.

RIght honourable, and my very especiall good Lorde, with humble seruice and harty thanks to God: and to you for your godly fauour towardes me at all tymes, as right playnly appeareth by your fatherly letters, most lo∣uingly admonishing me to enclyne vnto that which is ve∣ry necessary, as charitable concorde and vnitie: This is furtherly to besiche your Lordship for the Lordes sake not to be grieued, but benignly to heare, and grauely to pon∣der that weighty matter, which appearing (to other) but a light griefe to me, is in very deede a right grieuous of∣fence to God, with no little hinderaunce of his holy word, and disturbance of the Kings godly proceedyngs, & may be a great occasion of much inobedience, and disorder of good lyfe. Wherefore I am straightly bounden for the true zeale that I (ought to) beare vnto Gods worde of lyfe, Christian religion, the Kings Maiesties honour, and the godly quiet state of hys people, not faintly to let fall the burthen of diligent redresse to bee sought at his Maiesties handes by the godly wisedome of hys most honourable and vpright Counsaile, but with harty affection to beare it vp against those high mynded, arrogant, stubburne, am∣bitious, couetous canons, trusting in their biting tonges, with crafty preuention, and vtterly vntrue surmises, to

stoppe the light that their vngodly misdoings in darknes shal either not be seene, or at the lest may seeme to appeare in colourable appearance of right. In so much that I doe not a little maruell at these qualities in M. Chaunter, the Canon, and the Deane of Worcester, whose vngentle and vntrue behauiour I haue not only knowen, but expertly prooued, and sensibly feeled in two of the first to my great losses whereof I make no complaynt. But I woonder in my mynd and lament in my heart the straunge alteration and wilfull goyng backeward of myne old faithfull bro∣ther George Constantine, the whiche (knowing them all three to haue bene in tymes past eyther obstinate ene∣mies to the true bearers of the Crosse of Christ, or at the least priuye lurkers vnder pretence of fauour towardes the Gospell, to sting the poore followers thereof, seekyng but their owne lucre and pleasure in all their doinges) would so earnestly cleaue vnto them in their wrōg deeds, as to betray me with his tong, become vntrue of his pro∣mise, and a bearer of filthy sinne for lucres sake, euen yet stifly persisting in the same (namely) in thyngs manifestly known vnto many, although he would deny it, and that I might not be credited. And as for their premunire, both George and they at my first commyng, vngētly deteining from M. Ferlee hys commission for the Chauncellorship, would haue faced mee downe with premunire, because it was written in my owne name accordyng to the statute: yet was I fayne for the zeale of vnitie, not to see their vn∣curteous deedes, departing with M. Farlee for the auoy∣dyng of their malice and enuy, and gaue that office for the a••••tie of George, vnto M. Chaunter his sonne in lawe, and to D. Merike the office of Cardigan. But seyng after∣ward their couetous respect to their own glory and lucre, not regarding the reformation of sinne and specially of shameles whoredome, I was compelled to remooue thē, sore agaynst their wyls: and where as I desired many and sondry tymes charitable redresse of their wrong do∣yngs in the vacation time, I obtained many faire words, and nothyng in deede. Also desiring to haue sight of the booke of Statutes of the church, for the knowledge of my duety and theirs, I could not obtayne. Desiring to haue a key of y^e Chapter seale, as my L. of Bathe had, they would not deliuer it but vpon conditions: yet was I content to be brideled, receiuyng it, as pleased them to geue it. And further requiring the sight of necessary euidences, for the declaration of diuers thyngs in trauers of my right, they would in no wyse graunt it. And thereupon consideryng their vngentlenes, I mooued the quo warranto, knowyng right well that if they should shew any substantiall grant vnder the kings seale for their corporation, it must therein appeare the Bish. to be the hed, and euer hath bene vnder the kyng: for other they neuer haue, nor had, except they would returne to Rome againe, as I trust they will not. And yet perceiuyng afterward that they had no speciall graunt to shew, or els such as they would not shew. I my selfe for the respect of vnitie, wrote my letters to the kings Attorney, by reason whereof the quo warranto was stayed, and so yet remaineth. But touching the certificate, y^e kings subsidie beyng due at Michaelmas last, and forborne tyll after Christmas, and lawfully demaunded afore, they dyd vtterly refuse to pay, both to my Uice collector and to my selfe, except I would take it of thē in portions, not know∣ing where to aske the rest, and it is committed vnto me in the Kings roll, a whole summe in grosse to be receyued of the Canons Residentiaries for their diuidēt, who because they cannot agree in deuiding, would haue the kings ma∣iestie to tary for hys money till they can agree to make di∣uision. And I cannot demaund it of any perticular person nor at any perticular place. Wherfore I most humbly be∣seech your fatherly goodnes for the Lordes sake, to persist and continue my good Lord and friend, vnto such tyme as ye fynd me eyther desiring to be defended in my wrong, or not willyng to put the iudgement of my right cause into your hands. And because that the residue of matters tou∣chyng them and their vngentle, vntrue, and vngodly do∣yngs is too long, and I haue molested you too much with this my tedious letter, I shall now surcease: humbly be∣seeching your good Lordship to accept in good part this my boldnesse, proceedyng of necessitie, and to pardon it for the loue of our Lorde Iesu, who saue and keepe you in health, comfort, and honor, long to endure for thaduance∣ment of his glory.

Written at Aburguily this ix. of March.

Your Lordships to com∣mand during lyfe. R. F.

And thus you haue heard the first trouble of this bles∣sed Martyr of the Lord, in King Edwards dayes, wyth the whole discourse thereof. Which we thought the rather here to expresse, to geue other good bishops warning to be more circumspect, whom they should trust and haue about them. Briefly, in few wordes to conclude this processe, B. Farrer, partly vpon the importunate sute of his aduersa∣ries, partly vppon the sinister and infortunate fall of the good Duke of Somerset, by whom he had bene before pro∣mooted and maynteined, hauyng but small fauour shew∣ed, was deteined in prison, till the death of king Edward, and the commyng in of Queene Mary and popish religi∣on, whereby a new trouble rose vpon hym being now ac∣cused and examined for his fayth and doctrine. The pro∣cesse of which his trouble here likewyse followeth.

After that the foresayd M. Farrer Bishop of S. Da∣uids had bene long deteined in custody vnder sureties, in the raigne of king Edward, not for any iust cause of hys part deserued, but by reason that he had bene promoted by the D. of Somerset, and now after his fall he found few∣er friends to support him agaynst such as hunted after his Bishoprike, at length after the decease of king Edward, by the commyng in of Queene Mary, the state of religion be∣gan to be chaunged and altered.* 1.1 Whereby a new trouble rose vpon hym, beyng now accused and examined, not for any matter of Premunire, but for his fayth and doctrine. Whereupon he was called before the Bish. of Winchester, with M. Hooper, M. Rogers, M. Bradford, M. Saun∣ders and others aforesayde, the 4. of February. On the which day hee should also with them haue bene condem∣ned: but because laisure or list did not so well then serue the Bish. his condemnation was deferred, and he sent to prison agayne, where he continued tyll the 14. day of the sayd moneth of February. What his examinations & aun∣swers were before the said B. of Winchester, so much as remayned and came to our handes, I haue here annexed in maner as followeth.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The seco•••• trouble o•• B. Farr•••• the tyme 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Q. Mary