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.

¶A spectacle for all Christians to beholde and to take heed of the Popes blasphemous Doctrine.

BY many and sundry wayes almighty God hath admo∣nished men of all nations in these our latter yeares to embrace,* 1.1 and not violently to repugne agaynst the light of his Gospell, as first by preaching of his word, secondly, by the bloud of the Martyrs, and thirdlye, by terrible exam∣ples shewed from time to time vppon his Aduersaryes. In the number of whom commeth here to be remembred the notable workyng of Goddes hand vppon a certayne Priest in Kent named Nightingall, Parson of Crondall besides Caunterbury: who vpon Shrouesonday, whych was about the third day of the sayde Moneth of Marche, and yeare of our Lord aforesayd, reioycing belike not a lit∣tle at this alteration of Religion, beganne to make a Ser∣mon to his Parishioners, taking his Theame out of the wordes of S. Iohn: He that sayth, he hath no sinne, is a lyer,* 1.2 and the trueth is not in hym. &c. And so vpon the same verye impertinently declared to them all suche Articles as were set forth by the Popes authority, and by the commaunde∣ment of the Byshoppes of this Realme: saying moreouer vnto the people in this wise: Now Maysters and neigh∣bors reioyce and be mery, for the prodigall sonne is come home. For I knowe that the most part of you be as I am: for I know your hartes well enough. And I shall tell you what hath happened in this weeke past. I was before my Lord Cardinall Pooles grace, & he hath made me as clean from sinne, as I was at the fontstone: & on Thursday last being before him, he hath appointed me to notify (I thank him for it) the same vnto you.* 1.3 And I wyll tell you what it is. And so reading the Popes Bull of pardon that was sent into Englande, he sayde, he thanked God that euer he had liued to see that day: adding moreouer that he belee∣ued, that by the vertue of that Bull he was as cleane from sinne, as that night that he was borne: and immediately

[illustration]

*The Description of a Popish Priest, who when he had taken away the glory and office of Christ, fell downe sodenly, and dyed.

* 1.4 vpon the same fel sodenly down out of the Pulpit, and ne∣uer stirred hand nor foote, and so lay he. Testified by Rob. Austen of Cartham, which both heard and saw the same, & is witnessed also by the whole country round about.

Notes

• * 1.1

  A Popish Parsō preaching to his Parishioners.
• * 1.2

  A terrible ex∣ample of Gods seuere punish∣ment vpon Nightingall Parson of Crō∣dall in Kent.
• * 1.3

  Blasphemy to Christs Gospell punished.
• * 1.4

  The sodayne death of one Nightingall Parson of Cron∣dall in Kent, who was made by the Cardi∣nalls authoritye chiefe Peniten∣tiary of that Deanry.