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 summe of the wordes spoken by Queene Mary to certayne of her Counsellers. March. 28. an. 1555. touching the restitution of Abbey landes.

BEfore I passe ouer this moneth of Marche, I can not but leaue a litle memorandum of the wordes or consul∣tation of Queene Mary, vsed to certayne of the Counsel, the eight and twenty day of the sayd month of March, tou∣ching the restoring agayne of the Abbey landes. Who after she had called vnto her presence foure of her priuye Coun∣sell, the day and Moneth aforesayd: the names of whiche Counsellers were these:

• 1 William Lord Marques of Winchester high trea∣surer of England.* 1.1
• 2 Syr Robert Rochester knight, the queenes Con∣troller.
• 3 Syr William Peter knight, Secretary.
• 4 Syr Fraunces Inglefielde knighte, Mayster of Wardes.

The sayde Queene Mary inferred these wordes: the principall effecte and summe whereof here foloweth.* 1.2 You are here of our Counsell, and we haue willed you to be cal∣led vnto vs, to the entent ye might heare of me my consci∣ence, and the resolution of my mind, cōcerning the lands & possessions as well of Monasteries, as other Churches whatsoeuer being now presently in my possession.

Firste, I doe consider, that the sayd landes were taken awaye from the Churches aforesayde, in time of schisme, and that by vnlawfull meanes, suche as are contrary both to the law of God and of the Church.* 1.3 For the which cause my conscience doeth not suffer mee to deteyne them: and therefore I here expressely refuse eyther to clayme or to retayne the sayde landes for mine, but with all my hart, freely, and willingly without all paction or condition, here and before God I doe surrender and relinquishe the sayde landes and possessions or inheritaunces what so euer,* 1.4 and doe renounce the same with this minde and purpose, that order and disposition thereof may be taken, as shall seeme best liking to our most holy Lord the Pope, or els his Le∣gate the Lord Cardinall, to the honour of God and wealth of this our Realme.

And albeit you may obiect to me agayne, that conside∣ring the state of my kingdome, the dignity thereof, and my Crowne Imperiall can not be honorably mainteined and furnished without the possessions aforsayde: yet notwyth∣standing I set more by the saluation of my soule, then by x. kingdomes, and therfore the sayd possessions I vtterly re∣fuse here to hold after that sort and title, and geue most har¦ty thankes to almighty God, which hath geuen me an hus∣band likewise minded, with no lesse good affection in thys behalfe, then I am my selfe,

Wherefore I charge and commaund, that my Chaun∣cellour (with whom I haue conferred my minde in thys matter before) and you foure,* 1.5 to morow together do re∣sort to the most reuerend Lord Legate, and doe signify to him the premises in my name, and geue your attendaunce vpon him for the more full declaration of the state of my kingdome, and of the foresayd possessions accordinglye, as you your selues do vnderstand the matter, and can inform him in the same.

This Intimation being geuen by the Queene, firste vnto the Counsellours, and then comming to the Cardi∣nals hand, he drawing out a copy therof in Latine, sēt the same to the Pope: which copy drawne into Latine, & com∣ming afterwarde to my hand, I haue thus translated into English, as ye haue heard.

Furthermore here by the way is to be vnderstand, that in the moneth before, which was February, and in the xix. day of the sayd moneth, the Bishop of Ely,* 1.6 with the Lorde Mountacute, and seuen score horse, were sent as ambassa∣dours from the king and Queene vnto Rome. For what cause, in story it is not expressed, but by coniecture it maye be wel supposed to be for the same cause of Abbey lands, as by the sequele therof may probably appeare.

For it was not long after, but the Pope did sette foorth in Print a Bull of Excommunication for all maner suche persons, without exception, as kept any of the Churche or Abbey landes: by vertue of which Bull,* 1.7 the Pope ex∣communicated as well all such as had any of the Churche or Abbey lands, as also all such Princes, Bishops, & noble men. Iustices of peace, and other in office, who had not, or did not forthwith put the same Bull in execution. Albeit this execution (God be thanked) yet to this day was neuer put in practise.

Wherein agayne is to be obserued an other Catholick fetch, not vnwoorthy perchaunce of marking. For where this kinde of Catholickes by rigour and force may ouer∣mayster, they spare for no coste, but laye on loade enough. This well appeared,* 1.8 & still doeth appeare in burnyng the poore pacient christiās, whō because they see to be destitute of power and strength to resiste them, and contente wyth pacience to receiue what so euer is put vnto them, there they play the Lions, and make no end of burning and per∣secutinge. But where they spye themselues to bee ouer∣matched, or feare to receiue a foyle in presuming too farre, there they keepe in, and can stay the executiō of their lawes and Bulles, be they neuer so Apostolicall, tyll they spye their time cōuenient for theyr purpose, as in this case is e∣uident

for all the world to see.* 1.9

For notwithstanding that the Popes Bull commyng downe with full authority for restitution of Abbey landes, did so thunder out most terrible excōmunication, not only agaynst them which deteined any such landes,* 1.10 but also a∣gaynste all other that did not see the Popes commaunde∣ment to be executed, yet neyther Winchester nor any of all the Popes Clergye woulde greatlye styrre in that matter, perceiuing the Nobility to be too strong for them to match withall, and therefore were contented to let the case fall, or at least to staye for a time, while time might better serue them.

Yea, and moreouer vnder a crafty pretense, that the no∣bility and men of landes at the first commyng out of the Bull,* 1.11 should not be exasperate too much against them, they subtlely abused the Pulpites, and dissembled with the peo∣ple, affirming that the sayde Popes late Bull sette forth in Print for restitution of Abbey landes, was not meant for England, but for other forreigne countries where in very deed the meaning of that Bull was onely for England, & no country els, as both by this intimatiō of Queene Ma∣ry here mentioned, and by many other coniectures, and al∣so by Maister Fecknams Ballet of Caueat emptor, may ap∣peare.* 1.12 Whereby it is easye for all men to vnderstand what the purpose of those men was to doe, if tyme, which they obserued, might haue serued theyr deuotiō. But to let this matter passe of the Popes Bull, the time nowe serueth to entreat of Pope Iulius death, for so much as he made hys end about the latter end of this foresayd moneth of March. * 1.13Concerning the deedes and acts of which Pope, to make a full declaratiō, it were not so much tedious to the reader, as horrible to all good eares. * 1.14Under this Iulius florished the Archb. of Beneuentanus, a Florentine, named Iohan∣nes a Casa, Deane of the Popes Chamber, & chiefe Legate to the Uenetians: who well declaring the fruit of that fyl∣thy See, so farre forgat both honesty and nature, that hee shamed not onely to play the filthie Sodomite himselfe, & to boast openly of the same: but also tooke vpon hym most impudently in Italian metre, to al mens eares, to set forth the prayse & commendation of that beastly iniquity, saying that he himselfe neuer vsed other: & this booke was pryn∣ted at Uenice, by one Troianus Nauus: & yet the Pope could suffer this so great iniquity and shameles beastlines, euen vnder his nose in his owne chāber, which could not abide the true doctrine of Christ in Christian bookes.

Amonges other prankes and deedes of this foresayde Pope, in his Iubilee, and in the Sinode of Trent, and in cōfirming of the Idole of Lauretane, this is also reported of him in his life, that he delighted greatly in Porkefleshe and Peacockes. Upon a tyme when he was admonished of his Phisition to abstayne from all Swynes fleshe, for that it was noysome for his Goute, and yet would not fo∣low his counsell: the Phisition afterward gaue warnyng to his steward or orderer of his diet, that he shoulde set no more Porkeflesh before hym.

Wherupon when the Pope perceyued the sayd Porke flesh to be lacking in his accustomed seruice: where (sayde he) is my Porke?* 1.15 And when his Steward had aunswered that his Phisition had forbidden anye Porke to be serued: thē the Pope bursting out in great rage, said in these wor∣des: Bring me, sayd he, my Porkefleshe Al dispetto di Dio•• That is to to say in English,* 1.16 In the despight of Cod.

At an other time, he sitting at dinner, poynting to a Peacocke vpon his table, which he had not touched, keepe sayd he, this colde Peacocke for me agaynst supper, and let me sup in the gardē, for I shall haue guestes. So whē sup∣per came, and amongest other hot Peacockes, he sawe not his colde Peacocke brought to his table: y^e Pope after hys wonted maner, most horribly blaspheming God, fell into an extreme rage.* 1.17 &c. Whereupon one of his Cardinals sit∣ting by, desired him saying: Let not your holinesse, I pray you, be so moued with a matter of so small weight. Then this Iulius the Pope answering agayne: What, sayd he, if God was so angrye for one apple, that he cast our first pa∣rents out of Paradise for the same,* 1.18 why may not I beyng his vicar, be angry thē for a Peacocke, sithens a Peacocke is a greater matter then an apple? Beholde here good rea∣der, by this Pope, the holines of that blasphemous See: and yet thou shalt see here, what affectiō was borne vnto this Pope here in England, by the Diriges, Hearses, and Funerals cōmaunded to be had and celebrated in all chur∣ches by the Queene and her Counsell, as may appeare by the copy of theyr letters here folowing.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The na•••• of the C••••••••sellers 〈◊〉〈◊〉 before Q. Ma••••
• * 1.2

  The effect of Q. Ma∣ryes 〈◊〉〈◊〉 touching Abbay landes 〈◊〉〈◊〉 restored.
• * 1.3

  The Q. ••••••keth a co••••science i•• keeping Abbay landes.
• * 1.4

  The Q. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 rendreth from her••self the p••••session of Abbay landes.
• * 1.5

  Promise restitutio•• of Abbay ••andes.
• * 1.6

  Ambassa∣dours sent from Eng∣land to Rome. February 1••.
• * 1.7

  The Popes Bull for 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Abbay landes.
• * 1.8

  Note the nature of the Papistes where they can ouer∣c••me, they are Lions: where the•• are ouer∣matched, they play the Foxes.
• * 1.9

  Anno 1555. Aprill.
• * 1.10

  Here lac∣ked good will in the Bishops but 〈◊〉〈◊〉 as yet did not 〈◊〉〈◊〉 them▪
• * 1.11

  〈1 paragraph〉〈1 paragraph〉
• * 1.12

  M. Feck∣nams ballet of Caueat Emptor.
• * 1.13

  Read more of this in a booke called a warning to England. The death of Pope Iulius. 3.
• * 1.14

  Vide scriptum Pauli Ver∣gerij contra hunc Ar∣chiepisco∣pum.

  Note here what an holy Ca∣tholicke Church 〈…〉〈…〉.
• * 1.15

  A Porkish Pope.
• * 1.16

  Monstrous blasphemy 〈…〉〈…〉 Pope.
• * 1.17

  Pope Iuli∣us blasphe∣meth God 〈…〉〈…〉.
• * 1.18

  O Voc••m 〈◊〉〈◊〉 christo 〈◊〉〈◊〉.