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 note concerning M. Cardmaker.

MAister Cardmaker beyng condemned, & in Newgate one Beard a Promooter came to him two or thre dais before he was burned, and said vnto him: Sir,* 1.1 I am sent vnto you by the Counsaile, to knowe whether ye will re∣cant or no?

Cardmaker.

From which Counsaile are ye come? I thinke ye are not come, nor yet sent from the Queenes counsaile, but rather from the commissioners, vnto whō (as I sup∣pose) ye belong. And where as ye would know, whether I wil recant or no, thus, I pray you, report of me to those whom ye said, sent you. I know you are a Tailor by your occupation, and haue endeuoured your selfe to be a cun∣ning workeman, and therby to get your liuing: so I haue bene a preacher these xx. yeres, and euer since that God by his great mercy hath opened myne eyes to see hys eternal truth, I haue by his grace endeuoured my selfe to call vpō him, to geue me the true vnderstanding of his holy word, and I thanke hym for his great mercy, I hope I haue dis∣charged my conscience in the settyng forth of the same, to that little talent that I haue receiued.

Beard.

Yea sir, but what say you to the blessed Sacrament of the aultar?

Card.

I say and marke it well, that Christ the nyght before hys bitter passion, ordeyned the holy and blessed Commu∣nion, & hath geuen commandement, that his death should be preached before the receiuyng therof, in the remēbrance of his body broken, and his precious bloud shed for the for¦geuenes of our sinnes, to as many as faithfully beleeue and trust in hym.

And furthermore,* 1.2 to conclude the matter briefly wyth hym, he asked of him, whether the Sacrament he spake of, had a beginnyng, or no? Whereunto when he had graun∣ted and affirmed the same to be, then maister Cardmaker againe thus inferred thereupon: If the Sacrament (said he) as you confesse, haue a beginning, and an ending, then it cannot bee God: for God hath no beginnyng nor en∣dyng, and so willyng hym well to note the same, he depar∣ted from hym.

Notes

• * 1.1

  A 〈…〉〈…〉 take ••••••tween•• Card•••••••••• and 〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.2

  The 〈◊〉〈◊〉 & 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of M. 〈…〉〈…〉 sacram••••••