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 Letter of the Earle of Oxford to Boner.

MOst reuerend father in God, be it knowne vnto you, that I haue sent you one Thomas Haukes,* 1.1 dwelling in the County of Essex, who hath a child that hath remayned vnchristened more then three weekes, who being vpon the same examined, hath de∣nied to haue it baptised, as it is now vsed in the Church: where∣vpo n I haue sent him to your good Lordship, to vse as ye thinke best, by your good discretion.

Whē the bishop had perused this letter, and afterward read it to M. Haukes, he hearing the same, thought with himselfe, that he should not be very wel vsed, seing he was put to his discretion. Then wrote the bishop a letter again to him that sent the prisoner, with many great thankes for his diligence in setting forth the Queenes proceedynges. Then began the bishop to enter communication with M. Haukes, first asking what should moue him to leaue hys child vnchristened so long? To whom M. Haukes answe∣red thus agayne as foloweth.

Haukes.

Because we be bound to do nothing contrarye to the word of God.* 1.2

Boner.

Why? Baptisme is ••ommaunded by the worde of God.

Haukes.

His institution therin I do not deny.

Boner.

What deny ye then?

Haukes.

I deny all things inuented and deuised by man.

Boner.

What thinges be those that be deuised by man, that ye be so offended withall?

Haukes.

Your Oyle, Creame, Salt, Spettle, Candle,* 1.3 and coniuring of water. &c.

Boner.

Will ye deny that which all the whole worlde, and your father hath bene contented withall?

Haukes.

What my father & all the whole world hath done, I haue nothing to do withall: but what God hath cōmaū∣ded me to do, to that stand I.

Boner.

The Catholicke Church hath taught it.* 1.4

Haukes.

What is the Catholicke Church?

Boner.

It is the faythfull congregation, where so euer it be dispersed throughout the whole world.

Haukes.

Who is the head therof?

Boner.

Christ is the head therof.

Haukes.

Are we taught in Christ, or in the Church now?

Boner.

Haue ye not reade in the eyght of Iohn, where hee sayd, he would send his comforter which should teach you all thinges?

Haukes.

I graunt you it is so, that he woulde sende hys comforter, but to what ende? forsooth to this ende, that hee should lead you into all truth and verity, and that is not to teach a new doctrine.

Boner.

A Syr, ye are a right scripture man. For ye wyll haue nothing but the scripture. There is a great number

of your countrey men of your opinion. Doe ye not knowe one Knight and Pigot?

Haukes.

Knight I know, but Pigot I do not know.

Boner.

I thought ye were acquaynted with him: it semeth so by your iudgement. What Preachers doe ye knowe in Essex.

Haukes.

I know none.

Boner.

Do ye not know one Baget there?

Haukes.

Yes forsooth, I know him.

Boner.

What maner a man is he?

Haukes.

An honest man, so farre as I know.

Boner.

Do you know him if you see him?

Haukes.

Yea that I do. Then sayd he to one of his seruan∣tes, go call me Baget hither. And then he sayde to me: ye seme to be a very proud man & a stubburn. He that broght me vp, stood all this while by.

Haukes.

What should moue your Lordship so to say?

Boner.

Because I see in a man that came with you muche humility and lowlinesse.* 1.5

Haukes.

It semeth your Lordship speaketh that to me, be∣cause I make no more curtesy to you: and with that came Baget. Then the Bishop sayd to Baget: How say ye Syr, know ye this man?

Baget.

Yea forsooth my Lord: with that Baget and I shook handes. Then sayd the Bishop to Baget: Syr, this man hath a child,* 1.6 which hath lien 3. weekes vnchristened (as I haue letters to shew) who refuseth to haue it baptised, as it is now vsed in the church: how say you thereto?

Baget.

Forsooth my Lord I say nothing thereto (with low curtesy to the hard ground.)

Boner.

Say ye nothing thereto? I will make you tell me whether it be laudable, and to be frequēted and vsed in the Church, or not.

Baget.

I beseeche your Lordship to pardon me, he is olde enough, let him aunswere for himselfe.

Boner.

Ah sir knaue, are ye at that poynt with me? Go call me the Porter,* 1.7 sayd he, to one of his men. Thou shalt sit in the stockes, & haue nothing but bread & water. I perceyue I haue kept you to well. Haue I made thus much of you, and haue I you at this poynt? Then came the Byshoppes man, and sayd: The Porter is gone to London. Then said the Bishop to Baget:* 1.8 Come with me, and he went awaye with him, and commaunded me away, and bade one of his Gentlemē to talke with me (who was one of his own tea∣ching:) who desired amongest all other things, to know of me, with whom I was acquaynted in Essex, and what mē they were that were my teachers.

Haukes.

When I see your cōmission, I will make you an∣swere. And then immediatly came the Bishop agayne: but ere he came, his man and I had much talke. Then the by∣shop sate down vnder a vine in his orchyard, & called Ba∣get to him, whom he caried away, & brought againe, & cal∣led me also, and sayd to Baget: How say you now sir vnto Baptisme? Say whether it be to be frequented and vsed in the Church, as it is now, or no?

Baget.

Forsooth my Lord, I say it is good.

Boner.

* 1.9I befoole your hart, could ye not haue said so before? Ye haue wounded this mans conscience. Then the bishop turned to me, and sayd: How say ye now sir, this man is turned and conuerted.

Haukes.

* 1.10I builde my fayth neither vpon this man, neither vpon you, but onely vpon Christ Iesus, who as Paule sayth is the founder and author of all mens fayth.

Boner.

I perceiue ye are a stubburn felow. I must be glad to worke an other way with you, to win you.

Haukes.

Whatsoeuer ye doe, I am ready to suffer it: for I am in your handes to abide it.

Boner.

Well, ye are so: come on your wayes, ye shall go in and I will vse you Christianlike. You shall haue meate and drinke,* 1.11 suche as I haue in my house: but in any wyse talke not.

Haukes.

I purpose to talke nothing but the worde of God and truth.

Boner.

I will haue no heresy talked on in my house.

Haukes.

Why is the trueth become heresy? God hath com∣maunded that wee shoulde haue none other talke in our houses, in our beddes, at our meat, and by the way, but all trueth.

Boner.

If ye will haue my fauor, be ruled by my counsell.

Haukes.

Then I trust you will graunt me my request.

Boner.

What is that?

Haukes.

That your Doctours and Seruauntes geue me none occasion: for if they doe, I wyll surely vtter my con∣science. Then commaunded he his men to take in Baget, and let not Haukes and him talke together. And so thus we departed,* 1.12 and went to dinner, and I dined at the Ste∣wardes table.

After dynner, hys Chaplaynes and his men began to talke with me. But amongst all other, there was one Dar∣byshyre principall of Brodgates in Oxford,* 1.13 & the Bishops kinsmā, who sayd to me, that I was to curious: for ye wil haue (sayd he) nothing but your litle prety Gods booke.

Haukes.

And is it not sufficient for my saluation? Yes (sayd he) it is sufficient for our saluation, but not for our instru∣ction.

Haukes.

God send me the saluation,* 1.14 and you the instructi∣on. And as we thus reasoned, came the Byshop, who sayd vnto me: I gaue you a commaundement that you shoulde not talke.

Haukes.

And I desired you, that your Doctours and Ser∣uauntes should geue me none▪ occasiō.* 1.15 Then went we into his Orchyard agayne he and his Doctors and I.

Boner.

Would not ye be contented to haue, that your childe shoulde bee Christened after the booke that was set out by king Edward?

Haukes.

Yes, with a good will: it is the thing that I desire.

Boner·

I thought so: ye would haue the same thing. The principal is in the name of the father, the sonne, & of the ho¦ly ghost, and in necessity it may serue.

Haukes.

Christ did vse it without any such necessitye: and yet we lacke the chiefest poynt.

Boner.

What is that?

Haukes.

Go teach all nations, baptising them. &c.

Boner.

Thou speakest that because I am no Preacher.* 1.16

Haukes.

I speake the texte: I doe not meane you. Then spake all his Doctours, & his men that were with hym: he speaketh it of you my Lorde (with a greate noyse that they made.)

Boner.

Will ye be content to tary here, and your child shall be Baptised, and you shall not know of it, so that you will agree to it?

Haukes.

And if I would so haue done, I neded not to haue come to you: for I had the same counsell geuen before.

Boner.

You seeme to be a lustye young man: you will not geue your head for the washing. You will stand in the de∣fence of it for the honour of your Countrey. Doe ye thinke that the Queene and I can not commaund it to be done in spite of your teeth?

Haukes.

What the Queene & you can do,* 1.17 I will not stand in it: but ye get my conscience neuer the sooner.

Boner.

Well, you are a stubburne young man. I perceyue I must worke on other way with you.

Haukes.

Ye are in the handes of God, and so am I.

Boner.

What so euer you thinke, I woulde not haue you speake such wordes vnto me. And so we departed vntyll Euensong tyme: and ere Euensong was begon, my Lord called for me to come to him into the Chappell, and sayde: Haukes: thou art a proper young man, & God hath done his part vnto thee. I would be glad to do thee good. Thou knowest that I am thy Pastour, and one that should aun∣swere for thee. If I woulde not teach thee well. I shoulde aunswere for thy soule.

Haukes.

That I haue sayd, I will stand to it God willing: there is no way to remoue it.

Boner.

Nay, nay Haukes, thou shalt not be so wilfull. Re∣member Christ had two go into his vineyard? the one said he would & went not, the other sayd he would not & went.

Haukes.

The last went.

Boner.

Doe thou likewise, and I will talke frendly wyth thee: howe sayest thou? It is in the sixt of S. Iohn:* 1.18 I am the bread of life: and the bread that I will geue, is my flesh, which I will geue for the life of the worlde. And who so euer eateth my flesh, and drinketh my bloud, hath euerlasting life. My flesh is very meat in deede, and my bloud is very drinke in deed. And hee that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my bloud, dwelleth in me, and I in him. Do ye beleue this?

Haukes.

Yea, I must needes beleue the Scriptures.

Boner.

Why? then I trust that ye be sound in the blessed sa∣crament.

Haukes.

I beseech your Lordship to feele my conscience no farther then in that, that I was accused in vnto you.

Boner.

Well, well, let vs go vnto Euensong.

Haukes.

With that I turned my backe to goe out of the Chappell.

Boner.

Why, will you not tary Euensong?

Haukes.

No forsooth.

Boner.

And why?

Haukes.

For I will not.* 1.19

Boner.

And why will you not?

Haukes.

For because I haue no edifiyng thereby, for I vn∣derstand no Latine.

Boner.

Why? you maye pray by your selfe. What bookes haue ye?

Haukes.

I haue the new Testament, the bookes of Salo∣mon, and the Psalter.

Bo.

Why, I pray you tary here, & pray you on your psalter.

Haukes.

I wil not pray in this place, nor in none such. Thē sayd one of his chapleins: let him go my Lord, and he shal be no partaker with vs in our prayers.

Haukes.

I thinke my selfe best at ease when I am farthest from you: And so the Byshop went to Euensong, and I came downe and walked betwene the Hall and the Chap¦pell in the Court, & taryed there till Euensong was done, and within an houre after that Euensong was done, the Bishop sent for me into his chamber where he lay himself,* 1.20 & when I came, there was he, and three of his Chapleins.

Boner.

Ye know of the talke that was betwene you & me, as cōcerning the sacramēt. You would not haue your con∣science sought any farther, then in that ye were accused of.

Haukes.

I thought you would not be both mine accuser & Iudge.

Boner.

Well, ye shall aunswere me to the Sacrament of the aultar, the Sacrament of Baptisme, the Sacramēt of Pe∣nance, and the Sacrament of Matrimony.

Haukes.

There is none of these, but I dare speake my con∣science in them.

Boner.

The sacrament of the aultar ye seme to be sound in.

Haukes.

* 1.21In the Sacrament of the aultar? why Syr, I do not know it.

Boner.

Well, we will make you to know it, and beleue in it too, ere euer we haue done with you.

Haukes.

No, that shall ye neuer do.

Boner.

Yes, a Fagot will make you do it.

Hauk.

No, no, a poynt for your fagot. What God thinketh meete to be done, that shall ye do, and more shall ye not do.

Boner.

* 1.22Do ye not beleue that there remaineth in the blessed Sacrament of the aultar after the wordes of consecration be spoken, no more bread, but the very body and bloud of Christ? and at that word he put of his cap.

Haukes.

I do beleue as Christ hath taught me.

Boner.

Why? did not Christ say: Take: eate, this is my body?

Haukes.

Christ sayd so: but therefore it foloweth not, that the Sacrament of the aultar is so as you reach, neither did Christ euer teach it so to be.

Boner.

Why? the Catholicke Church taught it so, and they were of Christes Church.

Haukes.

How proue ye it? The Apostles neuer taught it so. Read the Actes, the second, and the twenty. Neither Pe∣ter nor Paule euer taught it, neither instituted it so.

Boner.

Ah Syr? ye will haue no more then the Scripture teacheth, but euen as Christ hath left it bare.

Haukes.

Hee that teacheth me any otherwise, I wyll not beleue him.

Boner.

* 1.23Why, then ye must eate a Lambe, if ye will haue but Christes institution onely.

Haukes.

Nay, that is not so. Before that Christ did insti∣tute the Sacrament, that ceremony ceased, and then begā the Sacrament.

Boner.

Alas, you know not how it begon, neither of the, in¦stitution therof.

Haukes.

Then I would be glad to learne.

Boner.

Mary, we will teach you: but you are so stubburn that ye will not learne.* 1.24

Haukes.

Except ye learne me by the word of God, I wyll neuer credite you nor beleue you: and thus we concluded. Then the Bishop and his Chapleines laughed, and sayd: Iesu, Iesu, what a stubbernesse and arrogantnesse is this? and this was in his Chamber where he laye? Then sayde the Bishop to me, go ye downe and drinke, for it is fasting day: it is Midsommer euen, but I thinke ye loue neither fasting nor praying.

Haukes.

I will neuer deny fasting neither praying, so that it be done as it ought to be done,* 1.25 and without hipocrisy or vayne glory.

Boner.

I lyke you the better for that: and so wee lefte for that night.

The next day the Bishop went to London: For Feck∣nam was made Deane that day, & I taried still at Fulhā. Then did the Bishops mē desire me to come to Masse, but I did vtterly refuse it, answering thē as I did theyr may∣ster.* 1.26 That night the Bishop came home to Fulham agayn.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The Earl•• letter to Boner.
• * 1.2

  Priuate talke or con∣ference be∣tweene M. Haukes and B. Boner.
• * 1.3

  Mans in••••••••tions adde•• to Baptis•••• The 〈…〉〈…〉.
• * 1.4

  The Cat••••••lick chur••••••
• * 1.5

  Boner 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to be 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.6

  Baget ••rought to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 sight of Thomas ••aukes.
• * 1.7

  Boner cha∣seth at Ba∣gets aun∣swere.
• * 1.8

  Boner ta∣keth Baget with him 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 him.
• * 1.9

  Baget ••aught to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 after Boner.
• * 1.10

  Thomas Haukes builded his 〈◊〉〈◊〉 vpon 〈◊〉〈◊〉 man.
• * 1.11

  Thomas Haukes for∣bidden to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in the Byshops 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.12

  Thomas Haukes and Baget sepe∣••••ted 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.13

  Talke betweene Darbyshire and Tho. Haukes.
• * 1.14

  Saluation. Instruction.
• * 1.15

  Talke betweene M. Haukes and Boner.

  Baptisme after King Edwardes booke.
• * 1.16

  Boner no Prea∣cher.
• * 1.17

  M. Haukes will not consent to haue his childe christened after the Popish or∣der.
• * 1.18

  Boner entereth talke of the sa∣crament.
• * 1.19

  Thomas Haukes refuseth to heare Boners Euensong.
• * 1.20

  Thomas Haukes called for againe by Boner.
• * 1.21

  Thomas Haukes knoweth no sa∣crament of the aultar.
• * 1.22

  The matter and substance of the Sacrament.
• * 1.23

  Touching the necessary poynts of doctrine and Sacramentes, onely the word is to be folow∣ed.
• * 1.24

  A false concei∣ued opinion of Boner agaynst the Protestants.
• * 1.25

  Fasting & pray∣ing no man de∣nyeth.
• * 1.26

  Boner returneth from London.