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.

¶Articles agaynst Thomas Arthur.

* 1.11 IN primis, that he exhorted the people in his prayers, to pray specially for those that now be in prison, which Article he denyed.

2 That he sayde, though men be restrayned to preache now adayes (which is agaynst Gods lawes) yet I may preache: First by the authoritie of my Lord Cardinall, for I haue his licence. Secondly, by the authoritie of the Uni∣uersitie. Thirdly, by the Pope. Fourthly, by the authori∣tie of God, where he sayeth: Euntes in mundum, praedicate Euangelium omni creaturae. By whyche authoritie, euerye man may preach,* 1.2 and there is neyther Byshop nor Ordi∣nary, nor yet the Pope, that may make any lawe to let any man to preach the Gospell. This Article he confessed that he spake.

3 When he spake of Lawes, he brought a similitude of Crosses, set vp againste the walles of London, that men should not pisse there. When there was but one Crosse or a fewe more, men did reuerence them, and pissed not there: but when there was in euery corner a Crosse set, then men of necessitie were compelled to pisse vpon the Crosses: So in lyke manner, when there was but a fewe holy and de∣uoute lawes in the Churche, then men were afrayde to offend them. Afterwarde, they made many lawes for their aduantage,* 1.3 and such as were pecuniall, those they do ob∣serue, and such as are not pecuniall, those they call Palea, and regard them not: and so now adayes there are so ma∣ny lawes, that whether a man do ill or well, he shall be ta∣ken in the lawe. He confessed that he spake the very same, or the like words.* 1.4

4 He said, Good people, if I should suffer persecution for the preaching of the Gospel of God, yet there is 7000. more that would preach y^e Gospell of God, as I do now. Ther∣fore good people, good people (whiche wordes be often re∣hearsed as it were lamenting) thinke not that if these ty∣rants and persecuters put a man to death, the preaching of the Gospell therefore is to be forsaken. This Article he confessed that he spake in like words and sense, sauing that he made no mention of tyrants.

5 That euery man, yea euery lay man is a priest. He confessed that he spake such wordes, declaring in hys Ser∣mon, that euery Christian man is a Priest, offering vp the sacrifice of prayer: and if they dyd murmure agaynste the order of Priesthoode, they dyd murmure agaynst them∣selues.

6 That men should praye to no Saintes in heauen, but onely to God, and they should vse no other Mediatour for them, but Christ Iesu our redeemer only. This Article he denyed.

7 He preached that they shoulde worship no Images of Saintes,* 1.5 whiche were nothing but stockes and stones. This he also denied.

8 He did preache vpon Whitsonday last within the U∣niuersitie of Cambridge, such or like wordes and senten∣ces: That a Bachelor of Diuinitie admitted of the Uni∣uersitie, or any other person hauing or knowing the Gos∣pell of God, shoulde go foorth and preache in euery place, and let for no man, of what estate or degree soeuer he were: and if any Byshop did accurse them for so doing, their cur∣ses should turne to the harme of themselues. He confessed this.

Which aunsweres thus made and acknowledged, the sayd M. Arthur did reuoke and condemne the sayd Arti∣cles agaynst him ministred,* 1.6 and submitted him selfe to the punishment and iudgement of the Church.

The thyrd day of December, the Byshop of London, with the other Byshops, assemblyng in the place afore∣sayd, after that Bilney had denyed vtterly to returne to the Church of Rome, the Byshop of London in discharge of his cōscience (as he sayd) least he should hide any thyng that had come to his hands, he did really exhibite vnto the Notaries, in the presence of the sayd Maister Bilney,* 1.7 cer∣taine letters, to witte, fiue letters or Epistles, with one Schedule in one of the Epistles, conteyning his Articles and aunsweres folded therein, and an other Epistle folded in maner of a booke, with sixe leaues, which all and euery one he commaunded to be written out and registred, and the originals to be deliuered to him agayne.

This was done in the presence of Maister Bilney, de∣siring a Copie of them, and he bounde the Notaries with an othe, for the safe keepyng of the Copies, and true Re∣gistryng of the same. Whiche Articles and aunsweres, with three of the same Epistles, with certaine depositi∣ons deposed by the foresayd witnesse,* 1.8 here followe truely drawen out partly of his owne hand writyng, and partly out of the Register.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Arti••les a∣gainst Tho∣mas Arthur.
• * 1.2

  Authoritye to preache.
• * 1.3

  The multi∣tude of lawes, make lawes to be c••ntemned.
• * 1.4

  Palea in the Popes de∣crees.

  The preach∣ing of the Gospell is to be left for no persecu∣tion.
• * 1.5

  Aaginst I∣mages.
• * 1.6

  Arthur submit∣teth himselfe.
• * 1.7

  5. letters of Byl∣ney to the Bysh. of London.
• * 1.8

  Ex Regist Lon∣dinensi.