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 layd to Richard Bayfield.

FIrst, that hee had bene many yeares a Monke professed of the order of S. Benet,* 1.1 of S. Edmundes Bury in the diocesse of Norwiche.

2. That he was a priest and had ministred and continued in the same order, the space of 9. or x. yeares.

3. That sithens the feast of Easter last, hee being beyonde the sea, brought and procured to haue diuers and manye bookes and treatises of sundry sortes, as well of Martyne Luthers owne workes, as of diuers other of hys damna∣ble sect, and of Oecolampadius the great heretique, and di¦uers other heretickes, both in Latine and Englishe, y^e na∣mes of which bookes were contayned in a little bill writ∣ten with hys owne hand.

4. That in the yeare of our Lord. 1528. he was detected & accused to Cutb. then B. of London,* 1.2 for affirming and hol¦ding certayne Articles contrary to the holy Churche, and specially that all laud and prayse should be geuen to God alone and not to sayntes or creatures.

5. That euery priest might preach the word of God by y^e authoritie of the Gospell, and not to runne to the Pope or Cardinals for licence as it appeared (sayd they) by his con∣fession before the sayd Byshop.

6. That he iudicially abiured the sayde articles before the sayd Bishop, and dyd renounce and forsweare them and all other articles contrarye to the determination of holye Church, promising that from thenceforth hee woulde not fall into any of them, nor any other errors.

7. That he made a solemne othe vpon a booke, & the ho∣ly Euangelistes, to fulfill such penaunce as shoulde be en∣ioyned hym by the sayd byshop.

8. After hys abiuration it was enioyned to hym for pe∣nance that he should goe before the crosse in procession, in the parish church of S. Buttolphes at Billings gate, and to beare a fagot of woode vpon hys shoulder.

9. It was enioyned hym in penaunce, that he shuld pro∣uide an habite requisite and meete for hys order and pro∣fession, as shortly as he might, and that he should come or go no where without such an habite, the which he had not fulfilled.

10. That it was likewise enioyned him in penaunce, that sometyme before the feast of the ascention then next ensu∣ing, hys abiuration, he should goe home vnto the Mona∣stery of Bury, and there remayne according to the vowe of hys profession, which he had not fulfilled.

11. That he was appoynted by the sayd bishop of Londō to appeare before the sayd byshop, the 25. day of April, next after hys abiuration, to receiue the residue of his penance, and after hys abiuration, he fled beyond the sea, and ap∣peared not.

11. That the 20. day of Iune, next following hys abiura∣tion, he did appeare before the sayd Bysh. Tonstall in the Chappell of the Byshop of Norwiche hys place, and there it was newly enioyned hym in part of penaunce, that hee shuld prouide him an habite cōuenient for his order, & pro¦fession, w^tin 8. dayes then next following, whiche hee had not done.

That it was there agayne enioyned him, that he should depart from the city, diocesse, & iurisdiction of London, and no more to come within it, without the speciall licēce of the bishop of London, or his successor for the time being, which he had not fulfilled.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Articles obiec∣ted agaynst Rich. Bayfilde.
• * 1.2

  A rancke heresie in the Popes church, to geue al laude & praise to God alone.