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 Vniuersitie of Cambridge against the vsurped power of the By∣shop of Rome.

VNiuersis Sanctae matris Ecclesiae filijs, ad quos praesentes lite∣rae peruenturae sunt, coetus omnis regentium & non regen∣tium Academiae Cantabrigiensis, salutem in omnium saluatore Iesu Christo. Cum de Romani pontificis potestate, &c.

In English.

TO all and singular children of the holy mother Church, to whose hands these presents shall come, the whole so∣cietie of Regentes and not Regētes of the Uniuersitie of Cābridge,* 1.1 sendeth greeting in our Sauiour Iesu Christ. Where as now of late it hath risen vp in question among vs, concerning the power of the Bishop of Rome, which he doth both claime to himselfe by the holy Scripture ouer all prouinces & nations in Christendome, and hath now of long time exercised in this realme of England: and for∣asmuch as our censure concerning the cause is required, to wit: whether the Byshop of Rome hath any power or au∣thoritie in this kingdome of England allotted to hym by God in the Scripture, more then any other foreine By∣shop, or no: we thought it therfore good reason & our duty, for the searching out of the veritie of the said question, that we should employ therein our whole indeuour and study, whereby we might render and publish to the world, what our reason and censure is, touching the premisses. For therefore we suppose, that Uniuersities were first proui∣ded and instituted of Princes, to the end that both y^e people of Christ might in the lawe of God be instructed, and also that false errours, if any did rise, might through the vigi∣lant care and industry of learned Diuines, be discussed, ex∣tinguished, and vtterly rooted out. For the which cause, we in our assemblies and conuocations (after our accusto∣med maner) resorting and conferring together vpon the question aforesayd, and studiously debating and delibera∣ting with our selues, how and by what order we mighte best proceede for the finding out of the truth of the matter, and at length choosing out certayne of the best learned Doctours and Bachelers of Diuinity, and other maisters, haue committed to them in charge, studiously to ensearch and peruse the places of holy Scripture, by the viewing and conferring of which places together, they might certi∣fie vs what is to be said to the question propounded.

For asmuch therefore, as we hauing heard, and well ad∣uised,* 1.2 and throughly discussed in open disputations, what may be sayd on both partes of the foresayd question, those reasons and arguments do appeare to vs more probable, stronger, truer, and more certaine, & sounding much more neare to the pure and natiue sense of Scripture, which do deny the Byshop of Rome to haue any such power geuen him of God in the Scripture. By reason & force of whych arguments, we being perswaded and conioining together in one opinon, haue with our selues thus decreed to aun∣swere vnto the question aforesayde, and in these writings thus resolutely do aunswere in the name of y^e whole Uni∣uersitie, & for a cōclusion vndoubted, do affirme, approue, & pronounce, that y^e Byshop of Rome hath no more state, authoritie, and iurisdiction geuen him of God in the scrip∣tures, ouer this Realme of Englād,* 1.3 then any other externe Byshop hath. And in testimony and credence of this our aunswere and affirmation, we haue caused our common seale to be put to these our foresaid letters accordingly.

At Cambridge in our Regent house. an. Domi. 1534.

Notes

• * 1.1

  A letter of the vniuersitye of Cambridge.
• * 1.2

  The censure of the vniuersity of Cambridge a∣gainst the Popes supremacye.
• * 1.3

  The byshop of Rome hath no more state in England, then hath a∣ny other foreine by∣shop.