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 Protestation in the name of the King, and the whole Counsaile, and Cleargy of England, why they refuse to come to the Popes Coun∣cell at his call.

SEing that the Bishop of Rome calleth learned men frō all parties,* 1.1 conducting them by great rewards, making as many of them Cardinals as he thinketh most meet and most ready to defend fra••des and vntruthes: we could not but with much anxietie cast with our selues, what so great a preparance of wits should meane. As chance was, wee gessed euen as it folowed. We haue ben so long acquainted with Romaine subtilties and popish deceites, that we wel and easely iudged y^e Byshop of Rome to intend an assem∣ble of his adherents and men sworne to thinke all his lusts to be lawes. We were not deceiued.* 1.2 Paule the Byshop of Rome hath called a Councell, to the which he knewe well either fewe or none of the Christen Princes coulde come. Both the time that he indicted it, and also the place where he appointed it to be, might assure him of this. But whe∣ther wandereth not these Popishe Bulles? whether go they not astray? what King is not cited and summoned by a proud Minister and seruant of Kings, to come to bolster vp errours, fraudes, deceites, and vntruthes, and to set foorth this feined generall Councell? For who will not thinke that Paule the Byshop of Rome goeth sooner a∣bout to make men beleeue that he intendeth a generall Councell, then that he desireth one in deede: No, who can lesse desire it, thē they that do despaire of their cause, except they be iudges, and giue sentence themselues against their aduersaries? We, which very sore against our will, at any time leaue off the procurement of the Realme and cōmon weale, neede neither to come our selues,* 1.3 nor yet to sende our procuratours thether, no nor yet to make our excuse for either of both. For who can accuse vs, that we come not at his call, which hath no authoritie to call vs?

But for a season let vs (as a sorte of blyndlynges doe) graunt that he may call vs,* 1.4 and that he hath authority so to do: yet (we pray you) may not all men see, what auaileth it to come to this Councell, where ye shall haue no place, except ye be knowen both willing to oppresse trueth, and also ready to confirme and stablish errours? Do not all mē perceiue as well as we, with what integritie, fidelitie, and Religion, these men go about to discusse matters in con∣trouersie, that take them in hand in so troublesome a time as this is? Is it not plaine what fruite the common weale of Christendome may looke for there,* 1.5 where as Mantua is chosen the place to keepe this Councell at? Is there any Prince, not beeing of Italy, yea, is there any of Italy, Prince or other dissenting frō the Pope, that dareth come to this assemble, and to this place? If there come none, that dare speake for troden truth,* 1.6 none that will venture hys life, is it meruayle if the Bishop of Rome being iudge, no man repining, no man gainesaieng, the defenders of the Papacie obteine that Popish authority now quayling and almost fallen, be set vp againe?

Is this the way to helpe things afflict?* 1.7 to redresse trou∣bled Religion? to lift vp oppressed truth? Shall men thys way know, whether the Romane Bishops (which in ve∣ry deede are, if yee looke either vpon their doctrine or life, far vnder other Bishops) ought to be made like theyr fe∣lowes, that is, to be pastours in their own Dioces, and so to vse no further power: or else whether they may make lawes, not only vnto other Bishops, but also to Kings & Emperours? O boldnesse, meete to be beaten downe with force, and not to be conuinced with arguments. Can either Paule that now Lordeth, or any of his, earnestly go about (if they alone, or at y^e least without any aduersary, be thus in a corner assembled together) to heale the sickenesses, to take away the errours, to plucke downe the abuses that now are crept into the Church, and there be bolstered vp, by such Councels as now is like to be at Mantua?

It is very like, that these, whiche prole for nothing but profit, will right gladly pul down all such things, as their forefathers made, onely for y^e increase of money.* 1.8 Where as their forefathers, whē their honour, power, primacy, was called into question, woulde either in spite of Gods law, mainteine their dignity, or (to say better) their intollerable pride: is it like, that these will not trede in their steps, and make naughty new Canons, wherby they may defend old euil decrees? Howbeit, what need we to care, either what they haue done, or what they intend to do hereafter, for as much as Englād hath taken her leaue of Popish crafts for euer, neuer to be deluded w^t them hereafter?* 1.9 Romaine Bi∣shops haue nothing to do with Englishe people: the one doth not trafike with the other: at y^e least, though they wil haue to do with vs, yet we wil none of their marchandise, none of their stuffe. We will receiue them of our Councell no more. We haue sought our hurt, and bought our losse a great while too lōg. Surely their Decrees, either touchyng things set vp, or put downe, shall haue none other place w^t vs, then al Bishops Decrees haue, that is, if we like them, we admit them: if we do not, we refuse them. But lest per∣aduenture mē shal think vs to folow our senses too much,* 1.10 & that we, moued by small or no iust causes, forsake the au∣thority, censures, Decrees, and Popishe Councelles, wee thought it best heere to shew our mind to the whole world.

Wherefore we protest before God and all men, that we 〈1 page missing〉〈1 page missing〉

down of his vsurped power, and proud primacy: for expel∣ling of hys vsurped iurisdiction: and for deliuering of oure realme from his greeuous bōdage and pollage? Who seeth not him euen inflamed w^t hatred againste vs, and y^e flames to be much greater,* 1.11 then he can nowe keepe them in? He is an open ennemie, he dissembleth no longer, prouoking all men by all the meanes that hee can to endammage vs and our countrey. These 3. yeares he hath bene occupied in no one thing so much, as how he might stirre vp the commōs of England, now corrupting some with mony, some wyth dignities. Wee lette passe, what letters hee hath wrytten to Christen Princes: with howe great feruent study, he hath exhorted men to set vpon vs. The good Uicare of Christe, by his doing sheweth how he vnderstandeth the words of Christ.* 1.12 Hee thinketh, he playeth Christes part well, when he may say as Christ did: Non veni pacem mittere in terram, sed gladium: I come not to make peace in earth, but to sende swordes about: and not such swordes, as Christ would his to be armed with all, but such as cruell manquellers, abuse in the slaughter of theyr neighbours. Wee meruaile little, though they vexe other Princes oft, seing they recompence our fauour shewed to them, wyth contumelies, our bene∣fites with iniuries.

We will not rehearse here, how many our benefites be∣stowed vpon Romaine bishops, be lost. God be with such vngrate earles,* 1.13 vnworthy to be nombred amongest men: Cer••es, suche that a man may well doubt, whether God or man hath better cause to hate them. But y^t we haue lear∣ned to owe good wil, euē to them that immortally hate vs, what coulde we wish them so euill, but they haue deserued much worse? We wish them this hurt alone, that God send them a better minde. God be thanked, we haue made all their seditious ententes, sooner to shew their great malice towardes vs, then to do vs much hurt: yet they haue well taught vs, euermore to take good heede of our ennemyes. Undoubtedly it were good going to Mantua, and to leaue their whelpes amongst the lambes of our flocke. When we be weary of our wealth, wee will euen doe then, as they would haue vs now do. No, no, as long as we shal see his heart so good towardes vs, we trust vppon hys warning, we shall well prouide to withstand hys cruell malice. No, let him now, spende his deceites, when they can hurt none but such as would deceiue, and are deceiued.

They haue by sundry waies, made vs priuy, howe much we be bound to them. It went nigh their hearts, to see the iudgement of Iulye, of Clement the 7. of Paule the 3. no∣thing to be regarded w^t vs.* 1.14 They be afraide, if wee shoulde sustaine no hurt because wee iustly reiected their primacie, that other Princes woulde begin to doe lykewyse, and to shake of their shoulders, the heauy burthens that they so long haue borne, againste Scripture, all right and reason▪ They be sory to see the way stopped, y^t now their tiranny, auarice, and pride cā haue no passage into England, which was wont to walk, to triumph, to tosse, to trouble al men. They can scarse suffer priuiledges, that is to say, licence to spoyle our Citizens, geuen them by our forefathers, and brought in by errorful custome, to be taken frō them. They thinke it vnlawful, that we require things lawful of them that will be vnder no lawes. They thinke, wee doe them wrong,* 1.15 because we will not suffer them to do vs wrong a∣ny longer. They see their marchandise to be banished, to be forbidden. They see, that we will buy no longer, chalke for cheese. They see they haue lost a faire flese, vengeable sorie, that they can dispatch no more pardons, dispensations, tot quots, with the rest of their baggage and tromperie. Eng∣land is no more a babe. There is no man here, but now he knoweth that they doe foolishly, that giue golde for leade, more weight of that then they receiue of this.* 1.16 They passe not, though Peter & Paules faces be grauen in the lead, to make fooles faine. No, we be sorie that they shoulde abuse holy Saints visages, to the begiling of the world.

Surely, except God take away our right wittes, not only his authority shalbe driuē out for euer,* 1.17 but his name also shortly shall be forgotten in England. Wee will from henceforth, aske counsel of him and his, when we lust to be deceiued, when we couet to be in error, when we desire to offend God, trouth, and honesty. If a man may gesse the whole worke by the foundation,* 1.18 where deceits beginneth the worke, can any other then deceits be builded vpō thys foundation? What can you looke for in thys Mantuan councel,* 1.19 other then the oppression of truth & true religion? If there be any thing well done, thinke as euery mā doth, bishops of Rome to be accustomed to do a few things wel that many euill may the better be taken at theyr handes. They when they lust, can yeelde some part of theyr ryghte. They are content, that some of their decrees, some of their errours & abuses be reprehended: but they are neuer more to be s••ared, then when they shewe themselues most gētle. For if they graunt a few, they aske many: if they leaue a li∣tle, they will be sure of a great deale. Scarse a man he may know how to handle himself, that he take no hurt at their hands, yea when they blesse him: which seldome doe good, but for an intent to do euil. Certainly come who so will to these shops of deceits, to these taires of frauds, we wil loose no parte of our right in comming at his call,* 1.20 that ought to be called, and not to fall. We wil neither come at Mantua, nor send thether for this matter. &c.

And so the king proceeding in the sayde hys Protesta∣tion, declareth moreouer, how the Pope, after he had sum∣moned his Councell first to be kept at Mantua, the 23. of May, An. 1537. shortly after directed out an other Bull, to prorogate the same Councell to the month of Nouember, pretending for his excuse, y^t the Duke of Mantua woulde not suffer him to keepe any Councel there,* 1.21 vnles he main∣tained a number of warriors, for defence of the town. And therfore in his latter bull, he prorogeth this assemble, com∣maunding Patriarkes, Archbishops, Byshops, Abbots, and other of the spiritualtie, by the vertue of obedience and vnder paine of cursing, to be present, but sheweth no place at all where he would be, nor whether they shoulde come. And in very deede no great matter, though no place were named. For as good coūcel no where to be called, as where it could not be. And aswell no place serued him, that inten∣ded no Councell, as all places. And to say truth, much bet∣ter no place to be named, then to name suche, as he purpo∣sed not to come too: for so shoulde hee breake no promise, which maketh none. And so going forward in his oration, toward the latter ende, he thus inferreth by his wordes of Protestation, saying.

No, we will the Pope and his adherents to vnderstand that, that we oft haue sayd, and now say, and euer will say:* 1.22 He nor his hath no authoritie, no iurisdiction in England. Wee giue him no more then hee hath, that is neuer a deale. That which he hath vsurped against Gods lawe, & extor∣ted by violēce, we by good right, take from him again. But he & his wil say: we gaue them a primacie. We heare them well. We gaue it you in dede. If you haue authority vpon vs, as long as our cōsent giueth it you, and you euermore wil make your plee vpon our consent, then let it haue euen an ende, where it began: we cōsent no longer, your autho∣ritie must nedes be gone. If we being deceiued by fals pre∣tense of euil alledged scriptures, gaue to you y^t ye ought to haue refused: why may we not, our error nowe perceiued, your deceite espied, take it againe? We princes wrote our selues to be inferours to popes. As long as wee thought so, we obeyed them as our superiors. Now we write not as we did, and therefore they haue no great cause to mar∣uill, if we hereafter doe not as we did, both the lawes cy∣uill, and also the lawes of God, be on our side. For a free man borne doth not lose his liberty, no nor hurt the plee of his libertie, though he write himselfe a bond man.

Againe, if they leane to custome, we send them to sainct Ciprian, which saith that custome,* 1.23 if trouth be not ioyned with it is nothing, but erroris vetustas, that is, an old error. Christ sayd: Ego sum via, veritas, & vita: I am y^e way trouth and life. He neuer sayd: Ego sum consuetudo, I am the cu∣stome. Wherfore, seeing custome serueth you on y^e one side, and Scripture vs vppon the other, are ye able to matche vs? In how many places doth Christ monish you to seek no primacie, to preferre your selues before no body? no,* 1.24 to be obedient vnto all creatures? Your old title, Seruus ser∣uorum, euill agreeth with your new forged dignitie. But we will not tary in matters playne: We onely desire God, y^t Cesar & other Christian Princes, would agree vpō some holy Councell, where trouth may be tried and Religiō set vp, which hath bene hurt by nothing so sore, as by general not generall Councels. Errours and abuses grow to fast.* 1.25 Erudimini, erudimini qui iudicatis terram: Get you learning you y^t iudge the earth: & excogitate some remedy for these so many diseases of y^e sick Church. They that be wisest, do dispayre of a generall Councel. Wherfore we think it now best, that euery Prince call a Councell prouincial, and eue∣ry Prince to redresse his owne Realme. We make all men priuy, what we thinke best to be done for the redresse of re∣ligion. If they like it, we doubt not, but they wil follow it, or some other better. Our trust is, that all Princes will so handle themselues in this behalfe, that Princes may enioy their own, and Priests of Rome content themselues with that they ought to haue. Princes as we trust, will no lon∣ger nourish Wolues whelpes: they wil subscribe no more to popish pride, to the Papacie. &c.

Fauour our doinges, O Christen Princes. Your ho∣nor & ancient Maiestie is restored. Remēber, there is no∣thing pertaining so muche to a Princes honour, as to set forth truth, and to helpe religion. Take you heed that their

deceite worke not more mischief, then your vertue can doe good: & euerlasting warre we would all Princes had with this Papacie. As for their Decrees, so harken to them, that if in this Mantua assemble, thynges be well done, ye take them, but not as authorised by them, but that trouth and thyngs that mainteyne Religiō, are to be taken at all mēs hādes. And euē as we will admit thynges well made, so if there be any thyng determined in preiudice of trouth, for mainteinaūce of their euill grounded primacy, or that may hurt y^e authoritie of kings, we protest vnto y^e whole world, that we neither allow it, nor will at any tyme allow it.

Ye haue, Christen Readers, our mynde cōcernyng the generall Councell. We thinke you all see, that Paule & his Cardinals, Byshops, Abbots, Monkes, Friers, with the rest of the rablemēt, do nothing lesse intēd, then the know∣ledge or search of trouth. Ye see, this is no tyme meete, Mātua no place meete, for a generall Coūcell. And though they were both meete, yet except some other cal this Coū∣cell, you see, that we neither neede to come, nor to sēd. You haue heard how euery Prince in his owne Realme, may quiet thynges amisse. If there be any of you, that can shew vs a better way, we promise w^t all harty desire, to do that, that shalbe thought best for the setlyng of Religion, & that we wil leaue our owne aduises, if any mā shew vs better. Which mynde of ours, we most hartly pray GOD, that gaue it vs, not onely to encrease in vs, but also to send it vnto all Christen Princes, all Christen Prelates, and all Christen people.

A little before the death of Queene Anne, there was a Parliamēt at Westminster, wherin was geuē to the kyng by cōsent of the Abbots, all such houses of religiō, as were vnder 300. markes. Which was a shrewde prognosticate of the ruine of greater houses, which in deede folowed short∣ly after, as was & might easely be perceaued before of ma∣ny, who thē sayd: that the low bushes and brambles were cut downe before, but great okes would folow after.

Although the proceedyng of these thyngs did not well like the myndes of the Popes frendes in Englād,* 1.26 yet not∣withstandyng they began agayne to take some breath of comfort, when they sawe the foresayd Queene Anne dis∣patched. Neuerthelesse they were frustrate of their pur∣pose (as is aforeshewed) and that doblewise. For first, af∣ter they had their willes of Queene Anne, the Lord raysed vp an other Queene, not greatly for their purpose, with her sonne kyng Edward.* 1.27 And also for that the Lord Crō∣well the same tyme began to growe in authoritie. Who like a mighty piller set vp in the Churche of Christ, was enough alone to confounde and ouerthrow all the malig∣nant deuises of the aduersaries, so long as God gaue him in lyfe here to continue: whose story hereafter followeth more at large.

Shortly after this foresayd Mariage of the kyng with this Queene Iane Semer aboue mentioned, in y^e moneth of Iune, duryng the continuation of the Parliament, by the consent of the Clergy holdyng thē a solemne conuoca∣tion in the Church of S. Paule,* 1.28 a booke was set forth con∣teyning certaine Articles of religon necessary to be taught to the people, wherein they intreated specially but of three Sacramentes: Baptisme, Penaunce, & the Lordes Sup∣per. Where also diuers other thyngs were published con∣cernyng the alteration of certaine pointes of Religion, as that certaine holy dayes were forbiddē, and many Ab∣bayes began to bee suppressed. For the whiche cause, the rude multitude of Lincolneshyre fearing the vtter subuer∣sion of their old Religion,* 1.29 wherein they had bene so long nousled, did rise vp in a great cōmotion, to the nūber: wel∣neare of 20. thousād, hauyng for their Captaine, a Monke named D. Makerell, calling himselfe then Captaine Cob∣bler: but these rebels being repressed by the kyngs power, and desiryng pardon,* 1.30 soone brake vp their assembly. For they hearing of the royal army of the king cōming against them wyth his owne persone there present, & fearing what would follow of this, first the noble men and Gentlemen, which before fauoured them, began to w^tdraw themselues, so that they were destitute of Captaines: and at the laste, they in writing made certaine petitions to the king, prote∣sting that they neuer intended hurt toward his royal per∣son. These petitions the king receiued, and made thys an∣swere againe to them as followeth.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The kinges protestation why he sen∣••eth not to ••he Popes Councell.
• * 1.2

  The Popes craftes espyed.
• * 1.3

  The king not bound to come at the Popes call.
• * 1.4

  Who be they that haue place in the Popes Councell.
• * 1.5

  The place of the Councell not indifferent.
• * 1.6

  No reason that the pope should be iudge in his owne cause.
• * 1.7

  The Byshop of Rome in lear∣ning and lyfe farre vnder o∣ther Byshops.
• * 1.8

  Paule the Pope proleth for his owne profite.
• * 1.9

  England taketh her leaue of the Pope for euer.
• * 1.10

  Englād refuseth the Popes mar∣chandise.
• * 1.11

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 hatred 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the Pope 〈…〉〈…〉.
• * 1.12

  The Pope 〈…〉〈…〉 put the ••orde to the earth, otherwise ••hen Christ did.
• * 1.13

  Benef••tes ••ast away vpon the Pope.
• * 1.14

  The Popes ••ur••es not feared in England.
• * 1.15

  The Popes trumpery dispatched out of Eng∣land.
• * 1.16

  Golde geuē 〈◊〉〈◊〉 leade.
• * 1.17

  God graūt.
• * 1.18

  The Popes 〈…〉〈…〉.
• * 1.19

  ••he Pope 〈◊〉〈◊〉 a fewe ••••nges wel, ••t many 〈◊〉〈◊〉 may 〈◊〉〈◊〉 better 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.20

  The pope ought to be called and not to call.
• * 1.21

  The Pope a∣gaine prorogeth his Councell.
• * 1.22

  Princes as the•• gaue the Pope primacye, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 they take 〈…〉〈…〉 him agayne.
• * 1.23

  Custome▪
• * 1.24

  The Popes 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and his digni•••• agree not to geather.
• * 1.25

  Best that euery Prince reforme his owne realme and tary not for generall Coun∣cells.
• * 1.26

  The Papistes purpose disa∣pointed.

  Queene Iane maryed to the king.
• * 1.27

  L. Cromwell groweth in au∣thoritye.
• * 1.28

  Alteration of religion a little beginneth.
• * 1.29

  Commotion in Lincolnshire.
• * 1.30

  A mōke stirrer of the cōmotiō