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.

¶Frier Forest.

THis Forest was an obseruaunt Frier, and had secretly in confessions declared to many of the kinges subiects,* 1.1 that the king was not supreme head, and being therof ac∣cused and apprehēded, he was examined how he could say that the king was not supreme head of the Church, when he himselfe had sworne to the contrary. He answered that he tooke his oth with his outward man, but his inwarde man neuer consented thereunto. And being further accu∣sed of diuers damnable Articles and thereupon conuicted, he gladlye submitted himselfe to abide the punishment of the Church. Upon this his submission hauing more liber∣ty then before he had to talke with whom he would he be∣came as farre from his submission as euer he was. And when his abiuration was sent him to read,* 1.2 he vtterly re∣fused it and obstinately perseuered in his errours: where∣fore he was iustly condemned, after hanged in Smithfield in chaynes vpon a gallowes quicke, by the middle & arme holes, and fire was made vnder him, and so was he consu∣med and burnt to death.

In the place of execution there was a scaffold prepared for the kinges most honorable Counsell and the nobles of the Realme to fitte vpon: to graunt him pardon, if he had any sparke of repentance in him. There was also a pulpite prepared where y^e right reuerēd father Hugh Latimer B. of Worcester declared his errors, & manifestly confuted thē by the Scripture, with many godly exhortations to moue him to repentance. But he was so froward,* 1.3 that he neither would heare neither speake. A litle before, the foresayd I∣mage called Daruel Gatheren cōming out of Wales, was brought to the gallowes, and there also with the foresayd Frier (as is sayde) was set on fire. Whome the Wealsh∣men muche worshipped, and had a Prophecye amongest

them, that this Image shoulde set a whole forrest on fyre. Which prophecy tooke effect, for he set this Fryer Forest on fire and consumed hym to nothing. The Fryer when he saw the fire come, and that present death was at hand, he caught hold vpon the lader, and would not let it go, but so vnpaciently took his death, as neuer any man that put his trust in God at any time, so vngodly or vnquietly en∣ded his life.

In the month of October & Nouember the same yere, shortly after the ouerthrow of these images and pilgrima∣ges, folowed also the ruine of the Abbeis & religious hou∣ses, which by the speciall motion of the Lord Cromwel (or rather and principally, by the singuler blessing of almighty God) were suppressed, being geuen a litle before by acte of Parliament, into the kinges hand: wherupō not onely the houses were rased, but theyr possessions also disparcled a∣mong the nobility in such sort,* 1.4 as all friers, monkes, Cha∣nons, Nunnes, and other sectes of religion, were then so rooted out of this Realme from the very foundation, that there semeth by Gods grace, no possibility hereafter left for the generation of those straunge weedes to grow here any more, according to the true verdict of our Lord and Saui∣or Christ, in his Gospell, saying: Euery plantation being not planted of my father,* 1.5 shalbe plucked vp by the rootes. &c.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Frier Forest executed for rebelling a∣gaynst the kinges su∣premacye.
• * 1.2

  Fryer Forest burnt in Smithfielde.
• * 1.3

  A Welsh•• prophesie of Daruell Gatheren.
• * 1.4

  The ruyne & dissolutiō of Abbeyes & ••onasteryes in England.
• * 1.5

  Math. 15.