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.

An other history of one Dodde a Scottish man, burned in Calice.

AFter the burning of this poore man, there was also an other certaine scholer, counted to be a Scottish man,* 1.1 named Dodde, who cōming out of Germany, was there taken with certaine Germane bookes about him, and be∣ing examined thereupon, and standing constantly to the truth that hee had learned, was therefore condemned to death, and there burned in the sayd towne of Calice, with∣in the space of a yeare, or thereabout, after the other godly Martyr aboue mentioned.

And for so much as I am presently in hand wyth mat∣ters of Calice,* 1.2 I can not passe from thence without memo∣rie of an other certayne honest man of the same township, named William Button, aliâs Crosbowmaker, although the time of this story is a litle more anciēt in yeares: which story is this.

William Crosbowmaker, a souldier of Calice, and the kings seruant, being a man as some natures be,* 1.3 somwhat pleasantly disposed, vsed when he met with Priests, to de∣maund of them certayne merry questions of pastyme, as these: Whether if a man were sodenly taken, and wanted an other thing, he might not without offence occupy one of the Popes pardons, in steede of a broken paper?

Another question was, whether in the world might bet∣ter be wanting, dogs or priests. And if it were answered, that dogs might rather be spared: to that he woulde replie againe and inferre, that if there were no dogs, wee coulde make no moe, but if there lacked ignoraunt Priestes, we might soone, and too soone, make too many of them.

It happened that in the time of D. Darley, Parson of our Ladies Church in Calice, being Commissary there so: Archbishop Warham, there came a blacke Frier to Calice with the Popes pardons: who for iiij. d. would deliuer a soule out of Purgatory. The frier was full of romish ver∣tues, for what money came for pardons by day, he bought no land with it at night. This foresayd William Button, aliâs Crosbowmaker, comming to the pardons, and pre∣tending that he would deliuer his father & frends soules,

asked if the holy father the Pope could deliuer soules out of purgatory?* 1.4 The frier said, there is no doubt of that. Why then, quoth Button, dooth he not of charitye deliuer all the soules thereout? Of which wordes he was accused to the Commissary, who at his appearing before the sayd Com∣missary, confessed to haue asked such questions. The Com¦missary being angrye thereat sayd: Doubtest thou thereof thou hereticke? There was standing by a blacke fryer na∣med Capel, an English man, who sayd to the Commissa∣ry. There is Tenne thousand of these heretickes betwene Graueling and Trere. Button aunswered, Maister fryer of all men you may keepe silence. For your coat hath bene twise cut of from the fayth. The first time your order was enioyned to haue your blacke coat shorter thē your white, and for the second time your order must goe to the furthest part of their church,* 1.5 and there sing an Antheme of our La¦dy. The Commissarye at these wordes chafed, called But∣ton hereticke, with many other opprobrious words. Thē sayd Button to the Commissary, if your holy father the Pope may deliuer soules out of purgatory, and wil not of charity deliuer them, thē I would to God the king would make me Pope, and I would surely deliuer all out with∣out money. At these wordes the Comissary raged, and re∣uiled Button exceedingly, causing him to beare a billet, & procured his wages (which was 6. d. a day) to be taken from him. Then went Button to the kinges maiesty, de∣claring all the whole matter to his grace, who sent him to Calice agayne, and gaue him after that 8, d. a day.

Notes

• * 1.1

  One Dod•••• burned in Calice.
• * 1.2

  The story 〈◊〉〈◊〉 W. Cros∣bowmaker bearing a billet in Calice.
• * 1.3

  W. Cros∣bowmaker questions.
• * 1.4

  〈1 paragraph〉〈1 paragraph〉
• * 1.5

  This An∣theme the blacke friers were 〈…〉〈…〉 euery nighte to our Lady in prayse of her Concep¦tion.