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.

The 10. Article.

Diuers and many wayes he hath sayd, holden, and al∣so affirmed, and openly taught that there is no religion to be obserued or kept, but simply to be abolished and de∣stroyed: as it is now in England, and despising all reli∣gion, affirmyng, that it is but abusing of the people, he hath taught that their habites and vestures are deformed, and very monstrous, hauyng in them no maner of vtili∣tie or holynesse, inducyng and alluryng as much as in him laye, all the adherentes of hys opinion, that all religion in the kyngdome of Scotland should be subuerted and vt∣terly taken away, to the great offence of the Catholicke Church, and the diminishing and detrimen of the Christi∣an Religion.

Borthwike.

The Prophet Esay in hys fift chapter, cryeth out, say∣ing. Wo be vnto you which call euill good, and good euill, darkenesse, lyght, and lyght, darkenesse, sower, sweete, and sweete sower. And followeth in the same place, in the sayd Prophetes, Wo, sayth he, to you that be wise and Sapient in your owne eyes, and prudent in your owne e∣stimation. No man can denye but that the Cardinall of Scotland and hys adherentes to be vnder this most hea∣uy and grieuous curse, when as they doe so generally con∣found the Christian religion and their wicked Monkery, that they do entitle them both by one name of holinesse, I trust I will make it appeare more manifest then the day, that they do it by a sacrilegious audacitie or boldnesse, vn∣to such as settyng a parte all preposterous affection, wyll embrace the truth, when as she doth manifestlye shewe her selfe.

But before I enter into the matter, I will all men to vnderstand, that I do not touche that kynd of Monkery, whiche Saint Augustine and other so often make men∣tion of: As in which the Monkes beyng gathered toge∣ther vtterly, contemnyng and despising the vanities of this world, dyd lead a most chaste and godly lyfe, liuyng in prayer, readyng, and disputations, not puffed vp wyth pryde, nor contentious with frowardnesse, neyther full of enuie, no man possessed any thing of hys owne, no man was chargeable or burdenous vnto others, they wrought with theyr handes to gette that which might sustayne the body, the spirit and mynd not let and hindered from God. Whatsoeuer did superabound more then was necessarye for their sustentation, as by the restraint of their delicious and delicate fare, much did redound of the labours of their hands, it was with such diligence distributed vnto y^e poore and nedy, as it was not with greater diligence gotten by them which did geue the same.

For they by no meanes went about to haue aboun∣daunce lyeng by them, but sought all meanes possible that nothyng should remayne by them more then sufficient, be∣sides this, no man was forced to any extremitie, which he could not beare or suffer, no man had any thyng layd vpon hym, which he refused, neyther was he condemned of the rest, which confessed hymselfe vnable to imitate or follow: they had alwayes in their mynde how commendable a thyng loue and charitie was, they remembered that all things are cleane vnto them which are cleane. Therefore they did not refuse or reiect any kynds of meate as pollu∣ted or defiled: but all their whole industry and labor was applied to subdue lust and concupiscence, and to retayne loue amongst brethren. Many of them did drinke no wine, yet notwithstandyng they thought not themselues defiled therewithall. For vnto such as were sicke and diseased, who could not recouer the health of their body without the same, they did most gently permit it. And where as many foolishly refused the same, they brotherly admoni∣shed them to take heede that they became not rather the weaker▪ then the hollier, thorough theyr vayne super∣stition.

Hetherto I haue repeated that which Saint Augu∣stine writeth of the Monkes in his tyme wherby I would as it were paint out in a table, what maner of Monkery there was in the old tyme, that all men might vnderstand how great difference there is betweene that and the mon∣kery in these our latter dayes. For he would haue all ex∣treme compulsion to be taken away in such things as by the worde of God are left to vs at libertye.* 1.1 But nowe a dayes there is nothing more seuerely and cruelly exacted. For they say it is a remedilesse offence if any do but neuer so little swarue from their prescript order in coulor or kind of garment, or in any kynd of meat or in any other friuo∣lous or vayne ceremony.

Saint Augustine doth straightly affirme that it is not lawfull for Monkes to lyue idle vpon other mens labor, he plainly denieth that in his tyme there was any such ex∣ample of any well ordered Monastery: but our Monkes do constitute the principall part of holynesse in idlenesse, which they call a contemplatiue lyfe, wherfore the state of Monkery of the olde tyme, and of these our dayes, is in all points so diuers,* 1.2 that scarse can any thing be more vnlike, I will not say vtterly contrary: for our Monkes not con∣tent with that godlinesse to the studye and desire, whereof Christ commaundeth all his continually to be intentiue, they imagine a new kynd of godlinesse, I know not what, by the meditation whereof they are more perfect, then all other. But it is a most pestilent errour (which all godlye men ought to abhorre) to fayne any other rule of perfecti∣on, then that common rule deliuered vnto the whole vni∣uersall Churche, which we suppose to be sufficiently ap∣prooued in the refutation of the article before passed. Now I also passe ouer with silence the great blasphemy, where∣by they compare their monasticall confession vnto Bap∣tisme. I also hold my peace that they do dissipate and de∣uide the Communion of the Church, when as they doe se∣perate themselues from the lawfull societie and fellow∣ship of the faythfull, and clayme vnto themselues a pecu∣liar ministery and priuate administration of the Sacra∣ments, but as Saint Augustine witnesseth, it was so far of, that the Monkes in tymes past, had any seueral church or administration of the Sacramentes with others, and were a part and portion of the common people. Albeit that they dwelt asunder.

But if that a man may touch the manner of these our Monks, what shall I call the cloysters in these our dais, otherwise then brothell houses, swine sties, and dennes of discord. Besides that, I will passe ouer their faires and markets, which in these latter dayes they do make of their reliques of Martyrs, to build vp Sodome agayne. Wher∣fore I conclude, that this their kynde of lyfe whiche they clayme vnto themselues, is vtterly wicked and naughte, the which is not established or grounded vppon any cer∣tayne callyng of God, neyther allowed by him, wherefore I may be bold to say, that it is vnlawfull, because their cō∣science hath nothing wherby to sustaine it selfe before god, and whatsoeuer is not of fayth, is sinne.

And furthermore, so long as they do entangle & bynde themselues with so many and so peruerse, and wicked kynd of worshippyng, as the Monkery now a days doth contayne in it, I may well say that they are not consecra∣ted vnto God, but vnto the diuell. For why? was it law∣full for the Prophets, to say, that Israelites did offer theyr children vnto wicked spirites, and not vnto God onely, for this cause that they did corrupt and violate the true worshippyng of God with prophane ceremonies. Is it not lawfull then to speake the lyke of our Monkes which together with their cowles haue put on a thousand snares of most wicked superstitions? Let euery man now waigh and consider with himselfe, if I haue done wickedly to wishe such religions as is this our Monkery, to be vt¦terly extinguished and rooted out. Moreouer, all christian princes should rightly and truely do their office, if as in tymes past Iosias pulled downe and ouerthrew the high places which hys elders the kings of Iuda had builded, so they woulde abolishe and dryue away these kynde of Monkes.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Precepts of mē more cruelly ex¦acted then the precepts of god.
• * 1.2

  Idlenes & plea∣sure the weapōs of the auncient enemye.