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 4. Article.

That all those heresies commonly called the heresies of England,* 1.1 or at the least, the greater or most part of them to be now presently vnderstand and knowen by the Eng∣lish men to be of themselues good and iust, and to be obser∣ued of all faythful Christians as most true and conforma∣ble vnto the law of God, and that he hath persuaded ma∣ny persons, to imbrace the sayd heresies.

Borthwike.

Saint Iohn in his xi. chapter, declareth how Caiphas hy•• Bishop of Ierusalem did prophesie that Iesus should dye for the people, which thing he spake beyng vtterly ig∣noraunt. The lyke Image of blyndnes we haue now pre∣sently in our luxurious Cardinall of S. Andrewes, and hys adherents, which accused religion of heresie, which in the yeare of our Lorde, 1540. was had in estimation in England, at the which tyme they proclaymed me an Arch∣heretike, although they esteeme the same religion for most christian, for what religion at that tyme was vsed in En∣gland,* 1.2 the lyke the whole realme of Scotland did imbrace, in this poynt onely the English men differed from the Scottes, that they had cast of the yoke of Antichrist, the o∣ther not. Idols were worshipped of both nations, y^e pro∣fauatyng of the Supper and Baptisme, was lyke vnto them both, wicked superstition raigned on both partes, and true worship was deformed and defaced with detesta∣ble hipocrisie.

Truely it is most false that they do affirme and say, that I had subscribed vnto such kynde of heresies, as though they had bene conformable vnto the law of God, when as nothyng is more aduerse or repugnaunt therevnto: for e∣uen now of late, God of hys goodnesse and mercy had o∣pened my da••elyng eyes, and hath drawen me out of the filthy slow of Idolatry and superstition, in the which a∣mongest others I haue so long tyme wallowed and tum∣bled. Neither is it any lesse absurde, that they affirme me to haue allured many to embrace the same, except perad∣uenture they do vnderstand that I haue oftentymes wi∣shed, that the yoke of Antichrist should be shaken and cast off from the neckes of the Scottes, as it is from the En∣glishe men: whiche thyng with a sincere and vpright heart, and with an earnest mynd, I do now also wish and desire.

Notes

• * 1.1

  4. Article.
• * 1.2

  The 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of religio•• in Engl•••••• An. 15••••.