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.

Winchester.

To the 15. article. I graunte, that vpon a Saterdaye at after noone, euen at suche time of the daye as they were at Euensong in the Chappell at the Courte, I was brought thether, and at my comming the Lordes of the Counsaile sayde they were all my Iudges by special commission, and entended to proceede thus wyth me: That I shoulde sub∣scribe certaine articles which were then read, and I muste directly make aunswere, whether I would subscribe them or no. I aunswered on my knees in this wise: For the pas∣sion of God my Lordes be my good Lordes, and let me be tried by iustice whether I be faultye or no:* 1.1 and as for these articles assoone as yee deliuer me to my libertie, I woulde make aunswere to them whether I would subscribe them or no. Then they hauing further to say, I aunswered, these Articles were of diuers sortes: some be lawes whyche I may not qualifie: some be no lawes but learning and facte, which maye haue diuers vnderstandings, & a subscription to them without telling what I meane, were ouer dange∣rous:* 1.2 and therfore I offered for y^e more declaration of raine obedience to all their requestes, that if they woulde deliuer me the articles into the prison with mee, I woulde shortly make them particulare aunswere, and suffer the paynes of the lawe, that by my aunswere I mighte incurre vnto: Wherupon I was commanded to go a part, and they sent vnto me the Lorde Treasurer and maister Secretarie Pe∣ter, who communed with me of a meane way, and that li∣ked not the Lordes. And then was I called foorth agayne, and my absolute subscription required againe, & I againe made offer to aunswer particularly, for I coulde not wyth my conscience subscribe them as they were absolutely. And these my considerations, I trust to be iust, seing no man for any commaundements ought to offende his conscience, as I must haue done in that case.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Wynchest•••• required a••gayne to subscribe, refuseth.
• * 1.2

  Wynche∣sters shift••••