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.

Suspending and halowing of Church∣yardes gainfull to the Pope, and chargea∣ble to the people.

FUrthermore, if it happē that 2. or more do fight without any weapon in a Churchyard, onely with their fists,* 1.1 or by the heare, that there be neuer so litle bloud shed, by & by y^e clergy haue recourse to enterdiment, & doe not suffer any more Christen burials there to be done, before that all the citizens with great pomp & expenses do cause it to be con∣secrated & halowed againe with no lesse charge, then when at the first, of a prophane place, it was halowed for burial: all which things do redound to the charges & costes of the laity. And though the churches or chapels be neuer so litle

which are so hallowed: yet the suffraganes do burden and oppresse the simple poore housholdes, be they neuer so bare or nedy, with superfluous expenses, and require moreouer gifts of the people, which is not for theyr ease to geue.

Also the suffragans haue inuēted that no other, but on∣ly themselues may baptise belles for the lay people.* 1.2 Wher∣by the simple people, vpō the affirmation of the suffragans do beleue, that such belles so baptised, wil driue away euill spirits and tempests: wherupon a great number of godfa∣thers are appoynted, especially such as are riche: which at the time of the baptising, holding the rope wherwithal the bel is tied, the suffragan speaking before them, as is accu∣stomed in the baptising of young children, they altogether do answere,* 1.3 & geue the name to the bell. The bell hauing a new garment put vpon it, as is accustomed to be don vn∣to the Christians, after this they go vnto sumptuous bā∣kets, wherunto also the gossips are biddē, that therby they might geue the * 1.4 greater reward, and the suffraganes with their chaplaines and other ministers, are sumptuously fed. Yet doth not this suffise, but that the suffragane also muste haue a rewarde which they doe call a small gifte or present: whereby it happeneth oftentimes, that euen in small vil∣lages, a 100. florens are consumed and spent in such christ∣nings: which is not onely superstitious, but also contrary vnto Christian religiō, a seducing of the simple people, and mere extortion. Notwithstanding the Bishops, for to en∣riche their Suffraganes, doe suffer these things and other farre worse: wherefore such wicked and vnlawfull things ought to be abolished.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Hallowing of Church∣yardes abu∣sed for mo∣ney.
• * 1.2

  Baptising of Belles.
• * 1.3

  Bells weare coates. A question whether these gossips which chri∣sten Belles may marry togeather by the Ca∣non law.
• * 1.4

  Spoyling of the peo∣ple by bap∣tising of Belles.