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.

October. 1553.

* 1.1The first day of October, Queene Mary was crow∣ned at Westminster, and the x. day of the sayd moneth of October then followyng, began the parliament with a so∣lemne Masse of the holy Ghost, after the popish maner, ce∣lebrated with great pompe in the pallaice of Westminster. To the which Masse among the other Lordes, accordyng to the maner, should come the bishops, which yet remay∣ned vndeposed, which were the Archb. of Yorke, D. Tay∣lor B. of Lincolne, Iohn Harley B. of Herford. Of the bi∣shops, D. Taylor, and M. Harley presenting themselues according to their duetie, and taking their place amongest the Lordes, after they saw the Masse begin, not abidyng the sight therof, withdrew themselues from the company: for the which cause the Bishop of Lincolne beyng exami∣ned, and protestyng his fayth, was vppon the same com∣manded to attend: who not long after at Ankerwyke by sickenesse departed. M. Harley, because he was maryed, was excluded both from the Parliament, and from hys bishoprike.

Masse beyng done, the Queene accompanied with the Estates of the Realme, was brought into the Parliament house, there according to the maner, to enter and begin the consultation.* 1.2 At which consultation or Parliament were repealed all statutes made in the tyme of king Henry the 8. for Premunire, & statutes made in K. Edward the sixtes time for administration of common praier & the sacramēts in the English tongue: & further, the attainder of the duke of Northumberland was by this Parliament confirmed. In this meane while many men were forward in the ere∣cting of aulters & masses in churches. And such as woulde sticke to the lawes made in K. Edwardes tyme, till other should be established: some of them were marked, & some presently apprehended.* 1.3 Among whom sir Iames Hales, a knight of Kent, and Iustice of the Common place was one, who notwithstandyng he had ventured hys lyfe in Queene Maries cause, in that he would not subscribe to y^e disheriting of her by the kings will, yet for that he did at a quarter Sessions geue charge vpon the statutes made in the tyme of Henry the 8. and Edward the 6. for the supre∣macie and religion,* 1.4 he was imprisoned in the Marshalsey, Counter, and Fleete, and so cruelly handled & put in feare by talke, that the Warden of the Fleete vsed to haue in hys hearyng,* 1.5 of such torments as were in preparyng for here∣tikes (or for what other cause God knoweth) y^t he sought to rid himselfe out of this life, by wounding himselfe wyth a knife: and afterward was contented to say as they wil∣led him: wherupon he was discharged, but after that hee neuer rested till he had drowned himselfe in a riuer, halfe a myle from his house in Kent. Of whom more is to be seen when you come to his story.

During the time of this parliament, the Clergie lyke∣wyse after their woonted maner,* 1.6 had a Conuocation, with a disputation also appoynted by the Queenes commaun∣dement, at Paules Churche in London the same tyme, which was about the 18. of October. In the which Con∣uocation, first M. Iohn Harpesfield Bacheler of Diuini∣tie, made a sermon ad Clerum, the 16. of October. After the sermon done, it was assigned by the bishops, that they of the Clergye house, for auoyding confusion of woordes should chuse them a Prolocutor. To the which roome and office by common assent, was named Doc. Weston Deane of Westminster, and presented to the Bishops, with an O∣ration of M. Pie Deane of Chichester,* 1.7 and also of Maister Wymbisley Archdeacon of London. Which D. Weston be∣yng chosen and brought vnto the bishops, made his gra∣tulatory Oration to the house, with the answer agayne of B. Boner.

After these things thus sped in the conuocation house, they proceeded next to the Disputation appoynted, as is abouesayd, by the Queenes Commaundement, about the matter of the sacrament. Which disputation continued sixe dayes. Wherein D. Weston was chiefe on the Popes part who behaued himselfe outragiously in tauntyng and chec∣king. In conclusion, such as disputed on the contrary part were driuen some to flee, some to deny, & some to die, thogh to the most mens iudgements that heard the disputation, they had the vpper hand, as here may appeare by y^e report of the sayd disputation, the copy whereof we thought here to annexe, as followeth.

Notes

• * 1.1

  October 1. Queene Mary crowned. October. 10. The Parlia∣ment be∣ginneth with a Masse. Two Bi∣shops withdrew themselues from the sighe of the Masse. M. Harley Bishop of Her••ford put out of his Bisho∣pricke.
• * 1.2

  Statutes of Premunire and other repealed. Altars and Masses e∣rected.
• * 1.3

  Syr Iames Hales Knight.
• * 1.4

  The trou∣ble of Iudge Hales.
• * 1.5

  A subtile pollecy.
• * 1.6

  A conuo∣cation be∣gonne.
• * 1.7

  Orations of M. Pye and M. Wimsley, of Doct. Wes••on & of B. Boner. in the conuoca∣tion house.