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 acte of the sixte day.

* 1.1ON Mondaye following, being the 30. of October, the Prolocutor demaunded of Iohn Philpot Archdeacon of Winchester, whether he would answere in the questions before propounded to their obiections, or no? To whome he made this answeare, that he woulde willingly so doe, if, according to theyr former determination, they would firste aunswere sufficiently to some of hys argumentes, as they had promised to do: wherof he had a dozen, not halfe of the first being yet decided: And if they woulde aunswere fully, and sufficiently but to one of his Arguments, he promised that he would answere all the obiections that they shoulde bryng.

Then the Prolocutor bade him propounde hys Argu∣ment, and it should be resolutely answered by one of them: whereunto M. Morgan was appoynted.* 1.2 Upon Wensday last (quoth he) I was inforced to silence before I had pro∣secuted halfe of mine Argument: the summe whereof was this (as was gathered by the iust context of the scripture) that the humain body of Christ was ascended into heauen, and placed on the right hand of God the father: wherefore it coulde not be situate vpon earth in the sacrament of the altare, inuisible after the imagination of man. The argu∣ment was denied by Morgan: For the profe wherof, Phil∣pot sayd, that this was it wherwith he had to confirme his first argument, if they would haue suffred him y^e other day, as now he trusted they would.

Fe- One selfe and same nature (quoth he) receiueth not in it selfe any thing that is contrary to it selfe.* 1.3

ri- But the body of Christ is an humane nature, distincte from the Deitie, and is a proper nature of it selfe.

o. Ergo, it cannot receiue any thyng that is contrarye to that nature, and that varieth from it selfe.

But bodely to be present, and bodely to be absent, to be on earth, and to be in heauen, and al at one present time, be things contrary to the nature of an humaine body, Ergo, it cannot be saide of the humaine body of Christ, that the selfe same body is both in heauen, & also in earth at one instant, either visibly or inuisibly.

Morgan denied the Maior, that is,* 1.4 the firste parte of the argument. The which Philpot vouched out of Vigilius an auncient wryter.* 1.5 But Morgan cauilled that it was no scri∣pture, and bade him prooue the same out of scripture.

Philpot sayd he could also so do, and right well deduce the same out of S. Paule, who sayeth, that Christ is like vnto vs in all poyntes, except sinne: and therefore like as one of our bodies cannot receiue in it selfe any thing contrarye to the nature of a body, as to be in Paules churche, and at West∣minster at one instant, or to be at Londō visibly, & at Lin∣coln inuisibly at one time: for that is so contrary to the na∣ture of a body,* 1.6 and of all creatures (as Didimus and Basi∣lius affirme) that an inuisible creature, as an Angell, can∣not be at one time in diuers places, wherfore he concluded, that the body of Christ might not be in moe places then in one, which is in heauen, and so consequently, not to be con∣tained in the sacrament of the altare.

To thys the Prolocutor tooke vpon him to answeare,* 1.7 saying, that it was not true that Christe was like vnto vs in all poynts, as Philpot tooke it, except sinne,* 1.8 For y^t Christ was not conceiued by the seede of man, as we be.

Whereunto Philpot againe replied, that Christes con∣ception was prophesied before by the Angel to be superna∣tural, but after he had receiued our nature by the operation of the holy Ghost in the virgins wombe, hee became in all poynts like vnto vs, except sinne.

Then Morgan inferred that thys saying of Paule dyd not plainly proue his purpose. Wel, quoth Philpot,* 1.9 I per∣ceiue that you do answere but by cauillation, yet am I not destitute of other scriptures to confirme my first argumēt,* 1.10 although you refuse the probation of so ancient and catho∣licke a doctour as Vigilius is. Sainte Peter in the sermone that he made in the thirde of the Actes, making mention of Christe, sayth these woordes, whome heauen must receiue vn∣till the consummation of all things. &c.* 1.11 Which words are spo∣ken of hys humanitie. If heauen must holde Christ, then can hee not be heere on earth in the Sacrament, as is pre∣tended.

Then Morgan laughing at this,* 1.12 and geuing no direct answer at all, Harpfield stoode vp, being one of the Bishop of Londons chaplaines, and tooke vpon him to answer to the saying of S. Peter, & demaunded of Philpot, whether he would, ex necessitate, that is, of necessitie, force Christ to any place, or no?

Philpot sayd, that he would no otherwise force Christe of necessity to any place,* 1.13 then he is taught by the wordes of the holy Ghost, which sounde thus: that Christes humaine body must abide in heauen vntill the day of iudgement, as I rehearsed out of the chapter before mentioned.

Why quoth Harpsfield, do you not knowe that Christe is God omnipotent? Yes said Philpot,* 1.14 I know that right wel, neither doubt I any thing at all of his omnipotencie. But of Christes omnipotencie what he may do, is not our question, but rather what he doeth. I knowe he may make a stone in the wall a manne, if he liste, and also that he may make moe worldes, but doeth he therefore so? It were no good consequent so to conclude: hee maye doe this, or that, therefore he doth it.

Ba- Only so much is to be beleeued of Gods omnipoten∣cie, as is in the woorde expressed.

ra- That Christes body is both in heauen and heere also really in the sacrament, is not expressed in the word.

co. Ergo, it is not to be beleeued that the body of Christe, being in heauen is heere also really in the sacrament.

Why quoth the Prolocutor, then you will putte Christ in prisone in heauen. To the which Philpot answered, doe you recken heauen to be a prisone? God graunt vs all to

come to that prisone.

After this, Harpsfield inferred that this word Oportet in S. Peter,* 1.15 which signifieth in Englishe must, did not im∣port so much as I woulde inferre of necessitie, as by other places of Scripture it may appeare, as in the first to Tim. where Paule sayeth, Oportet Episcopum esse vnius vxoris vi∣rum: A bishop must be the husband of one wife. Here quoth he, Oportet doeth not import suche a necessitie, but that hee that neuer was maried may be a Bishop.

To this Philpot saide againe, that the places were not like whych he went about to compare, and that in compa∣ring of the Scriptures wee muste not consider the naked wordes,* 1.16 but the meaning rather of the Scriptures, for y^t in the place by him alleaged,* 1.17 S. Paule doeth declare of what qualitie a Bishop ought to be. But in the other S. Peter teacheth vs the place where Christ must necessarily be vn∣til the ende of the worlde: which we ought to beleeue to be true. And this comparison of this worde Oportet, doeth no more aunswer mine argument, then if I should say of you now being here Oportet te hic esse, you must nedes be heere, which importeth such necessity for the time, that you can no otherwise be but here, & yet you would go about in words to auoide this necessitye with another Oportet, in an other sense, as this, Oportet te esse virū bonum, you must be a good man, where Oportet doeth not in very deede conclude any such necessity, but that you may be an euill man. Thus you may see that your answere is not sufficient, & as it were, no answere to mine argument.

Then the Prolocutour brought in another Oportet, to helpe this matter (if it mighte be) sayinge,* 1.18 what say you to this, Oportet haereses esse, must heresies needes be therefore because of thys word Oportet?

* 1.19Yea truely, quoth Philpotte, it cannot otherwise be, if you will adde that which followeth immediatly vpon these woordes of Paul, that is, Vt qui electi sunt, manifestentur, that is: That suche as be y^e elect of God, may be manifested and knowen.

Why, quoth the Prolocutor, the time hath bene that no heresies were.* 1.20 I knowe no suche time quoth Philpot. For since the time of Abell and Caine, heresies haue bene, and then began they.* 1.21 Then sayd the Prolocutor, wil you nowe answer Morgan an argument or two? I wil quoth Phil∣pot, if I may first be answered to my argument any thyng according to truth and learning.* 1.22 What quoth the Prolocu∣tor, you will neuer be answeared. Howe I am answeared, quoth Philpot,* 1.23 let all men that are here present, iudge: and specially such as be learned, & with what cauillations you haue dallied with me.

First to the auncient authority of Vigilius, you haue an∣swered nothing at all, but only denying it to be scripture y^t he sayth. Secondly, to the saying of S. Peter in the actes, yee haue aunsweared thus, demaunding of me whether I would keepe Christ in prison or no, let men nowe iudge if this be a sufficient answere or no.

Then stoode Morgane vp againe, and asked Philpotte whether he would be ruled by the vniuersal church,* 1.24 or no.

Yes, quoth he, if it be the true Catholicke Church. And sith you speake so much of the Churche,* 1.25 I would faine that you would declare what the church is.

The church, quoth Morgan, is diffused and dispearsed throughout the whole worlde.* 1.26 That is a diffuse definition quod Philpot, for I am yet as vncertaine as I was before what you meane by y^e church:* 1.27 but I knowledge no church, but that which is grounded and founded on Gods woord, as S. Paul sayth,* 1.28 vpon the foundation of the Apostles & Pro∣phets, and vpon the scriptures of God.

What quoth Moreman, was the Scripture before the church? yea quoth Philpot. But I will prooue nay, quoth Moreman, and I wil begin at Christes time. The Church of Christ was before any scripture wrytten. For Mathewe was the first that wrote the Gospell, about a dosen yeares after Christ, Ergo, the church was before the scripture.

To whom Philpot answering, denied this argument. Which when Moreman could not prooue, Philpot shewed that his argument was Elenchus, or a fallace, that is, a de∣ceiueable argument. For he tooke the Scripture only to be that, whych is wrytten by men in letters, wheras in ve∣ry deede,* 1.29 all Prophecie, vttered by the spirite of God, was counted to be Scripture before it was wrytten in paper & inke, for that it was wrytten in the heartes, and grauen in the mindes, yea, and inspired in the mouthes of good men, and of Christes Apostles by the spirite of Christ: As the sa∣lutation of the Angel was the scripture of Christe, and the word of God before it was written. At that Moreman cri∣ed, fie, fie, wondring that the Scripture of God shoulde be counted scripture, before it was wrytten, and affirmed that he had no knowledge that said so.

* 1.30To whom Philpot answered, that concerning know∣ledge in this behalfe, for the triall of the truth about y^e que∣stions in controuersie, he woulde wish hymselfe no worse matched then with Moreman.

At the which saying the Prolocutor was greuously of∣fended, saying, that it was arrogantly spoken of hym,* 1.31 that woulde compare with suche a worshipfull learned man as Moreman was, being himselfe a manne vnlearned,* 1.32 yea a madde man, meter to be sent to Bedlem, then to be among such a sorte of learned and graue men as there were, and a man that neuer woulde be answeared, and one that trou∣bled the whole house: and therefore he did commaund him that he shoulde come no more into the house, demaunding of the house whether they would agree thereuppon, or no. To whome a great number aunsweraed, yea. Then sayde Philpot againe, that he might thinke himselfe happye that was out of that companie.

After this, Morgan rose vp, and rounded the Prolocu∣tor in the eare.* 1.33 And then againe the Prolocutor spake to Philpot and said, least you should slaunder the house, & say that we will not suffer you to declare youre minde, we are content you shal come into the house as you haue done be∣fore, so that you be apparelled wyth a long gowne & a tip∣pette as we be, and that you shall not speake, but when I commaund you. Then quoth Philpot, I had rather be ab∣sent altogether.

Thus they reasoning to and fro, at length about the 13. of December, Q. Mary, to take vp the matter, sendeth her commaundement to Boner Byshoppe of London, that he should dissolue and breake vp the conuocation.* 1.34 The copie of which commaundement here followeth.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The 6. Acte or Session.
• * 1.2

  Philpot.
• * 1.3

  Argument.
• * 1.4

  Morgan.
• * 1.5

  Here is a new euasion inuen∣ted by Morgan who dare not plainely deny Vigilius autho∣ritie, but vnder a colour.
• * 1.6

  One body can not be at once in diuers places.
• * 1.7

  Weston.
• * 1.8

  Christ after his incarnation, was in al poynts like man, sinne onely except▪
• * 1.9

  Morgan.
• * 1.10

  Philpot.
• * 1.11

  Actes. 3.
• * 1.12

  Harpsfield step∣peth in.
• * 1.13

  Philpot.
• * 1.14

  Harpsfield▪
• * 1.15

  If Weston charge them for prisoning christ in heauen, how may they charge the papistes for prisoning Christ in a boxe.
• * 1.16

  M. Philpot.
• * 1.17

  Oportet how it is taken diuersly in Scripture.
• * 1.18

  Weston.
• * 1.19

  Philpot.
• * 1.20

  Weston.
• * 1.21

  Philpot.
• * 1.22

  Weston.
• * 1.23

  Philpot.
• * 1.24

  Morgan.
• * 1.25

  Philpot.
• * 1.26

  Morgan.
• * 1.27

  Philpot.
• * 1.28

  Moreman. Whether the Church was before the Scripture.
• * 1.29

  Scripture consi∣steth not onely in letters but is that which is inspired in the hartes of good men by the ho∣ly Ghost.
• * 1.30

  Philpot.
• * 1.31

  Weston.
• * 1.32

  Weston ray••eth a∣gainst Ph••••••pot, to be madde 〈◊〉〈◊〉
• * 1.33

  Philpot commau••••ded to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in a long gowne and a ••ippet or els to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 no more to the conuo••cation.
• * 1.34

  Decemb••••