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.

¶A story of a Roode set vp in Lankashyre.

In this Uisitation of Bishop Boner aboue mentioned, ye see how the bishop tooke on for not setting vp the Roode and ringing the bels at Hadham.* 1.1 Ye heard also of the pre∣cept, which commaūded in euery parish a Rood to be erec∣ted both well fauoured and of an hab••e stature. By the oc∣casion whereof, it commeth in mind (and not out of place) to storye likewise what happened in a certayne Towne in Lankashyre nere to Lancaster called Cockram, where the Parishioners & Churchwardens hauing the same time a like charge for the erecting of a rood in theyr parish church had made theyr bargayn and were at a price with one that could cunningly karue & paynt such idols, for the framyng of theyr Roode: who according to his promise,* 1.2 made them one, & set it vp in theyr Church. This done, he demaunded his mony. But they misliking his workemanship, refused to pay him, whereupon he arrested them, and the matter was brought before the Maior of Dancaster, who was a very meet man for such a purpose, and an olde fauourer of the Gospell, which is rare in that country. Then the kar∣uer began to declare how they had couenaunted with him for the making of a Rood, with the appurtenaunces ready karued and set vp in theyr Churche, which he according to his promise had done and nowe demaunding his money they refused to pay him. Is this true, quoth the Maior to the Wardens? Yea Syr, sayd they. And why do ye not pay the poore man his due, quoth he? And it please you May∣ster Maior (quoth they) because the Roode wee had before was a welfauored man, and he promised to make vs such an other: but this that he hath set vs vp now, is y^e worst fa∣uored thing that euer you set your eies on, gaping & grin∣ning in such sort that none of our Children dare once looke him in the face or come nere him.* 1.3 The maior thinking that it was good enough for y^e purpose if it had bene worsse, my maisters (quoth he) howsoeuer the rood like you, the poore mans labor hath bene neuer the lesse, and it is pity that he

should haue any hinderaunce or losse thereby.* 1.4 Therfore I will tell you what you shal do: Pay him the mony ye pro∣mised him, and goe your wayes home and looke on it, & if it will not serue for a God, make no more a doe: but clap a payre of hornes on his head, and so will he make an excel∣lent deuill. This the Parishioners tooke well aworth, the poore man had his mony, and diuers laughed well therat: but so did not the babilonish Priestes.

* 1.5This Maior aboue mentioned continued a Protestant almost fifty yeares, & was the onely releuer of M. Marsh the Martyr (whole story foloweth hereafter) with meate, drinke, and lodging while he laye in Lancaster Castle the space of iij. quarters of a yeare, before he was had to Che∣ster to be burned. &c.

About this time or the moneth next before, which was October, there came a precept or mandate from Boner bi∣shop of London, to all Parsons and Curates within hys Dioces, for the abolishing of such scriptures & wrytinges as had bene paynted vpon Churche walles before, in king Edwardes dayes. The copy of which precept or mandate here we thought good to expresse, that the world might see the wicked proceedinges of theyr impious zeale, or rather theyr malicious rage agaynst the Lord and his word, & a∣gaynst the edyfying of Christian people: whereby it might appeare by this blotting out of these Scriptures, not only how blasphemously they spake agaynst the holy Scrip∣tures of God, but also howe studiously they sought by all maner of meanes, to keepe the people still in ignoraunce.

Notes

• * 1.1

  A story of a Roode set vp in Lankeishire.
• * 1.2

  The men of Cockram not pleased with theyr Roode.
• * 1.3

  The Roode of Cockram dri∣uing the childrē out of the Church.
• * 1.4

  Anno 1554. Nouember.
• * 1.5

  The Maior of Dancaster a good man.