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.

¶An absolution pronounced by Cardinall Poole, to the whole Parliament of England, in the pre∣sence of the King and Queene.

OUr Lord Iesus Christ which with his most precious bloud hath redemed and washed vs frō all our sinnes and iniquities,* 1.1 that he might purchase vnto himselfe a glo¦rious spouse without spot or wrinckle, & whō the Father hath appoynted head ouer all his church: he by his mer∣cy absolue you. And we by apostolick authority geuen vn∣to vs by the most holy lord Pope Iulius the 3. his Uice∣gerent in earth) do absolue & deliuer you, and euery of you with the whole Realme and the Dominions therof, from all Heresy and Schisme, and from all and euerye iudge∣ment, Censures, and paynes, for that cause incurred: & al∣so we do restore you agayn, vnto the vnity of our Mother the holy Church: as in our Letters more playnely it shall appeare: In the name of the father, of the sonne, and of the holy Ghost.

When all this was done they went into the Chappell, and there singing Te Deum, with great solemnity, declared the ioy and gladnesse that for this reconciliation was pre∣tended.

The reporte of thys was with great speede sent vnto Rome, as well by the king and Cardinals Letters, which hereafter folow: as also otherwise. Wherupō the pope cau∣sed there at Rome processions to be made, and thankes to be geuē to God with great ioy, for the conuersion of Eng∣land to his Churche: and therefore praysing the Cardi∣nals diligence, and the deuotion of the king and queen, on Christmas euen, by his Buls he set forth a generall pardō to all such as did truely reioyce for the same.

Notes

• * 1.1

  〈1 paragraph〉〈1 paragraph〉