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 copy of king Philips Letter, written with his owne hand to Pope Iulius, touching the restoring of the Realme of England.

MOst holy Father, I wrote yesterday vnto Don Iohn Mauri∣que,* 1.1 that he shoulde declare by worde of mouth, or els write to your holynes, in what good state the matter of religion stoode in this Realme, and of the submission to your holinesse, as to the chiefe. As this day, which is the feast of S. Andrew, late in the eue¦ning, we haue done God that seruice (to whose onely goodnesse we must impute it, and to your holynes, who haue taken so great payne to gayne these soules) that this realme with full & generall consent of all them that represent the state, being very penitēt for that was past and well bent to that they come to doe, submitted themselues to youe holynes, & to that holy Sea, whom at the re∣quest of the Queene and me, your Legate did absolue. And foras∣much as the sayd Don Iohn shall signify vnto your holinesse, all that passed in this matter, I will write no more therof, but onely that the Queene & I, as most faythful & deuout children of your holynes, haue receiued the greatest ioy and comfort hereof, that may be expressed with tong: Considering that besides the seruice done to God hereby, it hath chaunced in the time of your holy∣nes, to place as it were in the lappe of the holy Catholicke chur∣che, such a kingdome as this is. And therfore I thinke I cannot be thankefull enough for that is done this day. And I trust in hym, that your holynesse shall alway vnderstand, that the holy sea hath not had a more obedient sonne then I, not more desirous to pre∣serue and encrease the authority of the same. God guid and pro∣sper the most holy personage of your holinesse as I desire.

From London the xxx. of Nouember. 1554.

Your holines most humble Sonne the king. &c.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Nouember. 30.

  K. Phillips letter to the Pope, tran∣••uted out of Spanish into Eng∣lish.