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.

¶Here foloweth likewise the Cardinals letter to the sayd Pope concerning the same matter.

THose things which I wrote vnto your holines of late, of that hope,* 1.1 which I trusted would come to passe, that in short space this realme would be reduced to the vnity of the church, & obedience of the Apostolick sea, though I did write them not without great cause: yet neuerthelesse, I could not be voyd of all feare, not onely for that difficulty, which the mindes of our countreymen did shew, beyng so long alienated from the sea Apostolicke, and for the old ha∣tred which they had borne so many yeares to that name: but much more I feared, least the first entry into the cause it self shuld be put of by some other by matter or conuenti∣on comming betwixt.

For the auoyding wherof, I made great meanes to the king and Queene, which litle needed, for their own godly forwardnes, and earnest desire to bring the thing to passe, farre surmounted my great and earnest expectation. This day in the euening being S. Andrewes day, (who fyrst brought his brother Peter to Christ) it is come to passe by the prouidence of God, that this Realme is reclaymed to geue due obedience to Peters seat and your holynesse, by whose meanes it may be cōioyned to Christ the head, & his body, which is the Church. The thing was done and con∣cluded in Parliament (the king and queene being present) with such full consent & great reioysing, that incontinently after I had made my Oration, and geuen the Benediction with a great ioy, and shout, there was diuers times sayde, Amen, Amen: which doth euidently declare, that that holy seed, although it hath bene long oppressed, yet was not vt∣terly quenched in them: which chiefly was declared in the * 1.2 Nobility. Returning home to my house, these thinges I wrote vnto your holynes vpon the sodaine reioysing that I had of so weighty a matter, so luckely brought to passe by the diuine prouidence, thinking to haue sent my letters by the kings post, who? as it was sayd) should haue departed shortly: but afterwardes, chaunging my purpose, when I had determined to send one of mine owne men, I thought good to adde this much to my Letters, for the more ample gratulation and reioysing at that good chaūce: which thing as it was right great gladnes to me, through the euent of the same (being it selfe very great, and so holy, so profitable to the whole Church, so healthsome to this my Countrey, which brought me forth, so honorable to y^e same (which re∣ceiued me) so likewise I tooke no lesse reioysing of y^e Prin∣ces themselues, through whose vertue and godlinesse the matter did take successe and perfection. Of how many, and how great things may the Church (which is the spouse of Christ, & our mother) make her accompt through those her children? Oh notable zeale of godlines,* 1.3 Oh auncient fayth which vndoubtedly doth so manifestly appeare in thē both that who so seeth them, muste needes (whether he wyll or no) say the same which the Prophette spake of, of the firste children of the Church: Isti sunt semen, cui benedixit Domi∣nus. Haec plantatio Domini ad gloriandum. That is. These are the seede which the Lord hath blessed. This is the Lordes planting to glory in. How holily did your holines with al your authority and earnest affection fauour this mariage, which truly semeth to expresse a great similitude of y^e high∣est king, which being heyre of the world, was sēt down by his father from the Regall seat,* 1.4 to be Spouse and Sonne of the Uirgine, & by this meanes to comfort all mankind: for euen so this king himselfe, the greatest heyre of all men which are in the earth, leauing his fathers kingdoms that are most great, is come into his litle kingdome, and is be∣come both the spouse, and sonne of this Uirgine (for he so behaueth himselfe as though he were a sonne, whereas in deed he is an husbande) that he might (as he hath in effect already performed) shew himselfe an ayder & helper to re∣cōcile this people to christ, & his body, which is the church.* 1.5 Which things seing they are so, what may not our mother the Churche her selfe looke for at his handes that hath broughte this to passe, to conuerte the hartes of the Fa∣thers towardes theyr Sonnes, and the vnbeleuers to the wisedome of the righteous, which vertue truely doth wō∣derfully shine in him. But the Queene, which at that time when your holines sent my Legate vnto her, did rise vp as a rodde of incēce springing out of the trees of mirre, and as Frankincence our in the desert, she I say, whiche a litle before was forsakē of all men, how wonderfully doth she now shine? what a sauour of myrre & frankincēce doth she geue forth vnto her people? which (as y^e Prophet saith, of the mother of Christ) brought forth before she laboured, before she was deliuered brought forth a man childe,* 1.6 who euer heard of such a thing? and who hath seene the lyke of this? shal y^e earth bring forth in one day, or shal a whole na∣tiō be brought forth together? But she hath now brought forth a whole nation before the time of that deliuery, wher¦of we are in most great hope.

How great cause is geuen to vs to reioyce? How great cause haue we to geue thankes to Gods mercy, your holi∣nes and the Emperors maiesty, which haue bene causers of so happy and so godlye a mariage, by whiche we beyng reconciled, are ioyned to God the father, to Christ & to the Church? of the which, although I cannot comprehend in wordes the ioy that I haue taken, yet I can not keepe si∣lence of it. And to this my reioysing, this also was ioyned (which whē I had perceiued by the letters of the reuerend Archb. of Cousane, your holynes Nuncio, with the Empe∣rours maiestye, brought me maruelous great gladnes) y^t your said holynes began to restore to y^e aūciēt bewty, those thinges which in the Church of Rome through the cor∣ruptiō of times were deformed, which truely whē it shalbe finished, thē in deede may we wel cry out with y^e Prophet,* 1.7 and speake vnto your holynes with these wordes. Exue te stola luctus & vexationis & indue te decore, qui a deo tibi est in gloria sempiterna: nominabitur enim tibi nomen tuum a deo sempiternū, pax iustitiae, & honor pietatis. Tum autē dicetur, cir∣cumspice

& vide collectos filios tuos ab oriente sole us{que} in oc∣cidēt••m, verbo sancto gaudentem. That is: Put of the stoole of sorow and vexation and put on comlinesse, whiche thou hast of God in euerlasting glory. For thy name shall be named of God e∣uerlasting, peace of righteousnes, and honor of godlines: & then it shall be sayd: looke about and see thy sonnes gathered together from the sonne rising to the going downe of the same, reioysing in the holy worde. There is nothing truely (to speake of thy children gathered together in the West, which prepare thē∣selues to meet theyr mother) which they had rather see, thē her apparelled (that I may vse the wordes of the prophet) in that garment of righteousnes, wherwith God adorned her in times past. This one thing remayneth, that your ho¦lines ioy, and the ioy of all the vniuersall Church maye be perfited, which together with vs her vnworthy children, ceaseth not to pray to God for it. The almighty God pre∣serue your holines long to continue in health, for the pro∣fite of his church.

Frō London the last of Nouember. 1554.

Your most humble seruaunt Re∣ginald Poole Cardinall.

* 1.8Upon the Sonday folowing, being the 2. of December the Byshop of Wynchester Lorde Chauncellour of Eng∣land preached at Paules Crosse, at whiche Sermon was present the King and Cardinall Poole.* 1.9 Hee tooke for hys Theame this parte of the Epistle of S. Paule to the Ro∣maynes the 13. chap. This also we know the season (brethren) that we should now awake out of sleep, for now is our saluation nearer, then when we beleued &c.

Some notes whereof as they came to my hands faith∣fully gathered (as it appeareth by sundry copyes) I haue here thought good to set forth.

* 1.10First, he shewed how the saying of S. Paul was veri∣fied vpon the gentiles, who had a long time slept in darke ignorance not knowing god: therfore S. Paul (quoth he) to stir vp theyr heauy dulnesse, willed them to wake out of theyr long sleepe, because theyr saluation was nearer then when they beleued. In amplifying this matter, & compa∣ring our times with theyrs: he took occasiō to declare what difference the Iewish Sacramentes had, from those of the Christians, wherein he vsed these wordes:

Euen as the Sacramentes of the Iewes did declare Christ to come, so doth our sacraments declare Christ to be already come: but Christ to come, and Christ to be come is not al one. For now that he is come, the Iewes sacramēts be done away, and ours only remayne, which declare y^t he is already come, & is nearer vs then he was to the fathers of the old law: for they had him but in signes, but we haue him in the Sacrament of the aultar, euen his very bodye. Wherefore nowe also it is time that we awake out of our sleepe, who haue slept, or rather dreamed these xx. yeares past, as shall more easely appere by declaring at large some of the propertyes and effectes of a sleepe or dreame. And first, as men intending to sleep, do separate themselues frō company, and desire to be alone: euen so haue we seperated our selues from the sea Apostolick of Rome, and haue bene alone,* 1.11 no Realme in Christendome like vs.

Secondly, as in sleep men dreame sometime of killing, sometime of maiming, sometime of drowning, or burning sometime of such beastlinesse as I will not name, but wyll spare your eares: so haue we in this our sleepe, not onely dreamed of beastlines but we haue done it in deede. For in this our sleepe, hath not one brother destroyed an other? Hath not halfe our money bene wiped away at one tyme? And agayn those that would defend their conscience, were slayne: and others also otherwise troubled, besides infinite other thinges: which you all know as well as I: whereof I report me to your owne consciences.

Farther in a mans sleepe all his senses are stopped, so y^t he can neither see, smell, nor heare, euen so wheras the ce∣remonies of the church were instituted to moue and stirre vp our senses, they being taken away, were not our senses (as ye would say) stopped and we fast a sleepe? Moreouer whē a man would gladly sleepe, he will put forth the can∣dle least peraduenture it may let his sleepe, & awake hym: So of late all such writers as did holde any thing with the Apostolick Sea were condemned,* 1.12 and forbiddē to be read and Images (whiche were * 1.13 lay mens bookes) were cast downe and broken.

The sleep hath continued with vs these xx. yeares, and we all that while without a head. For when King Henry did first take vpon him to be head of the church, it was thē no Church at all. After whose death, King Edward (ha∣uing ouer him Gouernors and Protectours which ruled as them listed) coulde not be head of the Churche but was onely a shadow or signe of a head: and at length it came to passe, that we had no head at all, no, not so much as our 2. Archbishops. For on the one side, the Queene being a wo∣man could not be head of the Church,* 1.14 and on the other side they both were conuicted of one crime & so deposed. Thus while wee desired to haue a supreame head among vs, it came to passe that we had no head at all. When the tumult was in the North, in the time of king Henry the ••. (I am sure) the king was determined to haue geuen ouer the su∣premacy agayne to the Pope: but the houre was not then come, and therefore it went not forward, least some would haue sayd, that he did it for feare.

After this M. Kneuet, and I were sent Ambassadors vnto the Emperor to desire him that he would be a meane betwene the popes holines and the king, to bring the king to the obedience of the sea of Rome: but the time was ney∣ther yet come. For it might haue bene sayd, that it had bene done for a ciuill pollicy. Agayne, in the beginning of Kyng Edwardes raigne, the matter was mooued, but the tyme was not yet: for it would haue bene sayd that the king (be∣ing but a child) had bene bought and solde. Neither in the beginning of the Queenes raigne was the houre come. For it would haue bene sayd that it was done in a tyme of weaknes Likewise when the king first came, if it had bene done, they might haue sayd it had bene by force & violence. But now euen now, * 1.15hora est, the houre is come, when no thing can be obiected, but that it is the mere mercy and pro¦uidence of God. Nowe hath the Popes holynesse, Pope Iulius the 3. sent vnto vs this most reuerend father,* 1.16 Car∣dinall Poole, an Ambassadour from his side. What to doe? not to reuēge the iniuries done by vs agaynst his holines: sed benedicere maledicētibus, to geue his benedictiō to those which defamed and persecuted him.

And that we may be the more meete to receiue the sayd benedictiō, I shall desire you that we may alway acknow∣ledge our selues offēders agaynst his holines.* 1.17 I do not ex∣clude my selfe forth of the number. I will flere cum flentibus, & gaudere cum gaudentibus, that is: weep with them that weep and reioyce with them which reioyce. And I shall desire you that we may deferre the matter no longer, for now hora est the houre is come. The King and the Queenes Maiesties haue already restored our holy Father the Pope to his su∣premacy and the three estates assembled in the Parliament representing the whole body of the Realme haue also sub∣mitted themselues to his holines, and his successors * 1.18 for e∣uer. Wherefore let not vs any longer stay. And euen as S. Paule sayd to the Corinthians, that he was theyr father, so may the Pope saye that he is our Father: for we receiued our doctrine first from Rome, therefore he may challenge vs as his owne. We haue all cause to reioyce, for hys ho∣lynesse hath sent hither, and preuēted vs before we sought him: such care hath he for vs. Therefore let vs say: Haec est dies quam fecit Dominus, exultemus & laetemur in ea, Reioyce in this day which is of the Lordes working: that suche a noble man of byrth is come, yea suche a holye Father (I meane my Lord Cardinall Poole) which can speake vnto vs, as vnto brethren, and not as vnto straungers: who hath a long time bene absent. And let vs now awake, whi∣che so long haue slept, and in our sleepe haue done so much naughtines agaynst the Sacramentes of Christ, denying the blessed Sacrament of the Aultar, and pulled downe the * 1.19aultars which thing Luther himselfe would not doe, but rather reproued them that did, examining them of theyr be¦liefe in Christ.

This was the summe of this Sermon before his pray∣ers, wherein he prayed, first for the Pope, Pope Iulius the 3. withall his Colledge of Cardinals, the B. of Londō with the rest of that order: then for the king and Queene & the nobility of this Realme, and last for the commons of the same, with the soules departed, lying in the paynes of Purgatory. This ended (the time being late) they beganne in Paules to ring to theyr Euening song, wherby the pre∣cher could not be well heard, whiche caused him to make a short end of this clerkly Sermon.

About this very time a Poste or Messenger was sent frō the whole Parliament to the Pope, to desire him to cō∣firme and establish the sale of Abbey landes and Chauntry landes: For the Lordes and the Parliament would graūt nothing in the Popes behalfe before theyr purchases were fully confirmed.

Upon the Thursday folowing, being the 6. day of de∣cember, and S. Nicholas day,* 1.20 all the whole Conuocation both Bishops and other: were sent for to Lambeth to the Cardinall,* 1.21 who the same day forgaue them all theyr per••u∣rations, schismes, and heresies, and they all there kneeled downe and receiued his absolution, and after an exhorta∣tion and gratulation for theyr conuersion to the catholicke church made by the Cardinall, they departed.

Upon the Wednesday being the 12. of December, fiue of the 8. menne (which lay in the Fleete, that were of M. Throgmortons quest) were discharged and set at libertye

vpon their fine payed, which was ccxx.li. a piece, and the other ••oure put vp a Supplication, therein declaring, that their goods did not amount to the summe that they were appointed to pay, and so vpon that declaration paying lx.li. a piece,* 1.22 they were deliuered out of prison vpon S. Tho∣mas day before Christmas, beyng the xxi. of December.

Upon the Saterday followyng, beyng the xxij. of De∣cember, all the whole Parliament had strait commaunde∣ment, that none of them should depart into their countrey this Christmas, nor before the Parliament were ended. Which commandement was wonderful contrary to their expectations. For as well many of the Lords, as also ma∣ny of the inferior sort had sent for their horse, and had them brought hither.

* 1.23Upon the Friday following, being the 28. of Decem∣ber, and Childermas day, the Prince of Piedmont came to the court at Westminster.

Anno. 1555.

* 1.24Upon Newyeares day at night folowing, certain ho∣nest men and women of the Citie, to the number of xxx. & a minister with them named M. Rose, were taken as they were in a house in Bow Churchyard at the Communion, and the same night they were al committed to prison. And on the Thursday following, being the 3. day of Ianuary, M. Rose was before the B. of Winchester beyng L. Chan∣cellor, and from thence the same day he was committed to the Tower, after certaine communication had betweene the Bishop and him.

* 1.25The same day the Act of the supremacie past in the par∣lament. Also the same day at night was a great tumult be∣twene Spaniards & English men at Westminster, wher∣of was like to haue ensued great mischief through a Spa∣nish Frier, which got into the Church and rong Alarum. The occasion was about two whores which were in the cloister of Westminster with a sort of Spaniards,* 1.26 whereof whilest some playd the knaues with them, other some dyd keepe the entry of the Cloister with Dags in harneis. In the meane tyme certaine of the Deanes men came into the cloister, and the Spaniards discharged their dags at them and hurt some of them. By and by the noyse of this doyng came into the streetes, so that the whole towne was vp al∣most, but neuer a stroke was striken. Notwithstandyng, the noise of this doyng with the Deanes men, and also the ringing of the Alarum made much ado, and a great num∣ber also to be sore afrayd.

Ye heard a little before the Councels letter sent to B. Boner, signifiyng the good newes of Queene Mary to be not onely conceyued, but also quicke with childe, which was in the moneth of Nouember, the xxviij. day. Of this child great talke began at this tyme to ryse in euery mans mouth, with busy preparation, and much ado, especially a∣mongst such as semed in England to cary Spanish hartes in English bodies. In number of whom here is not to be forgotten, nor defrauded of his condigne commendatiō for his woorthy affection toward his Prince and her issue, one sir Rich. Southwel, who being the same tyme in the par∣lament house when as the Lordes were occupied in other affaires & matters of importance, sodainly starting vp, for fulnes of ioy, brast out in these words folowing: Tush my Maisters (quoth he) what talke ye of these matters? I would haue you take some order for our yong maister that is now comming into the world apace,* 1.27 lest he find vs vn∣prouided, &c. By the which words both of him, and also by the foresaid letters of the counsaile, and the common talke abroad, it may appeare what an assured opinion was thē conceiued in mens heds of Queene Mary, to be conceiued and quicke with child. In so much that at the same tyme, and in the same Parliament: there was eftsoones a bill ex∣hibited, and an Act made vpon the same, the words wher∣of for the more euidence, I thought here to exemplificate, as vnder followeth.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The Cardi∣nals letter 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the Pope 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the 〈…〉〈…〉 of ••ngland to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Sea.
• * 1.2

  The Popes au∣thority as much w••lcome to the Nobilitie of England, as w••••ter into the shippe.
• * 1.3

  Oh dissimulatiō of a fl••ttering Cardinall.
• * 1.4

  What simili∣tude is betwixt light and darck∣nes, 2. Cor. 6.
• * 1.5

  Cardinal Pool•• flattereth the king.
• * 1.6

  Scripture well applyed▪
• * 1.7

  The Scripture speaking of Sion and Ierusalem, vnaptly applyed to the Pope.
• * 1.8

  December 2.
• * 1.9

  A Sermon of Steuen Gardi∣ner preached at Paules Crosse.
• * 1.10

  A dreaming Sermō of the B. of Winchester.
• * 1.11

  〈…〉〈…〉 very 〈…〉〈…〉 (as it 〈◊〉〈◊〉) in ghostly dreames.
• * 1.12

  Who putteth out the candell 〈◊〉〈◊〉 they which 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Gods word & forbid the Scriptures that should geue vs light?
• * 1.13

  They forbid lay mens bookes but you forbid the booke of God.
• * 1.14

  Then 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Christ 〈…〉〈…〉 head at 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to geue 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to his Church vnlesse 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Popes 〈◊〉〈◊〉 also be clapt on 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Churche•• shoulder••
• * 1.15

  Imo po••••stas tene∣brarum.
• * 1.16

  Ste. Gar••••••ner claw••eth the Cardinal••
• * 1.17

  Note ho•• the mea∣ning of S•• Paules wordes is here appl••••ed.
• * 1.18

  For eue•• Winchest•••• a false P••••••phet. S. Paule though 〈◊〉〈◊〉 was the f••••ther of m••••ny Chur••ches in Christ Ie•••••• yet was h•• neuer so arragant 〈◊〉〈◊〉 take vpon him to be supreme head of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 church 〈◊〉〈◊〉 left that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to Chri•••• & laboure to bring 〈◊〉〈◊〉 vnder him▪
• * 1.19

  So Ezech••••as pulled downe th•• hill Alt•••• which M••••nasses afte••••ward did vp: and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 we com∣mend th•• doings o•• Ezechias disproue the facte 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the other▪
• * 1.20

  Decemb.
• * 1.21

  The Ch••••••ter of Paules ••••••solued by the Car••••••nall. Decemb•••• 12.
• * 1.22

  〈1 paragraph〉〈1 paragraph〉
• * 1.23

  December. ••8.
• * 1.24

  〈1 paragraph〉〈1 paragraph〉
• * 1.25

  The acte of supremacy passed in the Parla∣ment.
• * 1.26

  A styrre be∣tweene the Spanyardes and English men at Westmin∣ster
• * 1.27

  The wordes of Sir Rich. Southwell ••n the Par∣liament house for his yong master.