Actes and monuments of matters most speciall and memorable, happenyng in the Church. [vol. 2, part 2] 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 more full aunswere of the Archbishop of Cant. to the first Oration of Bishop Brookes.

MY Lorde, you haue very learnedly and eloquently in your Oration put me in remēbrance of many things touching my selfe,* 1.1 wherein I doe not meane to spende the time in aunswering of them. I acknowledge Gods good∣nes to me in all his giftes, and thanke him as hartily for this state wherein I finde my selfe now, as euer I did for the time of my prosperitie: and it is not the losse of my pro∣motions that greueth me. The greatest griefe I haue at this time, is, and one of the greatest that euer I had in all my life, to see the kinge and Queenes Maiesties by theyr Proctours here to become my accusers, and that in theyr owne Realme and Country,* 1.2 before a forraigne power. If I haue transgressed the lawes of the Land, their maiesties haue sufficient authoritie and power both from God, and by the ordinaunce of this Realme to punish me, wherun∣to I both haue and at all times shalbe content to submitte my selfe.

Alas? what hath the Pope to doe in Englande? whose iurisdiction is so farre differēt from the iurisdiction of this Realm,* 1.3 that it is impossible to be true to the one, and true to the other. The lawes also are so diuers, that whosoeuer sweareth to both, must needes incurre periury to the one. Whiche as ofte as I remember, euen for the loue that I beare to her grace. I cannot be but hartily sorye to thynke vpon it, how that her highnesse the day of her coronation at which time shee tooke a solemne othe to obserue all the lawes & liberties of this realm of Englād, at y^e same time also tooke an othe to the Bishop of Rome, and promised to mayntaine y^• See.* 1.4 The state of Englande being so re∣pugnant to the supremacie of the Pope, it was impossible but shee muste needes be forsworne in the one. Wherein if her grace had bene faythfully aduertised by her Counsaile then surely she would neuer haue done it.

The lawes of this Realme are, that the king of Eng∣land is the supreme and sole gouernour of all his Coun∣tryes and dominions:* 1.5 & that hee holdeth hys crowne and Scepter of himself, by the auncient lawes, customes, and descentes of the kinges of the Realme, and of none other. The Pope sayth, that all Emperoures and kinges holde theyr Crownes and Regalities of him, and that hee may depose them when he list: whiche is high treason for anye man to affirme and thinke, being borne within the kinges dominions.

The Lawes of England are, that all Bishoppes and Priestes offending in cases of Felonie or Treason, are to be iudged and tryed by the lawes and Customes of the Realme. The Popes lawes are, that the secular power cannot iudge the spirituall power, and that they are not vnder their iurisdiction: which robbeth the king of the one part of hys people.

The lawes also of England are, that whosoeuer hin∣dereth the execution or proceeding of the Lawes of Eng∣land for any other forraigne lawes,* 1.6 Ecclesiasticall or tem∣porall, incurreth the daunger of a Premunire. The Popes Lawes are, that whosoeuer hindereth the proceedinges or executions of hys lawes, for any other lawes of any o∣ther king or country, both the Prince himselfe, his Coun∣sayle, all his Officers, Scribes, Clerkes, and whosoeuer geue consent or ayd to the making or executing of any such lawes, standeth accursed. A heauy case (if hys curse were a∣ny thing worth) that the king and Queene cānot vse their owne lawes, but they and all theyrs must stande accursed. These thinges and manye more examples hee alleadged,* 1.7 whiche (he sayde) styrred him that he coulde not geue his consent to the receiuing of suche an enemy into y^e realme so subuerting the dignitie and auncient lyberties of the same.

And as for the matter of heresie and schisme, where∣with he was charged, he protested and called God to wit∣nes, that he knewe none that hee mayntayned. But if that were an heresie to deny the Popes authoritie,* 1.8 and the Re∣ligion which the See of Rome hath published to y^e world these latter yeares, then all the auncient Fathers of the Primitiue Churche, the Apostles and Christe hym selfe taught heresie: and he desired al them present to beare him witnesse, that he tooke the traditions and Religion of that vsurping Prelate to be most erroneous, false, and against the doctrine of the whole scripture: whiche he had often∣times well proued by writing, and the Authour of y^e same to be verry Antichrist,* 1.9 so often preached of by the Apostles and Prophetes, in whome did most euidently concurre al signes and tokens whereby he was paynted to the world to be knowne.

For it was most euident that he hadde aduaunced him selfe aboue all Emperours and kinges of the world,* 1.10 whō he affirmeth to hold their states and Empyres of hym, as of their chiefe, & to be at his commaundement to depose & erect at his good will and pleasure, and that the storyes make mention of his intollerable & insolent pride, & tyran¦ny, vsed ouer them in such sorte, as no king woulde haue vsed to his christian subiectes, nor yet a good mayster to his seruauntes, setting his feet on the Emperoures necke, affirming y^t to be verified in him, which was ••oken onely of our sauiour Iesus Christ, in these wordes, Super Aspidē & Basiliscum ambulabis, & conculcabis Leonem & Draconem. Other some had he made to hold his styrrops: others hee had displaced & remoued from their Empyres and seates royall: and not content herewithall, more insolent then Lucifer, hath occupyed not onely the highest place in thys world, aboue kinges and Princes, but hathe further pre∣sumed to sit in the seat of almighty God, whiche onely he reserued to himself, which is the conscience of man:* 1.11 and for to keep the possession therof, he hath promised forgeuenes of sinnes totiens quotiens.

He hath brought in Gods of his owne framing, & in∣uented a new religion, full of gayne and lucre, quite con∣trary to the doctrine of y^e holy scripture, onely for the main¦teyning of his kingdome, displacing Christ from his glo∣ry, & holding his people in a miserable seruitude of blind∣nes, to the losse of a great number of soules, whiche God at the latter day shall exact at hys hande: boasting manye tymes in his Canons and Decrees, that hee can dispense Contra Petrum, contra Paulum,* 1.12 contra vetus & nouum Testamē¦tum: and that he Plenitudine potestatis, tantum potest quan∣tum Deus: That is, Agaynst Peter, agaynst Paule, agaynste the olde and new Testament: and of the fulnes of power may doe as muche as God. O Lord, who euer heard suche blasphemy? I•• there be any man that can aduaunce himself aboue him let hym be iudged Antichrist.

This enemy of God and of our redemption, is so euy∣dently paynted out in y^e scriptures by such manifest signes and tokens, which all so clearely appeare in him, that ex∣cept a man will shut vpp hys eyes and heart agaynste the light, he cannot but know hym: and therefore for my part I will neuer geue my consent to the receiuing of hym into this Church of England. And you my Lorde, and the rest that sit here in Commission, consider well and examyne your owne consciences: you haue sworn agaynst him, you are learned, and can iudge of the trueth. I pray God you ••e not wilfully blind. As for me, I haue herein discharged myne owne conscience toward the world, and I wil write also my minde to her grace touching this matter. The co∣py of which letter sent to the Queene, ye shal finde after in the end of hys story.

While he in this sorte made hys aunswere, ye heard be∣fore how Doctor Story and Martin diuers tymes inter∣rupted him with blasphemous talke, and would fayn haue had the Byshop of Glocester to put hym to silence: who notwithstanding did not, but suffered hym to end his tale at full. After this ye heard also how they proceeded to ex∣amine hym of diuers articles, wherof the chief was: That at the tyme of hys creating Archbishop of Canterbury, he was sworne to the Pope, and had his institution and in∣duction from him, and promised to mayntayne then y^e au∣thoritie of that See: and therefore was periured: where∣fore he should rather sticke to his first othe, and returne to hys old fold again, then to continue obstinately in an othe forced in the tyme of schisme.

To that he aunswered, sauing hys protestation (whi∣che terme he vsed before all hys aunsweres) that at suche time as Archb. Warrham dyed,* 1.13 hee was Embassadour in Germanie for the K. who sent for hym thereuppon home, & hauing intelligence by some of his frends (who wer nere about y^e king) how he ment to bestow y^e same Byshoprick vpon hym, and therefore counselled him in y^e case to make haste home, he feeling in himself a great inhabilitie to such a promotion, and very sory to leaue hys study, and especi∣ally considering by what meanes he must haue it, whiche was cleane agaynst hys conscience, whiche hee coulde not vtter without great perill and daunger, deuised an excuse to the king of matter of great importaunce, for the whiche his longer abode there should be most necessary, thinking by that meanes in hys absence, that the kyng would haue bestowed it vpon some other, and so remayned there by y^e deuise, one halfe yeare after the king had written for him to come home. But after that no suche matter fell out, as hee seemed to make suspition of, the king sent for hym agayn. Who after hys returne, vnderstanding stil the Archbisho∣pricke to be reserued for hym, made meanes by diuers of hys best frendes, to shift it off, desiring rather some smal∣ler liuing, that he might more quietly follow his booke.

To be briefe, when the king himselfe spake with him, declaring his full intention for his seruice sake, and for the good opinion he conceiued him, was to bestowe that dig∣nitie vpon him, after long disabling of himself, perceiuing he could by no perswasions alter the kinges determinati∣on,* 1.14 he brake franckly his conscience with him, most hum∣bly crauing first his Graces pardon, for that he should de∣clare vnto his highnesse. Which obtained, he declared, that if he accepted y^e Office, then he must receaue it at the popes hand, whiche he neyther would, nor could do, for that hys highnesse was onely y^e supreme Gouernour of this church of England, as well in causes Ecclesiasticall as Tempo∣rall, and that the full right and donation of all manner of Bishoppricks and Benefices, as wel as of any other Tē∣porall dignities, and promotions, appertayned to hys Grace, & not to any other forraine authoritie, whatsoeuer it was: and therfore if he might serue God in that vocati∣on, him, and his countrey, seeing it was his pleasure so to haue it, he would accepte it, and receaue it of his maiestie, and of none other straunger, who had no authoritie with∣in this realme, neither in any such gifte, nor in anye other thing. Whereat the king (said he) staying a while and mu∣sing, asked me how I was able to proue it. At which time I alledged many textes out of the scriptures, and the Fa∣thers also, approuing the supreme and highest authority of kinges in their realmes and dominions, disclosing there∣withall the intollerable vsurpation of the Pope of Rome.

Afterwardes it pleased his highnes (quoth the Archb.) many and sundry tymes to talke with me of it, and percei∣uing that I could not be brought to acknowledge the au∣thoritie of the B. of Rome,* 1.15 the king himselfe called Doct. Oliuer, and other Ciuill Lawyers, & deuised with them how he might bestow it vpon me, inforcing me nothing a¦gainst my conscience. Who therupon informed him, that I might do it by the way of protestation, & so one to be sente to Rome, who might take the othe, and do euery thing in my name. Which when I vnderstood, I sayd, he should do it Super animam suam: and I in deed Bona fide made my pro∣testation, that I did not acknowledge his authoritie anye further, then as it agreed with the expresse word of God, & that it might be lawfull for me at al times to speak against him, and to impugne his erroures, when time and occasi∣on should serue me. And this my protestation did I cause to be enrolled, and there I thinke it remayneth.

They obiected to him also that he was maryed: whiche he confessed. Whereupon D. Martin said, that his children were bondmen to the See of Caunterbury.* 1.16 At which say∣ing the Archb. smiled, and asked him if a priest at his be∣nefice kept a Concubine, and had by her bastardes, whe∣ther they were bondmen to the Benefice or no, sayinge, I trust you will make my childrens causes no worse.

After this Doctour Martine demaunded of hym who was supreme heade of the Churche of Englande? Marye quoth my Lord of Caunterbury, Christe is heade of thys member,* 1.17 as he is of the whol body of y^e vniuersal church. Why (quoth Doctor Martin) you made king Henrye the eight supreme head of the Church. Yea (sayd the Archby∣shop) of al y^e people of England, as well Ecclesiasticall, as Temporall. And not of the church, sayd Martin? No sayde he, for Christ is onely head of hys church, and of the fayth and religion of the same. The king is head and gouernor of hys people, which are the visible churche. What (quoth Martin) you neuer durst tell the king so. Yes, that I durst (quoth ye) and did, in the publication of hys Stile, wher∣in he was named supreme head of the Churche, ther was neuer other thing meant. A number of other fond and foo∣lish obiectiōs were made, w^t repetition wherof I thought not to trouble the reader.

Thus after they had receaued his aunswere to al their obiections,* 1.18 they cited him (as is aforesayd) to appeare at Rome within foure score dayes, to make there hys perso∣nall aunsweres: whiche he sayde, if the kinge and Queene would send hym, he would be content to do, and so thence was caryed to prison agayne, where he continually remay¦ned, notwithstanding that hee was commaunded to ap∣peare at Rome.

Wherein al men that haue eyes to see, may easily per∣ceaue y^e crafty practise of these prelates,* 1.19 & the visured face of their Iustice, as though the Court of Rome would cō∣demne no man before he aunswered for hymself, as al law and equitie required. But the very same instaunt time, the holines of that vnholy father, contrarye to all reason & iu∣stice, sent his letter executory vnto the kinge and Queene to degrade and depriue him of his dignitie: whiche thynge he did not onely before the lxxx. dayes were ended, but be∣fore there were xx. dayes spent. Furthermore whereas the sayd archbishop was fast deteined in strayt prison, so that he could not appeare (as was notorious both in Englād and also in the Romishe Court) and therefore had a law∣full and most iust excuse of his absence by all lawes, both popish & other: yet in the end of the sayd lxxx. daies was y^• worthy Martyr decreed Contumax, that is, sturdilye, fro∣wardly, and wilfully absent, and in payne of the same hys absence, condemned, and put to death.

As touching the foresayd executory Letters of y^e Pope sent to the king and Queene, beginning thus:* 1.20 Paulus Epis∣copus seruus seruorum Dei charissimo in Christo filio Philip∣po Regi, & charissimae in Christo filiae Mariae Reginae &c. be∣cause the full tenour therof is expressed in our first impres∣sion of Actes. Pag. 1490. it shal not be needfull to comber this volume in repeating the same agayne.

Notes

• * 1.1

  〈1 paragraph〉〈1 paragraph〉
• * 1.2

  〈1 paragraph〉〈1 paragraph〉
• * 1.3

  〈1 paragraph〉〈1 paragraph〉
• * 1.4

  〈1 paragraph〉〈1 paragraph〉
• * 1.5

  〈1 paragraph〉〈1 paragraph〉
• * 1.6

  〈1 paragraph〉〈1 paragraph〉
• * 1.7

  〈1 paragraph〉〈1 paragraph〉
• * 1.8

  〈1 paragraph〉〈1 paragraph〉
• * 1.9

  〈1 paragraph〉〈1 paragraph〉
• * 1.10

  The Popes pri••e and tyr∣ranny.
• * 1.11

  Markes of An∣tichrist.
• * 1.12

  The Pope dis∣penseth agaynst the new and old Testament. If any can go before the Pope in pride, let him be called Anti∣christ.
• * 1.13

  His aunsweres to their articles. How Cranmer was made Archb. agaynst his will.
• * 1.14

  D. Cranmer denyed that he tooke the Arch∣bishopricke at the Popes handes.

  Cranmers aun∣swere to K. Hē∣ry refusing to be Archbishop. First breaking of the matter of the Popes su∣premacye to K. Henry.
• * 1.15

  Cranmer sworne to the Pope vnder Protestation. Cranmer in in swearing to the Pope did nothing with∣out aduise of the best learned in this Realme.
• * 1.16

  The Archb. aunswereth for his wyfe and children.
• * 1.17

  Because there was offence ta∣kē at this word Supreame head, it was declared in the Queenes style to be Su∣preame gouer∣nour.
• * 1.18

  The Archb. ci∣ted to appeare at Rome.
• * 1.19

  A poynt to be noted in the crafty practise of Romish hipo∣crites.
• * 1.20

  Of this 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Pope, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in the first booke pag. 1490.