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.

Aunsweres to the Articles.

WHose aunsweres thereunto were, that as they con∣fessed there was one true & Catholick church wher∣of they steadfastly beleeued,* 1.1 and thought the Churche of Rome to be no part or member: so in the same Churche they beleued there were but two sacraments,* 1.2 that is to say Baptisme, and the supper of the Lorde. Howbeit some of them attributed the title and honour of a sacrament, to the holy estate of Matrimony, which vndoubtedly was done rather of simple ignoraunce then of anye wilfull opinion, and are thereof to be adiudged as before is admonished.

Moreouer, they acknowledged themselues to be Bap∣tised into the fayth of that true Church, as in the thyrd ar∣ticle is specified. And here in reading, as wel of these Arti∣cles, as also of the rest, marke I beseech you, the crafty sub∣teltie of these Catholicke Champions, who intermitting certayne poyntes of faith, and of the true Church, with the Idolatrous and superstitious mametry of theyr romyshe Sinagogue, cause the poore and simple people, for lacke of knowledge, oftentimes to fall into their crafty nettes.

For after they haue made them graunt a true Churche with the Sacraments of the same, though not in such nū∣ber as they would haue them, and also that they were chri∣stened into the fayth thereof, that is,* 1.3 in the name of the Fa∣ther, of the Sonne, and the holy Ghost, they craftily now in the other their obiections, descending as it were from the fayth of the Trinitie, vnto theyr Idolatrous Masse & other superstitious ceremonyes, would make them grant that now in denying thereof, they haue seuered thēselues from the fayth of the true Churche, whereunto they were Baptised, whiche is most false. For though the true lyght of Gods Gospel & holy word, was marueilously darkned and in a maner vtterly extinguished: yet the true fayth of the Trinitie, by the mercifull prouidence of God, was still preserued, and into the fayth therof were we baptised, and not into the beliefe and profession of their horrible Idola∣try and vayne ceremonies.

These things not throughly wayed by these poore, yet faythfull, and true members of Christ, caused some of them ignorauntly to graunt, that when they came to the yeares

of discretion,* 1.4 and vnderstood the light of the Gospell, they did seperate themselues from the fayth of the Church, mea¦ning none other but only to separate themselues from the admitting or allowing of such their popishe and errone∣ous trash as they now had defiled y^e church of christ w^tall & not from their fayth receiued in baptisme,* 1.5 which in expres words in their aunsweres to y^e other articles they constāt∣ly affirmed, declaring the Masse and sacrament of the aul∣tar, to be most wicked blasphemy agaynst Christ Iesus, & contrary to the truth of his Gospell, and therfore vtterly they refused to assent and to be reconciled againe therunto.

These aunsweres in effect, of them thus taken by the sayd Chauncellour, they were for that time dismissed: but the Bishop taking the matter into his owne handes, the vi. day of Marche, propounded vnto them certayne other new articles, the copy wherof followeth.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Their answeres to the articles.
• * 1.2

  Two Sacramēts onely.
• * 1.3

  Crafty dealing of the Papistes. Simple igno∣raunce deceiued.
• * 1.4

  Anno 1557. Aprill.
• * 1.5

  They which se∣parate them∣selues from cer∣tayne trashe ••rought into the Church, do not seperate themselues frō the Church.