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 true report how I was vsed in the Tower of London, being sent thether by the Counsell the xiii. day of December.

* 1.1

ON the Thursday, after I was called vnto the ware∣house, before the Constable of the Tower and y^e Re∣corder of Londer Maister Cholmley, they commaunded me to tell, whome I did will to come to the Englishe ser∣uice. I aunswered I would declare nothing. Wherupon I was set in a racke of Iron, the space of three houres, as I iudged.

Then they asked me if I would tell them. I aunswered as before. Then was I losed, and caried to my lodging a∣gayne. On the sonday after, I was brought into the same place agayne, before the Lieuetenaunt, and the Recorder of London, and they examined me. As before I had sayde, I aunswered. Then the Lieuetenaunt did sweare by god I shuld tell. Then did they binde my 2. forefingers toge∣ther, and put a small arrowe betwixt them, and drewe it through so fast that the bloude followed, and the arrowe brake.

Then they racked me twise. Then was I caryed to my lodging agayne, and x. dayes after the Lieuetenant asked me if I would not confesse that, which before they had as∣ked me. I sayd I had sayd as much as I would. Thē fiue weekes after, he sent me vnto the high Prieste, where I was greatly assaulted, and at whose hande I receiued the Popes curse, for bearing witnesse of the resurrection of Ie¦sus Christ. And thus I commend you vnto God, and to the worde of his grace, with all them that vnfaynedly call vpon the name of Iesus, desiring God of his endles mer∣cy, through the merites of hys deare sonne Iesus Christe to bringe vs all to hys euerlasting kingdome. Amen. I prayse God for his great mercy shewed vppon vs. Syng Osanna vnto the highest with me Cutbert Simson, God forgeue me my sinnes. I aske all the worlde forgeuenesse, and I doe forgeue all the worlde, and thus I leaue thys world, in hope of a ioyfull resurrection.

A note for Cutbert Simsons patience.

NOw as touching this Cutbert Simson,* 1.2 this further is to be noted, that Boner in his Consistory speaking of Cutbert Simson, gaue this testimony of hym there to the people, saying, ye see this man (sayth he) what a perso∣nable man he is: and after hee had thus commended hys persone, added moreouer:* 1.3 And furthermore concerning his pacience, I say vnto you, that if hee were not an here∣ticke, hee is a manne of the greatest pacience that yet euer came before me. For I tell you, he hath bene thrise racked vppon one day in the Tower: Also in my house hee hathe felt some sorrowe, and yet I neuer see hys pacience bro∣ken. &c.

[illustration]

❧ A true description of the racking and cruell handeling of Cutbert Simson in the Tower.

* 1.4It is thought and sayd of some, that that arrowe, whiche was grated betwixt his fingers, being tyed together, was not in the tower, but in the Bishops house.

The day before the blessed Deacon and Martyr of god Cutbert Simson, after his paynfull racking should go to his cōdēnation before Boner,* 1.5 to be burned, being in the Bishops colehouse there in the stockes, he had a certayne vision or apparition very straunge which he himself with hys owne mouthe declared to the Godly learned man M. Austen, to his owne wi••e, and Thomas Simson, and to others besides, in the prison of Newgate a litle before his death. The relation whereof I stande in no little doubte, whether to reporte abroad or not, considering with my sel••e, the greate diuersitie of mennes iudgementes in the reading of historyes, and varietie of affections. Some, I see, will not beleue it, some will deride the same, some also will be offended with setting forth things of that sorte in∣certayne, esteeming all thinges to bee incertayne and in∣credible, whatsoeuer is straunge from the common order of Nature.

Other will be perchaunce agreeued, thinking with thē selues, or els thus reasoning with me, that althoughe the matter were as is reported, yet for somuch as the common error of beleuing rash miracles, phantasied visions, drea∣mes, and appparitions thereby may be confirmed, more expedient it were the same to be vnsetforth.

These and such lyke will be, I know, the sayinges of many. Whereunto brieflye I aunswere, grauntynge firste, and admyttyng wyth the woordes of Basill, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. That is, not euery dreame is strait waye a Prophecie. Agayne, neither am I ignoraunt that the Papistes in their bookes and legendes of saintes haue theyr prodigious visions, and apparitions of Aungelles of our Lady: of Christ, and other sayncts: which as I wil not admit to be beleeued for true, so will they aske me a∣gayne, why should I then more require these to be credy∣ted of them, then theirs of vs.

First I write not this, binding any manne precisely to beleue the same, so as they do theyrs, but onely reporte it as it hath bene heard of persons knowne, naming also y^e parties, who were the hearers thereof, leauing the iudg∣ment therof notwithstanding free vnto the arbitremente of the reader.* 1.6 A••beit, it is no good argument, proceedyng from the singular or particular, to the vniuersall, to saye that visions be not true in some, ergo they be true in none. And if any shall muse, or obiect agayne, why should suche visions be geuen to him, or a few other singular persons, more then to all the rest, seeing the other were in the same cause and quarrell, and dyed also martyrs as well as hee? To thys I say, concerning the Lordes tymes and doings I haue not to meddle nor make, who may woorke where and when it pleaseth him. And what if the Lorde thought chiefly aboue the other, with singular consolation to re∣specte him, who chiefly aboue the other, and singularly did suffer most exquisite tormentes for his sake? What greate maruell herein? but as I sayd, of the Lords secrete tymes I haue not to reason. This onely whiche hathe out of the mans owne mouth bene receiued, so as I receiued it of the parties, I thought here to communicate to the Rea∣der, for him to iudge thereof as God shall rule hys mynd. The matter is this.

The day before thys Simson was condemned, he be∣ing in the stockes, Cloney his keeper commeth in with y^e keies, about 9. of the clocke at night (after his vsuall ma∣ner) to view hys prison, and see whether all were present, who when he espyed the sayd Cutbert to be there, depar∣ted agayne, locking the dores after him. Within two hou∣res after, about eleuen of the clocke, towarde midnighte, the sayd Cutbert (whether being in a slumber, or beyng a∣wake I cannot say) heard one comming in, first openyng the outwarde dore, then the seconde, after the thyrd dore, and so looking into the sayd Cutbert, hauing no Candell or Torche that he could see, but geuing a brightnesse, and light most comfortable and ioyfull to hys hart, saying: Ha vnto him, and departed agayne. Who it was hee coulde not tell, neither I dare define. This that he saw, he hym∣selfe declared foure or fiue tymes to the sayd Mayster Au∣sten, and to other. At the sight whereof hee receiued suche ioyfull comfort, that he also expressed no little solace, in tel∣ling and declaring the same.

Articles seuerally ministred to Cutbert Sim∣son the xix. of March, with his aunsweres also to the same annexed:

FIrst, that thou Cutbert Simson, art at this present abidinge within the Cittie and Dioces of London,* 1.7 and not out of the iurisdiction of the bishop of Rome.

Item, that thou within the Cittie and Diocesse of London hast vttered many times, and spoken deliberately these wordes and sentences following, videlicet: that though thy parentes, auncestours, kinsefolkes, and friendes, yea, and also thy selfe▪ be∣fore the time of the late schisme here in this realme of Englande haue thought and thoughtest, that the fayth and religion obser∣ued in times past here in this Realme of Englande, was a true fayth and religion of Christ, in all poyntes and Articles, though in the Churche it was set foorthe in the Latine tongue, and not in Englishe, yet thou beleuest and sayest, that the faythe and re∣ligion, now vsed commonly in the Realme, not in the Englysh but in the Latine tongue, is not the true faythe and religion of Christ, but contrary and expressely agaynst it.

Item, that thou within the sayde Cittie and Dioces of Lon∣don, hast willingly, wittingly, and contemptuously done,* 1.8 & spo∣ken agaynst the Rites and the Ceremonyes, commonlye vsed here tbrough the whole realme, and obserued generally in the Churche of England.

Item, that thou hast thought, and beleued certaynlye,* 1.9 and so within the Dioces of London, hast affirmed, and spoken dely∣berate••y, that there bee not in the Catholicke Churche seuen Sacramentes, nor of that vertue and efficacie, as is commonly beleued in the churche of England them to be.

Item, thou hast likewise thought, and beleeued,* 1.10 yea and so within the Cittie and Dioces of London spoken, and deliberate∣ly affirmed, that in the sacrament of the aultar, there is not re∣ally, substantially, and truely, the very body and bloud of our sa∣uiour Iesus Christ

Item that thou hast beene, and to thy power arte at this pre∣sent, a fauourer of all those, that eyther haue beene here in this Realme, heretofore called heretickes, or els conuented, & con∣demned by the Ecclesiasticall Iudges for heretickes,

Item that thou, contrary to the order of this Realme of En∣glande,* 1.11 and contrary to the vsage of the holy Churche of this Realme of England, hast at sundry tymes and places, within the Citye and Dioces of London, beene at assemblyes, and conuen∣ticles, where there was a multitude of people gathered toge∣ther, to h••are the Englishe seruice sayed, which was set forth in the late yeares of King Edward the sixte, and also to heare, and haue the Communion booke reade, and the Communion mini∣stred, both to the sayd multitude, and also to thy selfe, and thou hast thought, and so thinkest, and hast spoken that the sayd Eng∣lishe seruice, and Communion booke, and all thinges conteyned in eyther of them was good and laudable, and for such thou did∣dest, and doest allowe, and approue eyther of them at this pre∣sent.

*The aunswere of the sayd Cutbert to the foresayd articles.

VNto all which articles the sayd Cutbert Simson aunswered thus, or the lyke in effecte.* 1.12

To the 1 2 3.4 5. and 6. article he confessed them to be true in euery parte thereof.

To the 7. article he sayd, that he was bounde to aunswere vn∣to it, as he beleeueth.

¶A letter of Cutbert Simson, written to his wyfe out of the Colehouse,

DEarely beloued in the Lorde Iesus Christe,* 2.1 I can not write as I doe wishe vnto you.

I beseeche you with my soule, committe your selfe vnder the mighty hande of our God, trusting in his mercye, and hee will surely helpe vs, as shall be moste vnto his glory, and oure euerlasting comforte, being sure of this, that hee wyll suffer no∣thing to come vnto vs, but that whiche shall bee moste profi∣table for vs.

For it is either a correction for our sinnes, or a tryall of oure faythe, or to set forthe his glorye, or for altogether, and there∣fore must needes be well done. For there is nothing that com∣meth vnto vs by fortune or chaunce, but by oure heauenlye Fa∣thers prouidence, And therefore praye vnto oure heauenly Fa∣ther that he will euer geue vs his grace for to consider it. Let vs geue hym moste hartye thankes, for these his fatherly correcti∣ons: for as many as hee loueth, hee correcteth. And I beseech you nowe bee of good cheare, and compte the Cross•• of Chryste greater ryches, then all the vayne pleasures of Eng∣lande. I do not doubt (I prayse God for it) but that you haue supped wyth Chryste at his Maundie, I meane beleeue in hym, for that is the effecte, and then muste you drynke of hys cuppe, I meane hys Crosse (for that doth the cuppe signifie vnto vs.) Take the Cuppe wyth a good stomacke, in the name of GOD and then shall you be sure to haue the good wyne Chrystes bloude to thy poore thirstie soule. And when you haue the wy••e you muste drinke it out of this cuppe. Learne this when you

come to the Lordes supper, pray continually. In all thinges geue thankes.

In the name of Iesus shall euery knee bowe. Cutbert Simson.

Hugh Foxe.

Iohn Deuenishe.

* 2.2WIth Cutbert likewise was apprehended and also suffered (as is before mentioned) Hugh Foxe, and Iohn Deuenish. Who being brought into their examina∣tions with the sayd Cutbert, before Boner Byshoppe of London, the xix. day of March, had articles and Interro∣gatories to them ministred by the sayd officer, albeit not al at one time. For first to the sayd Cutbert seuerall Articles were propounded, then other articles in generall wer mi∣nistred to them altogether. The order and maner of which articles, now ioyntly to them ministred here follow, with their aunsweres also to the same annexed, to be seene.

*Articles generally ministred to them all three together, the sayd xix. day of March with theyr an∣sweres to the same annexed.

AFter these articles thus ministred and layd to Cutbert Simson,* 2.3 w^t his aunsweres likewise vnto the same, the Bishop calling them altogether, obiected to them other po¦sitions and articles, the same whiche before are mentio∣ned in the story of Bartlet Greene. pag. 1736. onely the 8. Article out of the same omitted and excepted, which Arti∣cles because they are already expressed in the page aboue mentioned, we neede not here to make anye newe reporte thereof, but onely referre the Reader to the place assig∣ned.

¶The aunsweres generall of Cutbert Simson, Hugh Foxe, and Iohn Deuinishe, to the Articles by the Bi∣shop to them generally proposed.

* 2.4TO the first Article they all aunswered affirmatiuely: but Iohn Deuenishe added, that that Churche is grounded vpon the Prophetes and Apostles, Christe being the head corner stone, and how in that Churche there is the true fayth and reli∣gion of Christ.

To the second Article, they all confessed and beleeued, that in Christes Catholicke Churche, there are but two Sacra∣mentes, that is to witte, Baptisme, and the supper of the Lord: o∣therwise they do not beleue the contentes of this Article to be true in any part therof.

To the 3. Article they all aunswered affirmatiuely.

To the 4. Article they all aunswered affirmatiuely.

To the 5. Article they all aunswered affirmatiuely, that they do beleue, and haue and will speake agaynst the sacrifice of the Masse, the sacrament of the altar, and likewise agaynst the autho∣ritie

[illustration]

¶Three godly Martirs burned in Smithfield.

* 2.5 of the sea of Rome, and are nothing sory for the same but will do it still while they liue.

To the sixt Article, they al answered, and denied to acknow∣ledge the authoritie of the sea of Rome, to be lawfull and good, eyther yet his religion.

To the seuenth Article, they all aunswered affirmatiuely, that they haue, and will doe still while they liue: and Iohn De∣uinishe adding thereto, sayde that the sacrament of the aultar as it is now vsed, is no sacrament at all.

To the 8. Article, they all confessed, and beleued all thynges aboue by them acknowledged and declared, to be true, and that they be of the Dioces of London, and iurisdiction of the same.

These three aboue named persons, and blessed witnes∣ses of Iesus Christ, Cutbert, Foxe, and Deuenish as they were altogether apprehended at Islington, as is aboue declared, so the same all three together suffered in Smith∣field about the xxviii. day of March, in whose perfect con∣stancie the same Lorde (in whose cause and quarrell they suffered) giuer of all grace, and gouernour of all thinges, be exalted for euer. Amen.

Notes

• * 1.1

  A letter of Cutbert Simson, to certayne of 〈…〉〈…〉.
• * 1.2

  A note of Cut∣bert Simson.
• * 1.3

  The patience of Cutbert Sim∣son.
• * 1.4

  Anno 1557. March.
• * 1.5

  A vision of Cutbert Sim∣son.
• * 1.6

  What Credite is to be geuen to visions, & how fa••re.
• * 1.7

  Articles seue∣rally ministred to Cutbert Simson.
• * 1.8

  〈1 paragraph〉〈1 paragraph〉
• * 1.9

  Seuen S••∣cramente••.
• * 1.10

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 of the A••l∣tar.
• * 1.11

  Vsing of Engli••he Seruice.
• * 1.12

  His aun∣swere to the article••▪
• * 2.1

  A letter of Cutbert Sim••on to his wyfe.
• * 2.2

  Hugh Foxe, Iohn Deue∣nishe, Mar∣tyrs.
• * 2.3

  G••••nerall a••ticles▪ obiected to them all 〈◊〉〈◊〉 toge∣ther.
• * 2.4

  Their aun∣••weres ge∣nerall to the articles.
• * 2.5

  The Mar∣••••••dome of Cutbert Simson, Hugh Foxe, Iohn Deue∣nishe, in Smithfield. Anno. 1558. March. ••••.