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 Letter of M. Robert Glouer to his wyfe, con∣teinyng the whole discourse and description of hys troubles susteined in prison, and of his sundry conflicts betweene the Bishop and him about Religion.

¶To my entirely beloued wyfe Mary Glouer.

* 1.1THe peace of conscience which passeth all vnderstāding, the sweete consolation, comfort, strength, and boldnes of the holy Ghost be continually encreased in your heart, thorough a feruent, earnest, and stedfast fayth in our most deare and onely Sauiour Iesus Christ, Amen.

I thanke you hartily most louing wyfe, for your letters sent vnto me in my imprisonment. I red them with teares more then once or twise, with teares (I say) for ioy & glad∣nes, that God had wrought in you so mercifull a worke: first an vnfained repentance: secondly, an humble & hartie reconciliation: thirdly, a willing submission & obedience to the will of God in all thyngs. Which whē I red in your letters, & iudged them to proceed from the bottom of your hart: I could not but be thankfull to God, reioysing with teares for you & these his great mercies poured vpon you.

These your letters, and the hearing of your most godly procedings and constant doyngs from tyme to time, haue much relieued and comforted me at all tymes, & shall be a goodly testimony with you at the great day, against many worldly and dainty dames, which set more by theyr owne pleasure and pelfe in this world, then by Gods glory, litle regarding (as it appeareth) the euerlasting health of their owne soules or others.* 1.2 My prayer shalbe whilest I am in this world, that god which of his great mercy hath begun hys good worke in you, will finishe it to the glory of his name, and by the mighty power & inspiration of his holy spirit so strengthen, stablish, and confirme you in all hys wayes to the ende, that we may together shew foorth hys prayses in the world to come, to our vnspeakable consola∣tion euerlastingly. Amen.

So long as God shall lend you continuaunce in this miserable world, aboue all things geue your self continu∣ally to prayer,* 1.3 lifting vp as S. Paule saith, cleane or pure hands without anger, wrath, or doubtyng, forgeuing (as he sayth also) if you haue any thyng agaynst any man, as Christ forgeueth vs. And that we may bee the better wil∣lyng to geue, it is good often to call to remembraunce the multitude & greatnesse of our owne sinnes, which Christ daily and hourely pardoneth and forgeueth vs, and then we shall, as S. Peter affirmeth, be ready to couer and hide the offences of our brethren, bee they neuer so many. And because Gods word teacheth vs,* 1.4 not only the true maner of praying, but also what we ought to do or not do in the whole discourse and practise of this lyfe, what pleaseth or displeaseth God, and that, as Christ sayth, The worde of God that hee hath spoken shall iudge in the last day:* 1.5 let your prayer bee to this ende specially, that God of hys great mercy would open and reueale more and more dailye to your hart, the true sense, knowledge and vnderstandyng of his most holy word, and geue you grace in your liuyng, to expresse the fruits thereof.

And for as much as it is, as the holy Ghost calleth it, the word of affliction, that is, it is seldom without hatred, persecution,* 1.6 peril, danger of losse of lyfe and goods, & what so euer semeth pleasaunt in this world, as experience tea∣cheth you in this tyme: call vpon God continually for his assistaunce alwayes, as Christ teacheth, castyng your ac∣compts what it is like to cost you, endeuoring your selfe, thorough the helpe of the holy Ghost, by continuaunce of prayer, to lay your foundation so sure, that no storme or tempest shalbe able to ouerthrow or cast it down: remem∣bring always (as Christ saith) Lothes wyfe,* 1.7 that is, to be∣ware of looking backe to that thyng that displeaseth God. And because nothing displeaseth God so much as Idola∣try, that is, false worshipping of God, otherwise then hys word commandeth: looke not backe (I say) nor turne not your face to their Idolatrous and blasphemous massing, manifestly against the word,* 1.8 practise & example of Christ: as it is most manifest to all that haue any taste of the true vnderstandyng of Gods word, that there remayneth no∣thing in the church of England at this present, profitable or edifieng to the church and congregation of the Lord, all things beyng done in an vnknowen tong, contrary to the expresse commandement of the holy Ghost.

They obiect that they be the church,* 1.9 and therefore they must be beleued. My aunswer was, the Church of GOD knoweth and reknowledgeth no other head but Iesus Christ the sonne of God, whome ye haue refused & chosen the man of sinne, the sonne of perdition, enemy to Christ, the deuils deputy and lieuetenant, the Pope.

Christes church heareth, teacheth, and is ruled by hys word, as he sayth:* 1.10 My sheepe heare my voyce If you abyde in me, and my word in you, you be my Disciples. Their Church repelleth Gods word, and forceth all men to followe their traditions.

Christes Churche dare not adde or diminish, alter or change his blessed Testament: but they bee not afrayd to take away all that Christ instituted, and go a whoryng (as the Scripture saith) with their owne inuentions,* 1.11 Et laeta∣ri super operibus manuum suarum. i. To glory and reioyce in the workes of their owne hands.

The Church of Christ is, hath bene,* 1.12 and shall be in all ages vnder the Crosse, persecuted, molested and afflicted, the world euer hating thē, because they be not o•• y^e worlde. But these persecute, murther, slay and kil such as professe the true doctrine of Christ, be they in learning, liuing, con∣uersation and other vertues neuer so excellent.

Christ & his church reserued the triall of their doctrine to the worde of God,* 1.13 and gaue the people leaue to iudge therof by the same worde, Search the Scriptures: But thys church taketh away the word from the people, & suffereth neither learned nor vnlearned, to examine or prooue their doctrine by the word of God.

The true church of God laboureth by all means to re∣sist & withstand the lusts, desires, & motions of the world,* 1.14 the flesh, and the deuil. These for the most part geue them∣selues to all voluptuousnes, & secretly commit such things which (as S. Paul sayth) it is shame to speake of.

By these and such like manifest probations they do de∣clare themselues to be none of the church of Christ,* 1.15 but ra∣ther of the sinagoge of Sathan. It shal be good for you of∣tentymes to conferre & compare their procedings and do∣ings, with the practise of those whō the word of God doth reach to haue bene true members of the church of God, & it shal worke in you both knowledge, erudition, & boldnes to withstand with suffering, their doyngs. I likened them therfore to Nemrod, whom the scripture calleth a mighty hunter, or a stout champion, telling them that that which they could not haue by the worde, they would haue by the sword, & be the church whether men will or no, and called them with good conscience, as Christ called their forefa∣thers, the children of the deuill: and as their father the de∣uill is a lyer and murtherer, so their kingdom and church (as they call it) standeth by lying and murtheryng.

Haue no fellowship with them therfore my dere wife, nor with their doctrine and traditions, lest you be parta∣ker of their sinnes, for whom is reserued a heauy damna∣tion, without speedy repentaunce. Beware of such as shal aduertise you somethyng to beare with the world as they do, for a season. There is no dallying with gods matters: It is a fearefull thing (as S. Paule sayth) to fall into the handes of God. Remember the prophet Helias,* 1.16 Why halt you on both sides? Remember what Christ sayth: Hee that putteth hys handes to the plough, and looketh backe, is not worthy of mee.* 1.17 And seyng God hath hetherto allowed you as a good soul∣dior in the forward, play not the coward,* 1.18 neither drawe backe to the rereward. S. Iohn numbreth among them y^t shall dwell in the fiery lake, such as be fearefull in Gods cause. Set before your eyes alwayes the examples of such as haue behaued themselues boldly in gods cause, as Ste∣uen, Peter, Paul, Daniel, the three children, the widowes sonnes, and in your days, Anne Askew, Laurence Saun∣ders, Iohn Bradford, with many other faythfull witnes∣ses of Christ. Be not afrayd in nothyng (sayth Saint Paule) of the aduersaries of Christes doctrine,* 1.19 the which is to them the cause of perdition, but to you of euerlasting saluation. Christ commandeth the same, saying: Feare them not. Let vs not follow the example of him which asked tyme first to take leaue of hys friends. If we so doe, we shall finde fewe of them that wil encourage vs to go forward in our busines, please it God neuer so much. We read not that Iames and Iohn, Andrew and Symon, when they were called, put of the tyme till they had knowen their fathers and friends pleasure. But the Scripture sayth, They forsooke all,* 1.20 and by and by followed Christ. Christ likened the kingdom of God to a precious perle, the which whosoeuer findeth, selleth al that he hath for to buy it. Yea, whosoeuer hath but a little taste or glimmering how precious a treasure the kingdom of heauen is, will gladly forgo both life & goods for the ob∣tainyng of it. But the most part now a dayes bee lyke to

Esopes cocke, which when he had found a precious stone, wished rather to haue found a barley corne. So ignorant be they how precious a iewell y^e word of God is, that they choose rather the thyngs of this world, which beyng com∣pared to it,* 1.21 be lesse in value then a barley corne.

If I would haue geuen place to worldly reasons, these might haue moued me: First, the forgoyng of you and my children: the consideration of the state of my children, being yet tender of age and yong, apt and inclinable to vertue & learnyng, and so hauyng the more neede of my assistance, beyng not altogether destitute of gifts to helpe thē with∣all: possessions aboue the common sort of men: because I was neuer called to be a preacher or minister: & (because of my sickenes) feare of death in imprisonment before I should come to my aunswer, and so my death to be vnpro∣fitable.

But these and such lyke, I thanke my heauenly father (which of his infinite mercy inspired me with hys holye Ghost,* 1.22 for his sonnes sake my onely Sauiour and redee∣mer) preuailed not in me: but when I had by the won∣derfull permission of God, fallen into their handes, at the first sight of the Shiriffe, nature a little abashed: yet ere euer I came to the prison, by the workyng of God & tho∣rough his goodnes feare departed. I sayd to the Shiriffe at his comming vnto me: What matter haue you maister Sheriffe to charge me withall? He aunsweared: you shall knowe when you come before the maisters: and so taking me with him, I looked to haue bene broughte before the maisters,* 1.23 and to haue heard what they could haue burde∣ned me withall: but contrary to my expectation, I was committed foorthwith to the Iaile, not being called to my aunswere, little iustice being shewed therein. But the lesse iustice a man finedeth at their hands, the more consolation in conscience shall he finde from God: for whosoeuer is of the world, the world will loue hym.

After I came into prisone, & had reposed my selfe there a while,* 1.24 I wept for ioy and gladnes my belly full, musing muche of the great mercies of God, and (as it were) saying to my selfe after this sort: O Lorde who am I, on whome thou shouldest bestowe thus thy great mercye, to be num∣bred among the Saintes that suffer for thy Gospels sake? And so beholding and considering on the one side my im∣perfection,* 1.25 vnablenesse, sinnefull misery, and vnwoorthi∣nesse, and on the other side the greatnesse of Gods mercye, to be called to so high promotion, I was, as it were ama∣zed and ouercome for a while with ioy and gladnesse, con∣cluding thus with my selfe in my heart: O Lord thou she∣west power in weakenesse, wisedome in foolishnesse, mer∣cy in sinfulnes: who shall let thee to choose where & whom thou wilt. As I haue zealously loued the confession of thy woord, so euer thought I my selfe to be most vnworthy to be partaker of the affliction for the same.

* 1.26Not long after, came vnto me M.W. Brasbrige, M.C. Phinees, M.N. Hopkins, traueling with me to be dis∣missed vpon bondes. To whome my answere was (to my remembraunce) after this sorte: For as much as the Mai∣sters haue imprisoned me, hauing nothing to burden mee with all, if I should enter into bondes, I should in so do∣ing accuse my selfe: and seeing they haue no matter to laye to my charge, they may as well let me passe w^tout bondes, as wyth bondes.

Secondarily, if I shall enter bondes, couenaunt, and promise to appeare, I shall do nothing but excuse, colour, and cloke their wickednesse, and endanger my selfe neuer∣thelesse,* 1.27 being bound by my promise to appeare. They al∣leaged many worldly perswasions vnto me to auoide the present perill, & also how to auoid the forfeiture, if I brake promise. I sayde vnto them I had cast my penywoorth by Gods help. They vndertooke also to make the bond easie.

And when they were somewhat importune, I sayd to maister Hopkins, that libertie of conscience was a preci∣ous thing, and toke as it were a pause, lifting vp my heart to God earnestly for hys aide and helpe, that I might doe the thing that might please him.* 1.28 And so, when they had let their sute fal, my hart, me thought, was wonderfully com∣forted. Maister Dudly commoned with me in like maner: whom I answered in effect as I did before.

Afterwarde debatin•• the matter wyth my selfe, these considerations came to my head: I haue from time to time wyth good conscience (God I take to recorde) mooued all such as I had conference withal, to be no daliers in Gods matters, but to shew themselues after so great a light and knowledge, hearty, earnest, constante, and stable in so ma∣nifest a truthe, and not to geue place one ioate contrarye to the same. Nowe thought I, if I shall withdrawe my selfe, and make any shifts to pull my owne necke out of the col∣lor,* 1.29 I shall geue greate offence to my weake brethren in Christe, and aduantage to the enemies to sclaunder Gods word. It wil be sayd, he hath ben a great boldner of others to be earnest and feruent, to feare no worldly pearils or daungers, but he him selfe will geue no such example.

Wherefore I thought it my boūden duety both to God and man, being (as it were) by the great goodnes of God,* 1.30 maruelously called and appoynted hereunto, to set aside all feare, pearils, and daungers, al worldly respects and con∣siderations, and like as I had heereto••ore, according to the measure of my small gift, within the compasse of my vaca∣tion and calling, from the bottome of my heart vnfained∣ly mooued, exhorted, and perswaded all that professe Gods woorde, manfully to persist in the defence of the same, not wyth sworde and violence, but wyth suffering and losse of life, rather then to defile themselues againe with the who∣rish abhomination of the Romish Antichrist: so the houre being come, with my fact and example to ratifie, confirme, and protest the same to the hearts of all true beleeuers: and to thys end (by the mighty assistance of Gods holy spirit:* 1.31) I resolued my selfe wyth muche peace of conscience, wil∣lingly to sustaine what soeuer the Romish antichrist shuld doe against mee, and the rather because I vnderstoode the Bishops comming to be at hand, and considered that pore mens consciences shoulde be then sharpely assaulted. So remained I prisoner in Couentrie by the space of 10. or 11. dayes, being neuer called to my answere of the Maisters, contrary to the lawes of the Realme, they hauing neyther statute, lawe, proclamation, letter, warrant, nor comman∣dement for my apprehension. They woulde haue laide all the matter vpon the Sumner. Who being examined, deni∣ed it before their faces (as one of my frendes tolde me) say∣ing that he had no commandement concerning me, but for my elder brother. God laye not their extreeme doings a∣gainst me, to their charge at the great day.

The seconde day after the bishoppes comming to Co∣uentrie, M. Warren came to the Yeldhall, and willed the chiefe Iayler to carye me to the Bishop. I laide to maister Warrens charge the cruell seeking of my death: and when he would haue excused himselfe, I tolde him he coulde not wipe hys handes so: hee was as guiltie of my bloude be∣fore God, as though he had murthered me with his owne handes.

And so he parted frō me, saying, I needed not to feare if I would be of his beliefe, God open his eyes if it be hys will, and geue him grace to beleue this, which he and all of his inclination, shall finde (I feare) to true for their parts: that is, that all they whiche cruelly, maliciously, and spite∣fully persecute, molest and afflicte the members of Christe for their cōscience sake, and for the true testimonie of Chri∣stes worde, and cause them moste vniustly to be slayne and murthered: without spedy repentance, shall dwel with the deuil and his angels in the fiery lake euerlastingly, where they shall wish and desire, crie and call, but in vayne (as their right companion Epulo did) to be refreshed of them,* 1.32 whome in this world they contemned, despised, disdained, as slaues, misers, and wretches.

When I came before y^e bishop in one Dentons house, he began wyth this protestation, that he was my Byshop for lacke of a better, and willed me to submit my selfe.

I sayd to him, I am not come to accuse my selfe: what haue you to lay to my charge?* 1.33

He asked me whether I was learned? I aunsweared, smally learned.

Maister Chauncellor standing by, sayde I was a mai∣ster of Arte.

Then my Lord laid to my charge, my not comming to the Church.

Heere I might haue dalied wyth him, and put hym to his proofes, for asmuch as I had not bene for a long season in his Diocesse, neither was any of the Citizens able to proue any suche matters against me. Notwythstanding I answered him through Gods mercifull helpe, that I ney∣ther had nor woulde come at their church as long as theyr masse was vsed there, to saue (if I had them) fiue hundreth liues. I willed him to shew me one iote or title in y^e scrip∣ture for the proofe and defence of the Masse.

He aunswered, he came to teache and not to be taught.

I was content (I tolde him) to learne of him, so farre as he was able to teach me by the word of God.

Bishop.

Who shall iudge the worde?

Glouer.

Christ was content that the people shoulde iudge hys doctrine by searching the Scriptures, and so was Paule: me thinketh ye should claime no further priuiledge or preeminence then they had.

Thus spake Robert Glouer offering him further,* 1.34 that he was content the primitiue Church next to the Apostles time, should iudge betwixt the bishop and him. But he re∣fused also to be iudged by that. Then he sayde hee was hys Bishop, and therefore he must beleeue him.

Glouer.

If you say blacke is white my L. (quoth Glouer) must I also say as you say, and beleeue the same because you say it is so? M. Chancellor here noted me to be arro∣gant, because I would not geue place to my Bishop.

Glouer.

If you will be beleued because you be a Bish. why find you fault with the people that beleeued M. Latimer, M. Ridley, M. Hooper, and the residue of them that were bishops?

Bish.

Because they were heretikes.

Glouer.

* 1.35And may not you erre (quoth I) as well as they? I looked for learning at my Lords hand to perswade me, and he oppressed me onely with hys authoritie. He said I dissented from the church, and asked me where my church was before king Edwards tyme.

I desired hym to shew me where their church was in Helias tyme,* 1.36 and what outward shew it had in Christes tyme.

Bish.

Helias complaint was onely of the x. tribes that fell from Dauids house, whom he called heretikes.

Glo.

You be not able to shew any Prophets that the other two tribes had at the same tyme.

My L. makyng no answer to that, M. Rogers one of the maisters of the citie commeth in the meane season, ta∣king vpon hym as though he would aunswer to the text. But my L. forthwith commanded me to be committed to some Tower if they had any besides the common Gaole, saying he would at the end of his visitation of his dioces, weede out such wolues. M. Rogers willed him to contēt himselfe for that night, till they had taken further order for me. Euen where it pleaseth you, said I to my Lord, I am content: and so I was returned at that tyme to the com∣mon Gaole agayne from whence I came.

On the Friday mornyng beyng the next day after, I had warnyng by one of the prisoners to prepare my selfe to ride with my fellow prisoners the same day to Lichfield there to be bestowed at the Bish. pleasure.* 1.37 Which tidyngs at the first something discouraged me, searyng lest I shold by the meanes of my great sicknesse, through extreme hād∣lyng (which I looked for) haue dyed in the prison before I should come to my aunswer. But I rebuked immediately with Gods word this infidelitie in my selfe, and by y^e same corrected myne owne mistrust and fantasie after this ma∣ner. What make I of God? Is not hys power as great in Lichfield as in Couentry? Doth not his promise extend as well to Lichfield,* 1.38 as to Couentry? Was hee not wyth Abacuck, Daniell, Misaach, and Ieremy, in theyr most dangerous imprisonments? He knoweth what thyngs we haue neede of. He hath numbred all the haires of our head. The Sparowe falleth not on the ground, without our heauenly fathers will: much more will he care for vs if we be not faythlesse, whom he hath made worthy to bee witnesses of his truth. So long as we put our trust in him we shall neuer be destitute of his helpe, neither in prison, neither in sickenes nor in helth, neither in life nor in death, neither before kyngs nor before Bishops: not the Deuill himselfe,* 1.39 much lesse one of hys ministers shall bee able to preuaile agaynst vs. With such like meditations I waxed cherefull of good consolation and comfort: so that hearing one say that they could not prouide horses enough for vs, I sayd, let them cary vs in a dung cart for lacke of horses, if they list: I am well content for my part.

Notwithstanding at the request of my friends, I wrote to M. Maior and his brethren, briefly requiring thē that I myght make aunswer here to such thyngs as should be layed to my charge: The contentes of which letter were these.

Notes

• * 1.1

  A letter of M. Robert Glouer to h••s wyfe, certif••ing h••s troubles 〈◊〉〈◊〉 his 〈◊〉〈◊〉 appre∣hen••ion.
• * 1.2

  The world∣ly wanton∣•••••• commō∣ly of Eng∣lish women 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.3

  1. Tim. ••. Ghos••••ly 〈…〉〈…〉 and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of ••••ristian 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.4

  1. Peter. 4.
• * 1.5

  Iohn. 12.
• * 1.6

  1. Cor. 1.
• * 1.7

  Luke 17. Example of Lots wyfe.
• * 1.8

  Nothing v∣se•• in Q. Ma••y••s 〈…〉〈…〉.
• * 1.9

  The first note prouing the Church of the Papistes not to be the true Church.
• * 1.10

  2. Note. Iohn. 10.
• * 1.11

  3. Note. Actes 7.
• * 1.12

  4. Note to know the Church.
• * 1.13

  5. Note. Iohn. 5▪
• * 1.14

  6. Note to know the Church.
• * 1.15

  Ephes. 5. Compare the proceedinges & doinges of the Popes Church, with the true members of Christs Church, and you shall see what they are.

  The Church of the valiant Pa∣pistes compared to Nemrod, and why?

  The Popes Church stan∣deth all in lying and murdering.
• * 1.16

  3. Reg. 18.
• * 1.17

  Luke 9.
• * 1.18

  The Popes Church vnder payne of dam∣nation is to be auoyded. Apoc. 2.
• * 1.19

  Phil. 1. He exhorteth to be bolde in Christ.
• * 1.20

  Math. 13.
• * 1.21

  Worldly Chri∣stians resembled to Aesops Cocke.

  Worldly allu∣rements & mo∣tions of draw∣ing backe by Gods grace with standed.
• * 1.22

  Experience of the Lordes as∣sistance in con∣firming his ser∣uantes.
• * 1.23

  M. Glouer cō∣mitted to the Iayle before any cause was decla∣red.
• * 1.24

  Gods mighty consolation. vpon Rob. Glo∣uer in prison.
• * 1.25

  M. Glouer wee∣peth for ioy in prison.
• * 1.26

  M. Glouer coū∣selled to put in bondes.

  Rober Glouer refuseth to enter into bondes.
• * 1.27

  Worldly persu∣asions not recei∣ued.
• * 1.28

  M. Glouer a∣g••yne visited with Gods holy comfort.
• * 1.29

  M▪ Glouer rea∣soning with himselfe.
• * 1.30

  M. Glouer taketh cou∣rage, al 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and daun∣ger•• set a∣side.
• * 1.31

  M. Glouer resolued in himselfe to abyde the vttermost for the Gos∣pells cause. The Papist•• proceede with M. Glouer a∣gaynst the lawes of the realme. Commaun∣dement ge∣uen to the Sumner a∣gaynst Iohn Glouer, and not agaynst Robert Glouer. This By∣shops name was Doct. Banes.

  M. Warren of Couen∣try persecu∣tor of Rob. Glouer.

  A lesson for all persecu∣tors.
• * 1.32

  Luke. 16.
• * 1.33

  R· Glouer brought be∣fore Banes B. of Lich∣field and Couentrye. M. Robert Glouer M. of Art in Cambridge. R. Glouer charged for not com∣ming to the Church.
• * 1.34

  The Bishop refuseth to be iudged by the pri∣matiue Church.
• * 1.35

  〈1 paragraph〉〈1 paragraph〉
• * 1.36

  〈1 paragraph〉〈1 paragraph〉
• * 1.37

  〈1 paragraph〉〈1 paragraph〉
• * 1.38

  〈1 paragraph〉〈1 paragraph〉
• * 1.39

  〈1 paragraph〉〈1 paragraph〉