A01115:1158
An abridgement of the book of acts and monuments of the ChurchAn abridgement of the booke of acts and monumentes of the Church
An abridgement of the book of acts and monuments of the Church: written by that Reverend Father, Master John Fox: and now abridged by Timothy Bright, Doctor of Physic, for such as either through want of leisure, or ability have not the use of so necessary an historyAn abridgement of the booke of acts and monumentes of the Church: written by that Reuerend Father, Maister Iohn Fox: and now abridged by Timothe Bright, Doctour of Phisicke, for such as either through want of leysure, or abilitie haue not the vse of so necessary an history
London: printed by I. Windet, 1589
Volume 1 › Book 5: The fifth Book.Volume 1 › Book 5: The fifth Booke.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
The 17. day of August, an. 1415. John Claydon did personally appear, arrested by the mayor of London, for suspicion of heresy, before Henry Chichley Archbishop of Canterbury, in Pauls Church: who being demanded,1 denied it not, but frankly confessed that for 20. years space, he had bin suspected thereof: for which also he had suffered 2. years imprisonment at Convey, & three years in the Fleet: out of which prison, he (in the reign of king Henry the fourth, ⟨p. 340⟩was brought before L. John Scarle, then Chancellor to the king, and there did abjure all heresy, and error. And being demanded of the Archbishop, confessed that since his abjuration, he had in his house written English books of religion, and had frequented the company of divers godly men. Which confession being made, the Archb. did command the books to be delivered to master Robert Gilbert Doctor of divinity, William Lindwood, Doct. of both laws, and other Clerks to be examined. And in the mean time, David Bear, Alexander Phillip, and Balthasar Mero, were taken for witnesses against him: and were committed to be examined to master John Escourt, general examiner of Canterbury. This done. the Archb. continued his session till monday next in the same place, which was the 20. day of the same month, and master Escourt publicly exhibited the witnesses: which being read, there were after that read divers tractations, found in his house: out of which, especially out of a book called, the Lantern of light, 2(that Claidon at his own costs, caused to be written by one, called Joh. Grime) being examined, divers points were gathered, and noted for heresy.3 First, that the Pope was Antichrist, and the enemy that sowed tares among the laws of Christ. That the Archbishops and Bishops, speaking indifferently, are the seats of the Beast Antichrist. That the Bishops license, for a man to preach the word of God, is the Character of the Beast. That the Court of Rome, is the head of Antichrist, and the Bishops the body. That no reprobate is a member of the Church. That Christ did never plant private religions. That the material Church should not be decked with gold.4