An abridgement of the book of acts and monuments of the ChurchAn abridgement of the booke of acts and monumentes of the Church

The Archbishop of Arles, the Bishop of Aix, & divers Abbots, and Priors, consulted how to execute the arrest with all speed, and by the advice of the Bishop of Aix they went to Avignon, there with other Prelates to entreat of the matter: in which assembly they made a general composition, confirmed with an oath, that every man should endeavour himself, that the arrest of Merindoll should be executed with all expedition, every man offering to furnish out men of war according to his ability, the charge whereof was given to the B. of Aix. After this council holden, the next day they banqueted at the house of the Bishop of Rieux: to which banquet all the fairest women of Avignon were called, to solace these good Prelates: after they had dined, they fell to dancing, dicing, and such other pastimes: which being ended, they walked abroad to solace themselves till supper: as they passed the street, every one leading his minion upon his arm, they saw a man which sold bawdy pictures, and ballads, all which the Bishops bought up, being as many as a mule could well carry: and if any sentence were obscure in the rime, the Bishops did expound it, with great delight and laughter. In the same place walking along, they found one that sold certain bibles in French, & Latin, which when the prelates perceived, they greatly raged against the man, who answered them, is not the bible as good as these goodly pictures which you have bought for these gentlewomen? He had scarce spoken these words, when the B. of Aix said, I renounce my part ⟨p. 483⟩of paradise, if this man be not a Lutheran: so he was laid hold on, and on the next morrow after, brought before the judges,¹ in presence of the Bishops, & condemned immediately to be burned, with two bibles hanging about his neck: the one before, & the other behind. This sentence was executed the same day: and thereupon, proclamation made against all books in the french tongue entreating of the scriptures, under pain of death, to all them that would not bring them in.

The Archbishop of Arles, the Bishop of Aix, & diuers Abbots, and Priors, consulted how to execute the arrest with all spéede, and by the aduice of the Bishop of Aix they went to Auinion, there with other Prelates to intreat of the matter: in which assembly they made a generall composition, confirmed with an oth, that euery mā should endeuor himselfe, that the arrest of Merindoll should be executed with al expedition, euery man offering to furnish out men of warre according to his ability, the charge wherof was giuen to the B. of Aix. After this councell holden, the next day they banketted at the house of the Bishop of Rieux: to which banket all the fairest women of Auinion were called, to solace these good Prelates: after they had dined, they fell to dauncing, dicing, and such other pastimes: which béeyng ended, they walked abroade to solace themselues till supper: as they passed the stréete, euery one leading his minion vppon his arme, they saw a man which sold bawdy pictures, and ballades, all which the Bishops bought vp, being as many as a mule could well carrie: and if any sentence were obscure in the rime, the Bishops did expound it, with great delight and laughter. In the same place walking along, they found one that sold certaine bibles in French, & Latine, which when ye prelats perceiued, they greatly raged against the man, who answered thē, is not the bible as good as these goodly pictures which you haue bought for these gētlewomen? He had scarse spokē these words, when ye B. of Aix said, I renoūce my part