A67926:2472
Acts and monuments of matters most special and memorable, happening in the Church. [vol.…Actes and monuments of matters most speciall and memorable, happenyng in the Church. [vol.…
Acts and monuments of matters most special and memorable, happening in the Church. [vol. 2, part 1] with an universal history of the same, wherein is set forth at large the whole race and course of the Church, from the primitive age to these latter times of ours, with the bloody times, horrible troubles, and great persecutions against the true martyrs of Christ, sought and wrought as well by heathen emperors, as now lately practised by Romish prelates, especially in this realm of England and Scotland. Newly revised and recognised, partly also augmented, and now the fourth time again published and recommended to the studious reader, by the author (through the help of Christ our Lord) John Fox, which desireth thee good reader to help him with thy prayer.Actes and monuments of matters most speciall and memorable, happenyng in the Church. [vol. 2, part 1] 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.
London: printed by John Daye, 1583London: printed by Iohn Daye, 1583
No title page in the transcription: set from the catalogue record.
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.
Wherein he showed, that forasmuch as the Bishop had most unjustly, and contrary to all due order of law and the equity thereof, proceeded against him, as well in falsely defaming him with the crime of Heresy, without having any just proof or public defamation thereof, as also contrary to all justice, keeping him in most straight prison so long time, (both to the great danger of his life by grievous sickness taken thereby, as especially to his no small grief, that through his absence, his flock whereof he had charge, were not fed with the word of God and his Sacraments as he would) and then to minister unto him such Articles, mingled with interrogatories, as neither touched any heresy, nor transgression of any law, but rather showing a mind to pick quarrels against him and other innocent people. He therefore for the causes alleged, was compelled and did appeal from him and all his officers, unto the Kings Majesty, whom (under God) he had for his most just and lawful refuge, and defender against all injuries. From which appeal, although he minded not at any time to depart, yet, because he would not show himself obstinate against the Bishop being his Ordinary, (although he had most just cause to suspect his unjust proceeding against him) he was nevertheless content to exhibit unto him this his answer. First, that howsoever the Bishop was privately informed, yet because he was not Publice diffamatus apud bonos & graves according to law, he was not by the law bound to answer to any of those Articles. And as touching the first six Articles (as whether he was at Wittenberg, and spake with Luther or any other, or bought or read any of their books &c.) because none of those things were forbidden him by any law, neither that he was publicly accused of them, (for that it was permitted to many good men to have them) he was not bound to answer, neither was he to be examined of them. But as touching the marriage of Master Simon Smith with Joan Bennore, he granted that he knew thereof by the declaration of Master Smith, but that he gave his maid counsel thereunto, he utterly denied. And as concerning the contracting of the marriage between them, he thought it not at all against Gods law, who at the first creation made marriage lawful for all men.
Wherein hee shewed, that forasmuch as the Byshop had most vniustly, and contrary to all due order of lawe and the equitie thereof, proceeded agaynst hym, as well in falsely defaming hym wyth the cryme of Heresie, wythout hauing any iust proofe or publicke defamation thereof, as also contrary to all iustice, keepyng hym in most straight prison so long time, (both to the great daunger of hys lyfe by greeuous sickenesse taken thereby, as especially to hys no small griefe, that through hys absence, hys flocke whereof hee had charge, were not fedde with the word of God and his Sacraments as he would) and then to minister vnto hym suche Articles, mingled wyth interrogatories, as neyther touched anye heresie, nor transgression of any lawe, but rather shewing a minde to picke quarels agaynste hym and other innocent people. He therefore for the causes alleadged, was compelled and did appeale from hym and all hys officers, vnto the Kings Maiestie, whome (vnder God) he had for hys most iust and lawfull refuge, and defender againste all iniuries. From whyche appeale, although hee minded not at anye tyme to departe, yet, because hee would not shewe hymselfe obstinate agaynst the Byshop beeing hys Ordinary, (although he had most iust cause to suspect his vniust proceeding agaynst hym) hee was neuerthelesse content to exhibite vnto him this hys aunswere. Firste, that howsoeuer the Byshop was priuately enformed, yet because hee was not Publice diffamatus apud bonos & graues accordyng to lawe, he was not by the lawe bounde to aunswere to any of those Articles. And as touching the first sixe Articles (as whether he was at Wittenberge, and spake with Luther or anye other, or bought or read any of theyr bookes &c.) because none of those thyngs were forbidden hym by any lawe, neyther that he was publickly accused of them, (for that it was permitted to many good men to haue them) he was not bound to aunsweare, neyther was he to be examined of them. But as touching the marriage of Maister Simon Smyth with Ioane Bennore, he graunted that he knew thereof by the declaration of Mayster Smyth, but that he gaue hys mayde counsayle thereunto, he vtterly denyed. And as concerning the contracting of the mariage betweene them, he thought it not at all against Gods lawe, who at the first creation made mariage lawfull for all men.