A67927:1331
Acts and monuments of matters most special and memorable, happening in the Church. [vol. 2, part 2] 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 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.
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.
IN the mean season upon the 15. day in the morning, and the same year above said,1 the Bishop of Gloucester Doct. Brooks, and the Uicechauncelour of Oxford Doct. Marshall,2 with diverse other of the chief and heads of the same University, and many other moe accompanying with them, came unto M. Irish his house then Major of Oxford, where D. Ridley, late Bishop of London was close prisoner. And when the Bishop of Gloucester came into the chamber where the said D, Ridley did lye, he told him for what purpose their coming was unto him, saying:3 that yet once again the Queens Majesty did offer unto him by them, her gracious mercy, if that he would receive the same, and come home again to the faith which he was Baptised in, & revoke his erroneous doctrine that he of late had taught abroad to the destruction of many. And further said, that if he would not recant, and become one of the Catholic Church with them, then they must needs (against their wills) proceed according to the law, which they would be very loth to do, if they might otherwise. But (saith he) we have been often times with you, and have requested that you would recant this your fantastical & devilish opinion, where hitherto you have not, although you might in so doing win many, and do much good. Therefore good M. Ridley, consider with your self the danger that shall ensue both of body and soul, if that you shall so wilfully cast your self away in refusing mercy offered unto you at this time.
IN the meane season vpon the 15. day in the mornyng, and the same yeare aboue sayd,1 the Byshop of Glocester Doct. Brokes, and the Uicechauncelour of Oxford Doct. Marshall,2 with diuerse other of the chiefe and heades of the same Uniuersitie, and many other moe accompanying with them, came vnto M. Irish his house then Maior of Oxforde, where D. Ridley, late Byshop of London was close prisoner. And when the Byshop of Glocester came into the chamber where the sayde D, Ridley did lye, he told him for what purpose their comming was vnto him, saying:3 that yet once agayne the Queenes Maiestie did offer vnto hym by them, her gracious mercy, if that he woulde receiue the same, and come home agayne to the fayth which he was Baptised in, & reuoke his erroneous doctrine that he of late had taught abroad to the destructiō of many. And further said, that if he would not recant, and become one of the Catholicke Churche with them, then they must needes (against their willes) proceede according to the lawe, which they would be very loth to do, if they might otherwise. But (sayth he) we haue bene often tim•s with you, and haue requested that you would recant this your fantasticall & deuilish opinion, where hytherto you haue not, although you might in so doing winne many, and do much good. Therefore good M. Ridley, consyder with your selfe the daunger that shall ensue both of body and soule, if that you shall so wilfully cast your selfe away in refusing mercy offered vnto you at this time.
My Lord, quoth D. Ridley, you know my mind fully herein: and as for the doctrine which I have taught,1 my conscience assureth me that it was sound, & according to Gods word (to his glory be it spoken) the which doctrine the Lord God being my helper, I will maintain so long as my tongue shall wag,2 and breath is within my body, and in confirmation thereof, seal the same with my blood.
My Lord, quoth D. Ridley, you know my mynd fully herein: and as for the doctrine which I haue taught,1 my conscience assureth me that it was sounde, & accordyng to Gods word (to his glory be it spoken) the which doctrine the Lord God beyng my helper, I wyll mayntaine so long as my tongue shall wagge,2 and breath is within my body, and in confirmation thereof, seale the same with my bloud.
Broke. Well, you were best, M. Ridley, not to do so, but to become one of the Church with us. For you know this well enough, that whosoever is out of the Catholic church, can not be saved: therefore I say once again, that whiles you have time and mercy offered you, receive it, and confess with us the Popes holiness to be be the chief head of the same Church.1
Brok. Well, you were best, M. Ridley, not to do so, but to become one of the Church with vs. For you know this well enough, that whosoeuer is out of the Catholike church, can not be saued: therefore I say once agayne, that whiles you haue time and mercy offered you, receiue it, and confesse with vs the Popes holynes to be be the chiefe head of the same Church.1
Rid. I marvel that you will trouble me with any such vain and foolish talk. You know my mind concerning the usurped authority of the Romish Antichrist. As I confessed openly in the Schools, so do I now, that both by my behaviour and talk I do no obedience at all unto the Bishop of Rome, nor to his usurped authority, and that for divers good and godly considerations. And here Doct. Ridley would have reasoned with the said Brooks Bishop of Gloucester,1 of the Bishop of Romes authorities, but could not be suffered, and yet he spake so earnestly against the Pope therein, that the Bishop told him, if he would not hold his peace, he should be compelled against his will. And seeing saith he, that you will not receive the Queens mercy now offered unto you, but stubbornly refuse the same, we must, against our wills, proceed according to our Commission to disgrading, taking from you the dignity of Priesthood. For we take you for no Bishop, and therefore we will the sooner have done with you: so, committing you to the secular power, you know what doth follow.
Rid. I marueyle that you wyll trouble me with any suche vayne and foolysh talke. You know my mynd concerning the vsurped authoritie of the Romishe Antichrist. As I confessed openly in the Scholes, so do I nowe, that both by my behauiour and talke I do no obedience at all vnto the Byshop of Rome, nor to his vsurped authoritie, and that for diuers good and godly considerations. And here Doct. Ridley would haue reasoned with the sayde Brokes Byshop of Glocester,1 of the Byshop of Romes authorities, but could not be suffered, and yet he spake so earnestly agaynst the Pope therein, that the Byshop told hym, if he would not hold his peace, he should be compelled agaynst his wyll. And seeyng sayth he, that you wyll not receiue the Queenes mercy now offered vnto you, but stubburnly refuse the same, we must, against our wils, proceede according to our Commission to disgradyng, takyng from you the dignitie of Priesthode. For we take you for no Byshop, and therefore we will the sooner haue done with you: so, committing you to the secular power, you know what doth follow.
Rid. Do with me as it shall please God to suffer you, I am well content to abide the same with all my hart.
Broke. Put of your cap M. Ridley, and put upon you this surplice.
Brok. Put of your cap M. Ridley, and put vppon you this surples.
Rid. Not I truly.1
Broke. But you must.
Brok. But you must.
Rid. I will not.
Rid. I wyll not.
Broke. You must: therefore make no more a do, but put this surplice upon you.
Brok. You must: therefore make no more a do, but put this surples vpon you.
Rid. Truly if it come upon me, it shall be against my will.
Rid. Truly if it come vpon me, it shalbe against my wil.
Broke. Will you not do it upon you?
Brok. Will you not do it vpon you?
Rid. No, that I will not.
