A67927:1335
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.
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.
Broke. It shall be put upon you by one or other.
Brok. It shalbe put vpon you by one or other.
Rid. Do therein as it shall please you. I am well contented with that, and more then that: the servant is not above his Master. If they dealt so cruelly with our Saviour Christ, as the Scripture maketh mention, and he suffered the same patiently, how much more doth it become us his servants? and in saying of these words they put upon the said Doctor Ridley the surplice, with all the trinkets appertaining to the Mass, and as they were putting on the same,1 Doctor Ridley did vehemently inveigh against the Romish Bishop and all that foolish apparel, calling him Antichrist, and the apparel foolish and abominable, yea to fond for a Vice in a play, in so much that Brooks was exceeding angry with him, and bad him hold his peace. For he did but rail. Doct. Ridley answered again, and said: so long as his tongue and breath would suffer him, he would speak against their abominable doings, what so ever happened unto him for so doing.
Rid. Do therein as it shall please you. I am well contented with that, and more then that: the seruaunt is not aboue his Maister. If they delt so cruelly with our Sauiour Christe, as the Scripture maketh mention, and he suffered the same patienly, howe muche more doth it become vs his seruaunts? and in saying of these wordes they put vppon the sayde Doctor Ridley the surples, with all the trinkettes appertaynyg to the Masse, and as they were puttyng on the same,1 Doctor Ridley did vehemently inuey against the Romysh Byshyp and all that foolysh apparell, callyng hym Antichrist, and the apparell foolysh and abominable, yea to fond for a Uice in a play, in so muche that Brokes was exceeding angry with him, and bad hym holde his peace. For he dyd but rayle. Doct. Ridley aunsweared agayne, and sayde: so long as his tounge and breath woulde suffer hym, he woulde speake agaynst their abominable doynges, what so euer happened vnto hym for so doyng.
Broke. Well, you were best to hold your peace, lest your mouth be stopped. At which words one Edridge, the reader then of the Greek Lecture standing by, said to Doct. Brooks: Sir, the law is he should be gagged, therefore let him be gagged. At which words Doct. Ridley looking earnestly upon him that so said, wagged his head at him, and made no answer again, but with a sigh said: Oh well, well, well. So they proceeded in their doings: yet nevertheless ⟨p. 1768⟩D. Ridley was ever talking things not pleasant to their ears,1 although one or other bad him hold his peace, least he should be caused against his will. 2When as they came to that place where as D. Ridley should hold the chalice and the wafer cake (called •he singing bread) they bade him hold the same in his hand. And Doct. Ridley said: they shall not come in my hands, for if they do,3 they shall fall to the ground for all me. Then there was one appointed to hold them in his hand, while Bishop Brooks red a certain thing in Latin, touching the degradation of spiritual persons, according to the Popes law. Afterward they put a book in his hand, and withal red (as is before said) a certain thing in Latin, the effect thereof was: We do take from you the office of preaching the Gospel,4 &c. At which words, D. Ridley gave a great sigh, looking up toward heaven, saying: Oh Lord God forgive them this their wickedness. And as they put upon him the Mass gear, so they began with the uppermost garment, in taking it away again, reading a thing in Latin, according to the order contained in the said book of the Popes law. Now when all was taken from him saving only the surplice left on his back, as they were reading and taking it away, D. Ridley said unto them: Lord God, what power be you of, that you can take from a man that which he never had? I was never singer in all my life, and yet you will take from me that which I never had. So when all this their abominable and ridiculous degradation was ended very solemnly,5
seeing that you will not suffer me to talk, neither will vouchsafe to hear me, what remedy but patience? I refer my cause to my heavenly Father, who will reform things that be amiss, when it shall please him. At which words they would have been gone, but that M. Ridley said: My L. I would wish that your Lordship would vouchsafe to read over and peruse a little book of Bertram's doings concerning the Sacrament, I promise you, you shall find much good learning therein, if you will read the same with an indifferent judgement.1 D. Brooks made no answer to this, but would have been gone away. Then M. Ridley said: Oh, I perceive that you cannot away with this manner of talk. Well, it boots not, I will say no more, I will speak of worldly affairs. I pray you therefore (my Lord) hear me, and be a mean to the Queens majesty, in the behalf of a great many of poor men, and especially for my poor sister and her husband, which standeth there. They had a poor living gram ted unto them by me,2 whiles I was in the Sea of London, and the same is taken away from them, by him that now occupieth the same room, without all law or conscience. Here I have a Supplication to the Queens majesty in their behalves. You shall hear the same red: so shall you perceive the matter the better. Then he red the same, and when he came to the place in the Supplication, that touched his Sister by name, then he wept, so that for a little space he could not speak for weeping. After that he had left of weeping, he said: This is nature that moveth me. But I have now done, and with that read out the rest, and delivered the same to his Brother, commanding him to put it up to the Queens Majesty,3 and to sue, not only for himself, but also for such as had any Leases or Grants by him, and were put from the same by Doctor Boner then Bishop of London, whereunto Brooks said: In deed Master Ridley your request in this Supplication is very lawful and honest: therefore I must needs in conscience speak to the Queens Majesty for them.
seeyng that you will not suffer me to talke, neyther will vouchsafe to heare me, what remedy but patience? I referre my cause to my heauenly Father, who will reforme thynges that be amisse, when it shall please hym. At which words they would haue bene gone, but that M. Ridley sayd: My L. I would wish that your Lordship would vouchsafe to read ouer and peruse a litle booke of Bertrams doyngs concernyng the Sacrament, I promise you, you shall finde much good learnyng therein, if you will read the same with an indifferent iudgement.
Brok. Well, you were best to holde your peace, lest your mouth be stopped. At which wordes one Edridge, the reader then of the Greeke Lecture standing by, sayd to Doct. Brokes: Syr, the lawe is he should be gagged, therefore let hym be gagged. At which wordes Doct. Ridley lookyng earnestly vpon him that so sayd, wagged his head at hym, and made no aunswere againe, but with a sigh sayd: Oh well, well, well. So they proceeded in their doinges: yet neuerthelesse ⟨p. 1768⟩D. Ridley was euer talkyng things not pleasant to their eares,1 although one or other bad hym hold his peace, least he should be caused against his wyll. 2When as they came to that place where as D. Ridley should hold the chalice and the wafer cake (called •he singyng bread) they bade hym holde the same in hys hande. And Doct. Ridley sayd: they shal not come in my hands, for if they do,3 they shall fall to the ground for all me. Then there was one appoynted to hold them in his hand, while Bishop Brookes red a certaine thyng in Latine, touching the degradation of spirituall persones, accordyng to the Popes law. Afterward they put a booke in hys hand, and withall red (as is before sayd) a certayne thing in Latin, the effect therof was: We do take from you the office of preachyng the Gospel,4 &c. At which wordes, D. Ridley gaue a great s•gh, lookyng vp toward heauen, saying: Oh Lorde God forgeue them this their wickednes. And as they put vppon hym the Masse geare, so they began with the vppermost garment, in taking it away agayne, reading a thyng in Latine, accordyng to the order contayned in the sayd booke of the Popes law. Now whē all was taken from him sauing onely the surples left on his backe, as they were readyng and takyng it away, D. Ridley sayd vnto them: Lord God, what power be you of, that you can take from a man that which he neuer had? I was neuer singer in all my lyfe, and yet you will take from me that which I neuer had. So when all this their abhominable and ridiculous degradation was ended very solemnely,5 D. Ridley sayde vnto D. Brookes, haue you done? If you haue done, then geue me leaue to talke with you a little, concernyng these matters. Brookes answered and said: M. Ridley, we may not talke with you, you be out of the Church, and our law is that we may not talke with any that be out of ye church. Then M. Ridley sayd:
