A67927:5843
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.
Wood. No, that I do not.
Wood. I trust I am in the true church every day. But to tell you truth, I come not at the Church where the most do resort. For if I should, I should offend, and be offended. For at the last time that I was there, I offended many, & was offended my self. Wherefore for conscience sake I would not come there. For I was sent to prison for my coming there, & now I am sent to you for biding thence. So they will not be pleased any way with me, for they seek my life. Wherefore look you to it, for I am now in your hands, and you ought to be a house of defence against mine enemies. For if you suffer them to kill me, my blood shall be required at your hands. If you can find any just cause in me worthy of death by Gods word,1 you may con damn me your self, and not offend god: wherefore look to it, the matter is weighty, deliver me not into their hands, and think so to be discharged.
Wood. I trust I am in the true church euery day. But to tell you truth, I come not at the Church where the most do resort. For if I should, I should offend, and be offēded. For at the last tyme that I was there, I offended many, & was offended my selfe. Wherefore for conscience sake I would not come there. For I was sent to prison for my commyng there, & now I am sent to you for biding thēce. So they will not bee pleased any way with mee, for they seeke my lyfe. Wherefore looke you to it, for I am now in your hands, and you ought to be a house of defēce against myne enemies. For if you suffer them to kill me, my bloud shall be required at your hands. If you can finde any iust cause in me worthy of death by Gods word,1 you may cō demne me your self, and not offend god: wherfore looke to it, the matter is weighty, deliuer me not into their hands, and thinke so to be discharged.
Chich. I tell you truth, I can do little in the matter. For I have not full authority as yet of mine office: but I will send for you and talk with you, if I wis• I should do you any good.
Chich. I tell you truth, I can doe little in the matter. For I haue not full authoritie as yet of myne office: but I wil send for you and talke with you, if I wis• I should do you any good.
Wood. I would be glad to talk with you and to show you my mind in any thing that you shall demand of me, now or at any other time.
Wood. I would be glad to talk with you and to shew you my mind in any thing that you shall demaund of me, now or at any other tyme.
Chich. So then he desired the sheriffs men to tarry dinner with him: that this man (said he) may dine with me also:1 for it is possible that he may have no great store of meat whither he shall go.
Chich. So then he desired the shiriffes men to tary dinner with hym: that this man (said he) may dine with me also:1 for it is possible that hee may haue no great store of meate whither he shall go.
Wood. So we tarried dinner with him,1 and had no further talk, neither how to prove where the true church of God is, nor of the Sacraments, nor of any other thing pertaining to meward, not for the space of two hours or more: but he entered in talk with me, how I understood many scriptures, & for bishops and priests marriages, & whether Paul had a wife or not. To whom I answered: It is a thing that I have little to do with, as concerning marriages: but I am very well content to talk with you in the matter, as far as my poor learning will serve.2 So when he had talked with me of divers Scriptures, he liked my talk well. He asked me how I said by S. Paul, whether he were married or not. To whom I answered: I prove by the scriptures, that he was never married.
Wood. So we taried dinner with him,1 and had no further talke, neither how to prooue where the true church of God is, nor of the Sacraments, nor of any other thing pertaining to meward, not for the space of two houres or more: but he entred in talke with me, how I vnderstoode many scriptures, & for bishops and priests mariages, & whether Paul had a wyfe or not. To whom I answered: It is a thyng that I haue little to do with, as concernyng mariages: but I am very well content to talke with you in the matter, as far as my poore learning will serue.2 So when he had talked with me of diuers Scriptures, he liked my talke well. He asked me how I said by S. Paul, whether he were maried or not. To whom I answered: I prooue by the scriptures, that he was neuer maried.
Chich, How prove you that?
Chich, How prooue you that?
Wood. I will prove it well enough by Gods help. But yet I will prove that Paul might have had a wife, as well as the other Apostles had.
Wood. I will prooue it well enough by Gods helpe. But yet I will prooue that Paul might haue had a wife, as wel as the other Apostles had.
Chich. Why, had the Apostles wives?
Chich. Why, had the Apostles wyues?
Wood. Yea, all, saving Paul and Barnabas, as I understand it.1 For these are Pauls words in the 1. to the Cor. 9. chap. Am I not an Apostle? am I not free? have I not seen Jesus Christ? Are not ye my work in the Lord? And if I be not an Apostle to other, yet to you I am an Apostle For you are the seal of my Apostleship in the Lord. Mine answer to them that ask me, is this: Have we not power to eat and to drink? either have we not power to lead about a sister to wife, as well as the other Apostles have, and as the brethren of the Lord? Either have not Barnabas and I power thus to do? So this text proveth, that Paul & Barnabas were unmarried. But Paul declareth that the rest had wives, & that they had power likewise so to have, but they found no need thereof. But Paul declareth in the 7. chap. of the 1. epistle to the Corin. that he that hath no power over his own flesh, may marry: For it is better to marry then to burn. Wherefore, to avoid fornication (sayeth he) let every man have his wife. 2He saith, Let every man have his wife, and every woman her husband. By this place of scripture I understand,3 that bishops & priests may have wives, because they are men, rather then burn, or to commit fornication. But I think verily, he that can abstain, having power of his own will, doth best: but if he marry, he sinneth not. So then he debated the Scriptures with me divers ways, that a bishop nor a priest ought not to have a wife: but I proved by divers Scriptures both in the old Law & in the new,4 that women were at first made for the help of men, the which was spoken generally to all men. Wherefore (said I) every man may have a woman and sin not in honest matrimony, as well bishops & Deacons, as other men, which you call priests, if they be true Ministers of Jesus Christ, & of that order that Bishops & Deacons were in Pauls time.5 For Paul declareth to Tim. 1. and the 3. That a Bishop should be the husband of one wife, & how they should be honestly apparelled, and how they should bring up their children, and likewise the Deacons. This (said I) proveth more plainly, that both bishops & Deacons had wives in the Apostles time, the which he could not deny.
But then he alleged that no bishop nor Priest might take a wife, after he had taken upon him that office, but if he had a wife before he took the office tried meet for the purpose, for his life and for his learning, he might keep his wife, and bring up his children according to s. Pauls meaning to Timothy, or else might they have no wives. Then said I, I think Pauls meaning in that place was, that a man that hath had two wives, might not be made a bishop nor a Deacon, if he had never so much learning. But that place maketh not that a bishop or a Deacon may not marry after they be made bishops and Deacons. For I am sure that Paul was in the state of a bishop, when he said: He had power to lead about a sister to wife, as well as the other Apostles had. Here Paul declareth,1 that it was in his power to have a wife, after he had the office of a Bishop, which was not in his power, if he had been forbidden of God. ⟨p. 1989⟩Thus have I showed you my mind in this behalf, both of Paul, and also for the marriages of bishops and priests, as I understand the scriptures. Howbeit, it is a thing the which I have little to do withal: but as you required me to say my mind in that matter, so I have done.
But then he alleaged that no bishop nor Priest might take a wife, after he had taken vpon him that office, but if he had a wife before he tooke the office tryed meet for the purpose, for his lyfe and for his learnyng, hee mighte keepe his wyfe, and bryng vp his children according to s. Paules meadyng to Timothie, or els might they haue no wyues. Then sayd I, I thinke Paules meanyng in that place was, that a man that hath had two wiues, might not bee made a bishop nor a Deacon, if he had neuer so much learnyng. But that place maketh not that a bishop or a Deacō may not marry after they be made bishops and Deacons. For I am sure that Paul was in the state of a bishop, whē he sayd: He had power to lead about a sister to wyfe, as well as the other Apostles had. Here Paul declareth,1 that it was in his power to haue a wyfe, after he had the office of a Bishop, which was not in his power, if he had bene forbidden of God. ⟨p. 1989⟩Thus haue I shewed you my mind in this behalf, both of Paul, and also for the mariages of bishops and priests, as I vnderstand the scriptures. Howbeit, it is a thing the which I haue litle to doe withall: but as you required me to say my minde in that matter, so I haue done.
Chich. Marry I am glad that you have said as you have done. Many do affirm boldly that Paul had a wife, and yet can not prove whether he had or had not, by the scriptures: but you have said very well. I am glad that ye are contented to be ruled by Gods word. And if you will be contented likewise in other matters, no doubt you shall do well: therefore gentle goodman Woodman be ruled. God hath given you a good wit.1 I protest before God, I would you should do as well as mine own soul and body, and so would (I dare say) all the worshipful men in the country, as they have reported to me.
Chich. Marye I am glad that you haue sayd as you haue done. Many doe affirme boldly that Paul had a wife, and yet can not prooue whether he had or had not, by ye scriptures: but you haue said very wel. I am glad that yee are contented to be ruled by Gods woord. And if you will be contented likewise in other matters, no dout you shall do well: therefore gentle goodman Woodman be ruled. God hath geuē you a good wit.1 I protest before God, I would you should do as well as mine owne soule and body, and so would (I dare say) all the worshipfull men in the coū trey, as they haue reported to me.
Wood. Why, my Lord, I take God to record (whom I trust to serve) that I would be as glad to live in rest and peace, as any man in all the world, if I might. And I stand to learn, & am contented to be reformed of any thing that I hold, if it can be proved that it be not agreeable to gods word. And the truth is so, I have talked with a dozen Priests at the least, since I was delivered out of prison, of certain matters, and they have not ben able to certify me in any thing that I have asked them:1 and therefore have they complained on me to the Sheriff and Justices, making tales and lies on me, to turn me to displeasure, as much as in them lieth. I promise you, there be as many unlearned Priests in your diocese, as in any one diocese in England I think: the more it is to be lamented.
Wood. Why, my Lord, I take God to recorde (whome I trust to serue) that I woulde be as glad to liue in rest and peace, as any man in all ye world, if I might. And I stand to learne, & am contented to be reformed of any thing that I hold, if it can be prooued that it be not agreable to gods woorde. And the truthe is so, I haue talked with a dosen Priests at the least, since I was deliuered out of prison, of certaine matters, and they haue not ben able to certify me in any thing that I haue asked them:1 and therefore haue they complained on me to the Sheriffe and Iustices, making tales and lies on me, to tourne me to displeasure, as muche as in them lieth. I promise you, there be as manye vnlearned Priests in your dioces, as in any one dioces in England I thinke: the more it is to be lamented.
Chich. I promise you, I do much lament it my self: for I hear say no less: but it is true that you say. I would I could remedy it, but I can not: but I will do the best that I can, when I come into the country, and I will be glad to talk with you some other time, when I am somewhat better at ease. You see I am very tender now, as I have been this half year and more. Come to dinner: our dinner is ready. I caused not you to tarry for any great cheer that you shall have, nor I would you should not think that I go about to win you with my meat. But you be welcome with all my heart. Come, sit down.
Chich. I promise you, I do much lament it my selfe: for I heare say no lesse: but it is true that you say. I woulde I could remedy it, but I can not: but I wil doe the best that I can, when I come into the countrey, and I wil be glad to talke with you some other time, when I am somewhat better at ease. You see I am very tender nowe, as I haue bene this halfe yeare and more. Come to dinner: our dinner is ready. I caused not you to tarie for any great chere that you shall haue, nor I would you should not thincke that I goe about to winne you with my meate. But you be welcome with all my heart. Come, sit downe.
Wood. I thanked him, and went to dinner: and there dined with him a Merchant man, one of the sheriffs men, and I,1 and no mo, & we had good cheer, God be praised therefore. We had no talk of the scriptures all the dinner while: but when dinner was done, the bishop said.
Wood. I thanked him, and wēt to dinner: and there dined with him a Marchant man, one of the sheriffes men, and I,1 and no mo, & we had good chere, God be praised therefore. We had no talke of the scriptures all ye dinner while: but when dinner was done, the bishop saide.
Wood. Yea, all, sauing Paul and Barnabas, as I vnderstand it.1 For these are Paules wordes in the 1. to the Cor. 9. chap. Am I not an Apostle? am I not free? haue I not seene Iesus Christ? Are not ye my worke in the Lord? And if I be not an Apostle to other, yet to you I am an Apostle For you are the seale of my Apostleship in the Lord. Myne aunswer to them that aske me, is this: Haue we not power to eate and to drinke? eyther haue we not power to lead about a sister to wyfe, as well as the other Apostles haue, and as the brethren of the Lord? Eyther haue not Barnabas and I power thus to doe? So this text prooueth, that Paul & Barnabas were vnmaried. But Paule declareth that the rest had wiues, & that they had power likewyse so to haue, but they found no neede thereof. But Paul declareth in the 7. chap. of the 1. epistle to the Corin. that he that hath no power ouer his owne flesh, may marrie: For it is better to marrie then to burne. Wherefore, to auoyd fornication (saieth he) let euery man haue his wyfe. 2Hee sayth, Let euery man haue his wyfe, and euery woman her husband. By this place of scripture I vnderstād,3 that bishops & priestes may haue wyues, because they are men, rather then burne, or to commit fornication. But I thinke verily, he that can abstaine, hauing power of his owne wyll, doth best: but if he marrie, he sinneth not. So then hee debated the Scriptures with me dyuers wayes, that a bishop nor a priest ought not to haue a wife: but I prooued by diuers Scriptures both in the old Law & in the new,4 that women were at first made for the helpe of men, the which was spoken generally to al men. Wherfore (said I) euery man may haue a woman and sinne not in honest matrimony, as well bishops & Deacons, as other men, which you call priests, if they be true Ministers of Iesus Christ, & of that order that Bishops & Deacons were in Paules tyme.5 For Paul declareth to Tim. 1. and the 3. That a Bishop should be the husband of one wyfe, & how they should be honestly apparelled, and how they should bring vp their children, and likewise the Deacons. This (sayd I) prooueth more plainly, that both bishops & Deacons had wyues in the Apostles tyme, the which he could not deny.
