N20568:11568
The new and complete book of martyrs; or, An universal history of martyrdom: being Fox's Book of martyrs, revised and corrected, with additions and great improvements. : Containing an authentic account of the lives, persecutions and sufferings of the holy martyrs; and the many dreadful persecutions against the Church of Christ in all parts of the world, by pagans, Jews, Turks, papists, and others, from earliest ages of the church to the present period. ... The whole forming at once a general Christian martyrology, and a complete history of persecutions. / By the Rev. Mr. John Fox, M.A. late of Magdalen College, Oxford. ; Now revised, corrected and improved, with many additional articles, relating to the acts and monuments of the church. By Paul Wright, D.D. ; Embellished with forty elegant copper plate engravings. ; In two volumes. Vol. I[-II].The new and complete book of martyrs; or, An universal history of martyrdom: being Fox's Book of marytrs, revised and corrected, with additions and great improvements. : Containing an authentic account of the lives, persecutions and sufferings of the holy martyrs; and the many dreadful persecutions against the Church of Christ in all parts of the world, by pagans, Jews, Turks, papists, and others, from earliest ages of the church to the present period. ... The whole forming at once a general Christian martyrology, and a complete history of persecutions. / By the Rev. Mr. John Fox, M.A. late of Magdalen College, Oxford. ; Now revised, corrected and improved, with many additional articles, relating to the acts and monuments of the church. By Paul Wright, D.D. ; Embellished with forty elegant copper plate engravings. ; In two volumes. Vol. I[-II].
New-York: printed by William Durell, 1794
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
AFTER our hearty commendations […] good lordship, we send to the […] the body of Bartlet Green, who hath of […] remained in the Tower for his obstinate […] against the catholic religion, […] queen's majesties pleasures […] lordship's diocese) ye shall […] according to the laws in such cases […] we bid your lordship […]. From St James's, the 1•th of […] 155•. Your lordship's loving friends, Winchester, Pembroke, Tho. Ely, William […] John Bourne, Thomas […]
AFTER our hearty commendations 〈…〉 good lordship, we send to the 〈…〉 the body of Bartlet Green, who hath of 〈…〉 remained in the Tower for his obstinate 〈…〉 against the catholic religion, 〈…〉 queen's majesties pleasures 〈…〉 lordship's diocese) ye shall 〈…〉 according to the laws in such cases 〈…〉 we bid your lordship 〈…〉. From St James's, the 1•th of 〈…〉 155•. Your lordship's loving friends, Winchester, Pembroke, Tho. Ely, William 〈…〉 John Bourne, Thomas 〈…〉
POSTSCRIPT. I sir John Bourne will […] your lordship, and signify further the […] queen's majesties pleasure herein.
POSTSCRIPT. I sir John Bourne will 〈…〉 your lordship, and signify further the 〈…〉 queen's majesties pleasure herein.
THAT ye may the better understand the […] of the ill usage he met with in Bonner's […] I have thought it good to put forth his own […] containing at large an account of the same. […] letter he wrote intending to have sent it […] Philpot, but, either by Mr. Philpot's […] (more probably) by the watchfulness of his […] he was prevented: for it came (by what […] know not) to the bishop's hands, and […] to his register, was found in one of his […] of record. The copy whereof here followeth.
THAT ye may the better understand the 〈…〉 of the ill usage he met with in Bonner's 〈…〉 I have thought it good to put forth his own 〈…〉 cont•ining at large an account of the same. 〈…〉 letter he wrote intending to have sent it 〈…〉 Philpot, but, either by Mr. Philpot's 〈…〉 (more probably) by the watchfulness of his 〈…〉 he was prevented: for it came (by what 〈…〉 know not) to the bishop's hands, and 〈…〉 to his register, was found in one of his 〈…〉 of record. The copy whereof here followeth.
THAT which was wanting in talk ([…] my default) at your being here, I have s•• plied by writing in your absence, now at length getting ⟨p. 145⟩some opportunity and leisure. The 17th day of November, being brought hither by two of the clock in the afternoon, I was presented before my lord of London, and other two bishops, Mr. Dean, Mr. Roper, Mr. Welsh, Dr. Harpsfield, archdeacon of London, and two or three others, all setting at one table. There were present Dr. Dale, Mr. George Mordant, Mr. Dee. Then after the bishop of London had read unto himself the letter that came from the council, he spake with […] words, but (as I remember) to this effect; that the cause of their assembly was, to hear my examination, whereunto he had authority by the council, and had provided Mr. Welsh and another, whose name I know not, (but well I remember, though he obtained it not, yet desired he my lord, that I might hear the council's letters) to be there […] matters of the common law arise, to discuss […], he entreated my lord to determine all con•oversies of scriptures; and for the civil law, he […] Dr. Dale should take on them.
THAT which was wanting in talk (〈…〉 my default) at your being here, I have s•• plied by writing in your absence, now at length getting ⟨p. 145⟩some opportunity and leisure. The 17th day of November, being brought hither by two of the clock in the afternoon, I was presented before my lord of London, and other two bishops, Mr. Deane, Mr. Roper, Mr. Welch, Dr. Harpsfield, archd••con of London, and two or three others, all setting at one table. There were present Dr. Dale, Mr. George Mordaunt, Mr. Dee. Then after the bishop of London had read unto himself the letter that came from the council, he spake with 〈…〉 words, but (as I remember) to this effect; that the cause of their assembly was, to hear my examination, whereunto he had authority by the council, and had provided Mr. Welch and another, whose name I know not, (but well I remember, though he obtained it not, yet desired he my lord, that I might hear the council's letters) to be there matters of the common law arise, to discuss , he intreated my lord to determine all conoversies of scriptures; and for the civil law, he Dr. Dale should take on them.
WHEREFORE he demanded of me the cause of my imprisonment: I said, that the occasion of my apprehension was a letter which I wrote to one Christopher Goodman, wherein (certifying him of such news as happened here) among the rest, I wrote that there were certain printed papers of questions scattered abroad. Whereupon, being suspected to be privy to the devising or publishing of the same, I was committed to the Fleet: but, after the commissioners had received my submission, I heard nothing thereof. The sum whereof was, that as I was sure there neither could be true witnesses, nor probable conjecture against me in that behalf, so refused I no punishment, if they of their consciences would judge me privy to the devising, printing, or publishing of those questions. But my lord affirming that there was another cause of my imprisonment, demanded if I had not after, since I was committed to the Fleet, spoken or written somewhat against the natural presence of Christ in the sacrament of the altar.
THEN I desired his lordship to be good unto me, trusting that he would not put me to answer to new matters, except I were first discharged of the old. And when I stood long in that, Mr. Welsh answered, that it was procured that I should so do, right well. For albeit I were imprisoned for treason, if •••ring the time of my confinement I had maintained heresy that were no sufficient allegation against the ordinary; neither whether I were before him acquitted or condemned, should it take away the former fault. Then my lord affirming that I was not brought before him but for heresy, and the other gentleman saying, that doubtless I was discharged of my former matter; my desire was, that I might be charged according to the order of the law, to hear my accusers.
THEN I desired his lordship to be good unto me, trusting that he would not put me to answer to new matters, except I were first discharged of the old. And when I stood long in that, Mr. Welch answered, that it was procured that I should so do, right well. For albeit I were imprisoned for treason, if •••ring the time of my confinement I had maintained heresy that were no sufficient allegation against the ordinary; neither whether I were before him acquitted or condemned, should it take away the former fault. Then my lord affirming that I was not brought before him but for heresy, and the other gentleman saying, that doubtless I was discharged of my former matter; my desire was, that I might be charged according to the order of the law, to hear my accusers.
THEN Dr. Chedsey was sent for, who reported that in the presence of Mr. Mosley and the lieutenant of the Tower, I spake against the real presence and the sacrifice of the mass, and that I affirmed their church was the church of Antichrist.
IS not this true? said my lord. I said, Yea. Will you continue therein? said he. Yea, said I. Wilt thou then maintain it by learning? said he. Therein, quoth I, I should show myself to have little wit, knowing mine own youth and ignorance, if I would take on me to maintain any controversy against so many grave and learned men. But my conscience was satisfied in the truth, which was sufficient to my salvation.
IS not this true? said my lord. I said, Yea. Will you continue therein? said he. Yea, said I. Wilt thou then maintain it by learning? said he. Therein, quoth I, I should shew myself to have little wit, knowing mine own youth and ignorance, if I would take on me to maintain any controversy against so many grave and learned men. But my conscience was satisfied in the truth, which was sufficient to my salvation.
Conscience! said Mr. Roper, so shall every Jew and Turk be saved.
WE had hereafter much talk to no purpose, and especially on my part, who felt in myself, through cold and open air, much dullness of wit and memory. At length I was asked what conscience was: and I said the certifying of the truth.
WE had hereafter much talk to no purpose, and especially on my part, who felt in myself, through cold and open air, much dulnes• of wit and memory. At length I was asked what conscience was: and I said the certifying of the truth.
WITH that Mr. Welsh rose up, desiring leave to talk with me alone. So he taking me aside into another chamber, said that he was sorry for my trouble, and would gladly see me at liberty: he marvelled that I being a young man, would stand against all the learned men of the realm, yea and contrary to the whole determination of the catholic church from Christ's time, in a matter wherein I could have no great learning; I must not think mine own wit better than all men's, but I should ⟨p. 146⟩believe them that were learned. I promise you (quoth he) I have read all Peter Martyr's book, and Cranmer's, and all the rest of them, and have conferred them with the contrary, as the bishop of Winchester, &c. and could not perceive but that there was one continual truth, which from the beginning had been maintained; and those which at any time severed from this unity, were answered and answered again. This was the sum of his tale, which lacked both wit and eloquence.
WITH that Mr. Welch rose up, desiring leave to talk with me alone. So he taking me aside into another chamber, said that he was sorry for my trouble, and would gladly see me at liberty: he marvelled that I being a young man, would stand against all the learned men of the realm, yea and contrary to the whole determination of the catholic church from Christ's time, in a matter wherein I could have no great learning; I must not think mine own wit better than all men's, but I should ⟨p. 146⟩believe them that were learned. I promise you (quoth he) I have read all Peter Martyr's book, and Cranmer's, and all the rest of them, and have conferred them with the contrary, as the bishop of Winchester, &c. and could not perceive but that there was one continual truth, which from the beginning had been maintained; and those which at any time severed from this unity, were answered and answered again. This was the sum of his tale, which lacked both wit and eloquence.
Mr. Green. Forasmuch as it pleaseth your mastership to use me so familiarly (for so he behaved himself towards me, as though I had been his equal) I shall open my mind freely unto you, desiring you to take it in good part. I consider my youth, lack of wit and learning, which would to God it were but a little under the opinion that some men have of me. But God is not bound to time, wit, or knowledge, but rather chooseth the weak of the world that they may confound the strong; neither can men appoint bounds to God's mercy: For, I will have compassion, saith he, on whom I will show mercy. There is no respect of persons with God, whether it be old or young, rich or poor, wise or foolish, fisher or basket-maker. God giveth knowledge of his truth, through his free grace, to whom he list, James i. Neither do I think myself only to have the truth, but steadfastly believe that Christ hath his spouse, the catholic and universal church, dispersed in many realms where it pleaseth him, the Spirit blowing where it listeth: no more is he addicted to any one place, than to the person and quality of one man. Of this church I nothing doubt myself to be a member, trusting to be saved by the faith that is taught in the same. But how this church is known, is in a manner the end of all controversy. And the true marks of Christ's church is the true preaching of his word, and administering of his sacraments. These marks were sealed by the apostles, and confirmed by the ancient fathers, till at length they were, through the wickedness of men and the devil▪ sore worn, and almost utterly taken away. But God be praised that he hath renewed the print, that his truth may be known in many places. For myself, I call God to witness, I have no hope in mine own wit and learning, which is very small; but I was persuaded thereto by him, as by an instrument, that is excellent in all good learning and living. And God is my record, that chiefly I sought it of him by continual prayer with tears. FURTHERMORE, what I have done herein, it […] not needful for me to speak: but one thing, I say, I wish of God with all my heart, that all men which are of contrary judgment, would seek the truth in like manner. Now I am brought hither before a great many bishops and learned men, […] be made a fool and laughing-stock, but I value it not a rush: for God knoweth that my whole study is to please him:
Mr. Green. Forasmuch as it pleaseth your mastership to use me so familiarly (for so he behaved himself towards me, as though I had been his equal) I shall open my mind freely unto you, desiring you to take it in good part. I consider my youth, lack of wit and learning, which would to God it were but a little under the opinion that some men have of me. But God is not bound to time, wit, or knowledge, but rather chuseth the weak of the world that they may confound the strong; neither can men appoint bounds to God's mercy: For, I will have compassion, saith he, on whom I will shew mercy. There is no respect of persons with God, whether it be old or young, rich or poor, wise or foolish, fisher or basket-maker. God giveth knowledge of his truth, through his free grace, to whom he list,
besides that, I care not for […] pleasure or displeasure.
besides that, I care not for 〈…〉 pleasure or displeasure.
Mr. Welsh. No, Mr. Green, said he, think not so uncharitably of any man, but judge rather that men labour for your soul's health, as for their […] But, alas, how will you condemn all our […] fathers? Or how can you think yourself to […] the catholic church, without any continuance, […] contrary to the judgment of all learned men?
Mr. Welch. No, Mr. Green, said he, think not so uncharitably of any man, but judge rather that men labour for your soul's health, as for their 〈…〉 But, alas, how will you condemn all our 〈…〉 fathers? Or how can you think yourself to 〈…〉 the catholic church, without any continuance, 〈…〉 contrary to the judgment of all learned men?
