N20568:4733
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.
In this Examination the Lord Chancellor thus spake:
L. CHAN. IT is not unknown that you have been a prisoner, for such abominable heresies and false doctrine as have been sown by you; and now it is thought good that mercy be showed to such as seek for it. Wherefore if now you will show yourself conformable, and come home again, mercy is ready. We must say that we have fallen in manner all: but now we are risen again, and returned to the catholic church; you must rise with us, and come home unto it. Give us forthwith a direct answer.
L. CHAN. IT is not unknown that you have been a prisoner, for such abominable heresies and false doctrine as have been sown by you; and now it is thought good that mercy be shewed to such as seek for it. Wherefore if now you will shew yourself conformable, and come home again, mercy is ready. We must say that we have fallen in manner all: but now we are risen again, and returned to the catholic church; you must rise with us, and come home unto it. Give us forthwith a direct answer.
SAND. My lord, and my lords all, may it please your honours to give me leave to answer with deliberation.
SAUND. My lord, and my lords all, may it please your honours to give me leave to answer with deliberation.
CHAN. Leave off your painting and pride of speech: for such is the fashion of you all, to please yourselves in your glorious words. Answer yes, or no.
SAND. My lord, it is no time for me now to paint. And as for pride, there is no great cause why it should be in me; my learning I confess to be but small; and as for riches or worldly wealth I have none at all▪ Notwithstanding, it standeth me in hand to answer your demand circumspectly, considering that one of these two extreme perils are like to fall upon me, the losing of a good conscience, or the losing of this my body and life. And I tell you truth, I love both life and liberty, if I could enjoy them without the hurt of my conscience.
SAUND. My lord, it is no time for me now to paint. And as for pride, there is no great cause why it should be in me; my learning I confess to be but small; and as for riches or worldly wealth I have none at all▪ Notwithstanding, it standeth me in hand to answer your demand circumspectly, considering that one of these two extreme perils are like to fall upon me, the losing of a good conscience, or the losing of this my body and life. And I tell you truth, I love both life and liberty, if I could enjoy them without the hurt of my conscience.
CHAN. Conscience? you have none at all, but pride and arrogancy, dividing yourselves by singularity from the church.
SAND. The Lord is the knower of all men's consciences. And where your lordship layeth to my charge this dividing myself from the church, (as you do mean, and is now among you concluded upon, and I do understand) I do assure you that I live in the faith wherein I have been brought up since I was fourteen years of age; being taught that the power of the bishop of Rome is but usurped, with many other abuses springing thereof. Yes, this I have received even at your hands that are here present, as a thing agreed upon by the catholic church and public authority.
SAUND. The Lord is the knower of all men's consciences. And where your lordship layeth to my charge this dividing myself from the church, (as you do mean, and is now among you concluded upon, and I do understand) I do assure you that I live in the faith wherein I have been brought up since I was fourteen years of age; being taught that the power of the bishop of Rome is but usurped, with many other abuses springing thereof. Yes, this I have received even at your hands that are here present, as a thing agreed upon by the catholic church and public authority.
CHAN. But have you received by consent and authority all your heresies of the blessed sacrament of the altar?
SAND. My lord, it is less offence to cut off an arm, hand, or joint of man, than to cut off the head. For the man may live though he doth lose an arm, hand, or joint; but he cannot without his head. Now you, all the whole sort of you, had agreed to cut off the supremacy of the bishop of Rome, whom now you will have to be the head of the church again.
SAUND. My lord, it is less offence to cut off an arm, hand, or joint of man, than to cut off the head. For the man may live though he doth lose an arm, hand, or joint; but he cannot without his head. Now you, all the whole sort of you, had agreed to cut off the supremacy of the bishop of Rome, whom now you will have to be the head of the church again.
BP. OF LONDON. And if it please your lordship, I have his hand against the blessed sacrament. How say you to that?
SAND. What I have written, that I have written, and farther I will not accuse myself. Nothing have you to burden me withal, for breaking of your laws since they were in force.
SAUND. What I have written, that I have written, and farther I will not accuse myself. Nothing have you to burden me withal, for breaking of your laws since they were in force.
CHAN. Well, you are obstinate, and refuse liberty.
SAND. My lord, I may not buy my liberty at such a price: but I beseech your honours to be means to the queen's majesty for such a pardon for us, that we may live and keep our consciences unclogged, and we shall live as most obedient subjects. Otherwise, I must say for myself, that by God's grace I will abide the utmost extremity that man may do against me, rather than act against my conscience.
SAUND. My lord, I may not buy my liberty at such a price: but I beseech your honours to be means to the queen's majesty for such a pardon for us, that we may live and keep our consciences unclogged, and we shall live as most obedient subjects. Otherwise, I must say for myself, that by God's grace I will abide the utmost extremity that man may do against me, rather than act against my conscience.
CHAN. Ah sirrah, you will live as you like. The Donatists did desire to live in singularity: but indeed they were not fit to live on earth: no more are you, and that you shall understand within these seven days; and therefore away with him.
