N20568:5589
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.
MARCH 28th, the queen summoned into her presence four of her privy council, namely, William, lord marquis of Winchester, high-treasurer ⟨p. 534⟩of England; sir Robert Rochester, knight, the queen's comptroller; sir William Peter, knight, secretary; and sir Francis Inglefield, knight, master of the wards: to whom she thus spoke:
"YOU are here of our council, and we have ordered you to be called unto us, to the intent you might hear of me my conscience, and the resolution of my mind▪ concerning the lands and possessions, as well of monasteries as of other churches whatsoever, being now presently in my possession.
"FIRST, I do consider, that the said lands were taken away from the churches aforesaid in the time of schism, and that by unlawful means, such as are contrary both to the law of God and of the church: for which cause my conscience doth not suffer me to detain them; and therefore I here expressly refuse either to claim or to retain the same lands for mine, but with all my heart freely and willingly, without any covenant or condition, here and before God I do surrender and relinquish the said lands and possessions, or inheritances whatsoever, and do renounce the same with this mind and purpose, that order and disposition thereof may be taken, as shall seem best to our most holy lord the pope, or else his legate the lord cardinal, to the honour of God, and the wealth of this our realm.
"YOU may object to me, that considering the state of my kingdom, and the dignity thereof, my crown imperial cannot be honourably maintained and furnished without the possessions aforesaid; yet notwithstanding I set more by the salvation of my soul, than by ten kingdoms; and therefore the said possessions I utterly refuse here to hold after that sort and title, and give most hearty thanks to Almighty God, who hath given me an husband likewise minded, with no less good affection in this behalf, than myself.
"YOU may object to me, that considering the state of my kingdom, and the dignity thereof, my crown imperial cannot be honourably maintained and furnished without the possessions aforesaid; yet notwithstanding I set more by the salvation of my soul, than by ten kingdoms; and therefore the said possessions I utterly refuse here to hold after that sort and title, and give most hearty thanks to Almight God, who hath given me an husband likewise minded, with no less good affection in this behalf, than myself.
"WHEREFORE I charge and command, that my chancellor (with whom I have conferred my mind in this matter before) and you four, do resort together to-morrow to the most reverend lord legate, and signify to him the premises in my name, and give your attendance upon him for the more full declaration of the state of my kingdom, and of the aforesaid possessions accordingly, as you yourselves do understand the matter, and can inform him in the same."
WE must here observe, that in the preceding month, February 19th, the bishop of Ely, with lord Montague, and 140 horse, were sent as ambassadors from the king and queen to Rome. For what cause, is not expressed; but by conjecture, it may be well supposed to be for the same cause of abbey-lands, as by the sequel thereof may probably appear. For it was not long after, the pope did set forth in print a bull of excommunication for all manner of such persons, without exception, as kept any of the church or abbey-lands; by virtue of which bull, the pope excommunicated as well such as had any of the abbey lands, as also all such princes, bishops, and noblemen, justices of peace, and others in office, who had not, or did not forthwith put the same bull in execution. This execution (God be thanked) was never put in practice. For neither the bishop of Winchester, nor any of the pope's clergy, would greatly stir in that matter, perceiving the nobility to be too strong for them; and therefore were contented to stay for a more convenient opportunity; and that those who held lands should not, at the first coming out of the bull, be exasperated too much against them, they subtly abused the pulpits, and dissembled with the people, affirming that the said pope's late bull, set forth in print for restitution of abbey-lands, was not meant for England, but for other foreign countries: when in truth the meaning of that bull was only for England, and no country else, as both by the intimation of queen Mary, and by many other conjectures, evidently appear. Whereby it is easy to understand what the purpose: of those men was to do, if time, which they observed, might have served their devotion. But to let this matter pass of the pope's bull, the time now serveth to treat of pope Julius's death, forasmuch as he made his exit about the latter end of March.
WE must here observe, that in the preceding month, February 19th, the bishop of Ely, with lord Montague, and 140 horse, were sent as ambassadors from the king and queen to Rome. For what cause, is not expressed; but by conjecture, it may be well supposed to be for the same cause of abbey-lands, as by the sequel thereof may probably appear. For it was not long after, the pope did set forth in print a bull of excommunication for all manner of such persons, without exception, as kept any of the church or abbey-lands; by virtue of which bull, the pope excommunicated as well such as had any of the abbey lands, as also all such princes, bishops, and noblemen, justices of peace, and others in office, who had not, or did not forthwith put the same bull in execution. This execution (God be thanked) was never put in practice. For neither the bishop of Winchester, nor any of the pope's clergy, would greatly stir in that matter, perceiving the nobility to be too strong for them; and therefore were contented to stay for a more convenient opportunity; and that those who held lands should not, at the first coming out of the bull, be asperated too much against them, they subtilly abused the pulpits, and dissembled with the people, affirming that the said pope's late bull, set forth in print for restitution of abbey-lands, was not meant for England, but for other foreign countries: when in truth the meaning of that bull was only for England, and no country else, as both by the intimation of queen Mary, and by many other conjectures, evidently appear. Whereby it is easy to understand what the purpose: of those men was to do, if time, which they observed, might have served their devotion. But to let this matter pass of the pope's bull, the time now serveth to treat of pope Julius's death, forasmuch as he made his exit about the latter end of March.
UNDER this Julius, flourished the archbishop of Beneventanus, a Florentine, named Johannes a Casu, dean of the pope's chamber, and chief legate to the Venetians; who well declaring the fruit of that filthy see, so far forgot both honesty and nature, that he was not ashamed to play the filthy sodomite himself, and to boast openly of the same; but also took upon him most impudently in Italian metre, to all men's ears, to set forth the praise and commendation of ⟨p. 535⟩that beastly iniquity, saying, That he himself never used other; and this book was printed at Venice by one Trojanus Navus; and yet the pope could suffer this so great iniquity and shameful beastliness, even under his nose in his own chamber, who could not abide the true doctrine of Christ in christian books.
AMONGST other pranks and deeds of this […], in his jubilee, and in the synod of Trent, and in confirming of the idol of Lauretane, this is also reported of him in his life, that he delighted greatly in pork-flesh and peacocks. Upon a time when he was admonished by his physician to abstain from all swines-flesh, for that it was hurtful to the gout, and yet would not follow his counsel; the physician afterwards gave warning to his steward, that he should set no more pork-flesh before him. Whereupon when the pope perceived the said pork-flesh to be lacking in his accustomed service: Where, said he, is my pork? And when his steward had answered that his physician had forbidden any pork to be served▪ the pope burst out into a great rage, and said these words, Bring me, said he, my pork-flesh, in the despite of God.
AMONGST other pranks and deeds of this 〈…〉, in his jubilee, and in the synod of Trent, and in confirming of the idol of Lauretane, this is also reported of him in his life, that he delighted greatly in pork-flesh and peacocks. Upon a time when he was admonished by his physician to abstain from all swines-flesh, for that it was hurtful to the gout, and yet would not follow his counsel; the physician afterwards gave warning to his steward, that he should set no more pork-flesh before him. Whereupon when the pope perceived the said pork-flesh to be lacking in his accustomed service: Where, said he, is my pork? And when his steward had answered that his physician had forbidden any pork to be served▪ the pope burst out into a great rage, and said these words, Bring me, said he, my pork-flesh, in the despight of God.
AT another time, at dinner, pointing to a peacock upon his table, which he had not touched; Keep, said he, this cold peacock for me against supper, and let me sup in the garden: for I shall have guests. So when supper came, and amongst other hot peacocks, he saw not his cold peacock brought to his table: the pope, after his wonted manner, most horribly blaspheming God, fell into an extreme rage. Whereupon one of his cardinals, sitting by, desired him, saying, Let not your holiness, I pray you, be moved with a matter of so small weight. Then pope Julius answering again, What, said he, if God was so angry for an apple, that he cast our first parents out of paradise for the same, why may not I, being his vicar, be angry then for a peacock, since a peacock is a greater matter than an apple? Behold here, good reader, by this pope, the holiness of that blasphemous see, and yet what affection was borne to the same in England, by the dirges, (a service for the dead used by the papists) hearses, and funerals, commanded to be had and celebrated in all churches by the queen and her council, as will appear by the following letters and orders.
AT another time, at dinner, pointing to a peacock upon his table, which he had not touched; Keep, said he, this cold peacock for me against supper, and let me sup in the garden: for I shall have guests. So when supper came, and amongst other hot peacocks, he saw not his cold peacock brought to his table: the pope, after his wouted manner, most horribly blaspheming God, fell into an extreme rage. Whereupon one of his cardinals, sitting by, desired him, saying, Let not your holiness, I pray you, be moved with a matter of so small weight. Then pope Julius answering again, What, said he, if God was so angry for an apple, that he cast our first parents out of paradise for the same, why may not I, being his vicar, be angry then for a peacock, since a peacock is a greater matter than an apple? Behold here, good reader, by this pope, the holiness of that blasphemous see, and yet what affection was borne to the same in England, by the dirges, (a service for the dead used by the papists) •earses, and funerals, commanded to be had and celebrated in all churches by the queen and her council, as will appear by the following letters and orders.
AFTER my hearty commendations to your lordship, the king and queen's majesty having certain knowledge of the death of the pope's holiness, thought good there should be as well solemn obsequies said for him throughout the realm, as also these prayers (which I send you here enclosed) used at mass-time in all places at this time of vacation; and therefore ordered me to signify their pleasures unto you in this behalf, that thereupon you might proceed to the full accomplishment thereof, by putting the same in due execution within your own diocese, and sending word to the rest of the bishops, to do the like in their's.
AFTER my hearty commendations to your lordship, the king and queen's majesty having certain knowledge of the death of the pope's holiness, thought good there should be as well solemn obsequies said for him throughout the realm, as also these prayers (which I send you here inclosed) used at mass-time in all places at this time of vacation; and therefore ordered me to signify their pleasures unto you in this behalf, that thereupon you might proceed to the full accomplishment thereof, by putting the same in due execution within your own dioc•se, and sending word to the rest of the bishops, to do the like in their's.
THUS doubting not but that your lordship will use such diligence in this matter at this time, as shall be necessary, I bid your lordship heartily well to fare. From my house at Asher, the 10th of April, 1555.
Your assured friend and brother, STEPHANUS WINTON, Chancel.
