N20568:9171
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.
THEN came at last Dr. West, bishop of Ely, who preached against Mr. Latimer at Barwell-abbey, forbade him within the churches of that university to preach any more. Notwithstanding, so the Lord provided, that Dr. Barnes, prior of the Augustine friars, did license Mr. Latimer to preach in his church of the Augustines, and he himself preached at the next church, called St. Edward's church, which was the first sermon of the gospel that Dr. Barnes preached, being Sunday and Christmas Eve. Whereupon certain articles were gathered out of his sermon, and were commenced against him by Mr. Tyrell, fellow of King's-hall, and so by the vice-chancellor presented to the cardinal.
THEN came at last Dr. West, bishop of Ely, who preached against Mr. Latimer at Barwell-abbey, forbad him within the churches of that university to preach any more. Notwithstanding, so the Lord provided, that Dr. Barnes, prior of the Augustine friars, did license Mr. Latimer to preach in his church of the Augustines, and he himself preached at the next church, called St. Edward's church, which was the first sermon of the gospel that Dr. Barnes preached, being Sunday and Christmas Eve. Whereupon certain articles were gathered out of his sermon, and were commenced against him by Mr. Tyrell, fellow of King's-hall, and so by the vice-chancellor presented to the cardinal.
THUS Mr. Latimer (as you have heard) being baited by the friars, doctors, and masters of that university, about the year aforesaid, 1529, notwithstanding the malice of these malignant adversaries, continued yet in Cambridge preaching for the space of three years together, with favour and applause of the godly, also with such admiration of his enemies that heard him, that the bishop himself coming in, and hearing his gift, wished himself to have the like, and was compelled to commend him upon the same.
SO Mr. Latimer and Mr. Bilney, after this, continued in Cambridge for some time, where they so frequently conferred together, that the field wherein they usually walked, was for a long time after called, The heretics' hill.
THE society of these two, as it was much noted by many in that university, so it was full of many good examples, to all such as would follow them, both in visiting the prisoners, relieving the needy, and in feeding the hungry. Mr. Latimer maketh mention of a certain history which happened about this time in Cambridge, between them both and a certain woman then prisoner in the castle or tower of Cambridge, which I thought here worthy to be mentioned. The story is this: It so happened, that after Mr. Latimer had been so acquainted with the aforesaid Mr. Bilney, he went with him to visit the prisoners in the tower of Cambridge, and being there, among other prisoners, there was a woman who was accused that she had killed her own child, which act she plainly and steadfastly denied. Whereby it gave them an occasion to search ⟨p. 825⟩for the matter, and at length they found that her husband loved her not, and therefore sought all means he could to make her away. The matter was thus:
THE society of these two, as it was much noted by many in that university, so it was full of many good examples, to all such as would follow them, both in visiting the prisoners, relieving the needy, and in feeding the hungry. Mr. Latimer maketh mention of a certain history which happened about this time in Cambridge, between them both and a certain woman then prisoner in the castle or tower of Cambridge, which I thought here worthy to be mentioned. The story is this: It so happened, that after Mr. Latimer had been so acquainted with the aforesaid Mr. Bilney, he went with him to visit the prisoners in the tower of Cambridge, and being there, among other prisoners, there was a woman who was accused that she had killed her own child, which act she plainly and stedfastly denied. Whereby it gave them an occasion to search ⟨p. 825⟩for the matter, and at length they found that her husband loved her not, and therefore sought all means he could to make her away. The matter was thus:
A child of her's had been sick a whole year, and at length died in harvest time, as it were in a consumption: which when it was gone, she went to have her neighbours to help her at the burial, but all were abroad in the harvest, whereby she was enforced with heaviness of heart, alone to prepare the child for the burial. Her husband coming home, and not loving her, accused her of murdering the child. This was the cause of her trouble; and Mr. Latimer, by earnest inquisition, of conscience thought the woman not guilty. Then immediately after he was called to preach before king Henry the eighth at Windsor, where after his sermon the king's majesty sent for him, and talked familiarly with him. At which time Mr. Latimer, finding an opportunity, kneeled down, opened the whole matter to the king, and desired her pardon, which the king most graciously granted, and gave it to him at his return homeward. In the mean time the woman was delivered of a child in the prison, whose godfather was Mr. Latimer, and Mrs. Cheek godmother. But all the while he would not tell her of the pardon, but laboured to have her confess the truth of the matter. At length the time came when she expected to suffer, and Mr. Latimer came, as he was wont, to instruct her; unto whom she made great lamentation and moan, to be purified before her suffering, for she thought she must be damned if she died without purification.
THEN Mr. Bilney being with Mr. Latimer, both told her, that that law was made for the Jews, and not for us, and that women be as well in the favour of God before they be purified as after; and rather it was appointed for a civil and political law, for natural honesty's sake, than that they should any thing the more be purified from sin thereby, &c. So thus they argued with this woman till they had better instructed her, and at length showed her the king's pardon, and let her go.
THEN Mr. Bilney being with Mr. Latimer, both told her, that that law was made for the Jews, and not for us, and that women be as well in the favour of God before they be purified as after; and rather it was appointed for a civil and political law, for natural honesty's sake, than that they should any thing the more be purified from sin thereby, &c. So thus they argued with this woman till they had better instructed her, and at length shewed her the king's pardon, and let her go.
THIS good act, among many others about that time, happened in Cambridge by Mr. Latimer and Mr. Bilney. But this was not all, for many more like matters were wrought by them. But as it is commonly seen in the natural course of things, that as the fire beginneth to kindle, so the more smoke ariseth withal, in much like sort it happened with Mr. Latimer, whose zeal the more it began to work, his virtues to be seen, and his doings to be known, the more his adversaries began to kick and spurn against him. Concerning these adversaries, and such as did molest him, partly their names are above expressed. Among the rest of this number was Dr. Redman, a man favouring more of superstition than of true religion, after the zeal of the Pharisees, yet not so malignant or hurtful, but of a civil and quiet disposition, and also liberal in well-doing, that few poor scholars were in that university who fared not better by his purse. This Dr. Redman was a man of great authority in the university of Cambridge, and perceiving the bold enterprise of Mr. Latimer, in setting abroad the word and doctrine of the gospel, at this time, or much about the same, writeth to him, seeking by persuasion to revoke the said Latimer from that kind and manner of teaching; to whom Mr. Latimer maketh answer again in a few words: the sum and effect of both their letters, translated out of the Latin, here followeth.
THIS good act, among many others about that time, happened in Cambridge by Mr. Latimer and Mr. Bilney. But this was not all, for many more like matters were wrought by them. But as it is commonly seen in the natural course of things, that as the fire beginneth to kindle, so the more smoke ariseth withal, in much like sort it happened with Mr. Latimer, whose zeal the more it began to work, his virtues to be seen, and his doings to be known, the more his adversaries began to kick and spurn against him. Concerning these adversaries, and such as did molest him, partly their names are above expressed. Among the rest of this number was Dr. Redman, a man favouring more of superstition than of true religion, after the zeal of the Pharisees, yet not so malignant or hurtful, but of a civil and quiet disposition, and also liberal in well-doing, that few poor scholars were in that university who fared not better by his purse. This Dr. Redman was a man of great authority in the university of Cambridge, and perceiving the bold enterprize of Mr. Latimer, in setting abroad the word and doctrine of the gospel, at this time, or much about the same, writeth to him, seeking by persuasion to revoke the said Latimer from that kind and manner of teaching; to whom Mr. Latimer maketh answer again in a few words: the sum and effect of both their letters, translated out of the Latin, here followeth.
GRACE be with you, and true peace in Christ Jesus. I beseech you heartily, and require most earnestly even for charity's sake, that you will not stand in your own conceit with a mind so indurate, nor prefer your own singular judgment in matters of religion and controversy before so many learned men, and which is more, before the whole catholic church, especially considering that you neither have any thing in the word of God to make for you, nor yet the testimony of any authentic writer. Nay, nay, I beseech you rather consider that you are a man, and that lying and vanity may quickly blear your eyes, which doth sometime• transform itself into an angel of light.
JUDGE not so rashly of us, as that wicked spirit hath tickled you in the ear, I assure you we are careful for you, and that we wish you to be saved, and that we also are careful for your own ⟨p. 826⟩salvation. Lay down your stomach I pray you▪ and humble your spirit, and suffer not the church to take offence with the hardness of your heart, nor that her unity and Christ's coat without seam (as much as lieth in you) should be torn asunder. Consider what the saying of the wise man is, and be obedient thereunto. Trust not your own wisdom. The Lord Jesus Christ, &c.
REDMAN.
REVEREND Mr. Redman, it is even enough for me, that Christ's sheep hear no man's voice but Christ's: and as for you, you have no voice of Christ against me, whereas for my part I have a heart that is ready to hearken to any voice of Christ that you can bring me. Thus fare you well, and trouble me no more from the talking with the Lord my God. LATIMER.
AFTER Mr. Latimer had thus laboured in preaching and teaching in the university of Cambridge about the space of three years, at length he was called up to the cardinal for heresy, by the procurement of some of the said university, where he was content to subscribe and grant to such articles as then they propounded to him, &c.
AFTER that he returned to the university again, where shortly after, by the means of Dr. Buts, the king's physician, a singular good man, and a special favourer of good proceedings, he was in the number of them which laboured in the cause of the king's supremacy. Then went he to the court, where he remained a certain time in the said Dr. But's chamber, preaching then in London very often. At last being weary of the court, having a benefice offered b• the king, at the suit of the lord Cromwell and Dr. Buts, was glad thereof, seeking by that means to be rid of the court, wherewith in no case he could agree; and so having a grant of the benefice, contrary to the mind of Dr. Buts, he would needs depart, and be resident at the same.
AFTER that he returned to the university again, where shortly after, by the means of Dr. Buts, the king's physician, a singular good man, and a special favourer of good proceedings, he was in the number of them which laboured in the cause of the king's supremacy. Then went he to the court, where he remained a certain time in the said Dr. But's chamber, preaching then in London very often. At last being weary of the court, having a benefice offered b• the king, at the suit of the lord Cromwel and Dr. Buts, was glad thereof, seeking by that means to be rid of the court, wherewith in no case he could agree; and so having a grant of the benefice, contrary to the mind of Dr. Buts, he would needs depart, and be resident at the same.
THIS benefice was in Wiltshire, under the diocese of Sarum, the name of which town was called West Kingston, where this good preacher did exercise himself with much diligence of teaching to instruct his flock, and not only to them his diligence extended, but also to all the country about. In fine, his diligence was so great, his preaching so powerful, the manner of his teaching so zealous, that there in like sort he could not escape without enemies. So true it is what St. Paul foretelleth us, Whosoever will live godly in Christ, shall suffer persecution. It so happened, that whereas he preaching upon the blessed virgin Christ's mother, (whom we call our lady) had thereupon declared his mind, referring and reducing all honour only to Christ our only Saviour, certain popish priests being therewith offended, sought and wrought much trouble against him, drawing out articles and impositions which they untruly, unjustly, falsely, and uncharitably imputed unto him: First, that he should preach against our lady, for that he reproved in a sermon the superstitious rudeness of certain blind priests, which so held together upon the blessed virgin, as though she never had any sin, nor were saved by Christ the only Saviour of the whole world.
