N20568:9493
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.
WHAT other thing is it to say, that a priest should not marry, than to say, that a man should not be a man?
THIS I dare be bold to say, that where one is chaste, there ought to be more than an hundred thousand to live married.
TO keep a young man in a cloister to live chaste, is as much as to offer a child to Moloch there to be burnt.
TO keep a young man in a clo•ster to live chaste, is as much as to offer a child to Moloch there to be burnt.
ALL which great errors and pestilent heresies being contagious and damnable, with all the books containing the same, with the translation of scripture corrupted by William Tyndale, as well in the Old Testament as in the New, and all other books in English containing such error, the king's highness present in person, by one whole advice and assent of the prelates and clerks, as well of the universities, as of all o•her assembled together, determined utterly to be repelled, rejected, and put away out of the hands of his people, and not to be suffered to go abroad among his subjects; and his highness willeth further, that his pleasure and determination should be notified by preachers abroad unto the people, as well for putting away of all such books, as reading, retaining, or having hereafter of any other like, delivering unto certain preachers the form of a writing to be published in effect unto the people in their sermons, whereof the form here followeth, willing them in all his realm to publish the same.
ALL which great errors and pestilent heresies being contagious and damnable, with all the books containing the same, with the transla•ion of scripture corrupted by William Tindal, as well in the Old Testament as in the New, and all other books in English containing such error, the king's highness present in person, by one whole advice and assent of the prelates and clerks, as well of the universities, as of all o•her assembled together, determined utterly to be repelled, rejected, and put away out of the hands of his people, and not to be suffered to go abroad among his subjects; and his highness willeth further, that his pleasure and determination should be notified by preachers abroad unto the people, as well for putting away of all such books, as reading, retaining, or having hereafter of any other like, delivering unto certain preachers the form of a writing to be published in effect unto the people in their sermons, whereof the form here followeth, willing them in all his realm to publish the same.
IT is the office and duty of every preacher and teacher of the word of God, not only to show and declare unto his audience that which might be profitable and wholesome for the wealth of their ⟨p. 867⟩souls, to be followed and taken, but also to note and signify unto them such things as may be dangerous and contagious, to the intent they might be avoided and eschewed, and also as near as they can judge who be teachers and authors of the same; this example we have of our Saviour Christ, where he saith. Beware of false prophets, &c. St. Paul likewise many times giveth warning to such as he wrote unto, that they should beware of the false apostles▪ that in his absence went about to corrupt the doctrine that he had taught them being present. Wherefore considering that it hath pleased the king's highness, like a noble and a virtuous prince, tendering not only the present wealth and tranquillity of all his subjects, for his and the worldly benefit and advantage, but most chiefly regarding the wealth of their souls and their due order towards God, thereby to deserve and attain immortal glory, to assemble and call together the chief personages of his prelates, and a great number of learned men of both universities, charging and commanding them for the discharge and exoneration of his conscience, to find, read, examine and discuss, the contents of such books as are now spread abroad within his grace's realm in the English tongue, concerning the points and articles of our faith, and after their learning and conscience to make relation unto his highness, whether the same books be expedient and profitable for his people, to the direction and ordering of their conscience and soul, or else contagious and pestiferous for the same: and whether the opinions contained in them, were agreeable to God's word and doctrine or no, forasmuch as the said congregation and assembly had free liberty and licence granted unto every man to say as his conscience and lea•ning served him, without any reproof or blame to be imputed or arrested for any thing to be spoken there, whose person soever it touched, or any necessity to agree to the greater part, but only to say that his own learning and conscience could maintain and justify;
IT is the office and duty of every peacher and teacher of the word of God, not only to shew and declare unto his audience that which might be profitable and wholesome for the wealth of their ⟨p. 867⟩
after mature deliberation and consultation had, it was there, by a whole consent, no man repugning or gain sa•ing, determined and agreed that the books now being abroad in the English tongue contain false tradition and corrupt doctrine, far different from the true sense of the gospel and catholic understanding of the scripture, only […] pernicious heresies to the destruction of the souls of good christian men, and that the certainty hereof, I can report unto you of mine own knowledge, being one of the said assembly, and hearing and seeing the said opinions read, declared and examined, and by the true sense and meaning of God's learning reproved and rejected: I think therefore my duty is, taking upon me the office of preacher, following the example of our master Christ and St. Paul, as is aforesaid, to warn and admonish you by the words of Christ, as I spake before: Beware of false prophets, &c. and take heed yourself that you be not infected by the contagion and infection of such false apostles, as have in our English tongue set forth books to seduce you from the true knowledge of God's laws, and bring you by their false interpretations of scripture into detestable and abominable heresies, to the destruction of our souls: wherefore you that have the books called, The obedience of a christian man; The sum of scripture; The revelation of Antichrist; The supplication of beggars; The mammon of unrighteousness; The matrimony of Tyndale; The New Testament in English, of the translation which is now printed, and such other books in English, the authors whereof either dare not, or do not put to their names, be pernicious books; detest them, abhor them, keep them not in your hands, deliver them to the superiors such as call for them: and if by reading them heretofore, any thing remaineth in your breasts of that teaching, either forget it, or by information of the truth expel and purge it, to the intent that you being so purified and cleansed of that contagious doctrine and pestiferous traditions, may be fit and apt to receive and retain the true doctrine and understanding of Christ's laws, to the comfort and edification of your souls; thus I move and exhort you in God to do, this is your duty to do.
after mature deliberation and consultation had, it was there, by a whole consent, no man rep•gning or gain sa•ing, determined and agreed that the books now being abroad in the English tongue contain false tradition and corrupt doctrine, far diff•rent from the true sense of the gospel and catholic undestanding of the scripture, only pernicious heresies to the destruction of the souls of good christian men, and that the certainty hereof, I can report unto you of mine own knowledge, being one of the said assembly, and hearing and seeing the said opinions read, declared and examined, and by the true sense and meaning of God's learning reproved and rejected: I think therefore my duty is, taking upon me the office of preacher, following the example of our master Christ and St. Paul, as is aforesaid, to warn and admonish you by the words of Christ, as I spake before: Beware of false prophets, &c. and take heed yourself that you be not infected by the contagion and infection of such false apostles, as have in our English tongue set forth books to seduce you from the true knowledge of God's laws, and bring you by their false interpretations of scripture into detestable and abominable heresies, to the destruction of our souls: wherefore you that have the books called, The obedience of a christian man; The sum of scripture; The revelation of Antichrist; The supplication of beggars; The mammon of unrighteousness; The matrimony of Tindal; The New Testament in English, of the translation which is now printed, and such other books in English, the authors whereof either dare not, or do not put to their names, be pernicious books; detest them, abhor them, keep them not in your hands, deliver them to the superiors such as call for them: and if by reading them heretofore, any thing remaineth in your breasts of that teaching, either forget it, or by information of the truth expel and purge it, to the intent that you being so purified and cleansed of that contagious doctrine and pestiferous traditions, may be fit and apt to receive and retain the true doctrine and understanding of Christ's laws, to the comfort and edification of your souls; thus I move and exhort you in God to do, this is your duty to do.
THE prelates of the church having the cure and charge of your souls ought to compel you, and your prince to punish and correct your not doing of the same, unto whom, as St. Paul saith, the sword is given by God's ordinance for that purpose; you shall also further understand, that the king's highness, forasmuch as it was reported unto him that there is engendered in divers of his subjects, an opinion, that it is his grace•s duty t• ⟨p. 868⟩cause the scripture of God to be translated into the English tongue to be communicated unto the people, and that the prelates, and also his highness, do wrong in hindering of the same, his highness willed therefore every man there present in the said assembly, freely and frankly to show and open unto him what might be proved, and conferred by scripture, and holy doctors in that behalf, to the intent that his highness (as he there openly protested) might conform himself thereunto, minding to do his duty towards his people, as he would they should do their duties towards him: in which matter, after the scripture declared, holy doctors and authors alleged and read, and all things said, which might be on both sides, and for both parties spoken, deduced, and brought forth, finally it appeared, that the having of the whole scripture in English, is not necessary to christian men; but that without having any such scripture, endeavouring themselves to do well, and to apply their minds to take and follow such lessons as the preacher that teacheth them, and so learned by his mouth, may as well edify spiritually in their souls, as if they had the same scriptures in English.
THE prelates of the church having the cure and charge of your souls ought to compel you, and your prince to punish and correct your not doing of the same, unto whom, as St. Paul saith, the sword is given by God's ordinance for that purpose; you shall also further understand, that the king's highness, forasmuch as it was reported unto him that there is engendered in divers of his s•bjects, an opinion, that it is his grace•s duty t• ⟨p. 868⟩cause the scripture of God to be translated into the English tongue to be communicated unto the people, and that the prelates, and also his highness, do wrong in hindering of the same, his highness willed therefore every man there present in the said assembly, freely and frankly to shew and open unto him what might be proved, and conferred by scripture, and holy doctors in that behalf, to the intent that his highness (as he there openly protested) might conform himself thereunto, minding to do his duty towards his people, as he would they should do their duties towards him: in which matter, after the scripture declared, holy doctors and authors alledged and read, and all things said, which might be on both sides, and for both parties spoken, deduced, and brought forth, finally it appeared, that the having of the whole scripture in English, is not necessary to christian men; but that without having any such scripture, endeavouring themselves to do well, and to apply their minds to take and follow such lessons as the preacher that teacheth them, and so learned by his mouth, may as well edify spiritually in their souls, as if they had the same scriptures in English.
And like as the having the scriptures in the vulgar tongue, and in the common people's hands, hath been by both holy fathers heretofore in sometimes thought meet and convenient, so at another time it hath been thought to holy fathers not expedient to be communicated among•• them wherein forasmuch as the king's highness, by the advice and deliberation of his council, and the agreement of the great learned men, thinketh in his conscience, that the divulging of the scripture at this time in the English tongue, to be committed to the people, considering such pestilent books, and such evil opinions, as be now spread amongst them, should rather be to their further confusion and destruction, than the edification of their souls, and that as holy doctors testify, upon such-like considerations, the same hath been done in times past, it was thought there in that assembly to all and singular in that congregation, that the king's highness and the prelates, in s• doing and not suffering the scripture to be divulged a•d communicated in the English tongue un•• the people, at this time doth well. And also I […] and judge the same, exhorting and moving you, that in consideration his highness did there openly say and protest that he would cause the New Testament to be by learned men, faithfully and purely translated into the English tongue, to the intent that he might have it in his hands ready to be given to his people, as he might see their manners and behaviour meet, apt, and convenient to receive the same, that you will so detest those pernicious books, so abhor these heresies and new opinions, so decline from arrogancy of knowledge and understanding of scripture after your fancies, and show yourself in cunning and reasoning, so sober, quiet, meek, and temperate, as all fear of misusing the gift of scripture taken away, you may appear such in your prince's eye•, and eyes of your prelates, as they shall have no just cause to fear any such danger; persuading unto yourself in the mean time, without grudging or murmuring the very truth, which is this, that we cannot require or demand scripture to be divulged in the English tongue, otherwise than upon the discretion of our superiors, so as whensoever they think in their conscience it may do you good▪ they may and do well to give it unto you:
And like as the having the scriptures in the vulgar tongue, and in the common people's hands, hath been by both holy fathers heretofore in sometimes thought meet and convenient, so at another time it hath been thought to holy fathers not expedient to be communicated among them wherein forasmuch as the king's highness, by the advice and deliberation of his council, and the agreement of the great learned men, thinketh in his conscience, that the divulging of the scripture at this time in the English tongue, to be committed to the people, considering such pestilent books, and such evil opinions, as be now spread amongst them, should rather be to their further confusion and destruction, than the edification of their souls, and that as holy doctors testify, upon such-like considerations, the same hath been done in times past, it was thought there in that assembly to all and singular in that congregation, that the king's highness and the prelates, in s doing and not suffering the scripture to be divulged ad communicated in the English tongue un the people, at this time doth well. And also I and judge the same, exhorting and moving you, that in consideration his highness did there openly say and protest that he would cause the New Testament to be by learned men, faithfully and purely translated into the English tongue, to the intent that he might have it in his hands ready to be given to his people, as he might see their manners and behaviour meet, apt, and convenient to receive the same, that you will so detest those pernicious books, so abhor these heresies and new opinions, so decline from arrogancy of knowledge and understanding of scripture after your fancies, and shew yourself in cunning and reasoning, so sober, quiet, meek, and temperate, as all fear of misusing the gift of scripture taken away, you may appear such in your prince's eye, and eyes of your prelates, as they shall have no just cause to fear any such danger; persuading unto yourself in the mean time, without grudging or murmuring the very truth, which is this, that we cannot require or demand scripture to be divulged in the English tongue, otherwise than upon the discretion of our superiors, so as whensoever they think in their conscience it may do you good they may and do well to give it unto you:
and whensoever it shall be seen otherwise unto them, they do amiss in suffering you to have it. Of and upon which decree, order, and determination above recited, his gracious highness being in person in the chapel, called the old chapel, which sometime was called St. Edward's chamber, sat on the east side of the parliament chamber, within his grace's palace at Westminster, upon the 24th day of May, in the year of our Lord God 1530, and in the two and twentieth year of his reign, called before his grace the three notaries hereunder written, and then and there in the presence of all the personages there assembled and gathered together, willed and required the said three notaries to make public and authentic instruments, and us to set thereunto our seal accordingly in and for witness, and perpetual memory and monument of this his grace's desire, order, and determination, and of all and singular the personages then and there being present, to testify the same, and bear record and testimony thereupon: in witness of all and singular the premises, We William, archbishop, primate and legate, aforesaid, have commanded and obtained ⟨p. 869⟩these present letters testimonial, or present public or authentic instrument, containing therein the order, decree, and determination abovesaid, to be made and to be subscribed, and consigned by the hands of the notaries hereafter named, and to be sealed with our own seal. All which premises have been done in manner and form above specified, then and there being present the noble personage of Thomas Moor, knight, great chancellor of England; our reverend brother in Christ, Cuthbert, by the permission of God, bishop of Durham: and worshipful personages, Mr. Stephen Gardiner, secretary; Mr. Richard Samson, dean of the chapel, doctor of law; Mr. Richard Wolman, master of the requests; Mr. John Bell, counsellor, doctors of holy decrees; Mr. Nicholas Wilson, the king's counsellor, Mr. Richard Duck, archdeacon of Wiltshire, doctors of divinity; Mr. John Oliver, Mr. Edmund Steward, doctors of the law, chaplains to our sovereign lord the king's grace; Mr. Richard Mawdley, Mr. William Mortimer, Mr. Edward Crome, Mr. Edward Wiggen, doctors also of divinity; Mr. Robert Carter, Mr. Edward Leighton; Mr.
Hugh Latimer, and Roger Tilson, masters of art in both the universities abovesaid, with many more learned men of both universities, in a great number assembled then and there together, witness to the premises required and exhibited. These being premised, now let us see the answer of bishop Latimer again to this aforesaid proposal or instrument of the bishops, in a letter which the said Latimer wrote to king Henry the same time in that behalf.
HERE followeth a letter of bishop Latimer's, written to king Henry the eighth upon this occasion. You heard before of two proclamations set out by the bishops in the name of king Henry, one in the year 1531, and the other in the year 1546; in which proclamations, being authorized by the king's name, were inhibited all English books, either containing or tending to any matter of scripture. Where also we have expressed a catalogue of some of the errors which the said bishops have falsely picked out, and maliciously imputed to godly writers. Now bishop Latimer growing in some favour with the king, and seeing the great decay of Christ's religion by reason of these two proclamations, and touched therefore with the zeal of conscience, directed unto king Henry this letter here ensuing, thereby intending by all means possible, to persuade the king's mind to set open again the freedom of God's holy word amongst his subjects. The copy of which here followeth.
To the most Mighty Prince, King of England, HENRY the Eighth, Grace, Mercy, and Peace, from God the FATHER, by our Lord JESUS CHRIST.
THE holy doctor St. Augustine, in an epistle which he wrote to Casalanus, saith, That he which for fear of any power hideth the truth, provoketh the wrath of God to come upon him, for he feareth men more than God. And according to the same, the holy man St. John Chrysostom, saith, that he is not only a traitor to the truth, which openly for truth teacheth a lie; but he also which doth not freely pronounce and show the truth that he knoweth. These sentences (most redoubted king) when I read now of late, and marked them earnestly in the inward parts of mine heart, they made me sore afraid, troubled and vexed me grievously in my conscience, and at last drove me to this strait, that either I must show forth such things as I have read and learned in scripture, or else be of that sort that provoke the wrath of God upon them, and be traitors unto the truth: which thing, rather than it should happen, I had rather suffer extreme punishment.
THE holy doctor St. Augustine, in an epistle which he wrote to Casalanus, saith, That he which for fear of any power hideth the truth, provoketh the wrath of God to come upon him, for he feareth men more than God. And according to the same, the holy man St. John Chrysostom, saith, that he is not only a traitor to the truth, which openly for truth teacheth a lie; but he also which doth not freely pronounce and shew the truth that he knoweth. These sentences (most redoubted king) when I read now of late, and marked them earnestly in the inward parts of mine heart, they made me sore afraid, troubled and vexed me grievously in my conscience, and at last drove me to this strait, that either I must shew forth such things as I have read and learned in scripture, or else be of that sort that provoke the wrath of God upon them, and be traitors unto the truth: which thing, rather than it should happen, I had rather suffer extreme punishment.
FOR what other thing is it to be a stranger unto the truth, than to be a traitor and a Judas unto Christ, who is the very truth, and cause of all truth? Who saith, that whosoever denieth him before men, he will deny him before his Father in heaven. Which denying ought more to be feared and dreaded, than the loss of all temporal goods, ⟨p. 870⟩honour, promotion, fame, prison, slander, hurts, banishments, and all manner of torments and cruelties, yea, and death itself, be it ever so painful and shameful. But alas! how little do men regard those sharp sayings of these two holy men! And how little do they fear the terrible judgment of Almighty God! And especially they who boast themselves to be guides and captains unto others, and challenging unto themselves the knowledge of holy scripture, yet will neither show the truth themselves (as they be bound) or suffer them that would. So that unto them it may be said, that which our Saviour Christ said to the pharisees, Matth. xiii. Woe be unto you, scribes and pharisees, who shut up the kingdom of heaven before men, and neither will you enter in yourselves, neither suffer them that would to enter in. And they will, as much as in them lieth, debar not only the word of God, which David calleth, a light to direct and show every man how to order his affections and lusts, according to the commandments of God, but also by their subtle wil•ness they instruct, move, and provoke in a manner, all kings in Christendom, to aid, succour, and help them in this their mischief; and especially in this your realm they have so blinded your liege people and subjects with their laws, customs, ceremonies, and Banbury glosses, and punished them with cursings, excommunications, and other corruptions (corrections I would say) and now at the last, when they see they cannot prevail against the open truth (which the more it is persecuted, the more it increaseth by their tyranny) they have made it treason to your noble grace to have the scripture in English.
FOR what other thing is it to be a stranger unto the truth, than to be a traitor and a Judas unto Christ, who is the very truth, and cause of all truth? Who saith, that whosoever denieth him before men, he will deny him before his Father in heaven. Which denying ought more to be feared and dreaded, than the loss of all temporal goods, ⟨p. 870⟩
