MarginaliaAn. 1555. February.vow is not an impediment sufficient to let Matrimony, or to diuorce the same.

MarginaliaChrysostome. It is heresie to deny Priestes mariage.They know that S. Chrysostome sayth: it is heresie to affirme that a Byshop may not haue a wife.

MarginaliaAmbros. 3. Qu. 1. Integritas.They know that S. Ambrose will haue no cōmaundement but counsalie onely to be geuen, touchyng the obseruyng of virginitie.

They know that Christ with his blessed mother and þ^e Apostles were at a Mariage, and beautified, and honoured the same with his presence, and first miracle.

To be short: they know that all that I haue here written touchyng the Mariage of Priestes is true, and they know that the Papistes them selues do not obserue touchyng that matter, their owne Lawes and Canons: and yet they continue marked in conscience with an hote yrō, as detestable heretickes in this behalfe. The Lord geue them grace to repent, if it be his good will, Amen.

MarginaliaThe 2. cause of D. Taylours condemnation.My second cause why I was condemned as an hereticke is, that I denied the MarginaliaTransubstātiation & Concomitation, two iuggling wordes of the Papistes.Transubstantiation and Concomitation, two iugglyng wordes of the Papistes, by the which they doe beleue and will compell all other to beleue that Christes naturall body is made of bread, and the Godhead by & by to be ioyned therunto: so that immediatly after the wordes (called the wordes of consecration) there is no more bread and wyne in the Sacrament, but the substaunce onely of the body and bloud of Christ together with his Godhead: so that the same beyng now Christ, both God and man, ought to be worshipped with godly honour, & to be offred to God, both for the quicke and the dead, as a sacrifice propitiatory and satisfactory for the same. This matter was not long debated in wordes: but because I denyed the foresayd Papisticall doctrine, (yea rather plaine most wicked Idolatry, blasphemy and heresie) I was iudged an hereticke.

MarginaliaThe 3. Article against Doct. Taylour.I did also affirme the Pope to be Antichrist, and Popery Antichristianity.

MarginaliaThe 4. Article agaynst Doct. Taylour.And I confessed the doctrine of the Bible to be a sufficient doctrine, touchyng all and singular matters of Christian Religion, and of saluation.

MarginaliaThe 5. Article agaynst Doct. Taylour.I also alledged that the oth agaynst the Supremacy of the Byshop of Rome, was a lawfull oth, and so was the oth made by vs all, touchyng þ^e Kynges or Queenes preeminence. For Chrysostomus sayth: That Apostles, Euangelistes, and MarginaliaAll men must obey kinges.all men in euery Realme were euer, and ought to be euer, touchyng both body and goodes, in subiection to the Kyngly authoritie, who hath the sword in his hand, as Gods principal officer and gouernour in euery Realme. I desired the Byshops to repent for bringyng the Realme from Christ to Antichrist, from light to darkenes, from verity to vanitie.

Thus you know the summe of my last examination, and condēnation. Pray for me, and I will pray for you.

God be praysed: since my condempnation, MarginaliaDoct. Taylour neuer afrayd of death.I was neuer afrayd to dye: Gods will bee done. If I shrincke frō Gods truth, I am sure of an other maner of death then had Iudge Hales. But God be praysed, euen from the bottome of my hart, I am vnmoueably setled vppon the Rocke, nothyng doubtyng, but that my deare God will perfourme and finish the worke that he hath begon in me, and other. To hym be all honor both now and euer through Christ our onely and whole Sauiour, Amen.

And thus much wrote Doct. Taylour concernyng this matter, to his frend.

You heard in the former aunsweres a litle before, certayne allegations touched of Doct. Taylour out of S. Cyprian, August, Chrysostome, and Ambrose, touchyng þ^e lawfulnes of Priestes Mariage. Now ye shall heare the places of the sayd Doctours cited and produced out of their owne bookes, as here ensueth.

¶ The places of the Doctours alledged before in Doctour Taylours Letter.  

Commentary     Close

The quotations from patristic authorities, cited by Taylor in his letter defending clerical marriage, are by Foxe, not Taylor.

MarginaliaCyprian. Lib. 1. Epist. 11.THis question was asked of S. Cyprian, what should be done with those religious persons, that could not keepe theyr chastitie as they had vowed. He aunswereth thus: MarginaliaA Deacon, or Virgin, or any other that hath dedicate him self to virginitie, if he cā not liue chaste, by S. Cyprians iudgement ought to mary.Thou doest aske what we doe iudge of Virgins, which after they had decreed to lyue chastely, are afterward found in one bed with a man. Of the which thou sayest that one of them was a Deacon. We doe with great sorowe see the great ruine of many persons: which commeth by the reason of such vnlawfull and perillous companying together. Wherfore, if they haue dedicate them selues vnto Christ in

fayth, to lyue purely and chastly, then let them so remayne without any fable, and strongly, and stedfastly abyde the reward of virginitie. But and if they will not abyde, or els can not abyde: then is it better to mary, then for to fall into the fire of cōcupiscence: And let them geue to the brethrē and sisterne none occasiō of sclaunder. &c.

MarginaliaAugust. De bono coniungali ad Iulianum.CErtaine men do affirme, those men to be aduouterers, that do mary, after that they haue vowed chastity. But I do affirme that those men do greuously sinne, the which doe seperate them. &c.

CHastitie of the body ought to bee desired of vs: the which thyng I do geue for a counsell and do not commaunde it imperiously.MarginaliaThe Pope and his bishops commaundeth, & counselleth not to mary, yea and burne men for marying. For Virginitie is a thyng that alonely ought to be counselled, but not to be commaūded: it is rather a thing of voluntary will and not a precept.

¶ A briefe recapitulatiō out of D. Taylours causes afore touched for the Reader, more euidently to see how the Papistes doe against their own knowledge, in forbydding Priestes mariage.  

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This summary of Taylor's arguments is by Foxe, not Taylor.

THe Popes clergy forbidding ecclesiasticall persons to mary, do agaynst their conscience and knowledge, as may very well be proued by these causes here vnder folowing.

Marginalia1.1. First they know that matrimony in the old testament, de iure institutionis, is indifferently permitted to all men without any exception.

Marginalia2.2. Secondly they know, that in the old testament, de facto, both Priests, Leuites, Prophetes, Patriarches, and all other had their wiues.

Marginalia3.3. Thirdly, they know that matrimony was permitted & instituted of God for ij. principall endes: to witte, for procreation, and auoyding of sinne.

Marginalia4.4. Fourthly, they know, that in the old testament God, not only instituted and permitted matrimony to be free, but also induceth and apointeth men to mary and take wyues, in these words: It is not good for a man to be alone. &c.

Marginalia5.5. Fiftly, they know, that in the new testament S. Paul permitteth the state of matrimony free to all men, hauyng not the gift of continencie, and forbiddeth none.

Marginalia6.6. Sixtly, they know that in the new testament the saide S. Paule not onely permitteth, but also expreßely willeth and chargeth men hauing not the gift, to mary, saying: for auoiding fornication let euery mā haue his wife. &c.

Marginalia7.7. Seuenthly, they know that in the new testament the said S. Paul, not onely permitteth and commaundeth, but also commendeth and prayseth the state of matrimony, Heb. 13. calling it honorable: and the bedcompany to be vndefiled. &c.

Marginalia8.8. Eightly, they know, that in the new testament Christ hym selfe, not onely was not conceaued nor borne of the virgine before she was espoused in matrimony, but also that both he and his blessed mother did beutify and honour the state of matrimony with their presence: yea in the same begā hys first miracle.

Marginalia9.9. Ninthly, they know, both by the old testament and new, that mariage is no impediment to walke in the obedience of Gods commaundement, for both Abraham caryed into the land of Chanaan hys old, yea and barraine wife, the vertuous womā Sara with him: & also to Isaac, Iacob, Moses, Dauid, and other, their mariage was no impediment to them to talke with God: neither to other Leuites, Bishops, and Pristes in the tyme both of the old testament and of the new. Agayn, neither was it a let to Peter, Philip, and other, both to haue their wyues wyth them, and also to supply the office of Apostleship.

Marginalia10.10. Tenthly, they know both by the old testamēt and new, that sinfull fornication & adultery depriueth mā of Gods fauour and graces of the holy ghost, which graces especially be requisite in men of the Church.

Marginalia11.11. Eleuenthly, they know in their own secret conscience, and by experience, that neither they which enioyne this vow of chastity, nor they which take it, do obserue the vow of cha-