MarginaliaA new Aue Maria of the Popes making.Aue Maria, grauntyng great indulgence and release of sinnes to all such as would inuocate the blessed Virgin, with the same addition, saying thus: Aue Maria gratia plena, Dominus tecum, benedicta tu in mulieribus, & benedictus fructus ventris tui Iesus Christus, & benedicta sit Anna Mater tua, de qua sine macula, tua processit caro virginea, Amen. MarginaliaThe Pope addeth to the words of the scripture.That is, Hayl Mary full of grace, The Lord is with thee, blessed art thou among wemē, and blessed is the frute of thy wombe, Iesus Christ: and blessed is Anna thy mother, of whom thy virgines flesh hath proceded without blotte of originall sinne. Amen.
[Back to Top]Marginalia3. absurdities to be noted in this decree of the pope.¶ Wherin thou mayst note (gētle reader) for thy learnyng iij. things: First, how the Pope turneth that vnproperly into a prayer, whiche properly was sent of God for a message or tydynges. Secondly, how the Pope addeth to the woordes of the Scripture, contrary to the expresse precepte of the Lorde. Thirdlye, howe the Pope exempteth Mary the blessed virgine, not onely from the seede of Abraham and Adam, but also frō the condition of a mortall creature. For if there be in her no originall sinne, thē she beareth not the Image of Adam, neither doth she descēde of that seede, of whose seede euill procedeth vpon all men & wemen to condemnation, as S. Paul doth teache MarginaliaRom. 5.Rom. 5. Wherfore if she descende of that seede, then the infection of Originall euill must necessarely procede vnto her. If she descend not therof, then cōmeth she not of þe seede of Abraham, nor of the seede of Dauid. &c. Agayne, seyng that death is the effect and stipende of sinne, by the doctrine of S. Paule MarginaliaRom. 6.Rom. 6. then had her flesh iniurie by the lawe (as Christe him selfe had) to suffer the malediction and punishment of deathe, and so shoulde neuer haue dyed, if originall sinne had no place in her. &c. But to returne vnto our storye: This constitution of the Pope beyng set forth for þe Conception of the blessed Virgine, whiche was the yeare of our Lord. 1476. it was not lōg after, but the sayd pope Sixtus perceauyng that þe Dominicke friers with their complices, would not cōforme them selues hereunto, directed forthe by the authoritie Apostolical, a Bull, in effect as foloweth.
[Back to Top]MarginaliaThe tenor of the popes bull for the conception of the virgine to be without originall sinne.
Sixtus IV's bull comes from Jodocus Clichtoveus, De puritateconceptionis beatae Mariae virginis (Paris, 1513), fo. 24r-v. As Foxe indicates, he is printing a paraphrase of the bull. It is also a somewhat misleading paraphrase; in actual fact, Sixtus IV mandated excommunication for anyone who denounced eitherthe maculist or immaculist positions as heretical.
These propositions were gleaned from a list of admittedly debatablepropositions about the Immaculate Conception which Jodocus Clichtoveus sought todefend (De puritate conceptionis beatae Mariae virginis [Paris, 1513], fos. 27v-35v).These propositions do not represent points of consensus among even immaculist theologians, much less, as Foxe states, required articles of faith for Catholics.
[Back to Top]Marginalia1.
Ex Iod. Clieoueo de puritate conceptionis. lib. 2.1 That blessed Mary the Virgine suffered the greeffes and aduersities of this life, not for anye necessitie inflicted for punishment of Originall sinne: but onely because she would conforme her selfe to the imitation of Christ.
Marginalia2.
Filthy absurdities in the popes doctrine2 That the sayd Virgine, as she was not obliged to any punishement due for sinne, as neither was Christ her sonne: so she had no nede of remission of sinnes, but in stede thereof had the diuine preseruation of Gods helpe, keping her from all sinne: whiche grace onely she neded, and also had it.
Marginalia3.3 Item, That where the body of the Virgin Mary was subiect to death, and dyed: this is to be vnderstād to come not for any penaltie due for sinne, but either for imitatiō and conformitie vnto Christ, or els for the naturall constitution of her body, beyng elemental, as were the bodyes of our first parentes: Who if they had not tasted of þe forbidden frute, should haue bene preserued from death, not by nature, but by grace, and strength of other fruites and meates in Paradise. MarginaliaHow the virgine Marye was subiect to death after the Friers opinions.Whiche meates because Mary had not, but did eate our common meates, therfore she dyed, & not for any necessity of Original sinne. Clitouæus. lib. 2. cap. 2.
[Back to Top]Marginalia4.4 The vniuersall proposition of S. Paul whiche sayth that the Scripture hath concluded all men vnder sinne, is to be vnderstand thus, as speakyng of all them whiche be not exempted by the special priuilege of God, as is the blessed Virgine Mary.
Marginalia5.5 If iustification be taken for reconciliation of him that was vnrightuous before, & now is made rightuous: then the blessed Virgine is to bee taken, not for iustified by Christ, but iust from her begynnyng by preseruation.
Marginalia6.6 If a Sauiour be taken for hym, whiche saueth men fallen into perdition and condemnation, so is not Christ Sauiour of Marye, but is her Sauiour onely in this respect, for susteinyng her from not fallyng into condemnation. &c.
Marginalia7.7 Neither did the Virgin Mary geue thankes to God, nor ought so to do, for expiation of her sinnes: but for her conseruation from case of sinnyng.
Marginalia8.
Good stuffe.8 Neither did she pray to God at any tyme for remissiō of her sinnes: but onely for remission of other mē sinnes she prayed many tymes, and coūted their sinnes for hers.
Marginalia9.9 If the blessed Virgine had deceased before the Passion of her sonne, God would haue reposed her soule not in the place among the patriarckes or among the iust: but in þe same most pleasant place of Paradise, where Adam and Eue was, before they transgressed.
These were the doting dreames and phantasies of the Franciscans & other Papistes, commonly then holden in þe scholes, writen in their bookes, preached in their sermōs, taught in churches, Marginalia* The gray friers had made a picture of Ioachim and Anna kissing, by the which kisse Anna was conceiued with Mary.
Ex Rob. Lycio Minorite.* & set forth in pictures. So that þe people was taught nothing els almost in the pulpites at this while, but how the Virgin Mary was conceaued immaculate and holy without originall sinne, and how they ought to call to her for helpe, whom they with speciall termes do call the way of mercie: the mother of grace: the louer of pietie: the conforter of mankinde: the continuall intercessor for the saluation of the faithfull: and an aduocate to the king her sonne, whiche neuer ceaseth. &c.
Jodocus Clichtoveus, De puritate conceptionis beatae virginis (Paris, 1513), fo. 23v.
Jodocus Clichtoveus, De puritate conceptionis beatae virginis (Paris, 1513), fo. 51r.
MarginaliaObiections popishly soluted.Bernardus
Jodocus Clichtoveus, De puritate conceptionis beatae virginis (Paris, 1513), fos. 47v-49v.