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1241 [1240]

K. Hen. 8. Heresies falsely gathered by the Papistes.

MarginaliaThe vntrue dealing of the papistes, in gatheryng heresies where none is. For so much as it is and hath alwayes been the cōmon guise and practise of the Popes church to extinct, condemne, and abolishe all good bookes and holesome treatises of learned men, vnder a false pretence of errors and heresies, wherof examples abundantly may appeare in this history aboue pag. 507. 509. 573. 629. 859. 991. 991. 1109. 1163. &c. Now for the better tryall hereof, to see and try the impudēt and shameles vanity of these Catholick Clergymen, in mistaking, falsifiyng, deprauing, blasphemyng & sclaudering, where they haue no cause, agaynst all right and honest dealing, yea agaynst their owne knowledge, conscience and manyfest verity of Gods worde. I shal therfore desire the attentiue reader, before we passe any further to consider and expend here 2. thinges by the way, First what opinions and Articles these men gather out of their bookes for erroures and heresies. Secondly now wittynglye and willingly they wrast, peruert, and misconstrue their sayings and writings, in such sense as the wryters neuer spake nor meant, and all to bring them into hatred of the worlde, aftter they haue burned their bookes.

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MarginaliaArticles of Wickliffe and others falsified by the Papistes. So did they before with Iohn Wickleffe, Iohn Hus, & Hierome, So did they with M. Luther, Tindall, Frithe, Lambert, Barnes, Ioy, Roy, Seton, and briefly yet do stil with all the protestantes, either peruerting their sayinges, otherwise then they meant, or noting for heresies such as are manyfest principles and groundes of our Religion: Or els falsely belying them, or vntruely mistakinge them, eyther in mangling the places, or adding to their words, as may serue for their most aduauntage, to bring them out of credite wyth Princes and all the people.

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For the more euydent probation and experience wherof thou shalt see here (Christen Reader) as in a table layd before thine eyes: the booke or catalogue of such errours, blasphemyes and heresies, which the Catholicke Papistes in their own registers haue extracted out of their bookes whō in this and other proclamations they haue cōdemned. Wherunto moreouer, we haue annexed the very places also of the Authors, out of which euery Article is gathered keepinge the same signature of verse and page, which they in theire Registers doe send vs vnto. So that with a litle dilygence, thou mayst now (louing reader) easely perceiue, conferring the Articles and places together, what truth and fidelytie these bloudy Catholickes haue vsed towarde the children of God: first in burning vp their bodyes, then in consuming and abolishing their bookes, and afterward drawing out Articles, such as they list thēselues out of their works to make the people beleue what damnable heretickes they were, as by these articles here vnder ensuing collected & cōteined in their own registers may wel appeare. In al which Articles, there is not one (speaking of these writers which here they haue condemned) but either it is a perfect truthe and a principle of Christen doctrine, or els it is falsly gathered or peruersely recyted, or craftely handled and maliciously mangled, hauing either something cut from it, or some more added, or els rackte out of his righte place, or wrasted to a wrong meaning, which the place geueth not, or els whiche some other place folowing doth better expound and declare. This false and malicious dealing hath alwayes been a common practise amongest Gods enemies from the beginning, to falsifie, wrast, and depraue all thinges what soeuer maketh not to their faction and affection, be it neuer so true & iust.MarginaliaThe wordes of S. Steuen falsely depraued. Act. 6. 7. So began they with Steuen the first Martyr of Iesus Christ, and so haue they continued still, and yet doe to this present day.

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Long it were to recite, but more greeuous to behold what spite and falsehoode was vsed in the articles of the Albingenses, Waldenses, Wickliffe, Swinderby, Brute, Thorpe Armachanus, Sir Iohn Oldcastle, Iohn Hus, the Bohemians, and such other: Which thing if the bookes and places whence these articles were gathered agaynst them, had been suffered to remayne, we might more playnlye vnderstand. In the meane season as touching these Articles here present, for so much as the Bishops own Registers haue offered them vnto vs, and do yet remayne with the selfe same bookes from whence they be excerpted, I shall therfore desire thee (frendly Reader) first to consider the Articles, and lay them with the places which the Registers themselues do assigne, and then iudge thy selfe what is to be thoughte thereof The Articles gathered out of the foresayd bookes with the Bishops Decree prefixed before the same, is as here vnder foloweth.

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A publike Instrument by the bishops for the abolishing of the Scripture, and other bookes to be read in English.

MarginaliaA writing of the Bishops against Englishe bookes. IN the name of God, Amen. Be it knowen to all and singular, true, and faythfull people, to whome these pre sent letters testimoniall, or this present publicke and authenticke instrument shall come to bee seene, reade hearde or vnderstand, and whom this vnder written shall or maye teach, or appertayne vnto in any maner of wise in tyme to come, william by the sufferaunce of almighty God, Archbyshoy of Caunterbury, Primate of all the Realme of England, sendeth greetyng in our lord god euerlastyng, we signifie vnto you al and let you wel wit and know by these presentes, that the kyng our soueraigne Lorde hearyng of manye bookes in the Englishe tongue contaynyng manye detestable errours, and damnable opinions, printed in pertyes beyonde the Seas, to be brought into diuers townes, & sondry partyes of this his Realme of England, and sowen abroade in the same, to the great decay of our fayth Catholyke,and perillous corruption of his people vnlesse spedye remedy were briefly prouided, his highnes wyllyng euermore to employ all his study and mynde in the high degree which almighty god hath called hym vnto, to the wealth of his subiects,that they myght lyue, not onely in tranquillitye and peace but also be kept pure and cleane of al contagion, and wrong opinions in Christes Religion: consideryng also that he beyng defendour of the fayth, woulde be full loth to suffer such euil sede sown amōgest his people, & so take root that it might ouergrow the corne of the catholike doctrine before sprong in the soules of his subiects: for the repelling of such bokes, callyng vnto him of his great goodnes & gracious disposition, not only certayn of the chief prelates and clerkes of his Realme, but also of ech Vniuersitie a certaine number of the chief learned men proposed suche of those bookes, as his grace had ready to be read vnto them, requiryng to heare in that behalf their aduise and iudgement of them. Who both by great diligence and mature deliberation, perusing ouer the sayd bookes, found in them manye errours and heresies, both detestable and damnable, beyng of such a sort, that they were lyke briefly to corrupt a great part of his people (if they myght be suffered to remayne in their hands any space) gatheryng also out of thē many great errours, and pestilent heresies and notyng them in writing to the intent to shewe for what cause they reputed the said bookes damnable, of which hereafter out of ech booke gathered many do ensue: albeit many more there be in the said bookes, which bookes totally do swarme full of heresies and detestable opinions.

[Back to Top]MarginaliaHeresies falsely gathered by the papistes out of the wicked Māmon.
¶ Heresies and errours collected by the Byshops out of the boke of Tyndall, named the wicked Mammon with the places of the booke annexed to the same, out of which euery Article is collected.  
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Heresies charged against Protestants

The Foxe Project was not able to complete the commentary on this section of text by the date by which this online edition was compiled (23 September 2008).

Marginalia1. Article.
The Papistes of the principles of diuinitie, make heresie.
1 FAyth only iustifyeth. Fol. 59

This Article beyng a principle of the scripture, and the ground of our saluation, is playne inough by S. Paule, and the whole body of the scripture: Neither can any make this an heresie, but they must make s. Paul an heretike, and shew them selues enemies to the promises of grace, and to the crosse of Christ.

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Marginalia2. Article. 2 The law maketh vs to hate God, because we be borne vnder the power of the deuil. fol. 59.

Marginalia3. Article. 3 It is impossible for vs to consent to the wil of god. Fol. 59.

The place of Tyndal from whence these articles be wrasted, is in the wicked Mammon, as followeth. Which place I besech the indifferent to read, and then to iudge.

MarginaliaHerein is nothing conteined but that which is rightly consonāt vnto the scripture. In the fayth which we haue in Christ, and in gods promises, find we mercy, lyfe, fauour, and peace. In the law we fynd death, damnation and wrath, moreouer the curse and vengeance of God vpon vs. And it (that is to say, the law) is called of Paul, the ministration of death and damnation. In the law we are proued to be the enemies of god, and that we hate hym. For how can we be at peace with God & loue hym, seyng we are conceiued and borne vnder the power of the Deuill and are his possession and kingdome, his captiues and bondmen, and ledde at his wyll, and hee holdeth our hartes, so that it is impossible for vs to consent to þe wil of God? Much more is it impossible for a man to fulfill the lawe of his owne strengthe and power, seeyng that we are by byrth and nature the heires of þe eternal damnation. &c.

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Marginalia4. Article. 4 The lawe requireth impossible things of vs. Fol. 59.

MarginaliaWhat heresie is in these wordes. Read the place. The law when it commaundeth þt thou shalt not lust, geueth thee not power so to doe: but damneth thee because thou canst not so doe. If thou wilt therfore be at peace with God and loue him, then must thou turne to the promyses and to the gospell, which is called of Paul the ministration of righteousnes and of the spirite.MarginaliaWhat heresie is in these wordes.
2. Cor. 3.

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Marginalia5 Article. 5 The spirit of God turneth vs and our nature, that we do good: as naturally as a tree doth bryng foorth fruite. Fol. 65

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