1583 Edition | Book 8 | Page 1196 
Close(c. 340 - 397) [Catholic Encyclopedia]
Bishop of Milan (374 - 397); doctor of the church
He is mentioned by Foxe: 1570, pp. 15, 20, 56, 91, 128, 131, 146; 1576, pp. 12, 16, 35, 63, 92, 95, 102, 108; 1583, pp. 12, 16, 35, 63, 91, 94, 101, 107.
Close(1389 - 1459) [Catholic Encyclopedia]
Dominican theologian; historian. Established the convent of San Marco, Florence, in 1436; archbishop of Florence (1446 - 59)
He is mentioned by Foxe: 1570, p. 16, 62, 65, 85, 132, 1329; 1576, p. 13, 38, 41, 59, 96, 1133; 1583, p. 13, 38, 41, 58, 73, 95, 1162, 1172.
Close(86 - 161) [ODNB]
Roman emperor (138 - 61); chosen by Hadrian as his successor
Advanced into Scotland, built the Antonine Wall; advanced the frontier in Germany
Antoninus was mild and gentle, and there was no persecution of Christians during his reign. He wrote to the people of Asia, ordering that Christians not be persecuted. 1570, p. 67, 74; 1576, pp. 41-42, 50; 1583, pp. 41-42, 50.
In a letter to Henry VIII, Philip Melancthon referred to Antoninus Pius as an emperor who received the apologies and defences of the Christians kindly. 1570, p. 1340; 1576, p. 1144; 1583, p. 1172.
Close(c. 1467 - 1536) [ODNB]
b. Rotterdam; humanist scholar and reformer. Augustinian canon 1487; priest 1492. Studied at Paris and Oxford, DTh University of Turin; lectured in theology and Greek at Cambridge
Erasmus praised the learning of William Tyndale. 1570, p. 1225; 1576, p. 1049; 1583, p. 1076.
Erasmus wrote to Juan de Vergara informing him of the fall of Thomas Wolsey and his replacement as chancellor by Sir Thomas More. 1570, p. 1130; 1576, p. 968; 1583, p. 994.
Included in the injunctions of Edward VI for the reformation of the church in the realm was the requirement that every church should have a bible in English and a copy of Erasmus's Paraphrases on the gospels. 1563, p. 687; 1570, p. 1487; 1576, p. 1261; 1583, p. 1298.
Erasmus wrote on St Jerome. 1570, p. 1340; 1576, p. 1143; 1583, p. 1172.
Closeof Bologna; C12 canon lawyer [P. Landau, NCMH, vol 4:1, p. 128]
Wrote Decretum, an attempt logically to reconcile contradictory canons, which became the standard text for canon law
He is mentioned by Foxe: 1570, pp. 63, 68, 95, 134, 143; 1576, pp. 38-39, 45, 67, 97, 106; 1583, pp. 4, 39, 45, 67, 96, 105.
Close(76 - 138) [H. W. Benario www.roman-emperors.org]
Roman emperor (117 - 138)
Hadrian was a persecuting emperor. 1570, p. 54; 1576, p. 38; 1583, p. 38.
In a letter to Henry VIII, Philip Melancthon referred to Hadrian as an emperor who received the apologies and defences of the Christians kindly and mitigated his cruel decrees. 1570, p. 1340; 1576, p. 1144; 1583, p. 1172.
Close(1491 - 1547) [ODNB]
Duke of York 1494; duke of Cornwall 1502; prince of Wales, earl of Chester 1503
King of England (1509 - 47)
After the death of Prince Arthur, his widow Catherine married his brother Henry. 1563, p. 456; 1570, p. 1192; 1576, p. 1021; 1583, p. 1049.
Henry issued a proclamation against the heresies of Luther. 1570, p. 1159; 1576, p. 991; 1583, p. 1019.
Through Thomas Wolsey, Henry received the title of defender of the faith from the pope. 1570, p. 1124; 1576, p. 962; 1583, p. 989.
After Clement VII had been taken prisoner by imperial forces, Wolsey urged Henry VIII to go to the pope's assistance. The king refused to send troops, but allowed Wolsey to take money out of the treasury to help. 1563, p. 439; 1570, pp. 1123; 1576, p. 961; 1583, p. 988.
Henry, encouraged by Cardinal Wolsey, began to question the validity of his marriage to Catherine of Aragon. He sought the advice of universities and learned men, but needed the assent of the pope and the emperor to a divorce. 1570, p. 1192; 1576, p. 1021; 1583, p. 1049.
Stephen Gardiner was sent as ambassador to Rome by Henry VIII during the time of Clement VII to deal with the matter of the king's divorce and to promote Thomas Wolsey as pope. Both the king and Wolsey wrote letters to him. Nicholas Harvey was sent as ambassador to Emperor Charles V. 1570, pp. 1125-29, 1192; 1576, pp. 963-67, 1021; 1583, pp. 990-93, 1049.
[Back to Top]Wolsey and Cardinal Campeggi had a legatine commission to consider the matter of the king's divorce. Henry began to suspect that Wolsey was not fully supportive. 1570, pp. 1129, 1193; 1576, pp. 967, 1021; 1583, pp. 994, 1049.
Henry gave an oration at Bridewell setting out his reasons for the divorce. 1563, pp. 456-57; 1570, p. 1193; 1576, pp. 1021-22; 1583, p. 1050.
Henry and Queen Catherine were summoned to appear before the papal legates, Cardinals Wolsey and Campeggi, who had a commission to judge the matter of the divorce. Henry sent two proxies; Catherine arrived in person, accompanied by ladies and counsellors, including four bishops. Finally the king himself appeared, delivering an oration to the legates. 1563, pp. 456-57; 1570, p. 1194; 1576, p. 1022; 1583, p. 1050.
[Back to Top]Anne Boleyn was sent a copy of Simon Fish's Supplication for the Beggars and showed it to the king. He offered his protection to Fish, allowing him to return to England. 1563, p. 448; 1570, p. 1153; 1576, p. 986; 1583, p. 1014.
After Wolsey had been deprived of most of his offices and the associated lands and goods returned to the king, Henry allowed Cardinal College, Oxford, to continue, endowing it and renaming it King's College. 1570, p. 1129; 1576, p. 967; 1583, p. 994.
When the king heard of the exhumation and burning of William Tracy's corpse, he angrily sent for Sir Thomas More. More blamed the now deceased archbishop of Canterbury, but was fined three hundred pounds to have his pardon. 1570, p. 1186; 1576, p. 1015; 1583, p. 1042.
Henry, failing to get a positive response from the pope on the question of his divorce, associated the clergy in Wolsey's praemunire and demanded over £100,000 for their pardon. 1570, p. 1195; 1576, p. 1023; 1583, p. 1052.
Henry had published the opinions of the universities against his marriage to Catherine. 1570, p. 1196; 1576, p. 1024; 1583, p. 1052.
Parliament approved Thomas Cranmer's separation of Henry and Catherine and his marriage to Anne Boleyn. 1570, p. 1197; 1576, p. 1025; 1583, p. 1053.
Thomas Temys asked parliament to urge the king to take Queen Catherine back as his wife. The king replied via the Speaker, Sir Thomas Audeley. The king also had the Speaker read in the Commons the two oaths taken by clergy, one to the pope and one to the king, to demonstrate that they were irreconcilable. 1570, p. 1197; 1576, p. 1025; 1583, p. 1053.
[Back to Top]Henry married Anne Boleyn. 1570, p. 1198; 1576, p. 1025; 1583, p. 1054.
The archbishop of Canterbury (Cranmer), along with the bishops of London (Stokesley), Winchester (Gardiner), Bath and Wells (Clerk) and Lincoln (Longland) and other clergy went to see Queen Catherine. She failed to attend when summoned over 15 days, and they pronounced that she and the king were divorced. 1570, p. 1200; 1576, p. 1027; 1583, p. 1055.
[Back to Top]The king sent Edward Lee, under Cromwell, to visit the monasteries and nunneries to release all those in religious orders who wished to leave. 1570, p. 1218; 1576, p. 1043; 1583, p. 1070.
Henry VIII ordered a religious procession in London in 1535 because the French king was ill. 1570, p. 1218; 1576, p. 1043; 1583, p. 1070.
After the Act of Supremacy, Henry VIII attempted to improve relations with other monarchs by sending ambassadors. 1570, p. 1218; 1576, p. 1043; 1583, p. 1070.
Messages were sent between Henry and François I about the pope's refusal of Henry's divorce from Catherine and his supremacy over the English church. 1570, pp. 1218-22; 1576, pp. 1043-46; 1583, pp. 1070-73.
Henry VIII wrote to Bonner commanding that excess holy days be abolished. 1563, p. 682; 1570, p. 1441; 1576, p. 1229; 1583, p. 1259.
Henry had Queen Anne imprisoned in the Tower with her brother and others. She was then beheaded. 1563, p. 526; 1570, p. 1233; 1576, p. 1055; 1583, p. 1082.
Stephen Gardiner was suspected of involvement in the downfall of Anne Boleyn, and urged the king to disinherit Elizabeth. 1570, pp. 1233, 1243; 1576, p. 1056; 1583, pp. 1082, 1083.
Henry married Jane Seymour shortly after the execution of Anne Boleyn. 1570, p. 1234; 1576, p. 1056; 1583, p. 1083.
Cromwell urged King Henry to destroy the monastic houses and to grant the lands to the nobility and gentlemen. 1570, p. 1350; 1576, p. 1153; 1583, p. 1181.
The king answered the rebels in Lincolnshire and sent the dukes of Norfolk and Suffolk, the marquess of Exeter and the earl of Shrewsbury into Yorkshire to put down the Pilgrimage of Grace. 1570, pp. 1237-38; 1576, pp. 1059-60; 1583, pp. 1086-87.
Along with the protestant German princes, Henry refused to send delegates to the council in Mantua called by Pope Paul III. 1570, p. 1234; 1576, p. 1056; 1583, p. 1083.
The emperor and other princes requested Henry to attend the council or to send delegates. He again refused, sending a protestation. 1570, pp. 1293-94; 1576, pp. 1106-08; 1583, pp. 1132-33.
François I of France and Emperor Charles V retained Robert Granceter, a condemned traitor, and refused to hand him over to Henry VIII. 1570, p. 1239; 1576, p. 1061; 1583, p. 1087.
Francis I had allied himself with Pope Clement VII in marrying his son to Clement's niece. He also married his daughter to James V of Scotland, breaking an agreement with Henry VIII. 1570, p. 1239; 1576, p. 1061; 1583, p. 1088.
Stephen Gardiner urged Henry to withdraw his defence of religious reform in order to ensure peace within the realm and to restore good relations with foreign rulers. 1570, p. 1296; 1576, p. 1109; 1583, p. 1135.
Stephen Gardiner urged Henry VIII to use the case against John Lambert as a means of displaying the king's willingness to deal harshly with heresy. The king himself would sit in judgement. 1563, pp. 533-34; 1570, p. 1281; 1576, p. 1095; 1583, pp. 1121-22.
At the end of Lambert's trial, the king had Cromwell read the sentence of condemnation. 1563, p. 537; 1570, p. 1283; 1576, p. 1097; 1583, p. 1123.
Cromwell was instrumental in getting Edmund Bonner's nomination to the bishopric of London. He procured letters from King Henry to François I that resulted in a licence being granted to print bibles in English at the University of Paris. 1570, p. 1362; 1576, p. 1162; 1583, p. 1191.
Although Edmund Bonner performed his ambassadorial duties well as far as Henry VIII was concerned, he displeased the king of France, who asked for him to be recalled. Henry recalled him, giving him the bishopric of London, and sent Sir John Wallop to replace him. 1570, p. 1245; 1576, p. 1066; 1583, p. 1093.
[Back to Top]The king sent Thomas Cromwell and the dukes of Norfolk and Suffolk to dine with Thomas Cranmer to reassure him after his opposition to the Six Articles. 1570, p. 1298; 1576, p. 1111; 1583, p. 1136.
Henry asked for a summary of Cranmer's objections to the Six Articles. 1570, p. 1355; 1576, p. 1157; 1583, p. 1185.
Philip Melancthon wrote a letter to Henry VIII against the Six Articles. 1570, pp. 1340-44; 1576, pp. 1144-47; 1583, pp. 1172-76.
Thomas Cromwell arranged the marriage between the king and Anne of Cleeves. 1570, p. 1295; 1576, p. 1109; 1583, p. 1134.
Henry had Thomas Cromwell arrested on charges of heresy and treason. Shortly after Cromwell's execution, the king lamented his death. 1563, p. 598; 1570, p. 1360; 1576, p. 1157; 1583, p. 1185.
Henry VIII repudiated Anne of Cleves, divorced her and married Katherine Howard at the time of the execution of Cromwell. 1570, pp. 1361, 1385; 1576, pp. 1161, 1181; 1583, pp. 1190, 1210.
After Cromwell's death, the king was persuaded against the Great Bible and had sales stopped. 1570, p. 1363; 1576, p. 1163; 1583, p. 1191.
King Henry commanded that Robert Barnes, Thomas Garrard and William Jerome recant the doctrine they had been preaching. 1570, p. 1371; 1576, p. 1170; 1583, p. 1198.
King Henry wrote to Archbishop Cranmer, ordering that idolatrous images be removed from churches. 1563, p. 625; 1570, p. 1385; 1576, p. 1181; 1583, p. 1210.
For a long period, Henry VIII denied his daughter Mary the title of princess. Thomas Cranmer urged a reconciliation. 1570, p. 1565; 1576, p. 1335; 1583, p. 1396.
Katherine Parr read and studied the scriptures and discussed them with her chaplains. The king was aware of this and approved, so she began to debate matters of religion with him. When the king became more ill-tempered because of his sore leg, her enemies, especially Stephen Gardiner and Thomas Wriothesley, took the opportunity to turn the king against her. 1570, pp. 1422-23; 1576, pp. 1212-13; 1583, pp. 1242-43.
[Back to Top]Henry gave a warrant for the gathering of articles against Katherine. 1570, pp. 1422-23; 1576, pp. 1212-13; 1583, pp. 1242-43.
Henry told one of his physicians of the charges against Katherine; the physician was then sent to treat her when she fell ill, and he divulged the charges to her. 1570, p. 1423; 1576, p. 1213; 1583, p. 1243.
The king then visited Katherine, who explained that she was ill because she feared she had displeased him. She submitted humbly to him and was forgiven. 1570, p. 1423; 1576, p. 1213; 1583, p. 1243.
When Thomas Wriothesley with 40 of the king's guard came to arrest the queen and her ladies-in-waiting, he found them walking happily in the garden with the king. The king sent him away. 1570, p. 1425; 1576, p. 1214; 1583, p. 1244.
Henry gave an oration to parliament in 1545. 1570, pp. 1412-13; 1576, pp. 1203-04; 1583, pp. 1233-34.
When Claude d'Annebault, the French ambassador, went to see Henry VIII at Hampton Court, lavish entertainment was laid on for him, but he was recalled before he had received half of it. During the course of the banquet, he had private conversation with the king and Archbishop Cranmer about the reform of religion in the two countries. 1570, p. 1426; 1576, p. 1215; 1583, p. 1245.
[Back to Top]As long as Henry had good advisers, like Anne Boleyn, Thomas Cromwell, Thomas Cranmer, Anthony Denny and William Buttes around him, he did much to foster religious reform. 1563, p. 682; 1570, p. 1441; 1576, p. 1229; 1583, p. 1259.
During Henry VIII's final illness, Sir Anthony Browne tried unsuccessfully to get Stephen Gardiner reinstated in the king's will. 1570, p. 1478; 1576, p. 1253; 1583, p. 1291.
When Henry was on his deathbed, Anthony Denny asked him if he wished a spiritual adviser, and he asked for Thomas Cranmer. Before Cranmer could arrive, however, the king had lost the power of speech. He clasped Cranmer's hand, and shortly after died. 1570, p. 1477; 1576, p. 1253; 1583, p. 1290.
Close(347 - 407) [Catholic Encyclopedia]
b. Antioch; hermit and ascetic. Bishop of Constantinople 398, deposed and banished 403. Preacher in Syria and Constantinople; denounced the abuse of authority in the church and the Roman empire
Thomas Arthur and Thomas Bilney, in their examination on a charge of heresy, said that Chrysostom encouraged the reading of books to aid committing to memory the things that were heard. 1563, p. 465, 1570, p. 1137; 1576, p. 974; 1583, p. 1000.
Close(c. 1265 - 1308 [ODNB]
Scottish Franciscan friar; theologian. Studied and taught at Oxford, Cambridge and Paris; DTh Paris 1305. One of the friars who supported Philip IV against Boniface VIII over taxation of the French clergy.
John Dun Scotus wrote on transubstantiation. 1570, p. 1314, 1576, p. 1124, 1583, p. 1149.
Close(130 - 169) [P. B. Peacock www.roman-emperors.org]
Roman emperor (161 - 69), with Marcus Aurelius; both were adopted by Antoninus Pius; son-in-law of Marcus Aurelius
In a letter to Henry VIII, Philip Melancthon referred to Lucius Verus and Marcus Aurelius as emperors who received the apologies and defences of the Christians kindly. 1570, p. 1340; 1576, p. 1144; 1583, p. 1172.
Foxe calls him Marcus Aurelius Commodus here, but it was Lucius Verus and his brother and co-emperor, Marcus Aurelius, who fought together in the Germanic War referred to by Foxe. 1570, p. 75; 1576, p. 51; 1583, p. 51.
Close(121 - 180) [H. W. Benario www.roman-emperors.org]
Roman emperor (161 - 80), with adopted brother Lucius Verus to 169; philosopher. (born M. Annius Verus)
[Foxe refers to him as M. Antoninus Verus and Marcus Antoninus]
Marcus Aurelius was an able philosopher and civil governor, but he encouraged the persecution of Christians. 1570, p. 59, 67; 1576, p. 42; 1583, p. 42.
The prayers of the Christians brought rain, and Marcus Aurelius became gentler towards the sect. 1570, p. 75; 1576, p. 51; 1583, p. 51.
In a letter to Henry VIII, Philip Melancthon referred to Lucius Verus and Marcus Aurelius as emperors who received the apologies and defences of the Christians kindly. 1570, p. 1340; 1576, p. 1144; 1583, p. 1172.
Close(1497 - 1560) [C. Scott Dixon, M. Greengrass, www.leedstrinity.ac.uk/histcourse/reformat/biograph.htm]
Educated at Heidelberg (1509 - 12) and Tübingen (1512 - 18); professor of Greek at Wittenberg 1518; protestant reformer, associate of Luther; split the Lutheran movement
In his oration for his BTh at Cambridge, Hugh Latimer spoke against Philip Melancthon. He was heard by Thomas Bilney, who converted him to a reformed position. 1570, p. 1146; 1576, p. 981; 1583, p. 1008.
Robert Barnes fled England and went to Germany, where he found favour with Luther, Melancthon, Bugenhagen, Justus Jonas, Hegendorph, Aepinus, the duke of Saxony and the king of Denmark. 1563, p. 603; 1570, p. 1366; 1576, p. 1165; 1583, p. 1194.
Melancthon wrote a letter to Henry VIII against the Six Articles. In it he complained of the imprisonment of Hugh Latimer, Edward Crome and Nicholas Shaxton. 1570, pp. 1340-44; 1576, pp. 1144-47; 1583, pp. 1172-76.
Close(c. 155 - c. 230) [Catholic Encyclopedia]
of Carthage; Christian convert and writer, church leader
Tertullian was a man of learning and eloquence who defended the Christians under persecution. 1570, p. 80; 1576, p. 55; 1583, p. 55.
Tertullian commended Irenæus for his learning. 1570, p. 80; 1576, p. 55; 1583, p. 55.
Tertullian recorded that Christianity came to Britain in the time of Pope Eleutherius in C2. 1570, p. 145; 1576, p. 107; 1583, p. 106.
Tertullian was a married priest, according to Jerome. 1570, p. 1319; 1576, p. 1128; 1583, p. 1154.
MarginaliaPriuate confession to our brother.The thirde kinde of confession is that, which we make priuately to our brother.MarginaliaMath. 5. And thys confession is requisite, whē either we haue iniuried or by any way damnified our neighbor, whether he be rich or poore. Wherof speaketh the Gospel
CloseMatt. 5: 24.
CloseJames 5: 16.
But as there is nothyng in the Churche so good and so ghostly, which through peuishe superstitiō either hath not, or may not be peruerted: so thys confession also hath not lacked his abuses. First the secret confession to God alone, as it hath ben counted insufficient, so hath it ben but lightly esteemed of many. The publike confession to the congregation hathe bene turned to a standinge in a sheete, or else hath bene bought out for money. Furthermore, the secreat breaking of a mans minde to some faithful or spiritual brother, in disclosing hys infirmitie or temptatiōs, for counsel and godly comfort, hath bene turned into auricular confession in a Priestes eare for assoyling of his sinnes. Marginalia4. or 5. abuses in auricular confession.In the which auriculare cōfession, Marginalia1. necessity.first of the free libertie of the penitent in vttering his griefs, they haue made a mere necessitye, and that vnto saluation and remission of sinnes. Marginalia2. Enumeration of sinnes.Secondly, they require withal, ennumeration and a full recitall of all sinnes whatsoeuer: both great and small, also besids þe necessity of this eare confessiō, they adde therto Marginalia3. Prescription of tyme,a prescription of time, at leaste once in the yeare for all men, whether they repent or no, to be confessed: Marginalia4. Confession made a Sacrament.making moreouer of the same a sacrament. And lastly, where as before it stoode in the voluntary choyse of a man to open his hart to what spirituall brother he thought best, for an easement of his griefe & ghostly consolation, Marginalia5. To a Priest onely.they binde him to a Priest (vnlesse some Frier come by the waye to be his ghostly father) to whome he must needes confesse all, whatsoeuer he hath done, and though he lacke the key of knowledge, and peraduēture of good discretion, yet none must haue power to assoyle him, but he through the authority of hys keyes.
[Back to Top]And this manner of confession, say they, was instituted by Christe, and hys Apostles, and hathe bene vsed in the Church euer since to this present day. Which is a most manifest vntruth, and easie by storyes to be conuinced.
MarginaliaSocrat. Lib. 5. cap. 19. SoZo. Lib. 7. cap. 16.For Socrates lib. 5. cap. 19. Sozom. lib. 7. cap. 16. in þe booke of Ecclesiasticall history, do geue vs plainly to vnderstand, that thys Auricular confession neuer came of Christe, but onely of men.
Item, in the time of Tertullian, MarginaliaBeat. Rhenanus in argum. libel. Tertulliani de penitentia.Beat. Rhenanus testifieth
CloseBeatus Rhenanus, Q. Septimii Florentes Tertulliani…(Basel, 1521), p. 434.
Item, in the tyme of Chrysostome, it appeareth there was no such assoyling at the Priests hands, by these wordes where he sayeth: MarginaliaChrisost. in Psa. 30. hom. I.I require thee not that thou shouldest cōfesse thy sinnes to thy fellowe seruaunt. Tell them vnto God, who careth for them.
Item, the sayde Chrysostome in an other place wryting vpon repentance, and confession: MarginaliaChrysost. in hom. de penit. & confessione.Let the examination of thy sinnes, and thy iudgement (sayth he) be secrete and close without witnesse. Let God onely see and heare thy confession. &c.
Item, in the time of Ambrose, De Pœnit. Dist. 1. Petrus,MarginaliaDe penit. dist. 1. Petrus in Glosa. the glose of the Popes owne decrees recordeth: That the institution of Baptisme was not then begonne, which nowe in oure dayes is in vse.
Item, it is truely sayd therfore of the Glose in another place, where he testifieth: MarginaliaDe penit Dist. 5 in principio.That this institution of penance began rather of some tradition of the vuiuersall church, then of any authoritie of the new Testament, or of the olde. &c.
The lyke also testifieth Erasm. wryting vpon Hierome in these wordes: Apparet tempore Hieronymi nondum institutam fuisse. &c. That is: MarginaliaErasm. in Schol. in Epitaphium fabiolæ.It appeareth, that in the time of Hierome, this secrete confession of sinnes was not yet ordained, whiche the church afterwarde did institute holesomely, if our Priests and lay men woulde vse it rightly. But heerein, diuines not considering aduisedly what the olde doctours do say, are much deceiued. That which they say of general and open confession, they wrast by and by to this priuie and secrete kinde of confession, which is farre diuers, and of an other sort. &c.
[Back to Top]The like testimony may also be taken of Gracian himselfe,MarginaliaGracian. De penitent. Dist. 1. Quamuis. who speaking of confession vsed then in hys tyme, leaueth the matter in doubtfull suspense, neither pronouncinge on the one side, nor on the other, but referreth þe matter to the free iudgement of the Readers, which the acte of these six Articles here enioyneth as necessary, vnder paine of death.
[Back to Top]MarginaliaThe first institution of auricular confession, when and by whom it beganne.Briefly, in fewe woordes to searche out and notifie the very certaine time, when this Article of eare confession first crept into the Church, & what antiquitie it hath in following the Iudgement of Ioannes Scotus, and of Antoninus, it may be well supposed, that the institution thereof tooke his first origine by Pope Innocent the thirde, in hys Councell of Laterane, An. 1215. For so we reade in Ioannes Scotus Lib 4. Sent. Dist. 17. Artic. 3.MarginaliaIoan. Scotus Lib. 4. Sent. Dist. 17. Artic. 3. Præcipua autem specificatio huius præcepti inuenitur in illo cap. Extra. de pœnit. & remiss. Omnis vtriusque sexus. &c. And after in the same Article it followeth: Nam ex prima institutione Ecclesiæ non videntur fuisse Distincti proprij sacerdotes. Quando enim Apostoli hinc & inde ibant prædicando verbum Dei. &c. By the which wordes it appeareth that there was no institution of any suche confession specified before the constitution of Innocentius the thirde.
[Back to Top]But more plainly the same may appeare by the wordes of Antoninus in 3. parte Histor.MarginaliaAntoninus part. 3. Hist. tit. 19. Whyche be these Innocentius tertius in Concilio generali prædicto, circa Sacramenta confessionis & communionis sic statuit: Omnis vtriusque sexus fidelis, postquam ad annum discretionis peruenerit, omnia peccata sua solus saltem semel in anno confiteatur proprio sacerdoti, & iniunctam sibi pœnitentiam proprijs viribus studeat adimplere, alioqui & viuens ab ingressu Ecclesiæ arceatur, & moriens Christiana careat sepultura. Vnde hoc salutare statutum frequenter in Ecclesijs publicetur: ne quisquam ignorantiæ cœcitate velamen excusationis assumat. &c. That is to say. Pope Innocent the 3. in hys generall Councell aforesayde, touching the Sacraments of confession and the communion, made this constitution as followeth. MarginaliaThe constitution of Pope Innocent 3. touching auricular confession.That euery faithfull person, both man & woman, after they come to the yeares of discretion, shall confesse all their sinnes by themselues alone, at least once a yeare, to their owne ordinarie priest, and shall endeuour to fulfil by their owne strength, their penance to them enioyned. Or els who so doth not, shall neither haue entraunce into the Churche being aliue, nor being dead shall enioy Christian buriall. Wherefore rhis wholesome constitution we wil to be published often in the Churches, least any manne throughe the blindenesse of ignoraunce maye make to them selues a cloke of excuse. &c. And thus much hetherto we haue alledged by occasion incident of these sixe Articles for some part of confutation of the same, referring the reader for the rest, to the more exquisite tractation of Diuines, whyche professedlye wryte vpon those matters.
[Back to Top]In the meane time, for asmuche as there is extante in Latin a certaine learned Epistle of Philippe Melancthon, wrytten to king Henrye againste these vj. wicked Articles aboue specified, I thought not to defraud the reader of the fruit therof, for his better vnderstanding and instruction. The tenour and effect of hys Epistle translated into English, thus followeth.
CloseFoxe's declaration that this is the 'tenour and effect' of Melanchthon's letter suggests that he has amended or abridged it. We cannot know, because unfortunately, the original has not survived. Moreover, Foxe does not supply the date of the letter. But Melancthon wrote a number of letters to Henry VIII and Archbishop Cranmer, in the spring of 1539, making similar arguments (L&P 14(1), pp. 245-6 and 333).
[Back to Top]MarginaliaA fruitefull epistle of Phil. Melancton sent to king Henry touching the 6. articles.MOste famous and noble Prince, there were certayne Emperours of Rome, as Adrianus. Pius, and afterward the two brethren Verus and Marcus, which did receiue gently the Apologies and defences of the Christiās: whych so preuailed with those moderate Princes, that they swaged theyr wrath againste the Christians, and obtained mitigation of theyr cruell Decrees. Euen so, for asmuch as there is a Decree set foorth of late in your Realme agaynst that doctrine whyche we professe, both godly and necessary for the Churche, I beseeche your moste honourable Maiestie fauorably both to read & consider this our complaint, especially seeing I haue not onely for our owne cause, but much rather for the common sauegarde of the Churche, directed this my wryting vnto you. For seyng those heathen Princes did bothe admitte and allowe the defences of the Christians, howe much more is it beseeming for a king bf Christian profession, and such a one as is occupied in þe studies of holy histories, to heare the complaints and admonitions of the godly in the Churche? And so muche the more willingly I wryte vnto you, for that you haue so fauorably heeretofore receiued my letters wt a singular declaration of your *Marginalia* He meaneth here the kinges liberall rewarde sent to him before in money, by M. Iohn Hales which money he then distributed among the ministers & learned men of Wittenberge. beneuolēce towardes me. This also giueth me some hope that you wil not vnwillingly read these things. for asmuch as I see that the very phrase & manner of wryting doth playnly declare, not your selfe, but onely the byshops to be the authors of those articles and decrees there
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