is sayde before euerye generall counsell, and therefore it muste nedes be good. But peraduenture ye doubte of the Masse of oure Ladye. But I tell you, there is stuffe inough in scrypture to proue it, and good stuffe too. But stuffe did he store them with none but this. For the other part of his perswasion, he said. There were a companye of goodly Copes, that were appoynted to Wyndsore, but he had found the Queene so gratious vnto hym, that they shoulde come to Christes Churche. Nowe if they lyke honest men would come to Church, they shoulde weare them on holy dayes. Nowe besides al this. He would get thē the Lady Bel of Bampton, and that shoulde make the swetest ryng in all Englande. And as for an holy water sprinckle, he hadde alreadye the fayrest that was wythin the Realme. Wherefore hee thoughte that no manne woulde bee so madde to forgoe these commodityes. &c.
[Back to Top]Whiche thynges I rehearce, that it maye appeare, what wante of discretion is in the fathers of Poperye: and into what ydle follies such men do fall: whom I besech the Lorde, if it be his pleasure, to reduce to a better truth, and to open theyr eyes, to see theyr owne blyndenesse.
After the account of Tresham's oration, Foxe went on in the 1563 edition to give brief relations of a few important events in the autumn of 1554. Most of these were later dropped in favour of more detailed accounts of the same events which Foxe obtained.
A few phrases of Foxe's description of the opening of parliament on 12 November 1554 in the 1563 edition were retained; otherwise this material was replaced in 1570 with more detailed accounts drawn from Foxe's lost chronicle source.
As with Harpsfield's disputation, Foxe is keen to correct what he sees as popish errors: for example, the historical point about the doctrine of the natural presence. The anger follows the pattern of ostensible provocation by an attack on the godly (preachers in this case). The glosses concerned with Bonner's visitation are relatively restrained in their criticism: the reported actions of the bishop were presumably damning enough. Foxe marks the itinerary, and twice mentions his 'behauiour', priming the reader to focus on his conduct. Other glosses list his insulting and violent behaviour, making clear the rank and status of those abused to compound the sense of disorderly proceeding. The glosses suggest Bonner was both vicious and ridiculous: he goes in a 'pelting chase' which suggests a lack of self-control and is easily put down by Sir Thomas Josselin . Glosses note the discrepancies between editions that follow the usual pattern of 1583 being less accurate than earlier editions; also noted are examples of a mistake in 1570 corrected in later editions.
[Back to Top]Gardiner's Paul's Cross sermon of 30 September 1554 was mentioned, and a brief summary of it given, in 1563 (p. 1008). This was replaced in the next edition by a fuller and more detailed account (1570, p. 1644; 1576, pp. 1402-03; 1583, p. 1473). This account was based on notes taken by someone in the audience which survive in Foxe's papers (BL Harley 425, fol. 118r). The account printed by Foxe is more detailed than the material in his papers, and more hostile to Gardiner: Foxe seems to have embellished his source.
[Back to Top]The glosses here show Foxe refocussing his attack on Pole, as he did earlier on Bonner. The 1563 and 1570 editions have different glosses linking Pole with avarice and (in the case of 1570) other vices; these were later dropped, and the main emphasis was on Pole as a persecutor of consciences. Foxe also uses the glosses to demonstrate Pole's involvement in a nexus of papal and imperial allegiances, drawing out some amusing images of Pole as a papal messenger/housebreaker jangling the power of the keys in the lock of English law. A clearer focus on Pole in his political and persecutory role rather than on his personal failings dominates after 1570. There are several references to earlier parts of the book in response to Pole's historical arguments: in all cases 1583 fails to give a reference, unlike 1570 and 1576.
[Back to Top]state and dignitie, (whiche he was put from by king Henry the eight.) He came into the Parliament house, which at that present was kept in the great Chamber of the Court at White Hall, for that the Queene was then sicke, and coulde not goe abrode, where as (the king and Quenes maiesties sitting vnder the clothe of Estate, and the Cardinal sitting on their right hande, with all the other Estates of the Parliament being present) the Bishoppe of Winchester beyng Lorde Chauncellor, beganne in this maner.
All editions of the Acts and Monuments contain Gardiner's short introduction of Pole in parliament on 28 November 1554 and Pole's speech celebrating the restoration of England to the catholic faith (1563, pp. 1008-10; 1570, pp. 1647-49; 1576, pp. 1405-07; 1583, pp. 1476-77). In the 1570 edition, however, Foxe added a few phrases to Gardiner's introduction of Pole's oration. This addition included the information that the gate to parliament was locked during Pole's oration (which somewhat detracts from the cardinal's eloquence). Gardiner's introduction and Pole's oration were reprinted from John Elder, A copie of a letter sente unto Scotland (London, 1555), STC 7552, sigs. D1r-E2r. Elder states (sig. E2r-v) that he based his version on notes taken by a friend of his, an MP, who was present.
[Back to Top]MI Lordes of the vpper house, and you my masters of the nether house here is present the ryght Reuerend father in God, my Lorde Cardinal Poole, come from the Apostolyke Sea of Rome, as Ambassadour to the Kynge and Queenes maiesties, vpon one of the weightiest causes that euer happened in this realme: and whiche perteineth to the glory of God, and youre vniuersall benefite. The whiche Ambassage theyr Maiesties pleasure is, to be signifyed vnto you all by his owne mouthe, trusting that you wyll receyue and accept it, in as beneuolēt and thankefull wyse, as theyr highnesses haue done, and that you wyll geue an attent and inclinable eare vnto him.
[Back to Top]When the Lorde Chauncellour had thus ended his talke: the Cardinall taking þe tyme then offered, began his Oration in this wyse folowyng.
MarginaliaDecemberMI Lordes al, and you that are the commons of this present Parliament assembled, whiche in effecte is nothinge else but the state and body of the whole Realm, As the cause of my repaire hither hathe bene bothe wiselye and grauely declared by my Lord Chauncellor, so before that I enter to the particularities of my Commission, I haue somwhat touchyng my selfe, and to geue most humble and hearty thanks to the king and Quenes maiesties, and after them to you all, whiche of a manne exiled and banishte from this common Wealthe, haue restored me, to a member of the same: and of a manne hauyng no place neyther here or els where within this Realme, haue admytted me in place where to speake and to be heard. This I proteste vnto you all, that though I was exiled my natiue countrey with oute iuste cause, as God knoweth, yet the ingratitude coulde not pul from me the affection and desire that I had to profite and dooe you good. If the offer of my seruice might haue bene recei
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