men should be condemned as heretics for asserting what is as plain as that the sun shines at noon day, viz. that

the Apostles did not compose the Creed that bears their Cave's Hist. name; and, that the Decretal Epistles are not genuine; p. 524, 525. which last was one of the Articles with which Wiclif was

Liter. vol. i.

charged by the Council of Constance.

I am afraid I tire the reader, with taking notice to him of such a confused mass of ignorance and scurrility: I shall Pref. p. 6, 7. therefore only add, that the poor visionary creature " sees “with astonishment a book published with the sacred " stamp of authority, in which a Jew is recorded a mar"tyr." This refers to two of the canons made in the Convocation held 1571, by which it was ordered, "That every "Archbishop, Bishop, and Archdeacon, should have in

"their houses Mr. Fox's Acts and Monuments." When

Strype's this book was first published, he was thought to have done History of the Reform. very "exquisite service to the Protestant cause, in shew

p. * 238.

" ing from abundance of ancient books, records, registers, " and choice manuscripts, the encroachments of Popes and "Papalins, and the stout oppositions that were made by " learned and good men in all ages and countries against "them: and especially under King Henry VIII. and "Queen Mary here in England, preserving to us the me"mories of those holy men and women, those Bishops and "Divines, together with their histories, acts, sufferings, " and their constant deaths, willingly undergone for the " sake of Christ and his Gospel, and for refusing to com"ply with Popish doctrines and superstitions. Archbi"shop Whitgift styles Mr. Fox, that worthy man, who " had so well deserved of this Church of England, and tells " Mr. Cartwright, that he had read over his Acts and Mo"numents from one end to the other." And again, " Mr.

"Fox, who hath very diligently and faithfully laboured in Defence of "this matter, [of Archbishops and Metropolitans,] and the Answer " searched out the truth of it, as learnedly as I know any monition, " man to have done." The great Mr. Camden thus writes Elizabethæ of him, "Ex eruditorum numero obiit Joannes Foxus OxAnnales, p. " oniensis, qui Ecclesiasticam Angliæ Historiam sive Mar

Mr. Strype.

History of

*241.

"tyrologium indefesso veritatis studio primum Latine, "postea Anglice auctius magna cum laude contexuit." It has been found by those who have searched the records Bp. Burnet. and registers that he used, that he is always faithful. Nay, this has been owned by * one who takes all opportunities * Mr. Colto depreciate his character and undervalue his work. It lier. has been particularly shewn, that as to private stories, Mr. Strype's Fox and his friends used the utmost diligence and care the Reform. that no falsehood might be obtruded on the reader, and P. * 242. were very ready to correct any mistakes that might happen. Nay, that even Grimwood's story, with which Mr. Ibid. p. Fox's enemies make so great a flourish, was true. But of late, the esteem of this learned man and his great work is Strype's grown very low, especially among some of the Clergy: Whitgift, which seems owing, in a great measure, to the unhappy P. 255. divisions among us, about the discipline, rites, and ceremonies of the Church. This is intimated by a late mar-Dr. Walktyrologist of another sort; "that the Dissenters pay a "known and particular regard to Mr. Fox's Acts and Mo-p. 20. "numents." Therefore, surely there is a sufficient ground for Churchmen to be jealous of them, and not to read them; as there is for their neglecting the holy Scriptures, and the observation of the Lord's day, because of the known and particular regard which Protestant Dissenters pay to them.

1

Life of Abp.

er's Attempt. Pref.

The Papists were very angry at the publication of this history, in which their lies and cruelty were so fully exposed; and accordingly did all they could to blast the credit of both that and its author. They called it Fox's Golden Legend, and represented it as a huge fardle of most notorious lies and falsehoods. About two and forty A. D. 1603, years after the publication of this history, F. Parsons published his book, entitled, A Treatise of Three Conversions of England, the principal design of which is to expose this Church History of Mr. Fox's. In this performance he charges Mr. Fox with falsities and impostures, manifest foolery and lying, with having a wicked spirit, being guilty of tergiversation, using impertinent and ignorant arguments,

A. D. 1691.

vol. i.

col. 592.

shewing a contempt of antiquity, &c. He tells us that Mr. Fox endeavoured to corrupt the acts of old martyrs, nay, that he discrediteth his own martyrs; and, that dirt may not be wanting, he pretends to have found one hundred and twenty lies in less than three leaves of his book.

Anthony a Wood a great many years after this charged Athen. Ox Mr. Fox with "committing a most egregious falsity, in "reporting that one Grimwood of Higham in Suffolk died " in a miserable manner, for swearing and bearing false " witness against one John Cooper of Watsam, in the same county, for which he lost his life." But this has

p. * 242.

66

Strype's been shewn not to be so, since there was one Grimwood History of the Reform. who did thus die, although Mr. Fox was misled by William Punt in inserting this story in his Martyrology, since what Cooper was tried for, was not his religion, but speaking rebellious words against the Queen.

What our translator is offended with Mr. Fox for is, that in his Martyrology a Jew is recorded as a martyr, and stands

in the midst of some hundreds of Christians on each side. Three Con. F. Parsons has taken notice of this very same story, but p.3.c. 16. he had more wit than to reflect on Fox, as putting one §.9, 10. who was a martyr for Judaism among Christian martyrs. Acts and He knew very well, that according to Mr. Fox, this "Jew Mon. vol. ii. " had received the Sacrament of Baptism, was converted,

p. 226.

" and become a good Christian." What he blames Mr. Fox for is, his placing this converted Jew among those who suffered for protesting against, and opposing the corruption of the Romish sect.

As to the following papers, I hope they will be found to have been drawn up with faithfulness and integrity. It is Hist. Oxon. but too true a character that is given by the Oxford antilib.ii.p.137. quarian of Archdeacon Harpsfield, who published a his

tory of Wiclif, that, partium studio abductus suorum in utilitatem omnia rapuit. I hope I have not been so unhappy as to split on the same rock. I have endeavoured faithfully to represent things as they really are; and, according to the best light I could get, to write Dr. Wiclif's life as he lived it. His opinions I have taken from his

own writings, and expressed them in his own words: by the favour of his Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury, I had the perusal of Wiclif's Trialogus, and of a volume of MSS. which his Grace had transcribed for his use from the Bodleian Library. His Grace's librarian, the learned Dr. Wilkins, was so kind as himself to copy for me the process of the dispute betwixt the Archbishop of Canterbury and Dr. Wiclif, about the Wardenship of Canterbury Hall. To my faithful friend Dr. Elias Sydal, Canon of Christ Church, Canterbury, I owe the having had the liberty of making use of whatever is in the library of that Church for my purpose. The copy of the collection of Wiclif's English MSS. in C.C.C. in Cambridge, of which I have made so much use, was procured for me by the Reverend Mr. Charles Sheldrake, Fellow of that college. The account of the other MSS. in the libraries at Cambridge, I had by the favour and kind assistance of the Reverend Mr. John Denn, Fellow of the same college. What account I have had of the MSS. in Ireland, I thankfully acknowledge to have received it from the Right Reverend the Lord Bishop of Kilmore, and the Reverend Dr. Howard, Fellow of Trinity College, near Dublin. I have only to add my hearty wish, that the reader may receive as much profit by the perusal of this history, as it has cost me pains and expence to compose it.

November 5th, 1719.

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