A67922:2162
Acts and monuments of matters most special and memorable, happening in the Church. [vol.…Actes and monuments of matters most speciall and memorable, happenyng in the Church. [vol.…
Acts and monuments of matters most special and memorable, happening in the Church. [vol. 1] with an universal history of the same, wherein is set forth at large the whole race and course of the Church, from the primitive age to these latter times of ours, with the bloody times, horrible troubles, and great persecutions against the true martyrs of Christ, sought and wrought as well by heathen emperors, as now lately practised by Romish prelates, especially in this realm of England and Scotland. Newly revised and recognised, partly also augmented, and now the fourth time again published and recommended to the studious reader, by the author (through the help of Christ our Lord) John Fox, which desireth thee good reader to help him with thy prayer.Actes and monuments of matters most speciall and memorable, happenyng in the Church. [vol. 1] with an vniuersall history of the same, wherein is set forth at large the whole race and course of the Church, from the primitiue age to these latter tymes of ours, with the bloudy times, horrible troubles, and great persecutions agaynst the true martyrs of Christ, sought and wrought as well by heathen emperours, as nowe lately practised by Romish prelates, especially in this realme of England and Scotland. Newly reuised and recognised, partly also augmented, and now the fourth time agayne published and recommended to the studious reader, by the author (through the helpe of Christ our Lord) Iohn Foxe, which desireth thee good reader to helpe him with thy prayer.
London: printed by John Daye, 1583London: printed by Iohn Daye, 1583
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
And thus much concerning the outward calamities of this Realm, under this foreign Conqueror. Which is now the fifth time that the said land, with the inhabitance thereof hath been scourged by the hand of God. First by the Romans in the time of Julius Cesar. Then by the Scots and Picts (as hath been showed) afterward by the Saxons. Again, the Saxons or Englishmen did not enjoy the possession of Britain with long quiet, but were brought in as much subjection themselves under the Danes, as they had brought the Britons before (and that much more) in so much that through all England, if an English man had met a Dane upon a bridge, he might not stir one foot, before the Lord Dane (otherwise Lurdan) were past. And then if the English man had not given low reverence to the Dane, at his coming by, he •as sure to be sharply punished (with more) as above hath been declared. And this subjection almost continued from the reign of King Ethelwolfus 230. years, till the reign of king Edward. And yet the indignation of God thus ceased not: but stirred up the Normans against them, who Conquered and altered the whole Realm after their own purpose, insomuch that besides the innovation of the laws, coins, and possessions: there was in no Church of England almost any English bishop,1 but only Normans & foreigners placed through all their Diocese. To such misery was this land then brought unto, that not only of all the English nobility not one house was standing: but also it was thought reproachful to be called an English man. This punishment of God against the English nation, writers do assign biversly to divers causes (as partly before is touched) of whom some assign this to be cause, as followeth in the words of the story: In primitiva Angliae Ecclesia religio clarissimè splenduit, 2ita ut Reges & Reginae, Duces & Episcopi, vel Monachatū, vel exilium pro Dei amore appeterent: processu verò temporis adeo omnis virtus in eis emarcuit, ut gentem nullam proditione & nequitia sibi parem esse permitterent.3 &c. The meaning whereof is, that whereas Kings and Queens, Dukes, and Prelates in the primitive time of the English church, were ready for Religion, to forsake either liberty or country, and give themselves to a solitary life: