A67922:2163
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.
In process of time they grew to such dissoluteness, that they left no other realm like unto them in iniquity.1 &c. Again some writing of the vision of king Edward a little before the invasion of the Normans: testify, how the king reporting of his own vision, should hear, that for the great enormity and misbehaviour of the head Dukes, Bishops, and Abbots of the realm: the kingdom should be given to the hand of their enemies, after the decease of him, for the space of a C. years, and one day. Which space was also seen by William conqueror, to be a hundred years & fifty: and that his progeny so long should continue.2 Again, some writers entreating of this so great wrath of God upon the English people, declare the cause thereof, as followeth. Nam ficut Angl, Britones, quds Deus disterminate proposuerat (peccatis suis exigentibus) humiliverant, & a term Angliae minus iniustè fugaverant: sic ipsi duplici persecution. &c. Like as the Englishmen did subdue the Britons (whom God proposed, for their deservings, to exterminate) and them unjustly did dispossess of their land: so they should likewise be subdued and scourged with a double persecution, first by the Danes and after by the Normans. &c. Moreover to these injuries and iniquities done, and wrought by the English men ⟨p. 172⟩hitherto recited, let us add also the cruel villainy of this nation,3 in murdering and tithing of the innocent Normans before: who coming as strangers with Alfred the lawful heir of the Crown, were despitefully put to death. Which seemeth to me no little cause, why the Lord (whose doings be always just & right) did suffer the Normans so to prevail. By the coming in of the which Normans,4 and by their quarrel unto the Realm, iii. things we may note & learn. First to consider and learn the righteous retribution, and wrath of God from heaven, upon all iniquity and unrighteous dealing of men. Secondly, we may thereby note, what it is for Princes to leave no issue or sure succession behind them. Thirdly, what dangers often do chance to Realms publicly by foreign marriage with other Princes. &c.