A67922:2252
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.
By the life & acts of this king, it may appear true, as stories of him report, that he was wise but guileful, rich, but covetous, a fair speaker, but a great dissembler, glorious in victory, & strong in arms, but rigorous in oppressing whom he overcame, in levying of tasks passing all other. In so much that he caused to be enrolled & numbered in his treasury every hide of land, and owner thereof: what fruit & revenues surmounted of every Lordship, of every township, castle, village, field, river, & wood, within all the realm of England. Moreover, how many parish Churches, how many living cattle there were, what and how much every Baron in the realm could dispend, what fees were belonging, what wages were taken, &c. The tenor & contents of which taskment,1 yet remaineth in rolls. After this tasking or numbering, which was the year before his death, followed an exceeding murrain of cattle, & barrenness of the ground, with much pestilence and hot fevers among the people,2 so that such as escaped the fever, were consumed with famine. Moreover, at the same season among certain other Cities, a great part of the City of London, with the church of Pauls was wasted with fire, an 1085.
By the life & actes of this king, it may appeare true, as stories of him report, that he was wise but guilefull, riche, but couetous, a faire speaker, but a great dissembler, glorious in victory, & strong in armes, but rigorous in oppressing whom he ouercame, in leuiyng of tasks passing all other. In so much that he caused to bee enrolled & numbred in his treasury euery hide of land, and owner therof: what fruit & reuenewes surmounted of euery Lordship, of euery township, castel, village, field, riuer, & wood, within all the realme of England. Moreover, how many parish Churches, how many liuing cattell there were, what and how much euery Baron in the realme could dispend, what fees were belonging, what wages were taken, &c. The tenour & contents of which taskment,1 yet remaineth in rolles. After this tasking or nūbring, which was the yere before his death, folowed an exceding moreine of cattell, & barennes of the ground, with much pestilence and hote feuers amōg the people,2