A67922:2263
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.
William Rufus.
1William Rufus the second son of William Conqueror began his reign, an. 1088. And reigned 13. years, being crowned at Westminster by Lanfrancus, who after his coronation released out of prison, by the request of his father,2 divers of the English Lords, which before had been in custody. It chanced that at the death of William Conqueror, Robert Courtsey his eldest son was absent in Almany. Who hearing of the death of his father, and how William his younger brother had taken upon him the kingdom, was therewith greatly amoved, in so much that he laid his dukedom to pledge unto his brother Henry, and with that good, gathered unto him an army, and so landed at Hampton, to the intent to have expulsed his brother from the kingdom. But William Rufus hearing thereof, sent to him sayre and gentle words, promising him deditiō and subjection as to the more worthy and elder brother, this thing only requiring, that seeing he was now in place and possession, he might enjoy it during his life, paying to him yearly iii. thousand marks, with condition, that which of them overlived the other, should enjoy the kingdom. The occasion of this variance between these brethren, wrought a great dissension among the Norman Lords and Bishops, both in England & in Normandy. In so much that all the Norman bishops within the realm almost rebelled against the king (taking part with Duke Robert) except only Lanfrancus, and Wolstane Bishop of Worcester, above mentioned an English man: who for his virtue and constancy was so well liked and favoured of his citizens,3 that (emboldened with his presence & prayer) they stoutly maintained the City of Worcester against the siege of their enemies, & at last vanquished them with utter ruin. But Duke Robert at length by the advise of his counsel (hearing the words sent unto him, and wagging his dead thereat, as one conceiving some matter of doubt or doubleness) was yet content to assent to all that was desired, & so returned shortly after into Normandy, leaving the bishops and such other, in the briers, which were in England taking his part against the king.