A67922:2482
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.
It was above touched, how Matild or Maude daughter of king Henry,1 was married to Henry the 5. Emperor, who after the decease of the said Emperor her husband, returned about this present time with the Imperial crown to her father in Normandy, bringing with her the hand of S. James. For the joy whereof, the king builded the Abbey of Reading, where the said hand was reposed. This Matild was received by the said council to be next heir to the king her father, in possession of the English crown, for lack of issue male. And soon after upon the same was sent over to Normandy, to marry with Geffrey Plantagenet Earl of Anjou, of whom came Henry the second, who (after Stephen) was king of England. And about this time was also founded the priory of Norton in the Province of Chester, by one William the son of Nichelle. In the story of Polychron. Jornal. and Polydorus is declared, how the king was troubled greatly with 3. sundry visions appearing unto him by night. The first was of a great multitude of husbandmen of the country,2 which appeared to fly upon him with their mattocks and instruments, requiring of him his debt which he did owe unto them.3 In the second, he saw a great number of soldiers and harnessed men to come fiercely upon him. In the third, he saw a company of prelates and churchmen, threatening him with their bishops staves, & fiercely approaching upon him. Whereupon (being dismayed) in all hast; ran & took his sword to defend himself, finding there none to strike: who afterward asking counsel concerning these visions, was mouthed by one of his positions (named Grimbald) by repentance, alms and amendment of life,4 to make some mends to god and to his country whom he offended. Which three vows thus being made, the next year after he went to England: where he being upon the seas in a great tempest with his daughter Matild,5 remembered there his iii. vows. And so coming to the land (for performance of the same) first released unto the conuitons the Danegelt which his father & his brother before had renewed.6