A67922:2508
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.
After this field, the Queen (king Stephens wife, lying then in Kent) made great labour to the Empress and her counsel, to have the king delivered and put into some house of religion, but could not obtain. Also the Londoners made great sure to the said Empress, to have and to use again S. Edwards laws, and not the laws of her father,1 which were more straight and strange to them then the other: which when they could not obtain of her and her counsel, the citizens of London (being therewith discontented) would have taken the Empress. But she having knowledge thereof, fled privily from London to Oxford. But then the Kentishmen and Londoners taking the kings part, joined battle against the Empress: there the foresaid Robert Earl of Gloucester, and base brother to the Empress was taken. And so by exchange, both the King, and Earl Robert were delivered out of prison.2 Then Stephen (without delay) gathering to him a strong army, straightly pursued the foresaid Matild or Maud, with her friends; besieging them in the Castle of Oxford. In the siege whereof, fell a great snow and frost so hard, that a man well laden might pass over the water. Upon the occasion whereof, the Empress (bethinking herself) appointed with her friends & retinue: clothed in white sheets (& so issuing out by a postern gate) went upon the ice, over Thames and so escaped to Wallingford.3 After this, the king) the castle being gotten) when he found not the Empress, was much displeased, and molested the country about diver's ways. In conclusion, he pursued the empress & her company so hard, that he caused them to flee the realm, which was the vi. year of his reign.
After this field, the Queene (king Stephens wyfe, lying then in Kent) made great labour to the Empresse and her counsail, to haue the kyng deliuered and put into some house of religion, but could not obtayne. Also the Londiners made great sure to the sayd Empresse, to haue and to vse agayne S. Edwardes lawes, and not the lawes of her father,1 which were more straight and strange to them then the other: which when they could not obtayne of her and her counsaile, the citizens of London (beyng therwith discontented) would haue taken the Empresse. But she hauing knowledge therof, fled priuily from London to Oxford. But then the Kentishmen and Londiners taking the kings part, ioyned battaile against the Empresse: there the foresayd Robert Erle of Glocester, and base brother to the Empresse was taken. And so by exchange, both the King, and Erle Robert were deliuered out of prison.