A67922:2598
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.
On the next day following, because it was sunday, nothing was done.1 But the night before (being taken with a disease called passio iliaca, the colic) all that day he kept his bed, and was not able, as he said, to rise. Every man supposing this to be but a feigned sickness, as it seemed no less, certain of the chief Nobles were sent to try the matter, and to cite him to the Court: namely, Rob. earl of Leicester, and Reginald Earl of Devonshire. To whom the Archb. answered, that as that day he was so diseased that he could not come, yea though he were brought in an horse litter. So that day passed over. The morrow after certain that were about him, fearing no less, but that some danger would happen to him, gave him counsel in the morning to have a mass in the honour of the holy Martyr S. Steven,2 to keep him from the hands of his enemies that day. When the morrow was come (being Tuesday) there came to him the Bishops & Prelates, counselling and persuading him covertly by insinuation (for apertly they durst not) that he would submit himself with all his goods (as also his Archbishopric) to the will of the king, if peradventure his indignation by that means might swage. Adding moreover, that unless he would so do, perjury would be laid against him: for that he being under the oath of fidelity to keep the kings laws and ordinances, now would not observe them.3 To this, Becketh the Archbishop answereth again: Brethren ye see and perceive well how the world is set against me, and how the enemy riseth and seeketh my confusion. And although these things be dolorous and lamē table, yet the thing that grieveth me most of all, is this: the sons of mine own mother be pricks & thorns against me. And albeit I do hold my peace, yet the posterity to come will know and report how cowardly you have turned your backs, and have left me your Archbishop & Metropolitan alone in this conflict. And how you have sitten in judgement against me (although unguilty of crime) now ii, days together, and not that only in the civil & spiritual ⟨p. 211⟩court, but also in the temporal court ready to do the same. But in general this I charge and command (by the virtue of pure obedience,4