A67922:2646
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.
Hitherto hast thou seen (gentle reader) divers & sundry letters of Thomas Becket, whereby thou mayest collect a sufficient history of his doings & demeanour (though nothing else were said further of him) concerning his lusty and haughty stomach, above that beseemed either his degree or cause which he took in hand. And here peradventure I may seem in the story of this one man to tarry t•o long, having to write of so many others better then it: yet for the weaker sort (which have counted him, and yet do count him for a Saint, having in themselves little understanding to judge or discern in the causes of men) I thought to add this letter more, wherein he complaineth of his king to a foreign power: doing what in him did lie, to stir for his own cause mortal war to the destruction of many. For suppose wrong had been offered him of his Prince: was it not enough for him to fly? What cause had he for his own private revenge, to set potentates in public discord? Now having no just cause but rather offering injury in a false quarrel, so to complain of his prince: what is to be said of this, let every man judge, which seeth this letter.
Hetherto hast thou seene (gentle reader) diuers & sundry letters of Thomas Becket, whereby thou maist collect a sufficient historie of his doings & demeanor (though nothing els were said further of him) concerning his lusty and hauty stomack, aboue that beseemed either his degree or cause which he tooke in hand. And here peraduenture I may seme in the story of this one man to tary t•o long, hauing to write of so many others better then it: yet for the weaker sort (which haue coūted him, and yet do count him for a Saint, hauing in themselues little vnderstanding to iudge or discerne in the causes of men) I thought to adde this letter more, wherein he complaineth of his king to a forreine power: doing what in him did lie, to stirre for hys owne cause mortall warre to the destruction of many. For suppose wrong had bene offred him of his Prince: was it not inough for him to flie? What cause had he for his owne priuate reuēge, to set potentates in publike discord? Now hauing no iust cause but rather offering iniurie in a false quarell, so to complaine of his prince: what is to be said of this, let euery man iudge, which seeth this letter.