A67922:2652
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.
Wherefore, writing to your fatherhood, we exhort and counsel you by way of charity, that you add not trouble to trouble, & heap injury upon injury. But so to behave your self, that all manasses set aside, ye rather give your self to patience and humility, & to yield your cause to the clemency of God & to the mercy of your Prince: which in so doing shall heap coals of charity upon the heads of many. Thus charity shall be kindled, & that which manasings can not do (by Gods help and good mens counsel) pity peradventure & godliness shall obtain. Better it were to sustain poverty with praise, then in great promotions to be a common note to all men. It is right well known unto all men, how beneficial the king hath ben unto you, from what baseness to what dignity he hath advanced you, & also into his own familiarity hath so much preferred you, that from the North Ocean, to the mount Pyrenees he hath subdued all things to your authority: in so much that they were amongst all other accounted for men right fortunate, whosoever could find any favour with you. And furthermore, least that your estimation should be overmatched by any nobility: he (against the mind of his mother, and of his realm) hath placed and ratified you substantially in ecclesiastical dignity, and advanced in this honour wherein ye stand: trusting through your help and counsel to reign more safely and prosperously. Now, if he shall find disquietness, wherein he trusted to have quietness: what shall all men say or think of you? What recompense or retribution shall this be thought to be for so many and great benefits taken? Therefore (if it shall please you) ye shall do well to favour and spare your fame & estimation and to overcome your lord and sovereign with humility and charity. Whereunto, if our advertisement cannot move you, yet the love and fidelity you bear to the bishop and holy church of Rome, ought to incline you thereunto, & not to attempt any such thing, whereby the troubles of the church our mother may increase: or whereby her dolour may be augmented in the loss of them; whose disobedience now she doeth bewail. For, what if it so happen through provocation, that the king (whom all his subjects & kingdoms obey) should relinquish the Pope, which God forbid: and should deny all obedience to him, as he denieth to the king help or aide against you:
Wherfore, writing to your fatherhoode, we exhort and counsel you by way of charitie, that you adde not trouble to trouble, & heape iniury vpon iniury. But so to behaue your selfe, that al manasses set aside, ye rather geue your selfe to patience and humilitie, & to yeld your cause to the clemency of God & to the mercy of your Prince: which in so doing shall heap coales of charity vpon the heads of many. Thus charity shalbe kindled, & that which manasings can not doe (by Gods help and good mens counsel) pitie peraduenture & godlines shall obtaine. Better it were to sustaine pouertie with prayse, then in great promotions to be a common note to all men. It is right well knowen vnto all men, howe beneficiall the king hath ben vnto you, from what basenes to what dignity he hath aduanced you, & also into his owne familiaritie hath so much preferred you, that from the North Ocean, to the mount Perineus he hath subdued all things to your authoritie: in so much that they were amongst all other accounted for men right fortunate, whosoeuer coulde finde any fauour with you. And furthermore, least that your estimation should be ouermatched by any nobilitie: he (against the minde of his mother, and of his realme) hath placed and ratified you substantially in ecclesiasticall dignitie, and aduaunced in this honour wherein ye stand: trusting through your helpe and counsaile to reigne more safely and prosperously. Now, if he shall finde disquietnes, wherin he trusted to haue quietnes: what shall al men say or think of you? What recompence or retribution shall this be thought to be for so many and great benefits taken? Therefore (if it shal please you) ye shall do wel to fauor and spare your fame & estimation and to ouercome your lord and soueraigne with humilitie and charitie. Whereunto, if our aduertisement cannot moue you, yet the loue and fidelitie you beare to the bishop and holy churche of Rome, ought to incline you therunto, & not to attempt any such thing, wherby the troubles of the church our mother may encrease: or wherby her dolor may be augmented in the losse of them; whose disobedience nowe she doeth bewaile. For, what if it so happen through prouocatiō, that the king (whom all his subiects & kingdoms obey) should relinquish the Pope, which God forbid: and should deny all obedience to him, as he denieth to the king helpe or aide against you: