A67922:2702
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.
1In the fourth book of this fabulous author, and in the 3. chap. a miracle is there contained of a certain countryman of Bedfordshire in kings Weston, whose name was Gilwardus: which Gilwardus in his drunkenness bursting into an other mans house,2 which was his debtor, took out of his house a great whetstone, & a pair of hedging gloves: The other party seeing this value not sufficient for his con damnation (by the counsel of the town clerk) entered an action of felony against him for other things besides, as for stealing his wimble, his axe, net, and other clothes. Whereupon, Gilwardus being had to yt Jail of Bedford, and afterward condemned for the same: was judged to have both his eyes put out, & also those members cut of, which nature with secret shame hath covered. Which punishment by the malice of his adversary being executed upon him, he lying in great danger of death by bleeding, was counselled to make his prayer to this Tho. of Canterbury. Which done (saith the miracle) appeared one to him by night, in white apparel, bidding him to watch and pray, & put his trust in God, and our Lady, and holy S. Thomas. In conclusion,3 the miracle thus sell out: the next day at the evening, the man rubbing his eye lids began to feel his eyes to be restored again: first in a little, after in a greater measure: so that one was of a grey colour, the other was of a black. And here was one miracle rong. After this followed an other miracle also upon the same person. For going but the space of 4. miles when his eyes were restored, he chanced (in like manner) to rub the place,4 where his secret parts were cut of. And immediately upon the same, his pendenda (to use the words of my story) were to him restored, Principio parua quidem valdè, sed in maius proficientia, which he permitted every one to feel, that would and shamed not to deny. In so much that he coming up to S. Thomas: first at London was received with joy of the B. of Dirchā, who then sending to the burgers of Bedford for the truth of the matter, received from them again letters testimonial: wherein the Citizens there (saith this fabulous festival) confirmed first to the bishop, then to the convent of Canterbury, the relation of this to be as hath been told.