A67922:6612
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.
A preface to the reader.
According to the five sundry diversities and alterations of the Church, so have I divided hitherto the order of this present Church story into five principal parts, every part containing 300. years. So that now coming to the last 300. years, that is, to the last times of the Church, counting from the time of Wycliffe: For as much as in the compass of the said last 300 years, are contained great troubles and perturbations of the Church, with the marvellous reformation of the same through the wondrous operation of the almighty, all which things cannot be comprehended in one book, I have therefore disposed the said latter 30. years, into divers books, beginning now with the sixth book, at the reign of king Henry the vj. In which book, beside the grievous and sundry persecutions raised up by Antichrist, to be noted, here in is also to be observed, that where as it hath of long time been received and thought of the common people, that this religion now generally used, hath sprung up and risen but of late, even by the space (as many do think) of 20. or 30. years, it may now manifestly appear, not only by the Acts and Monuments heretofore passed, but also by the histories here after following, how this profession of Christs religion hath been spread abroad in England of old and ancient time, not only from the space of these 200. late years, from the time of Wycliffe, but hath continually from time to time sparkled abroad, although the flames thereof have never so perfectly burst out, as they have done within these hundred years and more: As by these histories here collected & gathered out of Registers, especially of the Diocese of Norwich, shall manifestly appear: wherein may be seen what men, and how many both men and women within the said Diocese of Norwich, have been, which have defended the same cause of doctrine, which now is received by us in the Church. Which persons although then they were not so strongly armed in their cause and quarrel, as of late years they have been, yet were they warriors in Christs church, and fought for their power, in the same cause. And although they gave back through tyranny, yet judge thou the best good Reader, and refer the cause thereof to God, who revealeth all things according to his determined will and appointed time.