A67922:6667
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.
These forenamed persons and soldiers of Christ, being much beaten with the cares and troubles of those days although they were constrained to relent and abjure, that is to protest otherwise with their tongues, then their harts did think, partly through correction and partly through infirmity (being as yet but new trained Soldiers in Gods field) yet for their good will they bare unto ye trueth, although with their tongues they durst not express it, we have thought good that their names should not be suppressed, as well for other sundry causes, as especially for this: either to stop the mouths of malignant adversaries, or to answer to their ignorance: Who following rather blind affection than the true knowledge of times and antiquities, for lack of knowledge, blame that they know not, accusing the true doctrine of the word of God, for novelty and carping, the teachers thereof for new broached brethren. Who, if they did as well foresee times passed, as they be unwilling to follow times now present, they should understand as well by these stories as other before, how this doctrine of the grace of God lacking no antiquity, hath from time to time continually sought to burst out, and in some places hath prevailed, although in most places through tyrant ny and the malice of men, Christs proceedings have been suppressed and kept under from rising, so much as mans power and strength joined with craft and subtlery, could labour to keep down the same: as here by these good men of Norfolk and Southfolke, may well appear. For if the knowledge and the good towardness of those good men, had had the like liberty of time, with the help of like authority as we have now,1 and had not ben restrained thorough the iniquity of time and tyranny of Prelates: it had well appeared how old this doctrine would have been, which now they contemn and reject for the newness thereof: neither needed Boner to have asked of Tho. Hawkes, and such other, where their Church was for xl. years ago, in as much as for xl. years ago, and more, within the coū try of Norfolk and Suffolk, was then sound such plenty of the same profession & like doctrine which we now profess. And thus much for the number of the names of these persons.
These forenamed persons and souldiors of Christ, being much beatē with the cares and troubles of those dayes although they were constrayned to relent and abiure, that is to protest otherwise with their tonges, then theyr harts did thinke, partly through correction and partly through infirmity (being as yet but new trayned Souldiours in Gods field) yet for theyr good will they bare vnto ye trueth, although with theyr tongues they durst not expresse it, we haue thought good that theyr names should not be suppressed, as well for other sondry causes, as especially for this: either to stop the mouthes of malignant aduersaryes, or to aunswere to theyr ignorance: Who folowing rather blinde affection thē the true knowledge of times and antiquities, for lacke of knowledge, blame that they know not, accusing the true doctrine of the worde of God, for newelty and carping, the teachers therof for new broched brethrē. Who, if they did as well foresee times passed, as they be vnwilling to follow times now present, they should vnderstand as well by these storyes as other before, how this doctrine of the grace of God lacking no antiquity, hath from time to time continually sought to burst out, and in some places hath preuayled, although in most places through tyrā ny and the malice of men, Christes procedinges haue bene suppressed and kept vnder from rising, so muche as mans power and strength ioyned with craft and subtlery, coulde labor to keepe downe the same: as here by these good men of Northfolke and Southfolke, may well appeare. For if the knowledge and the good towardnesse of those good mē, had had the like liberty of time, with the helpe of like authority as we haue nowe,