A67922:81
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
Preface: The utility of this Story.Preface: The vtilitie of this Story.
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.
The utility of this Story.
The vtilitie of this Story.
Seeing the world is replenished with such an infinite multitude of books of all kind of matters, I may seem (perhaps) to take a matter in hand superfluous and needles, at this present to set out such Volumes, especially of histories, considering now a days the world is so greatly pestered, not only with superfluous plenty thereof, but of all other treatises, so that books now seem rather to lack Readers,1 then Readers to lack books: In which multitude of books I doubt not, but many do both perceive, and inwardly bewail this insatiable boldness of many now a days both in writing and printing, which to say the truth, for my part I do as much lament as any man else beside: and would therefore no man should think that unadvisedly or with rashness I have attempted this enterprise, as one being not only doubtful, but also both bashful and fearful within my self for setting the same abroad. And why? first I perceived how learned this age of ours is in reading of books, neither could I tell what the secret judgements of readers would conceive, to see so weak a thing, to set upon such a weighty enterprise, not sufficiently furnished with such ornaments able to satisfy the perfection of so great a story, or sufficient to serve the utility of the studious: and the delight of the learned. Which ability the more I perceived to be wanting in me, the less I durst be bold to become a writer.
SEyng the worlde is replenished with such an infinite multitude of bookes of all kinde of matters, I may séeme (perhaps) to take a matter in hand superfluous and needles, at this present to set out such Uolumes, especially of histories, considering now a dayes the world is so greatly pestered, not only with superfluous plenty therof, but of all other treatises, so that books now seeme rather to lacke Readers,1 then Readers to lacke bookes: In which multitude of bookes I doubt not, but many doe both perceiue, and inwardly bewayle this insatiable boldnes of many now a dayes both in writing and printing, which to say the truth, for my part I do as much lament as any man els beside: and would therefore no man should thinke that vnaduisedly or with rashnes I haue attempted this enterprise, as one being not onely doubtful, but also both bashfull and feareful within my self for setting the same abroad. And why? first I perceaued howe learned this age of ours is in reading of bookes, neither could I tell what the secret iudgementes of readers woulde conceaue, to see so weake a thing, to set vpon such a weighty enterprise, not sufficiently furnished with such ornamentes able to satisfie the perfection of so great a story, or sufficient to serue the vtility of the studious: and the delight of the learned. Which abilitie the more I perceiued to be wanting in me, the lesse I durst be bold to become a writer.