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.…

But again on the other side, when I weighed with my self what memorable Acts and famous doings this latter age of the Church hath ministered unto us by the patient sufferings of the worthy martyrs: I thought it not to be neglected, that so precious Monuments of so many matters, meet to be recorded and registered in books, should lie buried by my default under darkness of oblivion. Me thought somewhat was to be said of them for their well deserving, and something again of our parts for benefits by them received. But above all other things nothing did so much stir me forward hereunto, as the diligent consideration and special regard of the common utility which every man plentifully may receive by the reading of these Monuments or Martyrology which history as I have taken in hand chiefly for the use of the English Church: so have I framed it in that tongue which the simple people could best understand.

But agayne on the other side, when I weyed with my selfe what memorable Actes and famous doynges this latter age of the Churche hath ministred vnto vs by the patient suffringes of the worthy martyrs: I thought it not to be neglected, that so precious Monumentes of so many matters, meet to be recorded and regestred in books, should lie buried by my default vnder darkenes of obliuion. Me thought somewhat was to be sayd of them for their well deseruing, and something agayne of our partes for benefites by them receaued. But aboue all other thinges nothing did so much styrre me forward hereunto, as the dilligent consideration and speciall regard of the common vtilitie which euery man plentifully may receaue by the reading of these Monuments or Martyrologe which history as I haue taken in hand chiefly for the vse of the English Church: so haue I framed it in that tongue which the simple people could best vnderstand.

Now if men commonly delight so much in other Chronicles which entreat only upon matters of policy, and rejoice to behold therein the variable events of worldly affairs, the Stratagems of valiant captains, the terror of foughten fields, the sacking of Cities, the hurly burlies of Realms and people. And if men think it such a gay thing in a common wealth to commit to history such old antiquities of things profane and bestow all their ornaments of wit and eloquence in garnishing the same: how much more then is it meet for Christians to conserve in remembrance the lives: Acts and doings, not of bloody warriors, but of mild and constant Martyrs of Christ, which serve not so much to delight the ear, as to garnish the life, to frame it with examples of great profit, and to encourage men to all kind of Christian godliness? As first by reading thereof we may learn a lively testimony of Gods mighty working in the life of man, contrary to the opinion of Atheists, and all the whole nest of Epicures. For like as one said of Harpalus in times past, that his doings gave a lively testimony against God, because he being so wicked a man escaped so long unpunished: so contrariwise in these men we have a much more assured and plain witness of God both in whose lives and deaths appeared such manifest declarations of Gods divine working, whiles in such sharpness of torments we behold in them strength, so constant above mans reach, such readiness to answer, such patience in imprisonment, such godliness in forgiving, cheerfulness so courageous in suffering, besides the manifold sense and feeling of the holy ghost which they in their lives so plentifully tasted in their afflictions,