A67926:1003
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. 2, part 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. 2, part 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
No title page in the transcription: set from the catalogue record.
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.
And where as any rustical clowns do assemble together, there must be a Church. The Martyr. It is no absurd thing to say that there be many Churches or congregations among the Christians: And so speaketh S. Paul:1 To all the Churches which are in Galatia. &c. And yet all these congregations make but one Church. The Judge. The Church wherein thou believest, is it not the same Church, which our Creed doth call the holy Church? The Martyr. I believe the same. The Judge. And who should be the head of that Church2 The Martyr. Jesus Christ. The Judge. And not the Pope? The Martyr. No. The Judge. And what is he then? The Martyr. A Minister if he be a good man, as other Bishops be: of whom S. Paul thus writeth: 1. Cor. 4. Let a man so esteem of us, as Ministers, and dispensers of the secrets of God. &c. The Judge. What then, doest not thou believe the Pope? The Martyr. I know not what he is,3 The Judge. Doest thou not believe that he is the successor of Peter? The Martyr. If he be like to Peter, and be grounded with Peter, upon the true rock Christ Jesus, so I believe his works, and ordinances to be good, Then the Judges leaving him with the Friars, departed from him, counting as a damned creature. Notwt standing, Aymundus putting his trust in God, was full of comfort, saying with Saint Paul: Who shall separate me from the love of God? Shall the sword, hunger, or nakedness? No, nothing shall pluck me from him. But rather I have pity of you (said he) and so they departed. Not long after, he was brought to the place of execution, singing by the way, the Psalm. In exitu Israell de Aegipto. &c. 4And as he passed by the place, where he before had been imprisoned, he called to his prison fellows, exhorting them to put their confidence in the Lord, and told them that he had spoken for them, and declared their miseries unto the President. He thanked moreover the keeper,5 and desired him to be good to his pore prisoners. And so taking his leave of them, and desiring them to pray for him, also giving thanks to the mistress keeper, for her gentleness showed to him, he proceeded forward toward his execution. As he came against the Church of Saint Andrew, they willed him to ask mercy of God, and of blessed S. Mary, and of Saint Justice. I ask mercy, (saith he) of God and his Justice, but the Virgin, blessed S.