A67926:1061
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.
When the time of their execution was come, they perceived that the Judges had intended, that if they would relent, they should be strangled: if not, they should burn alive, and their tongues be cut from them. Which torments they being content to suffer for our Saviour Jesus Christ, offered their tongues willingly to the hangman to be cut. Gabart began a little to sigh,1 for that he might no more praise the Lord with his tongue. Whom then Cene did comfort. Then were they drawn out of prison in the dung cart, to the suburbs of S. Germane. Whom the people in rage and madness, followed with cruel injuries and blasphemies, as though they would have done the execution themselves upon them, Maugre the hangman. The cruelty of their death was such as hath not lightly been seen:2 for they were holden long in the air, over a small fire, and their lower parts burnt of, before that the higher parts were much harmed with the fire. Nevertheless these blessed saints ceased not in all these torments, to turn up their eyes to heaven, and to show forth infinite testimonies of their faith & constancy. In the same fire many Testaments and Bibles the same time, also were burnt. Upon the sight of this cruelty,3 the friends of the other prisoners, which remained behind, fearing the tyranny of these judges, presented certain causes of refusal against the said judges, requiring other Commissioners to be placed. But the king being hereof advertised by his Solicitor, sent out his letters patents, commanding the said causes of refusal to be frustrate, and willed the former judges to proceed, all other letters and obstacles to the contrary notwithstanding: and that the Presidents should have power to choose to them other counsellors, according to their own arbitrement, to supply the place of such as were absent: amongest whom also the said Solicitor was received, in stead of the kings Procurator, to pursue the process. By the which letters patents it was decreed that these stubborn Sacramentaries (as they were called) should be judged accordingly, save only that they should not proceed to the execution, before the king were advertised. These letters aforesaid, stirred up the fire of this ⟨p. 921⟩persecution not a little, for that the Judges at this refusal took great indignation, and were mightily offended for that reproach.