A67926:1142
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.
Notwithstanding, in all these most spiteful contumelies and slanders, the people dwelling at the foot of the Alps, and also in Merindol & Cabriers, and the quarters thereabout, always lived so godly, so uprightly and justly that in all their life & conversation, there appeared to be in them a great fear of God. That little light of true knowledge which God had given them, they laboured by all means to kindle & increase daily more & more, sparing no charges whether it were to procure books of the holy Scripture, or to instruct such as were of the best and most towardly wits, in learning & godliness: or else to send them into other countries, yea even to the farthest parts of the earth, where they had heard that any light of the gospel began to shine.
Notwithstanding, in all these most spitefull contumelies ond sclaunders, the people dwelling at the foote of the Alpes, and also in Merindol & Cabriers, and the quarters thereabout, alwaies liued so godly, so vprightly and iustly yt in al their life & conuersation, there appeared to be in thē a great feare of God. That little light of true knowledge whiche God had giuen them, they laboured by al meanes to kindle & encrease daily more & more, sparing no charges whether it were to procure bookes of the holy Scripture, or to instructe such as were of the best and moste towardly wits, in learning & godlinesse: or els to send thē into other countreis, yea euen to ye farthest partes of the earth, where they had heard that any light of the gospel began to shine.
For in the year 1530. understanding that the gospel was preached in certain towns of Germany & Switzerland, they sent thither 2. learned men, that is, Georgius Maurellus borne in Dolphin, a godly preacher of their own, and whom they had of their own charges brought up in learning, & Petrus Latomus a Burgundian, to confer with the wise & learned ministers of the Churches there, in the doctrine of the gospel, and to know the whole form and manner which those Churches used in the service and worshipping of God: and particularly to have their advise also, upon certain points, which they were not resolved in. These 2. after great conference had with the chiefest in the Church of God, namely with Oecolampadius at Basil: at Strasburg, with Bucer and Capito: and at Berne, with Bartholdus Hallerus: as they were returning through Burgundy, homeward, Petrus Latomus was taken at Dijon, and caste into prison, Maurellus escaped & returned alone to Merindol, with the books and letters which he brought with him, from the churches of Germany, and declared to his brethren all the points of his commission, and opened unto them, how many and great errors they were in: into the which their old Ministers, whom they called