A67926:1144
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 people heard this, they were moved with such a zeal to have their Churches reformed, that they sent for the most ancient brethren, & the chiefest in knowledge and experience, of all Calabria & Apulia, to consult with them, touching the reformation of the Church. This matter was so handled, that it stirred up the bishops, priests & monks in all Province,1 with great rage against them. Amongest other, there was one cruel wretch called John de Roma, a monk, who obtaining a commission to examine those that were suspected to be of the Waldois or Lutheran profession, forthwith ceased not to afflict the faithful with all kind of cruelty, that he could devise or imagine. Amongest other most horrible torments,2 this was one, which he most delighted in, and most commonly practised: He filled boots with boiling greece, & put them upon their legs, tying them backward to a form, with their legs hanging down over a small fire, and so he examined them. Thus he tormented very many, and in the end, most cruelly put them to death.3 The first whom he thus tormented, were Michelottus Serra, and W. Melius, with a number moe.
When the people heard this, they were moued with such a zeale to haue their Churches reformed, that they sent for the moste ancient brethren, & the chiefest in knowledge and experience, of all Calabria & Apulia, to consult wyth them, touching the reformation of ye Church. This matter was so handled, that it stirred vp the bishops, priests & monkes in all Prouince,1 with greate rage against them. Amongest other, there was one cruel wretch called Iohn de Roma, a monke, who obtaining a commissiō to examine those that were suspected to be of ye Waldois or Lutheran profession, forthwith ceased not to afflict the faithful with all kinde of cruelty, yt he could deuise or imagine. Amongest other most horrible torments,2 this was one, which he most delighted in, and most commōly practised: He filled bootes with boiling grece, & put them vpon their legs, tying them backeward to a forme, with their legges hanging downe ouer a small fire, and so he examined them. Thus he tormēted very many, and in the ende, most cruelly put them to deathe.