A67926:1164
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.
Then there was a certain young gentleman, which merely jesting, said unto her: Gentlewoman, it must needs be that these poor people, unto whom you do wish this cruel death,1 have done you some great displeasure. Then said she, I may well take an oath, that I never knew one of those wretched people, neither (that I wot of) ever saw any of them. And I had rather to meet 10. devils, then one of those naughty knaves: for their opinions are so detestable, that happy and blessed are they, which never heard tell of them. And I was not then well advised, at what time. by curiosity I seeing the Bishop of Aix so much troubled and angry, that he could not eat nor drink, did desire him and constrain him to tell me the cause thereof. Then he perceiving that I would not be well contented if he should not tell me,2 declared unto me some part of the cause: that is to say, that there was certain heretics, which spake against our holy mother the church, and among other errors, they maintained, yea to death, that all Bishops, Priests, & pastors ought to be married, or else to be gelded: and hearing this, I was marvellously offended, and ever since I did hate them to the death. And also it was enjoined unto me by penance, that I should endeavour with all my power, to put these heretics to death. After these frivolous talks, there was great trouble and debate amongst them, and many threatenings, which were too long here to describe.
Then there was a certaine younge gentleman, whych merely iesting, said vnto her: Gentlewomā, it must nedes be that these poore people, vnto whome you doe wish thys cruell death,1 haue done you some great displeasure. Then sayd she, I may well take an othe, that I neuer knewe one of those wretched people, neither (that I wot of) euer sawe any of them. And I had rather to meete 10. deuils, then one of those naughty knaues: for theyr opinions are so detestable, that happy and blessed are they, which neuer heard tell of them. And I was not then wrll aduised, at what time. by curiositie I seeing the Bishop of Aix so muche troubled and angry, that he could not eate nor drinke, did desire him and constraine him to tell me the cause thereof. Then hee perceiuing that I would not be wel contented if he should not tel me,