A67926:1168
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.
O Ye fathers and brethren, 1ye are not ignorant that a great tempest is raised up against the little bark of Christ Jesus, now in great danger and ready to perish. The storm cometh from the North, whereof all these troubles proceed. The seas rage, the waters rush in on every side, the winds blow & beat upon our house, and we, without speedy remedy, are like to sustain shipwreck, and loss of altogether. For oblations cease, pilgrimage and devotion waxeth cold, charity is clean gone, our estimation and authority is abased, our jurisdiction decayed, and the ordinances of the church despised. And wherefore are we set and ordained over nations and kingdoms, but to root out and destroy, to subvert and overthrow, whatsoever is against our holy mother the Church? Wherefore let us now awake let us stand stoutly in the right of our own possession, that we may root out from the memory of men for ever the whole route of the wicked Lutherans: those Foxes (I say) which destroy the vineyard of the Lord: those great Whales, which go about to drown the little bark of the son of God. We have already well begun, and have procured a terrible Arrest against these cursed heretics of Merindoll: now then resteth no more but only the same to be put in execution. Let us therefore employ our whole endeavour, that nothing happen which may let or hinder that we have so haply begun, and let us take good heed, that our gold and silver do not witness against us at the day of judgement, if we refuse to bestow the same, 2that we may make so good a sacrifice unto God. And for my part, I offer to wage & furnish of mine own costs and charges, a 100. men well horsed, with all other furniture to them belonging, and that so long, until the utter destruction and subversion of these wretched and cursed caitiffs, be fully performed and finished.
O Yee fathers and brethren, 1yee are not ignoraunt that a great tempest is raised vp against the little barke of Christe Iesus, nowe in great danger and ready to pearish. The storme commeth from the North, whereof all these troubles proceede. The seas rage, the waters rushe in on euery side, the windes blowe & beate vpon our house, and wee, without speedy remedy, are like to sustaine shippewracke, and losse of alltogether. For oblations cease, pilgrimage and deuotion waxeth colde, charitie is cleane gone, our estimation and authoritie is abased, our iurisdiction decaied, and the ordinaunces of the churche despised. And wherefore are we sette and ordained ouer nations and kingdomes, but to roote out and destroy, to subuert and ouerthrow, whatsoeuer is against our holy mother the Churche? Wherefore let vs now awake lette vs stande stoutly in the right of our owne possession, that we may roote out from the memorie of men for euer the whole route of the wicked Lutheranes: those Foxes (I say) whiche destroye the vineyard of the Lorde: those great Whales, which goe aboute to drowne the little barke of the sonne of God. We haue already wel begonne, and haue procured a terrible Arrest against these cursed heretickes of Merindoll: nowe then resteth no more but onelye the same to be put in execution. Let vs therefore employe oure whole endeuour, that nothyng happen whych may lette or hinder that we haue so happely begon, and lette vs take good heede, that our gold and siluer do not witnesse agaynst vs at the day of iudgement, if we refuse to bestowe the same,