A67926:1170
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.
This is a weighty matter (said he) and of great importance: 1We must therefore proceed wisely and in the fear of God, and beware that we do nothing rashly. For if we seek the death and destruction of these poor and miserable people wrongfully, when the King and the Nobility shall hear of such an horrible slaughter, we shall be in great danger, least they do to us as we read in the Scriptures, was done to the priests of Baal. For my part, I must say and unfeignedly confess, that I have too rashly and lightly signed many processes against those, which have been accused of heretical doctrine: but now I do protest before God, which seeth and knoweth the hearts of men, that seeing the lamentable end and effect of mine assignments, I have had no quietness in my conscience, considering that the secular judges, at the report of the judgement and sentence, given by me, and other Doctors my companions, have condemned all those unto most cruel death whom we have judged to be heretics. 2And the cause why in conscience I am thus disquieted, is this, that now of late since I have given my self more diligently to the reading & contemplation ⟨p. 946⟩of the holy scriptures: I have perceived that the most part of those Articles which they that are called Lutherans do maintain, are so conformable and agreeing to the Scriptures, 3that for my part, I can no longer gainsay them, except I should even wilfully and maliciously resist and strive against the holy ordinances of God. Al be it hitherto, to maintain the honour of our holy mother the Church, and of our holy father the Pope, and of our order, I have consented to the opinions, & doings of the other Doctors, as well through ignorance, as also because I would not seem to attempt any thing against the will and pleasure of the Prelates and Vicars general: But now it seemeth unto me that we ought not any more to proceed in this matter, as we have done in time past. It shall be sufficient to punish them, with fines or to banish them, which shall speak too intemperately, or rashly against the constitutions of the Church, and of the Pope: and such as shall be manifestly convicted by the holy Scriptures, to be blasphemers or obstinate heretics, to be condemned to death according to the enormity of the crimes or errors, or else to perpetual prison.