A67926:1284
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.
But for the better understanding of the beginning of this horrible persecution against the Waldoys, here note, that first of all proclamations were made in every place, that none should resort to the Sermons of the Lutherans, but should live after the custom of the Church of Rome, upon pain of forfeiture of their goods, and to be condemned to the Galleys for ever, or loose their lives. Three of the most cruel persons that could be found,1 were appointed to execute this commission. The first was one Thomas Jacomel, a Monk, and Inquisitor of the Romish faith, a man worthy for such an office, for he was an Apostate, and had renounced the known truth, and persecuted mortally and maliciously the poor Christians, against his own conscience, and of set purpose, as his books do sufficiently witness. He was also a whoremonger, and given over to all other villainies and filthy living, and in the horrible sin of Sodomitrie, which he commonly used, he passed all his fellows. Briefly,2 he was nothing else but a misshapen monster both against God and nature. Moreover, he so afflicted and tormented the poor captives of the said Waldoys, by spoiling, robbery, and extortion, that he deserved not only to be hanged, but to be broken upon the wheel a hundred times, and to suffer so many cruel deaths, if it were possible: so great, so many, and so horrible were the crimes that he had committed.
But for the better vnderstanding of the beginning of this horrible persecution against the Waldoys, heere note, that first of all proclamations were made in euery place, that none should resort to the Sermons of the Lutherans, but should liue after the custome of the Churche of Rome, vpon paine of forfaiture of their goods, and to be condemned to the Galleyes for euer, or loose their liues. Three of the most cruel persons that could be founde,1 were appoynted to execute this cōmission. The first was one Thomas Iacomel, a Monke, and Inquisitour of the Romish faith, a man worthy for suche an office, for hee was an Apostata, and had renounced the knowen truth, and persecuted mortally and malitiouslye the poore Christians, againste his owne conscience, and of set purpose, as his bookes do sufficiently witnesse. He was also a whoremonger, and geuen ouer to al other villanies and filthy liuing, and in the horrible sinne of Sodomitrie, which he cōmonly vsed, he passed all his fellowes. Briefly,