A67926:1459
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.
¶The copy of a letter congratulatory, sent from the Doctors of Lovane, to the Archbysh. of S. Andrews and Doctors of Scotland, commending them for the death of master Patrick Hamilton.
¶The copie of a letter congratulatorie, sente from the Doctours of Louane, to the Archbysh. of S. Andrewes and Doctours of Scotland, commending them for the death of mayster Patrike Hamelton.
1Your excellent virtue (most honourable Bishop) hath so deserved, that albeit we be far distant, both by sea and land, without conjunction of familiarity, yet we desire with all our harts, to thank you for your worthy deed, by whose works, that true faith which not long ago, was tainted with heresy, not only remaineth unhurt, but also is more confirmed. For as our dear friend M. Alexander Galoway, Canon of Aberdon, hath showed us, the presumption of the wicked heretic Patrick Hamilton, which is expressed in this your example, in that you have cut him off, when there was no hope of amendment, &c. The which thing, as it is thought commendable to us, so the manner of the proceeding was no less pleasant,2 that the matter was performed by so great consent of so many estates, as of the Clergy, nobility, and vulgar people, not rashly, but most prudently, the order of law being in all points observed. We have seen the sentence which ye pronounced, and alway do approve the same, not doubting but that the Articles which be inserted, are erroneous: so that whosoever will defend for a truth, any one of the same, with pertinacity, should be esteemed an enemy to the faith, and an adversary to the holy Scripture. And albeit one or two of them appear to be without error,3 to them that will consider only the bare words: as (for example) good works make not a good man, but a good man worketh good works, yet there is no doubt, but they contain a Lutheran sense, which in a manner, they signify: to wit, that works done after faith, and justification, make not a man the better, nor are worthy of any reward before God. Believe not, that this example shall have place only among you, for there shall be among extern nations, which shall imitate the same, &c. Certainly, ye have given us great courage, so that now we acknowledge your University, which was founded according to the example of our University of Lovane, to be equal to ours, or else above: and would God occasion were offered of testifying our minds toward you. In the mean time, let us labour with one consent, that the ravening Wolves may be expelled from the sheepfold of Christ, while we have time.