A67926:164
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.
Again, how is it possible, or can it be imagined, for him to hang himself, climbing up by a stool which had no stay for him to stand upon, but stood so tickle, that if he had touched the same never so little, it must needs have fallen?
Again, how is it possible, or can it be imagined, for him to hang himselfe, climing vp by a stoole which had no stay for him to stand vpon, but stood so tickle, that if he had touched the same neuer so litle, it must needes haue fallen?
But Cope being something more provident in this matter, seemeth to exceed not altogether so far as doth M. Moore. For he understanding the case to be ambiguous, & doubtful, so leaveth it, in suspense, neither determining that Hun did hang himself, and yet not admitting that he died a martyr,1 no more then they which are quelled by thieves & murderers in high way sides. Well, be it so as Cope doth argue, that they which dye by the hands of felons and murderers in thievish ways, be no martyrs, yet notwithstanding this his own similitude, comparing the Bishops Chancellor & officers to thieves and murderers, doth grant at least that Hun dyed a true man, although no Martyr. Now if the cause be it, and not the pain, that maketh a Martyr, in pondering the cause why Hun was slain, we shall find it not altogether like to the cause of them which perish by Thieves and Robbers.2 For such commonly because of their goods, and for some worldly gain to be sought by their death, are made away, & being true men, may peradventure have the reward, although not the name of Martyrs: Whereas this mans death being wrought neither for money, nor any such temporal lucre to redound to his oppressors, as it hath an other cause, so may it have an other name, and deserve to be called by the name of Martyrdom. Like as Abel being slain by wicked Cain, albeit he had no opinion of religion articulate against him,3 but of spite only and of malice was made away, yet notwithstanding is justly numbered among the Martyrs: so what let to the contrary, but that Hun also with him may be reckoned in the same society, seeing the cause wherefore they both did suffer, proceedeth together out of one fountain? And what moreover if a man should call Naboth (who for holding his right inheritance was slain) a Martyr, what great injury should he do either to the name or cause of the person, worthy to be carped? Against Thomas Becket yet know M. Cope no special article of faith was laid, wherefore he dyed. And why then do you bestow upon him so devoutly the title of a martyr, for withholding that from the king, which by law of God, and of the realm did belong unto him: and cannot suffer Hun to be titled for a Marty.,