A67926:1828
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 an ambitious letter, written by Thom. Wolsey, Cardinal of York, unto Stephen Gardiner, one of king Henrys Orators in the Court of Rome, for the procuring of the Papal dignity to the said Cardinal. Master Stephen, all be it ye shall be sufficiently with your Colleagues, by such instructions as be given to Monsieur Vincent, informed of the kings mind and mine, concerning my advancement unto the dignity Papal, not doubting but that for the singular devotion,1 which you bear towards the king and his affairs, both general and particular, and perfect love, which ye have towards me, ye will omit nothing that may be excogitate to serve and conduce to that purpose, yet I thought convenient for the more fervent expression of my mind in that behalf, to write unto you, (as to the person whom I most entirely do trust, and by whom this thing shall be most pithily set forth) these few words following, of my own hand. I doubt not but ye do profoundly consider, as well the state, wherein the Church and all Christendom doth stand now presently, as also the state of this Realm, and of the kings secrete matter, which if it should be brought to pass,2 by any other means then by the authority of the Church, I account this Prince and Realm utterly undone. Wherefore it is expedient to have such a one to be Pope and common father of all Princes, as may, can, and will give remedy to the premisses. And albeit I account my self much unable, and that it shall be now incommodious in this mine old age, to be the said common father, yet when all things be well pondered, and the qualities of all the Cardinals well considered (Absit verbum jactantiae) there shall be none found that can and will set remedy in the foresaid things, but only the Cardinal of York,3 whose good will and zeal is not to you of all men, unknown. And were it not for the reintegration of the state of the Church, and sea Apostolic to the pristine dignity, and for the conducing of peace amongst Christian princes, and specially to relieve this Prince & realm from the calamities that the same be now in, all the riches or honour of the world should not cause me, Ne dum aspirare, sed ne consentire, to accept the said dignity, although the same with all commodities were offered unto me.
¶The copie of an ambitious letter, wrytten by Thom. Wolsey, Cardinall of Yorke, vnto Stephen Gardiner, one of king Henries Oratours in the Court of Rome, for the procuring of the Papall dignitie to the sayd Cardinall. MAister Stephen, all be it ye shalbe sufficiently with your Colleages, by suche instructions as be geuen to Monsieur Vincent, informed of the kings minde and mine, concerning my aduauncement vnto the dignitye Papall, not doubting but that for the singular deuotion,