A67926:1832
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.
¶Instructions sent by the kings highness, to his trusty Counsellors and servants,1 M. Stephen Gardiner, Doctor of both laws, Sir Francis Bryan, Syr Gregory de Cassalis Knights, and M. Peter Van the kings Secretary for the Italian tongue, his ambassadors in the Court of Rome, for the election of the Cardinal of York, to the Papacy, if Pope Clement were dead. First, where as a good season since the dispatch of M. Stephen Gardiner, an Ambassiate towards the Court of Rome, the kings highness by sundry ways, hath been advertised of the death of our holy father the Pope Clement of that name the 7. whose soul Jesus pardon,2 by mean whereof, the charge heretofore committed by his grace unto his Orators, to have ben now executed with the said late Pope, can not at his hands take effect, his highness pondering and profoundly considering, the present state of Christendom, miserably and piteously afflicted with the intestine wars, dissentions, and discords, reigning amongst the Princes of the same, and how the dignity of the sea Apostolic, by such trouble and persecution, as hath been inferred thereunto, these years passed, is not a little diminished and impaired, like to come to total ruin, if by the help & assistance of good and virtuous Princes,3 the ambition of those, which study the exterminion thereof, be not in time repressed: considering furthermore, that as well to conduce rest and tranquillity in Christendom, as to restore, repair, and reintegrate the state, authority, and reputation of the said sea Apostolic, nothing is more requisite & necessary, then that such a head and common father, be now at this time of vacation of the dignity Papal, provided and elected to succeed in the same, as both may, can, and will purvey to the restoration of the said Sea, and that hath, and may have the assistance of such virtuous and puissant Princes, as tender the defence, maintenance, and increase of the dignity aforesaid, and that may meet with the inordinate ambition of the Emperor, who nothing more studieth, then for his own exaltation, to suppress the Church & Sea Apostolic:
¶Instructions sent by the kings highnesse, to his trustie Counsailours and seruaunts,1