A67926:2050
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.
First, he saith, that certain Norwich men writing to London, and denying that Bilney did recant, afterward being thereupon examined, were compelled to grant, that he at his examination read a bill, but what it was, they could not tell, for they stood not so near, to hear him. And albeit they stood not so near, yet some of them perceived certain things there spoken, whereby they thought that he did revoke. Some again added to those things spoken certain additions of their own, to excuse him from recantation.
First, he sayth, that certayne Norwichmen writing to London, and denying that Bilney did recant, afterward being therupon examined, were compelled to graunt, that he at his examination redde a bill, but what it was, they could not tel, for they stood not so neare, to heare hym. And albeit they stood not so neare, yet some of them perceaued certayne thinges there spoken, whereby they thought that he did reuoke. Some agayne added to those things spoken certayne additions of their owne, to excuse him from recantation.
First to answer hereunto, and to try out this matter somewhat roundly with M. More, let us see with what conveyance he proceedeth in this narration. At his first examination (saith he) he waxed stiff in his opinions, but yet God was so good Lord unto him, that he was fully converted to the true Catholic faith. &c. And when might this goodly conversion begin? Many days (quoth he) before his burning. Here is no certain day assigned, but many days left at large, that he might have ye larger room, to walk invisible. Well then, but how many days could these be, I would fain learn of M. More, when he was not many days in their hands, no longer then they could send up to London for a writ to burn him? Belike ⟨p. 1009⟩then shortly after his apprehension, at the first coming of the fryers unto him, by and by he revolted. A strange matter,1 that he which 2. years before had lain in such a burning hell of despair, for his first abjuration, and could find no other comfort, but only in returning to the same doctrine again, which before he had denied, utterly resigning himself over to death, and taking his leave of his friends, and setting his face with Christ purposely to go to Jerusalem, voluntarily there to fall into the hands of the Scribes & Pharisees for that doctrines sake, should now so soon, even at the first brunt, give over to the contrary doctrine again. It is not like. God was so good Lord unto him, saith M. More. That God was good Lord unto him very true it is. But that God did so turn him in deed, to be a member of that Romish Church, that hath not M. More yet sufficiently proved. To affirm without proof or demonstration, in matters of story, it is not sufficient. But what hath been done in deed, that must be proved by good evidence and special demonstration of witnesses, that we may certainly know it so to be.