A67926:2086
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.
I may be thought perhaps of some, to have stayed to long about the discourse of this matter. But the cause that moved, and half constrained me thereunto, was sir Tho. More, sometimes Lord Chancellor of England, & now a great Archpiller of all our English Papists, a man otherwise of a pregnant wit, full of pleasant conceits, also for his learning above the common sort of his estate, esteemed industrious, no less in his studies then well exercised in his pen. Who if he had kept himself in his own shop, and applied the faculty, being a lay man, whereunto he was called, and had not over reached himself to prove maystryes in such matters, wherein he had little skill, less experience, and which pertained not to his profession, he had deserved, not only much more commendation, but also longer life.
I may be thought perhaps of some, to haue stayed to long about the discourse of thys matter. But the cause that moued, and halfe constrained me thereunto, was syr Tho. More, sometimes Lord Chauncellour of England, & now a great Archpiller of all our Englishe Papistes, a man otherwise of a pregnaunt witte, full of pleasaunt conceites, also for hys learning aboue the common sort of his estate, esteemed industruous, no lesse in hys studyes then wel exercised in hys penne. Who if hee had kept hymselfe in hys owne shoppe, and applyed the facultie, being a laye man, whereunto he was called, and had not ouer reached hymselfe to proue maystryes in such matters, wherein hee had little skill, lesse experience, and which pertayned not to his profession, he had deserued, not onely much more commendation, but also longer lyfe.
But for so much as he, not contented with his own vocation, hath with Oza reached out his unmeet hand ⟨p. 1012⟩to meddle with Gods Ark matters, wherein he had little cunning and while he thinketh to help religion, destroyeth religion, and is an utter enemy to Christ, and to his spiritual doctrine, and his poor afflicted Church, to the intent therefore that he being taken for a special ringleader, and a chief stay in the Popes Church, might the better be known what he is, and that the ignorant and simple may see what little credit is to be given unto him, as well in his other false facing out of matters, as namely in this present history of Bilneys recantation: I have diligently searched out and procured the true certificate of M. Bilneys burning, with all the circumstances, and points thereto belonging, testified not by some says & by hearsays (as M. More useth) but truly witnessed,