A67926:2091
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 Saturday next following, when the Officers of execution (as the manner is) with their glaives and halberds were ready to receive him, and to lead him to the place of execution without the City gate, called Bishops gate, in a low valley commonly called the Lollards pit, under S. Leonards hill environed about with great hills (which place was chosen for the peoples quiet sitting to see the execution) at the coming forth of the said Thomas Bilney out of the prison door,1 one of his friends came to him with few words, as he durst, spake to him & prayed him & in Gods behalf, to be constant and to take his death as patiently as he could. Whereunto the said Bilney answered, with a quiet and mild countenance: Ye see when the Mariner is entered his ship to sail on the troublous Sea, how he for a while is tossed in the billows of the same but yet in hope that he shall once come to the quiet haven, he beareth in better comfort, the perils which he feeleth: So am I now toward this sailing, & what soever storms ⟨p. 1013⟩I shall feel, yet shortly after shall my ship be in the haven: as I doubt not thereof by the grace of God, desiring you to help me with your prayers to the same effect.2 And so he going forth in the streets, giving much alms by the way, by the hands of one of his friends, & accompanied with one D. Warner Doct. of Divinity and parson of Wintertō, whom he did choose as his old acquaintance, to be with him for his ghostly comfort: came at the last, to the place of execution, and ascended down from the hill to the same, apparelled in a lay mans gown with his sleeves hanging down, & his arms out, his hear being pitiously mangled at his degradation (a little single body in person, but always of a good upright countenance) and drew near to the stake prepared, & somewhat tarrying the preparation of the fire, he desired that he might speak some words to the people, and there standing, thus he said:
The Saterday next following, when the Officers of execution (as the maner is) with their gleaues and halbardes were ready to receaue hym, and to leade him to the place of execution without the Citty gate, called Byshops gate, in a low valley commonly called the Lollards pit, vnder S. Leonards hyl enuironed about with great hylles (whiche place was chosen for the peoples quiet sitting to see the executiō) at the comming forth of the sayd Thomas Bilney out of the prison doore,