A67926:2132
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.
Wherefore, if you will eschew the ruin of your crown & dignity, let their hypocrisy be uttered, & that shall be more speedful in this matter, then all the laws that may be made, be they never so strong. For to make a law for to punish any offender, except it were more for to give other men an ensample to beware how they commit such like, offence, what should it avail?1 Did not Doct. Alen most presumptuously now in your time, against all his allegiance all that ever he could, to pull from you the knowledge of such pleas, as belong unto your high Courts, unto an other Court in derogation of your crown and dignity? Did not also D. Horsey and his complices most heinously (as all the world knoweth) murder in prison that honest Merchant Rich. Hun, for that he sued your writ of Premunire against a priest that wrongfully held him in plea in a spiritual court, for a matter whereof the knowledge belonged unto your high Courts? And what punishment was there done, that any man may take example of, to beware of like offence? Truly none, but that the one paid 500. pound (as it is said) to the building of your chamber, & when that payment was once passed, the Captains of his kingdom (because he fought so manfully against your crown and dignity) have heaped to him, benefice upon benefice, so that he is rewarded 2x. times as much. The other (as it is said) paid 600. pound for him & his complices: which for because that he had like wise fought so manfully against your crown and dignity, was immediately as he had obtained your most gracious pardon, promoted by the captains of his kingdom, with benefice upon benefice, to the value of four times as much. Who can take example of punishment, to beware of such like offence? Who is he of their kingdom that will not rather take courage to commit like offence, seeing the promotions that fell to these men for their so offending? so weak and blunt is your sword to strike at one of the offenders of this crooked and perverse generation.
Wherfore, if you will eschew the ruine of your crowne & dignity, let theyr hipocrisy be vttred, & that shalbe more speedefull in this matter, then all the lawes that may bee made, be they neuer so strong. For to make a law for to punish any offender, except it were more for to geue other mē an ensample to beware how they commit such like, offence, what should it auayle?1