A67926:2156
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.
*A proclamation for resisting and withstanding of most damnable heresies, sown within this realm by the disciples of Luther and other heretics, perverters of Christs religion.
*A proclamation for resisting and withstanding of most damnable heresies, sowen within this realme by the disciples of Luther and other heretikes, peruerters of Christes religion.
The king our sovereign Lord, of his most virtuous and gracious disposition,1 considering that this noble realm of England, hath of long time continued in the true Catholic faith of Christs religion, and that his noble progenitors, kings of this his said realm, have before this time made and enacted, many devout laws, statutes and ordinances, for the maintenance and defence of the said faith against the malicious and wicked sects of heretics and Lollards, who by perversion of holy Scripture, do induce the erroneous opinions, sow sedition among Christen people, and finally disturb the peace and tranquillity of Christen realms, as late happened in some parties of Germany, where, by the procurement and sedition of Martin Luther and other heretics, were slain an infinite number of Christen people: considering also, that as well by the corruption & malice of indiscreet ⟨p. 1020⟩preachers, sautors of the said erroneous sects as by certain heretical and blasphemous books lately made and privily sent into this realm, by the disciples, fautors, & adherents of the said Martin Luther & other heretics, the kings subjects are like to be corrupted, unless his highness (as the defensor of the faith) do put to his most gracious help & authority royal to the due & speedy reformation thereof, his highness therefore, like a most gracious Prince, of his blessed & virtuous disposition, for the incomparable zeal, which he hath to Christs religion & faith, & for the singular love & affection that he beareth to all his good subjects of this his realm, & specially to the salvation of their souls, according to his office▪ & duty in that behalf, willeth and intendeth to provide with all convenient expedition, that this his noble realm may be preserved from the said pestiferous, cursed, & seditious errors. And for as much as his highness is credibly informed, that some of the said errors be already sown & spread within this his realm, partly by the corruption of indiscreet preachers, partly by erroneous books, compiled, printed & written, as well in the English tongue, as in latin & other languages, replete with most venomous heresies, blasphemies & slanders, intolerable to the clean ears of any good christen man: