A67926:2429
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.
Now this fond foolish fantasy and mockery being done and played, which was to a Christian heart a thing ridiculous, Benet could no longer forbear,1 but fell to great laughter, but within him self, and for a great space could not cease: by the which thing the poor man was espied. For those that were next to him, wondering at that great curse, and believing that it could not but light on one or other, asked good Benet for what cause he should so laugh. My friends (said he) who can forbear, seeing such merry conceits and interludes plaid of the priests? Straightway a noise was made, Here is the heretic, here is the heretic, hold him fast, hold him fast. With that there was a great confusion of voices, and much clapping of hands, and yet they were uncertain whether he were the heretic or no. Some say,2 that upon the same he was taken and apprehended. Other report, that his enemies being uncertain of him, departed, and so he went home to his house. Where he being not able to digest the lies there preached, renewed his former bills, and caused his boy early in the morning following, to set the said bills upon the gates of the Churchyard. As the boy was setting one of the said bills upon a gate called the little stile, it chanced that one W.S. going to the Cathedral church to hear a Mass called Bartons Mass, which was then daily said about 5. of the clock in the morning, found the boy at the gate, and asking him whose boy he was,3 did charge him to be the heretic, which had set up the bills upon the gates, wherefore pulling down the bill, he brought the same together with the boy before the Major of the city, and thereupon Benet being known and taken, was violently committed to ward.
Now thys fond foolish phantasie and mockerie beyng done and played, which was to a Christian heart a thynge ridiculous, Benet could no longer forbear,1 but fel to great laughter, but within him selfe, and for a great space coulde not cease: by the which thing the poore manne was espyed. For those that were next to him, wondryng at that greate curse, and beleeuing that it coulde not but light on one or other, asked good Benet for what cause he should so laugh. My frendes (sayd he) who can forbeare, seeing suche merie conceites and enterludes plaid of the priestes? Straitway a noyse was made, Heere is the heretike, heere is the heretike, holde him fast, holde him fast. With that there was a greate confusion of voyces, and much clapping of handes, and yet they were vncertain whether he were the heretike or no. Some say,