A67926:2433
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 principal point between Basset & him, was touching the supremacy of the B. of Rome, whom in his bills he named Antichrist,1 the thief, the mercenary, & the murderer of Christs flock: and these disputations lasted about 8. days, where at sundry times repaired to him both the black and grey Friars, with priests and Monks of that City. They that had some learning, persuaded him to believe the Church, and showed by what tokens she is known. The other unlearned railed, & said that the devil tempted him, and spit upon him, calling him heretic: who prayed God to give them a better mind, & to forgive them: For (said he) I will rather die, then worship such a beast, the very whore of Babylon,2 and a false usurper, as manifestly it doeth appear by his doings. They asked what he did, that he had not power and authority to do, being gods vicar? He doth (quoth he) sell the sacraments of the Church for money, he selleth remission of sins daily for money, and so do you likewise: for there is no day but ye say divers Masses for souls in feigned Purgatory,3 yea, and ye spare not to make lying sermons to the people, to maintain your false traditions and foul gains. The whole world doth begin now to note your doings, to your utter confusion & shame.4 The shame (said they) shall be to thee and to such as thou art, thou foul heretic. Wilt thou allow nothing done in holy Church? What a perverse heretic art thou? I am (said he) no heretic, but a Christian man, I thank Christ, and with all my heart will allow all things done & used in the church to the glory of God, and edifying of my soul: but I see nothing in your church, but that maintaineth the devil. What is our church, said they? It is not my church (quoth Benet) God give me grace to be of a better church,5 for verily your church is the plain church of Antichrist, the malignant church, the second church, a den of thieves, an ambry of poison, and as far wide from the true universal & Apostolic church, as heaven is distant from the earth.
The principal poynt betweene Basset & hym, was touching the supremacie of the B. of Rome, whom in his bils he named Antichriste,