A67926:252
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.
Book 7 › ¶Christopher Shoemaker Martyr.Book 7 › ¶Christopher Shoomaker Martyr.
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.
IN turning over the Registers and Records of Lincoln likewise, and coming to the year of our Lord. 1520. and 1521. I find that as the light of the Gospel began more to appear, and the number of the professors to grow, so the vehemency of persecution, and stir of the bishops began also to increase. Whereupon ensued great perturbation & grievous affliction in divers & sundry quarters of this realm, especially about Buckingham shire, and Amershā, Uxbridge, Henley, Newbury, in the diocese of London, in Essex, Colchester, Suffolk and Norfolk, and other parts moe. And this was before the name of Luther was heard of in these countries among the people. Wherefore for they are much beguiled and miss informed, which condemn this kind of doctrine now received, of novelty, asking where was this church and religion xl. years ago, before Luther's time?1 To whom it may be answered, that this Religion and form of doctrine was planted by the Apostles, and taught by true Bishops, afterward decayed, and now reformed again, although it was not received nor admitted to the Popes Clergy before Luther's time, neither yet is, yet it was received of other, in whose hearts it pleased the Lord secretly to work, and that of a great number, which both professed and suffered for the same, as in the former times of this history may appear. And if they think this doctrine be so new, that it was not heard of before Luther's time how then came such great persecution before Luther's time here in England? If these were of the same profession, which they were of, then was their cruelty unreasonable, so to persecute their [figure] 2own Catholic fraternity. And if they were otherwise how then is this doctrine of the Gospel so new, or the professors thereof so late start up, as they pretend them to be?3 But this cometh only of ignorance, & for not knowing nor considering well the times & antiquities of the church which hath been before us. Which if they did, they should see and say, that the church of England hath not lacked great multitudes, which tasted & followed the sweetness of Gods holy word, almost in as ample manner, for the number of well disposed hearts as now. Although public authority then lacked to maintain the open preaching of the gospel, yet the secret multitude of true professors,4