A67926:2533
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.
No man here doubteth,1 but that all this was wrought not by mans devise, but by the secrete purpose of the Lord himself, to bring to pass further things (as afterward followed) which his divine providence was disposed to work. For else as touching the the kings intent & purpose, he never meant nor minded any such thing as to seek the ruin of the pope, but rather sought all means contrary, how both to stablish the Sea of Rome, & also to obtain the good will of the same Sea and Court of Rome, if it might have been gotten. And therefore intending to sue his divorce from Rome, at the first beginning: his devise was by Stephen Gardiner his Ambassador at Rome, to exalt the Cardinal of York,2 as is before showed pag. 990. to be made pope and universal Bishop, to the end that he ruling that Apostolic sea, the matter of his unlawful marriage, which so troubled his conscience, might come to a quiet conclusion, without any further rumour of the world. Which purpose of his if it had taken effect as he had devised it, and the English Cardinal had once been made Pope, no doubt, but the authority of that sea had never been exterminate out of England. But God being more merciful unto us, took a better way then so. For both without and contrary to the kings expectation, he so brought to pass, that neither the Cardinal of York was Pope (which should have been an infinite cost to the king) and yet nevertheless the king sped of his purpose too,3 and that much better then he looked for: For he was rid, by lawful divorcement, not only from that unlawful marriage which clogged his conscience but also from the miserable yoke of the popes usurped dominion, which clogged the whole realm, and all at one time.
No man here doubteth,1 but that al this was wrought not by mans deuise, but by the secrete purpose of the Lord himselfe, to bryng to passe further thinges (as afterwarde followed) whiche his diuine prouidence was disposed to work. For els as touching the ye kings intent & purpose, he neuer meant nor mynded any such thing as to seek the ruine of the pope, but rather sought all meanes cōtrary, how both to stablish the Sea of Rome, & also to obteyne ye good will of the same Sea and Court of Rome, if it might haue bene gotten. And therefore intending to sue his diuorse frō Rome, at the first beginning: his deuise was by Stephen Gardiner his Ambassadour at Rome, to exalt the Cardinall of York,