A67926:2539
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.
My friends all, you know well that we be men frail of condition and no Angels, and by frailty and lack of wisdom, we have misdemeaned our self toward the king our sovereign Lord and his laws,1 so that all we of the Clergy were in the Premunire, by reason whereof, all our promotions, lands, goods and chattels were to him forfeit, & our bodies ready to be imprisoned: yet his grace moved with pity and compassion, demanded of us what we could say, why he should not extend his laws upon us. Then the Fathers of the Clergy humbly besought his grace of mercy. To whom he answered that he was ever inclined to mercy. Then for all our great offences, we had little penance: For where he might by the rigour of his law, have taken all our livelihood, goods and chattels, he was contented with one hundred thousand pounds to be paid in 5. years. And although that this sum be more then we may easily bear, yet by the rigour of his laws we should have borne the whole burden. Wherefore my brethren, I charitably exhort you to bear your parts of your livelihood & salary toward the payment of this sum granted.
My frendes all, you knowe well that we be men fraile of condition and no Aungels, and by frailtie and lacke of wisedome, wee haue misdemeaned oure selfe towarde the king our soueraigne Lord and his lawes,1 so that all we of the Cleargie were in the Premunire, by reason whereof, all our promotions, landes, goodes and cattels were to hym forfaite, & our bodies ready to be imprisoned: yet his grace moued with pitie and compassion, demaunded of vs what we could say, why he should not extend his lawes vpō vs. Then the Fathers of the Cleargye humbly besought hys grace of mercy. To whom he aunswered that he was euer enclined to mercy. Then for all our great offences, we had litle penaunce: For where he might by the rigour of hys law, haue taken all our liuelode, goods and cattels, he was contented with one hundreth thousand pounds to be payd in 5. yeres. And although that this summe be more then we may easely beare, yet by the rigor of his lawes we shoulde haue borne the whole burthen. Wherefore my brethren, I charitably exhorte you to beare your partes of your liuelode & salarie toward the paiment of this summe graūted.
- 1The bishops persuasion to the priests to help thē to pay there forfeit.