A67926:308
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.
In this Table above prefixed, thou hast gentle reader, to see and understand: First the number and names of these good men and women troubled and molested by the church of Rome, and all in one year: of whom few or none were learned, being simple labourers and artificers, but as it pleased the Lord to work in them knowledge and understanding, by reading a few English books, such as they could get in corners. Secondly what were their opinions we have also described. And thirdly herein is to be noted moreover, the blind ignorance & uncourteous dealing of the bishops against them, not only in that they, by their violent oath, and captious interrogatories, constrained the children to accuse their parents and parents the children: the husband the wife, & the wife the husband. &c. but especially in the most wrongfully they so afflicted them, without all good reason or cause, only for the sincere verity of Gods word, & reading of holy Scriptures.
In this Table aboue prefixed, thou hast gentle reader, to se and vnderstand: First the number and names of these good men and women troubled and molested by the church of Rome, and all in one yeare: of whom few or none were learned, being simple laborers and artificers, but as it pleased the Lord to worke in them knowledge and vnderstanding, by reading a few English bookes, such as they could get in corners. Secōdly what were theyr opiniōs we haue also described. And thirdly herein is to be noted moreouer, the blind ignorance & vncourteous dealing of the bishops agaynst them, not onely in that they, by theyr violent othe, and captious interrogatoryes, constrayned the children to accuse theyr parentes and parents the childrē: the husband the wife, & the wife the husband. &c. but especially in ye most wrongfully they so afflicted them, without all good reason or cause, onely for the sincere verity of Gods worde, & reading of holy Scriptures.
Now it remaineth, that as you have heard the opinions (which principally in number were 4.) so also we declare their reasons & scriptures whereupon they grounded,1 & after that consequently the order & manner of penance to them enjoined by the Bishop. And first against pilgrimage and against worshipping of Images, they used this text of the