A67926:377
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.
So it pleased God to blind then the eyes of them, for the more commodity of his people, to the intent that through the reading of his treatises, some fruit might redound thereof to his Church, as no doubt it did to many: As also I am partly informed of certain which knew the parties, which to them reported, that by reading of Chaucer's works,1 they were brought to the true knowledge of religion. And not unlike to be true. For to omit other parts of his volume, whereof some are more fabulous then other, what tale can be more plainly told then the tale of the ploughman? or what finger can point out more directly the Pope with his prelates to be Antichrist, then doth the poor Pelican reasoning against the greedy Griffon? Under which Hypotyposis or Poesy, who is so blind that seeth not by the Pelican, the doctrine of Christ: and of the Lollards to be defended against the Church of Rome? Or who is so impudent that can deny that to be true, which the Pelican there affirmeth in describing the presumptuous pride of that pretensed Church? Again what egg can be more like, or fig unto an other: then the words properties, and conditions of that ravening griphe resembleth the true Image, that s, the nature and qualities of that which we call the church of Rome, in every point & degree? and therefore no great marvel, if that narration was exempted out of the copies of Chaucer's works: which notwithstanding now is restored ⟨p. 840⟩again, and is extant for every man to read that is disposed.
So it pleased God to blind then the eyes of them, for ye more commoditie of his people, to the intent that through the reading of his treatises, some fruit might redound therof to his Church, as no doubt it dyd to many: As also I am partly enformed of certayne whiche knew the parties, which to them reported, yt by reading of Chaucers works,1 they were brought to the true knowledge of religion. And not vnlike to be true. For to omitte other partes of his volume, whereof some are more fabulous then other, what tale can be more playnly tolde then the tale of the ploughman? or what finger can poynt out more directly the Pope with his prelates to be Antichrist, then doth the poore Pellican reasoning agaynst the greedy Griffon? Under which Hypotyposis or Poesie, who is so blind that seeth not by the Pellican, the doctrine of Christ: and of the Lollardes to be defended against the Church of Rome? Or who is so impudent yt can deny that to be true, which the Pellicā there affirmeth in describing the presumptuous pryde of that pretensed Church? Agayne what egge can be more lyke, or fig vnto an other: then the wordes properties, and conditiōs of that rauening griphe resembleth the true Image, that s, the nature and quallities of that which we call ye church of Rome, in euery poynt & degree? and therefore no great meruaile, if that narratiō was exempted out of the copies of Chaucers workes: whiche notwithstanding now is restored