A67926:4000
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.
On the next morrow the matter was brought again before the same judges, and after better advise taken, there was a contrary decree made, that the whole multitude should not be put to the sword, but a few of the chief authors of their rebellion, should be punished and the City saved. There was therefore an other ship sent forth with a countermand in all haste to overtake and prevent their former ship, as also it happened. Neither was that noble city which then ruled and reigned far and wide, ashamed to altar and reform their former Decree. Many such examples there be, the most part whereof, I am sure are well known unto you. But in the Church especially, Princes have many times altered & reformed their Decrees, and Nebuchadnezzar & Darius. There was a Decree set forth in the name of Assuerus,1 concerning the killing of the Jews. That Decree was afterwards called in again. So did Adrianus and Antoninus also correct and reform their Decrees. Therefore, although there be a decree set forth in England, which threateneth strange punishments and penalties, disagreeing from the custom of the true Church, and swerving from the rules & Canons thereof: yet I thought it not unseemly for us to become petitioners unto you, for the mitigation of these your sharp and severe proceedings. The which when I consider,2 it grieveth my mind, not only for the peril and danger of them which profess the same doctrine that we do, but also I do lament for your cause, that they should make you an instrument and a minister of their bloody tyranny and impiety. And partly also I lament, to see the course of Christian doctrine perverted, superstitious rites confirmed, whoredom and lecherous •u•tes maintained. Besides all this, I here of divers good men, excelling both in doctrine and virtue, to be there detained in prison, as Latimer, Cromer, Shaxton and others, to whom I wish strength, patience, & consolation in the Lord. Unto whom albeit there can nothing happen more luckily or more gloriously,3 then to give their lives in the confession of the manifest truth and verity: yet would I wish that you should not distaine your hands with the blood of such men: neither would I wish such Lanterns of light in your Church, to be extinguished: neither these spiteful & malicious Pharisees, the enemies of Christ, to have their wills so much fulfilled.