A67926:4001
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.
Neither again would I wish that you should so much serve the will and desire of that Romish Antichrist, which laugheth in his sleeve to see you now to take part with him, against us hoping well by the help of his bishops, to recover again his former possession, which of late by your virtuous and godly means be lost. He seeth your Bishops,1 for the time, loyal unto you, and obsequious to obey your will: but in heart he seeth them linked unto him in a perpetual bond of fidelity and obedience. In all these feats and practises, the Romish Bishops are not to seek. They see what great storms and blasts heretofore they have passed by bearing & suffering. They see that great things be brought to pass in time. Neither do they forget the old verse of the Poet. Multa, dies variusque labour mutabilis aevi Retulit in melius. Many good and learned men in Germany conceived of you great hope, that by your authority and example other Princes also would be provoked to surcease likewise from their unjust cruelty, and better to advise them selves for the reformation of errors crept into the Church: trusting that you would be as a guide and Captain of that godly purpose and enterprise. But now seeing these your contrary proceedings, we are utterly discouraged: the indignation of other Princes is confirmed: the stubbornness of the wicked is augmented: and old and great errors are thereby stablished. But here your Bishops will say again (no doubt) that they defend no errors, but the very truth of Gods holy word. And although they be not ignorant that they strive in very deed, both against the true word of God, and the Apostolic Church, yet like crafty Sophisters, they can find out fair glosses, pretending a goodly show outwardly, to colour their errors and abuses. And this sophistication not only now in England is had in great admiration, and esteemed for great wisdom,2 neither in Rome only reigneth, where Cardinal Couterrenus, Sadolet, and Cardinal Poole, go about to paint out abuses with new colours and goodly glosses: but also in Germany divers noble men are likewise corrupted and seduced with the like sophistication. And therefore I nothing marvel that so many there with you be deceived with these crafty jugglings.
Neither againe woulde I wish that you shoulde so muche serue the will and desire of that Romishe Antichrist, which laugheth in his sleeue to see you nowe to take part with him, against vs hoping well by the helpe of his bishops, to recouer againe his former possessiō, whych of late by your vertuous and godly meanes be lost. He seeth your Bishops,