A67926:4035
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.
First as touching his birth, he was borne at Putney or thereabout, being a Smiths son, whose mother married after unto a shireman. In the simple estate & rude beginnings of this man (as of divers other before him) we may see and learn that the excellency of noble virtues & heroical prowesses, which advance to fame and honour, stand not only upon birth & blood, as privileges only entailed appropriate to noble houses: but are disposed indifferently & proceed of the gift of God, who raiseth up the poor object many times out of the dunghill, & matcheth him in throne with Peers and Princes. Psal. 113.
First as touchyng his byrth, he was borne at Putney or thereabout, being a Smithes sonne, whose mother maried after vnto a shyreman. In the simple estate & rude begynnyngs of this man (as of diuers other before him) we may see and learne that the excellencie of noble vertues & heroicall prowesses, which aduaunce to fame and honour, stād not onely vpon byrth & bloud, as priuileges onely intayled appropriat to noble houses: but are disposed indifferently & proceede of the gift of God, who rayseth vp the poore obiect many tymes out of the donghill, & matcheth him in throne with Peeres and Princes. Psal. 113.
As touching the order and manner of his coming up,1 it would be superfluous to discourse what may be said at large: only by way of story it may suffice to give a touch of certain particulars, and so to proceed. Although the humble condition and poverty of this man was at the beginning (as it is to many other) a great let & hinderance for virtue to show her self, yet such was the activity and forward ripeness of nature in him so pregnant in wit & so ready he was, in judgement discreet, in tongue eloquent, in service faithful, in stomach courageous, in his pen active, that being conversant in the sight of men, he could not long be unespied, not yet unprovided of favour & help of friends to set him forward in place and office. Neither was any place or office put unto him, whereunto he was not apt & fit. Nothing was so hard which with wit and industry he could not compass. Neither was his capacity so