A67926:4070
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.
But here I must of necessity answer the complaint of certain of our country men. For so I hear of many, the subversion of these Monasteries to be reprehended,1 as evil and wicked. The building (say they) might have been converted unto schools and houses of learning. The goods and possessions might have been bestowed to much better and more godly use of the poor, and maintaining of hospitality. Neither do I deny, but that these things are well and godly spoken of them, and could willingly embrace their opinion with my whole hart, if I did not consider herein a more secret and deeper meaning of Gods holy providence, then at the first blush peradventure to all men doth appear.
But heere I must of necessitie answeare the complaynt of certayne of our countrey men. For so I heare of many, the subuersion of these Monasteries to be reprehended,1 as euill and wicked. The building (say they) mighte haue bene conuerted vnto schooles and houses of learning. The goodes and possessions might haue bene bestowed to much better and more godly vse of the poore, and mainteining of hospitalitie. Neyther do I denie, but that these thyngs are well and godly spoken of them, and could willingly embrace their opinion with my whole hart, if I did not consider heerein a more secret and deeper meaning of Gods holy prouidence, then at the first blush peraduenture to all men doth appeare.
- 1The defence of the L. Cromwell for overthrowing the Abbeys.The defence of the L. Cromwell for ouerthrowing the Abbayes.
And first to omit the wicked and execrable life of these religious orders,1 full of all feditie, & found out by the Kings visitors, and in their Registers also recorded, so horrible to be heard, so incredible to be believed, so stinking before the face of God and man, that no marvel it is if Gods vengeance from heaven provoked, would not suffer any stone or monument of these abominable houses to be unplucked up. But (as I said) letting these things pass under chaste silence, which for very shame will abhor any story to disclose: let us now come to the first institution of these orders and houses of Monkery, and consider how and to what end they were first instituted and erected here among the Saxons, at the first foundation of them, about the time 666.