A67926:4105
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.
Right reverend fathers in Christ: The kings majesty giveth you high thanks that ye have so diligently without any excuse, 1assembled hither according to his commandment. And ye be not ignorant that ye be called hither to determine certain controversies, which at this time be moved concerning the christian Religion and faith, not only in this Realm, but also in all nations through the world. For the king studieth day and night to set a quietness in the Church, and he can not rest, until all such controversies be fully debated and ended, through the determination of you & of his whole Parliament. For although his special desire is to set a stay for the unlearned people, whose con sciences are in doubt what they may believe: and he himself by his excellent learning, knoweth these controversies well enough, yet he will suffer no common alteration, but by the consent of you and of his whole Parliament. By the which thing ye may perceive both his high wisdom, and also his great love toward you. And he desireth you for Christs sake, that all malice obstinacy, and carnal respect set apart ye will friendly and lovingly dispute among your selves, of the controversies moved in the Church, 2and that ye will conclude all things by the word of God, without all brawling or scolding: neither will his majesty suffer the Scripture to be wrested and defaced by any Glosses, any papistical Laws, or by any authority of Doctors or Counsels, and much less will he admit any articles or doctrine, not contained in the Scripture, but approved only by continuance of time and old custom, and by unwritten verities, as ye were wont to do. Ye know well enough that ye be bound to show this service to Christ and to his Church, and yet notwithstanding his majesty will give you high thanks, if ye will set and conclude a godly and a perfect unity: whereunto this is the only way and mean, if ye will determine all things by the Scripture, as God commandeth you in Deuteronomy, which thing his majesty exhorteth and desireth you to do.
RIght reuerend fathers in Christe: The kinges maiesty geueth you high thankes that ye haue so diligently without any excuse, 1assembled hither according to his commaūdement. And ye be not ignoraunt that ye be called hither to determine certayne controuersies, which at this time be moued concerning the christian Religion and fayth, not onely in this Realme, but also in all nations through the world. For the king studyeth day and nyght to set a quietnesse in the Churche, and he can not rest, vntill all such controuersies be fully debated and ended, through the determination of you & of his whole Parliament. For although his speciall desire is to set a stay for the vnlearned people, whose cō sciences are in doubt what they may beleue: and he himselfe by his excellent learning, knoweth these controuersies wel enough, yet he will suffer no common alteration, but by the consent of you and of his whole Parliamēt. By the which thing ye may perceiue both his high wisedome, and also his great loue towarde you. And he desireth you for Christes sake, that all malice obstinacy, and carnall respecte set apart ye will frendly and louinglye dispute among your selues, of the controuersies moued in the Churche,