A67926:4174
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.
If the same Lord Cromwell which could not abide this serving man so disfigured in his hair, were now in these our days alive with the same authority, which then he had, and saw these new fangled fashions of attire, used here amongst us both of men and women, I suppose verily, that neither these monstrous ruffs, nor these prodigious hose, and prodigal or rather hyperbolical barbarous breeches (which seem rather like barrels then breeches) would have any place in England. In which unmeasurable excess of vesture, this I have to marvel: first how these serving men, which commonly have nothing else but their wages, and that so slender and bare, can maintain such slops, so huge and so sumptuous,1 which commonly stand them in more, then their three years wages do come unto. Secondly I marvel, that their masters and Lords (who shall yield to God account of their servants doings) do not search and try out their servants walks, how they come by these expenses, wherewith to uphold this bravery, seeing their stipendiary wages, and all revenues else they have, will not extend thereunto. Thirdly, this most of all is to be marvelled, that magistrates which have in their hands the ordering and guiding of good laws do not provide more severely for the needful reformation of these enormities. But here we may well see, & truly this may say that England once had a Cromwell.
If the same Lorde Cromwell which could not abyde this seruyng man so disfigured in his haire, were now in these our dayes aliue with the same authoritie, which then he had, and saw these new fangled fashions of attire, vsed here amongst vs both of men and women, I suppose verily, that neither these monstruous ruffes, nor these prodigious hose, and prodigall or rather hyperbolicall barbarous breeches (which seeme rather lyke barels then breeches) would haue any place in England. In which vnmeasurable excesse of vesture, this I haue to maruell: first how these seruing men, which commonly haue nothyng els but their wages, and that so slender and bare, cā maintaine such slops, so huge and so sumptuous,1 which cōmonly stand them in more, then their three yeares wages doe come vnto. Secondly I maruell, that their maisters and Lordes (who shall yeld to God account of their seruaunts doings) do not search and trie out their seruants walkes, how they come by these expenses, wherewith to vpholde this brauerie, seing their stipendary wages, and all reuenues els they haue, will not extend thereunto. Thirdlye, this most of all is to be marueiled, that magistrates which haue in their hands the ordring and guiding of good laws do not prouide more seuerely for the needfull reformation of these enormities. But here we may well see, & truly this may say that England once had a Cromwell.