A67926:4175
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.
Long it were to recite what innumerable benefits this worthy Counsellor by his prudent policy, his grave authority and perfect zeal wrought and brought to pass in the public Realm, and especially in the Church of England, what good orders he established, what wickedness and vices he suppressed, what corruptions he reformed, what abuses he brought to light, what crafty jugglings what idolatrous deceptions, and superstitious illusions he detected and abolished out of the Church. What posterity will ever think the Church of the Pope pretending such religion, to have been so wicked,1 so long to abuse the peoples eyes, with an old rotten stock (called the Rood of grace) wherein a man should stand enclosed with an hundred wires within the rood, to make the Image goggle with the eyes, to nod with his head, to hang the lip, to move and shake his jaws according as the value was of the gift which was offered? If it were a small piece of silver, he would hang a frowning lip, if it were a piece of gold, then should his jaws go merrily. Thus miserably was the people of Christ abused, their souls seduced, their senses beguiled, and their purses spoiled, till this Idolatrous forgery at last, by Cromwels means was disclosed,2 and the image with all his engines showed openly at Pauls cross, and there torn in pieces by the people. The like was done by the blood of Hales, which in like manner by Cromwell was brought to Pauls cross, & there proved to be the blood of a duck.
Long it were to recite what innumerable benefits this worthy Counsellour by his prudent pollicie, his graue authoritie and perfect zeale wrought and brought to passe in the publicke Realme, and especially in the Church of England, what good orders he established, what wickednes and vices he suppressed, what corruptions he reformed, what abuses he broght to light, what crafty iuglings what idolatrous deceptions, and superstitious illusiōs he detected and abolished out of the Church. What posteritie will euer thinke the Church of the Pope pretendyng such religion, to haue bene so wicked,1 so long to abuse the peoples eyes, with an old rotten stocke (called the Roode of grace) wherein a man should stand inclosed with an hundreth wyers within the roode, to make the Image goggle with the eyes, to nod with his head, to hang the lippe, to mooue and shake his iawes according as the valew was of the gift which was offred? If it were a small piece of siluer, he would hang a frowning lippe, if it were a piece of gold, then should his iawes go merily. Thus miserablye was the people of Christ abused, their soules seduced, their senses beguiled, and their purses spoiled, till this Idolatrous forgerie at last, by Cromwels meanes was disclosed,