A67926:4514
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.
1Now the prisoners being condemned and had away, prepared themselves to die on the morrow, comforting one an other in the death and passion of their master Christ, who had led the way before them, trusting that the same lord which had made them worthy to suffer so far for his sake, would not now withdraw his strength from them, but give them steadfast faith & power to overcome those fiery torments, and of his free mercy and goodness (without their deserts) for his promise sake, receive their souls. Thus lay they all the night long (till very dead sleep took them) calling to God for his aide and strength, and praying for their persecutors, which of blind zeal and ignorance had done they wist not what, that God of his merciful goodness would forgive them,2 and turn their hearts to the love and knowledge of his blessed and holy word: Yea such heavenly talk was among them that night, that the hearers watching the prison without, whereof the Sheriff himself was one, with divers gentlemen moe, were constrained to shed out plenty of tears, as they themselves confessed.
1Now the prisoners being condemned and had away, prepared themselues to die on the morow, comforting one an other in the deathe and passion of theyr maister Christe, who had ledde the way before them, trusting that the same lord which had made them worthy to suffer so farre for hys sake, would not nowe withdraw his strength from them, but geue them stedfast faith & power to ouercome those firie torments, and of his free mercy and goodnes (wythout theyr desertes) for hys promise sake, receiue theyr soules. Thus lay they all the night long (til very dead sleepe tooke them) calling to God for hys aide and strength, and praying for their persecuters, whiche of blinde zeale and ignoraunce had done they wist not what, that God of hys mercifull goodnes would forgeue them,2 and turne theyr hearts to the loue and knowledge of his blessed and holy worde: Yea such heauenly talke was among them that night, that the hearers watching the prison without, wherof the Shiriffe hymselfe was one, with diuers gentlemen moe, were constrained to shed out plēty of teares, as they themselues confessed.