A67926:4653
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.
Book 8 › *The recantation of John Haywood.Book 8 › *The recantation of Iohn Haywood.
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.
I Am come hither at this time, (good people) willing and of mine own desirous suit,1 to show and declare unto you briefly. First of all the great and inestimable clemency, and mercifulness of our most sovereign and redoubted Prince, the kings Majesty, the which his highness hath most graciously used towards me a wretch most justly and worthily condemned to dye, for my manifold and outrageous offences, heinously and traitorously committed against his majesty and his laws. For whereas your majesties supremacy hath so often been opened unto me both by writing and speaking (if I had grace, either to open mine eyes to see it, or mine ears to hear it) to be surely and certainly grounded, and established upon the very true word of God. Yet for lack of grace I have most wilfully and obstinately suffered my self to fall to such blindness, that I have not only thought that the bysh. of Rome hath been and ought to be taken the chief and supreme head of the universal Church of Christ hear in earth, but also like no true subject concealed and favoured such as I have known or thought to be of the opinion. For the which most detestable treasons and untruths. I hear most humbly and with all my hart, first of all ask the kings majesty forgiveness, and secondarily of the world, beseeching all these that either now do, or hereafter shall hear of these my great transgressions, to take this mine example for an instruction for them to call for grace, that they thereby be staid from falling at any time in such miserable blindness and folly. Moreover, here afore God and you (good Christian people) I do utterly & withal my hart, recant & revoke all mine aforesaid erroneous and traitorous opinions. And (as my conscience now doth force) I protest that even with my hart I firmly think and undoubtedly believe, that the Bishop of Rome neither now hath, nor at any time hath had, or can have by any law of God or man, any more authority without the precinct of his own country about him, then any other Bishop hath within his own diocese. Whereby I assuredly take the abolishing of the pretensed and usurped power or authority of the Bishop of Rome out of this Realm to be done justly and truly by the law of God.
I Am come hyther at this time, (good people) willing and of mine own disirous sute,1 to shew and declare vnto you briefely. First of all the great and inestimable clemency, and mercifulnesse of our moste soueraigne and redoubted Prince, the kinges Maiesty, the which his highnesse hath most graciously vsed towardes me a wretch moste iustlye and worthely condempned to dye, for my manifolde and outragious offences, haynously and trayterously committed agaynst his maiestye and his lawes. For wheras your maiestyes supremacy hath so often bene opened vnto me both by writing and speaking (if I had grace, either to open mine eies to see it, or mine eares to heare it) to be surely and certaynely grounded, and established vpon the very true worde of God. Yet for lacke of grace I haue moste wilfully and obstinately suffered my selfe to fall to suche blindnes, yt I haue not onely thought yt the bysh. of Rome hath bene and ought to be taken the chiefe and supreame head of the vniuersall Church of Christ heare in earth, but also like no true subiect conceiled and fauored such as I haue knowne or thought to be of the opinion. For the which moste detestable treasons and vntruthes. I heare most humbly and with all my hart, first of all aske the kinges maiesty forgeuenesse, and secondarily of the world, beseeching all these that either now doe, or hereafter shall heare of these my great transgressions, to take this mine example for an instruction for them to call for grace, that they therby be stayd from falling at any time in such miserable blindnesse and folly. Moreouer, here afore God and you (good Christian people) I do vtterly & withall my hart, recāt & reuoke all mine aforesayd erronious and trayterous opinions. And (as my conscience now doth force) I protest that euē wyth my hart I firmely thinke and vndoubtedly beleue, that the Byshop of Rome neyther now hath, nor at any time hath had, or can haue by any law of God or man, any more authoritye without the precincte of his owne countrye about him, then any other Bishop hath within his owne dioces. Wherby I assuredly take the abolishing of the pretensed and vsurped power or authority of the Byshop of Rome out of this Realme to be done iustly and truely by the law of God.