A67926:5433
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.
Now when all things were ready for his death, and he conveyed with armed men to the fire, Oliphant had him pass to the stake: and he said, nay, but wilt thou put me up with thy hand and take part of my death, thou shalt see me pass up gladly, for by the law of God I am forbidden to put hands upon my self. Then Oliphant put him up with his hand, and he ascended gladly, saying: Introibo ad altare Dei, and desired that he might have place to speak to the people, the which Oliphant and other of the burners denied, saying that he had spoken over much, for the Bishops were altogether offended that the matter was so long continued. Then some of the young men committed both the burners, and the Bishops their masters to the Devil, saying, that they believed that they should lament that day, and desired the said Walter to speak what he pleased.
Now when all things were ready for his death, and he conueyed with armed men to the fire, Oliphant had him passe to the stake: and he said, nay, but wilt thou put me vp with thy hand and take part of my death, thou shalt see me passe vp gladly, for by ye law of God I am forbiddē to put hands vpon my selfe. Thē Oliphant put him vp with his hand, and he ascended gladly, saying: Introibo ad altare Dei, and desired that he might haue place to speake to ye people, the which Oliphant and other of the burners denyed, saying that he had spoken ouer much, for the Byshops were altogether offended that ye matter was so long continued. Then some of the yong men committed both the burners, and the Byshops their maysters to the Diuell, saying, that they beleeued that they should lament that daye, and desired the sayd Walter to speake what he pleased.
And so after he had made his humble supplication to God on his knees, he arose, and standing upon the coals said on this wise. Dear friends, the cause why I suffer this day, is not for any crime laid to my charge (albeit I be a miserable sinner before God) but only for the defence of the faith of Jesus Christ,1 set forth in the new and old Testament unto us, for which, that as the faithful Martyrs have offered themselves gladly before, being assured after the death of their bodies of eternal felicity, so this day I praise God, that he hath called me of his mercy among the rest of his servants, to seal up his truth with my life: which as I have received it of him, so willingly I offer it [figure]