A67926:5530
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.
which because (as the stile and composition thereof declareth) it displeased the good and learned men there, was therefore differed and should have been suppressed. But whatsoever the matter be, it seemeth to me not unlike wheresoever this apostle Eccius beareth rule, there to be the kingdom of Antichrist, and all kind of madness there to reign. In the mean time I will so deal, that I will not seem to believe Pope Leo the x. with his learned cardinals to be the authors of this furious madness: which I do not so much for the honour of the Sea of Rome, as because I will not be puffed up to much with pride, and seem to my self as one worthy to suffer such, so great, & so glorious things for the verity of God. For if it were so in deed that the bishop of Rome did so furiously rage against me, who were then so happy before God as Luther, to be condemned for so manifest a truth of such a proud Prelate? Wherein what were more to be wished for of me, then that I should never be absolved, reconciled, nor have any part with that so doltish and unlearned, wicked, and furious Antichrist? Happy were that day, happy were that death, and to be received with all joy and thankfulness to God, if it might be my hap at any time in such a cause as this is, to be apprehended and to suffer death.1 But give the honour of this cause unto others, and let this matter find his Martyr worthy for the same: I for my sins am not worthy to come to that honour. Let other men therefore think of these Romanists what they list: Thus I think, that whosoever was the author of this bull, he is a very Antichrist, and against Antichrist, these things I write, to redeem the verity of Christ, so much as in me lieth, which he laboureth to extinguish. And first, that he shall obtain no part of his will in any thing against me,2 here I protest before God and our Lord Jesus Ehrist, and his holy angels and all the world, that I dissent with all my hart from the condemnation of this bull, which Bull I also do curse and execrate as an enemy, a Church robber and blasphemy against Christ the son of god our Lord. Amen.
which because (as the stile and composition therof declareth) it displeased the good and learned men there, was therefore differred and should haue bene suppressed. But whatsoeuer the matter be, it semeth to me not vnlike wheresoeuer this apostle Eccius beareth rule, there to be the kingdom of Antichrist, and all kind of madnes there to reigne. In the meane tyme I will so deale, that I wyll not seeme to beleue Pope Leo the x. with his learned cardinals to be the authors of this furious madnes: which I doe not so much for the honor of the Sea of Rome, as because I will not be puft vp to much with pride, and seeme to my selfe as one worthy to suffer such, so great, & so glorious things for the veritie of God. For if it were so in deed that the bishop of Rome did so furiously rage against me, who were then so happy before God as Luther, to be condemned for so manifest a truth of such a proude Prelate? Wherein what were more to be wished for of me, then that I should neuer be absolued, reconciled, nor haue any part with that so doltish and vnlearned, wicked, and furious Antichrist? Happy were that day, happy were that death, and to be receiued with all ioy and thankfulnes to God, if it might be my happe at any tyme in such a cause as this is, to be apprehended and to suffer death.