A67926:5682
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.
We are informed that many of you are so negligent and so slack herein, that it doth appear you do look rather,1 as it were, through your fingers, then diligently see to the execution of the said laws and Proclamations. For if you would, according to your duties, to your oath, to the trust which the kings Majesty hath in you, give your diligence and care toward the execution of the same most godly Statutes and Injunctions, there should no disobedience, nor disorder, nor evil rule be begun or arise in any part of the realm, but it should by and by be repressed, kept down, & reformed. But it is feared, and the thing it self giveth occasion thereto, that divers of you do not only not set forth, but rather hinder, so much as lieth in you, the Kings majesties proceedings, and are content that there should arise some disobedience, and that men should repine against godly orders set forth by his majesty: you do so slackly look to the execution of the same: So that in some shires which be further off, it may appear that the people have never heard of divers of his majesties proclamations, or if they have heard, you are content to wink at it & to neglect it, so that it is all one as though it were never commanded. But if you do consider and remember your duties first to almighty God, and then to the Kings majesty, the wealth of the whole realm, the safeguard of your own selves: you must needs see that except such orders as the kings Majesty ⟨p. 1303⟩hath set, and hereafter shall appoint, be kept, neither can the realm be defended, if the enemy should invade, nor in peace it cannot stand: but upon the contempt of good and wholesome laws all disorder and inconveniences should come, the people should be wild and savage, and no man sure of his own.
We are informed that many of you are so negligent and so slacke herein, that it doth appeare you do look rather,1 as it were, through your fingers, then diligently see to the execution of the sayd lawes and Proclamations. For if you would, according to your duties, to your othe, to the trust which the kinges Maiesty hath in you, geue your diligēce and care toward the execution of the same most godly Statutes and Iniunctions, there should no disobedience, nor disorder, nor euill rule be begon or arise in any part of the realme, but it should by and by be repressed, kept downe, & reformed. But it is feared, and the thing it selfe geueth occasion therto, that diuers of you do not onely not set forth, but rather hinder, so much as lyeth in you, the Kings maiesties procedinges, and are content that there should arise some disobedience, and that mē should repine against godly orders set forth by his maiesty: you do so slackly looke to the execution of the same: So that in some shyres which be further off, it may appeare that the people haue neuer heard of diuers of his maiestyes proclamations, or if they haue heard, you are content to wincke at it & to neglect it, so that it is all one as though it were neuer commaunded. But if you do consider and remember your dueties first to almighty God, and then to the Kings maiestie, the wealth of the whole realme, the safegard of your owne selues: you must needes see that except such orders as the kings Maiestie