A67926:616
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.
And thus took we the burden upon us, not for any ambition of dignity, or to enrich our friends, and kinsfolks, but only to be obedient to the will of God, and for reformation of the catholic church, and for relief of the pore, and especially for the advancement of learning & learned men, with such other things moe, as appertaineth to the charge of a good Bishop & lawful heir of S. Peter. And though all errors, corruptions, and abuses, be not straight ways amended by us, men ought not thereat to marvel. The sore is great and far grown,1 and is not single, but of manifold maladies together compacted, & therefore to the curing thereof we must proceed by little and little, first beginning to cure the greater and the most dangerous, least while we intend to amend all, we destroy all. All sudden mutations (saith Aristotle) in a common wealth, are perilous. And he that wringeth too hard, straineth out blood. Prou. 30
And thus tooke we the burden vpon vs, not for any ambition of dignity, or to enrich our frends, and kinsfolks, but only to be obediēt to the will of God, and for reformation of the catholique church, and for reliefe of the pore, and especially for the aduancement of learning & learned men, with such other things moe, as apperteineth to the charge of a good Bishop & lawful heire of S. Peter. And though all errors, corruptions, and abuses, be not straight wayes amended by vs, men ought not therat to maruell. The sore is great and farre growen,1 and is not single, but of manifolde maladies together compacted, & therefore to the curing therof we must proceede by litle and litle, first beginning to cure the greater and the most dangerous, least while we intend to amend all, we destroy all. All sodaine mutations (sayth Aristotle) in a common wealth, are perilous. And he that wringeth too hard, straineth out bloud. Prou. 30
- 1You proceed so by little & little, that nothing at all is seen. Sudden mutations be not for the Popes purpose: but the Lord promiseth to come suddenly when he is not looked for.