A67926:856
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.
These letters being received upon S. Catherines even, calling together six brethren, honest Citizens, he opened the matter unto them, how that he was sent for by them of Diethmar, to preach the Gospel: adding moreover that he was not only a debtor unto them, but to all other which required his aid. Wherefore he thought good to go unto Diethmar, to see what God would work by him, requiring also that they would help him with their advice, by what means he might best take his journey, that no man should know of it, that thereby he might not be letted or stopped: which thing without doubt had come to pass, if his purpose had been known to the people. Unto whom the citizens answered,1 desiring him that he would not depart for a time, for so much as the Gospel had not yet taken so deep root in the people, but was as yet weak, & specially in the villages thereabout, & that the persecution was very great, willing him also to have respect unto this, that he was by them called to the office of preaching, and if they of Diethmar desired a preacher, he should send some other in his place, for they had before perceived the disposition and untrustiness of them of Diethmar: besides that, it was not in their power to give him free liberty to depart, without the consent of the whole commonalty. Whereunto Henry made answer in this manner,2 that albeit he could not deny but that he was sent for by them: yet now there were many godly & learned men at Bremen, whose labour they might use in his absence, in preaching of the Gospel. Besides that, the Papists were for the most part vanquished and overthrown, and their folly known, even unto women and children, adding thereunto, that he had now preached the Gospel by the space of two years at Bremen, and that they of Diethmar lived without a pastor even in the middest of the wolves, wherefore he could not with safe conscience deny their request. And whereas they alleged that they could not licence him without the consent of the whole congregation, that (said he) was but of small effect, for so much as he would not utterly forsake them, but determined only to remain with them of Diethmar, for a month or two, to lay a foundation, and then to return again, desiring them, that after his departure, they would declare unto the congregation, how he was sent for by them of Diethmar, to whom he could not say nay:
These letters being receiued vpon S. Catherines euen, calling together sixe breethren, honest Citizens, he opened the matter vnto thē, how yt he was sent for by them of Diethmar, to preach ye Gospel: adding moreouer that he was not only a debtour vnto thē, but to all other which required his ayde. Wherfore he thought good to go vnto Diethmar, to see what God would worke by him, requiring also that they woulde helpe him with their aduice, by what meanes he might best take his iourney, that no mā should know of it, that thereby he might not be letted or stopped: which thing without doubt had come to passe, if his purpose had bene knowne to the people. Unto whom the citizens answered,