A67926:865
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.
When these simple & ignorant men heard these words, they were greatly moved. Whereunto Peter Swine answered thus, that they had before written unto the parish priest & to Henry, what was best to be done, notwithstanding if they thought good, they would write again. No, said the Prior, this matter must be attempted another way, for if you write unto the heretic, he will by and by answer you again. And it is to be feared, least the contagion of his heresy do also infect you, being unlearned men: for if you give him leave to speak, and to answer, there is no hope that you shall overcome him.1 Wherefore they finally determined to take this Henry by night, and burn him, before the people should know it, or he come to his defence to answer. This devise pleased all men, but specially the Franciscan Friars. Petrus Hannus the Priors chief friend, willing to get the chief praise and thanks of this matter, by the help of master Gunter, did associate unto him certain other rulers of the towns near adjoining, whose names are here not to be hidden, because they so much affected praise and glory.2 The names of the Presidents were these, Petrus Hannus, Peter Swines son, Hennicke Lū dane, John Holneus, Laurence Hannemanus, Nicholas Weslingbourgus, Ambrose & John Brenthusius, Marquardus Kremmerus, Henstedanus Ludekus, Johannes Weslingus, and Petrus Grossus, President of Himmigstate. All these Presidents & all other that were of Counsel to this pretence, assembled together in the Parish of the new Church, in the house of master Gunter, where also the Chancellor was consulting together with them, how they might burn the said Henry, secretly coming upon him without any judgement or sentence. They concluded the next day after the conception of our Lady, to meet at Hennyng, which is v. mile from Meldorphe, with a great band of husbandmen. This determination this made, they laid scouts in every place, that there should no news of their pretensed mischiefs come unto Meldorphe, commanding that as soon as it began to wax dark, they should all gather together. There assembled above v. C. men of the country, unto whom was declared the cause of their assemble, & also they were instructed what was to be done, for before no man knew the cause of the assemble, but only the Presidents.
When these simple & ignorant men heard these wordes, they were greatly moued. Whereunto Peter Swine aunswered thus, that they had before written vnto the parish priest & to Henry, what was best to be done, notwithstanding if they thought good, they would write againe. No, said ye Prior, this matter must be attempted another way, for if you write vnto the heretike, he wil by and by answer you againe. And it is to be feared, least the contagion of his heresie do also infect you, being vnlearned men: for if you geue him leaue to speake, and to answere, there is no hope that you shall ouercome him.