A67926:974
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.
Certain of the Grey Friars sometimes were sent unto him by two and two, to reduce him, but he would always desire them to depart from him,1 for ⟨p. 889⟩he was at a point, & when the Fryers at any time did miscall him, he ever held his peace, at such private injuries: insomuch that those blasphemers would say abroad, that he had a dumb devil in him. But when they talked of any religion, there he spared not, but answered them fully by evidences of the Scripture in such sort, that divers times they would depart marvelling. At sundry times he might have escaped, the doors being let open, but he would not for bringing his keeper in peril. At length about the month of January, he was brought to an other prison, to be constrained with torments to confess Purgatory, and to utter moe of his fellows. But no forcement would serve. Wherefore upon the 22. of January he was condemned to the fire, but privily, contrary to the use of the Country, for openly they durst not condemn him for fear of the people: so well was he beloved. When tidings of the sentence came unto him, he gave hearty thanks to GOD, that the hour was come, when he might glorify the Lord. 2[figure] As he was brought to the place of burning, where he saw a great heap of wood piled, he required the greater part thereof to be taken away, and given to the poor: a little (said he) would suffice him. Also seeing a poor man coming by, as he went, that lacked shoes he gave his shoes unto him. Better said he: so to do then to have his shoes burnt, and the poor to perish for cold. Standing at the stake the hangman was ready to strangle him before, but he would not saying, that there was no such need that his pain should be mitigated, for I fear not (said he) the fire, do therefore as thou art commanded. And thus the blessed Martyr, lifting up his eyes to heaven, in the middle of the flame, was extincted, to the great lamentation of all that stood by.3 After that time, when the friars of that City would go about for their alms the people would say, it was not meet for them to receive alms with bloody hands. This history you shall find more copiously described, in Franc. Encenas. Ex Franc. Encen. Friars and priests of Flanders. | Great persecution in Gaunt & other parts of Flanders. At Gaunt. An. 1543. 1544.