A67927:1062
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 2] 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 2] 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.
I take God to witness I would hurt no man, but it grieveth me to see such abuse continue without remedy. I cannot understand what they mean by the Popes pardoning of Purgatory,1 but by way of suffrage: and as for suffrage, unless he do his duty, and seek not his own, but Christs glory, I had leaver have the suffrage of jack of the scullery which in his calling doth exercise both faith and charity: but for his Mass. And that is as good of an other simple Priest as of him. For as for authority of keys, is to loose from guiltiness of sin and eternal pain, due to the same, according to Christs word, and not to his own private will. And as for Pilgrimage, you would wonder what juggling there is to get money withal. I dwell within a half mile, of the Fosseway, and you would wonder to see how they come by flocks out of the West country to many Images, but chiefly to the blood of Hails. And they believe verily that it is the very blood that was in Christs body, shed upon the Mount of Calvary for our salvation, and that the sight of it with their bodily eye, doth certify them and putteth them out of doubt, that they be in clean life, and in state of salvation without spot of sin, which doeth bolden then to many things. For you would wonder if you should common with them both coming and going, what faiths they have. For as for forgiving their enemies, and reconciling their Christian brethren, they can not away withal: for the sight of that blood doth quite them for the time.
I take God to witnes I would hurt no man, but it greeueth me to see such abuse continue without remedy. I cannot vnderstand what they meane by the Popes pardoning of Purgatorye,1 but by way of suffrage: and as for suffrage, vnlesse he do his duety, and seeke not his owne, but Christes glory, I had leauer haue the suffrage of iacke of the skullery which in his calling doth exercise both fayth and charitye: but for his Masse. And that is as good of an other simple Priest as of him. For as for authoritye of keyes, is to loose from guiltinesse of sinne and eternall payne, due to the same, according to Christes word, and not to his own priuate will. And as for Pilgrimage, you woulde wonder what iuggling there is to gette money withall. I dwell within a halfe mile, of the Fosseway, and you woulde wonder to see how they come by flockes out of the West countrey to many Images, but chiefely to the bloud of Hailes. And they beleue verely that it is the verye bloud that was in Christes bodye, shedde vppon the Mount of Caluerye for our saluation, and that the sighte of it with theyr bodily eye, doth certify them and putteth them out of doubte, that they bee in cleane life, and in state of saluation without spot of sinne, which doeth bolden then to many thinges. For you would wonder if you shoulde common with them both comming and going, what faythes they haue. For as for forgeuing theyr enemies, and reconciling theyr Christian brethren, they can not away withall: for the sight of that bloud doth quite them for the time.