A67927:1109
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.
yearly, of the which I am one, and the kings highness. God save his grace, did decree that all admitted of Universities, should preach throughout all his realm as long as they preached well, without distrain of any man, my Lord of Canterbury, my Lord of Duresme, with such other not a few standing by, and hearing the decree nothing again saying it, but consenting to the same. Now to contemn my Lord of London's authority were no little fault in me: so no less fault might appear in my Lord of London to contemn the kings authority and decree, yea so Godly, so fruitful, so commendable a decree pertaining both to the edification of christen souls, and also to the regard and defence of the popish grace and authority Apostolic. To have a book of the kings not inhibited, is to obey the king, and to inhibit a preacher of the king admitted, is it not to disobey the king? is it not one king that doth inhibit and admit, and hath he not as great authority to admit as to inhibit? He that resisteth the power, whether admitting, or inhibiting, doth he not resist the ordinance of God? we low subjects are bound to obey powers, and their ordinances: and are not the highest subjects also, who ought to give us ensample of such obedience? As for my preaching it self, I trust in God my Lord of London cannot rightfully belacke it, nor justly reprove it, if it be taken with the circumstance thereof, and as I spake it, or else it is not my preaching, but his that falsely reporteth it, as the Poet Martial said to one that depraved his book: quem recitas meus est, o Fidentive, libellus: sed male cum recitas, incipitesse tuus. But now I hear say that my Lord of London is informed, and upon the said information hath informed the king, that I go about to defend Bilney, and his cause, against his ordinaries and judges, which I ensure you is not so: for I had nothing to do with Bilney, nor yet with his Judges, except his Judges did him wrong: for I did nothing else but monish all Judges indifferently to do right, nor I am not altogether so foolish as to defend the thing which I knew not. It might have become a preacher to say as I said, though Bilney had never been born I have known Bilney a great while, I think much better then ever did my Lord of London: for I have been his ghostly father many a time:
yearely, of the which I am one, and the kynges highnes. God saue his grace, did decree that all admitted of Uniuersities, should preache throughout all hys realm as lōg as they preached well, without distreine of any mā, my Lorde of Caunterbury, my Lorde of Duresme, wyth such other not a fewe standing by, and hearyng the decree nothing again saying it, but consenting to the same. Now to contemne my Lord of Londons authoritie were no litle fault in me: so no lesse fault might appeare in my Lorde of London to contemne the kinges authoritie and decree, yea so Godlye, so fruitefull, so commendable a decree pertayning both to the edification of christen soules, and also to the regard and defence of the popish grace and authoritie Apostolique. To haue a booke of the kinges not inhibited, is to obey the kyng, and to inhibite a preacher of the king admitted, is it not to disobey the kinge? is it not one king that doth inhibite and admitte, and hath hee not as great authorititie to admitte as to inhibite? He that resisteth the power, whether admitting, or inhibiting, doth he not resist the ordinaunce of God? we low subiectes are bound to obey powers, and their ordinaunces: and are not the highest subiectes also, who ought to geue vs ensample of such obedience? As for my preaching it selfe, I trust in God my Lorde of London cannot rightfully belacke it, nor iustly reproue it, if it be taken with the circumstance thereof, and as I spake it, or els it is not my preaching, but hys that falsely reporteth it, as the Poet Martiall sayd to one that depraued hys booke: quem recitas meus est, o Fidentiue, libellus: sed male cum recitas, incipitesse tuus. But now I heare say that my Lorde of London is informed, and vpon the sayd information hath informed the king, that I go about to defend Bilney, and his cause, agaynst his ordinaryes and iudges, whiche I ensure you is not so: for I had nothing to do with Bilney, nor yet with hys Iudges, except his Iudges did him wrong: for I did nothing els but monishe all Iudges indifferently to doe right, nor I am not altogether so foolish as to defende the thing which I knewe not. It might haue become a preacher to say as I sayd, though Bilney had neuer bene born I haue known Bilney a great while, I thinke much better then euer did my Lord of London: for I haue bene his ghostly father many a time: