A67927:1159
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.
Moreover, I will ask them the causes of all insurrections, which hath been in this Realm heretofore. And whence is it that there be so many Extortioners, bribers, murderers, and thieves which daily do not break only your graces laws, ordinances, and statutes, but also the laws and commandments of almighty God? I think they will not say these books, but rather their Pardons which causeth many a man to sin in trust of them. For as for those malefactors which I now rehearsed, you shall not find one amongest a hundred, but that he will cry out both of these books, and also of them that have them, yea & will be glad to spend the good which he hath wrongfully gotten, upon Fagots to burn both the books and them that have them.
Moreouer, I will aske them the causes of all insurrections, whiche hath beene in this Realme heretofore. And whence is it that there be so many Extortioners, bribers, murtherers, and theeues which dayly do not breake onely your graces lawes, ordinaunces, and statutes, but also the lawes and commaundementes of almighty God? I think they will not say these bookes, but rather theyr Pardons which causeth many a man to sinne in trust of them. For as for those malefactours which I nowe rehearsed, you shall not finde one amongest a hundreth, but that he wil cry out both of these bookes, and also of them that haue them, yea & will be glad to spend the good whiche he hath wrongfullye gotten, vpon Fagots to burne both the bookes and them that haue them.
And as touching these men that were lately punished for these books, there is no man (I hear say) that can lay any word or deed against them that should sound to the breaking of any of your graces laws (this only except) if it be yours, and not rather theirs.1 And be it so that there be some that have these books, that be evil, unruly, and self willed persons, not regarding Gods laws nor mans, yet these books be not the cause thereof, no more then was the bodily presence of Christ and his words the cause that Judas fell, but their own froward mind and carnal wit, which should be amended by the virtuous example of living of their Curates, & by the true exposition of the scripture. If the lay people had such Curates that would thus do their office,