A67927:1426
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.
And least, my Lords, ye may peradventure think, thus barely to call the Bishop of Rome Christs adversary,1 or (to speak it in plain terms) to call him Antichrist, that it is done in mine anguish, and that I do but rage, and as a desperate man do not care what I say, or upon whom I do rail: therefore, that your Lordships may perceive my mind, and thereby understand that I speak the words of the trueth and sobriety (as Saint Paul said unto Festus) be it known unto your Lordships all,2 that as concerning the Bishop of Rome, I neither hate the person nor the place.3 For I ensure your Lordships (the living Lord beareth me witness, before whom I speak) I do think many a good holy man, many Martyrs and Saints of God have sit and taught in that place Christs Gospel truly,4 which therefore justly may be called Apostolici, that is, true Disciples of the Apostles, and also that Church and Congregation of Christians to be a right Apostolic church, yea and that certain hundred years after the same was first erected and builded upon Christ, by the true Apostolical doctrine taught by the months of the Apostles themselves. If ye will know how long that was and how many hundred years to be curious in pointing the precise number of the years I will not be too bold, but thus I say: so long and so many hundred years as that Sea did truly teach and preach that Gospel,5 that Religion, exercised that power, and ordered every thing by those Laws and rules which that Sea received of the Apostles, and (as Tertullian saith) the Apostles of Christ, and Christ of God: so long (I say) that Sea might well have been called Peter and Pauls chair and Sea, or rather Christs chair, & the bishop thereof Apostolicus, or true disciple and Successor of the apostles, & a Minister of Christ.
And least, my Lords, ye may peraduenture think, thus barely to call the Bishop of Rome Christes aduersary,1 or (to speake it in playne termes) to call him Antichrist, that it is done in mine anguish, and that I doe but rage, and as a desperate man doe not care what I say, or vpon whō I doe rayle: therefore, that your Lordshippes may perceiue my minde, and thereby vnderstand that I speake the wordes of the trueth and sobriety (as Saynt Paule sayde vnto Festus) bee it knowne vnto your Lordshippes all,