A67927:1475
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.
All as England, alas that this heavy plague of GOD should fall upon thee. Alas my dearly beloved country, what thing is it now that may do thee good: Undoubtedly thy plague is so great, that it is utterly uncurable, but by the bottomless mercy, and infinite power of almighty God. Alas my dear country, what hast thou done, that thus hast provoked the wrath of God, and caused him to pour out his vengeance upon thee, for thine own deserts? Canst thou be content to hear thy faults told thee? Alas thou hast heard oft, and wouldest never amend. England, thy faults of all degrees and sorts of men, of Magistrates, of the ministers, and of the common people, were never more plainly told, since thou barest that name, then thou diddest hear them of late, even before the Magistrates in king Edwards days, but thou heardest them only, and diddest amend never a whit. For even of thy greatest Magistrates, some (the kings highness then, that innocent, that godly hearted & perils young Christian Prince excepted) evermore unkindly and ungently, against those that went about most busily, and most wholesomely to cure their sore backs, spurned privily, and would not spare to speak evil of them, even unto the Prince himself, and yet would they towards the same preachers, outwardly bear a jolly countenance, and a fair face.
All as Englande, alas yt this heauy plague of GOD shoulde fall vpon thee. Alas my dearely beloued country, what thing is it now that may doe thee good: Undoubtedly thy plague is so great, that it is vtterly vncurable, but by the bottomlesse mercy, and infinite power of almightye God. Alas my deare country, what hast thou done, that thus hast prouoked the wrath of God, and caused him to poure out his vengeaunce vppon thee, for thine owne desertes? Canst thou be content to heare thy faults told thee? Alas thou hast heard ofte, and wouldest neuer amende. England, thy faultes of all degrees and sortes of men, of Magistrates, of the ministers, and of the common people, were neuer more playnely tolde, since thou barest that name, then thou diddest heare them of late, euen before the Magistrates in king Edwardes dayes, but thou heardest them onely, and diddest amend neuer a whitte. For euen of thy greatest Magistrates, some (the kinges highnesse then, that innocente, that godly harted & pereles young Christian Prince excepted) euermore vnkindely and vngently, agaynst those that went about most busely, and most wholesomely to cure their sore backes, spurned pryuely, and woulde not spare to speake euill of them, euen vnto the Prince himselfe, and yet woulde they towardes the same preachers, outwardly beare a ioly countenance, and a fayre face.