A67927:4918
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.
But in the mean time here cometh in the cavilling objection of M. H. and beareth the Reader in hand, as though for shame I durst not, 1or of purpose would not express it. &c. My answer whereunto is this. First to express every minute of matter in every story occurrent, what Story writer in all the world is able to perform it? Secondly although it might be done, what reasonable reader would require it? Thirdly, & albeit some curious readers would so require, yet I suppose it neither requisite, nor convenient to be observed. And fourthly, what if it were not remembered of the author? What if it were to him not known? what if it were of purpose omitted as a matter not material to the purpose? Many other causes besides might incur, which the reader knoweth not of. And shall it then by and by be imputed to shame and blame, whatsoever in every narration is not expressed? or doth M.H. himself in all his sermons never pretermit any thing, that conveniently might be inferred? Who was the husband of this Perotine, the Historiographer hath not expressed: I grant, & what thereof? Ergo thereupon concludeth he, that for shame I durst not. Nay I may marvel rather that he durst for shame ⟨p. 1947⟩utter such untidy Arguments, or so asseverantly to pronounce of an other mans mind and purpose, which is as privy to him, as then it was to me unknown what was her husbands name. And though it had been known, what was that material in the story to be uttered?2 or what had it relieved the cruel parts of them, which burned both the mother & infant together, though the infants father had been expressed? And how then did I for shame conceal that, which was not in my knowledge at that time (if I would) to express, nor in my suspicion to misdeem?
But in the meane time here commeth in the cauilling obiection of M. H. and beareth the Reader in hande, as though for shame I durst not, 1or of purpose would not expresse it. &c. My answere wherunto is this. First to expresse euery minute of matter in euery story occurrent, what Story writer in al the world is able to performe it? Secondly although it might be done, what resonable reader would require it? Thirdly, & albeit some curious readers would so require, yet I suppose it neither requisite, nor conuenient to be obserued. And fourthly, what if it were not remembred of the authour? What if it were to him not knowne? what if it were of purpose omitted as a matter not materiall to the purpose? Many other causes besides might incurre, which the reader knoweth not of. And shall it thē by and by bee imputed to shame and blame, whatsoeuer in euery narration is not expressed? or doth M.H. himself in all his sermons neuer pretermit any thing, that conueniently might be inferred? Who was the husbād of this Perotine, the Historiographer hath not expressed: I graūt, & what thereof? Ergo therupon concludeth he, that for shame I durst not. Nay I may maruell rather yt he durste for shame