A67927:4926
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 be it admitted, that neither she demanded this benefit of the law, nor that the Judges would ever have denied her, if she had so done: yet had it been the part of a grave accuser, before he had been descended into such a ra• ling action of murder against a poor woman now dead & gone, first to have advised wisely with himself, whether it might be, that she had no such intelligence what benefit the law would have given, in case it had been required. For not unlike it is, and well may be thought rather yea, then no, that the simple woman,1 brought up all her life long in her mothers house in an obscure Island, & in such an outcorner of the realm, far of from the Court, and practise of English laws, never heard before of any such benefit of the law: and therefore upon mere simplicity, & for lack of skill required it not, because she knew not what to require. Peradventure also her senses might be so astonied with the greatness and suddenness of the fear, that it was out of her remembrance. Certes, it had been the duty of the Judges, which knew the law, & having the woman before them could not be ignorant of her case, to have questioned with her thereof, and to have holpen her simplicity in that behalf. Or at least, if they had disdained,2 yet it had been the Priests part, who was her Ghostly Father, and made privy thereunto, either to have instructed her, or to have staid the execution of her death, for safeguard of the child.
But bee it admitted, that neither she demaunded this benefite of the law, nor that the Iudges would euer haue denyed her, if she had so done: yet had it bene the parte of a graue accuser, before he had bene descended into such a ra• ling action of murder agaynst a poore woman now dead & gone, first to haue aduised wisely with himselfe, whether it might be, that she had no such intelligence what benefite the law would haue geuē, in case it had bene required. For not vnlike it is, and well may be thought rather yea, then no, that the simple woman,1 brought vppe all her lyfe long in her mothers house in an obscure Iseland, & in such an outcorner of the realme, farre of from the Courte, and practise of English lawes, neuer heard before of any such benefite of the law: and therefore vpon mere simplicity, & for lacke of skil required it not, because she knew not what to require. Peraduenture also her senses might be so astonied with the greatnesse and sodennesse of the feare, that it was out of her remembraunce. Certes, it had bene the duty of the Iudges, which knew the lawe, & hauing the woman before them could not be ignorant of her case, to haue questioned with her thereof, and to haue holpen her simplicity in that behalfe. Or at least, if they had disdained,