A67927:4942
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.
Briefly and finally to conclude with this man, what soever the woman was, she is now gone.1 To bite so bitterly against the dead it is little honesty. And though the accusation had in it some truth, yet this accusation here needed not. Now the same being false, it is to much unmerciful. At least being doubtful and to him unknown, charity would have judged the best. Humanity would have spared the dead. And if he could not ford her his good word: yet he might have left her cause unto the Lord, which shall judge both her and him. To pray for the dead he findeth in his Mass, but to backbite the dead, he neither findeth in his Mass, Matins, nor Evensong. And no doubt but in his Dirige & commendations he commē death many one, less deserving to be commended then this woman, let Catholic affection be set aside. And though the merits of her cause deserved not his commendations yet did she never deserve at M. Hardinges hands to give her such a Kyrieleson (as they say) after her departure. Cruelty she suffered enough alive, though M. H. had not added this cruel invective to her former afflictions: wherein notwithstanding he hurteth not her but hurteth peradventure himself, neither so much destaineth her honesty, as he blemisheth his own. It hath been the manner of learned men in time past, with their defending oration, ever to be more ready, then to accuse. And if they did at any time accuse: yet never but enforced, neither did they accuse any but such only as were alive, and that neither but in such matters, wherein either the common wealth, or themselves were vehemently touched.
Briefly and finally to conclude with this manne, what soeuer the woman was, she is now gone.1 To bite so bitterly agaynst the dead it is little honesty. And thoughe the accusation had in it some truth, yet this accusatiō here needed not. Now the same being false, it is to much vnmercifull. At least being doubtfull and to him vnknown, charytie would haue iudged the best. Humanitie woulde haue spared the dead. And if he coulde not foorde her his good word: yet he might haue left her cause vnto the Lord, whiche shall iudge bothe her and him. To pray for the dead he findeth in his Masse, but to backbite the dead, he neyther findeth in his Masse, Mattens, nor Euensong. And no doubt but in hys Dirige & commendations he commē deth many one, lesse deseruing to be commēded then this woman, let Catholicke affection be set aside. And thoughe the merites of her cause deserued not his commendations yet did she neuer deserue at M. Hardinges handes to geue her suche a Kyrieleson (as they saye) after her departure. Cruelty she suffered enough aliue, thoughe M. H. hadde not added this cruell inuectiue to her former afflictions: wherein notwithstanding he hurteth not her but hurtethe peraduenture himself, neither so much destaineth her honesty, as he blemisheth his owne. It hath bene the maner of learned men in time past, with theyr defending oration, euer to be more ready, then to accuse. And if they dyd at anye tyme accuse: yet neuer but enforced, neyther did they accuse any but such onely as were aliue, and that neyther but in such matters, wherein eyther the common wealth, or themselues were vehemently touched.