A67927:5262
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.
The which things albeit they did no harm to the dead (for the dead carcasses feel no pain, neither doth the fame of godly persons depend upon the report of vulgar people, and the light rumours of men, but upon the rightful censure & just judgement of God) yet it reproveth an extreme cruelness and unsatiable desire of revengement, in them which offer such utter wrong to the dead. These persons therefore whom they have pulled out of their graves and burned, I believe (if they had been alive) they would have cast out of house and home, they would have driven out of all mens company, and in the end with most cruel torments have torn them in pieces, being nevertheless Aliens, being Strangers, and being also fetched hither by us out of such a country, where they not only needed not to fear any punishment, but contrary wise were always had in much reputation, as well among the noble and honourable, as also among the vulgar and common people. But yet how much more gentle then these men, was Bishop Gardiner, otherwise an earnest defender of the Popish doctrine. Who against his own countrymen, let pass no cruelty whereby he might extinguish with f•re & sword the light of the Gospel: and yet he spared Foreigners, because the right of them is so holy, that there was never nation so barbarous, that would violate the same. For when he had in his power the renowned Clerk Peter Martyr then teaching at Oxford, he would not keep him to punish him, but (as I have heard reported) when he should go his way, he gave him wherewith to bear his charges. So that the thing which he thought he might of right do to his own countrymen, he judged unlawful to do to strangers. And whom the law of God could not withhold from the wicked murdering of his own countrymen, him did the law of man bridle from killing of strangers, the which hath ever appeased all barbarous beastliness, and mitigated all cruelty. For it is a point of humanity for man and man to meet together, and one to come to an other, though they be never so far separated & set asunder, both by sea & by land, without the which access, there can be no intercourse of merchandise, there can be no conference of wits, which first of all engendered learning nor any commodity of society long to continue.
The which thynges albeit they did no harme to the dead (for the deade carcasses feele no payne, neyther doth the fame of godly persons depend vpon the report of vulgar people, and the lyght rumours of men, but vpon the rightfull censure & iust iudgement of God) yet it reprooueth an extreme cruelnesse and vnsatiable desire of reuengemēt, in them which offer such vtter wrong to the dead. These persons therefore whome they haue pulled out of their graues and burned, I beleue (if they had bene alyue) they would haue cast out of house and home, they would haue driuen out of all mens company, and in the ende with most cruell tormentes haue torne them in peeces, beyng neuerthelesse Alientes, beyng Straungers, and beyng also fetched hether by vs oute of such a countrey, where they not onely needed not to feare any punishment, but contrary wise were alwayes had in much reputation, as well among the noble and honourable, as also among the vulgare and common people. But yet how much more gentle then these men, was Byshop Gardiner, otherwyse an earnest defender of the Popishe doctrine. Who agaynst his owne countreymen, let passe no crueltie wherby he might extinguish with fre & sword the light of the Gospell: and yet he spared Forreiners, because the right of them is so holye, that there was neuer nation so barbarous, that would violate the same. For when he had in his power the renowmed Clearke Peter Martyr then teachyng at Oxford, he would not kepe hym to punish hym, but (as I haue heard reported) when hee should go his way, he gaue hym wherewith to beare hys charges. So that the thyng which he thought he might of right do to his owne countreymen, he iudged vnlawfull to do to strangers. And whom the law of God coulde not withhold from the wicked murthering of his owne countreymen, hym did the lawe of man bridle from killyng of straungers, the whiche hath euer appeased all barbarous beastlynesse, and mitigated all cruelty. For it is a poynt of humanitie for man and man to meete together, and one to come to an other, though they be neuer so far separated & set asunder, both by sea & by land, without the which accesse, there can be no entercourse of merchādise, there cā be no conference of wits, which first of al engendred lerning nor any commoditie of societie long to continue.