A67927:5271
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.
Now seeing they extended such cruelty to the dead, he said it was an easy matter to conjecture what they would do to the living. Whereof we had sufficient trial by the examples of our own men, these few years past. And if we would take the pains to peruse things done somewhat longer ago, we might find notable matters out of our own Chronicles. Howbeit, it was sufficient for the manifest demonstration of that matter, to declare the beastly butchery of the French King executed upon the Waldenses, at Cabryer, and the places near thereabout, by his captain Miner, about the year of our Lord. 1545. ⟨p. 1967⟩then the which there was never thing read of more cruelty done,1 no not even of the barbarous Pagans. And yet for all that when divers had showed their uttermost cruelty both against these and many others, they were so far from their purpose in extinguishing the light of the Gospel, which they endeavoured to suppress, that it increased daily more and more. The which thing Charles the 5. (then whom all christendom had not a more prudent Prince, nor the Church of Christ almost a sorer enemy) easily perceived, and therefore when he had in his hand Luther dead, and Melanchthon and Pomeran, with certain other Preachers of the Gospel alive, he not only determined not any thing extremely against them nor violated their graves, but also entreating them gently sent them away, not so much as once forbidding them to publish openly the doctrine that they professed. For it is the nature of Christs Church, that the more that Tyrants spurn against it, the more it increaseth and florisheth. A notable proof assuredly of the providence and pleasure of God in sowing the Gospel, was that coming of the Bohemians unto us, to the intent to hear Wycliffe, of whom we spake before, who at that time read openly at Oxford: and also the going of our men to the said Bohemians, when persecution was raised against us. But much more notable was it, that we had seen come to pass in these our days: that the Spaniards sent for into this Realm of purpose to suppress the Gospel, as soon as they were returned home, replenished many parts of their Country with the same trueth of Religion, to the which before they were utter enemies.
Now seeing they extended suche crueltye to the dead, he sayde it was an easye matter to coniecture what they would doe to the liuing. Whereof we had sufficient tryall by the examples of our owne men, these fewe yeares past. And if we woulde take the paynes to peruse thinges done somewhat lenger ago, we might find notable matters out of our owne Chronicles. Howbeit, it was sufficient for ye manifest demonstration of that matter, to declare the beastly butchery of the Frenche King executed vppon the Waldenses, at Cabryer, and the places nere thereabout, by his captayne Miner, aboute the yeare of our Lorde. 1545.