A67927:5557
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.
Then said the bish. are you there? nay then I know what I have to do, and so he proceeded forth in reading my condemnation. And there was an other gentleman which began to snap and snatch at me: and then said I, I would God I had known this or ever I had come from home: I would surely have put on breech, and not had my skin thus torn. And all this while the Bishop red forth still.
Then saide the bish. are you there? nay then I knowe what I haue to do, and so he proceded forth in reading my condemnation. And there was an other gentlemā which began to snap and snatch at me: and then said I, I would God I had knowen this or euer I had come from home: I would surely haue put on breeche, and not had my skin thus torne. And all this while the Bishop red foorth still.
At last his chaplains cried, stop, stop my Lord, for now he will recant, and then the bishop asked me again.
At last his chaplains cried, stop, stop my Lord, for now he will recant, and then the bishop asked me againe.
And I answered & said: my lord, my faith is grounded more steadfastly, then to change in a moment,1 it is no process of time can alter me, unless my faith were as the waves of the sea: and so the B. made an end, & delivered me into the hands of the sheriff, to be carried prisoner to the Marshalsea again. And when I was condemned, I desired God with a loud voice that he would not lay my blood to their charges, if it were his good will,2 & so then they refused my prayer and sent me away. Then I began to talk as I went, and they cried, cut out his tongue, or stop his mouth, and so I was brought to the Marshalsea, and lapped in iron bands. Therefore I pray unto God that they unto whom this present writing shall come, may take example by my death and soldier fare. So be it. By me Steven Gratwicke, condemned for Gods everlasting truth.