A67927:5771
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.
First you shall understand, that I was sent from the sheriffs to London, the 12. day of April, in the year of our Lord. 1557. and afterward upon the 14. day of the same month I was brought before the Bishop of Chichester, and doctor Story, and doctor Cooke. So the sheriffs man delivered my warrant and me to the bishop.1 Then the bishop asked me what my name was. My name (quoth I) is Richard Woodman.
FIrst you shal vnderstād, that I was sent from the sheriffes to London, the 12. day of Aprill, in the yere of our Lord. 1557. and afterwarde vppon the 14. daye of the same moneth I was brought before the Bishop of Chichester, and doctor Story, and doctor Cooke. So the sheriffs man deliuered my warrant and me to the bishop.1 Then the bishop asked me what my name was. My name (quoth I) is Richard Woodman.
Chichester. I am sorry for you, and so are all the worshipful men of your Country. For it hath been reported to me, that you have been a man of good estimation in all the Country, amongest the poor and rich, till now of late. Wherefore look well upon your self, your wife, and children, your Father, and other of your friends, and be ruled. Think not your self wiser then all the Realm. Be informed, and you shall have their favours all, as much as ever you had.
Chichester. I am sory for you, and so are all the worshipfull men of your Countrey. For it hath bene reported to me, that you haue bene a man of good estimation in all the Countrey, amongest the poore and riche, till nowe of late. Wherefore looke wel vpon your selfe, your wife, and children, your Father, and other of your frends, and be ruled. Thinke not your selfe wiser then all the Realme. Be enfourmed, and you shal haue theyr fauors all, as muche as euer you had.
Wood. You have charged me with many things, wherein I have never offended, and if you will give me leave, I will show you.
Wood. You haue charged me with many things, wherin I haue neuer offended, and if you will geue mee leaue, I will shewe you.
Chichester. Yes, I pray you, say your mind.
Chichester. Yes, I pray you, say your minde.
Wood. If it please you, you have charged me as though I made my self wiser then all the Realm: God doeth know, I stand to learn of every man that will or can teach me the truth. And where as you say, I have been well esteemed both of the poor and rich, God doth know, I know not that I have given any just offence, either to rich or poor. And as for my wife and children.1 God doeth know how I love them in him, and my life also. My life, my wife, and my children are all in Gods hands, and I have them all as I had them not, I trust, according to S. Pauls words. But if I had x.M. pound of gold, I had rather forgo it all, then them, if I might be in choice, and not displease God.
Wood. If it please you, you haue charged me as thoughe I made my selfe wiser then all the Realme: God doeth knowe, I stande to learne of euerye man that will or can teache me the truthe. And where as you say, I haue beene wel estemed both of the poore and riche, God doth know, I knowe not that I haue geuen any iust offence, either to rich or poore. And as for my wife and children.1 God doeth know how I loue them in him, and my life also. My life, my wife, and my children are all in Gods handes, and I haue them all as I had them not, I trust, according to S. Paules woords. But if I had x.M. pound of gold, I had rather forgoe it all, then them, if I might be in choice, and not displease God.
Chichest. The sheriff took pain to come to me of love, he said which he bare to you, as to himself: and said, you were desirous to speak with me.
Chichest. The sheriffe tooke paine to come to me of loue, he sayd which he bare to you, as to himselfe: and sayd, you were desirous to speake with me.
Wood. I thought it mete to appeal to my Ordinary. For they go about to shed my blood unrighteously.1 For they have laid many unjust things to my charge. Wherefore I thought it meet to appeal to you, that if you can find any fault in me, meet to be reformed by Gods word, I stand to be reformed: and likewise, if my blood shall be shed unrighteously, that it might be required at your hands, because you have taken upon you to be the Physician of our country.
Wood. I thought it mete to appeale to my Ordinarie. For they goe about to shed my bloud vnrighteously.1 For they haue laid many vniust things to my charge. Wherefore I thoughte it meete to appeale to you, that if you can finde any fault in me, meete to be reformed by Gods woorde, I stād to be reformed: and likewise, if my bloud shalbe shed vnrighteously, that it mighte be required at your handes, because you haue taken vppon you to be the Phisition of our countrey.
Story. Is not this a perverse fellow, to lay to your charge, that his blood shall be required at your hands?1 Thinkest thou that thou shalt be put to death unjustly, that thy blood should be required? No, if he should condemn a hundred such heretics as thou art, I helped to rid a good sort of you. And I promise thee I will help to rid thee too, the best that I can.
Story. Is not this a peruerse felow, to lay to your charge, that his bloude shalbe required at your hands?1 Thinkest thou that thou shalt be put to death vniustly, yt thy bloude should be required? No, if he should condemne a hundred such heretickes as thou art, I helped to ridde a good sort of you. And I promise thee I will helpe to ridde thee too, the best that I can.
Wood. Then I would have answered him, but the Bishop desired us both to give him place.
Wood. Then I would haue answeared him, but the Bishop desired vs both to geue him place.
Chichest. Well, neighbour Woodman: I call you neighbour, because you be one of my Diocese: and you are sent to me that I should give you spiritual counsel: for I am your spiritual Pastor. Therefore hear what I shall say to you.
Chichest. Well, neighbour Woodman: I call you neyghbour, because you be one of my Diocesse: and you are sent to me that I should geue you spirituall counsell: for I am your spiritual Pastour. Therefore heare what I shall say to you.
Wood. First I desire you to hear me a few words. You have said, you will give me spiritual counsel. Be you sure that you have the spirit of God?
Wood. First I desire you to heare me a few woordes. You haue said, you wil geue me spiritual counsell. Be you sure that you haue the spirite of God?
Chichest. No, I am not sure of that?
Wood. No, be you not sure of that?1
