A67927:5821
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.
Wood. I marvel why you should reprove me therefore, seeing it is the words of God? I do not refuse to say our God, or our Lord, when I talk the Scriptures where it is written. If I should, it must follow that I denied the words of God, and must needs be an heretic: but I do not. Wherefore I marvel what you mean to find fault therein. It seemeth to me, that you mistrust that I believe not as you do.
Wood. I meruaile why you should reprooue me therefore, seeing it is the words of God? I do not refuse to saye our God, or our Lorde, when I talke the Scriptures where it is written. If I should, it must follow that I denied the wordes of God, and must needs be an heretike: but I do not. Wherefore I meruaile what you meane to finde fault therein. It seemeth to me, that you mistrust that I beleeue not as you do.
Chich. Yea, that is my meaning in deed.
Chich. Yea, that is my meanyng in deed.
Woodman. I believe in the living God, if you do not so, then our beliefs be not alike in deed. But if it please you to examine me upon any particular matter, now, or at any other time, I will make you answer thereto by Gods help.
Woodman. I beleue in the liuyng God, if you doe not so, then our beliefes be not alike in deede. But if it please you to examine me vpon any perticular matter, now, or at any other tyme, I will make you answer thereto by Gods helpe.
Chich. Though you believe in God, I can prove you believe not as you ought to do, as I can show you by your hand writing. You have denied the catholic church, Wherefore he that erreth from the church, it cannot be said that his faith is good. Wherefore be ruled by the Church, from the which ye have erred.1 I can show you perilous things of your writing, if it should be known, but ye shall not be hurt for me, if you will come to any good order. But I promise you I would not for three thousand pound some had so much against me, as I can show against you of your own hand writing, which you cannot deny.
Chich. Though you beleeue in God, I can prooue you beleeue not as you ought to do, as I can shew you by your hand writing. You haue denied ye catholike church, Wherfore he that erreth from the church, it cannot be sayde that his faith is good. Wherefore be ruled by the Church, from the whiche ye haue erred.1 I canne shewe you perillous things of your writing, if it should be known, but ye shall not be hurt for me, if you will come to any good order. But I promise you I would not for three thousand poūd some had so much against me, as I cā shew against you of your owne hand writing, which you cannot deny.
Wood. I will not deny my hand by Gods help. For I know well, I have written nothing at any time but the truth. There may be things written against me, reporting it to be mine, and yet be not: but my hand cannot well be counterfeited, there be enow that know my hand.
Wood. I will not deny my hand by Gods helpe. For I know well, I haue written nothing at any tyme but the truth. There may be things written against me, reporting it to be myne, and yet be not: but my hand cannot well be counterfeited, there be enow that know my hand.
Chich. Do you know it your self if you see it?
Chich. Do you know it your selfe if you see it?
Wood. Yea, that I do. Then he arose and fet a great bundle of writings, and opened them, and bade me come see. I looked on them, and it was my hand in deed.
Chich. How say you, is it not your own writing?
Chich. How say you, is it not your owne writing?
Wood. Yes surely it is.
Chich. How say you to this, is not this your hand also?
Wood. I looked, and it was. And I said, Yes verily is it.
Chich. Well, you know what it meaneth, I dare say.1
Wood. Yea, I know it very well: here is a great deal, the which I had thought had been in my house, but I thank God that it is here, for in this you shall try whether it be true or not. For in this is contained all the talk that was betwixt the Commissioners and me, when I was before them five times, and also before the Bishop of London divers times: and I am sure, you nor they shall find no words false therein written:1 and I think the sheriffs men when they searched my house for me, when I was taken, found this, and carried it with them, but I never knew it before now. But I am not sorry for it, but am rather glad. For herein you may see all the wrong that I received at their hands, & how long I was in prison, and how I was tossed up and down, and how I was delivered at length▪ ⟨p. 1988⟩and by this you may try whether it be so or not.2 I dare say they that found it, & they that brought it to you, had thought it would have turned me to displeasure: but in very deed all things work for the best to them that fear God.
Wood. Yea, I know it very well: here is a great deale, the which I had thought had bene in my house, but I thanke God that it is here, for in this you shall try whether it be true or not. For in this is conteined all the talke that was betwixt the Commissioners and me, when I was before them fiue tymes, and also before the Bishop of London diuers tymes: and I am sure, you nor they shall finde no words false therein written:1 and I thinke the shirifs mē when they searched my house for me, when I was taken, found this, and caried it with them, but I neuer knew it before now. But I am not sory for it, but am rather glad. For herein you may see all the wrong that I receyued at their hands, & how long I was in prisō, and how I was tossed vp and down, and how I was deliuered at length▪ ⟨p. 1988⟩and by this you may try whether it be so or not.
Chic. In deed I find no great fault in this: but here is perilous gear, here is sedition. This was set up upon the church door, you know it well enough.
Chic. In deed I find no great fault in this: but here is perillous geare, here is sedition. This was set vp vpon the church dore, you know it well enough.
Wood. 1In deed I wrote it to the Priest and to other that took upon them to fetch my child out of my house without my leave, and used it at their pleasure, when they knew it was baptised already, as they were well certified before. Wherefore my conscience compelled me to show them my mind in writing, wherein is contained nothing but the scriptures of God, rebuking them for their folly.
Wood. 1In deed I wrote it to the Priest and to other that tooke vpon them to fetch my childe out of my house without my leaue, and vsed it at their plesure, when they knew it was baptised already, as they were wel certified before. Wherfore my conscience compelled me to shew them my mynd in writing, wherein is conteined nothyng but the scriptures of God, rebuking them for their folly.
Chichest. Yea, but it is terribly meant, and uncharitably. It is such gear coupled together I promise you, as I never see the like. But I promise you, I will make the best of it. And I protest before God, I would you should do as well as mine own soul and body. Be contented to be informed. God hath done his part on you. Cast not your self away. Remember your wife and children, & the poor that lack your occupying. Mean to follow your vocation.1 Remember you are not called to be a teacher nor a preacher. S. Paul saith: Let every man walk wherein he is called, and therein abide. Remember you are called to another vocation, for Gods sake walk therein. It is not your office to do as you have done. You might do as much good by the report of worshipful men, as any man might do in all the Country by your example, and if you would follow the laws of the catholic church, it would be an occasion to bring a great many into the true church, that are out as you are.
Chichest. Yea, but it is terribly ment, and vncharitably. It is such geare coupled together I promise you, as I neuer see the lyke. But I promise you, I will make the best of it. And I protest before God, I would you should doe as well as myne owne soule and body. Be contented to be enformed. God hath done his part on you. Cast not your selfe away. Remember your wife and children, & the poore that lacke your occupying. Meane to follow your vocation.1 Remember you are not called to bee a teacher nor a preacher. S. Paul saith: Let euery man walke wherein he is called, and therein abide. Remember you are called to another vocation, for Gods sake walke therin. It is not your office to do as you haue done. You might do as much good by the report of worshipfull men, as any man might do in all the Countrey by your example, and if you would follow the lawes of the catholike church, it would be an occasion to bring a great many into the true church, that are out as you are.
