A67927:5833
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. 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.2 I dare say they that found it, & they that brought it to you, had thoght it would haue turned me to displeasure: but in very deed all things worke for the best to them that feare God.
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.
Wood I would not that you should say, that I am out of the church of God,1 for I am not, but do allow the Church of God according to his word. Yea, if I were abroad, if I could win any into the true Church that be out, by any means that I could use, I would be very glad. For God knoweth I love all people as my self. And where you say I have been a preacher, it is not so. I never took any such thing upon me,2 as it is well known. But as for teaching I cannot deny: for it becometh every man to teach and instruct his household in the fear of God, and all other (as far as he can) that desire it of him. And where as you have blamed me for reading the Scripture, and leaving my vocation (as you say) I le•• not my vocation in reading the Scripture. For I trust I followed my vocation the better therefore. And the greatest cause that I was compelled to read the Scriptures, was, because the preachers and teachers was so changeable.
Wood I would not that you should say, that I am out of the church of God,1 for I am not, but do allow the Church of God accordyng to his word. Yea, if I were abroad, if I could winne any into the true Church that be out, by any meanes that I could vse, I would be very glad. For God knoweth I loue all people as my self. And where you say I haue bene a preacher, it is not so. I neuer tooke any such thyng vpon me,2 as it is well known. But as for teaching I cannot deny: for it becommeth euery man to teach and instruct his houshold in the feare of God, and all other (as far as he can) that desire it of him. And where as you haue blamed me for reading the Scripture, and leauing my vocation (as you say) I le•• not my vocation in reading the Scripture. For I trust I followed my vocation the better therefore. And the greatest cause that I was compelled to read the Scriptures, was, because the preachers and teachers was so changeable.
Chic. No? did you not preach at a Fair?
Chic. No? did you not preach at a Fayre?
Woodman. No surely, but it was so reported. I was at a Fair in deed. Whilst I was in prison, I had leave of the Counsel to go home to pay my debts, and then I went to a Fair to sell cattail, and there met with me divers poor men that I had set a work, and of love asked me how I did, and how I could away with imprisonment. And I showed them how GOD had dealt with me, and how he would deal with all them that put their trust in him:1 and this they called preaching. And since that it hath been reported that I have baptised children, and married folks, the which I never did: for I was never Minister. Wherefore if I had so done, I had done contrary to the order of the Apostles, as God forbid I should.
Woodman. No surely, but it was so reported. I was at a Fayre in deede. Whilest I was in prison, I had leaue of the Counsaile to goe home to pay my debtes, and then I went to a Faire to sell cattayle, and there mette with mee diuers poore men that I had set a worke, and of loue asked me howe I dyd, and how I coulde away with imprisonment. And I shewed them howe GOD had delte with mee, and howe he woulde deale with all them that putte their trust in hym:1 and this they called preachyng. And since that it hath bene reported that I haue baptised children, and maried folkes, the which I neuer dyd: for I was neuer Minister. Wherefore if I had so done, I had done contrary to the order of the Apostles, as God forbid I should.
Chich. I am well apaid, if you be faultless in those things, for I have heard say the contrary.
Chich. I am well apaid, if you be faultles in those thyngs, for I haue heard say the contrary.
Wood. I have showed you the truth, and that no man living shall be able to prove the contrary.
Wood. I haue shewed you the truth, and that no man liuyng shal be able to prooue the contrary.
Chich. You said you do not disallow the true Catholic Church.
Chich. You sayd you doe not disallow the true Catholike Church.
Wood. No, that I do not.
Wood. I trust I am in the true church every day. But to tell you truth, I come not at the Church where the most do resort. For if I should, I should offend, and be offended. For at the last time that I was there, I offended many, & was offended my self. Wherefore for conscience sake I would not come there. For I was sent to prison for my coming there, & now I am sent to you for biding thence. So they will not be pleased any way with me, for they seek my life. Wherefore look you to it, for I am now in your hands, and you ought to be a house of defence against mine enemies. For if you suffer them to kill me, my blood shall be required at your hands. If you can find any just cause in me worthy of death by Gods word,1 you may con damn me your self, and not offend god: wherefore look to it, the matter is weighty, deliver me not into their hands, and think so to be discharged.
Wood. I trust I am in the true church euery day. But to tell you truth, I come not at the Church where the most do resort. For if I should, I should offend, and be offēded. For at the last tyme that I was there, I offended many, & was offended my selfe. Wherefore for conscience sake I would not come there. For I was sent to prison for my commyng there, & now I am sent to you for biding thēce. So they will not bee pleased any way with mee, for they seeke my lyfe. Wherefore looke you to it, for I am now in your hands, and you ought to be a house of defēce against myne enemies. For if you suffer them to kill me, my bloud shall be required at your hands. If you can finde any iust cause in me worthy of death by Gods word,1 you may cō demne me your self, and not offend god: wherfore looke to it, the matter is weighty, deliuer me not into their hands, and thinke so to be discharged.
Chich. I tell you truth, I can do little in the matter. For I have not full authority as yet of mine office: but I will send for you and talk with you, if I wis• I should do you any good.
Chich. I tell you truth, I can doe little in the matter. For I haue not full authoritie as yet of myne office: but I wil send for you and talke with you, if I wis• I should do you any good.
Wood. I would be glad to talk with you and to show you my mind in any thing that you shall demand of me, now or at any other time.
Wood. I would be glad to talk with you and to shew you my mind in any thing that you shall demaund of me, now or at any other tyme.
Chich. So then he desired the sheriffs men to tarry dinner with him: that this man (said he) may dine with me also:1 for it is possible that he may have no great store of meat whither he shall go.
Chich. So then he desired the shiriffes men to tary dinner with hym: that this man (said he) may dine with me also:1 for it is possible that hee may haue no great store of meate whither he shall go.
