A67927:5864
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 know but two: one the sacrament of baptism, and the other the supper of the Lord.1 But if you can justly prove by Gods word, that there be more then two, I stand to be reformed.
Wood. I knowe but two: one the sacrament of baptisme, and the other the supper of the Lorde.1 But if you can iustly prooue by Gods woord, that there be more then two, I stand to be reformed.
Chich. If I prove not vij. by Gods word, then believe me not: and so he bade me farewell.
Chich. If I prooue not vij. by Gods woord, then beleue me not: and so he bade me farewell.
Then the Sheriffs two men, and one of doc. Stories men, carried me to doc. Cooks house, which doctor Cooke commanded them to carry me to the Sheriffs prison in Southwark: saying, he shall be called before us again shortly and all his fellows, and we shall dispatch them for troubling the country any more.
Then the Sheriffes two men, and one of doc. Stories men, caried me to doc. Cookes house, which doctor Cooke commaunded them to carie me to the Sheriffes prisone in Southwarke: saying, he shall be called before vs agayne shortly and all his fellowes, and we shal dispatch them for troubling the countrey any more.
1And so I was brought to the Marshalsea: where I now am merry (God be praised therefore) looking for judgement of my flesh: for they intend to dispatch me shortly, if God will give them leave: but God hath their hearts in his hands, and they can do nothing to me, but as God will give them leave. Wherefore I commit my cause to God only,2 and I am sure there shall not one hair of my head perish without my heavenly fathers will, although I bide never so much trouble. Job perished not for all his trouble, although God gave the devil leave to trouble and try him divers & many ways, as God hath suffered his members to trouble and try me divers and many ways, I praise God. They shall as little prevail against my faith) I have no mistrust) as the devil prevailed not against Job,3 whatsoever they do with my goods, life or body. For he that kept Job in all his trouble, neither slumbereth nor sleepeth, but keepeth me & all his elect, that whether we live or die, it shall be to the praise and glory of God. For if we live, we live at the Lords will, and if we die, we die to the Lords will: so, whether we live or die, we are the Lords, blessed be his name therefore.
1And so I was brought to the Marshalsea: where I now am mery (God be praised therfore) loking for iudgement of my flesh: for they intende to dispatch me shortly, if God will geue them leaue: but God hath theyr hearts in his hāds, and they can do nothing to me, but as God wil geue them leaue. Wherefore I commit my cause to God onely,2 and I am sure there shall not one haire of my head pearish without my heauenly fathers wil, althogh I bide neuer so much trouble. Iob pearished not for all his trouble, although God gaue the deuil leaue to trouble and try him diuers & many waies, as God hath suffered his members to trouble and trie mee diuers and many waies, I praise God. They shall as little preuaile against my faith) I haue no mistrust) as ye deuil preuailed not against Iob,
Wherefore, dear brethren and sisters, to whom this my writing shall come, be of good cheer and fear not what man can do unto you. For they can but kill the body:1 but fear him that hath power to kill both body and soul. And yet once again I bid you be of good cheer. For the Sheriff with divers other Gentlemen and Priests, whilst I was at the Sheriffs house, said to me that all the heretics in the country hung on me, as the people did in times past upon S. Augustine, or S. Ambrose, or such like. Wherefore said they, look well on it, you have a great thing to answer for. To the which I answered: I pray God lay nothing more to my charge, then he will do for heresy, as I am sure he will not. For he hath set my sins as far from me, as it is from the East to the West:2 So that I am sure they shall never come near to me any more. Yea, & that they call heresy, we serve God withal.3 And I am sure there is no man nor woman that hangeth on me, but on God. But yet that is their imaginations and thoughts, that if they might win me to them, they should win a great many likewise: and thinking to kill me, if they can not win me, as I trust in God, and am sure they shall never by Gods grace, if it were possible to kill me x. times: for I am so linked to Christ in a chain by Faith,4 that it is unpossible for men to loose us a sunder, neither for life nor death. I praise my Lord God therefore. And no doubt their full intent and purpose is to kill me, thinking thereby to make other afraid. Which death of my body were best of all for me, if God were so pleased. But if I may live for the comfort of other, his name be praised therefore. I know what he can do: but what he will do, I know not. But if death be offered me, so that I can not refuse it, without displeasing of God, I trust in God I shall not offend my brethren in receiving of death, but shall be rather an occasion of the strengthening of their faith, by choosing & receiving of it, and that with joy. For as Christ hath given his life for us,5 so ought we to give our lives for the defence of the gospel, and comfort of our brethren. And whereas the bishop sayeth, he will prove vij. sacraments, be you out of doubt he shall never be able to do it, no more then he hath proved other arguments with me already.
Thus fare ye well from the Marshalsea, where I now am, as a sheep appointed to be slain, God be praised therefore.
Thus fare ye well frō the Marshalsey, where I now am, as a sheepe appoynted to be slaine, God be praised therefore.
First, I was sent for to the Marshalsea by Doctor Story,1 and was carried to his house besides S. Nicholas Shambles: and when I had spoken to him, he sent me to the bishop of Chichester, and said, he would come to him his self straight way: and when we were in the Bishops Hall, we had not tarried long, but the Bishop sent for me: and when I came before him, I did my duty to him as much as I could.
FIrst, I was sent for to the Marshalsey by Doctor Storie,1 and was caried to his house besides S. Nicholas Shambles: and when I had spoken to him, he sent me to the bishop of Chichester, and sayde, he would come to him his selfe straight way: and when we were in the Bishops Hall, we had not taried long, but the Bishop sent for me: and when I came before him, I did my duetie to him as much as I could.
Chich. Then said the Bishop: You be welcome: how do you now?
Chich. Then said the Bishop: You be welcome: howe doe you nowe?
Wood. Well, I praise God, thanking your Lordship for the gentle talk that you had with me at my last departing from you.
Wood. Well, I praise God, thanking your Lordship for the gentle talke that you hadde with me at my last departing from you.
Chich. Well, goodman Woodman, I have sent for you of love & good will that I bare to you, to talk with you: and I would have you to tell me your mind in few words. For in deed the last time that I talked with you, our talk was so long, that I fell into a great drieth thereby, & have been the worse in my body ever since. Wherefore I pray you show me your mind briefly, in those particular matters that I shall demand of you, according to your promise that you made when you were with me the last time. How say you, will you?
Chich. Well, goodman Woodman, I haue sent for you of loue & good wil that I bare to you, to talke with you: and I would haue you to tel me your minde in few woordes. For in dede the last time that I talked with you, our talke was so long, that I fell into a great drieth thereby, & haue bene the worse in my body euer since. Wherefore I praye you shew me your minde briefly, in those particular matters that I shall demaunde of you, according to your promise that you made when you were with me the last time. How say you, will you?
Wood. Yea forsooth: I will answer to any thing that you shall demand of me (by Gods help) as well as I can.
Wood. Yea forsooth: I wil answere to any thing that you shall demaund of me (by Gods helpe) as wel as I can.
Chich. Howe say you by the vij. Sacraments? for there we left off, and there we will begin again. You said then there were but two. How say you now to it? will you deny all saving two?
Chich. Howe say you by the vij. Sacramentes? for there we leaft off, and there we will begin againe. You sayde then there were but two. How say you now to it? wil you denie all sauing two?
Wood. I say now, as I said then. You said, there be vij. sacraments, and I said, I knew but two:1 but if you could ⟨p. 1990⟩approve seven by Gods word, when I came before you again, I must needs grant them. And you said, if you could not prove them by Gods word, I should not believe them: & now I am come to see how well you can prove them. Herewith he was moved and all his Chaplains.
Wood. I say now, as I sayd then. You sayd, there be vij. sacraments, and I said, I knew but two:1 but if you could ⟨p. 1990⟩approue seuen by Gods word, when I came before you again, I must needes graunt thē. And you said, if you could not proue them by Gods word, I should not beleue thē: & now I am come to see how well you can proue thē. Herewit• he was moued and all his Chapleines.
Chich. By GOD and my troth, I ween he thinketh I can not prove them. How say you to the sacrament of Matrimony?
Chich. By GOD and my troth, I weene he thinketh I can not proue them. How say you to the sacrament of Matrimony?
Wood. Why, my Lord, Saint Paul sayeth to Timothy:1 A bishop should be faultless: and you use much swearing, which is a great fault in a Bishop, of all other, that should be an example to the flock. Then he and his Prelates were in a great rage with me, because I reproved him for his swearing.
Wood. Why, my Lorde, Saynt Paule sayeth to Timothy:1 A bishop should be faultles: and you vse much swearing, which is a greate fault in a Byshop, of all other, that should be an example to the flocke. Then he and his Prelates were in a great rage wt me, because I reproued hym for his swearing.
Wherfore, dere brethren and sisters, to whom this my wryting shall come, be of good cheare and feare not what man can do vnto you. For they can but kill the body:1 but feare him that hath power to kill both body and soul. And yet once againe I bid you be of good cheare. For the Sheriffe with diuers other Gentlemen and Priests, whilest I was at the Sheriffes house, said to me that all ye heretikes in the coūtrey hong on me, as the people did in times past vpon S. Augustine, or S. Ambrose, or such like. Wherfore said they, looke well on it, you haue a great thing to aunswer for. To the which I answered: I pray God lay nothing more to my charge, then he will doe for heresie, as I am sure he will not. For he hath set my sinnes as far from me, as it is from the East to the West:2 So that I am sure they shall neuer come neare to mee anye more. Yea, & that they call heresie, wee serue God withall.3 And I am sure there is no man nor woman that hangeth on me, but on God. But yet that is their imaginations and thoughtes, that if they might winne me to them, they should winne a great many likewise: and thinking to kill mee, if they can not win me, as I trust in God, and am sure they shall neuer by Gods grace, if it were possible to kill me x. times: for I am so linked to Christ in a chaine by Faith,4 that it is vnpossible for men to loose vs a sunder, neither for life nor death. I praise my Lord God therfore. And no dout their full intent and purpose is to kill me, thinking thereby to make other afraide. Which death of my body were best of al for me, if God were so pleased. But if I may liue for the comfort of other, his name be praised therefore. I knowe what he can doe: but what he will do, I know not. But if death be offred me, so that I can not refuse it, without displeasing of God, I trust in God I shal not offēd my brethren in receiuing of death, but shall be rather an occasion of the strengthening of their faith, by chusing & receiuing of it, and that with ioy. For as Christ hath geuen hys life for vs,5 so ought we to geue our liues for the defence of the gospel, and comfort of our brethren. And whereas the byshop sayeth, he will prooue vij. sacraments, be you oute of doubt he shal neuer be able to doe it, no more then he hath prooued other arguments with me already.
