A67927:616
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.
If I would have given place to worldly reasons, these might have moved me: First, the forgoing of you and my children: the consideration of the state of my children, being yet tender of age and young, apt and inclinable to virtue & learning, and so having the more need of my assistance, being not altogether destitute of gifts to help them withal: possessions above the common sort of men: because I was never called to be a preacher or minister: & (because of my sickness) fear of death in imprisonment before I should come to my answer, and so my death to be unprofitable.
If I would haue geuen place to worldly reasons, these might haue moued me: First, the forgoyng of you and my children: the consideration of the state of my children, being yet tender of age and yong, apt and inclinable to vertue & learnyng, and so hauyng the more neede of my assistance, beyng not altogether destitute of gifts to helpe thē withall: possessions aboue the common sort of men: because I was neuer called to be a preacher or minister: & (because of my sickenes) feare of death in imprisonment before I should come to my aunswer, and so my death to be vnprofitable.
But these and such like, I thank my heavenly father (which of his infinite mercy inspired me with his holy Ghost,1 for his sons sake my only Saviour and redeemer) prevailed not in me: but when I had by the wonderful permission of God, fallen into their hands, at the first sight of the Sheriff, nature a little abashed: yet ere ever I came to the prison, by the working of God & thorough his goodness fear departed. I said to the Sheriff at his coming unto me: What matter have you master Sheriff to charge me withal? He answered: you shall know when you come before the masters: and so taking me with him, I looked to have been brought before the masters,2 and to have heard what they could have burdened me withal: but contrary to my expectation, I was committed forthwith to the Jail, not being called to my answer, little justice being showed therein. But the less justice a man findeth at their hands, the more consolation in conscience shall he find from God: for whosoever is of the world, the world will love him.