A67927:623
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.
Wherefore I thought it my bounden duty both to God and man, being (as it were) by the great goodness of God,1 marvellously called and appointed hereunto, to set aside all fear, perils, and dangers, all worldly respects and considerations, and like as I had heretofore, according to the measure of my small gift, within the compass of my vacation and calling, from the bottom of my heart unfeignedly moved, exhorted, and persuaded all that profess Gods word, manfully to persist in the defence of the same, not with sword and violence, but with suffering and loss of life, rather then to defile themselves again with the whorish abomination of the Romish Antichrist: so the hour being come, with my fact and example to ratify, confirm, and protest the same to the hearts of all true believers: and to this end (by the mighty assistance of Gods holy spirit:2) I resolved my self with much peace of conscience, willingly to sustain what soever the Romish antichrist should do against me, and the rather because I understood the Bishops coming to be at hand, and considered that pore mens consciences should be then sharply assaulted. So remained I prisoner in Coventry by the space of 10. or 11. days, being never called to my answer of the Masters, contrary to the laws of the Realm, they having neither statute, law, proclamation, letter, warrant, nor commandment for my apprehension. They would have laid all the matter upon the Sumner. Who being examined, denied it before their faces (as one of my friends told me) saying that he had no commandment concerning me, but for my elder brother. God lay not their extreme doings against me, to their charge at the great day.
Wherefore I thought it my boūden duety both to God and man, being (as it were) by the great goodnes of God,1 maruelously called and appoynted hereunto, to set aside all feare, pearils, and daungers, al worldly respects and considerations, and like as I had heereto•ore, according to the measure of my small gift, within the compasse of my vacation and calling, from the bottome of my heart vnfainedly mooued, exhorted, and perswaded all that professe Gods woorde, manfully to persist in the defence of the same, not wyth sworde and violence, but wyth suffering and losse of life, rather then to defile themselues againe with the whorish abhomination of the Romish Antichrist: so the houre being come, with my fact and example to ratifie, confirme, and protest the same to the hearts of all true beleeuers: and to thys end (by the mighty assistance of Gods holy spirit: