A67927:7935
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.
Book 12 › ¶Thomas Christmas and William Watts.Book 12 › ¶Thomas Christenmasse and William Wattes.
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.
¶Thomas Christmas and William Watts.
¶Thomas Christenmasse and William Wattes.
IN this perilous rage of Queen Mary's reign, were two men persecuted,1 one called Tho. Christmas, the other Will. Watts of Tunbridge in Kent. As these travailed from place to place, not resting two nights together in one place, it happened them on a time to come to Rochester in Kent, where as they entering into the Town, even at the Townes end met with a little Damosel of eight years of age, but whether she went, they knew not. It was then night, and they weary, and fain therefore would have lien in the same town, but could not tell where, they feared so the bloody Catholics. At last they devised to ask the Damosel whether there were any heretics in the town, or no? and she said, yea. They asked her where. She answered them.2 At such an Inn, telling them the name, and where the Inn was. Shortly after, as they were gone from her, they bethought themselves better, and God so moving their hearts, they went to the child again, and asked her how she knew that the Innkeeper (of whom she spake before) was an heretic. Marry (quoth she) well enough, and his wife also. How knowest thou, pretty maiden, said they? I pray thee tell us. How know I, said she? Marry because they go to the church: and those that will not hold up their hands there, they will present them, and he himself goeth from house to house, to compel them to come to Church. When these two men heard this, they gave God praise, and avoided that house, taking the warning of that Maid (of good bringing up, as it should seem) to be Gods marvellous providence towards them.