N20568:14604
The new and complete book of martyrs; or, An universal history of martyrdom: being Fox's Book of martyrs, revised and corrected, with additions and great improvements. : Containing an authentic account of the lives, persecutions and sufferings of the holy martyrs; and the many dreadful persecutions against the Church of Christ in all parts of the world, by pagans, Jews, Turks, papists, and others, from earliest ages of the church to the present period. ... The whole forming at once a general Christian martyrology, and a complete history of persecutions. / By the Rev. Mr. John Fox, M.A. late of Magdalen College, Oxford. ; Now revised, corrected and improved, with many additional articles, relating to the acts and monuments of the church. By Paul Wright, D.D. ; Embellished with forty elegant copper plate engravings. ; In two volumes. Vol. I[-II].The new and complete book of martyrs; or, An universal history of martyrdom: being Fox's Book of marytrs, revised and corrected, with additions and great improvements. : Containing an authentic account of the lives, persecutions and sufferings of the holy martyrs; and the many dreadful persecutions against the Church of Christ in all parts of the world, by pagans, Jews, Turks, papists, and others, from earliest ages of the church to the present period. ... The whole forming at once a general Christian martyrology, and a complete history of persecutions. / By the Rev. Mr. John Fox, M.A. late of Magdalen College, Oxford. ; Now revised, corrected and improved, with many additional articles, relating to the acts and monuments of the church. By Paul Wright, D.D. ; Embellished with forty elegant copper plate engravings. ; In two volumes. Vol. I[-II].
New-York: printed by William Durell, 1794
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
Ralph. Forsooth, my lord, if your lordship remember, I did set my hand to a certain writing, the contents whereof (as I remember) were, That I believe in all things as the catholic church teacheth, &c. In which I did not disclose▪ my mind, but shamefully dissembled, because I made no difference between the true church and the untrue church.
Bonner. Nay, but I pray thee let me hear no more of this trash. For I fear me thou wilt smell of an heretic anon. Which is the true church as thou sayest? Dost thou not call the heretics' church the true church, or the catholic church of Christ? Now which of these two are the true church, sayest thou? Speak, for in faith I will know of thee, before I leave thee.
Ralph. As concerning the church of heretics, I utterly abhor the same, as detestable and abominable before God, with all their enormities and heresies; and the church catholic is it that I only embrace, whose doctrine is sincere, pure, and true:
Bonner. By St. Augustine, but that is well said of thee. For, by God Almighty, if thou hadst allowed the church of heretics, I would have burned thee with fire for thy labour.
THEN said one Morton, a priest, My lord, you know not yet what church it is that he calleth catholic. I warrant you he meaneth naughtily enough.
Bonner. Think you so? Now by our blessed lady, if it be so, he might have deceived me. How say you, sirrah, which is the catholic church?
Ralph. Even that which hath received the wholesome sound, spoken of by Isaiah, David, Malachi, and Paul, with many other more. Which sound, as it is written, hath gone throughout all the earth in every place, and unto the ends of the world.
Bonner. Yea, thou savest true before God. For this is the sound that hath gone throughout all Christendom, and he that believeth not the sound of the holy church, as St. Cyprian saith, doth err. For he saith, that whosoever is out of the church, is like unto them that were out of Noah's ship, when the flood came upon all the whole world; so the ark of Noah is likened unto the church; and therefore thou hast well said in thy con••ssion. For the church is not alone in Germany, nor was here in England in the time of the late schisms, as the heretics do affirm. For if the church should be there alone, then were Christ a liar: for he promised that the Holy Ghost should come to us, and lead us unto all truth, yea, and remain with us, unto the end of the world. So now, if we will take Christ for a true sayer, then must we needs affirm, that the way which is taught in France, Spain, Italy, Flanders, Denmark, Scotland, and all Christendom over, must needs be the true catholic church.
Ralph. My lord, if you remember, I spake of all the world, as it is written, and not of all Christendom only, as methinks your lordship takes it, which kind of speaking you do not find in all the bible. For I am sure, that the gospel hath been both preached and persecuted in all lands: First, In Jewry, by the scribes and pharisees, and since that time, by Nero, Diocletian, and such like, and now here in these our days by, your lordship knoweth whom. For true it is that the church which you call catholic, is none otherwise catholic than was figured in Cain, observed of by Jeroboam, Ahab, Jezebel Nebuchadnezzar, Antiochus, and Herod, with innumerable more of the like: and as both Daniel and Esdras make mention of these last days, by a p•ain prophecy, and now fulfilled, as appeareth, and affirmed by our Saviour Christ and his apostles, saying, There shall come grievous wolves to devour the flock.
Ralph. My lord, if you remember, I spake of all the world, as it is written, and not of all Christendom only, as methinks your lord•h•p takes it, which kind of speaking you do not find in all the bible. For I am sure, that the gospel hath been both preached and persecuted in all lands: First, In Jewry, by the scribes and pharisees, and since that time, by Nero, Dioclesian, and such like, and now here in these our days by, your lordship knoweth whom. For true it is that the church which you call catholic, is none otherwise catholic than was figured in Cain, observed of by Jeroboam, Ahab, Jezabel Nabuchodonosor, Antiochus, and Herod, with innumerable more of the like: and as both Daniel and Esdras make mention of these last days, by a p•ain prophecy, and now fulfilled, as appeareth, and affirmed by our Saviour Christ and his apostles, saying, There shall come grievous wolves to devour the flock.
Bonner. Now, by the blessed sacrament of the altar, Mr. Morton, he is the rankest heretic that ever came before me. How say you? Have you heard the like?
Morton. I thought what he was, my lord, at the first.
Bonner. Now, by All-hallows, thou shalt be burnt with fire for thy lying, thou whoreson, varlet, and prick-louse thou. Dost thou find a prophecy in David of us? Nay, you knave, it is you that he speaketh of, and of your false pretended holiness. ⟨p. 479⟩Speak, let me hear what is the saying of Esdras, and take heed you make not a lie, I advise you.
Ralph. The saying of Esdras is this; "The heat of a great multitude is kindled over you, and they shall take away certain of you, and feed the idols with you, and he that consenteth unto them, shall be had in derision, laughed to scorn, and trodden under foot: yea, they shall be like mad-men, for they spare no man: they shall spoil and waste such as fear the Lord," &c.
Bonner. And have you taken this thing, to make your matter good? Ah, sirrah, wilt thou so? By my saith, a pretty instruction, a necessary thing, to be taught among the people. By my troth, I think there be more of this opinion. I pray thee tell me: is there any that understandeth this scripture on this fashion? Before God, I think there are none in all England, but thou.
Ralph. Yes, my lord, there are in England three religions.
Bonner. Sayest thou so? Which be these three?
