N20568:7887
The new and complete book of martyrs; or, An universal history of martyrdom: being…
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.
Volume 1 › Book 2 › Chapter 11 › The Confession of JOHN LAUNDER, before BONNER, Bishop of London.
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.
THEN his book was thrown into the barrel, and when he had stripped himself, (as a joyful servant of God) he went into the barrel himself. And as soon as ever he came in, he took the book and threw it among the people, and then the sheriff commanded in the name of the king and queen, on pain of death, to throw in the book again. And immediately the holy martyr began to speak with a joyful voice, saying:
DEAR brethren and sisters, I call on you all to witness, that I come to seal Christ's gospel with my blood, because I know that it is true: it is well known to you all, that it hath been truly preached here in Lewes, and in all places of England, and now it is not. And because I will not deny God's gospel, and be obedient to man's laws, I am condemned to die. Dear brethren and sisters, as many of you as do believe in the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, unto everlasting life, see you do the works appertaining to the same. And as many of you as do believe in the pope of Rome and his laws, which he sets forth in these days, you do believe to your utter condemnation, and, except the infinite mercy of God prevent it, you shall burn in the eternal flames of hell.
IMMEDIATELY the sheriff spake unto him, and said, If thou dost not believe on the pope, thou art damned body and soul. And further the sheriff said unto him, Speak to thy God, that he may deliver thee now, or else to strike me down, to the example of this people; but this pious man said, The Lord forgive you your sayings.