Acts and Monuments (Book of Martyrs)

the first appearyng of these bloudy markes aboue mentioned. Or if we recken from the be-

eure expired, ginnyng of Luther, and his persecution, then lacketh yet xvj.yeares . Now what the Lord will do with this wicked world, or what rest he will geue to his Church after these long sorrowes, he is our father in heauen, his will be done in earth as semeth best to his diuine maiesty.

In the meane time let vs for our partes with all pacient obedience wayte vpon his gracious leysure, and glorifie hys holy name, and edisie one an other with all humilitie. And if there can not be an end of our disputyng, and contendyng one agaynst an other: yet let there be a moderation in our affec- tions. And for so much as it is the good will of our God, that Sathan thus should be let loose among vs for a short tyme: yet let vs striue in the meane while what we can, to amend the malice of the tyme with mutuall humanitie. They that be in errour, let them not disdayne to learne . They which haue greater tallentes of knowledge committed, instruct in simplicitie them that be _ No man lyueth

Exhortetion 4s jn that common wealth where nothyng is amisse. But yet because God hath so placed vs Eaglishmen 3 here in one commõ wealth, also in one Church as in one shippe together: let vs not mangle or diuide the shippe, which beyng deuided — but euery man serue in hys order with diligence, wher- in he is called. They that sit at the helme, kepe well the poynt of the nedle, to know how the shippe goeth, and whether it snould. What soeuer wether betydeth, the nedle well touched with the stone of Gods word will neuer fayle. Such as labour at the oares, start for no tempest, but do what they can to kepe from the rockes. Likewise they which be in inferiour row mes, take ede they moue no se. dition, nor disturbance agaynst the rowers and mariners.No storme so daungerours to a shippe on the Sea, as is discord and disorder in a weale publicke. What countreyes and natiõs, what rn omes and empiers, what Cities,townes,and houses discord hath dissolued, in storyes is manifest : Incede not spende tyme in rehearsing examples. The Lord of peace, who hath power both of land and Sea, reach forth hys mercyfull hand to helpe them vp that sincke, to kepe them vp that stand, to still these windes and sourgyng Seas of discord and contention amongest vs: that we professing one Christ, may in one vnitie of doctrine ga- ther our selues into one Arke of the true Church together: where we continuyng stedfast in fayth may at the last luckely be conducted to the ioyfull porte of our desired landyng place byhys heauenly grace. To whom both in heauen and in earth be all power And glory, with hys father and the holy sprite for euer. Amen.

TO THE RIGHT VERTVOVS, MOST EX.

cellent and noble Princesse Quene Elizabeth, our Dreade Lady, by the Grace of God, Queene of England, Fraunce and Ireland, defendour of Christes Fayth and Gospel, and principall gouer- nour both of the Realme and also ouer the sayd Church of England and Ireland, vader Christ the supreme head of the same &c. John Foxe her humble subiect wysheth dayly increase of Gods holy spirite and Grace, with long reigne, perfect health, and ioyful peace, to go. uerne hys flocke committed to her charge, to the example of all good Princes, the comfort of hys Church, and glory of hys blessed name.

2, HRIST the Prince of all Prin- ce wh hath placed you in your MT PI

8 IN throne of Maiefly, vnder him to

AA NT | | 3 II gonerne the Church and Realme of

England, gene your rozall bighnes log to fit, and many yeares to raigne oner vs, in all florishyne felicitie , to his gracious pleasure , and long la- sung ioy of all your subiectes. Amen. When ff first presented these Atts \ and Monumentes vnto your maie- 40 1 ( inc st deare soueraigne, Queene abel, our peaccable Salome)

2 Ld EWhich your maiesties rare clemency

VOireceaued in such gentle part: Iwell

hoped, that these my trauailes in this kinde of writyng had bene well at an ende: wherby [might haue returned my studies agayne to other purposes, after myne owne defire,more fit then to write hiftories,epeciallyin the English tounge . But certaine euill disposed persons,of intemperant tounges, aduersaries to good proce- dynges would not 72 me so torest, fumyng and freatyng, and raisin g vp suche miserable exclamations at the first appearyng of the booke,as was wonderfull to heare . A man would haue thought Christ to haue bene new borne agayne , and that Herode with all the Citie of lerusalem had bene in an vprore.Such blustryng and styrring was then again#t that poore booke through all quarters of England, euen to the gates of Louaine : so that no English Papist almost in all the Ralme thought him selfe a perfect Cathulicke, vnlesse he had cast out some word or other, to gene that booke a blow. Ae by Whereupon considering with my selfe what should mone them thus to rage, first | began with more circumspeft diligence toonerlooke agayne that Thad done. In searchyng wherof I founde the fault both what it war, and where it lay:which was in dede,not so much in the booke it selfe ( to say the truth Jas in an other cer- teine priuy myStery and working of some:of whom Ioannes Auentinus jhall tell v, in his owne wordes,and shew vs who they be:Quibus,inquit,audiendi quæ fecerint, pudor est:nullus faciendi, que audire erubescunt. Illic vbi opus nihil verentur:hic vbi nihil opus est, ibi verentur. &c. ho beyng ashamed belike to hear their worthy stratagemes like to come to light, sought by what mea- nes they migbt, the stopping of the same . «And because they could not woorke it per brachium seculare , bypublicke authoritie (the Lora of heanen long pre- ferns