1576 Edition | Book 6 | Page 780 
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CloseThe lack of pagination for this section (at least in the 1570 edition where it first appeared) is almost certainly because it was a late insertion into thetext. It is also almost certain that this section was a response to the revolt of thenorthern earls in 1569 and the papal deposition of Elizabeth at the beginning of 1570. This section is illustrated with a dozen woodcuts depicting historical, or putatively historical, instances of papal dominance over secular rulers. All but one of thesewoodcuts was newly created, apparently for this section. (The woodcut depicting thehumiliation of Henry IV at Canossa, which had been used earlier in the volume, wasreused in this section). The expense involved in creating these woodcuts suggeststhat Day may have received financial support for producing this section. It iscertainly true that Archbishop Parker aided Foxe in researching this section.
[Back to Top]Yet while the carving of the woodcuts must have taken weeks, if not months,it would appear that the text for this section was composed fairly quickly. This section consists of a summary of the rise of the papacy, an exegesis of passages in St Paul's second letter to the Thessalonians identifying the Antichrist, as well as a summary of papal attempts to depose and dominate European rulers. This sectionconcludes with 'The Image of Antichrist', which, in turn, is an exact reprinting of ananonymous work, A solemne contestation of diverse popes for the advancing of their supremacy (London, 1560), STC 20114, which had been printed by John Daya decade earlier. (For a discussion of this work, and an argument that Foxe himselfcompiled it, see Thomas S. Freeman, 'A solemne contestation of diverse popes: A Work by John Foxe?', English Language Notes 31[1994], pp. 35-42). Apart from nuggets of information contributed by others, there is littlenew research in this section, which largely reiterates episodes already described in theActs and Monuments. What is striking, however, are the important borrowings, acknowledged and unacknowledged, from William Tyndale's Practice of Prelates. Foxe did not normally cite Tyndale's work, probably because he had access to better and more detailed sources. But in this section, Foxe gives an indication of the impact that Tyndale's interpretation of history had on his thought.
[Back to Top]Thomas S. Freeman
University of Sheffield
CloseThe phrase, 'paynted out in tables' means illustrated with woodcuts.
CloseThis title quotes 2 Thess 2:4, which was understood in the sixteenthcentury as a prophecy of Antichrist.
MarginaliaThe martyrdom of good byshops vnder wicked Emperours in the primitiue Church. IN the Table of the primitiue Church aboue described, hath bene (gentle reader) set forth and exhibited before thyne eyes the greuous afflictiōs and sorowfull tormentes, which thorough Gods secret sufferaunce, fell vpon the true Saintes and members of Christes Churche in that tyme, especially vppon the good Bishops, Ministers, and teachers of the flocke: of whom some were scourged, some beheaded, some crucified, some burned, some had their eyes put out, some one way some an other miserably consumed: which dayes of wofull calamitie continued (as is foreshewed) neare the space of CCC. yeares. Duryng which tyme the deare spouse & elect Church of God, beyng sharpely assaulted on euery side, had small rest, no ioy, nor outward safety in this present world, but in much bitternes of hart, in continuall teares and mournyng vnder the crosse passed ouer their dayes, beyng spoyled, imprisoned, contemned, reuiled, famished, tormēted and Martyred euery where. Who neither durst well tary at home for feare and dread: & much lesse durst come abroad for the enemyes, but onely by night, when they assembled as they might, sometymes to sing Psalmes and Hymnes together. In all which their dreadfull daungers, and sorowfull afflictions, notwithstādyng the goodnes of the Lord left them not desolate: but the more their outward tribulations did increase, the more their inward consolations did abound: and the farther of they seemed from the ioyes of this lyfe, the more present was the Lord with them with grace and fortitude to confirme and reioyse their soules. And though their possessions and riches in this world were lost and spoyled: yet were they enriched with heauēly giftes and treasures from aboue an hundreth fold.MarginaliaThe true riches of the church described. Then was the true Religion truely felt in hart. Then was Christianitie not in outward appearaunce shewed, but in inward affection receaued, and the true image of the Church not in outward shew pretensed, but in her perfect state effectuall. Then was the name and feare of God true in hart, not in lyppes alone dwellyng. Fayth then was feruent, zeale ardent, prayer not swymmyng in the lippes, but groned out to God from the bottome of the spirite. Then was no pride in the Church, nor laysure to seeke riches, nor tyme to keepe them. Contention for trifles was then so far frō Christians, that well were they when they could meete to pray together agaynst the deuill, authour of all dissention. Briefly the whole Churche of Christ Iesus with all the members therof, the farther it was from the type and shape of this world, the nearer it was to the blessed respect of God fauour and supportation.
[Back to Top]MarginaliaThe first rising of the Byshops of Rome. AFter this long tyme of trouble, it pleased the Lord at length mercyfully to looke vppon the Saintes and seruantes of his sonne, to release their captiuitie, to release their miserie, and to bynde vp the old Dragon the Deuill, which so long vexed them. Wherby the Church began to aspire to some more libertie: and the Byshops which before were as abiectes, vtterly contēned of Emperours, through the prouidence of God (which disposeth all thynges in hys tyme after his owne will) began now of Emperours to be esteemed and had in price. Furthermore, as Emperours
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