Foxe - The Book of Martyrs
The mystery of history is not completely dark, since it is a veil which only partially conceals the creative activity and spiritual forces and the operation of spiritual laws. It is commonplace to say that the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church yet what we are asserting is simply that individual acts of spiritual decision bear social fruit …For the great cultural changes and historic revolutions that decide the fate of nations or the character of an age is the cumulative result of a number of spiritual decisions … the faith and insight, or the refusal and blindness, of individuals. No one can put his finger on the ultimate spiritual act that tilts the balance, and makes the external order of society assume a new form… Persecution, powerless to destroy or even to shake this new community, made it only the more sensible of its own strength, and pressed it into a more compact body.
The mystery of history is not completely dark, since it is a veil which only partially conceals the creative activity and spiritual forces and the operation of spiritual laws. It is commonplace to say that the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church yet what we are asserting is simply that individual acts of spiritual decision bear social fruit …For the great cultural changes and historic revolutions that decide the fate of nations or the character of an age is the cumulative result of a number of spiritual decisions … the faith and insight, or the refusal and blindness, of individuals. No one can put his finger on the ultimate spiritual act that tilts the balance, and makes the external order of society assume a new form… Persecution, powerless to destroy or even to shake this new community, made it only the more sensible of its own strength, and pressed it into a more compact body.
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<strong>Foxe</strong>’s <strong>Book</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Martyrs</strong><br />
"Out <strong>of</strong> the love I bear to some <strong>of</strong> your friends, I have a care for your preservation;<br />
therefore I advise you, as you tender your life, to devise you some excuse to shift <strong>of</strong>f your<br />
attendance at this parliament; for God and man have concurred to punish the wickedness <strong>of</strong><br />
this time: and think not slightly <strong>of</strong> this advertisement, but retire yourself into the country,<br />
where you may expect the event with safety, for though there be no appearance <strong>of</strong> any stir,<br />
yet I say they shall receive a terrible blow, this parliament, and yet they shall not see who<br />
hurts them. This counsel is not to be contemned, because it may do you good, and can do<br />
you no harm; for the danger is past so soon (or as quickly) as you burn this letter; and I hope<br />
God will give you the grace to make good use <strong>of</strong> it, to whose holy protection I commend<br />
you."<br />
<strong>The</strong> Lord Monteagle was, for some time, at a loss what judgment to form <strong>of</strong> this letter,<br />
and unresolved whether he should slight the advertisement or not; and fancying it a trick <strong>of</strong><br />
his enemies to frighten him into an absence from parliament, would have determined on the<br />
former, had his own safety been only in question: but apprehending the king's life might be<br />
in danger, he took the letter at midnight to the earl <strong>of</strong> Salisbury, who was equally puzzled<br />
about the meaning <strong>of</strong> it; and though he was inclined to think it merely a wild and waggish<br />
contrivance to alarm Monteagle, yet he thought proper to consult about it with the earl <strong>of</strong><br />
Suffolk, lord chamberlain. <strong>The</strong> expression, "that the blow should come, without knowing<br />
who hurt them," made them imagine that it would not be more proper than the time <strong>of</strong><br />
parliament, nor by any other way likely to be attempted than by gunpowder, while the king<br />
was sitting to that assembly: the lord chamberlain thought this the more probable, because<br />
there was a great cellar under the parliament-chamber, (as already mentioned,) never used<br />
for any thing but wood or coal, belonging to Wineyard, the keeper <strong>of</strong> the palace; and having<br />
communicated the letter to the earls <strong>of</strong> Nottingham, Worcester, and Northampton, they<br />
proceeded no farther till the king came from Royston, on the 1st <strong>of</strong> November.[313]<br />
His majesty being shown the letter by the earls, who, at the same time acquainted him<br />
with their suspicions, was <strong>of</strong> opinion that either nothing should be done, or else enough to<br />
prevent the danger: and that a search should be made on the day preceding that designed for<br />
this execution <strong>of</strong> the diabolical enterprise.<br />
Accordingly, on Monday, the 4th <strong>of</strong> November, in the afternoon, the lord chamberlain,<br />
whose <strong>of</strong>fice it was to see all things put in readiness for the king's coming, accompanied by<br />
Monteagle, went to visit all places about the parliament-house, and taking a slight occasion<br />
to see the cellar, observed only piles <strong>of</strong> billets and fagots, but in greater number than he<br />
thought Wineyard could want for his own use. On his asking who owned the wood, and being<br />
told it belonged to one Mr. Percy, he began to have some suspicions, knowing him to be a<br />
rigid papist, and so seldom there, that he had no occasion for such a quantity <strong>of</strong> fuel; and<br />
Monteagle confirmed him therein, by observing that Percy had made him great pr<strong>of</strong>essions<br />
<strong>of</strong> friendship.<br />
Though there was no other materials visible, yet Suffolk thought it was necessary to make<br />
a further search; and, upon his return to the king, a resolution was taken that it should be<br />
made in such a manner as should be effectual, without scandalizing any body, or giving any<br />
alarm.<br />
Sir Thomas Knevet, steward <strong>of</strong> Westminster, was accordingly ordered, under the pretext<br />
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