A01115:461
An abridgement of the book of acts and monuments of the ChurchAn abridgement of the booke of acts and monumentes of the Church
An abridgement of the book of acts and monuments of the Church: written by that Reverend Father, Master John Fox: and now abridged by Timothy Bright, Doctor of Physic, for such as either through want of leisure, or ability have not the use of so necessary an historyAn abridgement of the booke of acts and monumentes of the Church: written by that Reuerend Father, Maister Iohn Fox: and now abridged by Timothe Bright, Doctour of Phisicke, for such as either through want of leysure, or abilitie haue not the vse of so necessary an history
London: printed by I. Windet, 1589
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.
These three bishops were great upholders of Monks: by whose counsel king Edgar is recorded in histories to have builded either new out of the ground, or caused to be reedified monasteries decayed by the Danes, more then forty. Moreover thorough the instigation of them, the king in diverse Cathedral Churches, where Prebendaries and Priests were before, displaced them, and set in Monks and Nuns.1
These thrée bishops were great vpholders of Monks: by whose councell king Edgar is recorded in histories to haue builded either new out of the groūd, or caused to be reedified monasteries decaied by the Danes, more then fortie. Moreouer thorough the instigation of them, the king in diuerse Cathedrall Churches, where Prebendaries and Priestes were before, displaced them, and sette in Monkes and Nunnes.1
- 1Priests displaced, and monks placed.
After that the kings mind was thus persuaded to advance Monkery, Oswaldus bishop of Worcester, also made Archbishop of York, after the death of Oskitellus, having his sea in the Cathedral Church there of S. Peter; after he had first assayed the Canons and priests by fair means to become monks, and not prevailing, near to the same Church of S. Peter in the Churchyard, he builded another Church of our Lady, which when he had replenished with monks, there he continually frequented: and so the people left the other Church naked. Whereupon the priests did either become monks, or depart from the place. So did Ethelwold drive out the Canons and priests from the new monastery in Winchester, afterward called Hida, and placed his monks. The cause was pretended for that they were thought slack, and negligent in their Church service, and set in Vicars in their steed. Then the K. gave to the same Vicars, the land which belonged before to the Prebendaries: who also, not long after showed them selves as negligent as the other. Wherefore, king Edgar (by the consent of Pope John) voided clearly the Priests: and ordained there Monks. Which Monks, did greatly differ, and do at this day disagree with the ancient Monks of old time, that were Lay men only,