A67922:1011
Acts and monuments of matters most special and memorable, happening in the Church. [vol.…Actes and monuments of matters most speciall and memorable, happenyng in the Church. [vol.…
Acts and monuments of matters most special and memorable, happening in the Church. [vol. 1] with an universal history of the same, wherein is set forth at large the whole race and course of the Church, from the primitive age to these latter times of ours, with the bloody times, horrible troubles, and great persecutions against the true martyrs of Christ, sought and wrought as well by heathen emperors, as now lately practised by Romish prelates, especially in this realm of England and Scotland. Newly revised and recognised, partly also augmented, and now the fourth time again published and recommended to the studious reader, by the author (through the help of Christ our Lord) John Fox, which desireth thee good reader to help him with thy prayer.Actes and monuments of matters most speciall and memorable, happenyng in the Church. [vol. 1] with an vniuersall history of the same, wherein is set forth at large the whole race and course of the Church, from the primitiue age to these latter tymes of ours, with the bloudy times, horrible troubles, and great persecutions agaynst the true martyrs of Christ, sought and wrought as well by heathen emperours, as nowe lately practised by Romish prelates, especially in this realme of England and Scotland. Newly reuised and recognised, partly also augmented, and now the fourth time agayne published and recommended to the studious reader, by the author (through the helpe of Christ our Lord) Iohn Foxe, which desireth thee good reader to helpe him with thy prayer.
London: printed by John Daye, 1583London: printed by Iohn Daye, 1583
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.
After Higynus followed Pius, who as Platina reporteth was so precisely devout about the holy mysteries of the Lords Table, that if any one crumb thereof did fall down to the ground, he ordained that the Priest should do penance xl. days. If any fell upon the Superaltar, he should do penance iij. days: if upon the linen Corporas cloth iiij. days: if upon any other linen cloth. ix. days. And if any drop of the blood (saith he) should chance be spilled, wheresoever it fell it should be licked up, if it were possible if not the place should be washed or pared, & so being washed or pared, should be burned and laid in the vestry. All which toys may seem to a wise man, more vain and trifling, then to favour of those pure and straight times of those holy Martyrs. This Pius (as is reported) was much conversant with Hermes called otherwise Pastor. Damasus saith he was his brother, but how is that like that Hermes being the disciple of Paul,1 or one of the lx. disciples, could be the brother of this Pius? Of this Hermes & of the revelations the foresaid Pius in his Epistle decretal (if it be not forged) maketh mention, declaring that unto him appeared the angel of God in the habit of a shepherd,2 commanding him, that Easter day should be celebrated of all men upon no other day, but upon a sunday, whereupon, saith the Epistle, Pius the Bishop, by his authority Apostolical, decreed and commanded the same to be observed of all men.
After Higynus followed Pius, who as Platina reporteth was so precisely deuout aboute the holye misteries of the Lords Table, that if any one croome therof did fall downe to the grounde, he ordained that the Priest shoulde doe penaunce xl. daies. If any fell vpō the Superalter, he should doe penaunce iij. daies: if vpon the linen Corporas cloth iiij. daies: if vpon any other linnen cloth. ix. daies. And if any drop of the bloude (saith he) should chaunce be spilled, wheresoeuer it fell it should be licked vp, if it were possible if not the place should be washed or pared, & so being washed or pared, should be burned and layd in the vestry. All which toies may seeme to a wise man, more vaine and trifling, then to fauour of those pure and straight times of those holy Martyrs. This Pius (as is reported) was much conuersaunt with Hermes called otherwise Pastor. Damasus saith he was his brother, but how is that like that Hermes being the disciple of Paule,