A67922:1153
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.
In the same time and under the said Gallus reigning with his son Volusianus was also Lucius bishop of Rome sent to banishment who next succeeded after Cornelius, in that bishopric, about the year of our Lord 256. Albeit in this banishment he did not long continue,1 but returned again home to his Church: as by the Epistle of, S. Cyprian, Lib 3. Epist. 1. may appear. As to all other Bishops of Rome in those primitive days certain decretal Epistles with several ordinances be ascribed,2 bearing their names and titles, as hath been afore declared: so also hath Lucius one Epistle, fathered upon him, in the which Epistle he writing to the brethren of France and of Spain, appointeth such an order and form of the church, as seemeth not to agree with the time then present:3 For so he declareth in that Epistle that a Bishop in all places, whether soever he goeth, should have two Priests with three deacons waiting upon him, to be witnesses of all his ways and doings. Which ordinance although I deny not, but it may be and is convenient, yet I see not how that time of Lucius could serve then, for a Bishop to carry such a pomp of Priests & Deacons about him, or to study for any such matter: for so much as Bishops commonly in those days were seldom free to go abroad, went they never so secrete: but either were in houses close and secret, or in prison, or else in banishment.4 Moreover in the said Epistle how pompously he writeth to the Church of Rome: This holy and Apostolical Church of Rome (saith he) the mother of all Churches of Christ, which by the grace of God omnipotent, hath never been proved to swerve out of the path of Apostolical tradition, neither hath ever fallen, or been depraved with heretical innovations: but even as in the first beginning it received the rule of the Apostolical faith by his first instructors, the Princes of the Apostles, so it continueth ever immaculate and undefiled unto the end.
In the same time and vnder the said Gallus reignyng with his sonne Volusianus was also Lucius bishop of Rome sent to banyshment who next succeeded after Cornelius, in that byshopricke, about the yeare of our Lorde 256. Albeit in this banishment he did not long continue,