A67922:1155
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 him came Stephanus next Bishop of Rome following Lucius: whom Damasus, Platina, and Sabellicus, affirm to have sit vij. years fine months, & to die a martyr. Contrary Eusebius and Volateranus holding with him, give him but two years, which part cometh most near to the truth, I leave to the readers judgement, of his two Epistles decretal, and of his ordinances out of the same collected, I need not much to tarry, for two respects, either for that concerning these decretal Epistles suspiciously entitled to the names of the fathers of the primitive church,1 sufficiently hath been said before: or else because both the phrase barbarous and incongrue and also the matter it self therein contained is such, that although no testimony came against it, yet it easily refelleth it self. As wherein the second Epistle he decreeth, that no Bishop being expulsed out of his seat or deprived of his goods, ought to be accused of any, or is bound to answer for himself, before that by the law regularly he be restored again fully to his former state, and that the Primates and the Synod render to him again all such possessions and fruits, as were taken from him before his accusation, as is agreeing both to the laws Canon & also secular. First here I would desire the Reader a little to stay,2 & this to consider to himself, who be these here meant, which either used or might despoil these bishops of their goods, & expulse them from their seats for such wrongful causes, but only Kings & Emperors, which at this time were not yet Christened nor used any such proceedings against these Bishops, in such sort as either Primates or Synods could restore them again to their places and possessions. Again what private goods or possessions had Bishops then to be taken from them, when as Churches yet neither were endued with patrimonies nor possessions. And if any treasures were committed to the church, it pertained not properly to the Bishop, but went in general to the subvention of the poor in the Church, as in the Epistle of Cornelius to Fabius may appear, alleged in Eusebius, Lib. 6. cap. 43. where he speaking of his Church, & declaring how there ought to be but one Bishop in the same, •nterreth mention of xlvj. Priests, vij. Deacons, with vij. Subdeacons, xlij.
After him came Stephanus next Bishop of Rome following Lucius: whome Damasus, Platina, and Sabellicus, affirme to haue sit vij. yeares fine monethes, & to die a martir. Contrary Eusebius and Volateranus holding with hym, giue him but two yeares, which part commeth most neare to the truth, I leaue to the readers iudgement, of his two Epistles decretall, and of his ordinaunces out of the same collected, I nede not much to tary, for two respects, eyther for that concerning these decretal Epistles suspiciously intituled to the names of the fathers of the primitiue church,