A67922:1660
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.
1The question of Easter, and of shaving, and other Ecclesiastical matters being moved, it was determined that in the Abbey which is called Streneshalch, of the which Hilda a devout woman was Abbes: a convocation should be had and this question there determined. To the which place came both the kings, the father and the son. Bishop Colman with his clergy of Scotland. Aigelbert with Agathon and Wilfride Priests,2 James and Roman were on their sides. Hilda the Abbes with her company was on the Scottish part. And the reverend Bishop Cedda was appointed Prolocutor for both parties in that Parliament. King Oswye began first with an Oration: declaring that it was necessary for such as served one God, to live in one uniform order, and that such as looked for one kingdom in heaven should not differ in celebration of the heavenly sacraments, but should rather seek for the true tradition & follow the same. This said, he commanded his Bishop Colman to declare what the rite and custom was in this behalf that he used,3 and from whence it had the original. Then Colman obeying his princes commandment, said: the Easter,4 which I observe I received of my ancestors that sent me hither a Bishop. The which, all our forefathers being men of God, did celebrate in like manner, & left it should be coutenned or despised of any man, it is manifestly apparent, to be the very same, which the holy Evangelist S. John (a disciple especially beloved of the Lord) did customably use, in all churches and congregations, where he had authority. When Colman had spoken many things to this effect, the king commanded Aigelbert to declare his opinion in this behalf, and to show the order that he then used, from whence it came & by what authority he observed the same. Aigelbert requested the king, that his scholar Wilfride, a Priest, might speak for him: in as much as they both with the rest of h•• clergy, were of one opinion herein: and that the said Wilfride could utter his mind better and more plainly in the English tongue then he himself could.5 Then Wilfride at the kings commandments, began on this sort and said: The Easter which we keep, we have seen at Rome, whereas the holy Apostles, Peter, & Paul, did live and teach, did suffer and were buried. The same also is used in Italy, and in France: