A67922:1671
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.
But now to return again to the time of our English Saxons. In this mean season Theodorus was sent from Italy into England by Vitellianus the Pope, to be Archbishop of Canterbury, & with him divers other monks of Italy, to set up here in England Latin service, Masses, ceremonies,1 litanies, with such other Romish ware, &c. This Theodorus being made Archbishop and Metropolitan of Canterbury began to play the rex, placing & displacing the bishops at his pleasure. As for Cedda & Wilfride Archbishops of York he thrust them both out under the pretence, that they were not lawfully consecrated, notwithstanding they were sufficiently authorised by their kings, and were placed against their wills. Wherefore Wilfride as is before touched went up to Rome, but could have no redress of his cause: yet to show what modesty this Wilfride used against his enemy, being so violently molested as he was, because the words of his complaint are expressed in W. Malmesbury, I thought here to express the same both for the commendation of the party, and also for the good example of other, in case any such be, whom good examples will move to well doing. This Wilfride therefore having such injury and violence offered unto him by the hands of Theodore: although he had just cause to do his uttermost, yet in prosecuting his complaint, how he tempered himself: what words of modesty he used, rather to defend his innocency, then to impugn his adversary, by this his suggestion offered up to the Bishop of Rome, may appear: whose words in effect were these: Quid autem acciderit, 2ut Theodorus sanctiss. Archiepiscopus (me superstite in sede) quam, licet indignus dispensabam: absque consensu cuiuslibet Episcopi ex sua autoritate (mea humilitate non acquiescente) ordinavit tres Episcopos: omittere magis quam urgere, pro eiusdem viri reverentia *condecet. Quem quid, pro eo quod ab hac Apostolicae sedis summitate directus est, accusare non audeo, &c. In English. Howe it chanceth that Theodorus, the most holy & reverend Archbishop (my self being alive in the sea, which I though unworthy did rule and dispose) hath of his own authority, without the consent of any bishop (neither having my simple voice agreeing to the same) ordained iij. Bishops:
But now to returne again to the time of our English Saxons. In this meane season Theodorus was sent from Italy into England by Vitellianus the Pope, to bee Archbyshop of Caunterbury, & with him diuers other monks of Italy, to set vp here in Englād Latine seruice, Masses, ceremonies,