A67922:1709
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.
1. First, that Bishops should be more diligent in seeing to their office,1 and in admonishing the people of their faults. 2. That they should live in a peaceable mind together, notwithstanding they were in place dissevered a sunder. 3. That every Bishop once a year should go about all the Parishes of his Diocese. 4. That the said Bishops every one in his diocese should monish their Abbots & monks to live regularly: and that Prelates should not oppress their inferiors, but love them. 5. That they should teach the Monasteries which the secular men had invaded, and could not then be taken from them, to live regularly. 6. That none should be admitted to orders, before his life should be examined. 7. That in Monasteries the reading of holy Scripture should be more frequented. 8. That Priests should be no disposers of secular business. 9. That they should take no money for baptising infants. 10. That they should both learn and teach the Lords Prayer and Creed in the English tongue. 11. That all should join together in their ministry after one uniform rite and manner. 12. That in a modest voice they should sing in the church. 13. That all holy and festival days should be celebrate at one time together. 14. That the Sabbath day be reverently observed & kept.2 15. That the vij. hours Canonical every day be observed. 16. That the Rogation days both the greater and lesser should not be omitted. 17. That the feast of S. Gregory, and S. Austen our Patron, should be observed. 18. That the fast of the four times should be kept and observed. 19. That Monks and Nuns should go regularly apparelled. 20. That Bishops should see, these decrees not to be neglected. 21. That the Churchmen should not give them selves to drunkenness. 22. That the Communion should not be neglected of the Churchmen. 23. Item, that the same also should be observed of the lay men, as time required. 24. That lay men first should be well tried, before they entered in Monkery. 25. That alms be not neglected. 26. That Bishops should see these decrees to be notified to the people. 27. They disputed of the profit of Alms. 28. They disputed of the profit of singing Psalms. 29. That the Congregation should be constitute, after their ability of their goods. 30. That Monks should not dwell among lay men. 31. That public prayer should be made for kings and Princes.
1. First, that Bishops should be more diligent in seing to their office,