A67922:1715
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.
Secondly, no less are they also to be reprehended, which maintained these superstitious orders of unprofitable Nuns and of other religions: In the number of whom was this foresaid Boniface otherwise called Winfride, who although in this epistle doeth justly reprehend the vicious enormities both of secular, and of religious persons: yet he him self is not without the same or rather greater reprehē sion,1 for that he gave the occasion thereof in maintaining such superstitious orders of such lascivious Nuns and other religions, & restraining the same from lawful marriage. For so we find of him in stories that he was a great setter up & upholder of such blind superstition, and of all Popery. Who being admitted by Pope Gregory the second, Archbishop of Magunce, and endued […] full authority legantine over the Germans, brought divers countries there, under the Popes obedience: held many great Coū cels, ordained Bishops,2 builded Monasteries, canonised Saints, commanded relics to be worshipped, permitted religious fathers to carry about Nuns with them a preaching. Amongst all other he founded the great monastery of Fulda in Germany of English monks: into the which no women might enter, but only Lieba, & Thecla, two English Nuns. Item, by the authority of the said Archbishop Boniface, which he received from Pope Zechariah, Childericus king of France, was deposed from the right of his crown:3 and Pipinus betrayer of his master was confirmed, or rather intruded in. From this Boniface proceeded that detestable doctrine which now standeth registered in the Popes decrees, Dist. 40. cap. Si Papa which in a certain Epistle of his, is this. That in case the Pope were of most filthy living, and forgetful or negligent of himself, and of the whole christianity, in such sort, that he led innumerable souls with him to hell: yet ought there no man to rebuke him in so doing. For he hath (saith he) power to judge all men, and ought of no man to be judged again.
Secondly, no lesse are they also to be reprehēded, which mainetayned these superstitious orders of vnprofitable Nunnes and of other religions: In the number of whom was this foresayd Boniface otherwise called Winfride, who although in this epistle doeth iustly reprehend the vicious enormities both of secular, and of religious persons: yet he him self is not without the same or rather greater reprehē sion,