A67922:1812
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.
Thus was Ludovicus Pius, 1of impious sons left desolate. But the power of God, which worketh when all earthly power ceaseth, of his divine mercy so aided and recovered him out of all this tribulation to this Imperial dignity again: that it was to all his enemies confusion, and to all good men a miracle. But this by the way. By his 2. wife whose name was Judith, he had this Charles the Bald here mentioned. Which Judith was thought and so accused to the Pope, to be within such degree of alliance, that by the Popes law, she might not continue his wife without the popes dispensation.2 It so fell out in the mean time that this Ludovicus the Emperor, had promoted a young man named Frederick to be Bishop of Utricke•and to him had given sad and good exhortation, that he remembering and following the constancy of his predecessors, would maintain right and trueth without all exception of any person, & punish misdoers with excommunication, as well the rich as the poor, with such like words of godly coū sail. Frederick hearing the king thus to say, sitting at dinner with him, as the manner was being newly invested, in these words answered to the Emperor again. I thank your majesty saith he, which with your so wholesome exhortation putteth me in mind of my profession. But I beseech you of your benign favour & patience, that I may freely disclose, that which hath long encumbered and pierced my conscience. To whom leave being given, thus he began.3 I pray you (Lord Emperor) to show me herein your mind (pointing to the fish before him) whether is it more according, to attain this fish here present, beginning first at the head or at the tail? What a tale is this, quoth the Emperor, of the tail & of the head: At the head quoth he. Then Frederick taking thereof his occasion, proceedeth: Even so let it be (Lord Emperor) saith he, as you have said. Let Christian faith and charity first begin with your self, as with the head, admonishing you to cease from your face, and error, that your subjects by your example be not boldned to follow your misdoing. Wherefore first forsake you, your unlawful wedlock,4 which you have made with Judith your near kinswoman. These words of the new Bishop, although they moved Ludovicus the Emperor not a little, yet he, with a gentle modesty, and modest silence was contented, suffering the bishop to go home in peace.