A67922:1824
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.
*A learned Epistle of Hulderike bishop of Ausbrough, sent to Pope Nicholas the first, proving by probations substantial, that Priests ought not to be restrained from Mariage. Nicolao Domino & patri, peruigili sanctae Romanae Ecclesiae provisori, Huldericus solo nomine Episcopus, amorem ut filius, timorem ut seruus. Cum tha (O pater & Domine) decreta super clericorum continentian, &c.2 ¶ The same in English. Hulderike bishop only by name, unto the reverend father Nicholas the vigilant provisor of the holy church of Rome: with due commendation sendeth love as a son, and fear as a servant. Understanding reverend father your decrees which you sent to me concerning the single life of the Clergy, to be far discrepant from all discretion, I was troubled partly with fear, partly with heaviness. With fear, (for that, as it is said) the sentence of the pastor, whether it be just or unjust, is to be feared. For I was afraid for the weak hearers of the Scripture (which scarcely obey the just sentence of their Pastor) much more despising this unjust decreement, through the onerous and importable transgression of their Pastor, should show themselves disobedient. With heaviness I was troubled, and with compassion for that I doubted how the members of the body should do (their head being so greatly out of frame) For what can be more grievous or more to be lamented, touching the state of the church then for you, being the Bishop of the principal seat, to whom appertaineth the regiment of the whole church, to swerve never so little, out of the right way Certes, in this you have not a little erred, in that you have gone about to constrain your Clergy to singleness of life, through your imperious tyranny: whom rather ⟨p. 138⟩ye ought to stir up to the continency of marriage. For is not this to be counted a violence and tyranny to the judgement of all wise men: when a man is compelled by your decrees to do that which is against the institution of the Gospel,3 and the proceeding of the holy Ghost? Seeing then there be so many holy examples both of the old and new Testament, teaching us (as you know) due information: I desire your patience not to think it grievous for me to bring a few here out of many. First in the old law, the Lord permitteth marriage unto the Priests, which afterward in the new law, we do not read to be restrained, but in the Gospel thus he saith: