A67922:1887
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
Book 3 › In Regem Alfredum, & virtutum illius claram memoriam.
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.
As touching the course and proceedings of the Romish Bishops there:1 where I last entered mention of them pag. 139. I ended with Pope Stephen the fifth. After his time was much broil,2 in the election of the Bishops of Rome: one contending against an other: in so much that within the space of ix. years, were ix. Bishops. Of the which, first was Formosus, who succeeded next unto the forenamed Stephen 5. being made pope against the mind of certain in Rome: that would rather Sergius then deacon of the church of Rome, to have been Pope. Notwithstanding, Mars and money prevailed on Formosus part. This Formosus, of whom partly also is mentioned in other places, of this Ecclesiastical history, being before bishop of Portuake:3 had in time past (I know not upon what causes) offended Pope John the viij. of that name. By reason whereof for tear of the Pope, he voided away, and left his Bishopric. And because he being sent for again by the Pope, would not return: therefore was excommunicated. At length coming into France, to make there his satisfaction unto the Pope, was degraded from a Bishop into a secular mans habit, swearing to the Pope that he would no more reenter into the City of Rome, nor claim his Bishopric again: subscribing moreover with his own hand to continue from that time in the state of a secular person. But then, Pope Martin (the next Pope after John) released the said Formosus of his oath, and restored him again unto his Bishopric. Whereby Formosus entered not only into Rome again, but also obtained shortly after the papacy. Thus he being placed in the popedom, arose a great doubt or controversy among the Divines, of his consecration, whether it was lawful or not: some holding against him, that for so much as he was solemnly deposed, degraded, unpriested, and also sworn not to reiterate the state Ecclesiastical: therefore he ought to be taken no otherwise, then for a secular man. Other alleged again, that whatsoever Formosus was, yet for the dignity of that order,4 and for the credit of them, whom he ordered: all his consecrations ought to stand in force, especially, seeing the said Formosus was afterward received and absolved by Pope Martin, from that his perjury and degradation. &c. In the mean time (as witnesseth Sigebertus) this Formosus sendeth for King Arnulphus for aide against his adversaries.