A67922:1963
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.
¶ King Edgar.
1Edgar the second son of Edmund, and brother to Edwin being of the age of xvj. years, began his reign over the realm of England, in the year of our Lord, 959. but was not crowned till 14. years after:2 the causes whereof here under follow (Christ willing) to be declared. In the beginning of his reign he called home Dunstan, whom king Edwin before had exiled. Then was Dunstan, which before was Abbot of Glastonbury,3 made bishop of Worcester, & then of London. Not long after, this Odo the Archbishop of Cant. deceaseth, after he had governed the Church 24. years. After whom Brithelinus bishop of Winchester, first was elected. But because he was thought not sufficient to furnish the room: Dunstan was ordained Archb. and the other sent home again to his old Church. Where note by the way, how in those days the donation and assigning of ecclesiastical dignities remained in the kings hand, only they fet their pall from Rome, as a token of the Popes confirmation. So Dunstan being by the king made Archb. took his journey to Rome for his pall of Pope John the 13. which was about the beginning of the Kings reign. Thus Dunstan obtaining his pall, shortly after his return again from Rome,4 entreateth King Edgar, that Oswaldus (who, as is said, was made monk at Floriake, and was nephew to Odo late bishop of Cant.) might be promoted to the bishopric of Worcester, which thing to him was granted. And not long after, through the means of the said Dunstan, Ethelwoldus (whom stories do feign to be the great patron of Monkery) first Monk of Glastonbury, then Abbot of Abingdon, was also made Bysh. of Winchester. Of this Ethelwold, Gulielmus libro de gestis pō tificum recordeth, that what time he was a Monk in the house of Glastonbury, the Abbot had a vision of him which was this. How that there appeared to him in his sleep a certain great tree, the branches whereof extended through out all the four quarters of the Realm, which branches were all covered with many little Monks cowls, where, in the top of the tree was one great master coal, which in spreading it self over the other cowls, enclosed all the rest, which master coal in the tree top, mine Author in the interpretation applieth to the life of this Ethelwold.