A67922:1971
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.
But for so much as we have entered into the mention of Monks & Nuns,1 and of their profession, which I see so greatly in our Monkish stories commended: lest perhaps the simple Reader may be deceived thereby, in hearing the name of monks in all histories of times to be such an ancient thing in Christian life (even from the primitive church after the Apostles time) both commonly recited and well received: therefore to help the judgement of the ignorant, and to prevent all error herein, it shall not be unprofitable in following the present occasion here given (by way of a little digression) to intermeddle somewhat concerning the original institution of monks, what they were in the old time, which were called Monachi, wherein the monks of the primitive time, did differ from the Monks of the middle time, and from these our Monks now of this latter age. Moreover, wherein all these three do differ from Priests (as we call them) and from men of the clergy. Wherefore to answer to the superstitious scruple of such, which allege the old antiquity of the name and title of monks: first I grant, the name and order of Monks to be of old continuance, during near from the time of 300. years after Christ. Of whom divers old authors do record, as Augustinus, Hieronymus, Basillus Magnus, who was also himself one of the first institutors and commenders of that superstition. Chrysostomus, 2Nazianzenus, Evagrius, Sozomenus, Dionysius, and divers other. In the number of these monks (which then were divided into Hermits or Anachorites and into Coenobites) wax Antonius, Paulus, Joannes, with divers other recluses. Among the which was Hierome, Basil, Macarius, Isidorus, Pambus, Nilammon, Simeon, with infinite other, both in Palestine, Syria, Thebaid, Mesopotamia in Egypt, in Africa and Scythia. In so much that Cassianus, Lib. 2. cap. 4. de Canon. Noctur. orat. maketh mention of a certain Monastery in Thebaid, wherein were above 5000. monks, under the government of one Abbot. And here also in England mention is made before of Bangor, wherein were two thousand & two hundred Monks under one mans ruling, in the year of our Lord, 596. whereby it appeareth that Monks were then, and 2000. years before in the primitive time of the Church. But what monks these were, is to be considered.
But for so much as we haue entred into the mention of Monkes & Nunnes,1