A67922:1978
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.
After these foresaid monks of that time above recited, followed other Monks of the middle age of the Church:1 who as in multitude, so also in superstition increasing, began by little and little from their desolate dens in the vast wilderness, to approach more near to great towns, where they had solemn Monasteries founded by Kings and Queens, and kings daughters, and other rich Consuls, as is partly before touched. And the causes also touched withal, for the which they were first founded, as these: pro remedio animae meae, 2pro remissione peccatorum meorum, pro redemption peccatorū meorum, & pro salute regnorum, quique meo subiacent regimini populorum. In honorem glorlosae virginis, &c. For all these impious, and erroneous titles, and causes, we find alleged in stories, as in Malmes beriensis, Jornalensis, Henricus, and other moe. In which histories I also note, that the most part of these foresaid monasteries were erected first upon some great murder, either by war in the field, or privately committed at home: as shall well appear to them which read the books whom I have alleged. But to return to our Monks again, who (as is said) first began to creep from the cold field into warm towns and cloisters:3 from towns, then into cities, and at length from their close cellars and cities, unto Cathedral Churches (as here appeareth by this story of King Edgar) where not only they did abound in wealth and riches (especially these Monks of our latter time) but much more did swim in superstition, and Pharisaical hypocrisy, being yoked and tied in all their doings, to certain prescript rules and formal observances: in watching in sleeping, in eating, in rising, in praying, in walking, in talking, in looking, in tasting, in touching, in handling, in their gestures, in their vestures, every man apparelled, not as the proper condition of other would require, nor as the season of the year did serve, but as the coacted rules & order of every sect did enforce them. The number of which sects was infinitely divers: some after Basilius rule, went in white: some after Benets rule in black: some Cluniacē sis, first set up by Otho in the time of this king Edgar, 4wearing after the rule of Benets order: some after Hieroms rule leather girdled and coped above their white coat: some Gregorians copper coloure: Some de valle umbrosa, grey Monks: