A67922:1980
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.
Thus thou seest (gentle Reader) sufficiently declared, what the monks were in the primitive time of the Church,1& what were the Monks of the middle age, and of these our latter days of the church. Whereunto join this with all, that where the Monks of elder time (as is said) were mere lay men and no spiritual ministers. Afterward Bonifacius the 4. made a decree, an. 606. that Monks might use the office of preaching, of Christening, of hearing confessions, & also of assailing them of their sins, &c. So then monks, who in the beginning were but lay men, and no spiritual ministers, forbidden by the general Council of Chalcedon (as is above related) to intermeddle with matters ecclesiastical: afterward in process of time did so much encroach upon the office of spiritual ministers, that at length the Priests were discharged out of their Cathedral churches, & monks set in their places. Because that Monks in those days leading a straighter life,2 and professing chastity, had a greater countenance of holiness among the people, then the Priests, who then in the days of king Edgar had wives (at least so many as would) no law forbidding them to the contrary, till the time of Hildebrand, now called Gregory the 7. whereof more shall be said (Christ willing) in the book next following.
Thus thou seest (gentle Reader) sufficiently declared, what the monkes were in ye primitiue time of the Church,1& what were the Monkes of the middle age, and of these our latter dayes of the church. Wherunto ioyne this with all, that where the Monkes of elder tyme (as is sayd) were meere lay men and no spirituall ministers. Afterward Bonifacius the 4. made a decree, an. 606. that Monkes might vse the office of preaching, of Christening, of hearing confessions, & also of assayling them of their sinnes, &c. So thē monkes, who in the beginning were but lay men, and no spirituall ministers, forbidden by the generall Councell of Chalcedon (as is aboue related) to intermeddle with matters ecclesiasticall: afterward in proces of time did so much incroch vpon the office of spirituall ministers, that at lēgth the Priests were discharged out of their Cathedrall churches, & monkes set in their places. Because that Monkes in those dayes leading a straighter lyfe,