A67922:1994
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.
Ye heard before how king Edgar is noted in all stories to be an incontinent liver in deflowering maids and virgins. Of which virgins iij. notoriously are expressed in authors, to wit, Wlftrude or Wlfride: The second, was the dukes maid at Andover, nigh to Winchester: The third, was Elflede mother of Edward, for the which Elflede he was staid and kept back from his Coronation by Dunstan Archbishop of Cant. the space of 7. years, and so the said king beginning his reign in the 16. year of his age being the year of the Lord,1 959. was crowned at his age 31. An. dom. 974. as is in the Saxon Chronicle of Worcester church to be proved. For the more evident declaration of which matter concerning the coronation of the king, restrained, and the presumptuous behaviour of Dunstan against the king:2 and his penance by the said Dunstan enjoined, ye shall hear both Osborne, Malmesb. and other authors, speak in their own words as followeth, Perpetrato itaque in virginem velatam peccato, &c. After that Dunstan had understanding of the kings offence perpetrated with the professed Nun, and that the same was blazed amongst the people, with great ire and passion of mind he came to the king. Who seeing the Archb. coming, eftsoons of gentleness arose from his regal seat towards him, to take him by the hand,3 and to give him place. But Dunstan refusing to take him by the hand, and with stern countenance bending his brows, spake after this effect of words (as stories import) unto the king: You that have not feared to corrupt a virgin maid handfast to Christ, presume you to touch the consecrated hands of a bishop? you have defiled the spouse of your maker, & think you by flattering service to pacify the friend of the bridegroom? No sir, his friend will not I be, which hath Christ to his enemy, &c. The king terrified with these thundering words of Dunstan, and compuncted with inward repentance of his crime perpetrated, fell down with weeping at the feet of Dunstan. Who, after he had raised him up from the ground again, began to utter to him the horribleness of his fact,4 and finding the king ready to receive whatsoever satisfaction he would lay upon him, enjoined him this penance for 7. years space, as followeth: