A67922:2128
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 Sylvester succeeded Joannes .xix. by whom was brought in (as Volateran saith) the feast of all souls,1 an. 1004. through the means and instigation of one Odilo Abbot of Cluniake, to be celebrate; next after the feast of all Saints. This Monk Odilo, thinking that Purgatory (as he heard) should be in the mount Aetna: dreamed upon a time in the country of Sicily, that he by his Masses had delivered divers souls from thence: saying moreover, that he did hear the voices and lamentations of devils crying out, for that the souls were taken from them by the Masses & Dirges funerall. Ex Bakenthorpo. in prolo. 4. Lib. Sentent. And not long after him came John the xx. and Sergius the iiij. After whom succeeded Benedictus the viij. then John the 21. who being promoted by art magic of Theoyhilact his nephew, Gratianus, Brazutus and other Sorcerers brought in first the fast of the even of John Baptist and S. Laurence.2 After him followed pope Benedictus the 9. likewise aspiring to his Papacy, by like magic, practising enchantments and conjuration in woods, after horrible manner. Who resisting the Emperor Henricus 3. son to Conradus, and placing in his room. Petrus the king of Hungary with this verse. Petra dedit Romam Petro, tibi Papa coronam: Afterward for fear of Henricus prevailing in battle; he was fain to sell his seat to his successor Gratianus, called Gregorius vi. for 1500. pounds.3 At which time were 3. Popes together in Rome, reigning & raging one against an other. Benedictus ix. Sylvester 3. & Gregorius vi. For the which cause Henricus surnamed Niger; the Emperor, coming to Rome: displaced these 3. monsters at one time, placing for them, Clemens 2. and ⟨p. 168⟩thereupon enacting,4 that there should no bishop of Rome henceforth be chosen, but by the consent and confirmation of the Emperor. Which constitution though it was both agreeable & also necessary for public tranquility of that city, yet the Cardinals would not suffer it long to stand, but did impugn it afterward by subtle practise and open violence, as in process (the Lord permitting) shall appear, in the time of Henricus the 4. and 5. In the time of this Clement, the Romans made an oath to the Emperor, concerning the election of the Bishops, themselves to intermeddle no farther therein, but as the assent of the Emperor should go with all.