A67922:2175
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.
¶ The Britons first possessioners of this kingdom of Britain, which endured from Brutus & Cadwalader 2076. years under an hundred and ii. Kings, at length received the Christian faith. Anno. Clxii. in the time of Lucius their king.1 Eleutherius Bishop of Rome, sent Faganus and Damanus, preachers unto them, at which time after their conversion, they assigned and ordained in the Realm 28. Bishops, with two Archbishops Theonus the Archbishop of London, and Theodoceus Archbishop of York. Under those Bishops and Archbishops the church of Britain was governed, after their conversion, almost. 300. years, till at length the Saxons being then infidels, with Hengistus their king, subdued the Britons by fraudulent murder, and invaded their land: which was about the year of the Lord. 440. After this the Britons being driven into Cambria (which we now call wales) the Saxons overrunning the land,2 divided themselves into 7. kingdoms. And so being infidels and Pagans, continued, till the time that Gregory Bishop of Rome, sent Augustinus, to preach unto them: which Austen coming first to Dover, being then the head City of Kent,3 called in Latin Dorobernia, and there planting himself, converted first the king of Kent, called Edilbertus: who had then subdued certain other kings unto Humber. By reason whereof Augustine was made Archbishop of Dover, by the appointment of Gregorius, who sent him certain Palls, with his letter from Rome, which before is expressed,4 pa. 158. Which letter being recited, then Thomas exposiding upon the same, beginneth to declare for himself, how the meaning of Gregory in this letter, was to reduce the new Church of Saxons, or Englishmen, to the order that was in the old time among the Britons: that is, to be under 2. Metropolitans, one of London, the other of York: for so the Church was ordered in the tune of the Britons, as is before declared. Notwithstanding, he giveth to Austen this prerogative during his life time, to have authority & jurisdiction, not only over his 12. Bishops, but upon all other Bishops and Priests in England. And after his decease, ⟨p. 173⟩then these 2. metropolitans, London and York, to oversee the whole Clergy, as in times past, amongest the Britons: whom he joineth together after the death of Augustine, to constitute Bishops, and to oversee the Church.