A67922:2196
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.
Far were they from that, to thrust out any Prince or King (though he were never so far out of the way, yea an Arian) from his kingdom: or to curse him, to release his subjects from their oath and their allegiance, to change and translate kingdoms, to subvert empires, to pollute themselves with Christen blood, or to war with their Christian brethren for rule & principality. This was not their spirit & manner then, but rather they loved & obeyed their Princes. Again Princes loved them also, like fathers and fellow princes with them of the souls of men. Now this ⟨p. 175⟩Gregorius the seventh, otherwise named Hildebrandus, trusting upon the Normans which then ruffled about Apusia,1 Calabria, and Campania, trusting also upon the power of Machtilda, a stout woman thereabout Rome, & partly again, bearing himself bold for the discord among the Germans: first of all other (contrary to the manner of elders) contemning the authority of the emperor, invaded the Cathedral sea of Rome, vauncing himself as having both the ecclesiastical and temporal sword committed to him by Christ, & that fullness of power was in his hand to bind and loose what so he listed. Whereupon thus he presumed to occupy both the regiments, to challenge all the whole dominion, both of the East & West church, yea and all power to himself alone, abiding none to be equal, much less superior to him, derogating from other, and arrogating to himself their due right and honour, setting at light Caesars, kings, and Emperors, and who reigned but by his own godamercy? Bishops and Prelates as his underlings, he kept in awe: suspending and cursing, & chopping of their heads, stirring up strife and wars, sowing of discord, making factions, releasing oaths, defeating fidelity and due allegiance of subjects to their princes. Yea and if he had offended or injured the Emperor himself, yet notwithstanding he ought to be feared, as he himself glorieth in a certain epistle, as one that could not err, and had received of Christ our saviour,2 and of Peter, authority to bind and unbind at his will and pleasure.
Farre were they from that, to thrust out any Prince or Kyng (though he were neuer so farre out of the way, yea an Arrian) from his kingdome: or to curse him, to release hys subiects from their oth and their allegeance, to change and translate kingdoms, to subuert empires, to pollute themselues with Christen bloude, or to warre with their Christian brethren for rule & principalitie. This was not their spirite & maner then, but rather they loued & obeyed their Princes. Again Princes loued them also, like fathers and fellow princes with them of the soules of men. Now this