A67922:2228
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 tenor of the sentence Excommunicatory, against Henricus the Emperor, by Hildebrand. O Blessed S. Peter Prince of the Apostles, bow down thine ears I beseech thee, 1and hear me thy servant, whom thou ⟨p. 179⟩hast brought up even from mine infancy, and hast delivered me unto this day from the hands of the wicked, which hate & persecute me, because of my faith in thee. Thou art my witness, and also the blessed mother of Jesus Christ, 2and thy brother S Paul, fellow partner of thy martyrdom, how that I entered this function (not willingly) but enforced against my will: not that I take it so as a robbery, lawfully to ascend into this seat: but because that I had rather pass over my life, like a pilgrim or private person, then for any fame or glory to clime up to it. I do acknowledge (& that worthily) all this to come of thy grace, 3and not of my merits, that this charge over christen people, and this power of binding and loosing is committed to me. Wherefore, trusting upon this assurance for the dignity and tuition of holy church. In the name of God omnipotent, the father, the son, & the holy ghost, I do here depose Henry, the son of Henry once the Emperor, from his Imperial seat, and princely government, who hath so boldly and presumptuously laid hands upon thy Church. And furthermore, all such as tofore have sworn to be his subjects, I release them of their oath, whereby all subjects are bound to the allegiance of their princes. For it is meet and convenient that he should be void of dignity, which seeketh to diminish the majesty of thy Church. Moreover, for that he hath contemned my monitions, tending his health and wealth of his people, and hath separate himself from the fellowship of the Church (which he, 4through his seditions, studieth to destroy) therefore I bind him by virtue of excommunication, trusting and knowing most certainly, that thou art Peter (in the rock of whom, as in the true foundation Christ) our king hath built his church. The Emperor thus assaulted with the Popes censure, sendeth abroad his letters thorough all nations, to purge himself, declaring how wrongfully, & against all right he was condemned.