A67922:2240
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 copy of the second excommunication of Hildebrand against the Emperor.1 Blessed S. Peter, prince of the Apostles, and thou Paul also the teacher of the Gentiles give ear unto me. I beseech you a little, and gently hear me, for you are the disciples and lovers of truth, the things that I shall say, are true. This matter I take in hand for truth sake that my brethren (whose salvation I seek) may the more obsequiously obey me, and better understand, how that I trusting upon your defence (next to Christ and his mother the immaculate virgin) resist the wicked, and am ready to help the faithful. I did not enter this seat of mine own accord, but much against my will, and with tears, for that I accounted my self unworthy to occupy so high a throne. And this I say, not that I have chosen you, but you have chosen me, and have laid this great burden upon our shoulders. And now where as by this your assignment, I have ascended up this hill, crying to the people, and showing them their faults, & to the children of the church their iniquities, the members of Satan have risen up against me and have laid hands together to seek my blood. For the kings of the earth have risen up against me, and the Princes of this world, with whom also have conspired certain of the Clergy subjects against the Lord, and against us his anointed, saying: let us break a sunder their bands, & cast off from us their yoke. This have they done against me, to bring me either to death, or to banishment. In the number of whom is Henricus, whom they call king, the son of Henry the Emperor, which hath lift up so proudly his ⟨p. 181⟩horns and heel against the church of God, making conspiracy with divers other bishops, both Italians; French & Germans. Against the pride of whom,2 hitherto your authority hath resisted, who rather being broken th•n amended, coming to me in Cisalpina, made humble suit to me for pardon & absolution. I thinking nothing else but true repentance in him, received him again to favour, & did restore him to the communion only, from which he was excommunicate, but to his kingdom (from which in the Synod of Rome he was worthily expulsed) I did not restore, nor to the rents and fruits thereof (that he might return to the faith again) that I granted not unto him.