A67922:2241
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.
And that I did for this purpose, that if he should defer to fall to agreement with certain of his neighbours, whom he hath always vexed, and to restore again the goods both of the church and otherwise, than he might be compelled by the censures of the Church and force of arms thereunto Whereby divers and sundry bishops and princes of Germany (such as he had long troubled) being helped by this opportunity, elected Rodolphus their Duke to be king in the place of Henricus, whom they for his transgressions had removed & dispatched from his empire. But Rodolphus first in this matter using a princely modesty and integrity, sent up his messengers to me, declaring how he was constrained (wild he, nild he) to take that regal government upon him, albeit he was not so desirous thereof, but that he would rather show himself obedient to us, then to the other that offered him the kingdom, and whatsoever our arbitrement should be therein, he would be under obedience, both of God and of us. And for more assurance of his obedience, he hath sent his own children hither for pledges. Upon this Henricus began to snuff, and first entreated with us, to restrain and inhibit Rodolphus through the pain of our curse,1 from the usurpation of his kingdom. I answered again, I would see whether of them had more right and title thereunto, & so send our Legates thither upon the same, to know the whole state of the matter, and thereupon I would decide betwixt them, whither of them had truer part. But Henricus would not suffer our Legates to come to take up the matter, and slew divers both secular men, and of the Clergy, spoiling and profaning churches, and so by this means hath; endangered himself in the bands of excommunication. I therefore trusting in the judgement and mercy of God, and in the supportation of the blessed virgin, also upon your authority, do lay the sentence of curse upon the said Henricus, & all his adherents: and here again I take his regal government from him, charging and forbidding all christen men that have been sworn unto him (whom I discharge here of their oath) that hereafter they obey him in nothing,2 but to take Rodolphus to their king, who is elected by many princes of the Province. For so right it is and convenient, that as Henry for his pride & stubbornness, is deprived of his dignity and possession:
And that I did for this purpose, that if he should deferre to fall to agreement with certaine of his neighbours, whom he hath alwayes vexed, and to restore agayn the goods both of the church and otherwise, thā he might be compelled by the censures of the Church and force of armes therunto Wherby diuers and sundry bishops and princes of Germany (such as he had long troubled) being helped by this opportunitie, elected Rodolphus their Duke to be king in the place of Henricus, whom they for his transgressions had remooued & dispatched from his empire. But Rodolphus first in this matter vsing a princely modestie and integritie, sent vp his messengers to me, declaring how he was constrained (wild he, nild he) to take that regall gouernment vpon him, albeit he was not so desirous therof, but that he would rather shew himselfe obedient to vs, then to the other that offied him the kingdom, and whatsoeuer our arbitrement should be therin, he would be vnder obedience, both of God and of vs. And for more assurance of his obedience, he hath sent his owne children hither for pledges. Vpon this Henricus began to snuffe, and first entreated with vs, to restraine and inhibite Rodolphus through the paine of our curse,