A67922:2543
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 he (to certify the whole state of the Empire of the truth of the matter) directeth forth these letters that follow.
And he (to certifie the whole state of the Empire of the truth of the matter) direcreth forth these letters that follow.
The tenor of the Emperors letter sent through all his Empire. Forasmuch as the providence of God (whereof dependeth all power both in heaven and earth) hath committed to us his anointed, this our regiment and Impery to be governed, and the peace of his Churches by our Imperial arms to be protected, we cannot but lament and complain to you with great sorrow of heart, seeing such causes of dissension (the root and fountain of evils, and the infection of pestiferous corruption) thus to rise from the holy church, imprinted with the seal of peace, and love of Christ. By reason whereof (except God turn it away) we fear the whole body of the church is like to be polluted: the unity thereof to be broken, and a schism and division to be betwixt the spiritual and temporal regiment For we being a late at Bisunze, & there entreating busily of matters pertaining as well to the honour of our Empire, as to the wealth of churches, there came Ambassadors of the see Apostolical, declaring they brought a legacy to our majesty of great importance, redounding to no small commodity of our honour and Empire. Who then, the first day of their coming, being brought to our presence, and received of us (as the manner is) with honour accordingly, audience was given them to hear what they had to say. They forthwith bursting out of the Mammon of iniquity, haughty pride, stoutness and arrogance, out of the execrable presumption of their swelling hart, did their message with letters Apostolical, whereof the tenor was this: That we should always have before our eyes how that our sovereign lord the Pope gave us the Imperial crown, and that it doth not repent him, if so be it, we have received greater benefits at his hand. And this was the effect of that so sweet and fatherly legation, which should nourish peace both of the church and of the Empire, to unite them fast together in the band of love. At the hearing of this so false, untrue, and most vain glorious presumption of so proud a message, not only the Emperors majesty, conceived indignation, but also all the Princes (there present) were moved with such anger and rage the reat, that if our presence and request had not stayed them, they could not have held their hands from these wicked priests, or else to have proceeded with sentence of death against them.