A67922:2565
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
Book 4 › The life and history of Thomas Becket Archbishop of Canterbury.
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.
An other cause was, that where a Priest was accused of murder, and the kings officers and the friends of the dead, accused the priest earnestly afore the bishop of Salisbury his Diocesan to whom he was sent, desiring justice to be done on him: the priest was put to his purgation. But when he was not able to defend himself, the Bishop sent to the archbishop to ask what he should do. The Archb. commanded he should be deprived of all ecclesiastical benefices, & shut up in an abbey to do perpetual penance. After the same sort were divers other handled for like causes, but none put to death, nor lost joint, nor burned in the hand, or the like pain.
An other cause was, that where a Priest was accused of murther, and the kinges officers and the friendes of the dead, accused the priest earnestly afore the bishop of Salisbury his Diocesan to whō he was sent, desiring iustice to be done on him: the priest was put to his purgation. But when he was not able to defend himselfe, the Byshop sent to the archbishop to aske what he should do. The Archb. commaunded he should be depriued of all ecclesiastical benefices, & shut vp in an abbey to doe perpetuall penance. After the same sort were diuers other handled for like causes, but none put to death, nor lost ioynt, nor burned in the hand, or the like payne.
The third cause was, that where a Canon of Bruis did revile the kings justices: the king was offended with the whole clergy. For these and such like, the Archbishop (to pacify the kings anger) commanded the Canon to be whipped, & deprived of his benefices for certain years. But the king was not content with this gentle punishment, because it rather increased their boldness: and therefore he called the Archbishop, bishops, and all the clergy to assemble at Westminster. When they were assembled together: the king earnestly commanded, that such wicked Clerks should have no privilege of their Clergy, but he delivered to the Jailers, because they passed so little of the spiritual correction: and this he said, also their own Canons and laws had decreed. The Archbishop counselling we his bishops and learned men, answered probably: and in the end he desired heartily the kings gentleness (so: the quietness of himself and his realm) that under Christ our new king, and under the new law of Christ, he would bring in no new kind of punishment into his Realm (upon the new chosen people of the Lord) against the old decrees of the holy fathers: And oft he said, that he neither ought nor could suffer it. The king moved therewith (and not without cause) allegeth again and exacteth the old laws and customs of his grandfather, observed and agreed upon by archbishops, bishops, prelates, & other privileged persons: inquiring likewise of him, whether he would agree to the same, or else now (in his reign) would condemn that which in the reign of his grandfather was well allowed. To which laws & customs, the said Thomas did partly grant, and partly not grant. The copy of the which foresaid laws are contained in the number of xxviii. or xxix. whereof I thought here to recite certain, not unworthy to be known.