A67922:2584
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 king (after he had received his letters sent from the Pope) began to put more strength to his purposed proceedings against the Archbishop: first beginning with the inferiors of the clergy, such as were offenders against his laws, as felons, robbers, quarrellers, breakers of peace,1 and especially such as had committed homicide and murders, whereof more then an hundred at that time were proved upon the clergy (as witnesseth Guliel. Neuburgensis, in his book de gestis Anglorum, lib. 2. cap. 16) urging and con straining them to be arraigned after the order of the law temporal, and justice to be ministered to them according to their deserts: as first to be deprived, and so to be committed to the secular hands. This seemed to Becket to derogate from the liberties of holy church, that the secular power should pass in causes criminal, or sit in judgement against any ecclesiastical person. This law, the roisters (then of the clergy) had picked and forged out of Anacletus & Evaristus by whole falsely alleged and pretensed authority, they have deduced this their constitution from the Apostles, which giveth immunity to all ecclesiastical persons to be free from secular jurisdiction. Becket therefore like a valiant champion (fighting for his liberties, and having the Pope on his side) would not permit his clerks infamed, otherwise to be convented, then before ecclesiastical judges, there to be examined & deprived for their excess, and no secular judge to proceed against them. So that after their deprivation, if they should incur the like offence again, then the temporal judge to take hold upon them, otherwise not. This obstinate and stubborn rebellion of the Archb. stirred up much anger and vexation in their king, & not only in him, but also in the nobles and in all the bishops (for the greater part) that almost he was alone a wonderment to all the realm.
The king (after he had receiued his letters sent from the Pope) beganne to put more strength to his purposed procedings against the Archbishop: first beginning wyth the inferiors of the clergy, such as were offenders agaynst his lawes, as fellons, robbers, quarellers, breakers of peace,1 and especially such as had committed homicide and murders, wherof more then an hundred at that time were prooued vpon the clergy (as witnesseth Guliel. Neuburgēsis, in his booke de gestis Anglorum, lib. 2. cap. 16) vrging and cō straining them to be arreigned after the order of the lawe temporall, and iustice to be ministred to them according to their deserts: as first to be depriued, and so to be committed to the secular hands. This seemed to Becket to derogate frō the liberties of holy church, that the secular power should passe in causes criminall, or sit in iudgemēt against any ecclesiasticall person. This law, the roisters (then of the clergy) had picked and forged out of Anacletus & Euaristus by whole falsly alleaged and pretensed authoritie, they haue deduced this their constitution from the Apostles, which geueth immunity to all ecclesiasticall persons to be free from secular iurisdiction. Becket therfore like a valiāt champion (fighting for his liberties, and hauing the Pope on his side) would not permit his clerkes infamed, otherwise to be conuēted, then before ecclesiastical iudges, there to be examined & depriued for their excesse, and no seculare iudge to proceede against them. So that after their depriuation, if they should incurre the like offence agayne, then the temporall iudge to take hold vpō them, otherwise not. This obstinate and stubburne rebellion of the Archb. stirred vp much anger and vexation in their king, & not only in him, but also in the nobles and in al the bishops (for the greater part) that almost he was alone a wonderment to all the realme.