A67922:2613
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.
¶ This oration of his, although it was liked of them for the softness and moderation thereof: yet it could not so persuade the Romish Bishop to condescend to their suit and request. Which suit was, to have two legates or arbiters to be sent from his Popish side into England,1 to examine and take up the controversy between the king and the Archbishop. But the pope incensed (as is said before) would not grant to their petition: forasmuch as it should be (sayeth he) prejudicial, and tending to the oppression of the archbishop to grant unto it, he being not present. And therefore he willed them to tarry his coming up, otherwise (he being absent) he would not (he said in any case) proceed against him. But they (alleging again their time to be expired appointed them of the king, having besides other lets and causes as they alleged) said that they could not there wait for the coming of Becket: but returned back (their cause frustrated) without the Popes blessing to the king.2 Within iiij. days after, Becket cometh to the Popes court, where he prostrating himself at his feet, brought out of his bosom a scroll containing the customs and ordinances of the king, afore mentioned fol. 207. The Pope receiving the foresaid scroll, and reading it in the open hearing of his Cardinals, condemned and cursed the most part of the said decrees of the King, which he called consuetudines avitas, 3that is, his grandfathers ordinances. Besides this: the Pope moreover blameth Becket, for that he so much yielded to them at the beginning, as he did: yet notwithstanding (because he was repentant for his unadvised fact) he was content to absoil him for the same, and the rather because of his great troubles, which he for the liberties of holy church did sustain: and so with great favour for that day dismissed him.
¶ This oration of his, although it was liked of them for the softnesse and moderation therof: yet it could not so perswade the Romish Bishop to condescende to their sute and request. Which sute was, to haue two legates or arbiters to be sent from his Popish side into England,1 to examine and take vp the controuersie betweene the king and the Archbyshop. But the pope incensed (as is sayd before) would not graunt to their petition: forasmuch as it shuld be (sayeth he) preiudiciall, and tending to the oppression of the archbishop to graūt vnto it, he being not present. And therefore he willed them to tarrie his comming vp, otherwise (he being absent) he would not (he sayde in any case) proceede against him. But they (alledging againe their time to be expired appointed them of the king, hauing besides other lets and causes as they alledged) sayd that they coulde not there waite for the comming of Becket: but retourned backe (their cause frustrated) without the Popes blessing to the king.