A67922:2615
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 Oration of Becket, resigning his Bishopric to the Pope. Fathers and Lords, I ought not to lie in any place, much less before God, and in your presence here. Wherefore with much sighing and sorrow of heart I grant and confess, that these perturbations of the Church of England, 1be raised through my miserable fault. For I entered into the fold of Christ, but not by the door of Christ for that, not the canonical election did call me lawfully thereunto, but terror of public power drone me in. And albeit I against my will took this burden upon me, yet not the will of God, but mans pleasure placed me in the room. And therefore no marvel though all things have gone contrary and backward with me. And as for the resigning up again thereof: if I had so done, & given up to their hands, the privilege of my byshoply authority which I had granted to me at the commandment of the king (so as my fellow Bishops did instantly call upon me to do) then had I left a pernicious and dangerous example to the whole catholic Church. 2By reason whereof, I thought to defer that unto your presence. And now therefore (recognising with my self my ingress not to be Canonical, and therefore fearing it to have the worse end: and again pondering my strength and ability not to be sufficient for such a charge) lest I should be found to sustain that room to the ruin of the flock, to whom I was appointed a pastor unworthy: I render up to your fatherly hands the Archbishopric here of Canterbury. &c. And so putting of his ring from his finger, and offering it to the Pope: desired a Bishop for the Church of Canterbury to be provided: seeing he thought not himself meet to fulfil the same, and so (with tears, as the story saith) ended his oration.
¶ The Oration of Becket, resigning his Byshopricke to the Pope. FAthers and Lordes, I ought not to lie in any place, much lesse before God, and in your presence here. Wherefore with much sighing and sorrowe of heart I graunt and confesse, that these perturbations of the Church of England, 1be raised through my miserable fault. For I entred into the folde of Christ, but not by the dore of Christ for that, not the canonical election did cal me lawfully thereunto, but terrour of publike power drone me in. And albeit I against my will tooke this burden vpon mee, yet not the will of God, but mannes pleasure placed me in the rowme. And therefore no maruell though all things haue gone contrary and backward with me. And as for the resigning vp againe thereof: if I had so done, & geuē vp to their hands, the priuiledge of my byshoply authoritie which I had graunted to me at the commaundement of the king (so as my fellow Byshoppes did instantly call vpon me to doe) then had I left a pernicious and daungerous example to the whole catholike Church.