A67922:2623
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 copy of an Epistle sent of Thomas Becket, to Pope Alexander. TO your presence and audience I flee (most holy father) that you, who hath bought the liberty of the Church with your so great danger: might the rather attend to the same (either being the only or chiefest cause of my persecution) using and following therein the example of you. It grieveth me that the state of the Church should fall to any decay, and that the liberties thereof should be infringed thorough the avarice of princes. For the which cause, I thought to resist betime that inconveniency beginning so to grow. And the more I thought my self obliged to the same my Prince (unto whom next under God, I am most chiefly bound) the more boldness I took to me, to withstand his unrightful attempts: till such that were on the contrary part (my adversaries) prevailed, working my disquietness, and incensing him against me. Whereupon (as the manner is amongst Princes) they raised up against me citations and slanders, to the occasion of my persecution: but I had rather to be proscribed, then to subscribe. Besides this, I was also called to judgement, and cited before the king to make answer there as a lay person, to secular accounts: where as they whom I most trusted did most forsake me. For I saw my fellow brethren the Bishops, through the instigation of some, ready to my condemnation. Whereupon all being set against me, & I thus oppressed on every side, took my refuge to appeal to your goodness, which casteth off none in their extremities: being ready to make my declaration before you, that I ought neither to be judged there in that place, nor yet of them. For what were that (father) but to usurp to themselves your right? and to bring the spirituality under the temporality?1 Which thing (once begun) may breed an example to many. And therefore, so much the more stouter I thought to be in withstanding this matter: how much more prone and proclive, I saw the way to hurt: if they once might see us to be faint and weak in the same. But they will say to me here again: give to Cesar, that which belongeth to Cesar. &c. But to answer again thereunto (albeit we are bound to obey our king in most things) yet not in such manner of things, whereby he is made to be no king: neither were they then things belonging to Cesar, but to a tyrant.
The copie of an Epistle sent of Thomas Becket, to Pope Alexander. TO your presence and audience I flee (moste holy father) that you, who hath bought the libertie of the Churche with your so great daunger: might the rather attend to the same (either being the onely or chiefest cause of my persecution) vsing and following therein the example of you. It grieueth me that the state of the Church should fall to any decay, and that the liberties therof should be infringed thorough the auarice of princes. For the which cause, I thought to resist betime that inconueniencie beginning so to grow. And the more I thought my selfe obliged to the same my Prince (vnto whome next vnder God, I am moste chiefly bound) the more boldnesse I tooke to me, to withstand his vnrightfull attempts: till such that were on the contrary part (my aduersaries) preuailed, working my disquietnesse, and incensing him against me. Whereupon (as the maner is amongst Princes) they raised vp against me citations and slaunders, to the occasion of my persecution: but I had rather to be proscribed, then to subscribe. Besides this, I was also called to iudgement, and cited before the king to make answere there as a lay person, to secular accomptes: where as they whome I most trusted did most forsake me. For I saw my fellow brethren the Bishops, through the instigation of some, ready to my condemnation. Wherupon all being set against me, & I thus oppressed on euery side, tooke my refuge to appeale to your goodnesse, which casteth off none in their extremities: being ready to make my declaration before you, that I ought neither to be iudged there in that place, nor yet of them. For what were that (father) but to vsurpe to thēselues your right? and to bring the spiritualtie vnder the temporaltie?