A67922:2626
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.
Besides this Epistle sent unto the Pope: he writeth also an other letter, sent to the King in Latin: the tenor whereof (he that is disposed to read) may peruse in our former edition, with the notes adjoined withal.
Besides this Epistle sent vnto the Pope: he wryteth also an other letter, sent to the King in Latine: the tenour whereof (he that is disposed to read) may peruse in our former edition, with the notes adioyned withall.
Besides which Epistle to the king in Latin, he sent also one or two more, to the said king Henry the second, much after the like rate & sort. The one thus beginning: Loqui de Deo, liberae mentis est & valdè quietae. Indè est quòd loquar ad Dominum meum, & utinam ad omnes pacificum. &c. which Epistle, for that I would not overcharge the volume of these Histories with too much matter superfluous, I thought here to omit. The other he sent afterward, whereof the words be these.
Besides which Epistle to the king in Latin, he sent also one or two mo, to the said king Henry the second, much after the like rate & sort. The one thus beginning: Loqui de Deo, liberae mentis est & valdè quietae. Indè est quòd loquar ad Dominum meum, & vtinam ad omnes pacificum. &c. which Epistle, for that I woulde not ouercharge the volume of these Hystories with too much matter superfluous, I thought hore to omit. The other he sent afterward, wherof the wordes be these.
¶ An other letter of Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury, sent to the king. TO his Lord and friend Henry by the grace of God, king of England, Duke of Normandy & Aquitaine, Earle of Anjou: Thomas by the same grace, humble minister of the church of Can terburie (sometime his temporally, but now more his in the Lord) health and true repentance with amendment. I have long looked for, that the Lord would look upon you: and that you would convert and repent, departing from your perverse way: and cut off from you your wicked and perverse counsellors, by whose instinction (as it is thought) you are fallen into that deep, whereof the Psalm speaketh. A sinner when he cometh to the depth of mischiefs, is without all care or fear. And albeit, we have hitherto quietly suffered and borne: considering and earnestly looking if there would any messenger come that would say: Your sovereign Lord the king (which now a long time hath erred and ben deceived, and led even to the destruction of the church) through Gods mercy with abundant humility, doth now again make speed for the deliverance of the Church, and to make satisfaction and amendment. Yet notwithstanding, we cease not (day by day continually) to call upon almighty God, with most humble devotion: that, that which we have long desired for you and by you, we may speedily obtain with abundant effect And this is one point, that the care of the Church of Canterbury, whereunto God hath presently appointed us (albeit unworthy) you being K. doeth specially constrain me (in that as yet, we are detained in exile) to write unto your majesty letters commonitorie, exhortatory, and of correction. But I would to God they were fully able to correct least that I be to great a cloker of your outrages (if there be any) as in deed there are: for the which we are not a little sorry. I mean specially of them which are done by you in every place, about the Church of God and the Ecclesiastical persons, without any reverence either of dignity or person: and least also that I appear negligent to the great danger of my soul: for without doubt he beareth the offence of him which doth commit any offence: who neglecteth to correct that, which an other ought to amend. For it is written not only they which do commit evil, but also they which consent thereunto are counted partakers of the same.