A67922:2640
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.
By reason whereof, the kings majesty, being something aggrieved (yet because he would be delivered from all suspicion) committeth the matter to the hearing of the Bishops. This done, it rested in the bishops to decide and cease this contention, and to set agreement between them, removing all occasion of dissension Which thing they going about: cometh in this foresaid Archbishop, forbidding and commanding, that no man proceed in any sentence of him before the king. This being signified to the kings hearing, his mind was grievously provoked thereby to anger: whose anger yet notwithstā ding had been easily swaged, if the other would have submitted himself, and acknowledged his default. But he adding stubbornness to his trespass, through the quantity and greatness of his excess, was the author of his own punishment: which now by the law civill he sustaineth, and yet shameth to crave pardon for his desert,1 at the kings hand whose anger he feared not to stir up, in such a troublesome time of the persecution of the Church, greatly against the profit of the same: augmenting & increasing thereby the persecution which now the Church lieth under. Much ⟨p. 217⟩better it had been for him to have tempered himself with the bridle of moderation, in the high estate of his dignity: least in exceeding too far, in straining the strait points of things by over much presumption (peradventure through his presumption being not in mean and tolerable things) might fall from higher. And if the detriments of the Church would not move him: yet the gre•t benefits and preferments of riches, and honours ought to persuade him, not to be so stubborn against the king. But here peradventure his friend and our adversary will object: that his bearing and submitting to the king in this behalf, were prejudicial against the authority and sea Apostolical: as though he did not or might not understand that although the dignity of the Church, should suffer a little detriment in that judgement: yet he might & ought to have dissimuled (for the time) to obtain peace into the Church. He will object again, alleging the name of father, that it soundeth like a point of arrogance, for children to proceed in judgement of condemnation against the father: which thing is not convenient. But he must understand again: