A67922:2647
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.
¶ An Epistle of Thomas Archbishop of Canterbury to Pope Alexander. A Mantissimo patri & D. Alexandro,1 Dei gratia summo pont. Thomas Cant. Ecclesiae humilis minister, debitam & devotam obedientiam. In English thus. To our most loving father and Lord, Alexander by the grace of God bishop: Thomas the humble minister and servant of the Church of Canterbury due & reverend obedience. Long enough and too long most loving father have I forborne, still looking after amendment of the king of England. But no fruit have I reaped of this my long patience: Nay rather, whilst that unwisely I do thus forbear: I augment and procure the detriment and diminishing of my authority, as also of the Church of God. For oftentimes have I by devout and religious messengers, invited him to make condigne satisfaction, as also by my letters (the Copies whereof I have sent you) intimate and pronounced, Gods severity and vengeance against him, unless he repent and amend. But he (that notwithstanding) groweth from evil to worse: oppressing and conculcating the Church and sanctuary of God: persecuting both me & those which take part with me: Insomuch that with fearful threatening words his purpose is to terrify such, as (for Gods cause and mine own) seek any way to relieve and help me. He wrote also his letters unto the Abbot of the Cistercian order, that as he favoured the Abbacy of that his order (which was in his power said he) he would not accept me into the fellowship thereof, nor do any thing else for me. What should I use many words? So much hath the rigour and severity as well of the king as of his officers, under our patience and sufferance showed it self: that if a great number of men yea and that of the most religious sort, should show unto you the matter as it is in deed (and that upon their oath taken) I partly doubt whether your holiness would give credit unto them or not With heaviness of mind therefore I considering these things, and beholding as well the peril of the king as of our self, have publicly condemned not only those pernicious customs: but all those perversities and wicked doings whereby the church of England is disturbed and brought to confusion: as also the writing whereby they were confirmed:
¶ An Epistle of Thomas Archbyshop of Canterburie to Pope Alexander. A Mantissimo patri & D. Alexandro,1 Dei gratia summo pont. Thomas Cant. Ecclesiae humilis minister, debitam & deuotam obedientiam. In English thus. To our most louing father and Lord, Alexander by the grace of God bishop: Thomas the humble minister and seruaunt of the Church of Canterburie due & reuerend obedience. Long inough and too long most louing father haue I forborne, still loking after amendement of the king of England. But no fruite haue I reaped of this my long patience: Nay rather, whilest that vnwisely I doe thus forbeare: I augment and procure the detriment and diminishing of my authoritie, as also of the Church of God. For oftentimes haue I by deuout and religious messengers, inuited him to make condigne satisfaction, as also by my letters (the Copies whereof I haue sent you) intimate and pronounced, Gods seueritie and vengeaunce against him, vnlesse he repent and amende. But he (that notwithstanding) groweth from euill to worse: oppressing and conculcating the Church and sanctuarie of God: persecuting both me & those which take part with me: In somuch that with fearefull threatning woordes his purpose is to terrifie such, as (for Gods cause and mine owne) seeke any way to relieue and help me. He wrote also his letters vnto the Abbot of the Cistercian order, that as hee fauoured the Abbacie of that his order (which was in his power sayde he) he would not accept me into the fellowship thereof, nor doe any thing els for me. What should I vse many woordes? So much hath the rigour and seueritie as well of the king as of his officers, vnder our patience and sufferaunce shewed it selfe: that if a great number of men yea and that of the most religious sort, should shewe vnto you the matter as it is in deede (and that vpon their othe taken) I partly doubt whether your holinesse woulde geue credite vnto them or not With heauinesse of minde therefore I considering these things, and beholding as well the pearill of the king as of our selfe, haue publiquely condemned not onely those pernitious customes: but all those peruersities and wicked doings wherby the church of England is disturbed and brought to confusion: as also the wryting whereby they were confirmed: