A67922:2649
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.
whom (notwithstanding) we will not defer to excommunicate: unless he quickly amend and be warned by that he hath done. And therefore that the authority of the sea Apostolic, and the liberty of the Church of God (which in these parts are almost utterly lost) may be by some means restored: it is meet and very necessary that what we herein have done, the same be of your holiness ratified and by your letters confirmed. Thus I wish your holiness long to prosper and flourish.
whome (notwithstanding) we will not defer to excommunicate: vnlesse he quickly amende and be warned by that he hath done. And therefore that the authoritie of the sea Apostolike, and the libertie of the Church of God (which in these partes are almost vtterly lost) may be by some meanes restored: it is meete and very necessary that what we herein haue done, the same be of your holinesse ratified and by your letters confirmed. Thus I wish your holinesse long to prosper and flourish.
By this Epistle, he that listeth to understand of the doings & quarrels of Becket, may partly judge what is to be thought thereof. Which his doings, although in some part may be imputed either to ignorance of mind, 1or blindness of zeal, or human fragility: yet in this point (so vilely to complain of his natural Prince, for the zeal of the Pope) he can by no wise be defended. But such was the blindness then of the prelates in those days, who measured and esteemed the dignity and liberty of Christs church by no other thing, then only by goods and possessions flowing and abounding in the clergy: and thought no greater point of religion to be in the church then to maintain the same. 2For the which cause they did most abominably abuse christian discipline & excommunication of the church at that time: as by this foresaid Epistle may appear. And what marvel if the acts and doings of this Archb. seem now to us in these days both fond and strange: seeing the suffragans of his own church & clergy writing to him: could not but reprehend him, as in this their Epistle translated out of Latin into English may be seen.