A67922:2650
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 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.
By this Epistle, hee that listeth to vnderstande of the doings & quarels of Becket, may partly iudge what is to be thought thereof. Which his doings, although in some part may be imputed either to ignorāce of mind, 1or blindnes of zeale, or humain fragilitie: yet in this point (so vilely to complaine of his naturall Prince, for the zeale of the Pope) hee can by no wise be defended. But such was the blindnesse then of the prelates in those daies, who measured and estemed the dignity and liberty of Christes 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 maintaine the same. 2For the which cause they did most abhominably abuse christian discipline & excommunication of the church at that time: as by this foresaid Epistle may appeare. And what maruaile if the acts and doings of this Archb. seeme now to vs in these daies both fond and strange: seeing the suffraganes of his owne church & clergy wryting to him: could not but reprehend him, as in this their Epistle tranflated out of Latin into English may be seene.