A67922:2654
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.
thinking nothing more sweet unto him then to be admonished of his fault (if he have offended the Lord,) and to reform the same: and not only to reform and amend his fault, but also to satisfy it to the uttermost, if the law shall so require him. Wherefore, seeing he is so willing to recompense & satisfy the judgement of the church in all things appertaining to the church: refusing no order that shall be taken, but in all things submitting his neck to the yoke of Christ: with what right, by what canon or reason can you interdict him, or use excommunication against him? It is a thing laudable & a virtue of great commendation in wise men: ⟨p. 219⟩wisely to go with judgement and reason, and not to be carried with puffs of hasty violence. Whereupon this is the only and common petition of us all: that your fatherly care will diligently provide for your flock and sheep committed to you: so that they miscarry not, or run to any ruin through any inconsiderate, or to much heady counsel in you: but rather through your softness and sufferance, they may obtain life, peace and security. It doth move us all, that we hear of late to be done by you against the Bishop of Salisbury, & the Dean of the same church, (prosperously) as some men suppose, against whom you have given out the sentence of excommunication and condemnation, before any question of their crime was: following therein (as seemeth) more the heat of hastiness, then the path of righteousness. This is a new order of judgement (unheard of yet to this day in our laws and canons) first to condemn a man, and then to enquire after of the fact committed. Which order, least ye should hereafter attempt to exercise in like manner against our sovereign and king, or against us and our Churches and Parishes committed to us, to the detriment of the Pope, and the holy church of Rome, and to the no little confusion of us all: therefore we lay here against you for our selves, the remedy of appellation. And as before, openly in the public face of the Church with lively voice, we appealed to the Pope for fear of certain perils that might have happened: So now again in writing, we appeal to the same, assigning the term of our appellation, the day of the Lords Ascension. Most humbly and reverently beseeching your goodness, that you (taking a better way with you in this matter) will let your cause fall:
thinking nothing more swete vnto him then to be admonished of his fault (if he haue offended the Lord,) and to reforme the same: and not only to reforme and amend his fault, but also to satisfy it to the vttermost, if the law shall so require him. Wherfore, seing he is so willing to recōpēce & satisfy the iudgemēt of the church in al things appertaining to the church: refusing no order that shalbe takē, but in al thīgs submitting his neck to the yoke of Christ: with what right, by what canon or reason can you interdict him, or vse excommunication against him? It is a thing laudable & a vertue of great cōmendation in wise men: