A67922:2662
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.
therefore, God forbid, that ever any faithful man should once think so heinous a deed. And you according to your discretion take heed, left the words of your mouth infect any person or persons therein: occasioning them by your words to such dangerous and damnable matter: like to the golden cup which is called the cup of Babylon, which for the outward gold no man will refuse to drink of, but after they have drunk thereof, they are poisoned. And where ye lay to my charge for the suspending out of the reverend father bishop of Salisbury, and for excommunicating of John, Dean of the same Church for a schismatic (by knowledge and process had of the matter) to this I answer:1 That both these are justly and condignly excommunicate, and if ye understand perfectly the condition of the matter, and the right order of judgements, ye will say no less. For this standeth with good authority (as ye know) that in manifest & notorious crimes, this knowledge and order of proceeding is not requisite. Perpende with your selves diligently, what the bishop of Salisbury did (concerning the Deanery) after that he was prohibited of the Pope & of us, under pain of excommunication: and then shall you better understand (upon so manifest disobedience) suspension did rightly follow: as ye read in the decree of S. Clement, saying: If they do not obey their Prelates,2 all manner of persons of what order so ever they be, whether they shall be Princes of high or low degree, and all other people: shall not only be infamed, but also banished from the kingdom of God, and the fellowship of the faithful. As concerning John of Oxford, this we say: that excommunication cometh divers ways: Some are excommunicate, by the law denouncing them excommunicate. Some by the sentence of the Prelate. Some by communicating with them which are excommunicate.3 Now, he that hath fallen into this damnable heresy, in participating with schismatics, whom the Pope hath excommunicate: he draweth to himself the spot and leprosy of like excommunication. Wherefore, seeing he (contrary to the Popes express commandment and ours, being charged under pain of excommunication to the contrary) took upon him, the Deanery of Salisbury: we have denounced him, and hold him excommunicate:4