A67922:2696
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.
More then 100. murders are said to be committed by the Clergy under king Henry the 2. In punishing of whom the king was somewhat to vehement: but the fault (saith he) of this immoderate dealing of the king resteth most in the Bishops of our time: for as much as the cause thereof proceedeth of them. For where it is de creed and commaū dead by the Canon law (concerning the spiritual men of the clergy) that not only such as be notorious, but such as be spotted with lighter crimes should be degraded: whereof, have we so many thousands and whole swarms of such now in England, as innumerable chase among the little good grain? and yet how few do we see these many years in England deprived of their office? For why? the Bishops while they labour more to maintain the liberties and dignities of Church men, then to correct their vices: think they do God and the Church great service, if they rescue and defend the enormities of the Church men against public discipline, whom they ought rather to punish by the virtue of the censure ecclesiastical. Whereupon, the Church men: such as be sorted peculiarly to the Lord, and ought like stars to shine in earth by word & example, taking licence and liberty to do what they just: neither reverence god (whose judgement seemeth to tarry) neither men set in authority: when as both the Bishops are slack in their charge doing, and also the prerogative of their order exempteth them from the secular jurisdiction. &c. And thus much out of Nuburgensis.1
More then 100. murders are sayd to be committed by the Clergy vnder king Henry the 2. In punishing of whō the king was somewhat to vehement: but the fault (sayth he) of this immoderate dealing of the king resteth most in the Bishops of our tyme: for as much as the cause thereof proceedeth of them. For where it is de creed and commaū ded by the Canon law (concerning the spirituall men of ye clergy) that not onely such as be notorious, but suche as be spotted with lighter crunes should be disgraded: wherof, haue we so many thousandes and whole swarmes of such now in England, as innumerable chasse among the little good grayne? and yet how few do we see these many yeares in England depriued of their office? For why? the Byshops while they labour more to mayntayne the liberties and dignities of Church men, then to correct their vices: thinke they do God and the Churche great seruice, if they rescue and defend the enormities of the Church men agaynst publike discipline, whome they ought rather to punish by the vertue of the censure ecclesiasticall. Whereupon, the Church men: such as be sorted peculiarly to the Lord, and ought like starres to shyne in earth by worde & example, taking licence and libertie to doe what they iust: neyther reuerence god (whose iudgement seemeth to tary) neyther men set in authoritie: when as both the Bishops are slacke in their charge doyng, and also the prerogatiue of their order exempteth thē frō the secular iurisdictiō. &c. And thus much out of Nuburgensis.