A67922:498
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.
All which four points well considered and advised in this present history set forth, I trust it may minister to the indifferent Christian Reader, sufficient instruction to judge, what is of this sea and Church of Rome to be esteemed.
All which foure pointes well cōsidered and aduised in this present history set forth, I trust it may minister to the indifferent Christiā Reader, sufficient instructiō to iudge, what is of this sea and Church of Rome to be esteemed.
But here by the way is to be noted, that all these deformities above touched of vain title, of pretensed jurisdiction, of heretical doctrine, of schismatical life, came not into the Church of Rome all at one time, nor sprang with the beginning of the same Church, but with long working, and continuance of time by little and little crept up, through occasion, & came not to full perfection, till the time partly of Pope Sylvester, partly of pope Gregory the vij. an. 1170. partly of Innocentius the third,1 and finally of Pope Boniface the viij. an. 1300. Of the which four Popes, the first brought in the title. an. 670. which was never in such ample wise before publicly exacted & received publicly in the said Church of Rome.2 The second brought in jurisdiction. The third, which was Pope Innocent with his rabble of Monks and Friars, (as Thomas Aquine, Petrus Lombardus, Johannes Scotus;) and with such other Bishops as succeeded in the same sea after him,3 corrupted and obscured the sincerity of Christs doctrine and manners also. And lastly, Pope Bonifacius the viij. and after him Pope Clement the fifth, over and besides the jurisdiction, sufficiently advanced before by Pope Hildebrand, 4added moreover the temporal sword to be carried before them. And that no Emperor (were he never so well elected) should be sufficient and lawful, without the Popes admission. an. 1300. whereby the Popes power was brought now to his full pride and perfection. And thus came up the corruption of the Romish Church in continuance of years by degrees, and not all together, nor at one time, as is declared, and hereafter more particularly (Christ willing) shall be expressed.