A67922:530
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.
Wherefore what marvel if this jurisdiction of the Popes Court in excommunicating, in taking Appeals, and giving of benefices, was not used in the old Church of Rome, when as in these latter days it hath been so much resisted?
Wherfore what maruell if this iurisdiction of the Popes Court in excommunicatyng, in takyng Appeales, and geuyng of benefices, was not vsed in the old Church of Rome, when as in these latter dayes it hath bene so much resisted?
And what should I speak of the form and manner of elections,1 now used in the Church of Rome, clean converted from the manner of the old Church of their predecessors? For first in those ancient days, when as yet the Church remained in the Apostles only, & a few other Disciples, the Apostles then with prayer and imposition of hands, elected Bishops & Ministers, as by the Apostles James was made Bishop of Jerusalem. Paul in Creta elected Titus, and Timothy in Ephesus. Also Peter ordained Linus and Clement in Rome. &c. After which time of the Apostles, when the Church began more to multiply, the election of Bishops and Ministers stood by the Clergy & the people, with the consent of the chief Magistrate of the place, and so continued during all the time of the Primitive Church,2 till the time, and after the time of Constantine the 4. Emperor, which Emperor (as writeth Platina and Sabellic. Enead. 8. lib. 6.) published a law concerning the election of the Roman Bishop, that he should be taken for true Bishop, whom the Clergy and people of Rome did choose & elect, without any tarrying for any authority of the Emperor of Constantinople, or the Deputy of Italy: so as the custom and fashion had ever been before that day, an. 685. And here the Bishops began first to writhe out their elections and their necks a little from the Emperors subjection,3 if it be so as the said Platina and Sabellicus after him reporteth. But many conjectures there be, not unprobable, rather to think this constitution of Constantine to be forged and untrue. First, for that it is taken out of the Popes Bibliothecary, a suspected place and collected by the keeper and master of the Popes Library, a suspected author, who whatsoever feigned writings or Apocrypha he could find in the Popes chests of Records, making any thing on his masters side: that he compiled together, and thereof both Platina, Sabellicus, & Gratianus take most part of their reports, & therefore may the more be suspected. &c.