A67922:600
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.
Although it cannot be denied,1 but certain were in the Primitive time, which began privately to pretend that proud and wicked title of universal Bishop, as Menna, and especially Joannes Patriarch of Constantinople, who calling a Council at Constantinople, went about to stablish and ratify and to dignify his throne by the consent of the Council, and the Emperor of Constantinople, and obtained the same as appeareth in the v. general Council of Constantinople the 2. where both Menna is named Oichumenicus Patriarcharum and also Joannes in the said Council is titled Oicumenicus Patriarcha: ex Concil. general. 5. cap. Domino. Concerning the which title although it was then used to Constantinople through the sufferance of the Emperors, being then willing to have their imperial City advanced: yet notwithstanding this foresaid title, all this while was not in the City of Rome. And in Constantinople it stood not then in force: Jure aliquo divino, but only by mans law. And thirdly it was then but only, verbalis titulus: having no true domination upon all other Churches, or any real subjection belonging to the same. Forasmuch as neither the Bishop of Rome, nor any of the West churches were subject or did acknowledge service unto them but rather did repugn the same: namely Pelagius the 2. & Gregorius the 1. both Bishops at that time of Rome, which Pelagius writing to all Bishops, saith plainly in these words:2 that no Patriarch should take the name of universality at any time, because that if any be called universal, the name of Patriarch is derogate from all other. But let this be far, saith he, from all faithful men, to will to take that thing to him, whereby the honour of his brethren is diminished. Wherefore the said Pelagius chargeth all such Bishops, that none of them in their letters will name any Patriarch to be universal, least he take from him self the honour due to him, while they give that which is not due to another.3 What can be more evident then these words of Pelagius, who was Bishop of Rome next before Gregory. an. 583? In like manner or more plainly, and more earnestly writeth also Gregory of this matter in his register, proving and disputing that no man ought to be called universal Bishop.
Although it cannot be denied,