A67926:1032
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. 2, part 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. 2, part 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
No title page in the transcription: set from the catalogue record.
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.
and therefore the bread and wine must needs remain in their properties, bearing notwithstanding a Sacrament,1 or a holy sign of the body & blood of the Lord. For like as by bread and wine the hart of man is comforted, so the body of Christ crucified, & his blood shed, spiritually hath the like operation in the souls of the believers. For the Mass, they said it was a thing most superstitious, and mere Idolatry.2 And if we put any part of salvation therein, they said, it was utterly a robbing of the Passion of Christ the Son of God, & that it was not once to be named out of a Christen mouth. Also that they which say that Peter either was Pope, or Author of the said Mass, are far deceived. And as for turning bread into the body of Christ by the words of consecration, it was an error (they said) more of mad men, then any sad men: forasmuch as God is neither subject to men, nor to the tongues or exorcisms of men. Purgatory they denied to be any, save only the blood of Christ Jesus. Furthermore as they would not bereft the saints of God of their due honour,3 so neither the Saints them selves (said they) will be contented to rob God of his honour only due to him. As touching confession, their opinion was, that the wounds and causes of conscience, belong to no man, but only to God. After these answers given and written, they were sent to the Monastery of Sanpeter, there to be disputed with. That done, the matter came to be debated among the Judges, what was to be done with them. Some would their goods to be taken by Inventory, and them to be banished. But Bergeronius at last caused to be determined, that they should be burned, and first to hear Mass. From that Court, they appealed to the Court of Paris: but the matter there was nothing amended. Where behold the judgement of God: In the mean time, while they were at Paris,4 the wretched Persecutor Gills le Pers, was suddenly stricken mad, and dyed in a frenzy: which made many men to wonder, and especially the martyrs to be more constant. At last the decree of the sentence was read against them. First for speaking against the Sacrament: which they denied. Secondly for speaking against Baptism: which also they denied. Thirdly, for speaking contumely against the Saints: which they in like manner denied.