A67926:2062
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.
Thus I although I need not to stand longer upon this matter being so plain, and having said enough: yet (briefly to repeat that before hath been said) this I say again: first if Thomas Bilney was assoiled from excommunication, and after that heard his Mass so devoutly, and at the end of the Mass, was confessed, and consequently after confession was houseled, and lastly asked mercy for contemning of the Church, as M. More doth bear us in hand (to see now how this tale hangeth together) why then did the Chancellor stick so greatly to give him the sacrament of the altar, whom he himself had assoiled, and received to the sacrament of penance before,1 which is plain against the Canon laws. Again the said Thomas Bilney, if he were now received to the mother Church by the Sacraments of penance and of the altar: why then was he afterward degraded, and cut from the Church, sith the Canon permitteth no degradation, but to them which only be incorrigible? Furthermore, the said Bilney, if he being converted so many days before (as More pretendeth) to the Catholic faith, was now no heretic, how then did the sentence pronounce him for an heretic? or finally how would they, or why could they burn him being a Catholic, especially sith the Canon law would bear in him to be judged rather to perpetual prison in some monastery, as is afore touched, if they had pleased?2
Thus I although I need not to stand longer vpon this matter being so playn, and hauing sayd inough: yet (briefly to repeate that before hath bene sayd) this I say again: first if Thomas Bilney was assoyled from excommunication, and after that heard his Masse so deuoutly, and at the ende of the Masse, was confessed, and consequently after confession was housseled, and lastly asked mercy for contemning of the Church, as M. More doth beare vs in hand (to see nowe howe this tale hangeth together) why then dyd the Chauncellour sticke so greatly to geue hym the sacrament of the aultar, whom he hymselfe had assoyled, and receiued to the sacrament of penaunce before,1 whiche is playne agaynst the Canon lawes. Agayne the sayd Thomas Bilney, if hee were nowe receaued to the mother Church by the Sacraments of penaunce and of the aultar: why then was he afterward disgraded, and cut from the Church, sith the Canon permitteth no degradation, but to them which onely be incorrigible? Furthermore, the sayd Bilney, if he being conuerted so many dayes before (as More pretendeth) to the Catholicke fayth, was now no hereticke, howe then did the sentence pronounce him for an hereticke? or finally how would they, or why could they burn him beyng a Catholicke, especially sith the Canon law would beare in him to be iudged rather to perpetuall prison in some monastery, as is afore touched, if they had pleased?