A67926:2117
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.
These are not the herds, but the ravenous wolves, going in herds clothing, devouring the flock, Bishops,1 Abbots, Priors, Deacons, Archdeacons, Suffragans, Priests, Monks, Canons, Friars, Pardoners & Sumners. And who is able to number this idle ravenous sort, which (setting all labour aside) have begged so importunately, that they have gotten into their hands, more than the third part of all your Realm. The goodlyest Lordships, manors, lands, and territories are theirs. Besides this, they have the x. part of all the corn, meadow, pasture, grass, wood, colts, calves, lambs, pigs, geese, and chickens. Over and besides, the x. part of every servants wages,2 the x. part of wool, milk, honey, wax, cheese, and butter: yea & they look so narrowly upon their profits, that the poor wives must be countable to them for every x. egg, or else she getteth not her rights at Easter, and shall be taken as an heretic. Hereto have they their four offering days. What money pull they in by probates of Testaments, privy tithes, and by mens offerings to their pilgrimages, and at their first Masses. Every man and child that is buried, must pay somewhat for Masses and Diriges, to be song for him, or else they will accuse their friends and executors of heresy. What money get they by mortuaries, by hearing of confessions (and yet they will keep thereof no counsel) by hallowing of Churches, altars, superaltars, Chapels, and belles, by cursing of men, and absolving them again for money? what a multitude of money gather the Pardoners in a year? How much money get the Sumners by extortion in a year, by asciting the people to the Commissaries Court, and afterward releasing the appearances for money? Finally, the infinite number of begging Friars, what get they in a year?
These are not the herdes, but ye rauinous wolues, going in herdes clothing, deuouring the flock, Byshops,1 Abbots, Priours, Deacons, Archdeacons, Suffraga•es, Priestes, Monkes, Canons, Friers, Pardoners & Somners. And who is able to number this idle rauenous sort, which (setting all labour aside) haue begged so importunatly, that they haue gotten into theyr hands, more thē the third part of all your Realme. The goodlyest Lordships, manors, landes, and territories are theirs. Besides thys, they haue the x. part of all the corne, medow, pasture, grasse, wood, coltes, calues, lambes, pigs, geese, and chickins. Ouer and besides, the x. part of euery seruauntes wages,