A67926:2129
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.
Neither have they any other colour to gather these yearly exactions into their hands,1 but that they say they pray for us to God, to deliver our souls out of the pains of Purgatory, without whose prayer they say, or at least without the Popes pardon, we could never be delivered thence. Which if it be true, then it is good reason that we give them all these things, although it were a hundred times as much. But there be many men of great literature and judgement, that for the love they have unto the trueth and unto the common wealth, have not feared to put themselves into the greatest infamy that may be, in abjection of all the world, yea in peril of death, to declare their opinion in this matter: which is, that there is no Purgatory, but that it is a thing invented by the covetousness of the spiritualty,2 only to translate all kingdoms from other princes unto them, and that there is not one word spoken of it in all holy Scripture. They say also, that if there were a Purgatory, and also if that the Pope with his pardons for money may deliver one soul thence: he may deliver him as well without money, if he may deliver one, he may deliver a thousand: if he may deliver a thousand, he may deliver them all, and so destroy Purgatory, and then he•s a cruel tyrant without all charity, if he keep them there in prison and in pain, till men will give him money.3
Neither haue they any other colour to gather these yearely exactions into their handes,1 but that they say they pray for vs to God, to deliuer our soules out of the paynes of Purgatory, without whose prayer they say, or at least without the Popes pardon, we coulde neuer be deliuered thence. Which if it be true, then it is good reason that we geue thē all these things, although it were a hūdred times as much. But there be many men of great litterature and iudgement, that for the loue they haue vnto the trueth and vnto the common wealth, haue not feared to put thēselues into the greatest infamy that may be, in abiection of all the world, yea in peril of death, to declare theyr opinion in this matter: which is, that there is no Purgatory, but that it is a thing inuented by the couetousnes of the spiritualty,