A67926:3728
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.
By reason whereof ensued a mighty schism and affliction among the flock of Christ,1 such as lightly the like hath not been seen. For the Priests went against their Bishops, the people against the Priest, the laity against the Clergy: briefly all ran together in heaps & in confusion. Men and women, as every one was set upon mischief, wickedness, contention and avarice, took thereby occasion upon every light suspicion, to resist their Minister, to spoil the goods of the Church. The vulgar people contemned the Priests which had married wives, despised their Religion, and all things that they did: yea and in many places would purge the place where they had been, with holy water, and burnt their Tithes. Also such was, the mischief of them, that they would take the holy mysteries, which those married Priests had consecrated, and cast them in the dirt, & tread them under their feet: For so then had Hildebrand taught them, that those were no Priests, neither that they were Sacraments, which they did consecrate. So that by this occasion, many false Prophets rose, seducing the people from the truth of Christ, by forged Fables, and false miracles, and feigned Glosses, wresting the Scriptures as served best for their own purposes. Of whom few there were that kept any true chastity. Many could make glorious boasts & brags thereof, but the greatest part under the show & pretence of honesty & pureness of life committed incest, fornication, adultery, every where almost, and no punishment was for the same. &c. Thus much out of Aventinus: Lib. 5. Annal.
By reason whereof ensued a mighty schisme and affliction among the flocke of Christ,1 such as lightly the lyke hath not bene seene. For the Priestes went agaynst their Byshops, the people agaynst the Priest, the laytie agaynst the Clergy: briefly all ranne together in heapes & in confusion. Men and women, as euery one was set vpon mischief, wickednesse, contention and auarice, tooke thereby occasion vpon euery light suspition, to resiste their Minister, to spoyle the goodes of the Church. The vulgare people contemned the Priestes which had maryed wiues, despised their Religion, and all thynges that they dyd: yea and in many places would purge the place where they had bene, with holy water, and brent their Tithes. Also such was, the mischief of them, that they would take the holy mysteries, whiche those maryed Priestes had consecrated, and cast them in the dyrt, & tread them vnder their feete: For so then had Hildebrand taught them, that those were no Priestes, neither that they were Sacramentes, whiche they did consecrate. So that by this occasion, many false Prophets rose, seducing the people from the truth of Christ, by forged Fables, and false miracles, and feyned Gloses, wrastyng the Scriptures as serued best for their owne purposes. Of whom few there were that kept any true chastity. Many could make glorious boastes & brags thereof, but the greatest part vnder the shew & pretence of honesty & purenes of life cōmitted incest, fornication, adultery, euery where almost, and no punishment was for the same. &c. Thus much out of Auentinus: Lib. 5. Annal.