A67926:3746
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.
All these premisses well considered, it shall suffice, I trust though no more were said, to prove that this general law and prohibition of priests marriage pretended to be so ancient, is of no such great time, nor long continuance of years as they make it, but rather to be a late devised doctrine gē dered by the Monks, and grounded upon no reason, law nor scripture, but that certain, which be repiners against the truth, do rack and wrest a few places out of Doctors and ij. or iij. Councils for their pretensed purpose. Whose objections and blind cavillations, I as professing heat but to write stories, refer to the further discussion of Divines: in whose books this matter is more at large to be sought and searched. In the mean season so much as appertaineth to the searching of times and antiquity, and to the conservation of such Acts and monuments as are behoveable for the Church, I thought hereunto not unprofitable to be adjoined a certain Epistle learned and ancient of Uolusianus, Bishop sometimes of Carthage, tending to the defence of Priests lawful wedlock,1 which Aeneas Syluius in Description Germaniae, also Illyricus in Catal. and Melancth. Lib. De coniugio do father upon Huldericus Bishop of Augusta, in the time of Pope Nicholas 2. but as I find it in an old written example, sent by John Bale to Math. Archbishop of Canterbury, as it is joined in the same book:2 so it beareth also the same title and name of Uolusianus Bishop of Carthage: joining also withal, another Latin Epistle, which perhaps hath not been seen in Print before. The Copies of which both Epistles as being pertinent to the purpose present, here under ensue in form as followeth.
All these premisses well considered, it shall suffice, I trust though no more were sayd, to proue that this general law and prohibition of priests mariage pretended to be so auncient, is of no such great time, nor lōg cōtinuance of yeres as they make it, but rather to be a late deuised doctrine gē dered by the Monkes, and grounded vpō no reason, law nor scripture, but that certeine, which be repiners against the truth, do racke and wrast a few places out of Doctors and ij. or iij. Councels for their pretensed purpose. Whose obiections and blinde cauillations, I as professing heete but to write stories, referre to the further discussion of Diuines: in whose bookes this matter is more at large to bee sought and searched. In the meane season so muche as apperteyneth to the searching of times and antiquitie, and to the conseruation of such Actes and monuments as are behoueable for the Churche, I thought heereunto not vnprofitable to be adioined a certaine Epistle learned and auncient of Uolusianus, Bishop sometimes of Carthage, tending to the defence of Priests lawfull wedlocke,