A67926:3949
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 doubt not, loving reader, but by these so plain Evidences above prefixed, thou hast sufficiently to understand, that this violent restraint of Priests lawful Marriage within this Realm of England, is of no such long reach and antiquity, as hath been thought of many, and all by reason of ignorance of histories, and course of times. So that briefly as in a Summary Table to comprehend that whole effect hereof:
Thus I doubt not, louing reader, but by these so plaine Euidences aboue prefixed, thou hast sufficiently to vnderstand, that thys violent restrainte of Priestes lawful Mariage wythin this Realme of England, is of no suche long reach and antiquitie, as hath bene thought of many, and al by reason of ignorāce of hystories, and course of times. So that briefly as in a Summary Table to comprehende that whole effect hereof:
First about the year of our Lord. 946. to the profession of single life,1 and displacing of marriage began to come into example here in England,2 by reason of s. Benets monks, which then began to increase hereabout the time of King Edgar, and especially by the means of Oswald bishop of York, Odo and Dunstan, Archbishops of Canterbury, and Ethelwolde Bishop of Wint. so that in divers Cathedral churches, and bishops Seas, monks with their professed singleness of life, crept in, & married Ministers (which were then called secular Priests) with their wives out of sundry Churches were dispossessed not from wives, but only from their places: and yet not in all Churches, but only in certain, whereof read before, page 198.
First about the yeare of our Lord. 946. to the profession of single life,1 and displacing of mariage began to come into exāple here in England,2