A67926:4023
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.
Besides all this, the words of the Act were so curious and subtle, that no man could speak, write or cipher against them, without present danger, yea scarcely a man might speak any word of Christ and his Religion,1 but he was in peril of these vj. Articles. Over & besides, the Papists began so finely to interpret the Act, that they spared not to indict men for abusing their countenance & behaviour in the Church. So great was the power of darkness in those days. And thus much concerning this Act.
Besides all this, the wordes of the Acte were so curious and subtile, that no man could speake, wryte or cyphar against them, without present daunger, yea scarcely a man might speake any word of Christ and his Religion,1 but he was in perill of these vj. Articles. Ouer & besides, the Papistes began so finely to interprete the Act, that they spared not to indite men for abusing their countenance & behauiour in the Church. So great was the power of darkenesse in those dayes. And thus much concerning this Acte.
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Besides these vj. Articles in this foresaid Act concluded, there was also another constitution annexed withal, not without the advise (as may seem) of the Lord Cromwell, which was this:1 that Priests and Ministers of the Church, seeing now they would needs themselves be bound from all Matrimony, should therefore by law likewise be bound to such honesty and continency of life, that carnally they should use & accustom no manner of woman married or single, by way of adultery or fornication: the breach whereof, for the first time, was to forfeit goods, & to suffer imprisonment at the Kings pleasure: and for the second