A67926:4025
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.
In this constitution, if the Lord Cromwell and other good men of the Parliament might have had their will, there is no doubt, but the first crime of these concubinary Priests, as well as the second, had had the same penalty, as the other vj. Articles had and should have been punished with death. But Steven Gardiner with his fellow Bishops, who then ruled all the roast, so basted this extraordinary Article with their accustomed shifts, that if they were taken and duly convict for their not castè nor cautè, at first time it was but forfeit of goods. Also for the second conviction or attainder, they so provided that the next year following, that punishment and pain of death by Act of Parliament,1 was clean wiped away and repealed. And why so? Because (sayeth the Statute) that punishment by pain of death is very sore, and much extreme, therefore it pleaseth the King, with the assent of the Lords, that that clause above written concerning felony, and pains of death, and other penalties and forfeitures, for and upon the first and second conviction or attainder of any Priest or woman, 2for any such offences (of whoredom or adultery) aforesaid, shall be from henceforth void and of none effect, &c. So that by this statute it was provided, for all such votaries as lived in whoredom and adultery, for the first offence to lose his goods and all his spiritual promotions except one. For the second, to forfeit all that he had to the King. For the third conviction to sustain continual imprisonment.
In this constitution, if the Lord Cromwell and other good men of the Parliament might haue had their wyll, there is no doubt, but the first crime of these concubinarye Priests, as well as the second, had had the same penaltie, as the other vj. Articles had and should haue bene punished with death. But Steuen Gardiner with his felowe Byshops, who then ruled all the roste, so basted this extraordinarie Article with their accustomed shiftes, that if they were taken and duely conuicte for their not castè nor cautè, at first time it was but forfaite of goodes. Also for the second conuiction or atteinder, they so prouided that the next yeare folowing, that punishment and paine of death by Acte of Parliamente,1 was cleane wiped away and repealed. And why so? Because (sayeth the Statute) that punishment by payne of deathe is very sore, and much extreme, therefore it pleaseth the Kyng, wyth the assente of the Lordes, that that clause aboue written concerning felonie, and paynes of deathe, and other penalties and forfaitures, for and vpon the first and seconde conuiction or atteynder of anye Prieste or woman,