A67926:649
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.
A complaint against the Immunities of Clergy men.
A complaint against the Immunities of Clergie men.
Item, whosoever he be that hath received any Ecclesiastical orders, great or small, thereby he doth contend to be freed from all punishment of the secular magistrate, how great offence soever he do: neither doth he unadvisedly presume thereupon, but is maintained in that liberty to sin, by the principal estates of the clergy. For it hath often ben seen, that whereas by the canonical laws, priests are forbidden to marry, afterward they diligently labour and go about day and night to attempt and try the chastity of matrons, virgins, and of the wives, daughters and sisters of the lay men: and through their continual instance and labour, partly with gifts and rewards, and flattering words, partly by their secrete confessions (as they call them) as it hath been found by experience, they bring to pass that many virgins and matrons, which otherwise would be honest, have been overcome and moved to sin and wickedness: and it happeneth oftentimes, that they do detain and keep away the wives, and daughters from their husbands and fathers, threatening them with fire & sword that do require them again. Thus through their raging lust, they heap & gather together innumerable mischiefs and offences. It is to be marvelled at, how licentiously without punishment they daily offend in robberies,1 murder, accusing of innocents, burning, rapine, theft, and counterfeiting of false coin, beside a thousand other kinds of mischiefs, contrary and against all laws both of God and man, not without great offence of others, trusting only upon the freedom and liberty of sin, which they usurp unto themselves by the privilege of their canons. For when as they once perceive that it is lawful for them to do what they lust without controlment, then they do not only contemn the civill Magistrates, but also their Bishops and superiors, whatsoever they either command or forbid them to do.
ITem, whosoeuer hee be that hath receiued any Ecclesiastical orders, great or small, thereby he doth contende to be freed from al punishmēt of the secular magistrate, how great offēce soeuer he do: neither doth he vnaduisedly presume therupon, but is mainteined in that liberty to sinne, by the principal estates of the clergy. For it hath often ben seene, that whereas by the canonicall lawes, priestes are forbidden to marry, afterward they diligently labour and go about day and night to attempt and try the chastitie of matrones, virgines, and of the wiues, daughters and sisters of the lay men: and through their continual instance and labour, partly with gifts and rewards, and flattering wordes, partly by their secrete confessions (as they cal thē) as it hath bene founde by experience, they brynge to passe that many virgins and matrones, which otherwise wold be honest, haue beene ouercome and mooued to sinne and wickednesse: and it happeneth oftentimes, that they do detaine and keepe away the wiues, and daughters frō theyr husbands and fathers, threatning them wyth fire & sword that do require them againe. Thus through theyr raging lust, they heap & gather together innumerable mischieues and offences. It is to be maruailed at, howe licentiously wythout punishmente they dailye offende in robberyes,