A67926:659
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.
Complaint against Officials and other Ecclesiastical judges.
Complaint against Officials and other Ecclesiasticall iudges.
The Officials also of Archbishops for the most part, are unlearned & unable men,1 besides that, men of evil conditions, taking thought for nothing but only for money. Also, how corruptly they live and continue in notorious crimes & transgressions, it is daily seen. Whereby the laity, whom they ought to correct and punish for their offences, & instruct in Christian godliness, are not in any point, by them amended, but rather by them encouraged and confirmed in their offences. Besides this, the laity are miserably robbed & spoiled of their goods, by these light & vile officials. In whose conscience there is no spark of christian pity and godliness, but only a wicked desire, & covetousness. Which thing the archbishops and bishops, if they were in deed such as they are called, that is to say, the pastors and shepherds of Christ, without doubt, they would no longer suffer, or commit Christs flock, to such wicked and offensive pastors to be fed and nourished.
THe Officials also of Archbishops for the most part, are vnlearned & vnable men,1 besides that, men of euil conditions, taking thought for nothing but onely for money. Also, howe corruptly they liue and continue in notorious crimes & transgressions, it is daily sene. Wherby the laity, whom they ought to correct and punish for their offences, & instruct in Christian godlinesse, are not in any poynt, by them amēded, but rather by them encouraged and confirmed in their offences. Besides this, the laitie are miserably robbed & spoiled of their goodes, by these light & vile officials. In whose conscience there is no sparke of christian pity and godlines, but only a wicked desire, & couetousnesse. Which thing the archbishops and bishops, if they were in dede such as they are called, that is to say, the pastours and shepheards of Christ, without doubt, they would no lōger suffer, or commit Christes flocke, to such wicked and offensiue pastors to be fed and nourished.