A67926:663
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.
The gain that riseth to the Clergy, by false slanders and rumours.
The gaine that riseth to the Clergie, by false sclaunders and rumours.
1IT happeneth oftentimes, that men and women, through sinister and false reports & slanders, are brought before the Official or Ecclesiastical judge, as men guilty, and shall not be declared innocent, before they have cleared themselves by an oath. Which purgation so made, they are restored again to their former estimation. And albeit that the damages & costs ought to be repaid again, unto such as be so falsely accused, yet notwithstanding the innocents themselves, are forced to pay two guilders and a quarter, for their letters of absolution. And this is the cause, why that the Officials & other Ecclesiastical judges, do so greedily follow the action of such unlawful, false, & slanderous accusations, challenging the hearing thereof only unto them selves: which thing (no doubt) redoundeth to the great and most singular hurt and detriment of all men: For oftentimes it happeneth that women falling together in contention through anger, hatred, or some other affection, do speak evil or slander one an other, and outrage so much, that the one oftentimes accuseth the other, either of adultery or witchery. Which thing being brought before the Official, she which through her anger had so slandered the other, is forced by an oath to excuse and purge her self, that whatsoever injurious or slanderous word she had spoken, came not of any deliberate purpose or intent, but through wrath and displeasure. In like manner the other which is accused either of adultery or sorcery, is commanded by an oath to declare her innocency, that she is not guilty of those facts, so that it is evident unto all men, that in such cases, whether they be guilty or not guilty, they must swear, if they will keep their good name and fame. Whereby not only the unlawful lucre of gain and money is sought, but also wilful perjury forced, and the secular power and judges letted from the punishment thereof, so that contrary to all reason, offences do remain unpunished.