A67926:667
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.
Moreover, the Ecclesiastical judges say,1 that in such case it is lawful for them to take profane matters in to their hands, if the civil magistrate be found negligent in executing of justice: but contrariwise they will not suffer that the like order should be kept with them, neither will they permit that in Ecclesiastical matters, any man may complain unto the civil Magistrate, for lack of justice, and require the administration of justice at his hand. Albeit, they do define all laws generally common, & determine how the Canon laws may help and assist the civil, and contrariwise the civil laws, the Canon.
MOreouer, the Ecclesiasticall iudges saye,1 that in suche case it is lawful for them to take prophane matters in to their hands, if the ciuil magistrate be found negligent in executing of iustice: but contrariwise they will not suffer yt the like order shoulde be kept with them, neither will they permit that in Ecclesiasticall matters, any man may complaine vnto the ciuil Magistrate, for lack of iustice, and require the administration of iustice at his hand. Albeit, they do define all lawes generally common, & determine howe the Canon lawes may help and assist the ciuil, and contrariwise the ciuil lawes, the Canon.
Forsomuch as it is forbidden both by gods law & mans,1 that no man should be beaten with 2. rods, that is to say, be punished with 2. kinds of torments: worthily therefore do all wise men detest & abhor the odious statutes of divers cathedral churches, whereby murderers, both men & women, & other, as well light as grievous offenders, have ben hitherto vexed & tormented: for hitherto it hath been accustomed that such as were guilty of murder & such other crimes (which they call cases reserved unto the bishops) after they had made their auricular confession, were compelled (to their great ignominy & shame) to do penance in the sight of all the people: which penance were not so much to be disallowed, hearing some semblance of the institution of the primitive church, if so be it these busy officials, being content therewith, would not extort more, and greater sums of money, then were right and lawful, and so punish those offenders with double punishment: wherewithal it is to be marvelled, how many be offended and grieved. Howe wicked a thing this is, and how far it differeth from Christs institution, we will refer it to every good conscience to judge.
FOrsomuch as it is forbidden both by gods law & mans,1 yt no man shuld be beaten with 2. rods, that is to say, be punished with 2. kinds of torments: worthely therefore do all wise men detest & abhorre the odious statutes of diuers cathedral churches, wherby murtherers, both men & women, & other, as wel light as greuous offenders, haue ben hetherto vexed & tormented: for hetherto it hath bene accustomed yt such as wer gilty of murther & such other crimes (which they cal cases reserued vnto the bishops) after they had made their auricular confession, were cōpelled (to their great ignominy & shame) to do penaunce in the sight of all the people: which penāce were not so much to be disalowed, hearing some semblance of the institution of the primatiue churche, if so be it these busie officials, being contente therewt, wold not extort more, and greater summes of money, then were right and lawful, and so punish those offenders with double punishment: wherewtall it is to be marueiled, how many be offended and greeued. Howe wicked a thynge thys is, and howe farre it differeth from Christes instititution, we will referre it to euery good conscience to iudge.
Furthermore, the Officials being allured thorough the greedy and unsatiable desire of money, do not only not ⟨p. 862⟩forbid unlawful usuries and gains of money, but also suffer and maintain the same. Moreover, they taking a yearly stipend and pension, do suffer the Clergy and other religious persons unlawfully to dwell with their concubines and harlots, and to beget children by them. Both which things, how great peril, offence and detriment they do bring both unto body and soul, every man may plainly see (so that it need not to be rehearsed) except he will make himself as blind as a mole.
FUrthermore, the Officials being allured thoroughe the greedy and vnsatiable desire of money, do not only not ⟨p. 862⟩forbid vnlawful vsuries and gaines of mony, but also suffer and maintaine the same. Moreouer, they taking a yerely stipend and pension, do suffer the Clergy and other religious persons vnlawfully to dwel with their concubines and harlots, and to beget children by them. Bothe whych things, howe great pearil, offence and detriment they doe bring bothe vnto body and soule, euery man may plainely see (so that it neede not to be rehearsed) except he wil make himselfe as blinde as a mole.
Furthermore, where it so happeneth (as it doeth oftentimes) that either the good man or the good wife, by means of war or some other vow, hath taken in hand some long journey, and so tarrieth longer then serveth the appetite of the other, the Official taking a reward of the other, giveth licence to the party to dwell with any other person, not having first regard or making inquisition whether the husband or wife being absent, be in health or dead: and because these their doings should not be evil spoken of, they name it a toleration or sufferance, not without great offence unto all men, and to the great contempt of holy matrimony.
FUurthermore, where it so happeneth (as it doeth oftentymes) that either the good manne or the good wife, by meanes of warre or some other vowe, hath taken in hande some long iourney, and so tarieth longer then serueth the appetite of the other, the Officiall taking a rewarde of the other, geueth licence to the party to dwell wyth any other person, not hauing first regard or making inquisitiō whether the husbād or wife being absent, be in health or dead: and because these their doings shoulde not be euill spoken of, they name it a tolleration or sufferaunce, not without greate offence vnto all men, and to the great contempte of holy matrimonie.
1This is also unlawful and plainly wicked, that tho Canons of Cathedral Churches, in whose hand the principal part of Ecclesiastical judgements, Synods, and censures do consist, and the Canons of other collegiate churches, which have power and authority to choose their Superior and Bishop, will choose none to their Bishop, except he bind himself first with an oath, and plainly swear, yet and oftentimes is bound by bond and instruments sealed with their seals to them and their Ecclesiastical judges, that in no matter, be it never so grievous, intolerable, or dishonest, he shall not be against them: and if it happen at any time that they do offend, they may do it also without punishment for him.
1THis is also vnlawfull and plainly wicked, that tho Canons of Cathedrall Churches, in whose hand the principal part of Ecclesiastical iudgements, Sinodes, and censures do consist, and the Canons of other collegiate churches, which haue power and authoritie to chuse theyr Superiour and Bishop, will chuse none to their Bishop, except he binde himself first with an oth, and plainly sweare, yet and oftentimes is bound by bond and instrumēts sealed wyth their seales to them and their Ecclesiasticall iudges, yt in no matter, be it neuer so greuous, intollerable, or dishonest, he shall not be against them: and if it happen at any time that they doe offend, they may do it also wythout punishment for him.
Many parish churches are subject unto monasteries, & to the persons of other churches, by means of incorporations (as they call them) or otherwise,1 which they are bound also, according to the canon laws, to foresee & look unto, by themselves, when as they do put them forth unto others to be governed, reserving for the most part unto themselves, the whole stipend of the benefices and tithes: and moreover, aggravate & charge the same with so great pensions, that the hireling priests and other ministers of the Church, can not have thereupon a decent or competent living: whereby it cometh to pass, that these hireling priests (for that they must needs have whereupon to live) do with unlawful exactions, miserably spoil and devour the poor sheep committed unto them, & consume all their substance. For when as the Sacraments of the altar and of Baptism are to be administered, or when the first, the seventh, the thirty, and year day must be kept, when auricular confession cometh to be heard,2 the dead to be buried, or any other ceremony whatsoever, about the funeral is to be done: they will not do it freely, but extort and exact so much money, as the miserable commonalty is scarce able to disburse, and daily they do increase and augment these their exactions, driving the simple poverty to the payment thereof, by threatening them with excommunication, or by other ways, compelling them to be at charge: which otherwise through poverty, are not able to maintain obsequies, year minds, and such other like ceremonies, as to the funerals of the dead be appertaining.
MAny parish churches are subiect vnto monasteries, & to the persons of other churches, by meanes of incorporations (as they call them) or otherwise,1 whych they are bound also, according to the canon lawes, to foresee & looke vnto, by themselues, when as they do put them foorth vnto others to be gouerned, reseruing for the moste parte vnto themselues, the whole stipende of the benefices and tithes: and moreouer, aggrauate & charge the same wyth so great pensions, that the hireling priestes and other ministers of the Church, can not haue thereupon a decent or competent liuing: whereby it commeth to passe, that these hirelynge priestes (for that they must needes haue wherupon to liue) doe with vnlawfull exactions, miserably spoil and deuour the poore sheepe committed vnto them, & consume all theyr substaunce. For when as the Sacramentes of the aultare and of Baptisme are to be administred, or when the firste, the seuenth, the thirtie, and yeare day must be kept, when auricular confession cōmeth to be heard,
IT is ordained by the Popes Canons, that burial in the Church should be denied only unto them,1 which being known to be manifest & notorious offenders, have departed this life without receiving of the sacrament. But the clergy not regarding those decrees, will not suffer such as by chance are drowned, killed, slain with falls, or fire, or otherwise by chance have ended their lives, (albeit it be not evident, that they were in deadly sin) to be buried in the churches, until such time, as the wives, children or friends of those men so dead, do with great sums of money purchase and buy the burial of them in the Churchyard.
IT is ordained by the Popes Canons, that buriall in the Church should be denied onely vnto them,1 whych being known to be manifest & notorious offenders, haue departed this life wtout receiuing of the sacrament. But the clergie not regarding those decrees, will not suffer suche as by chaunce are drowned, killed, slaine with falles, or fire, or otherwise by chance haue ended their liues, (albeit it be not euident, that they were in deadly sinne) to be buryed in the churches, vntill such time, as the wiues, children or frends of those men so dead, do with great summes of money purchase and buy the burial of them in the Churchyard.
