A67926:668
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 certain misorders of the Cathedral Churches, for using double punishment for one offence, against the law.
Complaint against certaine misorders of the Cathedral Churches, for vsing double punishment for one offence, against the lawe.
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.