A67926:860
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.
When as the parish priest had read over the letters, he marvelled not a little at that proud commandment, for that it had not been heard of before, that the xlviij. Presidents should meddle with Ecclesiastical matters, and that it had been of long time used, that the ruling thereof should be in the hands of the parish priest: and long time before it was decreed by the whole province, and customably used, that in every church the parish priest should have free liberty to receive or put out the preacher. These letters the parish priest delivered unto Henry: which when he had diligently looked over, he answered, that for so much as he was come, being sent for by the whole congregation to preach the Gospel of Christ, he would satisfy that vocation, because he saw it would be acceptable unto the whole congregation, and that he ought rather to obey the word of God, then man: Also that if it pleased God that he should lose his life in Diethmar, there was as near a way to heaven,1 as in any other place, for that he doubted nothing at all, that once he must suffer for the Gospels sake. Upon this courage and boldness, the next day Henry went up into the Pulpit, and made a Sermon, expounding the place of Paul, which is, Rom. 1. Testis est mihi Deus, &c. That is, God is my witness: and the Gospel of the day. After the Sermon was done, the whole congregation being called together, the Prior delivered the letters that were sent by the 48. Presidents, the tenor whereof was this: that they of Meldorph should be fined with a fine of a thousand guilders, if they suffered the Monk to preach: and commanded moreover, that they should send ambassadors unto Heida, with full power and authority. When they heard these letters read, they were much moved, because they were so charged contrary to the custom of the country, for so much as every parish priest hath always had authority, according to his discretion, to choose or put away the preacher. Briefly they all determined with one voice, to keep Henry for their preacher, and to defend him: for when they had heard the Sermon, they were greatly offended with the Prior.
When as the parish priest had read ouer the letters, he marueyled not a little at that proud commaundement, for that it had not bene heard of before, that the xlviij. Presidents should meddle with Ecclesiasticall matters, and that it had bene of long time vsed, that the ruling therof should be in the hands of the parish priest: and long time before it was decreed by the whole prouince, and customably vsed, that in euery church ye parish priest should haue free libertie to receiue or put out the preacher. These letters the parish priest deliuered vnto Henry: which when he had diligently looked ouer, he answeared, that for so muche as he was come, being sent for by ye whole cōgregatiō to preach the Gospell of Christ, he would satisfie that vocation, because he saw it would be acceptable vnto the whole cōgregation, and that he ought rather to obey the word of God, then mā: Also yt if it pleased God that he should lose his life in Diethmar, there was as neare a way to heauen,