A67927:1471
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 2] 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 2] 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.
But you would know which be those Merchandise which I said this whore setteth forth to sell, for the which all her false Prophets with all their jugglings and crafty glosses cannot bring one jot of Gods word. Surely, surely,1 they be not only all these abominations which are come into the Church of England already (whereof I have spoken somewhat before) but also an innumerable rabblement of abominations and wicked abuses which now must needs follow: as popish pardons, pilgrimages, romish purgatory, romish masses, Placebo & Dirige, with trentals and Scala coeli, dispensations and immunities from all godly discipline laws and good order, pluralities, unions, and tot quotes, with a thousand moe. Now shall come in the flattering friars, and the false pardoners and play their old pranks and knavery as they were wont to do. Now you shall have (but of the Sea of Rome only, and that for money) canonizing of such Saints as have stand stout in the popes cause, shrining of relics, & from any kind of wickedness (if you will pay well for it) clear absolution a poena & culpa, with thousands of years, yea at every poor Bishops hand and suffragan, ye shall have hallowing of Churches, Chapels, altars, superaltars, chalices, and of all the whole household stuff and adornment which shall be used in the church after the Romish guise, for all these things must be esteemed of such high price, that they may not be done but by a consecrate bishop only. O Lord, all these things are such, as thy Apostles never knew. As for conjuring (they call it hallowing, but it is conjuring in deed) of water and salt, of christening of belles and such like things, what need I to speak? for every priest that can but read, hath power (they say) not only to do that, but also hath such power over Christs body, as to make both God and man once at the least every day, of a wafer cake.
But you would knowe which be those Marchaundise which I sayd this whore setteth forth to sell, for the whiche all her false Prophets with all theyr iuggelinges and crafty gloses cannot bring one iote of Gods worde. Surely, surely,1 they be not onely all these abhominatiōs which are come into the Church of Englande alreadye (whereof I haue spoken somewhat before) but also an innumerable rablement of abhominations and wicked abuses whyche now must nedes folow: as popish pardons, pilgrimages, romishe purgatory, romish masses, Placebo & Derige, with trentals and Scala coeli, dispensations and immunities frō all godly discipline lawes and good order, pluralities, vnions, and tot quottes, with a thousande moe. Nowe shall come in the flattering friers, and the false pardoners and play theyr olde pranckes and knauery as they were wont to do. Now you shall haue (but of the Sea of Rome onely, and that for mony) canonizing of such Sayntes as haue stand stout in the popes cause, shrining of reliques, & from any kinde of wickednes (if you will pay well for it) cleare absolution a poena & culpa, with thousandes of yeares, yea at euery poore Bishops hand and suffragan, ye shall haue halowing of Churches, Chappels, aulters, superaulters, chalices, and of all the whole housholde stuffe and adornamēt which shalbe vsed in ye church after the Romish guise, for all these thinges must be estemed of such high price, that they may not be done but by a consecrate bishop onely. O Lorde, all these thinges are suche, as thy Apostles neuer knew. As for coniuring (they call it halowing, but it is cō iuring in deede) of water and salt, of christening of belles and such like thinges, what neede I to speake? for euerye priest that can but read, hath power (they say) not onely to do that, but also hath suche power ouer Christes body, as to make both God and man once at the least euery daye, of a wafer cake.