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.

An other Note.

Appellatori in forma debita tanquam Clerico per Ordinari∣um petito libertatis Ecclesiasticae beneficium non negabitur.* 1.1

In the Statute intituled Articuli Cleri, made onely for the benefite of the Clergie. An. R. Edwardi. R▪ 2. nono. are di∣uers notes to like effect.

But what nedeth many arguments for the proufe here∣of? The Statutes and law bookes of this Realme are ve∣ry full of them in diuers and many places, besides the pre∣sidents, for the forme of geuing of benefices, whereof none are capable, but such as are spiritual men & of the Clergie, wherein they are not called or termed by any other title or terme in the Latin tong,* 1.2 then Clerici, for the most part, not in the kyngs owne graunt or the Lord Chauncellours, or any other subiectes of his, as very well appeareth both by diuers olde wrytten Presidents whych haue bene shewed vnto me, & also by the formes of presentations collected & set foorth for the instruction of such as are ignoraunt, or not very perfite in the order of them, in a Printed booke called The booke of sundrie Instrumentes. In whyche fourme in the sayd booke the words in the kings graunt be these: Rex Re∣uerendissimo in Christo. &c. ad Ecclesiam Parochialem de N. ve∣strae diocaesis modo per mortem vltimi incumbentis ibidem va∣cantem, & ad nostram donationem pleno iure spectantem, dile∣ctum Capellanum nostrum A.B. Clericū, intuitu charitatis vobis praesentamus, & mandamus vti dictum A. Capellanum nostrum ad praefatam Ecclesiam admittere, eumque Rectorem eiusdem in∣stituere, cum suis iuribus. &c.

But if the presentation be from a Knight, an Esquier, or a Gentleman, then these words Capellanum nostrum are alwayes left out, as in the sayd booke apeareth in this sort. Reuerendo in Christo patri. &c. A.B. de N. ad Ecclesiam de N pre∣dictam vestrae dioc. modo per mortem T.D. vltimi incumbentis i∣bidem vacantem, & ad meam praesentationem pleno iure spectan∣tem, dilectum mihi in Christo Iacobum P. Clericum vestrae pater∣nitati praesento, humiliter rogans quatenus prefatum I. ad dictam Ecclesiam admittere, ipsumque in Rectorem eiusdem Ecclesiae in∣stitui & induci facere velitis cum suis Iuribus & pertinentijs v∣niuersis. &c. As in the saide booke is more at large to be sene or perused.

Thus I doubt not, louing reader, but by these so plaine Euidences aboue prefixed, thou hast sufficiently to vnder∣stand, that thys violent restrainte of Priestes lawful Ma∣riage wythin this Realme of England, is of no suche long reach and antiquitie, as hath bene thought of many, and al by reason of ignorāce of hystories, and course of times. So that briefly as in a Summary Table to comprehende that whole effect hereof:

First about the yeare of our Lord. 946. to the profession of single life,* 1.3 and displacing of mariage began to come in∣to exāple here in England,* 1.4 by reason of s. Benets monks, which then began to encrease hereabout the time of King Edgar, and especially by the meanes of Oswald bishop of Yorke, Odo and Dunstane, Archbishops of Canterburie, and Ethelwolde Bishop of Wint. so that in diuers Cathe∣dral churches, and bishops Seas, monkes with theyr pro∣fessed singlenes of life, crept in, & maried Ministers (which were then called secular Priestes) with their wiues out of sondry Churches were dispossessed not from wyues, but onely from their places: and yet not in all Churches, but onely in certaine, wherof read before, page 198.

* 1.5Not long after that, about the time of Pope Nicolas 2. An. 1060. of Alexander, and Hildebrande, came into y^e sea of Canterbury an other Monke called Lanfranke, who also being a promoter of thys professed chastitie, made the De∣cree more generall, that all Prebendaries being maried in anye Churches, shoulde be displaced: yet the Priestes in Townes and villages shoulde not be compelled to leaue theyr maried wiues, vnlesse they would.

Last of all folowed monkish Anselme. an. 1106. by whō was made this law of Winchester aforesayd, that Priests, Archdeacons, Deacons, & subdeacons, whiche had wyues & spiritual liuing, shoulde be put from them both,* 1.6 and also that none after shuld be admitted to their orders, but shuld first professe single life, that is, to liue without wiues. And thus much concerning priestes mariage forbidden.

Let vs adde moreouer to these euidences aboue rehear∣sed, for more confirmation of the ancient vse and liberty of priests mariage an other testimonie or two out of like an∣cient records with like plaine wordes declaring vnto vs, howe the matrimony of Priests, before the time of Lanck∣franke aforesaid was no straunge example in the Church, and first we wil inferre the words of an old Martyrologe pertaining to the Recordes of Canterburie. The wordes of whych Martyrologe be these.

Notes

• * 1.1

  In cap. 16.
• * 1.2

  ••••ericus in 〈◊〉〈◊〉 law 〈◊〉〈◊〉 taken for a Priest.
• * 1.3

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 46.
• * 1.4

  P••iestes ma∣r••••ge, how 〈◊〉〈◊〉 when it 〈◊〉〈◊〉 first 〈◊〉〈◊〉 exclu∣ded out of ••••••rches.
• * 1.5

  •• 1067.
• * 1.6

  ¶1166.