A01115:68
An abridgement of the book of acts and monuments of the ChurchAn abridgement of the booke of acts and monumentes of the Church
An abridgement of the book of acts and monuments of the Church: written by that Reverend Father, Master John Fox: and now abridged by Timothy Bright, Doctor of Physic, for such as either through want of leisure, or ability have not the use of so necessary an historyAn abridgement of the booke of acts and monumentes of the Church: written by that Reuerend Father, Maister Iohn Fox: and now abridged by Timothe Bright, Doctour of Phisicke, for such as either through want of leysure, or abilitie haue not the vse of so necessary an history
London: printed by I. Windet, 1589
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.
Three days before his apprehension, he saw in a vision by night, the bed set on fire under him, and suddenly to be consumed, And when he waked, he interpreted it, that he should suffer martyrdom by fire. At the last (being found by the pursuers, & understanding that they were armed) he came from the chamber where he was, & entertained them with cheerful ⟨p. 12⟩countenance, and made them dine, and required that he might have one hours respite to make his prayers: which being granted him, he did it in such sort, as they which heard him were astonied. His prayers being ended, they brought him to the city upon an Ass on a solemn feast day, there met him Irenarchus, 1Herodes, 2and his father Nicetes: 3which causing him to come up into the chariot where they sat, persuaded him to do sacrifice. Which when he refused, with rough words they molested him, and thrust him, going down the chariot, that he might hurt or break his legs: but he went merrily on to the place appointed. To whom there came a voice from heaven that comforted him, & bad him be of good cheer, as he was going to the place of judgement. Whither when he came, the Proconsul dissuaded him from the faith, and willed him to say with him and the rest, Destroy these naughty men. Then Polycarpus beholding with constant countenance the whole multitude, and giving a great sigh, looked up to heaven and said: Thou thou it is that wilt destroy these wicked men, meaning the Lord. Then the proconsul thus being earnest with him said unto him, take thine oath, and I will discharge thee: Didst Christ Polycarpus answered, 86. years have I been his servant, yet in all this time hath he not so much as once hurt me, how then may I speak evil of my sovereign Lord and king, which hath thus preserved me. Then the Proconsul used all manner of threatenings against him: which when they could not prevail, Policarpus still denying with great constancy, Philip the Governor of Asia, was commanded to let lose the Lion to Policarpus: who made answer, that he might not so do, because he had his pray already. Then the people required with one voice, that he would burn Policarpus alive. Which was performed. And having made himself ready to the stake, they would have nailed him thereto with Iron hoops, but he said: