A07225:69
Christs victory over Satan's tyranny Wherein is contained a catalogue of all Christs faithful…Christs victorie ouer Sathans tyrannie Wherin is contained a catalogue of all Christs faithfull…
Christs victory over Satan's tyranny Wherein is contained a catalogue of all Christs faithful soldiers that the Devil either by his grand captains the emperors, or by his most dearly beloved sons and heirs the popes, have most cruelly martyred for the truth. With all the poisoned doctrines wherewith that great read dragon hath made drunken the kings and inhabitants of the earth; with the confutations of them together with all his traitorous practises and designs, against all Christian princes to this day, especially against our late Queen Elizabeth of famous memory, and our most religious Sovereign Lord King James. Faithfully abstracted out of the Book of martyrs, and divers other books. By Thomas Mason preacher of Gods Word.Christs victorie ouer Sathans tyrannie Wherin is contained a catalogue of all Christs faithfull souldiers that the Diuell either by his grand captaines the emperours, or by his most deerly beloued sonnes and heyres the popes, haue most cruelly martyred for the truth. With all the poysoned doctrins wherewith that great redde dragon hath made drunken the kings and inhabitants of the earth; with the confutations of them together with all his trayterous practises and designes, against all Christian princes to this day, especially against our late Queen Elizabeth of famous memorie, and our most religious Soueraigne Lord King Iames. Faithfully abstracted out of the Book of martyrs, and diuers other books. By Thomas Mason preacher of Gods Word.
London: printed by George Eld and Ralph Blower, 1615
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.
After him succeeded M: Antonius Verus, many Christians in his time suffered divers torments▪ at Smyrna some were whipped that their •eines appeared, and their bowels were seen, and after they were set upon sharp shells taken out of the Sea, and nails and thorns set for them to go upon, and then thrown to beasts to be devoured, amongst whom Germanicus suffered so constantly that they admired him.
AFter him succéeded M: Antonius Verus, many Christians in his time suffred diuers torments▪ at Smirna some were whipped that their •eines appeared, and their bowels were seene, and after they were set vpon sharpe shelles taken out of the Sea, and nayles and thornes set for them to goe vppon, and then throwne to beas•s to be deuoured, amongst whom Germanicus suffred so constantly that they admir•d him.
Policarpus, a Disciple to the Apostles 86. years, a preacher 70. years placed by St. John in Smyrna, these persecutions being begun, he hid himself, with a few of his company, and continued night and day in supplication for the peace of the congregation .3. days before his apprehension, he dreamed his bed was suddenly consumed with fire under him, which he interpreted that he should suffer martyrdom by fire, and being found by the pursuers, he entertained them cheerfully, made them di•e, and desired an hours respite to pray, which he did in such sort, that they which heard him were astonied, then they brought him to the City upon an Ass, where Irenarcus, Herodes, and his father Nicetes met him, caused him to come into their Chariot and persuaded him to do sacrifice, but when he would not, they gave him rough words, and thrust him down the Chariot, that he might break hi• legs, but he went merrily to the place appointed, where there came a voice from Heaven to comfort him: the Proconsul dissuaded him from the faith, and willed him to say with them, destroy these naughty men, who with constant countenance beheld the whole multitude, & looking up to heaven said thou, th it is, that will destroy these wicked men, then the Proconsul was arne with him and said, take thine Oath, and defy Christ, & I will discharge thee, who answered,