A67922:1012
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. 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. 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
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.
Then succeeded Anicetus, Soter, and Eleutharius, about the year of our Lord.1 180. This Eleutherius, at the request of Lucius king of Britons, sent to him Damianus, and Fugatius, by whom the king was converted to Christs saith, and baptised about the year of our Lord 179. Nauclerus, Lib. Chro. Gen. 6. saith, it was, an. 156. Henr. de Erfodia, saith, it was, 169. in the xix. year of Verus the Emperor, some say it was in the vj. year of Commodus, which should be about the year of our Lord, 185. Timotheus in his story thinketh that Eleutherius came himself: but that is not like And as there is a variance among the writers for the count of years: So doth there rise a question among some, whether Eleutherius was the first that brought the faith from Rome into this land or not. Nicephorus. Lib. 2. cap. 4. saith that Simon Zealots, came into Britain. Some other allege out of Gildas de victoria Aurel Ambrosi, 2that Joseph of Arimathea after the dispersion of the Jews, was sent to Philip the Apostle from France to Britain; about the year of our Lord 63. and here remained in this land all his time, and so with his fellows laid the first foundation of christian faith among the Britain people. Whereupon other preachers and teachers coming afterward confirmed the same & increased it more. And therefore doth Petrus Cluniacensis call the Scotishmen & so doth count them as more ancient Christians. For the confirmation hereof might be alleged the testimony of Origene, of Tertullian, and the words also of the letter of Eleutherius which import no less, but that the faith of Christ was here in England among the Britain people, before Eleutherius time, & before the king was converted, but hereof more shall be spoken hereafter (Christ willing,) when after the tractation of these .x. persecutions, we shall enter the matter of our English stories.
Then succeeded Anicetus, Soter, and Eleutharius, about the yeare of our Lord.1 180. This Eleutherius, at the request of Lucius king of Britanes, sent to him Damianus, and Fugatius, by whom the king was conuerted to Christes saith, and baptised about the yeare of our Lorde 179. Nauclerus, Lib. Chro.