A67922:1016
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.
The fifth Persecution.
The fift Persecution.
1After the death of Commodus, reigned Pertinax but few months, after whom succeeded Severus. Under whom was raised the fifth persecution against the christian saints:2 who reigning the term of 18. years, the first x. years of the same, was very favourable and courteous to the Christians. Afterward through sinister suggestions and malicious accusations of the malignant,3 was so incensed against them, that by Proclamations he commanded no Christians any more to be suffered. Thus the rage of the Emperor being inflamed against them, great persecution was stirred upon every side,4 whereby an infinite number of Martyrs were slain, as Eusebius in his sixth book recordeth, which was about the year of our Lord,5 205. The crimes and false accusations objected against the Christians, are partly touched before, pag. 37. as sedition and rebellion against the Emperor, sacrilege, murdering of Infants, incestuous pollution, eating raw flesh, libidinous commixture, whereof certain in deed called then Gnostici, were infamed. Item, it was objected against them, for worshipping the head of an Ass, which whereof it should rise, I find no certain cause, except it were perhaps by the Jews. Also they were charged for worshipping the sun, for that peradventure before the sun rise, they convented together, singing their morning Hymns unto the Lord, or else because they prayed toward the East: but especially for that they would not with them worship their idolatrous gods and were counted as enemies to all men. &c.