A67922:1058
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.
Of this Cecilia thus it is is written in the Martyrology by Ado, 1that Cecily the virgin, after she had brought Valerian her husband espoused, and Tiburtius his brother to the knowledge and faith of Christ, and with her exhortations had made them constant unto Martyrdom: after the suffering of them she was also apprehended by Almachius the ruler, and brought to the Idols to do sacrifice, which thing when she abhorred to do, she should be presented before the judge to have the condemnation of death. In the mean time the Sergeants and officers which were about her, beholding her comely beauty, and the prudent behaviour in her conversation, began with many persuasions of words to solicit her mind, to favour her self, and that so excellent beauty, and not to cast her self away, &c. But she again so replied to them with reasons & godly exhortations, that by the grace of almighty God their hearts began to kindle and at length to yield to that Religion, which before they did persecute. Which thing she perceiving, desired of the judge Almachius a little respite. Which being granted, she sendeth for Urbanus the Bishop home to her house, to stablish and ground them in the faith of Christ. And so were they, with divers other at the same time Baptised, both men & women, to the number (as the story saith) of 400. persons, among whom was one Gordianus a noble man. This done, this blessed Martyr was brought before the judge,2 where she was condemned: then after was brought to the house of the Judge, where she was enclosed in a hot bath, but she remaining there a whole day & night without any hurt, as in a cold place, was brought out again, and commandment given that in the bath she should be beheaded. The executor is said to have four strokes at her neck, & yet her head being cut off, she (as the story giveth) lived three days after. And so died this holy Virgin martyr, whose body in the night season Urbanus the bishop took and buried among the other Bishops. Ado the compiler of this Martyrology addeth that this was done in the time of Marcus Aurelius, and Commodus. But that cannot be, for so much as Urbanus by all histories, was long after those Emperors, and lived in the days of this Alexander as is above declared.
Of this Cecilia thus it is is written in the Martyrologe by Ado, 1