A67922:1101
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.
This persecution (saith he) began not with the proclamation set forth by the Emperor,1 but began a whole year before, by the occasion and means of a wicked person, a Soothsayer, and a follower of wicked Arts: who coming to our City here, stirred up the multitude of the Heathen against us, and incited them to maintain their own old superstition and gentility of their country, whereby they being set a gog, and obtaining full power to prosecute their wicked purpose so thought & no less declared, all their piety & religion to consist only in the idolatrous worship of devils, and in our destruction. And first flying upon a certain priest of ours named Metra, apprehended him & brought him forth,2 to make him speak after their wicked blasphemy, which when he would not do, they laid upon him with slaves and clubs, and with sharp reeds pricked his face and eyes, and afterward bringing him out into the suburbs, there they stoned him to death. Then they took a faithful woman called Quinta, and brought her to the temple of their Idols,3 to compel her to worship with them, which when she refused to do, and abhorred their Idols, they bound her feet, and drew her through the whole street of the city, upon the hard stones, & so dashing her against millstones, & scourging her with whips brought her to the same place of the suburbs, as they did the other before, where she likewise ended her life. This done, in a great outrage, & with a multitude running together, they burst into houses of the religious & godly christians, spoiling, sacking, and carrying away all that they could find of any price. The rest of things, such as were of less value & of wood, they brought into the open market, & set them on fire.4 In the mean time the brethren voided aside, & withdrew themselves, taking patiently and no less joyfully the spoiling of their goods, then did they of whom S. Paul doth testify. Neither do I know any of them all (one only excepted) apprehended of them, which revolting from his profession, denied the Lord yet to this present day.
This persecution (saith he) began not with the proclamation set forth by the Emperor,