A67922:1124
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.
An other like example of singular chastity is written of the virgin Theodora, and an other soldier, by Ambrose Lib. 2. De virginibus. At Antioch, this Theodora refusing to do sacrifice to the Idols, was condemned by the Judge to the stews, which notwithstanding by the singular providence of god was well delivered. For as there was a great company of wanton young men ready at the door to press into the house where she was, one of the brethren, named Didimus (as Ado saith) moved with faith and motion of God, putting on a soldiers habit, made himself one of the first that came in, who rounding her in the ear, told her the cause and purpose of his coming, being a christian as she was: his counsel was that she should put on that soldiers habit, and so slip away. And he putting on her garments would there remain to abide their force. And so did, whereby the virgin escaped unknown. Didimus left unto the rage and wondering of the people being a man in stead of a woman, was presented unto the President, unto whom without delay he uttered all the whole matter as it was done, professing him so as he was, to be a christian, and thereupon was condemned to suffer. Theodora understanding thereof, and thinking to excuse him by accusing her self, offered her self as the party guilty, unto the Judge, claiming and requiring the condemnation to light upon her, the other as innocent to be discharged. But the cruel Judge (crueller then Dionysius, which spared Damon & Pythias) neither considering the virtue of the persons,1 nor the innocency of the cause, unjustly and inhumanely proceeded in execution against them both, who first having their heads cut off, after were cast in the fire, Ambros. Ado. Although what time, or in what persecution these did suffer, in the authors of this narration it doth not appear.
An other like example of singular chastitie is written of the virgin Theodora, and an other souldiour, by Ambrose Lib. 2. De virginibus. At Antioche, this Theodora refusing to do sacrifice to the Idols, was condemned by the Iudge to ye stewes, which notwtstanding by the singular prouidence of god was wel deliuered. For as there was a great company of wanton yong men ready at the doore to prease into the house where she was, one of the brethren, named Didimus (as Ado sayth) mooued with fayth and motiō of God, putting on a souldioures habite, made himselfe one of the first that came in, who rounding her in the eare, tolde her the cause and purpose of his commyng, beyng a christiā as she was: his counsaile was that she should put on yt souldiors habite, and so slip away. And he puttyng on her garmentes would there remaine to abide their force. And so did, whereby the virgine escaped vnknowen. Didimus left vnto the rage and wondring of the people beyng a man in stead of a woman, was presented vnto the President, vnto whom without delay he vttered all the whole matter as it was done, professing him so as he was, to be a christiā, and therupon was condemned to suffer. Theodora vnderstanding thereof, and thinking to excuse him by accusing her selfe, offred her selfe as the partie guiltie, vnto the Iudge, clayming and requiring the condemnation to light vpon her, the other as innocent to be discharged. But the cruell Iudge (crueller then Dionysius, which spared Damon & Pithias) neither considering the vertue of the persons,