A67922:1175
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.
Now a few words touching his exile, and Martyrdom. Of his Epistles which he wrote back to his congregation, leading his life in exile, mention is made above wherein he showeth the virtue beseeming a faithful pastor in that he took no less care, as well of his own church, as of other Bishops being absent, then he did being present. Wherein also he himself doth signify that voluntarily he absented himself, least he should do more hurt then good to the congregation, by reason of his presence, as is likewise declared before. Thus from the desolate places of his banishment, wherein he was oftentimes sought for, he writeth unto his brethren, as in his third book and x. Epistle is manifest, which thing seemeth to be done in the reign of Decius or Gallus. But after that he returned again but of exile,1 in the reign of this Valorianus, he was also after that the second time banished of Paternus the Proconsul of Africa, into the City of Thurbin, as the oration of Augustine touching Cyprian showeth, or else as Pontius the Deacon saith,2 into a City named Fur•bilitana, or Curabilitana. But when Paternus the Proconsul was dead, Galienus Maximus succeeded in the room and office of Paternus, who finding Cyprian in a garden, caused him to be apprehended by his Sergeants, and to be brought before the Idols, to offer sacrifice, which when he would not do, then the Proconsul breaking forth in these words said: Long hast thou lived in a sacrilegious mind, and hast gathered together men of wicked conspiracy, and hast showed thy self an enemy to the Gods of the Romans, and to their holy laws: neither could the sacrete Emperors Valerianus & Galienus revoke thee to the sect of their ceremonies. At length the wicked tyrant condemning him to have his head cut of,3 he patiently and willingly submitted his neck to the stroke of the sword (as Hieronimus affirmeth.) And so this blessed Martyr ended this present life in the Lord, Xistus then being Bishop of Rome,4 as Eusebius noteth, in the year of our Lord. 259. Sabellicus saith that he was Martyred in the reign of Gallus and Volusianus, Lucius, being bishop of Rome, but that seemeth not like.