A67922:1229
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 ix. Persecution.
Hitherto from the captivity of Valerian the Church of Christ was in some quietness till the death of Quintilianus,1 as hath been declared: After whom Aurelianus the next successor possessed the crown, who in the first beginning of his reign (after the common manner of all princes) showed himself a Prince moderate and discrete, much worthy of commendation, if his good beginning had continued in a constant course agreeing to the same. Of nature he was severe & rigorous in correcting,2 dissolute in manners, in so much that it was said of him in a vulgar proverb, that he was a good physician, saving that he gave to bitter medicines. This Emperor being sick, never sent for Physician, but cured himself with abstinence. And as his beginning was not unfruitful to the common wealth: so neither was he any great disturber of the christians: whom he did not only tolerate in their religion but also in their council,3 being the same time assembled at Antioch, seemed not to be against them. Notwithstanding in continuance of time through sinister motion and instigation of certain about him (as commonly such are never absent in all places from the ears of princes (his nature somewhat inclinable to severity, was altered to a plain tyranny, which tyranny first he showed beginning with the death of his own sisters son, as witnesseth Eutropius. After that he proceeded either to move, or at least to purpose persecution against the Christians.4 Albeit that wicked purpose of the Emperor, the merciful working of God his hand did soon overthrow. For as the edict or proclamation should have been denounced for the persecuting of the christians, and the emperor now ready to subscribe the edict with his hand, the mighty stroke of the hand of the lord suddenly from above did stop his purpose, binding,