A67922:1240
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.
Thus Carus with his son Numerianus being slain in the East parts, as is declared, Carinus the other son reigned alone in Italy, where he overcame Sabinus striving for the Empire, and reigned there with much wickedness, till they returning home of the army again from the Persians,1 who then set up Diocletian to be Emperor, by whom the foresaid Carinus for the wickedness of his life, being forsaken of his host, was overcome, & at length slain with the hand of the Tribune, whose wife before he had deflowered. Thus Carus with his two sons, Numerianus and Carinus ended their lives, whose reign continued not above three years.
Thus Carus with his sonne Numerianus being slaine in the East partes, as is declared, Carinus the other sonne raigned alone in Italye, where he ouercame Sabinus striuyng for the Empire, and raigned there with much wyckednes, till they returning home of the army againe from the Persians,1 who then set vp Dioclesian to be Emperor, by whome the foresayde Carinus for the wickednes of hys life, being forsaken of his host, was ouercome, & at length slayne with the hande of the Tribune, whose wyfe before he had defloured. Thus Carus with his two sonnes, Numerianus and Carinus ended their liues, whose raigne continued not aboue three yeares.
- 1Carinus Emperor sleyne. Adultery punished.Carinus Emperour sleyne. Adultery punished.
All this mean space we read of no great persecution stirring in the Church of Christ,1 but was in mean quiet state and tranquility,2 unto the xix. year of the reign of Diocletian, So that in counting the time from the latter end of Valerian, unto this foresaid year of Diocletian, the peace of the church which God gave to his people, seemeth to continue above 44. years. During the which time of peace and tranquility, the church of the Lord did mightily increase and flourish, so that the more bodies it lost by persecution, the more honour and reverence it wan daily among the Gentiles in all quarters, both Greeks and barbarous, in so much that (as Eusebius in his vij. book describeth) amongst the Emperors themselves, divers there were which not only bare singular good will and favour to them of our profession, but also did commit unto them offices & regiments over countries and nations, so well were they affected to our doctrine, that they privileged the same with liberty and indemnity. What needeth to speak of them which not only lived under the Emperors in liberty but also were familiar in the court with the Princes themselves,