A67922:1241
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.
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,3 entertained with great honour and special favour beyond the other servitors of the court, as was Dorotheus with his wife, children and whole family, highly accepted & advanced in the palace of the Emperor: Also Gorgonius in like manner with divers other more, who for their doctrine & learning which they professed, were with their Princes in great estimation. In like reverence also were the bishops of cities and Diocese,4 with the Presidents and rulers where they lived: who not only suffered them to live in peace, but also had them in great price and regard, so long as they kept themselves upright, and continued in God his favour. Who is able to number at that time the mighty and innumerable multitudes and congregations assembling together in every city, and the notable concourses of such as daily •locked to the common Orators to pray▪ For the which cause they being not able to be contained ⟨p. 77⟩