A67922:1252
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.
After this the furious rage of the malignant Emperors, being let loose against the saints of Christ proceeded more & more, making havoc of gods people through out all quarters of the world.1 First Diocletian which had purposed with himself to subvert the whole christian religion, executed his tyranny in the east) and Maximianus in the west, But wily Diocletian began very subtly, for he put the matter first in practise in his own camp, among whom the marshal of the field, as Euseb. lib. 8. cap. 4. affirmeth, put the Christian Soldiers to this choice,2 whether they would obey the Emperors commandment in that manner of sacrifice he commanded, and so both to keep their offices, and lead their bands, or else to lay away from them their armour and weapons.3 Whereunto the Christen men courageously answered, that they were not only ready to lay away their armour & weapons, but also to suffer death if it should with tyranny be enforced unto them, rather than they would obey the wicked decrees and commandments of the Emperor.
After this the furious rage of the malignaunt Emperours, being let loose against the saintes of Christ proceeded more & more, making hauock of gods people through out all quarters of the worlde.1 First Dioclesian which had purposed with himselfe to subuert the whole christian religion, executed his tyranny in the east) and Maximianus in the west, But wily Dioclesian began very subtilye, for hee put the matter first in practise in his owne campe, among whom the marshall of the field, as Euseb. lib. 8. cap. 4. affirmeth, put the Christian Souldiers to this choise,2 whether they would obey the Emperors commaundement in that maner of sacrifice he cōmaunded, and so both to keepe their offices, and leade their bands, or els to lay away from thē their armor and weapons.3 Whereunto the Christen men couragiously aunswered, that they were not only ready to lay away their armour & weapons, but also to suffer death if it should with tiranny be enforced vnto them, rather thē they would obey the wicked decrees and comaundements of the Emperour.