A67922:1253
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.
There might a man have seen very many which were desirous to live a simple and poor life: and which regarded no estimation and honour in comparison of true piety & godliness. And this was no more but a subtle and wily flattery in the beginning, to offer them to be at their own liberty, whether they would willingly abjure their profession or not, as also this was an other, that in the beginning of the persecution, there were but a few tormented with punishment, but afterward by little and little he began more manifestly to burst out into persecution: It can hardly be expressed with words what number of Martyrs,1 and what blood was shed through all cities and regions for the name of Christ Eusebius, in his 8 book & chap. 7. saith that he himself knew the worthy Martyrs that were in Palestine.2 But in Tire of Phoenicia he declareth in the same a marvellous martyrdom made, where certain christians being given to most cruel wild beasts were preserved without hurt of them, to the great admiration of the beholders and those Lions, Bears, and Libbards (kept hungry for that purpose) had no desire to devour them, which notwithstanding most vehemently raged against those by whom they were brought into the stage, and stood as they thought without danger of them, such were first devoured. But the Christian Martyrs because they could not be hurt of the beasts being slain with the sword, were afterward thrown into the sea. At that time was martyred the Bishop of Sidon. But Silvanus the Bishop of Gazensis with 39. other were slain in the metal mines of Phoenicia.3 Pamphilus the elder of Caesarea being the glory of that congregation, died a most worthy Martyr, whose both life and most commendable martyrdom, Eusebius oftentimes declareth in his 8. book and 13. chapter, in so much that he hath written the same in a book by it self. In Syria all the chief teachers of the congregation were first committed to prison, as a most heavy & cruel spectacle to behold,4 as also the bishops, Elders, and Deacons, which all were esteemed as menquellers, and perpetrators of most wicked facts. Eusebius. Lib. 8. cap. 6, After that we read of an other, whose name was Tirannion which was made meat for the fishes of the sea, and of Zenobius which was a very good Physician, which also was slain with brickbats in the same place. Eusebius. lib. 8. cap. 13.