A67922:1281
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.
This man had not the desire of great and mighty dominion, and therefore parted he the Empire with Galerius, and would rule but in France, Britain, and Spain, refusing the other kingdoms for the troublesome and difficult government of the same. Otherwise he was a Prince, as Eutropius maketh description of him, very excellent, civill, meek, gentle, liberal, and desirous to do good unto those that had any private authority under him.1 And as Cyrus once said, that he ga•e treasure enough, when he made his friends rich: even so it is said that Constantius would often times say, that it were better that his subjects had treasure, than he to have it in his treasure house. Also he was by nature sufficed with a little, In so much, that he used to eat and drink in earthen vessels (which thing was counted in Agathotles the Sicilian, a great commendation) and if at any time cause required to garnish his table, he would send for plate and other furniture to his friends.2 To these virtues he added yet a more worthy ornament, that is, devotion, love, and affection towards the word of God, as Euseb. Lib. 8. cap. 13. affirmeth, after which virtues ensued great peace and tranquillity in all his Provinces: By which word he being guided, neither levied any wars contrary to piety and christian religion, neither he aided any other that did the same: neither destroyed he the churches, but commanded that the christians should be preserved and defended, and kept them safe from all contumelious injuries. And when that in the other jurisdictions of the Empire,3 the congregations were molested with persecution, as Sozomenus declareth, Lib. 1. cap. 6. he only gave licence unto the Christians to live after their accustomed manner. This wonderful act of his following, besides other, doth show that he was a sincere worshipper of the christian religion.
This man had not the desire of great and mightie dominion, and therefore parted he the Empire with Galerius, and would rule but in France, Britaine, and Spayne, refusing the other kingdomes for the troublesome and difficult gouernment of the same. Otherwise he was a Prince, as Eutropius maketh description of him, very excellent, ciuill, meeke, gentle, liberall, and desirous to do good vnto those that had any priuate authoritie vnder him.