A67922:1284
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.
Notwithstanding he was at length revoked from his cruelty by the just judgement and punishment of God.1 For he was suddenly vexed with a fatal disease most filthy and desperate, which disease to describe was very strange, taking the first beginning in his flesh outwardly, from thence it proceeded more and more to the inward parts of his body. For in the privy members of his body there happened unto him a sudden putrificatiō, and after in the bottom of the same a botchy corrupt bile, with a Fistula, consuming & eating up his entrails, out of the which came swarming forth an innumerable multitude of lice, with such a pestiferous stink that no man could abide him, and so much more, for that all the grossness of his body by abundance of meat before he fell sick, was turned also into a fat: which fat now putrefied, and stinking was so ugsome and horrible, that none that came to him could abide the sight thereof. By reason whereof, the Physicians which had him in cure,2 some of them notable to abide the intolerable stench were commanded to be slain. Other some because they could not heal him being so swollen and past hope of cure were also cruelly put to death. At length being put in remembrance that his disease was sent of God, he began to forethinke the wickedness that he had done against the saints of God, and so coming again to himself, first confesseth unto god all his offences, then calling them unto him which were about him, forthwith commanded all men, to cease from the persecutions of the Christians. Requiring moreover that they should set up his Imperial proclamations, for the restoring and reedifying of their ten ples, and that they would obtain this of the Christians, in their assembles (which without all fear and doubt they might be bold to make) that they would devoutly pray to their God for the Emperor. Then forthwith was the persecution stayed, and the Imperial proclamations in every City were set up, containing the retraction or countermand of those things which against the Christians were before decreed, the copy whereof ensueth.
Notwithstanding he was at length reuoked from his cruelty by the iust iudgemēt and punishment of God.1 For he was sodenly vexed with a fatall disease most filthy and desperate, which disease to describe was very straunge, taking the first beginning in his flesh outwardly, frō thence it proceeded more and more to the inward parts of his bodye. For in the priuy members of his body ther happened vnto him a suddayne putrificatiō, and after in the bottome of the same a botchy corrupt bile, with a Fistula, cōsuming & eating vp his entrals, out of the which came swarming forth an innumerable multitude of lice, with such a pestiferous stinche that no man coulde abide him, and so muche more, for that all the grosenesse of his body by aboundance of meat before he fell sick, was turned also into a fat: which fat now putrified, and stincking was so vgsome and horrible, that none that came to him coulde abide the sight thereof. By reason whereof, the Phisitions which had him in cure,