A67922:1287
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.
But one of his inferior officers whose name was also Maximinus, was not well pleased when this countermand was Published throughout all Asia, and the Provinces where he had to do. Yet he being qualified by this example that it was not convenient for him to repugn the pleasure of those Princes which had the chief authority as Constantius and Maximinus, set forth of himself no edict touching the same: but commanded his officers in the presence of others, that they should somewhat stay from the persecution of the Christians: of which commandment of the inferior Maximinus, 1each of them gave intelligence unto their fellows by their letters. But Sabinus which then amongst them all, had the chiefest office and dignity: to the substitutes of every country, wrote by his letters the Emperors pleasure in this wise.
But one of his inferior officers whose name was also Maximinus, was not well pleased when this countermaūd was Published throughout all Asia, and the Prouinces where he had to do. Yet he being qualified by this example that it was not conuenient for him to repugn the pleasure of those Princes which had the chiefe authority as Constantius and Maximinus, set forth of himselfe no edict touching the same: but commaunded his officers in the presence of others, that they should somewhat stay from the persecution of the Christians: of which commaundement of the inferiour Maximinus, 1each of them gaue intelligence vnto their fellowes by their letters. But Sabinus which then amongst them all, had the chiefest office and dignitie: to the substitutes of euery countrey, wrote by his letters the Emperours pleasure in this wise.
- 1Sabinus in the favour of the christians publisheth the decree.Sabinus in the fauour of the christians publisheth the decree.
The majesty of our most gracious and Sovereign Lords the Emperors, hath lately decreed with special diligence and devotion, to induce all men to an uniform life, so that they which seemed to dissent from the Romaine custom by a strange manner of living, should exhibit to the immortal Gods their due and proper worship, but the wilful and obstinate mind of divers so much, and so continually resisted the same, that by no lawful means they might be revoked from their purpose, neither made afraid by any terror or punishment. Because therefore it so came to pass, that by this means many put themselves in peril and jeopardy: The majesty of our sovereign Lords the Emperors according to their noble piety, considering that it was far from the meaning of their princely majesties that such things should be, whereby so many men and much people should be, destroyed, gave me in charge that with diligence I should write unto you, that if any of the Christians from henceforth fortune to be taken in the exercise of their religion, that in no wise you molest the same, neither for that cause you do judge any man worthy of punishment: for that in all this time it hath evidently appeared that by no means they might be allured from such wilfulness. It is therefore requisite that your wisdom write unto the Questors, Captains, and Constables of every City and village, that they may know it not to be lawful for them, or any of them,