A67922:1309
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.
The next day following after this nights vision,1 Constantinus caused a cross after the same figuration to be made of gold and precious stone, and to be borne before him in stead of his standard: and so with much hope of victory & great confidence, as one armed from heaven speedeth himself toward his enemy. Against whom Maxentius being constrained perforce to issue out of the City, sendeth all his power to join with him in the field beyond the river of Tybur, where Maxentius craftily breaking down▪ the bridge called Pons Miluius, caused an other deceitful bridge to be made of boats and whirries, being joined together, and covered over with boards and planks in manner of a bridge, thinking therewith to take Constantine as in a trap. But here it came to pass which in the 7. Psalm is written. He digged a pit, 2and fell therein himself. Let his working return upon his own head, and his unrighteousness upon his own pate, which here in this Maxentius was rightly verified. For after the two hosts did meet, he being not able to sustain the force of Constantine fighting under the cross of Christ against him,3 was put to such a flight, and driven to such an exigent, that in retiring back, for hast thinking to get the City, upon the same bridge which he did lay for Constantine, was overturned by the fall of his horse into the bottom of the flood, and there with the weight of his armour, he with a great part of his beaten men were drowned. Representing unto us the like example of Pharaoh & his host drowned in the red sea. Who not unaptly seemeth to bear a Prophetical figuration of this Maxentius. For as the children of Israel were in long thraldom and persecution in Egypt under tyrants there, till the drowning of this Pharaoh their last persecutor: so was this Maxentius and Maximinus and Licinius the last persecutors in the Roman Monarchy of the Christians, whom this Constantinus fighting under the cross of Christ, did vanquish and set the Christians at liberty,4 who before had been persecuted now 300. years in Rome, as hath been hitherto in this history declared.
The next day following after this nights vision,