A67922:1311
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.
In histories we read of many victories and great conquests gotten:1 yet we never read, nor ever shall of any victory so wholesome, so commodious, so opportune to mankind as this was, which made an end of so much bloodshed, & obtained so much liberty & life to the posterity of so many generations. For albeit that some persecution was yet stirring in the East countries by Maximinus and Licinius, as shall be declared: Yet in Rome and in all the West parts, no martyr died after this heavenly victory gotten. And also in the East parts the said Constantinus with the said cross borne before him, consequently upon the same so vanquished the tyrants,2 and so established the peace of the church, that for the space of a just M. years after that, we read of no set persecution against the Christians, unto the time of John Wycliffe, when the bishops of Rome began with fire to persecute the true members of Christ, as in further process of this history (Christ granting) shall appear. So happy, so glorious (as I said) was this victory of Constantine, surnamed the great. For the joy & gladness whereof, the Citizens who had sent for him before, with exceeding triumph brought him into the city of Rome, where he with the cross was most honourably received and celebrated the space of vij. days together, having moreover in the market place, his image set up, holding in his right hand the sign of the cross, with this inscription: Hoc salutari signo, veraci fortitudinis indicio, civitatem nostram jugo tyranny ereptam liberavi. That is, with this wholesome sign, the true ⟨p. 86⟩token of fortitude, I have rescued and delivered our City from the yoke of the tyrant.3 Euseb lib. 9. cap 9.
In histories we read of many victories and great conquests gotten:1 yet we neuer read, nor euer shal of any victory so wholsom, so commodious, so opportune to mākind as this was, which made an ende of so much bloudshed, & obtained so much libertye & life to the posterity of so many generations. For albeit that some persecutiō was yet stirring in the East countreys by Maximinus and Licinius, as shall be declared: Yet in Rome and in all the West partes, no martyr died after this heauēly victory gotten. And also in the East partes the said Constantinus with the said crosse borne before him, consequently vpon the same so vanquished the tyrants,