A67922:1330
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.
At what time Diocletian & Maximinian the Pagan Emperors had directed out their letters with all severity, for the persecuting of the Christians:1 Alban being then an infidel, received into his house a certain Clerk, fleeing from the persecutors hands, whom when Alban beheld, continually both day & night to persevere in watching and in prayer: suddenly by the great mercy of God, he began to imitate the example of his faith & virtuous life:2 whereupon by little and little he being instructed by his wholesome exhortation, and leaving the blindness of his Idolatry, became at length a perfect Christian.3 And when the forenamed Clerk had lodged with him a certain time, it was informed the wicked Prince, that this good man & Confessor of Christ (not yet condemned to death) was harboured in Albans house, or very near unto him. Whereupon immediately he gave in charge to the soldiers, to make more diligent inquisition of the matter. Who as soon as they came to the house of Alban the Martyr, he by and by putting on the apparel wherewith his guest and master was apparelled (that is,4 a garment at that time used, named Caracalla) offered him self in the stead of the other to the soldiers: who binding him, brought him forthwith to the judge. It fortuned that at that instant when blessed Alban was brought unto the Judge, they found the same Judge at the altars offering sacrifice unto Devils, who as soon as he saw Alban, was straight ways in a great rage, for that he would presume of his own voluntary will, to offer him self to peril, and give him self a prisoner to the soldiers, for safeguard of his guest whom he harboured: and commanded him to be brought before the Images of the devils whom he worshipped,5 saying: For that thou haddest rather hide & convey away a rebel, then to deliver him to the officers, and that (as a contemner of our Gods) he should not suffer punishment and merit of his blasphemy: look what punishment he should have had, thou for him shalt suffer the same: if I perceive thee any whit to revolt from our manner of worshipping. But blessed Alban, who of his own accord had bewrayed to the persecutors that he was a Christian, feared not at all the menaces of the Prince, but being armed with spiritual armour, openly pronounced that he would not obey his commandment. Then said the Judge: