A67922:1336
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.
Moreover the same time with Alban, suffered also ij. citizens of the foresaid City of Uerlancaster, whose names were Aaron and Julius: 1beside other, whereof a great number the same time no doubt, did suffer, although our Chronicles of their names do make no rehearsal.
Moreouer the same time with Alban, suffered also ij. citizens of the foresaide Citie of Uerlancaster, whose names were Aaron and Iulius: 1beside other, whereof a great number the same time no doubt, did suffer, although our Chronicles of their names doe make no rehearsall.
- 1Aaron, Julius, Martyrs.Aaron, Iulius, Martyrs.
The time of the Martyrdom of this blessed Alban and the other, seemeth to be about the second or third year of this tenth persecution, under the tyranny of Diocletian, and Maximinianus Herculius, bearing then the rule in England, about the year of our Lord 301. before the coming of Constantius to his government.1 Where, by the way is to be noted, that this realm of Britain being so christened before, yet never was touched with any other of the nine persecutions, before this tenth persecution of Diocletian & Maximinian. In which persecution our stories and Polichronicon do record, that all Christianity almost in the whole Island was destroyed, the Churches subverted, all books of the Scripture burned, many of the faithful both men & women were slain. Among whom the first and chief ringleader (as hath been said) was Albanus. And thus much touching the martyrs of Britain. Now from England to return again unto other countries, where this persecution did more vehemently rage: we will add hereunto (the Lord willing) the stories of other, although not of all that suffered in this persecution (which were impossible) but of certain most principal, whose singular constancy in their strong torments are chiefly renowned in latter histories: beginning first with Romanus the notable and admirable soldier and true servant of Christ, whose history set forth in Prudentius, doth thus proceed: so lamentably by him described, that it will be hard for any man almost with dry cheeks to hear it.