A67922:1346
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.
Gordius was a citizen of Caesarea, a worthy soldier, and Captain of an hundred men. He in the time of extreme persecution, refusing any longer to execute his charge did choose of his own accord willing exile, and lived in the desert many years a religious and solitary life. But upon a certain day when a solemn feast of Mars was celebrated, in the city of Caesarea, and much people were assembled in the Theatre to behold the games: he left the desert, and got him up into the chief place of the Theatre,1 and with a loud voice uttered this saying of the Apostle: Behold I am found of them which sought me not, and to those which asked not for me, have I openly appeared. By which words he let it to be understood, that of his own accord he came unto those games. At this noise, the multitude little regarding the sights, looked about to see who it was that made such exclamation. As soon as it was known to be Gordius, and that the crier had commanded silence, he was brought unto the sheriff,2 which at that instant was present, and ordained the games. When he was asked the question who he was, from whence, and for what occasion he came thither, he telleth the truth of every thing as it was. I am come,3 saith he, to publish, that I set nothing by your decrees against the Christian religion: but that I profess Jesus Christ to be my hope and safety. And when I understood with what cruelty ye handle other men: I took this as a fit time to accomplish my desire. The Sheriff with these words was greatly moved, and revengeth all his displeasure upon poor Gordius, commanding the executioners to be brought out with scourges, while gibbet, & whatsoever torments else might be devised. Whereunto Gordius answered, saying, that it should be to him an hinderance and damage if he could not suffer and endure divers torments and punishments for Christ his cause. The sheriff being more offended with this his boldness, commanded him to feel as many kind of torments as there were, with all which Gordius notwithstanding, could not be mastered or overcome: but lifting up his eyes unto heaven singeth this saying out of the Psalms. The Lord is my helper, I will not fear the thing that man can do to me: and also this saying, I will fear none evil, because thou Lord art with me.4