A67922:1347
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.
After this, he against him self provoketh the extremity of the tormentors, & blameth them if they favour him any thing at all. When the Sheriff saw, that hereby he could win but little, he goeth about by gentleness and enticing words, to turn the stout and valiant mind of Gordius. He promiseth to him great and large offers if he will deny Christ:1 as to make him a Captain of as many men as any other is, to give him richesse, treasure, & what other thing so ever he desireth. But in vain as the Proverb is, pipeth the minstrel to him that hath no ears to hear, for he deriding the foolish madness of the Magistrate saith, that it lieth not in him to place any in authority, which he worthy to have a place in heaven. The Magistrate with these words throughly angered and vexed, prepareth him self to his condemnation.2 Whom after that he had condemned, he caused to be had out of the City to be burnt. There runneth out of the City great multitudes by heaps to see him put to execution, some take him in their arms, & lovingly kiss him, persuading him to take a better way and save himself,3 and that with weeping tears. To whom Gordius answered, weep not I pray you for me, but rather for the enemies of God which always make war against the Christians: weep I say for them which prepare for us a fire, purchasing hell fire for themselves in the day of vengeance: And cease of further, I pray you, to molest and disquiet my settled mind. Truly (saith he) I am ready for the name of Jesus Christ, to suffer and endure a thousand deaths if need were. Some other came unto him which persuaded him to deny Christ with his mouth, & to keep his conscience to himself. My tongue (sayeth he) which by the goodness of God I have, cannot be brought to deny the author and giver of the same: for with the heart we believe unto righteousness, and with the tongue we confess unto salvation. Many moe such like words he spake: but especially uttering to them such matter, whereby he might persuade the beholders to death, and to the desire of Martyrdom. After all which, with a merry and glad countenance, never changing so much as his colour, he willingly gave himself to be burnt. Basilius in Sermone in Gordium militem Caesariensem.
After this, he against him selfe prouoketh the extremitie of the tormentours, & blameth them if they fauour him any thing at al. When the Shrife saw, that hereby he could winne but little, he goeth about by gentlenes and intising wordes, to turne the stoute and valiant minde of Gordius. He promiseth to him great and large offers if he wil denie Christ: