A67922:1362
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.
It were to long a travel or trouble to recite all and singular names of them particularly,1 whom this persecution of Diocletian did consume. The number of whom being almost infinite is not to be collected or expressed: One story yet remaineth, not to be forgotten of Cassianus, whose pitiful story being described of Prudentius we have here inserted, rendering metre for metre as followeth.
It were to long a trauell or trouble to recite al and singular names of them particularly,1 whom this persecutiō of Dioclesian did consume. The number of whom being almost infinite is not to be collected or expressed: One storye yet ramayneth, not to be forgotten of Cassianus, whose pitifull story being described of Prudentius we haue here inserted, rendring metre for metre as followeth.
- 1The Lamē table story of Cassianus Martyr. Ex Aurel. Prudentius. lib. peristephanon.The Lamē table story of Cassianus Martyr. Ex Aurel. Prudentius. lib. peristephanon.
1 Through Forum, as in Italy, I passed once to Room: Into a Church by chance came I, And stood fast by a tome. 2 Which church sometime a place had been, Where causes great in law: Were scanned and tried, and judgement given, To keep brute men in awe. 3 This place Sulla Cornelius, First built: he raised the frame: And called the same Forum, and thus, That City took the name. 4 In prayer fervent as I stood, casting mine eye aside: A picture in full piteous mood, (Imbrued) by chance I spied. 5 A thousand wounded marks full bad, All mangled, rent, and torn: The skin appeared as though it had, Been jagged and pricked with thorn. 6 A scull of pictured boys did band, About that loathsome sight: That with their sharpened gads in hand, His members thus had dight. 7 These gads were but their pens wherewith, Their Tables written were: And such as scholars often sith, Unto the schools do bear. 8 Whom thou seest here thus pictured sit, And firmly dost behold: No fable is, I do thee wit, Unasked a Prelate told 9 That walked thereby: but doth declare, The history of one, Which written, would good record bear, What faith was long ago. 10 A skilful schoolmaster this was, That here sometime did teach: The Bishop once of Brixia as, And Christ full plain did preach. 11 He knew well how to comprehend Long talk in few lines: