A67922:1369
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.
Go to therefore thou hangman, burn, cut and mangle thou these earthly members. It is an easy matter to break a brittle substance, but the inward mind shalt not thou hurt for any thing thou canst do. The praetor then or judge with these words of hers, set in a great rage, saith, hangman take her and pull her out by the hear of her head & torment her to the uttermost. Let her feel the power of our country gods, and let her know what the Imperial government of a Prince is.1 But yet, O thou sturdy girl, fain would I have thee (if it were possible) before thou dye, to revoke this thy wickedness. Behold what pleasures thou mayest enjoy by the honourable house thou camest of. Thy fallen house and progeny followeth thee to death with lamentable tears, & the heavy nobility of thy kindred maketh doleful lamentation for thee. What meanest thou, wilt thou kill thy self so young a flower, & so near these honourable marriages and great dowries that thou mayest enjoy? Doth not the glistering and golden pomp of the bride bed move thee? Doth not the reverend piety of thine Ancestors prick thee? whom is it not, but that this thy rashness and weakness sorroweth? behold here the furniture ready prepared for thy terrible death. Either shalt thou be beheaded with this sword, or else with these wild beasts shalt thou be pulled in pieces, or else thou being cast into the fiery flames shall be (although lamentably bewailed of thy friends and kinsfolks) consumed to ashes. What great matter is it for thee I pray thee, to escape all this? If thou wilt but take & put with thy fingers a little salt & incense into the censers, thou shalt be delivered from all these punishments. To this Eulalia made no answer, but being in a great fury she spitteth in the tyrants face, she throweth down the Idols, and spurneth abroad with her feet the heap of incense prepared to the censers: then without further delay, the hangmen with both their strengths took her, & pulled one joint from an other, and with the talons of wild beasts, scotched her sides to the hard bodes: she all this while singing and praising God in this wise. Behold, O Lord I will not forget thee: what a pleasure is it for them O Christ that remember thy triumphant victories, to attain unto these high dignities, and still calleth upon that holy name,2 all stained and embrued with her own blood.
Go to therfore thou hangman, burne, cut and mangle thou these earthly mēbers. It is an easie matter to breake a britle substance, but the inward mind shalt not thou hurt for any thing thou canst do. The pretor thē or iudge wyth these words of hers, set in a great rage, saith, hangmā take her and pull her out by the heare of her head & torment her to the vttermost. Let her feele the power of our countrey gods, and let her know what the Imperiall gouernement of a Prince is.