A67922:1372
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.
As ye have heard now the Christian life and constant death of Eulalia, 1much worthy of praise & commendation: So no less commendation is worthily to be given to blessed Agnes, that constant Damsel and martyr of God, who as she was in Rome of honourable parents begotten, so lieth she there as honourably entombed & buried. Which Agnes for her unspotted & undefiled virginity, deserveth no greater praise and commendation, then for her willing death and martyrdom.2 Some writers make of her a long discourse, more in my judgement then necessary, reciting divers & sundry strange miracles by her done in the process of her history, which partly for tediousness, partly for the doubtfulness of the author, (whom some father upon Ambrose) and partly for the strangeness and incredibility thereof I omit, being satisfied with that which Prudentius, briefly writeth of her,3 as followeth: She was (saith he) young & not marriageable, when first she being dedicated to Christ, boldly resisted the wicked Edicts of the Emperor: least that through idolatry she might have denied and forsaken the holy faith: but yet first proved by divers and sundry policies to induce her to the same (as now with the flattering and enticing words of the Judge, now with the threatenings of the storming executioner) stood notwithstanding,4 steadfast in all courageous strength: and willingly offered her body to hard & painful torments, not refusing as she said, to suffer whatsoever it should be, yea though it were death it self. Then said the cruel tyrant: if to suffer pain & torment, be so easy a matter and lightly regarded of thee & that thou accountest thy life nothing worth: yet the shame of thy dedicated or vowed virginity is a thing more regarded I know, and esteemed of thee. Wherefore this is determined, that unless thou wilt make obeisance to the altar of Minerva, and ask forgiveness of her for thy arrogancy,5 thou shalt be sent or abandoned to the common stews or brothelhouse. Agnes the virgin, with more spirit and vehemency inveigheth against both Minerva & her virginity: the youth in sculls flock and run together, and crave that they may have Agnes their ludibrious pray: