A67922:1374
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.
There be (saith Prudentius) that report how that she ⟨p. 95⟩being desired to pray unto Christ for the party, that a little before with fire from heaven for his incontinency was stricken was restored by their prayer,1 both unto his perfect health & sight. But blessed Agnes after that she had climbed this her first grief and step unto the heavenly palace, forthwith began to clime an other: for fury engendering now, the mortal wrath of her bloody enemy, wringing his hands crieth out saying, I am undone: O that the executioner draw out thy sword, and do thine office that the Emperor hath appointed thee. And when Agnes saw a sturdy and cruel fellow (to behold) stand behind her, or approaching near unto her with a naked sword in his hand: I am now gladder saith she, & rejoice, that such a one as thou, being a stout, fierce, strong and sturdy soldier art come, then one more feeble, weak, & faint should come, or else any other young man sweetly embalmed,2 and wearing gay apparel that might destroy me with funeral shame. This, even this is he I now confess, that I do love. I will make hast to meet him and will no longer protract my longing desire: I will willingly receive into my paps the length of his sword, and into my breast will draw the force thereof even unto the hilts: That thus I being married unto Christ my spouse,3 may surmount and escape all the darkness of this world, that reacheth even unto the skies. O eternal governor, vouchsafe to open the gates of heaven once shut up against all the inhabitants of the earth, and receive (oh Christ) my soul that seeketh thee. Thus speaking and kneeling upon her knees, she prayeth unto Christ above in heaven, that her neck might be the readier for the sword,4 now hanging over the same. The executioner then with his bloody hand, finished her hope, & at one stroke cutteth off her head, & by such short & swift death doth he prevent her of the pain thereof.
There be (saith Prudentius) that report how that shee ⟨p. 95⟩