A67922:1375
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.
I have oftentimes before complained that the stories of Saints have been powdered and sauced with divers untrue additions and fabulous inventions of men,1 who either of a superstitious devotion, or of a subtle practise, have so mingle mangled their stories and lives, that almost nothing remaineth in them simple and uncorrupt, as in the usual Portues wont to be read for daily service, is manifest and evident to be seen, wherein, few Legends there be, able to abide the touch of history, if they were truly tried. This I write upon the occasion specially of good Katherine, whom now I have in hand. In whom although I nothing doubt, but in her life was great holiness, in her knowledge excellency, in her death constancy: yet that all things be true that be storied of her, neither dare I affirm, neither am I bound so to think: So many strange fictions of her be feigned diversly of divers writers, whereof some seem incredible, some also impudent. As where Petrus de Natalibus, 2writing of her conversion declareth, how that Katherine sleeping before a certain picture or table of the Crucifix, Christ with his mother Mary appeared unto her: And when Mary had offered her to Christ to be his wife, he first refused her for her blackness. The next time, she being baptised, Mary appearing again, offered her to marry with Christ, who then being liked, was espoused to him and married, having a golden ring the same time put on her finger in her sleep. &c. Bergomensis writeth thus, that because she in the sight of the people openly resisted the Emperor Maxentius to his face and rebuked him for his cruelty,3 therefore she was commanded and committed upon the same to prison, which seemeth hitherto not much to digress from trueth. It followeth moreover, that the same night an angel came to her,4 comforting and exhorting her to be strong and constant unto the Martyrdom, for that she was a maid accepted in the sight of God, and that the Lord would be with her, for whose honour she did fight, and that he would give her a mouth and wisdom, which her enemies should not withstand: with many other things more, which I here omit. As this also I omit concerning the 50. Philosophers, whom she in disputation convicted, and converted unto our religion, and dyed martyrs for the same. Item, of the converting of Porphyrius kinsman to Maxentius and Faustina the Emperors wife.