A67922:1398
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.
These things being brought to the •ares of the King (as such tale carriers never lack in Princes courts) procured against him no little indignation. whereupon Sapores the king sending for him, first with gentle words & courtly promises began to speak him fair, asking him what cause he had so to mourn, & whether there was any thing in his house, which was denied him, or which he had not at his own will and asking.1 Whereunto Usthazares answering again said: That there was nothing in that earthly house, which was to him lacking, or whereunto his desire stood. Yea would god (said he) O king any other grief or calamity in all the world, whatsoever it were, had happened unto me, rather than this for the which I do most justly mourn and sorrow. For this sorroweth me that I am this day alive, who should rather have died long since, & that I see this sun, which against my hart and mind, for your pleasure dissemblingly I appeared to worship, for which cause doublewise I am worthy of death. First, for that I have denied Christ. Secondly, because I did dissemble with you. And incontinent upon these words, swearing by him that made both heaven & earth, affirmed most certainly, that although he had played the fool before, he would never be so mad again, as in stead of the creator and maker of all things, to worship the creatures which he had made and created. Sapores the king being astonied at the so sudden alteration of this man, and doubting with him self, whether to be angry with those enchanters, or with ⟨p. 98⟩him, whether to entreat him with gentleness, or with rigour, at length in this mood commanded the said Usthazares his old ancient servant,2 and first Tutor & bringer up of his youth, to be had away, and to be beheaded: as he was going to the place of execution, he desired of the executioners, a little to stay, while he might send a message unto the king, which was this (sent in by certain of the kings most trusty Eunuchs) desiring him that for all the old and faithful service he had done to his Father,3 & to him, he would now requite him with this one office again, to cause to be cried openly by a public crier in these words following: that Usthazares was beheaded not for any treachery or crime committed against the king or the Realm,