A67922:1450
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.
Among the Romans was an old law, that such as were barren having no fruit of children, should be amerced of half their goods. Also, that such as being above the years of xxv. unmarried, should not be numbered in the same privileges with them that were married, neither should be heirs to them, to whom notwithstanding they were next in kind. These laws because they seemed unreasonable, to punish the defect of nature, or gift of virginity, by mans law, he abrogated and took away. An other order was among the Romans, that they which made their wills being sick, had certain prescribed and conceived words appointed to them to use, which unless they followed, their wills stood in none effect. This law also Constantine repealed, permitting to every man in making his testament to use what words, or what witnesses he would. Likewise among the Romans he restrained and took away the cruel and bloody spectacles & sights, where men were wont with swords one to kill an other. Of the barbarous and filthy fashion of the Arethusians in Phoenicia, I have mentioned before, pag. 104. where they used to expose and set forth their virgins to open fornication, before they should be married,1 which custom also Constantine removed away. Where no Churches were, there he commanded new to be made: where any were decayed, he commā dead them to be repaired: where any were to little, he caused them to be enlarged, giving to the same great gifts and revenues: not only of such tributes and taxes coming to him from certain sundry Cities, which he transferred unto the Churches, but also out of his own treasures. When any Bishops required any Council to be had, he satisfied their petitions: And what in their Councils and Synods they established, being godly & honest, he was ready to confirm the same.
Among the Romanes was an olde lawe, that such as were barren hauing no fruite of children, should be amerced of halfe their goodes. Also, that such as being aboue the yeares of xxv. vnmaried, should not be nūbred in the same priuileges with them that were maried, neither should be heires to them, to whom notwithstanding they were next in kinde. These lawes because they seemed vnreasonable, to punish the defect of nature, or gift of virginitie, by mās lawe, hee abrogated and tooke away. An other order was among the Romanes, that they which made their willes being sicke, had certaine prescribed and conceiued wordes appoynted to thē to vse, which vnlesse they followed, their willes stoode in none effect. This law also Constantine repealed, permitting to euery man in making his testament to vse what wordes, or what witnesses he woulde. Likewise among the Romaines hee restrained and tooke away the cruel and bloudy spectacles & sights, where men were wont with swordes one to kill an other. Of the barbarous and filthy fashion of the Arethusians in Phoenicia, I haue mentioned before, pag. 104. where they vsed to expose and set foorth their virgines to open fornication, before they should be maried,