A67922:1476
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.
And thus hast thou (beloved Reader) briefly collected the narration of the noble acts and heavenly virtues of this most famous Emperor Constantine the great:1 a singular spectacle for all Christian Princes to behold and imitate, and worthy of perpetual memory in all congregations of Christian Saints. Whose fervent zeal & piety in general, to all congregations, and to all the servants of Christ was notable: but especially the affection and reverence of his heart toward them was admirable, which had suffered any thing for the confession of Christ, in the persecutions before, them had he principally in price and veneration, in so much that he embraced and kissed their wounds and stripes, and their eyes, being put out. And if any such Bishops or any other Ministers brought to him any complaints one against an other,2 (as many times they did) he would take their bills of complaint, and burn them before their faces: so studious and zealous was his mind to have them agree, whose discord was to him more grief, then it was to themselves. All the virtuous acts and memorable doings of this divine & renowned Emperor to comprehend or commit to history: it were the matter alone of a great volume: wherefore contented with these above premised, because nothing of him can be said enough, I cease to discourse of him any further.
And thus hast thou (beloued Reader) briefly collected the narration of the noble actes and heauenly vertues of thys most famous Emperour Constantine the great:1 a singulare spectacle for all Christian Princes to beholde and imitate, and worthy of perpetuall memorie in all congregations of Christian Saintes. Whose feruent zeale & pietie in generall, to all cōgregations, and to all the seruants of Christ was notable: but especially the affection and reuerence of hys heart toward them was admirable, whych had suffered any thyng for the confession of Christ, in the persecutions before, them had hee principally in price and veneration, in so much that hee embraced and kissed theyr woundes and stripes, and their eyes, being put out. And if any suche Byshops or any other Ministers brought to hym any cōplaints one against an other,2