A67922:1497
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.
Thus therefore although the foresaid Lucius, the Britain king, through the merciful providence of God, was then Christened and the gospel received generally almost in all the land:1 yet the state thereof as well of the Religion, as of the common wealth, could not be quiet, for that the emperors & nobles of Rome were yet infidels, & enemies to the same: but especially for this cause, the cause so happening, that Lucius the Christen king died without issue: for thereby such trouble & variance fell among the Britons (as it happeneth in all other Realms, namely in this our Realm of England when soever succession lacketh) that not only they brought upon them the Idolatrous Romans, & at length the Saxons: but also in wrapped them selves in such misery and desolation, as yet to this day amongest them remaineth. Such a thing it is (where a Prince or a King is in a kingdom) there to lack succession, as especially in this case may appear. For after the death ⟨p. 108⟩of Lucius, when the Barons and Nobles of the land could not accord within themselves upon succession of the crown: stepped in the Romans, & got the crown into their own hands, whereupon followed great misery and ruin to the realm: for sometimes the Idolatrous Romans, sometimes the Britons reigned and ruled, as violence and victory would serve, one king murdering an other, till at length the Saxons came and deprived them both, as in process hereafter followeth to be seen.
Thus therefore although the foresayd Lucius, the Britaine king, through the mercifull prouidence of God, was then Christened and the gospel receaued generally almost in all the land:1 yet the state thereof as wel of the Religion, as of the common wealth, coulde not be quiet, for that the emperors & nobles of Rome were yet infidels, & enemies to the same: but especially for this cause, the cause so happening, that Lucius the Christen king died without issue: for therby such trouble & variance fel amōg the Britaines (as it happeneth in al other Realmes, namely in this our Realme of England when soeuer succession lacketh) that not onely they brought vpon them the Idolatrous Romaines, & at length the Saxons: but also in wrapped them selues in suche miserie and desolation, as yet to thys day amongest them remayneth. Such a thyng it is (where a Prince or a King is in a kingdome) there to lacke succession, as especially in this case may appere. For after ye death