A67922:1501
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.
By this table may appear a lamentable face of a common wealth so miserably rent and divided into two sorts of people, differing not so much in country, as in religion. For when the Romans reigned: so were they governed by the Infidels. When the Britons ruled, so they were governed by Christians. Thus what quietness was or could be in the Church, in so unquiet and doubtful days, it may easily be considered.
By this table may appere a lamentable face of a common wealth so miserably rent and diuided into two sortes of people, differing not so much in coūtrey, as in religion. For when the Romaines raigned: so were they gouerned by the Infidels. When the Britaynes ruled, so they were gouerned by Christians. Thus what quietnesse was or could be in the Church, in so vnquiet and doubtful dayes, it may easely be considered.
Albeit, notwithstanding all these foresaid Heathen rulers of the Romans, which here governed, yet (God be praised) we read of no persecution, during all these x. persecutions above mentioned, that touched the christian Britons, before the last persecution only of Diocletian, 1and Maximianus Herculius, which here then exercised much cruelty. This persecution, as it was the last among the Roman Christians, so it was the first of many & divers that followed after in this Church and Realm of England: whereof we will here after entreat (Christ willing) as order of the matter shall lead us. In the mean time this rage of Diocletian as it was universally through all the churches in the world fierce & vehement: so in this realm of Britain also it was so sore, that as all our English Chronicles do testify, and record, all Christianity almost in the whole land was destroyed: Churches were subverted, all books of the Scripture burned, many of the faithful both men and women were slain. Among whom the first and chief was Albanus, then Julius, Aaron, and Amphibalus. Of whom sufficiently hath been said before. What were the other, or how many they were that suffered beside, stories make no rehearsal. And thus much thereof.