A67922:1554
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 much hitherto concerning the history of the Britons, till, by the grace of Christ, the order of time shall bring us hereafter to the treatise of Cedwalla and Calwalladrus. Now remaineth, in returning again to the matter of the Saxons, to discourse particularly, that which before in the table above we have summarily comprehended.
And thus much hetherto concerning the history of the Britaines, till, by the grace of Christ, the order of time shal bring vs heereafter to the treatise of Cedwalla and Calwalladrus. Nowe remaineth, in returning againe to the matter of the Saxons, to discourse particularly, that which before in the table aboue we haue sommarely comprehended.
In this order and race of the Saxon kings, above specified which had thus thrust out the Britons, & now divided their land in seven kingdoms: as there were many naughty and wicked kings (whose pernicious examples, being all set on war and bloodshed, are greatly to be detested and eschewed of all true godly Princes) so some there were again (although but few) very sincere & good. But none almost from the first to the last, which was not either slain in war, or murdered in peace, or else constrained to make him self a monk. Such was the rage then and tyranny of that time. Whether we should impute it to the corruption of mans nature, or to the just judgement of Gods hand, so disposing the matter, that as they had violently & falsely dispossessed the Britons of their right: so they most miserably were not only vexed of the Danes, and conquered at last by the Normans: but also more cruelly devoured them selves, one warring still against an other, till they were neither able to help themselves, nor yet to resist others. Of them which are noted for good among these Saxon kings,1 the first and principal is Ethelbertus, or Ethelbrict the first king of Kent above specified, who by the means of Austen, and partly through his wife, named Berda, first received and preferred the Christian faith, in all this land of the English Saxons, whereof more followeth hereafter to be said (the Lord so permitting) as place and opportunity shall require. The next place I give to Oswaldus of Northumberland, who not only did his endeavour in furthering the faith of Christ amongst his people: but also being king, disdained not himself to stand up and interpret to his nobles & subjects the preaching of Aidanus, preaching Christ to them in his Scottish language. In the same commendation also, like as in the same line, cometh his uncle Edwin, king of Northumberland, a good Prince, and the first receiver of Christs faith in that land, by the means of his wife, and Paulinus Bishop. Add to these also Sigebert, first Christened king of the Eastangles, & Sebert, first Christened king of Essex: of whom the one was a great furtherer of Religion, & setter up of schools: the other which is Sebert or Sexbrieth, was nephew to Ethelbert of Kent, under whom he ruled in Essex.